919 Caledonia Avenue

ARCHITECTURE:

This two-storey, front gabled Homestead-style house is one of a group of four similarly-designed Late Victorian-era houses, one of which is now demolished. It has an open front verandah with Tuscan columns on panelled bases and a clover-leaf motif in scroll-sawn balusters in the balustrade. The columns are tripled on the corners and paired to the right of the top step. The verandah has a shallow hipped roof with brackets supporting the eaves. Front facing steps lead to the main entrance on the left, to the right of which is an angled, one-storey bay. On the right side of the house is a rectangular, one-storey bay with a pent roof. The front windows are two-over-two, double-hung sashes with horns; the house is clad in drop siding with corner boards; the foundation is brick.

ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:

Owners: 1883-84: John Turner (b. ENG 1851-?) was a builder and property developer. In 1883-84 he built 915 Caledonia (demolished) and 919, and 933-935 Caledonia c.1886 or earlier (extant). 1890-91 were huge years for him, he had 18 employees, built and owned the Janion Hotel (1610 Store St, Downtown Designated Heritage), Turner Block on Douglas St (demo’d), and six little houses on Rithet St (James Bay TOH2 pg20). By 1895 he was likely bankrupt, and was a hardware merchant with the firm Perry & Turner at 42 Johnson St, but his residence from 1889 was always 106 Cook St (later 918 Cook, demo’d). He married widow Ellen Rodgers (née Roberts, b. ENG 1846-?) in 1884, they left Victoria by 1897, and in 1901 he was a general merchant in Kaslo, BC. They later moved to CA..

OTHER OCCUPANTS:

Owners: 1891-98: Stephen Brittain Netherby (b. PEI 1838-1921) and Sarah Catherine (née Weeks, b. ON 1844-1928) lived at 195, then 141, and then 142 Chatham St, and then moved to Vancouver. Stephen was for many years principal of Victoria Central School, and later a provincial inspector of schools.

1899-1912: Penelope Wilson (1023 St Charles St, Rockland TOH3). Tenants: 1889-90: William and Catherine Munsie lived here while their house at 1012 Johnson St (Harris Green, TOH3 p ????) was being built. 1891-1905: James Russell (b. Denny, Stirlingshire, SCT 1848-1910) opened and ran Scotch Bakery at 103 Douglas St; his wife Helen (née Boyd, b. SCT 1855-1926) had a fancy goods shop at 125 Fort St. About 1905 they moved to a fruit ranch at Cedar Hill.

1909-13, 1920-21: Harry Bickerdike (b. ENG 1865-1921) and Marnie “Mamie” Jerusha (née Savage, b. USA 1869-1919) married in 1887 in Chicago. Harry was the proprietor of Victoria Steam Laundry at 816 Yates St, in partnership with August Voepel until 1909. From 1914-18 the Bickerdikes lived in 1048 Queens Av, then moved back to 919 Caledonia. 1918-20: Pearl Elizabeth (née Bickerdike, b. Chicago, USA 1890-1960) married Clifford Walker (b. London, ENG 1885-1953) in 1912. He was a chauffeur for Yarrows Ltd, then in the personnel department.

1921-40: Harry “Irving” Bickerdike (b. Victoria, BC 1897-1975), son of Harry & Mamie, married Mary “May” Sime Melville (née Wilson, b. Victoria, BC 1902-36) in 1920. Irving was an auto mechanic at Consolidated Motors at 968 Yates St, then foreman at A.W. Carter, auto dealers at 831 Yates St. From 1937 he owned his own garage at 615 Courtney St, and his son Harry Thomas Bickerdike (b. Victoria, BC 1921-1989) worked for him. Irving moved to Metchosin and in 1942 became a warden in the volunteer fire department. He acquired a light Essex truck and outfitted it as a fire truck with pump, hose, water tanks and ladders.