Style: Late Victorian
Constructed: 1914
Architect: It has the features of an Alexander Carrie designed home.
The house was constructed for Florence McKinnon*, wife of Captain Lachlan McKinnon.
According to the City of Nelson Plumbing Records the application was made on 18 May 1914. I suspect the land was sold to the McKinnon family in mid to late 1913, after the 1913 Assessment and the house was constructed and completed after the 1914 Assessment date. This would explain why the value appears on the 1915 Roll. In 1914 the assessed value of Lot 4 is $1,600.00. The house first appears in 1915 and is assessed at $3,000.00; the lot remains at the same value.
The lot was sold by R. Cameron McLeod of Vancouver, B.C. This was one of several lots purchased by Mr. McLeod on speculation.
Mary Florence Brennan was born in Ottawa, Ontario on 16 August 1873. She married Lachlan McKinnon in New Westminster in 1891. I am unable to verify the birth and marriage dates as neither appear in the databases searched. Mary Florence died in Nelson on 22 February 1960, age 86 years.
Lachlan McKinnon was born on Prince Edward Island in 1869. He died in Nelson on 21 June 1922, age 53 years.
In 1897 they moved to Nakusp, B.C. and in 1900 moved to Nelson, B.C. Captain McKinnon was a Captain of various lake boats.
The McKinnon family had 3 children: Elizabeth A., Leo Sylvester Barrett and Cliff G. J.
Leo Sylvester Barrett was born on 16 January 1892 in New Westminster; married Florence Mary Choquette on 01 October 1919 in Nelson; and, died on 09 June 1979, age 87 years in Vancouver, B.C. Florence McKinnon died 03 March 1978 age 80 years, in Vancouver, B.C. They had at least 1 son, Leo Joseph, born in 1919, died 15 August 2002, age 81 years in Vancouver, B.C.
Elizabeth A. was born on 28 May 1899 in Revelstoke, B.C. and died on 06 November 1978, age 79 years in Nelson, B.C.
Cliff G.J. was born 08 August 1900 in Arrowhead, B.C. No further information is available at this time.
The Fire Insurance Map of 1899 shows a vacant lot while the Map of 1923 shows the house sitting on Lot 4.
Today the house serves as a Hostel.
* In 1873 women who owned property in British Columbia became the first in Canada to secure the right to vote in Municipal Elections.