A family name in Vancouver's city directories
The Bettses
In the city directories 1940 · 15 people at twelve addresses
The directories print 15 people named Betts at twelve addresses in 1940 in nine of the city's neighbourhoods. No first name or initials tie one address to another: we can't tell if they're one family. The most under one roof: three Bettses at 2786 Dundas in 1940.
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 Bettses lived
- 1
2875 Alder Street
Fairview, 1940
- Margaret E Betts, a clerk at the BC Electric Railway 1940
Next door in 1940: M A Atkinson at 2851. The block, door by door
- 2
2786 Dundas Street
Hastings-Sunrise, 1940
- A W Betts, a mechanic at the City of Vancouver 1940
- Martin A Betts, a steward 1940
- Walter E Betts 1940
Next door in 1940: J F Reid at 2770. The block, door by door
- 3
512 East 29th Avenue
Riley Park, 1940
- Eric Betts, an attendant at Betts & Carroll 1940
Next door in 1940: O Pederson at 534. The block, door by door
- 4
2164 East 7th Avenue
Grandview-Woodland, 1940
- C S Betts, a clerk at the National Harbours Board 1940
Next door in 1940: A F Waters at 2158. The block, door by door
- 5
630 East Broadway
Mount Pleasant, 1940
- Mrs M B Betts, widow of G L 1940
- John N L Betts, a clerk 1940
Next door in 1940: W Bourke at 620 and Mrs G M Robinson at 636. The block, door by door
- 6
1362 Haro Street
West End, 1940
- Mrs Mary E Betts, a companion for Miss L C Edwards 1940
Next door in 1940: J R Harter at 1356. The block, door by door
- 7
4403 Quebec Street
Riley Park, 1940
- M L Winona Betts, a nurse 1940
Next door in 1940: E L Armstrong at 4419. The block, door by door
- 8
122 Water Street
Downtown, 1940
- B Betts, a logger 1940
Next door in 1940: Can Transf at 118 and Kirkland & Rose at 130. The block, door by door
- 9
1125 West 11th Avenue
Fairview, 1940
- John N Betts, an agent at Dominion Life 1940
Next door in 1940: S Miller at 1135. The block, door by door
- 10
596 West 19th Avenue
South Cambie, 1940
- C Betts, a washerman at Nelsons Laundries 1940
Next door in 1940: A Griffiths at 592. The block, door by door
- 11
2847 West 5th Avenue
Kitsilano, 1940
- J O Betts, a secretary-treasurer at Betts & Carroll Ltd 1940
Next door in 1940: S A Taylor at 2843 and Mrs M B McLeod at 2857. The block, door by door
- 12
3439 West 7th Avenue
Kitsilano, 1940
- A T Betts, a salesman at Guernsey Breeders Dairy 1940
Next door in 1940: Mrs R M Neelands at 3435 and A E Major at 3443. The block, door by door
What they did
The name section prints a trade for 13 of the 15: a clerk (3), an agent, an attendant, a companion, a logger and a mechanic, among others. One is a widow, listed under her own name.
Their neighbourhoods
The addresses are in Fairview (2), Kitsilano (2), Riley Park (2), Downtown, Grandview-Woodland, Hastings-Sunrise, Mount Pleasant, South Cambie 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
The 1940 name section, where each person's work is printed, lists Margaret E Betts at 2875 Alder Street, a clerk at the BC Electric Railway. A W Betts is listed at 2786 Dundas Street in 1940; 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 Alex W Betts there as the householder, a mechanic at the City of Vancouver, with Martin A Betts, a steward, and Walter E Betts. The 1940 name section lists Eric Betts at 512 East 29th Avenue, an attendant at Betts & Carroll.
In 1940 the directory lists C S Betts at 2164 East 7th Avenue; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists Clayton S Betts there as the householder, a clerk at the National Harbours Board. In 1940 the directory lists Mrs M B Betts at 630 East Broadway; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists Mary B Betts there as the householder, widow of G L, with John N L Betts, a clerk.
The 1940 name section lists Mrs Mary E Betts at 1362 Haro Street, a companion for Miss L C Edwards. The 1940 name section lists M L Winona Betts at 4403 Quebec Street, a nurse. The 1940 name section lists B Betts at 122 Water Street, a logger. The 1940 name section lists John N Betts at 1125 West 11th Avenue, an agent at Dominion Life.
In 1940 the directory lists C Betts at 596 West 19th Avenue; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists Charles Betts there as the householder, a washerman at Nelsons Laundries. In 1940 the directory lists J O Betts at 2847 West 5th Avenue; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists Jared O Betts there as the householder, a secretary-treasurer at Betts & Carroll Ltd.
In 1940 the directory lists A T Betts at 3439 West 7th Avenue; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists Alfred T Betts there as the householder, a salesman at Guernsey Breeders Dairy.
Today
2786 Dundas, 630 East Broadway, 1362 Haro, 4403 Quebec, 122 Water and 2847 West 5th still have their buildings from before 1946, 1362 Haro on the Vancouver Heritage Register; 512 East 29th (1983) and 596 West 19th (1988) have newer buildings, by the City's record; the City no longer lists 2875 Alder, 2164 East 7th, 1125 West 11th and 3439 West 7th, so those buildings are probably gone (inferred).
Every line as printed
All 21 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
- Betts Margt E clk BCER2875 Alder, p. 46
- *Betts A W2786 Dundas, p. 46
- Betts Alex W mech Van City2786 Dundas, p. 46
- Betts Martin A steward2786 Dundas, p. 46
- Betts Walter E2786 Dundas, p. 46
- Betts Eric atdt Betts & Carroll512 East 29th, p. 46
- *Betts C S2164 East 7th, p. 190
- Betts Clayton S clk NHB2164 East 7th, p. 46
- *Betts Mrs M B630 East Broadway, p. 15
- Betts John N L clk Mc Mc & Prior630 East Broadway, p. 46
- Betts Mary B wid G L630 East Broadway, p. 46
- Betts Mrs Mary E companion Miss L C Edwards1362 Haro, p. 46
- Betts M L Winona nurse4403 Quebec, p. 46
- Betts B logr122 Water, p. 46
- Betts John N agt Dom Life1125 West 11th, p. 46
- *Betts C596 West 19th, p. 229
- Betts Chas washermn Nelsons Lndries596 West 19th, p. 46
- *Betts J O2847 West 5th, p. 185
- Betts Jared O sec-treas Betts & Carroll Ltd2847 West 5th, p. 46
- *Betts A T3439 West 7th, p. 192
- Betts Alfd T slsmn Guernsey Breeders Dairy3439 West 7th, p. 46
British Columbia and Yukon Directory, name section, where each person's work is printed
The book of the Bettses
Every directory, as one book
The family book reads the Betts 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.