ARCHITECTURE:
This two-storey, hip-roofed house is a late version of the Edwardian Four-Square, with its high belt course under the upper windows. The Arts & Crafts influence is evident in the variety of surface textures, multi-paned leaded lights and stained glass windows, broad hipped roof and exposed rafter tails. Unusual features are the large front one-storey, semicircular bay with granite walls, and the porte cochère on the right side entrance which leads through to the original garage at the rear of the property. The high entrance stairs are flanked by stepped granite balustrades, and a granite wall and gate piers remain at the front of the property. The original cost was $4,800.
ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:
1922-47: Contractor William James “Billy” Drysdale (b. Victoria 1886-1956) married Helen (née Tredenick, b. CA, USA 1883-1962) here in 1911; she came here in 1905. Helen’s sister Elsie married another local contractor, Walter B. Revercomb (1537 Gladstone Av) for some time Walter and Elsie lived next door at 3115 Quadra, built by Walter. In 1947 the Drysdales sold their house at auction, and moved to an apartment. [His parents, carpenter/contractor William Francis Drysdale (b. Lanark, ON 1863-1921) married Margaret (née Robertson, b. Lanark 1864-1891) here in 1885, then Mary (née Deighton, b. Tiverton, ON, 1871-1952) in 1892.]
OTHER OCCUPANTS:
1949: White Owl Taxi & U-Drive owner Alexander Olson and wife Dorothy. 1950-52: Mortimer’s Monumental Works accountant Reginald Wyndham Stewart (b. London, ENG 1883-1972) and Elizabeth (née Pryor, b. London, ENG 1886-1966) married Bisley, Surrey, ENG in 1908 and came here in 1950. From 1914-20 Reginald rose to Wing Commander in RAF & REC. At 3103 Quadra St on the corner is a small service station which originally had gas pumps at the front, one of the last remaining neighbourhood garages in Victoria. It was built as an Imperial Oil station in 1925, constructed by Parfitt Bros. It still belongs to owners of 3107.
1925-27: Twin Oaks Service Station was run by George Daniel Leadbetter (b. Kincardine, ON 1866-1931), who lived in the back. 1928-29: Service station for Victoria Petroleum Ltd, Pier 1, Outer Wharf.
1930-1960s: Quadra Service Station operated by Wilbert Arthur Crust (b. Halton, ON 1896-1981), who lived with wife Margaret Ada (née Johns, b. Portage La Prairie, MB 1906-2000) at 2912 Graham St; they married in Portage in 1923.