ARCHITECTURE:
This 1½-storey, hip-roofed Queen Anne cottage has two gabled bays on the front and the right side, and a gabled dormer on the left front. Pent roofs across the bases of the front and side gables create pediments. These gables have jettied upper portions with an unusual design. Below the jetties are shaped shingles and sunbursts on either side of double casement windows. The right bay is shallow and square, the front is bracketed and cutaway. The shed-roofed porch to the left of the cutaway bay now lacks detailing. The body is clad in drop siding, and the foundation is brick.
The Hamiltons, Rolfes (1416 Fort St) and Clarkes (around the corner at 1308 Stanley) had their houses connected to sewer on the same permit in 1903.
ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:
1892-1927: Robert Hamilton (b. Lanark, SCT, 1864-1946) and Janet Gibb (née Clark, b. Lanark, SCT, 1865-1942) married in Scotland in 1890 and came to Victoria. Robert had graduated in veterinary science from Glasgow University. From 1892 he had his office in the livery stable at 31 View St. By 1900 Robert was working with Frank Barnard’s (1462 Rockland Av, Rockland) Victoria Transfer Co, with Anton Henderson (522 Quadra St, Fairfield), caring for the horses as well as his own practice. By 1918 his office was at 502 Fort, next to Arthur Kent’s Pacific Transfer Co (805 Linden Av, Rockland). During WWI Robert served as Chief Veterinary Officer for Military District No.11. He was a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (MRCVS), fellow of the American CVS, and president of the BC Veterinary Association. Robert lived at the Pacific Club after Janet’s death, and was still working at the time of his death.
Their son Archibald Prosser Clark Hamilton was still a medical student and living with his parents when he died at 23 in 1915 from tetanus, following a compound fracture of his left leg. Their second son Robert Stamford Hamilton served in WWI, and then trained as a medical doctor. He moved to Port Angeles, WA.
OTHER OCCUPANTS:
1928-48: Robert McDowall (b. Edinburgh, SCT, 1883-1953) and Florence Ethel (née Burgess) came to Victoria in 1912. Robert was a foreman at Jameson Motors for many years, and a member of Henderson Lodge, AF&AM. After his death Florence left the province, possibly moving to Ontario where their children lived: Eric was with the RCAF in Aylmer, ON, and Ivy was in Ottawa.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & IMAGES:
• This Old House, Victoria’s Heritage Neighbourhoods,
Volume One: Fernwood & Victoria West