Heritage Register
Gonzales

1689 Earle Street

Built 1914
Heritage-Designated 2007

For: Bridekirke Chater

Builder: Bridekirke Chater

ARCHITECTURE:

The unusual window detail and strong bird’s mouth bargeboards set this six-room cottage apart. Many of the upper casement windows comprise three units with the top panel having two small vertical panes surrounding three horizontal panes, tied together with angled upper trim boards. The owners recently removed a disused garage door from the lower front, and filled it with a new window to exactly match the others. The front gable has a vent in the peak, exposed rafter-tails, and wide, bracketed eaves. The bargeboards are echoed on the charming little porch, which has segmental arches over a front door with eight lights. A smaller side gable is also bracketed and has matching bargeboards. A cantilevered box bay extends along the left side. Leaded glass embellishes the front hall window and piano windows on each side. The exterior is sheathed in shingles on the lower portion and double-drop siding above. The building permit lists the house at $2,500.

ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:

Bridekirke A. Chater was a contractor and builder. Roy Maywood (1886-1980) and Rose Mary (Palmer, 1888-1964) Winslow lived here in 1917. Born in Davenport, IA, Roy lived in London, ON, and came to Victoria by 1910. That year he married Rose, a native of Winnipeg, MB. For many years Roy worked with Canadian Fish and Cold Storage in Prince Rupert, and BC Packers in Vancouver. He was also a Freemason for over 60 years. Roy and Rose later retired to North Vancouver.

OTHER OCCUPANTS:

From 1918-23, James Austin and Mabel (Littman) Tilley were the occupants. James was an electrician from Mitchell, ON. Mabel was born in Reading, Berkshire, England, and was in the drapery business when she married James in Victoria in 1913.

The Hodgson family lived here 1923-26. George Nelson Hodgson (1871-1931) was an accountant born in Carlisle, England and came to Canada in 1893. He came to BC in 1898 and married Marion Madelaine Abbott Douglas (c.1870-1958) two years later. She was born in Peterborough, ON. The family moved to 1157 Empress in 1926, where George died two years later. Marion stayed in the North Park neighbourhood and was living at 2518 Wark St when she died in 1958.

Frederick (1890-1977) and Mary (Moore, 1886-1977) Nattrass bought the house in 1929 and lived here for almost 50 years. Frederick was born in Nottingham, England and Mary in Northern Ireland. They came to Victoria in 1912 and married in 1914. Frederick was a streetcar operator and inspector for the BCER for 42 years. They lived here until they died a month apart in 1977.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & IMAGES:

• Gonzales History

• Gonzales Heritage Register


• This Old House, Victoria's Heritage Neighbourhoods,
Volume Four: Fairfield, Gonzales & Jubilee