ARCHITECTURE:
This two-storey, front-gabled Arts & Crafts house with a rear shed-roofed addition has a cantilevered box bay on the left side, and another on the left front. A pediment-gabled roof over the entry stairs leads to an inset corner porch on the right front. The porch and stair roof are supported on chamfered square posts, the stair posts on battered stone piers. The main gable is stuccoed and half-timbered, the upper and main floors are clad in double-bevelled siding, and the foundation is shingled.
Parfitt Bros, whose office was at 1923 Fernwood Rd, were prolific contractors and many examples of their houses are found in the Fernwood and Oaklands areas. Family members lived nearby, including Fred and Sarah Parfitt at 2663 Fernwood Rd.
ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:
1912-35: Henry James Pollard (b. Bristol, ENG 1859-1930) married Emily (née Crossman, b. Bristol 1853-1922) in Bristol in 1882. A blacksmith by trade with Great Western Railway, coming here in 1908 he found work with Victoria School Board as Musical Director and Supervisor of Singing for area schools, a position he held for 19 years. After Emily’s death, he lived here with son John Hampdon Pollard (b. Bristol 1887-1960) until 1927, then returned to Bristol. Pollard, a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church, was very involved in church activities. He also directed the Protestant Orphanage children’s choir. John, a postal clerk, married in 1926 Henrietta “May” Carter (b. Plymouth, ENG 1901-1990) who came here in 1924 seeking work as a domestic. John died in Esquimalt.
OTHER OCCUPANTS:
1936-46: School principal Dr. George Henry Ebenezer Green (b. Sheffield, ENG 1900-1975). He and his family had immigrated to NSW, AUST and in 1915 he was a trainee with 2nd Btn, Aust Imperial Force. He came to BC in 1916 as a teacher and in 1924 married Violet Nora (née Parfitt, b. Bristol, ENG 1899-1977) daughter of Fred and Sarah Parfitt. He was Principal of Quadra St School (3031 Quadra St,) 1932-44. He was awarded his PHD in Education from UofT in 1944, and opened an optometrist practice in 1948. Violet, an accomplished pianist, received her teaching degree from Prov Normal School. They were both musicians – he played first trumpet in Victoria Symphony Orchestra for 12 years and she was an organist at Emmanuel Baptist Church for years.
1947-51: Glad Tidings Pentecostal Church pastor Rev. Ernest William Robinson (b. Kirkfield, ON 1902-1994) and Capitola Frances (née Rose, b. Winnipeg 1906-1987). 1952-70: SJ Willis School teacher Charles Robert Tate (b. Winnipeg 1910-1970) married Margaret Janet (née Ainslie, b. Revelstoke, BC 1919-1995) in New Westminster, BC in 1944. He was an Industrial Arts teacher. Margaret, a librarian, married Matthias “Matt” Christ (b. Brandon, MB 1908-1989) in Parksville, BC in 1974.