ARCHITECTURE:
This is a two-storey, front-gabled Craftsman/California Bungalow with a smaller front-facing right gable. It has wide, open eaves with exposed rafter tails and knee brackets in stucco and half-timbered gables. A fullwidth, inset front verandah has massive battered, stuccoed piers, with a partial-width, inset second-storey balcony on the left. There are two square first-floor bays with bracketed gable roofs. On the right side is a hip-roofed second-floor sleeping porch, now enclosed, supported on stuccoed piers creating a drive-through to the original garage beyond. It is clad in unequal-coursed shingles.
ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:
1915-20: Henry ‘Harry’ Frederick Bullen (b. Delaware, On 1867-1924) married Margaret Ellen Warter (née Newall, b. Durban, SA 1883-1934), a widow with two daughters, in Seattle in 1915. Her first husband died in 1905. Harry trained in banking in London, ON. He moved here from Seattle in 1894 and became a partner in Bullen & Jamieson, Financial & Insurance Agents. His brother, William Fitzherbert Bullen (b. London, ON 1858-1921) along with Harry Bullen, Annie Amelia Bushby Bullen, George Gordon Bushby, Marine Engr (1005 St. Charles St) and R.D. Dusgate established the first shipyard in Esquimalt in 1893, Esquimalt Marine Railway Co. [W.F. Bullen married Annie (née Bushby b. New Westminster, 1863-1956), granddaughter of Sir James and Lady Amelia Douglas, in 1884; they resided at Oakdene, 924 Esquimalt Rd, from c.1898-1956.] They reorganized in 1898, selling its assets to the newly formed BC Marine Railway Co (BCMRC) operated by Bullen brothers alone. They carried out ship repair contracts for the Royal Navy and new construction for Canadian Pacific Railway Co as well as the Canadian Govt.
The company was sold to Sir Alfred Yarrow of Yarrow & Co, Glasgow, SCT. whose son Norman Yarrow managed the yard until 1946 when it was sold to Clarence Wallace. Bullen and Bushby retained ownership of BC Salvage Co (established earlier) and Vancouver branch of BCMRC. Harry Bullen retired in 1918 and the family moved to 908 St. Charles St, while their new home at 906 St. Charles was being built. After Harry’s death, Margaret went to London with her five daughters c.1926. She died in Oberamegau, Bavaria, GER.
OTHER OCCUPANTS:
1920-21: William Hamer Hargrave (b. QC 1864-1950) and Lily Blanche (née Sicotte, b. St. Hyacinthe, QC 1857-1928) lived in Vancouver where he managed the Eastern Township (Quebec) Bank until it amalgamated with Canadian Bank of Commerce; he then managed the Robson St branch. They came here in 1917 and lived at 908 St. Charles St before moving to Joan Cr.
1923: Clementina Jane Bate (née Holland, b. ON 1855-1935) married Newell Herbert Bate (b. St Catharines, ON 1843-1909) in 1884 in St Catharines. Their son Newell Holland Bate died in WWI at the age of 31 in March 1918 near Arras, FRA. Clementina and daughter Eleanor Thornton Bate (b. Ottawa, ON 1885-1961) lived here before moving to a new house at 830 Pemberton Rd.
1924-26: James McGown (b. Glasgow, SCT 1862-1926) and Jessie (née Hoey, b. Glasgow 1863-1956), and daughters Jessie Hoey and Margaret Isabella, born in Vancouver in 1897 and 1898. James apprenticed as an engineer in Liverpool, joined the Cunard Line in 1884 and served on vessels in the Atlantic. He arrived here in 1891 on the Empress of Japan, and by 1902 was head engineer of BCCSS in Vancouver. In 1923, James became executive engineer of the Princess line, headquartered in Victoria; he died three years later. His family returned to Vancouver.
1927-44: Dr. Douglas William Graham (b. QC 1882-1960) and Ruby Mary (née Moody, b. QC 1888-1943) came here in 1922. Dr. Graham left this house after Ruby died, and moved to Swift Current, SK, where he married Alda Beth (née McEwan, b. ND 1890-1973). They returned here in 1957. 1945-61: William Hallinan Dunbar (b. Hong Kong 1906-1961) and Mary Margaret “Joan” (née Leckie-Ewing, b. Vernon, BC 1907-1961). William came to Victoria in 1928 and was president of Sussex Holdings from 1938-61. His wife and daughter inherited the bulk of his $1.8 million estate. He and Joan were keen badminton players with Victoria Lawn & Tennis Club; she was elected first president of the club’s auxiliary. They established the perpetual Dunbar Trophies given to outstanding junior players.