This blog post grew out a desire to deepen my knowledge about one of my favourite houses on my West End History Walk route. This house, on the 1000 block of Haro Street, has been the subject of a number of blog posts by different researchers and has been featured in a number of newspaper articles written by Vancouver's favourite local history and heritage reporter John Mackie. Uncovering a house's history is similar to how an archeologist may approach an archeological site. With each new trench, with each new scrape of the trowel, more of the total picture is revealed. Part 1 of this blog on 1150 Haro Street looked at the news articles about the family of Kentucky-born entrepreneur James Preston Tompkins who may have been the first family to live in the house but who departed for the United Kingdom sometime in 1891. When the Tompkins vacated the house the family of widowed Elizabeth Francina Francis moved in. They had been previously living in a house a block north at 1106 Robson.
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| 1891 Names Section in Henderson's BC Gazetteer & Directory listing for the Francis family. |
The 1891 directory listing shows son Arthur as a hackman, an operator of a hired carriage, while William works as a streetcar conductor for the Vancouver Street Railway. The Vancouver street section of the 1892 Williams Official British Columbia Directory shows Mrs. L (Lizzie?) Francis, her two sons Arthur and William, and a Miss Maud Purvis at 1150 Haro, then numbered 1120.
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| Haro Street in the 1892 Williams Official BC Directory |
The names section of the same directory gives these details concerning the family.
1893
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| Vancouver Daily World Thursday, Feb 09, 1893 ·Page 8 |
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| Daily News Advertiser Saturday, February 11, 1893 ·Page 6 |
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| Vancouver Daily World Saturday, February, 11, 1893, p. 8 |
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| Vancouver Weekly World Thursday, February 16, 1893, p. 1 |
1898
The next time the house made the newspapers was in 1898 with the marriage of Una Muriel Stitt, eldest daughter of John Roland Stitt and his wife Isabella. The Stitts lived in the house from 1897 to 1904.
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| The Province Saturday, November 26, 1898 ·Page 5 |
John Roland Stitt was a retired dry goods merchant who at one time was manager of the Hastings Sawmill Store. I wrote about the Stitts and 1150 Haro in a much earlier blog post in 2012. Early Vancouver newspapers often filled space documenting what by modern standards would be considered matters of privacy.
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| Daily News Advertiser August, 20, 1899 p. 8 |
1904
The Stitt family's visits to their daughter in Nelson made the news a couple of times, but the one thing about J. R. Stitt that the newspapers covered the most was his prowess on the chessboard. Apparently John Rowland Stitt was very good a chess. There are many other articles like this one published in the Vancouver Province noting his victories.
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| The Province February 27, 1904, p. 9 |
This last article from the July 7 Daily News Advertiser of the same year is the last article about the Stitts while they lived at 1150 Haro Street. It would seem that by mid-year of 1904, the Stitt family had moved to a house at 1652 West 8th Avenue. It is interesting to note the different reporting of the same wedding by two different Vancouver newspapers. The article from the July 7, 1904 edition of the Daily News Advertiser announcing the wedding of Eleanor Hazel Stitt, daughter of "Mr. J. R. Stitt, of Haro Street" reports the wedding as taking place in the residence of the bride's parents,
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| Daily News Advertiser July 7, 1904, p 5 |
whereas this article on page 2 of the Vancouver Daily World from the same day mentions that Mr. J. R. Stitt lived on Eighth Avenue in Fairview and that the wedding actually took place at St. James' Anglican Church.
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| Vancouver Daily World July 7, 1904 p. 2 |
So which newspaper reported the marriage accurately? The marriage certificate tells the truth.
Later in 1904, 1150 Haro Street was put up for sale for $3400.
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| The Province Thursday, October 27, 1904 ·Page 8 |
One last thing about the Stitt's before we move on to the next newspaper article. The 1905 Henderson's Vancouver City Directory, besides listing J. R. Rowland and his family as living at 1652 West 8th Avenue, shows that by that year, John Rowland Stitt was working for the Daily News Advertiser.
