A family name in Vancouver's city directories
The Behnsens
In the city directories 1940 · three people at two addresses
The directories print three people named Behnsen at two addresses in 1940 in two of the city's neighbourhoods. No first name or initials tie one address to the other: we can't tell if they're one family.
Reserve this family's book, freeThe name in every directory we hold from 1901 to 1945, at every address, each line with its page, to read here or save as a PDF. About $29 when orders open.
Where the Behnsens lived
- 1
1225 Davie Street
West End, 1940
- Mrs N Behnsen, widow of C C 1940
- Frank W Behnsen, a clerk at the City of Vancouver 1940
Next door in 1940: F J Brooks at 1223 and Mrs M Keegan at 1243. The block, door by door
- 2
2038 West 43rd Avenue
Kerrisdale, 1940
- F H Behnsen, a clerk at the BC Government 1940
Next door in 1940: E T Searle at 2028 and F Hunt at 2050. The block, door by door
What they did
The name section prints a trade for two of the three: a clerk (2). One is a widow, listed under her own name.
Their neighbourhoods
The addresses are in Kerrisdale and West End. Each neighbourhood's page shows its trades, its people and every street in it, the way the directory printed them.
The story, address by address
In 1940 the directory lists Mrs N Behnsen, rooms to let, at 1225 Davie Street. The 1940 name section, where each person's work is printed, lists Nan Behnsen there, widow of C C, with Frank W Behnsen, a clerk at the City of Vancouver. In 1940 the directory lists F H Behnsen at 2038 West 43rd Avenue; the 1940 line is marked *: some member of the family owns the property, to the best of our knowledge (the directory's own mark). The 1940 name section lists Frank H Behnsen there as the householder, a clerk at the BC Government.
Today
2038 West 43rd (1985) has a newer building, by the City's record; the City no longer lists 1225 Davie, so that building is probably gone (inferred).
Every line as printed
All 5 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
- Behnsen Mrs N rooms1225 Davie, p. 41
- Behnsen Frank W clk Van City1225 Davie, p. 39
- Behnsen Nan wid C C rooms1225 Davie, p. 39
- *Behnsen F H2038 West 43rd, p. 260
- Behnsen Frank H clk BC Govt2038 West 43rd, p. 39
British Columbia and Yukon Directory, street section
The book of the Behnsens
Every directory, as one book
The family book reads the Behnsen name in each Vancouver directory we hold from 1901 to 1945: everyone printed under it at every address, their work from the name sections, who lived next door, 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 family.
Another name, or a house
Sources
Henderson's and successor city directories for Vancouver, read by us line by line: the street sections for 1905, 1915, 1925, 1935, 1940 and 1945, and the name section for 1930 and 1940 where we've read it (Vancouver Public Library, BC City Directories). Names are shown through 1945, as printed. Close spellings are grouped, as on the house pages, since a family's name was often spelled differently from one year to the next; one name can still be several families, and we join lines only where the first names or initials agree. Many Chinese, Japanese and other residents weren't named by the canvassers, so they can't be listed by name: their houses' pages say where. More family names under B. Want a name removed? Tell us.