A family name in Vancouver's city directories
The Birces
In the city directories 1940 · three people at three addresses
The directories print three people named Birce at three addresses in 1940 in three of the city's neighbourhoods, with the close spelling Bierce. No first name or initials tie one address to another: 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 Birces lived
- 1
1124 Barclay Street
West End, 1940
- Mrs E Bierce, widow of W 1940
Next door in 1940: A D Watson at 1120 and Miss M Hallisey at 1126. The block, door by door
- 2
1118 Maple Street
Kitsilano, 1940
- C Birce, retired 1940
Next door in 1940: H Curry at 1106. The block, door by door
- 3
3941 West 19th Avenue
Dunbar-Southlands, 1940
- Mrs E M Birce, widow of E 1940
Next door in 1940: D E Moody at 3935 and E F Allistone at 3945. The block, door by door
What they did
Two are widows, listed under their own names.
Their neighbourhoods
The addresses are in Dunbar-Southlands, Kitsilano 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 E Bierce, rooms to let, at 1124 Barclay Street. The 1940 name section, where each person's work is printed, lists E Bierce there, widow of W. In 1940 the directory lists C Birce at 1118 Maple Street. The 1940 name section lists Charles Birce there as the householder, retired.
In 1940 the directory lists Mrs E M Birce at 3941 West 19th 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 Etta M Birce there as the householder, widow of E.
Today
1118 Maple still has its building from before 1946, dated 1911 by the City's record; 3941 West 19th (2001) has a newer building, by the City's record; the City no longer lists 1124 Barclay, so that building is probably gone (inferred).
Every line as printed
All 6 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
- Bierce Mrs E rooms1124 Barclay, p. 8
- Bierce E wid W1124 Barclay, p. 47
- Birce C1118 Maple, p. 110
- Birce Chas retired1118 Maple, p. 48
- *Birce Mrs E M3941 West 19th, p. 229
- Birce Etta M wid E3941 West 19th, p. 48
British Columbia and Yukon Directory, street section
The book of the Birces
Every directory, as one book
The family book reads the Birce 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.