1906
Whoever bought the house in 1904, after the Stitts moved out, a widow named Clara Thicke and her sons lived in the house until sometime in early 1906. Clara was a widow. Her husband, Walter James Thicke, who was a well known notary public in the city died suddenly on August 24, 1904. 1150 Haro did not make the news during the time the Thicke family resided there.
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| The Province August 25, 1903, p. 1 |
The address did make the news on June 11, 1906 when Insurance Company of Canada's Vancouver's manager William J. Twiss owned the house. It seemed that some local kids broke into the house while it was unoccupied between tenants. Mr. Twiss did not get quite the reaction he was hoping for when he threatened a young intruder.
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| Vancouver Daily World Monday, June 11, 1906, p. 8 |
It is quite possible that William J. Twiss was the person who bought the house when it came up for sale in 1904 and rented the house out for a couple of years. The 1904 directory shows Twiss as residing at the Badminton Hotel at 603 Howe at Dunsmuir.
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City of Vancouver Archives Photo Hot N55 of the Badminton Hotel at Howe and Dunsmuir in 1898
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The year Twiss had the encounter with the gang of boys at 1150 Haro, he was living at the Terminal City Club at 437 West Hastings.
On July 5, 1906, 36 year old William James Twiss married 25 year-old Sadie Jewel Brenton at Christ Church Cathedral.
The Marriage Certificate lists Twiss' address as 570 Granville Street which was the address of the offices of Mutual Life of Canada. Apparently there were six apartments above the office. One of these was used by renowned West Coast artist Emily Carr as her studio.
It is not clear where William and Sadie moved to after they got married. This wedding announcement in the May 10, 1907 Daily News Advertiser and the following article from May 11th's Vancouver Daily World, would seem to indicate that Twiss had rented the property out to jeweller Herbert Cecil Armstrong.
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| Daily News Advertiser May 10, 1907 p. 2 |
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| Vancouver Daily World May 11, 1907 p. 11 |
However, this article on page 11 of The Province of May 9th indicates that the couple, upon their return from their honeymoon in Banff and Harrison Hot Spring, would be moving in to what had been the bride's parents' residence at 1105 Haro.
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The Province May 9, 1907 p. 11
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Did the Daily News Advertiser and the Daily World have it wrong? Was 1150 Haro a mistake or a typo? For whatever reason, the Armstrongs never moved in to 1150 Haro Street. Indeed, the 1908 Hendersons's City of Vancouver directory lists them as living at 1105 Haro Street.
The following short article from The Province showing that the Twiss family were entertaining Sadie Twiss' mother at 1150 Haro appeared little more than two months after the Armstrong-Foreman wedding.
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| The Province July 30, 1907, p. 7 |
From November 27 to December 8 the Province and Vancouver Daily World posted a number of want ads like the one below looking for a girl to do general housework.
1908
On January 23rd, 1908, a son was born to William and Sadie Twiss.
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| Daily News Advertiser January 24, 1908 p. 10 |
In May of 1908, Twiss advertised 1150 Haro for rent for $45 a month.
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| The Province Friday, May 28, 1908, p. 28 |
Again, a year later, in May of 1909, Twiss advertised 1150 Haro Street for rent for $45 a month, adding that he would sell the house "on easy terms".
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| Daily News Advertiser May 28, 1909 p. 12 |
On August 6th, this small ad appeared on page 22 of The Province advertising the sale of a solid oak baby buggy for $8.
By late 1909, the Twiss family had moved to another of Twiss' properties, 1137 Beach Avenue, an address later known as Sunset Beach Lodge. After the Twiss family moved out, 1150 Haro became home to grocer Joseph McTaggart and his wife Minerva.
Joseph and Minerva McTaggart were pioneer grocers here in Vancouver operating a grocery first at 809 Granville Street before moving operations 798 Granville on the opposite corner of Robson and Granville. For many years McTaggart's Grocery would often have a page corner ad on page 5 of the Province.
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| The Province November 8, 1910 p. 5 |
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| The Province December 2, 1910 p. 5 |
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| The Province December 20, 1910 p. 5 |
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| The Province December 29, 1910 p. 5 |
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| 1911 Canada Census showing the McTaggart family at 1150 Haro Street |
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| Detail from Plate 9 of Volume 1 of CVA Map 342 showing 1150 Haro in 1912 |
1917
Tragedy struck the family when Mr .McTaggart died of a heart attack while starting the engine of his car in front of the family house.
