Heritage Register
James Bay

40 Olympia Avenue
(ex-40 Olympian Av)

Built 1907
Heritage-Designated 1993

For: George & MInnie Myers

ARCHITECTURE:

This 1½-storey, steeply-cross-gabled Edwardian Arts & Crafts house, originally costing $3,500, has a symmetrical front façade. All four gables have dramatically wide whalebone bargeboards, with modillions under the eaves of the main roof and in the solid eaves of the bargeboards. On the right side of the house on Battery St is a shallow, cantilevered, hooded box bay with a flat roof which sits above the belt course; on the left side is a wide, shed-roofed angled bay. The front of the house has a stained art glass window in the apex of the gable above three double-hung windows which sit on the hipped roof of the porch. The almost-full-width front porch has four turned Tuscan columns with entasis supported on random granite piers. The balusters are square and the area beneath the porch is enclosed with lattice. The central stairs lead to a very shallow entry bay with front door and sidelights. Many of the windows on the main floor, including a piano window on the left side, have stained and leaded art glass. The house, which was covered for many years in asbestos siding, has now been restored to its original bevelled siding. It has a rustic granite foundation with windows to the basement. There is one brick chimney to the left of the front gable.

ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:

George Emmet Myers (1860-1927) was born in Rochester, NY, and came to Victoria c.1888. He married Minnie, daughter of Andrew & Dora Vigelius from Germany, in 1894. George was manager of the sign-writing department of Melrose Co for many years. Melrose made paints, oils and varnishes, plate, ornamental and art glass windows and wallpaper (1120 Faithful St, Fairfield). Minnie lived in the house until 1937, then left BC.

OTHER OCCUPANTS:

From 1939 the residents were George and Alice (Mellor) Dyke. George was born in Mission, BC, in 1907 and came to Victoria as a boy with his family and was raised by the Myers. He married Alice in 1936. George was an automotive mechanic and worked for Jamieson Motors, Hawkes Bros, and later R. Angus. He died in 1984 at 76. Alice had left the house by 1989. George was a skilled woodworker, and built several pieces of Arts & Crafts oak furniture for the house. He died in 1984 at 76. Alice left the house in 1989.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & IMAGES:

• James Bay History

• James Bay Heritage Register



• This Old House, Victoria's Heritage Neighbourhoods,
Volume Two: James Bay