Strathcona, Vancouver

541 Prior Street

In the 1940 city directory.

Frank E Hill, a longshoreman, shared 541 Prior Street in 1940 with four people under other surnames, each one named in the book.

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.

5
people the 1940 directory lists here, four of them named in the book
Still standing
today, by the City's records
1910
the year built, by the City's record

In 1940

The household

  • Frank E Hilla longshoreman · householderp. 272

Also at this address

  • Four more peopleunder other surnames, with each one's work: in the book

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

1940British Columbia and Yukon Directory

Streets

PRIOR

  1. 541Hill F Ep. 137

Names

  1. Hill Frank E lngshmn h541 Priorp. 272
The lines for 541 Prior Street in the 1940 directory, as we read them, with its abbreviations; each opens its page at the Vancouver Public Library. The name section prints h for a householder and r for someone who lives at the address.

The house today

541 Prior Street still has a building from before 1946, as does 544 across the street; the City's assessment record gives 1910 as its year built.

Since 1940

  1. 1965A major renovation, by BC Assessment's record.
  2. 1997–2024Licensed as an apartment house (licences on record start in 1997).
  3. 2021A building permit for demolition, valued at $15,000 (BP-2021-04691).
  4. 2024A building permit for a new building, valued at $800,000 (BP-2023-04288).

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 500 block of Prior Street on Goad's 1912 fire insurance map, with 541 marked
The 500 block of Prior Street, between Malkin and Princess Avenues, on Goad's fire insurance map of 1912; the map may print the street under an older name. The ring marks 541, placed from the City's address point today (inferred). Georectified by the City of Vancouver (Open Government Licence – Vancouver).

The 500 block in 1940

Prior Street between Malkin and Princess Avenues, 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, 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.

541 Prior Street, Strathcona, Vancouver, is in the 1940 city directory. A building from before 1946 still stands there: the City's record gives 1910 as the year built.

Source: AddressLore, addresslore.com/house/541-prior, from Vancouver's city directories (Vancouver Public Library) and City of Vancouver open data.

Download the share card

The share card for 541 Prior Street

The book of 541 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, with the four people here in 1940 under other surnames whom this page doesn't name, 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.