Style: Vernacular with Arts and Crafts features
Constructed: 1908
1906 Assessment Records
Owner: G.F. and W.W. Beer (known as the Beer Brothers)
Lot 22 assessed value: $250.00
Lot 23 assessed value: $250.00
Lot 24 assessed value: $300.00
1907
November 26, 1907 the lot was divided into North and South and sold. George McKeown purchased North ½ lots 22, 23 and 24.
Owner: George McKeown
North ½ of Lots 22, 23 and 24
Lot 22 assessed value: $300.00
Lot 23 assessed value: $300.00
Lot 24 assessed value: $350.00
1908
Owner: George McKeown
Lot 22 assessed value: $150.00
Lot 23 assessed value: $150.00
Lot 24 assessed value: $200.00
House: $2000.00
Robert George McKeown was born on 10 May 1862 in Ontario, Canada to Arthur and Clarinda McKeown. It is likely he was born in Seymour, Northumberland County, Ontario.
On the 1881 Census of Seymour, Northumberland East, the McKeowns were a farming family of five children.
Arthur McKeown was an Irish Immigrant. I suspect he arrived in Ontario with his parents during the time of the Irish Famine. There is no record of him on the 1851 Census.
Robert George McKeown married Sarah Matilda Sturgeon on 07 February 1894 in North Elmsley, Lanark County, Ontario. Sarah was the daughter of Thomas H. and Jane Sturgeon, nee Cullen. She was born on 29 September 1874 at North Elmsley, Ontario.
Robert was a resident of the United States at the time of the marriage; Sarah, of North Elmsley, Ontario. They started their married life in St. Cloud, Minnesota where Robert was employed with the Railway.
Clarence Ellwood McKeown was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota on 30 June 1895. A sister, Gladys, was born on 23 June 1897.
Sometime after June 1900 or early in 1901 the family had moved to Rossland, British Columbia.
On the1901 Census of Canada, the family is living in Rossland, B.C. Robert is listed as a Brakeman.
On 31 January 1904 Sarah Matilda (Tillie) McKeown died in Trail, B.C. Robert was now widowed with Clarence,10 and Gladys, 8 years of age.
At some point during 1904 -1905 Robert and family moved to Nelson, B.C. As the C.P.R. was a large employer in the City this move was likely for employment purposes.
In an on-line family tree Robert George McKeown and Elizabeth Clara Leggett were married on 12 December 1905 in Newboro, Ontario. This family tree is rife with misinformation so the marriage date is questionable. There are no supporting documents and the marriage is not listed in the Register of Marriages for Ontario.
According to the Obituary of Elizabeth Clara McKeown she arrived in Nelson in 1905 and married Robert George McKeown later that year. There is no marriage registered in the database of British Columbia Marriages.
It does appear Elizabeth arrived in Nelson in 1905 and entered into a relationship with Robert McKeown. They were not strangers as Elizabeth was a first cousin of Sarah Matilda, the first wife of Robert McKeown. Their respective parents were siblings.
Elizabeth was born on 25 January 1876 in South Crosby, Leeds County, Ontario to Thomas and Sarah Leggett, nee Sturgeon. At the time of the 1881 Census Elizabeth was the fourth of seven children. They were a farming family.
It was not uncommon for a sister or close family member to come to the assistance of a Widower with young children.
Georgia Ethel McKeown was born in Nelson on 09 October 1906. A sister, Myrtle Gordon, was born on 06 December 1907.
On the 1911 Census the family is living at 45 Hendryx Street, Nelson, B.C. (Note the houses were renumbered at a later date.)
Robert George McKeown continued to be employed in rail transportation, ending his career as a Conductor on the City of Nelson car lines. He died, in his home at 715 Hendryx Street, of Myocarditis, on 22 September 1932. He was buried in the Nelson Cemetery on 26 September 1932.
Lot 22 assessed value: $550.00
Lot 23 assessed value: $550.00
Lot 24 assessed value: $550.00
House assessed value: $2650.00
The house is still owned by Elizabeth McKeown, but she is resident at #202, The Terrace Apartments, Nelson, B.C.
1942
Lot 22 assessed value: $550.00
Lot 23 assessed value: $550.00
Lot 24 assessed value: $550.00
House assessed value: $2650.00
According to the City Directory, School Teacher, J. Claire Loomer and family resided in the house as of 1943. The Loomers resided in the home until 1958. The son was an Olympic athlete.
1958
The new owner is now Willard M.O. Pederson and Doris Pederson.
Lot 22 assessed value: $400.00
Lot 23 assessed value: $400.00
Lot 24 assessed value: $400.00
House assessed value: $2540.00
Elizabeth Clara McKeown died at Kootenay Lake Hospital on 28 October 1965 of Bronchial Pneumonia. She was buried, next to her husband, on 01 November 1965.
It appears the children gradually left home. Clarence moved to Ontario where he was drafted under the Military Services Act of 1917 into the Canadian Expeditionary Forces at Smiths Falls, on 20 October 1917. He returned to Nelson briefly after the war as indicated in the Directory of 1920. In 1930 he appears on the U.S. Census of St. Paul, Minnesota working as a Cook in a restaurant. By the late 1940s he is a resident of Glendora City, County of Los Angeles, California. He appears to have married by 1952, as a wife, Eleanor, now appears on the Voter’s List and is resident at the same address. He died in San Diego in February 1974.
Gladys appears in the 1930 U.S. Census of Los Angeles, California married to one Arthur Christiansen. There are no children listed. Gladys died on 11 October 1984 at San Diego, California. Arthur died on 07 February 1984 at San Diego, California.
According to her Obituary Georgia married Philip Robinson in August 1942. This date is questionable as Georgia regularly made trips over the Canada/U.S. Border into Washington State as a single woman as late as 1946. I suspect the date should read 1947. Prior to this she lived with her Mother and taught school in the area. She died in Kelowna, B.C. on 21 November 1995.
Myrtle Gordon McKeown moved to Ontario as a young lady. She was employed at a major Trust Company until her retirement. Following the death of her sister, Georgia, she moved to Kelowna, B.C. in 1996. Myrtle died in Kelowna on 03 November 2004 and is buried in Summerland, B.C.
This house is a fine example of how tales reside behind the simplest of walls. Take the time to listen!
