ARCHITECTURE:
This is a Queen Anne cottage. It has 1½ storeys, with an intricate cross-gabled roof system. A small, central gable atop the left facing main gable is intersected on its face by an offset chimney. At the peak of the left gable is an interesting cutout which is attached to the bargeboard. On the right side is a sunburst bracketed, cutaway bay, adjacent to which is a tall exterior brick chimney. An unusual feature for this size of cottage is the jerkinheaded roof over the front right bay, which is also bracketed and cutaway. All gables have decorative bargeboards. There is a small entry porch to the left of the front bay, with turned, bracketed posts and turned balusters. A second porch is attached to the left rear. There are sawtooth shingles in the gables and drop siding on the body.
ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:
1898-1905: Margaret Jane “Jennie” (née Kearns, b. Bruce Co, ON, 1872-1935) and John “Russell” Wescott (b. Chatham, ON, 1868-1957). In 1912, they built 1334 Johnson St (see for family info). There are at least two other houses built by Wescott family members in Fernwood, 1924 Belmont Av and 1702 Fernwood Rd.
OTHER OCCUPANTS:
1905-40: John Chapman (b. Sault Ste Marie, ON, 1879-1938) and Edith Emily (née Noble, b. Barrie, ON, 1878-1978) were married in 1905. John Chapman’s family were farming in the Oaklands area of Victoria by 1891, and the Nobles were living in Oak Bay by 1898. Edith’s father William was a gardener. John worked as a shipper, driver and warehouseman for various companies. The Chapman’s daughter Winifred Edith (1906-1977) was a stenographer for the legal firm Elliot Maclean & Shandley, and lived in the house until she married in 1933. Their son Jack Douglas Chapman was a BC government printer. Edith died aged 100 in Clovelly Private Hospital in Saanich, after some years in Nanaimo.
1940-50: Laura Freethy (b. Cornwall, ENG, 1874-1963), widow of William Ralph Freethy, a labourer for Oak Bay municipality who died c.1930. Laura came to Victoria in 1904. Laura’s daughter Catherine Jane Freethy also lived at 1427 Gladstone; for many years she was a saleswoman, then a department manager for Spencer’s department store.
1950-68: Stanley and Christina Birtwistle; Stan was a driver for Heaney Cartage & Storage.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & IMAGES:
• This Old House, Victoria’s Heritage Neighbourhoods,
Volume One: Fernwood & Victoria West