Vancouver / Names / B / Biswanger

A family name in Vancouver's city directories

The Biswangers

In the city directories 1940 · two people at two addresses

The directories print two people named Biswanger 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 Biswangers lived

Each pin is on its own block, numbered as the households below. Today's land, parks, main roads and local areas: City of Vancouver Open Data (Open Government Licence – Vancouver).
  1. 1

    777 Burrard Street

    West End, 1940

    • G Biswanger, proprietor of Busy B Stamp & Book Store 1940

    Next door in 1940: McLean, Rowles & Co hairdrsr's supp at 775 and Irwinton Gro at 779. The block, door by door

  2. 2

    3635 East Georgia Street

    Hastings-Sunrise, 1940

    • R Biswanger, a laborer 1940

    Next door in 1940: J Trask at 3623 and A S Leggett at 3641. The block, door by door

What they did

The name section prints a trade for all two: a laborer and a proprietor.

Their neighbourhoods

The addresses are in Hastings-Sunrise 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 G Biswanger at 777 Burrard Street. The 1940 name section, where each person's work is printed, lists George Biswanger there as the householder, proprietor of Busy B Stamp & Book Store. In 1940 the directory lists R Biswanger at 3635 East Georgia Street. The 1940 name section lists Ralph Biswanger there as the householder, a laborer.

Today

777 Burrard still has its building from before 1946, dated 1912 by the City's record; 3635 East Georgia (2011) has a newer building, by the City's record.

Shriners in striped robes marching in a parade on Burrard Street
1942 Shriners in striped robes marching in a parade on Burrard Street. Not at the house at 777 Burrard: no archive photo of the 700 block is known that we can show. City of Vancouver Archives, CVA 1184-1239. Public domain.

Every line as printed

All 4 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
1940

British Columbia and Yukon Directory, street section

The book of the Biswangers

Every directory, as one book

The family book reads the Biswanger 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.

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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.