ARCHITECTURE:
This hipped-roof Foursquare house has a 2-storey, inset, full-width front verandah, the main floor now enclosed. It features an eclectic mix of two popular Edwardian styles, with Classical Revival modillioned enclosed eaves, paired Tuscan columns on the upper porch, and an entry door with oval glass and stained-glass sidelights. Craftsman features are the shingle siding, a bracketed and trussed gable and a massive granite wall and square supports on the lower porch, and a gabled front dormer with notched bargeboards, brackets, and exposed rafter ends. Also typically Craftsman are the three square shingled bays with bracketed gables. It was assessed at $9,000, at the beginning of the bust before WWI.
ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:
1913-17: Thomas Palmer “T.P.” McConnell (b. Victoria 1873-1959) and Emily Charlotte (née Kirkwood, b. ENG 1876-1964) married in 1897. A milliner, Emily came here in 1889. Thomas worked for Wm George Cameron Clothing for 17 years before establishing McConnell & Taylor Co, real estate in 1908. He was a world-class breeder of English Setters and member of Victoria Kennel Club for many years. He was a member of Rotary Club for 20 years. Their son Roy Kirkwood (b. Victoria 1898-?) was in Royal Flying Corps during WWI and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross at 19.
OTHER OCCUPANTS:
1920-48: Dr. Eric Wellesley Boak (b. Halifax, NS 1891-1957) married Dorothy Chrysler (née Edsall, b. Bowmanville, ON 1889-1972) in Vancouver in 1915. During WWI, Dr. Boak was a member of RCNVR as Surgeon, served in HMCS Shearwater and was Admiralty Surgeon Agent & Surgeon, Royal Naval College of Can, Esquimalt. He had a general practice in Esquimalt after WWI and wrote the Township’s first medical report in 1918. He later had a practice in Victoria, was a staff member of RJH and St. Joseph’s Hospital, and served as CMO of BCCSS and pres of BC Medical Assoc.
Dorothy Edsall Boak RN graduated from Royal Victoria Hospital School of Nursing in Montréal, coming here in 1912. She took an active part in the Esquimalt Red Cross during WWI. She was living at 1015 Gillespie Pl at the time of her death.
1949-57: Retirees Dr. Charles “Ogilvie” Wood (b. Edinburgh, SCT 1882-1957) and Grace Alice (née Griffith, b. ENG 1885-1985) opened the Castleview Guesthouse here. Wood, a dentist, lived in Winnipeg for 30 years before retiring. 1958: Baltz and Inge Nufer owned and operated the guesthouse. 1959: The Nufers converted it to six suites.
2005: It was purchased by Craigdarroch Castle Historical Museum Society (1050 Joan Cr), and now contains visitors’ centre and washrooms, gift shop, meeting rooms and staff offices.