Heritage Register
Fernwood

1211 Pembroke Street (ex-13 South Rd)

Built 1890
Heritage-Designated 1977

For: Mary & John Anderson

Builder: John N. Anderson

ARCHITECTURE:

This is a unique and picturesque Queen Anne brick cottage, one of two which are side by side on the crest of a hill on Pembroke. It is a one-storey, hip-roofed Colonial Bungalow, with front and rear verandahs. The three five-sided Scottish dormers on the front and sides of the roof are the rarest dormers in Victoria. They are a feature of Eastern Seaboard houses. The front three sides of the dormers are angled and have double-hung windows with horns. The two long sides are clad in drop siding. On the right front a small conical cap surmounts the angled bay, which has segmentally-arched windows. The keystone in the arch is dated AD 1890. The windows are separated by stone casings and have stone sills, similar to the verandah windows. The hipped-roof verandah to the left of the bay has scored and bracketed square posts with a simple frieze and balustrade. Ochre glazed bricks with stone quoins and caps form the balustrades of the concrete front steps which start at the sidewalk. The concrete property wall, which is continuous with the step balustrade, has glazed brick piers at either end. The house is stuccoed on three sides, and the foundation is concrete.

ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:

1890-1914: John Nicholson Anderson (b. SCT, 1852-1918) and Mary (née Gibson, b. Linlithgow, SCT, 1850-1932) emigrated to Canada in 1883, and came to Victoria in 1889. John was a bricklayer; this house is an example of his craftsmanship. From 1905 John is no longer listed as the householder, but Mary is listed until 1913. When their son signed his attestation paper in September 1914, he gave his father’s address as Grande Prairie, AB. However, John died in Glasgow, Scotland, and Mary in Victoria.

Their daughters were: Jane Freebairn; Christina Smith, who was residing in the house in 1905 and teaching at Hillside School; and Agnes Nicholson, a school teacher, who was residing in St. Mary’s Priory in Colwood at her death. Their son was Major John Gibson Anderson (b. Glasgow, SCT, 1884-1917), 5th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regiment). John was a graduate of McGill University in Applied Science. He enlisted in September 1914 at Valcartier, QC, in the 19th Alberta Dragoons, then transferred to the 5th. Promoted to major, he was wounded in France in April 1917, mentioned in dispatches and awarded the Military Cross. John was killed in action at Passchendale on November 10, 1917, and is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres and on the McGill Honour Roll, 1914-1918.

OTHER OCCUPANTS:

1914: Harry N. Chapman and his sons Harry L. and Howard, all millwrights at Canadian Puget Sound Lumber Co.
1915: Edward Chester, warehouseman for Brackman-Ker Milling Co (1004 Catherine St, Vic West).
1917: Ellen Leadbetter whose husband Arthur was on WWI active service. In 1918 she was living at 1449 Pembroke St. Arthur came to BC in 1902, Ellen in 1910. They were antiques dealers for over 50 years until retiring in 1961. They later lived at 1924-26 Belmont Av, Fernwood, and 349 Foul Bay Rd, Gonzales.
1918: Shipyard employee Gordon and Janet Calderwood. Their son Gordon, a marine engineer, signed up for WWI in May 1916.

1920-61: Frank Aldridge and Margaret Isabel (née Huggins, b. Reading, Berks, ENG, 1880-1961). Margaret came to Canada in 1909 and to Victoria in 1919, very likely with Frank. She was a seamstress. Frank was a bricklayer, later a salesman, then a driver for Rennie and Taylor’s bakery (1284-98 Gladstone Av, Fernwood).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & IMAGES:

• Fernwood History

• Fernwood Heritage Register


• This Old House, Victoria's Heritage Neighbourhoods,
Volume One: Fernwood & Victoria West