719 Latimer Street

The research on this particular piece of property was quite difficult as the street numbers fluctuated between 719 and 723 until 1936. In 1936 723 became 719 Latimer Street. It was at this time that the numbers were standardized in the City to allow for the home delivery of mail.

The lots were also realigned to conform to the City survey. As well, the street numbers assigned to the Insurance Maps prior to 1936 were added after the street numbers had been standardized adding to more confusion. In addition there were "fuzzy" memories which added to the mix. The initial Heritage Register researched the property, I researched the property three times, and then I researched two more times with Shawn Lamb, Archivist, to ensure accuracy.

On the Fire Insurance Map of 1899 a small wooden structure appears. The structure was a one storey, wooden building with a stove pipe. There is no designation for a roof, but I suspect it was of wood.

This structure was not in the 1899 Assessment Rolls for the City of Nelson (03 May 1899), but appears as of July 1899 on the Fire Insurance Map. The structure was erected between the 04 May 1899 and 31 July 1899.

On the 1900 Assessment Rolls the structure was assessed at $200.00. This building was likely a shed or a shack. In 1898 the property was owned by Dr. E.C. Arthur, M.D.(left, below). It appears to be property bought on speculation.

By 1901 the structure has disappeared. It likely burned down or was just removed. As Dr. Arthur was involved with the local fire company I would not be a bit surprized if it was used in a fire drill.

In 1913 the property was purchased from Dr. Arthur by William J. Murphy. There was no house on the property. A house was built on Lot 14 between the end of May 1914 and the date of the new assessment in 1915. The 1915 Directory for the City of Nelson shows the Murphy family at 723 Latimer Street.

In 1915 the assessed value of the house was $2500.00, while lot 13 was $330.00 and lot 14 $245.00. The house was built on lot 14. Please note that the lots on Silica Street and above are approximately one and one half lots in size. When the city was first surveyed the lots below Silica were more standardized, thus smaller. It does not appear that the Insurance Maps took this into consideration or perhaps, they too had the numbers added at a later date.

To add further confusion Nelson often changed the physical addresses of the houses on the corners of cross streets. One year they would be located on, for example, Latimer and the next year on Hendryx. This was common practice until the city formalized the city survey.

By 1919 the house and property are in the name of Lydia A. Murphy", wife of William J. Murphy.

William James Murphy died on September 17, 1919 at the age of 63 years. As Mr. Murphy died after a lengthy illness it is likely he died at the home.
 
Mrs. Murphy purchased Lot 15 in the interval between the 1924 and 1925 Assessments. The lot was owned by A. L. McCulloch, the City Engineer.
 

The Directories show the Murphy family living at #723 from 1915 until 1936. In 1936 the City standardized the street numbers to facilitate home mail delivery. In the 1937 Directory the Murphys now live at 719 Latimer and subsequent directories have then there well into the 1950s.  The book, Nelson: A Proposal for Urban Heritage Conservation lists the house on page 160 as Nelson Residential 1 C List.

 

Lydia A. Murphy died in Nelson on 30 May 1948 at the age of 85 years.
 
*In 1873 women who owned property in British Columbia became the first in Canada to secure the right to vote in Municipal Elections.

The 1899 City of Nelson Fire Insurance Map and the photograph of Dr. Edward Charles Arthur, M.D., circa 1900, are courtesy of the Shawn Lamb Archives, http://www.touchstonesnelson.ca/ ; Murphy Obituary, The Nelson Daily News, 01 June 1948.