Style: Late Victorian
Constructed: 1900
1900
Lot 15: $750.00
Owner: D. McGillivray and R.G. Tatlow, Vancouver, B.C.
Lot 16:$700.00 revised down to $600.00
Owner: Mrs. Laura Hawkey*
The house was not constructed until May of 1900, after the Assessment. The Plumbing Permit #488, dated 14 May 1900 states the house was “under construction” as of that date. The Nelson Daily Miner of Friday May 11, 1900 stated ”Dr. Hawkey has begun the erection of small cottage on Silica Street between the Phair Hotel annex and the Nelson Club.”
I strongly suspect the house plans were drawn by Alexander Carrie, Architect. The house has all the design characteristics of a Carrie home, steep pitch of the roof, the dormer type windows, front porch area, the lines, etc. As well, Dr. Hawkey was in partnership with Dr. Hall. Dr. Hall was a very good friend of Alexander Carrie, as well as being his mining and prospecting partner. I would think if advice were requested as to which Architect Mr. Carrie’s would be the first name mentioned.
Dr. Hawkey was a teacher in the Victoria School District of Vancouver Island from approximately 1890 to 1894 when he left to attend Medical School in the eastern United States. He had immigrated to Canada from Cornwall, England circa 1886. Prior to leaving for Medical School, Richard Hawkey married one Isabella Scott on 30 August 1893. There is no indication Isabella Hawkey accompanied him to Nelson in 1897. On 04 August 1899 he married Mrs. Laura Brown of Nelson, B.C., in Spokane, Washington. This appears to be a second marriage for both as Mrs. Brown had a son from a previous marriage.
In the 1901 Assessment Roll the 317 Silica Street house consisted of:
4 rooms
1 bath
1 water closet
1 Hose (for fire prevention)
Dr. Hawkey was a man of means and one of many responsibilities. He would have to have made house calls, rounds of his patients and night deliveries of babies, etc. I strongly suspect that he would have owned a carriage and horse. Although, there was a livery close by I doubt it would be open around the clock. There may have been a small stable at the back of the property on the alleyway. As there was a back entry to the house it is likely the residents entered from the rear or alleyway. This would support the suggestion of a small stable or structure which held a horse and/or carriage.
Dr. and Mrs. Hawkey are resident at 706 Stanley Street in 1910. They remained in the same upscale neighbourhood, but likely had a quieter location as it was that much further removed from the Nelson Club.
Mrs. Hawkey sold to F. Walsh in 1909. Sometime after the Assessment of 1911, but before the 1911 Census the house was sold to Albert P. Lorash and his wife Mary Elizabeth. Mr. Lorash was in Real Estate Sales. I believe they were in residence at the time of the June 1911 Census. The area on the Census appears to list one residence in that particular section of the City. For the purposes of the Census the other sites on the block would not be considered residences as one was the Nelson Club and the other the property of the Church.
On 15 October 1912 Lot 16 was sold to James Balding.
1913 and 1914
Lot 16: $660.00
House: $2000.00
Owner: James Balding
On 06 May 1916 Mr. Balding sold to Etta May Hoare.* William H. Hoare and his wife Etta May, nee Campbell, had two young children, Florence, 1905, and Charles, 1908, when they took up residence at 317 Silica Street. This house was to become their family home for approximately 30 years. Mr. Hoare worked as a Conductor for the Canadian Pacific Railroad.
1923
Lot 15 (East 15 feet; West 10 feet):$450+$325.00: $775.00
Owner: William Higgins Hoare
Lot 16: $660.00
House: $2200.00
Owner: Etta May Hoare*
1938
Lot 15:$360.00
Lot 16: $840.00
House: $2200.00
Owner: William Higgins Hoare
1942:
Lot 15 (East 15 feet X 120; and, West 10 feet 35 X 120): $360.00
Lot 16: $840.00
House: $2200.00
Owner: W.H. Hoare
A Land Title transfer shows the property sold by Mr. Hoare to Robert Dickson Barnes and his wife, Mary Isabella Barnes* in 1942. The Assessment Record shows the name of W.H. Hoare with a line through it. It would likely be safe to assume that at the time of the Assessment Mr. and Mrs. Barnes owned the property. Robert Dickson Barnes was a three term Mayor of the City of Nelson, Freeman of the City and a Civic Leader.
Mr. Hoare disappears from the City Directory and as a resident of 317 Silica Street in 1946 and no death record in British Columbia can be located.
Directories:
1907 Henderson’s B.C. Gazetteer and Directory:
Dr. R.J. Hawkey, Silica Street
1913 and 1914 City of Nelson Directory:
W.H. Hoare, 317 Silica Street
1919 Wrigley’s Directory:
W.H. Hoare, Conductor, C.P.R. 317 Silica Street
1922 to 1945 inclusive;
W.H. Hoare, 317 Silica Street
1950 – 1951 Nelson City Directory:
Cruickshank, Lyall (Daisy B.) Manager and Secretary of Kootenay Lake General Hospital, 317 Silica Street, Telephone Number: 1439L
I was not able to find Mr. and/or Mrs. Barnes residing at 317 Silica Street, but they may have not subscribed to the directory service.
This house has withstood the test of time which is a positive comment on the quality of design, construction, ownership and the natural resources of the West Kootenays. Now if the walls could talk imagine the stories they would tell!
* In 1873 women who owned property in British Columbia became the first in Canada to secure the right to vote in Municipal Elections.
The clipping regarding construction is courtesy of The Nelson Daily Miner, 11 May 1900; the Hawkey Obituary is courtesy of the Hamilton Spectator, 09 March 1943; the Balding Obituary is courtesy of the Nelson Daily News, 04 July 1931; the Hoare Obituary, the Nelson Daily News, 19 May 1937; and, the Barnes Obituary, the Nelson Daily News, 07 June 1964.