A family name in Vancouver's city directories
The Biddles
In the city directories 1940 · ten people at seven addresses
The directories print ten people named Biddle at seven addresses in 1940 in four 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 Biddles at 5655 Commercial 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 Biddles lived
- 1
4541 Belmont Avenue
West Point Grey, 1940
- B Biddle, proprietor of Point Grey Transfer 1940
Next door in 1940: F C Bain at 4559. The block, door by door
- 2
5655 Commercial Street
Kensington-Cedar Cottage, 1940
- Mrs E Biddle, widow of S H 1940
- Herbert L Biddle, an attendant at the Pender-Hornby Service Station 1940
- William H Biddle, a chemist at General Paint 1940
Next door in 1940: Mrs M Lofgren at 5645. The block, door by door
- 3
1502 East 10th Avenue
Kensington-Cedar Cottage, 1940
- Mary A Biddle 1940
Next door in 1940: B W Swain at 1516. The block, door by door
- 4
4464 West 12th Avenue
West Point Grey, 1940
- G F Biddle, retired 1940
- George H Biddle, a clerk 1940
Next door in 1940: G Genser at 4460 and Rev J Stobie at 4474. The block, door by door
- 5
3691 West 27th Avenue
Dunbar-Southlands, 1940
- Rev G Biddle, a rector at the St Philips Church of England 1940
Next door in 1940: R L Archer at 3675. The block, door by door
- 6
2954 West 37th Avenue
Dunbar-Southlands, 1940
- G Biddle, a salesman at the BC Electric Railway 1940
Next door in 1940: Mrs F Wyllie at 2946 and S H Warnock at 2962. The block, door by door
- 7
1593 West 3rd Avenue
Fairview, 1940
- Mrs Eleanor M Biddle, a waitress 1940
Next door in 1940: S Kadonaga at 1547 and J W Nelson at 1597. The block, door by door
What they did
The name section prints a trade for seven of the ten: an attendant, a chemist, a clerk, a proprietor, a rector and a salesman, among others. One is a widow, listed under her own name.
Their neighbourhoods
The addresses are in Dunbar-Southlands (2), Kensington-Cedar Cottage (2), West Point Grey (2) and Fairview. 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 B Biddle at 4541 Belmont 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, where each person's work is printed, lists Benjamin Biddle there as the householder, proprietor of Point Grey Transfer. In 1940 the directory lists Mrs E Biddle at 5655 Commercial Street; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists Emily Biddle there as the householder, widow of S H, with Herbert L Biddle, an attendant at the Pender-Hornby Service Station, and William H Biddle, a chemist at General Paint.
The 1940 name section lists Mary A Biddle at 1502 East 10th Avenue. G F Biddle is listed at 4464 West 12th Avenue in 1940; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists Geoffrey Biddle there, with George F Biddle, retired, and George H Biddle, a clerk.
Rev G Biddle is listed at 3691 West 27th Avenue in 1940. The 1940 name section lists Rev George Biddle there as the householder, a rector at the St Philips Church of England. G Biddle is listed at 2954 West 37th Avenue in 1940. The 1940 name section lists George Biddle there as the householder, a salesman at the BC Electric Railway.
The 1940 name section lists Mrs Eleanor M Biddle at 1593 West 3rd Avenue, a waitress.
Today
1502 East 10th, 4464 West 12th and 3691 West 27th still have their buildings from before 1946; 4541 Belmont (2012) and 5655 Commercial (1987) have newer buildings, by the City's record; the City no longer lists 2954 West 37th and 1593 West 3rd, so those buildings are probably gone (inferred).
Every line as printed
All 16 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
- *Biddle B4541 Belmont, p. 12
- Biddle Benj prop Point Grey Transf4541 Belmont, p. 47
- *Biddle Mrs E5655 Commercial, p. 34
- Biddle Emily wid S H5655 Commercial, p. 47
- Biddle Herbt L atdt Pender-Hornby Serv Sta5655 Commercial, p. 47
- Biddle Wm H chemist Genl Paint5655 Commercial, p. 47
- Biddle Mary A1502 East 10th, p. 47
- *Biddle G F4464 West 12th, p. 210
- Biddle Geof4464 West 12th, p. 47
- Biddle Geo F retired4464 West 12th, p. 47
- Biddle Geo H clk4464 West 12th, p. 47
- Biddle Rev G3691 West 27th, p. 242
- Biddle Rev Geo rector St Philips Ch of England3691 West 27th, p. 47
- Biddle G2954 West 37th, p. 253
- Biddle Geo slsmn BCER2954 West 37th, p. 47
- Biddle Mrs Eleanor M waitress1593 West 3rd, p. 47
British Columbia and Yukon Directory, street section
The book of the Biddles
Every directory, as one book
The family book reads the Biddle 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.