ARCHITECTURE:
In 1857 George Mason purchased five acres from the HBC on the NE edge of Victoria, dividing it with Mason St. He built this house in 1863-64, when assessments show improvements valued at $1,800. It is thought to be the oldest extant brick house in Western Canada. This two-storey, hip-roofed house has large wooden dentils in the frieze, and three evenly-spaced windows across the upper front. The 1895 photo shows a wrap-around open front verandah. It has a corbelled, denticulated chimney. The main floor has been masked by the addition of a 1920 storefront. In the mid-1860s, when Mason was forced to sell the house, the auction notice mentions double parlours joined by pocket-doors, fireplaces, and three upstairs bed-rooms. “The grounds are tastefully laid out, with a garden of choice Flowers and Fruits…[and] a never-failing well of pure spring water.”
ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:
1863-66: *George Mason (b. Kent, ENG, c.1826-1893), one of BC’s earliest professional brickmakers, arrived in 1851 on SS Norman Morison with many other labourers and contractors under a 5-year indenture with HBC to help develop Vancouver Is colony. He first made bricks with Robert Porter (151 Government St,) in a yard near the NE corner of Beacon Hill Park, later in partnership with George Balls. In addition to brickmaking, they engaged in saloon and real estate businesses, their success bolstered by the 1858 gold rush. By 1859, they had established Beacon Hill Brickyard at Fairfield Farm, possibly in the same location as his original business with Robert Porter. They sold the brickyard in the mid-1860s, but retained the saloon. However, the mid-1860s economic depression forced Mason to sell his properties, including this house. He worked as a drayman and bartender while his wife, Mary Ann (b. Kent, ENG 1832-1915), established a boarding house on Fort St. George re-entered the brickmaking business with brother Jesse in 1875 and c.1880, in partnership with John Coughlan, they established Pioneer Steam Brick Yard on Saanich Rd near the brickyard of James and Robert Porter. George continued in the brickmaking business until his death. Mary Ann lived at 219 Quebec St until her death.
*Research by Christopher J.P. Hanna
OTHER OCCUPANTS:
Owners: 1866-92: William “Billy” Patrick Farron (b. IRL 1841-1877) came to BC in 1858 and was one of the owners of the richest claim at Hill’s Bar, near Yale, BC. He acquired considerable wealth and invested in real estate here. He married Anastasia “Annie” “Anna” (née Murray, b. USA 1850-1921) who was left to raise their four children when Farron was lost overboard in 1877 from SS Grappler. She was in the dressmaking business with Mme. Fiterre before marrying widower Capt. William Clements (b. NS, c.1833) of the tug Pilot. Son James Lawrence Farron (b. Victoria 1867), a clerk with butchers Van Volkenburgh & Bros, lived in the house until mov-ing to Vancouver to work as a shipping agent.
Tenants: 1890-92: Widow Eugenie O’Brien established this as a boarding house and named it Sunnyside; architect A. Maxwell Muir was one of her boarders.
1892-97: Arnold Pike of Esquimalt
1893: Miss Margaret Bulman. 1894: Thomas R. Cusack, compositor and printer (1202 Fort St).
1895: Mrs. Moore.
1897-99: Labourer Edmund Fredette and Catherine (née Johnson) (331 Michigan St)
Owners: 1898-1934: John William Mellor (b. ENG 1868-1913) then from 1902-34 his wife Rosina (née Bantly, b. CA, USA 1875-1942) until seized by City of Victoria for unpaid taxes. She was the daughter of German immigrants Marcus and Anna Bantly (853 Fort St; 1127 Fort St). John established Mellor Brothers Paint Co. They lived here 1900-02, then at 910 Pandora ex-108; after his death, Rosina lived at 1127 Fort from 1914-20.
916 Pandora continued as a boarding house:
Boarders: 1903-04: Butcher John Duncan Manson (b. Victoria 1867-1925) married Florence Frances (née Bayntun, b. Kent, ENG) here in 1895. 112½ at the rear: commission agent Charles Rupert King (b. NS 1845-1914) who came here in 1884 (132 South Turner St).
1905: Bookkeeper Robert Wood.
1908 & 1910-11: D. Jones.
1909: Painter and decorator James S. Ross.
1912-14: Harrison & McDonald grocery clerk Alexander McGhie (b. Glenluce, SCT, 1893-1966) enlisted for CEF in Grand Forks, BC in 1916. He died at Shaughnessy Hospital, Vancouver, under DVA care. The house stood vacant through WWI and 1920s-30, except for:
1921: Grocer Tong Sing, who operated his store here.
1923: Con-fectioner Kun George Lee, who managed Hong Yuen & Co. produce on Quadra St.
1931 & 33: “Orientals.”
1934-40: The City rented the house to Mae Chan (née Lee), wife of John Hong Chan (b. CA, USA 1875-1942), and son Edward Ben Chan (b. Victoria 1912-1956) who married Eylene Norma Wong. The family operated dressmaking and wood dealership businesses.ae Chan (née Lee), the wife of John Hong Chan (b. California 1875-1942), and their son Edward Ben Chan (1912-1956). The family operated dressmaking and wood dealership businesses. Edward was born in Victoria, and married Eylene Norma Wong.
1943-85: Lee Gong Due purchased the property for his daughter Florence Ah Yut Marr (née Lee, 1903-1982) who raised her six girls and four boys and operated her dressmaking business here. Born in Victoria, she married Sing Fong Marr (1891-1981) right after she graduated from Vic High (1260 Grant St, Fernwood). After her death, her family sold the house in 1985.