Heritage Register
Rockland
1442 Rockland Avenue
Built
1912
Heritage-Registered
For: Eric & Harriet Ulin
Architect: Elmer Ellsworth Green
ARCHITECTURE:
This 1½-storey, side-gabled Craftsman Bungalow
has a prominent front-gabled dormer with paired square
posts, designed to look like an enclosed sleeping porch.
On the right side is a large bracketed, cantilevered, gabled
bay above a small, offset angled bay. All bargeboards
have clover cutouts, knee brackets and pyramids. To the
left of the upper bay is a small, gabled, box oriel. A deep,full-width, front verandah wraps around to the right.
The verandah roof is supported by three square posts on
concrete-capped, battered granite piers. The balustrades
have heavy square balusters. The offset steps lead to the
front door on the right rear of the verandah. The steps and
stepped granite balustrades are sheltered by a wide, shallow
gable. The upper level and basement are shingled, the
main floor is clad in double-bevelled siding. Designed by
E.E. Green (953 Empress Av, North Park) of Seattle and
Victoria, this house cost about $10,000.
ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:
Owners: 1912-34: Eric Ulin (b. USA, 1864-1916) and
Harriet Ruhama (née Spray, b. Iowa 1869) lived here with
their daughters, Hattie “Irene” (b. USA 1891) and Erica Eliza
(b. USA 1898), for two years, then moved to San Francisco
in 1914. The Ulins had lived in Victoria since 1893, and Eric
was the long-time manager of Taylor Mills, which burnt in
1911. Eric died in Berkley, CA. Harriet returned to the house
with Erica in 1920 and lived here until 1934.
OTHER OCCUPANTS:
Tenant: 1915-17: D’Arcy Tate, KC (b. Portadown,
IRL 1866-1935) was educated at Queen’s College,
Belfast. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 1893, and
subsequently became a member of the MB, SK, AB and
BC bars. From 1896-1905 he was counsel for the Toronto,
Hamilton and Buffalo Railway, which was taken over
by the CPR. He moved to Manitoba in 1905 as assistant
solicitor of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. In 1910
he was promoted to vice-president and general counsel
of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway Co, which brought
him to BC. He remained in this position until it became a
government railroad. D’Arcy retired to Victoria in 1915;
his wife predeceased him.
1935-66: William Alexander McKenzie (b. Puslinch,
ON 1873-1966) and Florence Murray (née Thompson,
b. Ontario 1886-1959). William came to BC in 1903. He
settled in Penticton, and in 1910 married Florence, who had
just arrived from Ontario. He was a reeve for a number of
years before being elected an MLA for Similkameen 1918-
34. William was appointed Minister of Mines and Labour
for 1928-33. He was a carpenter by trade, and during WWII
he worked in the shipyards. He was later superintendent of
construction for the Hope-Princeton Highway. William and
Florence lived here until their deaths.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & IMAGES:
• Map of Victoria's Heritage Register Properties
• Rockland History
• Rockland Heritage Register
• This Old House, Victoria's Heritage Neighbourhoods,
Volume Three: Rockland, Burnside, Harris Green,
Hillside-Quadra,
North Park & Oaklands