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| The Province Saturday, September 01, 1917, p. 1 |
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| Vancouver Daily World Saturday, September 1, 1917, p. 15 |
Minerva McTaggart continued to live at 1150 Harris for about a year after her husband's death. Sometime in 1919, she moved across the street to a house at 1023 Haro.
1920
The next time 1150 Haro made the newspapers was in 1920. This was the result of another tragedy, a horrific accident, which occurred in Calgary in which a seven year-old boy was killed attempting to ride an elevator in the Alberta Corner Building on Eighth Avenue and First Street West.
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| The Calgary Albertan, September 25, 1920 p. 3 |
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| The Calgary Albertan, September 27, 1920 p. 3 |
All the news articles printed in Calgary referred to Colin Harris' mother as a widow, however two Vancouver papers mentioned that his father, Roderick (or Frederick, depending on which article you read) James Harris of 1150 Haro Street, Vancouver, travelled to Calgary to attend the funeral.
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| Vancouver Daily World September 28, 1920 p. 14 |
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| Province September 29, 1920 p. 6 |
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| The Weekly Albertan September 29, p. 14 |
At the time this tragic incident happened in Calgary, the directory listing for 1150 Haro Street was under the name of a Mrs. Lillian Jepps. She shows up in the 1921 directory as well. Then in 1922, the spelling of her surname changes from Jepps to Jeff. It is obvious from these 1920 Vancouver Province want ads that 1150 Haro had become a rooming house.
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| Province January 9, 1920 p. 25 |
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| Province January 23, 1920 p. 24 |
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| Province June 10, 1920 p. 18 |
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| Province July 29, 1920 p. 14 |
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| Province November 8, 1920 p. 18 |
1927
The next time 1150 Haro makes it to the news is when one of its boarders, a Miss Dorothy Peacock, was robbed of her purse containing $7 while she was walking here the house. In 1927 the house was still a rooming house. From 1923 to 1931, it was managed by Frank G. Cormack and his wife Katherine.
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| The Province December 19, 1927 p. 4 |
1935
In 1935, 1150 Haro makes the news again, this time for a deadly fire aboard the seiner Bantry Bay which was captained by William Oram, a resident of 1150 Haro. Captain Oram survived the disaster but four of his crew drowned, including Captain Oram's 11 year-old stepson. Harry Pallant. From 1932 to 1937, the city directories list Estelle S. Pallant, a widow as owning and managing the rooming house at 1150 Haro Street. Harry must have been her son. By 1938, Estelle Pallant and William Oram were living at 1110 Pendrell.
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| Province Wednesday, July 3, 1935 p. 1 |
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| Vancouver Sun, Wednesday, July 3, 1935 p. 1 |
For the rest of the 1930s and 1940s 1150 Haro only appeared in newspapers in the form of want ads, usually advertising furnished rooms to let, or occasionally from unemployed residents seeking work, or the odd notice concerning a residents change in marital status.
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| Vancouver Sun February 20, 1936 p. 12 |
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| Vancouver Sun December 5, 1936 p. 19 |
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| Province January 6, 1942 p. 5 |
1954
In the 1954, the house made the headlines again with a stabbing involving a certain Harold Cummings, one of the residents.
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| Province Friday, September 24, 1954 p. 12 |
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| Vancouver Sun Friday, September 24, 1954 p. 17 |
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| Province Saturday, September 25, 1954 p. 1 |
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| Vancouver Sun, Thursday, October 14, 1954 p. 1 |
The stabbing was notorious enough for two notices, one in The Province and one in The Sun, to be posted by the Salvage Association, London, who wanted to ensure that an employee of theirs with a name similar to that of the victim in the stabbing was not confused with the stabbing victim.
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| Vancouver Sun, Saturday, October 16, 1954 p. 17 |
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| Province, Saturday, October 16, 1954 p. 28 |
1957
The next time the house makes the news is in 1957 when one of its residents is injured in a brawl. It seems that in 1950s Vancouver a British accent could earn you a beating.
