ARCHITECTURE:
This gracious two-storey, symmetrical, Edwardian Georgian Revival house has a bellcast hipped roof with flat-roofed dormers. The front façade is dominated by a pair of full-height angled bays behind a full-width hip-roofed verandah with a central gable. The verandah has heavy, square columns in groups of three on battered fieldstone piers, and low square balusters. The wide flared steps have low, stone balustrades with granite caps. The front door and its sidelights have stained, leaded glass. The decorative stucco and half-timbering is best viewed on the sides. The right side has leaded piano windows and a flat-roofed conservatory. The brick chimneys are corbelled. This eightroom house was built with day labour for $8,000.
ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:
1913-55: Rosanna Lucy Sophia Jeeves (b. London, ON 1879-1959) came to Victoria in 1886. In 1897 she married Arthur Edward Kent (b. Sandy, Beds, ENG c.1871-1933) who came to Canada in 1887 and is found in the 1891 census at New Westminster, BC, occupation farmer. Arthur ran Pacific Transfer Co at 506-508 Fort St (ex-14) from 1896-1914, then sold the company. One of a few white businessmen respected by the Chinese, he was entrusted with the shipment of bones back to China for burial. By 1917 Arthur was appointed Collector of Poll Tax for the city, a position he held until his death at the Mayo Institute in Rochester, MN. He was an active member of Columbia Lodge No. 2 IOOF and Sons of England, Alexandra Lodge No. 116. Daughter Julia Valentine Kent (b. Victoria 1899) married Robert Wallace Whidden (b. Duncan, BC 1889-1980) in 1918; Whidden was a Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery gunner. They lived in the house until divorcing in 1926. Rosanna was an active member of Lady Laurier Club, Navy League Chapter, IODE, and St Joseph Hospital Auxiliary.
OTHER OCCUPANTS:
1956-65: Mortgage inspector Charles Conrad (b. Utah, USA 1912-2010) married Elaine (née Harding, b. Shelburne, NS 1915-2011) in Calgary in 1939.He managed Canada Permanent Mortgage Co, then transferred to Regina in 1965. They retired here.