Photo: Lorne Simpson, 2026
ARCHITECTURE:
The main section of this Minimal Traditional-style house is hip-roofed. There is a cantilevered bay on the right side and on the left side a large gable-roofed extension faces front and rear. Beside it are gable-roofed, centrally-located front and back porches. Concrete steps with metal railings lead up to the front door. The house is clad in trowelled stucco with wany-edged boards in the upper gables. Original six-over-one windows were replaced around the house by nine-over-ones in 2014-15. The solid door to the basement garage was replaced with an entry door and a pair of casement windows. There is a brick chimney with two flues. It originally cost $3,000 and was built by contractor Edward “Ted” Hector Pope (b. ENG 1907-2003), assisted by the owners’ son Wally Fea. A solarium was added on the rear of the house c.1990.
ORIGINAL OCCUPANTS:
1939-82: BC LCB clerk Charles “Charlie” Fea (b. Meadowvale, SK 1893-1969) married Ellen “Helen” (née Dobbie, b. Denny, SCT 1893-1982) here in 1914. She came to Victoria in 1910. He worked for LCB for 35 years and was a member of United Service AF&AM #24 BCR (involved with prov police force at one time). They were avid lawn bowlers, participating in many tournaments, and lived in the house until their deaths.
1982-2009: Their son, carpenter Walter “Wally” Thomas Fea (b. Victoria 1918-1995) married waitress Thelma Mary (née Booth, b. Victoria 1917-2009) in Shawnigan Lake in 1939. He later made rye whiskey and rum for LCB for 33 years; it was bottled with LCB labels. Wally was a great lawn bowler like his parents. Thelma was young when she moved with her family to Dawson City and the Yukon gold fields. She later worked at Miss Frith’s and then HBC in the millinery dept. Offspring: Dennis Charles (b. 1941), who married Sheilah (née Stevenson, b. Calgary 1943) in 1977 in Vancouver; twins Kerry (1949-2025) and Karen (b.1949); Karen married Ed Parker. Dennis was seriously wounded when, as branch mgr of Facit-Addo at 1675 W 4th Av, Vancouver, he was shot by a disgruntled ex-employee in March 1976.