ARCHITECTURE:
Alex McCrimmon was a prolific house builder in the boom leading up to WWI, taking over the construction firm founded by his father, Duncan. He particularly impacted southwest Fairfield: Of some 30 residences which he is known to have built in Victoria, about half are on Linden Av, or close by on Fairfield and Harbinger, culminating in the imposing Alkazar Mansion (1913, at Linden & Fairfield Rd, demolished 1977).
75 Linden is an excellent and intact example of McCrimmon’s modest Arts & Crafts bungalow style. (See also 532 Linden Av.) The house was built for about $3,500 in 1911, and McCrimmon took out building permits for five other nearby homes on the same day.
The street view of this hipped-roof cottage is dominated by the protruding porch over the recessed verandah, with a large dormer above. But all four façades have interesting details alleviating the basic box shape.
Similar but smaller dormers are visible on the right side and the rear, significantly increasing space and light in the upper floor. Four cantilevered box bays play the same role on the main floor.
The Arts & Crafts style is particularly evident on the porch, with the original front door, boulder piers and chunky square porch columns, side-facing steps with cheeks and wooden porch railings.
Other Arts &Crafts details include multiple bays; wide, open, eaves; multi-pane casement windows; the slightly flared division between main floor and basement; and shingle wall cladding throughout. On the left side there are diamond-paned windows. The chimneys are a plain brick. The property includes a matching detached garage. The garden is defined by a low stone wall.
ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:
This house was built by Alex McCrimmon as a rental property and many of its tenants didn’t stay long.
1913-17: Katherine Moir, widow of Alex, was a stenographer for the City Water Works department.
OTHER OCCUPANTS:
1918: Mrs E.A. Burgess.
1920: Albert T. Frampton, widower, lived here with his five grown children. He was manager for Direct Supply Assoc. Ltd.
1921-22: vacant
1923-30: Robert Lamb Shaw (b. Paterson, New Jersey, USA, 1892-1967) and Nellie Mae (née Williams, Bristol, ENG, 1901-75) were the occupants. Robert worked at BA Paint for 56 years where he held the positions of Credit Manager and later Secretary-Treasurer.
From 1932-44 Gilbert Edward (b. Brisbane, AU 1887-1971) and Sara Jeanette (née Reilly, Calgary, AB, 1893-1977) Schwabe owned 75 Linden. Gilbert came to Canada in 1909 and married Sara in Victoria in 1911. Gilbert was a dentist and proprietor of the Victoria Dental Lab. They had two sons – George and Gilbert Victor (1919-69) and two daughters – Mary and Miriam. Three years prior to Gilbert’s death, the Schwabes moved to Nanaimo. At the time of Sara’s death, she was living with her daughter Mary (Schwabe) Gumbert in West Vancouver.
1945-46: Ken R, on Active Service, and Marguerite E. Higham were residents.
1947-48: Christina Templeton (b. Glasgow SCT, 1880-1964) arrived in Canada in 1924. She moved to Victoria in 1946 where she worked as a bookkeeper at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
1951-57: James Geddes (b. SCT, 1886-1957) and Thomasina (née Saunders) Smart lived here. James came to Victoria in 1920. He was still working as a salesman at Arthur Cox Insurance Co. at the time of his death at age 70.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & IMAGES:
• This Old House, Victoria’s Heritage Neighbourhoods,
Volume Four: Fairfield, Gonzales & Jubilee
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