In 1940, 686 West 8th Avenue is Beaumont Block, with 16 suites and households listed under it. Its name section lists 15 people here: Gordon M Armstrong, a warehouseman at Alcock Downing & Wright; Steph J Bingham, a mechanic; and 13 others. The street section prints one more name the name section doesn't list: J E Work. Its name section lists two more people here under other surnames too.
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.
- 18
- people the 1940 directory lists here, two of them named in the book
- Address gone
- today, by the City's records
In 1940
The street section
- 17 linesBeaumont Block and its suites and households, each on the page beside
The household
- Gordon M Armstronga warehouseman at Alcock Downing & Wright · householder · suite 5p. 19
- Steph J Binghama mechanic · householder · suite 18p. 48
- Francis H Copea clerk at the Canadian Bank of Commerce · householder · suite 4p. 126
- Don H Corbetta fireman · householder · suite 8p. 126
- Alex Dobbiea salesman · householder · suite 1p. 162
- G Fraserhouseholder · suite 16p. 208
- Alma Fridulina ward assistant at the Vancouver General Hospital · householder · suite 19p. 211
- Mrs Bella Goldsteinan operator at the Jantzen Knit Mills · householder · suite 17p. 228
- James S Graya clerk at Woodward's · householder · suite 11p. 237
- Mrs A E Hewitthouseholder · suite 12p. 270
- Vernon E Macdonalda window cleaner · householder · suite 3p. 373
- Gordon E P O'Learya fuel dealer · householder · suite 15p. 470
- Harry P Philipa salesman · householder · suite 9p. 492
- John Whitea dogger at Alberta Lumber · householder · suite 2p. 655
Also under the McLeod name
- McLeodhouseholder · suite 6p. 392
Only in the street section
- J E Worksuite 7p. 194
Also at this address
- Two more peopleunder other surnames, with each one's work: in the book
West 8th Avenue is read from the 1940 directory, street section and name section, line by line.
1940British Columbia and Yukon Directory
Streets
WEST 8TH
- 686Beaumont Block aptsp. 194
- 6861Dobbie Ap. 194
- 6862White Jp. 194
- 6863Macdonald V Ep. 194
- 6864Cope F Hp. 194
- 6865Armstrong G Mp. 194
- 6866McLeodp. 194
- 6867Work J Ep. 194
- 6868Corbett D Hp. 194
- 6869Philip H Pp. 194
- 68611Gray J Sp. 195
- 68612Hewitt Mrs A Ep. 195
- 68615O'Leary G E Pp. 195
- 68616Fraser Gp. 195
- 68617Goldstein Mrs Bp. 195
- 68618Bingham S Jp. 195
- 68619Fridulin Miss Ap. 195
Names
- Armstrong Gordon M whsmn Alcock Downing & Wright h5, 686 West 8thp. 19
- Bingham Steph J mech h18, 686 West 8thp. 48
- Cope Francis H clk CB of C h4, 686 West 8thp. 126
- Corbett Don H firmn h8, 686 West 8thp. 126
- Dobbie Alex slsmn h1, 686 West 8thp. 162
- Fraser G h16, 686 West 8thp. 208
- Fridulin Alma ward asst Van Genl Hosp h19, 686 West 8thp. 211
- Goldstein Mrs Bella opr Jantzen Knit Mills h17, 686 West 8thp. 228
- Gray Jas S clk Woodwards h11, 686 West 8thp. 237
- Hewitt Mrs A E h12, 686 West 8thp. 270
- Macdonald Vernon E window clnr h3, 686 West 8thp. 373
- O'Leary Gordon E P fuel dlr h15, 686 West 8thp. 470
- Philip Harry P slsmn h9, 686 West 8thp. 492
- White John dogger Alberta Lbr h2, 686 West 8thp. 655
- McLeod h6, 686 West 8thp. 392
The building today
Not one of the 13 addresses the 1940 directory lists on the 600 block of West 8th Avenue is on the City's list today, so the building at 686 is probably gone (inferred).
The 600 block in 1940
West 8th Avenue between Ash and Heather Streets, Fairview: 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.
West 8th Avenue, the 600 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)
North side, odd numbers
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.
686 West 8th Avenue, Fairview, Vancouver, is in the 1940 city directory. The City no longer lists the address.
Source: AddressLore, addresslore.com/house/686-west-8th-avenue, from Vancouver's city directories (Vancouver Public Library) and City of Vancouver open data.
The book of 686 West 8th Avenue
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 two 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.
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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. Something wrong, or a name you'd like removed? Tell us.