ARCHITECTURE:
This two-storey, gabled Arts & Crafts house has exposed rafter tails. All gables have bracketed string courses and are half-timbered. The Rockland façade has an offset gabled box bay with a sleeping porch above the former main entrance porch; both porches are now enclosed. The St. Charles façade has a gabled box bay with a hiproofed angled bay on its lower front. Both box bays are full-height, but the ridge of the main roof is higher. To the right a bracketed, flat-roofed canopy shelters the now main entry door and sidelights. The right side of the house has a gabled extension with an angled bay. The rear has a large art glass window. All the windows are multi-light casements in banks of three. The brick basement has segmentally-arched windows; the main floor has roughcast stucco, with half-timbering above. The brick chimneys are simply corbelled. There is a matching garage. The garden has a crenallated stone wall with a wrought iron gate.
ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:
1912-25: Dr. Roderick L. Fraser (1859-1925) and his wife, Elizabeth (née Thomson, 1866-1934). Roderick was born in Kincardine, ON, and educated as a teacher. He came here c.1883 and taught at South Saanich School. In 1887 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Scottish immigrants William and Margaret Thomson, at their home, Bannockburn, Mt. Newton Cross Rd, Central Saanich. Roderick went to Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, graduating in 1891. He opened his medical office at the corner of Yates and Douglas Sts, then was City Health Officer until 1900. Roderick gained a reputation for kindness and compassion, as did Elizabeth, who often accompanied him on house calls. In 1901 he built a brick residence and offices at 702 Broughton, designed by Thomas Hooper (demolished in 1937). In 1912 he built 800 St Charles to provide a quieter family home, keeping his offices downtown until 1924. Roderick was a member of the BC Medical Council and the Dominion Council, and staff member of Royal Jubilee and St. Joseph’s Hospitals.
OTHER OCCUPANTS:
1926-31: Son Dr William “Allan” Fraser, OBE, ED, MD (1898-1973) married Laura Margaret (née Eng, b. Stavenger, Norway, 1898-1984) c.1927. A veteran of both wars, he served with RFC in WWI. He earned his medical degree at McGill Univ and in WWII served as Col, RCAMC in command of Can Army Gen Hosp, No. 12, Bruges, Belgium. He retired from the army in 1946 and joined BC Hosp Ins Serv as a consultant. Sister Kitty and husband Raymond Castle then moved here and in 1931 moved to 582 St. Charles St with mother Elizabeth.
1933-38: Vancouver Island Coals agent Guy Langton (b. Maidenhead, Berks, ENG c.1869-1940) married Christina Maude (née Stewart, b. Edinburgh, SCT c.1871-?) in Santa Clara, CA, USA in 1894.
1939-45: Hon. Mr. Justice Harold Bruce Robertson, KC, Supreme Court, BC (1875-1961) married Helen McGregor (née Rogers, 1880-1969) in Peterborough, ON in 1903. [His father, Hon Alexander Rocke Robertson (1841-1881) lawyer, judge and politician, was Victoria’s mayor 1870-71, MLA and Provincial Secretary 1871-79, and named to the bench 1880. After his death, wife Margaret (1845-1912) took their seven sons to ON to complete their education, then brought them back to Victoria.] Harold earned his law degree at Osgoode Hall, Univ of Toronto and was called to the ON bar in 1897. He dabbled briefly in politics, winning a 1906 by-election as MLA for Victoria. Several months later, his party lost the election and he retired from politics. He practised law here until 1925, then moved to Vancouver and established the firm Robertson, Douglas & Symes. He came back here in 1933 when he was appointed to the Supreme Court. He was elevated to the BC Appeal Court in 1943, and retired in 1955.
1948-49: Mutual Life Insur Co underwriter Frederick “Bruce” Thompson (b. York, ON 1888-?) and Amelia Emma (née Bulbrook, b. London, ENG 1895-1950).
1950-57: William Gregory operated this property as The Grange guesthouse.