2117 Vancouver Street

ARCHITECTURE:

This Edwardian Colonial Bungalow has a bellcast hipped roof with modillions in the eaves and dentils in the frieze. It has two bellcast dormers, on the front and right side. On the right is a box bay; on the left, a basement door and open stairway to the main floor. There is a wide angled bay on the right front and a recessed porch on the left. A room has been added within the porch preserving its balustrades and chamfered posts. The front steps have stepped, shingled balustrades. The house is clad in double-bevelled siding with shingles below the water table. The original front garden wall built of concrete block remains.

ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:

1910-29: William Joseph Clark (1860-1929) and Jane (née Tait, b. QC c.1849-1923) came to Victoria in 1883 from Ottawa. William was a member of the Provincial Police for some time, but eventually opened a dairy business on Rock Bay Av. Twenty years later he retired with Jane to this house, where they lived for the remainder of their lives.

OTHER OCCUPANTS:

1930-32: Louis Karadimas (1893-1972), proprietor of the Victoria Candy Co, and his new bride, Lila Pearl Harris (b. Saskatchewan, c.1918), whom he married in Oak Bay in 1928. Louis came to Victoria from Greece in 1925. He later became a restaurateur; at the time of his death in 1972, he was married to Clara Mabel Allison.

1933-35: BCER operator Frederick William Doherty (b. Thorburn, NS 1877-1970) and Ida Mae (née Terris, b. Dover, NS 1880-1950) came to BC in 1905. Fred worked for 32 years with BCER and the succeeding company BC Electric. They were residents of Saanich at the time of their deaths.

1936-47: James Henry Cosier (b. London, ENG 1892- 1974) and Louisa (née Lowe, b. Halifax, NS 1891-1976). James was employed at Wimpy’s Café, then became the proprietor. He later served with the Royal Canadian Navy for 28 years.

1951-70: City clerk Robert “John” Chant and Winnifred Lillie (née Doidge, b. Cardiff, WAL 1886- 1970). Winnifred immigrated to Victoria in 1927. She died a widow; John did not die in BC. Son Ronald Joseph Chant (b. Plymouth, ENG 1909-1975) lived with Winnifred at 2117 Vancouver. He was a buyer for the City of Victoria.