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| Vancouver Sun Saturday, September 28, 1957 p. 23 |
1965
In 1965, one of the residents of the house, a man named Henry Armburst, goes missing. Several notices are posted in Vancouver papers during April and May of that year asking for anyone who knew his whereabouts. The surname Armburst does not turn up in the BC Archives vital events databank.
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| Vancouver Sun, Thursday April 29, 1965 p. 26 |
1967
In 1967, 1150 makes the headlines again, this time due to two jailbreakers being found and arrested at the house.
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| Province Thursday, July 6, 1967 |
1976
Finally, in 1976, a letter to the editor concerning rent controls written by a resident of 1150 Haro appears on page 5 of the April 5th Vancouver Sun.
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| Vancouver Sun Monday, April 5, 1976 p. 5 |
1150 Haro as it looked in December of 1985
CVA Photo 791-0727 Vancouver City Planning Department
2000
After more than seven decades as a rooming house, 1150 Haro Street was bought by Ron Glenn who spent seven years restoring the house to its Victorian splendour. John Mackie wrote this feature article on the house's restoration in The Sun.
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| Vancouver Sun Friday, August 11, 2000 p. 64 |
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| Vancouver Sun Friday, August 11, 2000 p. 65 |
2004
The following is an excerpt from a much larger article, again written by John Mackie, about the oldest houses still standing in the Great Vancouver area.
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| Excerpt from larger Vancouver Sun article from Tuesday, September 14, 2004 p. 7 |
As for those ads mentioned in the excerpt above; here are some samples of what can be found online.
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| Vancouver Daily World Saturday, March 8, 1890 p. 1 |
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| Daily News Advertiser Sunday, March 9, 1890 p. 1 |
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| Vancouver Daily World Tuesday, March 11, 1890 p. 1 |
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| Daily News Advertiser Tuesday, March 11, 1890 p. 1 |
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| Daily News Advertiser Sunday March 23, 1890 p. 1 |
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| Vancouver Daily World Monday, March 24, 1890 p. 1 |
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| Vancouver Daily World Tuesday, March 25, 1890 p. 1 |
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| Daily News Advertiser Sunday, March 30, 1890 p. 1 |
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| Daily News Advertiser Wednesday, May 21, 1890 p. 1 |
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| Daily News Advertiser Wednesday, August 13, 1890 p.1 |
You will note that many of the ads mention that 50 Haro Street is near Burrard Street when in fact 1150 Haro sits almost halfway between Thurlow and Bute Street. If we are to believe that the 50 Haro of 1890 is indeed the 1150 Haro of today, one would think that the ads would mention Thurlow or Bute Street, not Burrard. I am not saying that it is impossible that the first address of the house was 50 Haro. Stranger house numberings have happened. But given the fact the first block of Haro starts at Burrard Street and not at Thurlow, and the fact that most of the ads that mentioned 50 Haro talk about it being near Burrard would make that unlikely.
Finally, here is the Water Service Application for 1150 Haro Street which is dated August 12, 1889. This is a rare double application with two application numbers on one form. 696 apparently is the water service record for our house at 1150 Haro Street which was built on the East half of Lot 6 on block 20 of District Lot 185. The second number, 697 is the water service records for a house that stood two lots down the block at 1168 Haro which was to be built on the West half of Lot 8 of Block 20 of District Lot 185.
The only William Thompson in Vancouver mentioned in the 1889 British Columbia directories is a bridge carpenter residing at 137 East Hastings.
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| Williams BC Directory 1889 |
There is a very good chance though that the owner of the lot at the time water service was applied for in August of 1889 did not live in Vancouver but somewhere else in the Lower Mainland or on Vancouver Island. This is especially likely since the Water Service Application was signed for by a proxy, William D. Creighton. William D. Creighton was a partner in Creighton, Fraser & Company, ships chandlers whose premises were at 10 Water Street. He lived on Melville Street.
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| Vancouver Daily World July 20, 1889 p. 4 |
No doubt further research will turn up more interesting tidbits about this house. A land title search would certainly fill some gaps. For those of you who have not read Part 1 of this exploration of news articles related to 1150 Haro Street, here is a link.
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