ARCHITECTURE:
This is a two-storey, low-pitched-front-gabled, Chalet-style house with very heavy, corbelled brackets in the eaves. It has a high belt course between the upper and main floors, and a water table above the basement. There are wings on either side with balconies with square balusters. An entry porch on the main floor is below the balcony on the right. The gable is shingled, the main body is clad in board-and-batten and the basement has horizontal siding. There is a large corbelled brick chimney.
ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:
1912-35: Dr. Arthur Daniel Bechtel (b. Victoria 1882-1959) and Leita May (née Jones, b. Sacramento, CA, USA 1886-1977). He was a son of Andrew John Bechtel and Rachel Munger (1385 Rockland Av), and brother of Ethel May wife of Dr Joseph William Lennox). He studied medicine at McGill 1905-08. A member of AMA in 1909, he practised in Prescott, AZ, USA specializing in tuberculosis & pregnancy before moving to Los Angeles, CA. Dr. Bechtel practised here 1911-58. A member of AF&AM, Victoria Golf Club, Victoria Gun Club where he excelled at skeet shooting, he was an artist who exhibited in local art galleries. In 1954 he won first prize in Canadian Doctors’ Art contest.
OTHER OCCUPANTS:
1937-65: Peter Gray Barr (b. SCT 1896-1973) came to BC in 1919 and Edith Mary (née d’Easum, b. New Westminster, BC 1900-1981) were married in Holy Trinity Cathedral, New Westminster in 1922 by her father, Capt. (Rev.) Geoffrey Cyril d’Easum, MC (b. Poona, India 1870-1954). Peter farmed near Duncan, BC until moving here in 1925. He retired as a civil servant in 1958.