Strathcona, Vancouver

331 Prior Street

In the 1940 city directory.

The 1940 directory prints “Orientals” at 331 Prior Street instead of names. For many Chinese, Japanese and other residents, the canvassers printed a group label like this instead of their names.

Reserve this house's book, freeIts history in every directory we hold from 1901 to 1945, each line with its page, to read here or save as a PDF. Read for this address so far: 1940. The book reads the other 19 directories we hold. About $29 when orders open. The City Archives charges $25 a year searched, a house historian $300 to $550 or more.

Rebuilt in 1973
today, by the City's records

In 1940

The directory prints “Orientals” here instead of names.

Prior Street is read from the 1940 directory, street section and name section, line by line.

1940British Columbia and Yukon Directory

Streets

PRIOR

  1. 331Orientalsp. 137
The lines for 331 Prior Street in the 1940 directory, as we read them, with its abbreviations; each opens its page at the Vancouver Public Library.

The house today

The building the 1940 directory knew is gone: the City dates the building at 331 now to 1973; two doors along, 339 still has one from before 1946, one of two on the block.

Since 1940

  1. 1973Today's building goes up, by the City's record.

From City of Vancouver open data (Open Government Licence – Vancouver): the property tax report (BC Assessment's years, approximate for old buildings), business licences from 1997 (the kind of business only), issued building permits from 2017 and the heritage register.

The 300 block of Prior Street on Goad's 1912 fire insurance map, with 331 marked
The 300 block of Prior Street, on Goad's fire insurance map of 1912; the map may print the street under an older name. The ring marks 331, placed from the City's address point today (inferred). Georectified by the City of Vancouver (Open Government Licence – Vancouver).

The 300 block in 1940

Prior Street, Strathcona: every door the 1940 directory lists on the block, the way it prints them, and what stands at each today. This house is marked in red.

Prior Street, the 300 blockas the 1940 directory lists it, door by door, and what stands there today

*: some member of the family owns the property, to the best of our knowledge (the directory's own mark, printed from 1935)

South side, even numbers

  1. 310Great Western Smeltinggone

Prior Street, block by block

Quote this house

One line with its source, for a listing, a talk or a family tree. A link to this page shows the card below wherever it's shared.

331 Prior Street, Strathcona, Vancouver, is in the 1940 city directory. The building there today dates from 1973, by the City's record.

Source: AddressLore, addresslore.com/house/331-prior, from Vancouver's city directories (Vancouver Public Library) and City of Vancouver open data.

Download the share card

The share card for 331 Prior Street

The book of 331 Prior Street

Every directory, as one book

The book reads this address in each Vancouver directory we hold from 1901 to 1945: who lived here year by year, their work from the name sections, the block around it, and the page behind every line, to read here or save as a PDF to print or give.

We're opening orders soon. Join the list to be first in line; we expect about $29 a house.

The City Archives search records for $25 a year searched. A hired house historian charges $300 to $550 or more.

Sources

The 1940 city directory (British Columbia and Yukon Directory), street and name sections, read by us line by line (Vancouver Public Library, BC City Directories); each line above links its page. Today's buildings: City of Vancouver Open Data (property tax report 2026, property addresses, Vancouver Heritage Register; Open Government Licence – Vancouver). The City's year built is BC Assessment's figure and can be approximate for old houses. The 1912 plate: Goad's Fire Insurance Map, georectified by the City of Vancouver. Something wrong, or a name you'd like removed? Tell us.