1618 Victoria Drive â A Little History
1618 Victoria Drive – A Little History 1618 Victoria Drive is one of four houses on the 1600-block of Victoria Drive built by the firm of Alex Munro & Son in 1909. Contractor Alex Munro applied for a building permit for 1602, 1606, 1612 and 1618 on April 27, 1909. Estimated cost to build all four houses was $6000, so 1618 Victoria Drive cost $1500 to build. In 1909 Alex Munro lived with his son contractor and builder John M. Munro at 1760 Parker. 1618 Victoria Drive and its three neighbours first appear in the city directories in 1910. The first resident listed at 1618 Victoria Drive is customs officer, Charles Hammond Wood. According to the 1911 Canadian census and other sources, Charles Hammond Wood was born in Ogdensberg, New York on September 17, 1861 and came to Canada in 1885. His parents were Wallace Warren H. Wood and Abigail Ellsworth. Charles’ wife, Isabella Craig Hamilton, was born in Chelsea, Quebec on July 16 of 1866 the daughter of James K. and Jane C. Petric Hamilton. They were married in Stormont, Ontario on November 29, 1893. Their two daughters, Reta and Grace, and their son Charles Ellsworth were all born in Ontario. The Woods lived at 1618 Victoria Drive until 1933, the year Charles passed away.
How the neighbourhood looked in 1913, three years after 1618 Victoria Drive was built. Note Kitchener Street’s original name Bismark.
How the neighbourhood looked in September 1927. Note the Storefront at 1602 Victoria Drive and the Bank of Commerce Vaults at 1943 First Avenue.
1618 Victoria Drive – Grandview LOT D of 1 & 2, BLOCK 138 C5 of D.L. 264A 1908 1909
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Undeveloped Lot #13235 Water service is applied for by Alex Munro on April 27, 1909 Under Construction Charles H. & Isabella Wood1 His Majesty’s Customs Reta Wood Grace Isabel Wood Charles Ellsworth Wood Charles H. & Isabella Wood His Majesty’s Customs Reta Wood Grace Isabel Wood Charles Ellsworth Wood Charles H. & Isabella Wood Landing Waiter, Customs Reta Wood Grace Isabel Wood Charles Ellsworth Wood Charles H. & Isabella Wood Exam Officer, Customs Reta Wood Grace Isabel Wood Charles Ellsworth Wood Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Reta Wood Grace Isabel Wood Charles Ellsworth Wood Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Reta Wood Grace Isabel Wood Charles Ellsworth Wood Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Reta Wood Grace Isabel Wood Charles Ellsworth Wood Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Reta Wood Grace Isabel Wood Charles Ellsworth Wood Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Grace Isabel Wood
In 1909 Charles Hammond Wood worked as a warehouseman at Kelly Douglas & Co. and bedded at the Burrard Hotel. According to the 1911 Canadian census and other sources, Charles Hammond Wood was born in Ogdensberg, New York on September 17, 1861 and came to Canada in 1885. His parents were Wallace Warren H. Wood and Abigail Ellsworth. Charles’ wife, Isabella Craig Hamilton, was born in Chelsea, Quebec on July 16 of 1866 the daughter of James K. and Jane C. Petric Hamilton. They were married in Stormont, Ontario on November 29, 1893. Their two daughters, Reta and Grace, and their son Charles Ellsworth were all born in Ontario.
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Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Grace Isabel Wood Student Charles H. & Isabella Wood Clerk, Customs Grace Isabel Wood Teacher, Hastings School Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Grace Isabel Wood Teacher, Hastings School Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Grace Isabel Wood2 Teacher, Hastings School Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Charles H. & Isabella Wood Examiner, Customs Charles H. & Isabella Wood Retired Charles H. & Isabella Wood Retired Charles H. & Isabella Wood3 Retired Vacant Thomas W. & Mary L. Whitman Retired Log Scaler
On September 12, 1922, 26 year-old teacher, Grace Isabel Wood married 22 year-old Nanaimo, BC-born marine engineer Norman Turner at her parents’ home 1618 Victoria Drive. The Rev. Alex Esler, Presbyterian, presided. 3 Charles Hammond Wood died of a heart attack at home at 1618 Victoria on February 8, 1933 at the age of 75. He was buried in Ocean View Burial Park. Isabella continued to live in the house for a while before moving to Victoria.
How the neighbourhood looked in 1913, three years after 1618 Victoria Drive was built. Note Kitchener Street’s original name Bismark.
How the neighbourhood looked in September 1927. Note the Storefront at 1602 Victoria Drive and the Bank of Commerce Vaults at 1943 First Avenue.
1618 Victoria Drive – Grandview LOT D of 1 & 2, BLOCK 138 C5 of D.L. 264A 1908 1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1914
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Undeveloped Lot #13235 Water service is applied for by Alex Munro on April 27, 1909 Under Construction Charles H. & Isabella Wood1 His Majesty’s Customs Reta Wood Grace Isabel Wood Charles Ellsworth Wood Charles H. & Isabella Wood His Majesty’s Customs Reta Wood Grace Isabel Wood Charles Ellsworth Wood Charles H. & Isabella Wood Landing Waiter, Customs Reta Wood Grace Isabel Wood Charles Ellsworth Wood Charles H. & Isabella Wood Exam Officer, Customs Reta Wood Grace Isabel Wood Charles Ellsworth Wood Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Reta Wood Grace Isabel Wood Charles Ellsworth Wood Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Reta Wood Grace Isabel Wood Charles Ellsworth Wood Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Reta Wood Grace Isabel Wood Charles Ellsworth Wood Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Reta Wood Grace Isabel Wood Charles Ellsworth Wood Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Grace Isabel Wood
In 1909 Charles Hammond Wood worked as a warehouseman at Kelly Douglas & Co. and bedded at the Burrard Hotel. According to the 1911 Canadian census and other sources, Charles Hammond Wood was born in Ogdensberg, New York on September 17, 1861 and came to Canada in 1885. His parents were Wallace Warren H. Wood and Abigail Ellsworth. Charles’ wife, Isabella Craig Hamilton, was born in Chelsea, Quebec on July 16 of 1866 the daughter of James K. and Jane C. Petric Hamilton. They were married in Stormont, Ontario on November 29, 1893. Their two daughters, Reta and Grace, and their son Charles Ellsworth were all born in Ontario.
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1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935
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Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Grace Isabel Wood Student Charles H. & Isabella Wood Clerk, Customs Grace Isabel Wood Teacher, Hastings School Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Grace Isabel Wood Teacher, Hastings School Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Grace Isabel Wood2 Teacher, Hastings School Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Charles H. & Isabella Wood Customs Officer Charles H. & Isabella Wood Examiner, Customs Charles H. & Isabella Wood Retired Charles H. & Isabella Wood Retired Charles H. & Isabella Wood3 Retired Vacant Thomas W. & Mary L. Whitman Retired Log Scaler
On September 12, 1922, 26 year-old teacher, Grace Isabel Wood married 22 year-old Nanaimo, BC-born marine engineer Norman Turner at her parents’ home 1618 Victoria Drive. The Rev. Alex Esler, Presbyterian, presided. 3 Charles Hammond Wood died of a heart attack at home at 1618 Victoria on February 8, 1933 at the age of 75. He was buried in Ocean View Burial Park. Isabella continued to live in the house for a while before moving to Victoria.
