Heritage Register
Gonzales

213 St Charles Street (ex-MacDonald St)

Built 1913
Heritage-Designated 2013

For: Matthew Wightman

Architect: Herbert T. Whitehead

ARCHITECTURE:

The Edwardian Foursquare style was popular for a brief period during Victoria’s building boom before World War I. It appealed to expanding middle-class families, providing substantially more living space than the contemporary bungalows that swept through Fairfield at the same time. However, its size was also its Achilles heel: to maintain such large homes during the depressed period between the wars, many homeowners converted the homes into suites or light-housekeeping units. This house has avoided such indignities.

The two-storey house stands out in a block of bungalows. Its full-width porch and wide, open, eaves, augment the imposing size. The severity of the front façade is relieved by an angled bay on the porch (with an art-glass transom) and a fine entry assembly with matching glass. Similar leaded glass is used in a piano window and in the two-storey cantilevered and gabled bay, with cutaway corners on the lower floor, which dominates the left side. There is a lightly corbelled chimney near the apex of the hipped roof.

The porch was originally open; it has a hipped roof and clusters of three chamfered columns at the corners. The side-facing steps have cheeks. Double drop-siding covers the main floors; shingles originally clad the lower floor, but these have been replaced with planks on the front façade. The 1-over-1 sash windows have horns --a late appearance for this detail. The basement retains its original multi-paned windows. There’s a complex single-storey extension on the rear, and a charming early garage with jerkinhead roof stands further back on the lot, on the left side.

The house was built in 1913 for Matthew Wightman for $3,500, and designed by Herbert T. Whitehead. Small-time building contractor Wightman teamed up with Alfred Tabbernor (as Wightman and Tabbernor) for a short while, and shared a house on Rudlin St with him, in a cluster that they built. They erected several structures designed by Herbert Whitehead, who sometimes partnered with architect Stanley Mitton (Their most notable house is 1 Cook St, Fairfield).

Whitehead had a very brief career in Victoria as an architect during the boom: Some dozen buildings are attributed to him in 1912-14, including four apartment buildings, but he is not listed as a member of the Architects Association of Victoria for the period. None of his other houses resemble this house; nor does the heritage-designated house that he built for himself at 1318 Prillaman, Saanich. However, the celebrated architect C. Elwood Watkins designed a very similar house at 327 Simcoe St the year before. (The Simcoe house is slightly more ornate, with a bellcast roof and modillions in the closed eaves.)

ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:

Although the house was built for Wightman, he never lived at this address and the house remained vacant for several years. The first known occupant in 1917 was Elijah Round (b. Birmingham ENG, 1881-1943), steward. Elijah married Mabel Girton (b. Liverpool ENG, 1882- ) in Vancouver in 1905. Their stay in Victoria was brief.

OTHER OCCUPANTS:

By 1918 Madeline Clark (née Harrison, b. ON, 1880-1938) and Ralph Randall (b. Runnymede, Surrey ENG) were the owners. Ralph was a grain buyer. The Randalls moved from Manitoba to Victoria in 1907. They had three daughters: Mrs. A.C. Newton Smith, Madge and Ruth Randall. Madge and Ruth remained single and lived with their parents in this house until 1931. Madge Mary (b. Shoal Lake MB, 1900-64) worked as a cashier for many years at H.O. Kirkham’s, Grocers & Meats, 612 Fort St. At the time of her death she was a bookkeeper for Northwestern Creamery. Ruth Rosalind (b. Shoal Lake MB, 1907-87) was employed as an accountant for Sidney Roofing.

From 1932-44 Annie Elizabeth (née Dempsey, b. ENG, 1876-1944) and Walter John Adie (b. Birmingham ENG, 1873-1938) resided at this address. They came to Canada in 1909. Their first son Walter Herbert (b. Birmingham ENG, 1910-15) died at the age 5 of septicemia while the family was living at 1801 Hollywood Crescent. Walter had worked as a commercial traveler. By 1932 he was retired and their son William Vernon was living with them, employed as a gardener. In 1938 Vernon was in the Royal Canadian Navy.

Ellen Victoria (née Green, b. SK, 1910-48) and William Duncan Herbert were occupants from 1946-48. William was a carpenter. They had lived in Victoria since 1943.

From 1950-57 Edward T. and Marion I. Bell resided here. Edward was City ticket agent for the Canadian Pacific Railway.

By 1958 retirees John and Charlotte Fern were the occupants of 213 St. Charles.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & IMAGES:

• Gonzales History

• Gonzales Heritage Register


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