ARCHITECTURE:
Brick houses are rare in Victoria. This 1½-storey Colonial Bungalow, with its bellcast, hipped roof, is constructed of brick with a fieldstone foundation. The front steps and caps on the granite balustrades are also brick. It has bellcast, hip-roofed dormers on all sides. The centrally-located entry door has an angled bay on the left and an inset porch, now enclosed, on the right. There is a rear porch and box bays on either side.
ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:
1905-42: William “Billy” Heatherbell (b. Westbury, Salop, ENG 1862-1942) married Ann “Annie” (née Blower, b. Shrewsbury, ENG 1857-1896) in Atcham, Salop, ENG in 1885. They came to Canada, lived on Hornby Island, BC and settled here in 1888. He built 1417 Pembroke St of brick in 1892. Annie died in the Pt. Ellice Bridge collapse, 26th May 1896. He managed to escape and married again in 1899 to Mary “Minnie” Theresa (née Hawton b. Bristol, ENG 1865-1940). He built this house for $3,000 and lived here until his death. A skilled mason and executive member of Bricklayers’ & Masons’ International Union, he was also a member of Masonic Order. He worked on St. Ann’s Academy (835 Humboldt St), BC Parliament Bldgs (501 Belleville St.), Hatley Castle in Colwood and Work Point Barracks in Esquimalt.
OTHER OCCUPANTS:
1943-45: John Hedley Sampson (b. Chilliwack, BC 1902-1948) married Marion Florence (née Parton b.Parry Sound, ON 1903-?) in Skagit, WA, USA in 1929. A salesman for Brackman-Ker Ltd, he became manager in Nanaimo but died in surgery three days later.
1947-52: Robert Coats St. Clair (b. New Pierre, SD, USA 1866-1966) married Eva Georgia (née Conley, b. Cleveland, OH, USA 1895-?) in 1915 in Cranbrook, BC. As BC Asst Forester, in 1923 he recommended establishment of forest experimental stations. Cowichan Lake Research Stn was the second in 1929.