A family name in Vancouver's city directories
The Chesses
In the city directories 1940 · two people at two addresses
The directories print two people named Chess at two addresses in 1940 in Shaughnessy. 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 Chesses lived
- 1
4687 Marguerite Street
Shaughnessy, 1940
- I W Chess, a manager at Chess Bros 1940
Next door in 1940: E McL Boyd at 4661. The block, door by door
- 2
1490 West 38th Avenue
Shaughnessy, 1940
- S W Chess, a president at Chess Bros and a manager at Independent Fruit 1940
Next door in 1940: P H Dyke at 1460. The block, door by door
What they did
The name section prints a trade for all two: a manager and a president.
Their neighbourhoods
The addresses are in Shaughnessy (2). 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 I W Chess at 4687 Marguerite Street; 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 Isidor W Chess there as the householder, a manager at Chess Bros. In 1940 the directory lists S W Chess at 1490 West 38th Avenue; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists Sam W Chess there as the householder, a president at Chess Bros and a manager at Independent Fruit.
Today
1490 West 38th still has its building from before 1946, dated 1938 by the City's record; 4687 Marguerite (2015) has a newer building, by the City's record.
Every line as printed
All 4 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
- *Chess I W4687 Marguerite, p. 111
- Chess Isidor W mgr Chess Bros4687 Marguerite, p. 107
- *Chess S W1490 West 38th, p. 254
- Chess Sam W pres Chess Bros and mgr Independent Fruit1490 West 38th, p. 107
British Columbia and Yukon Directory, street section
The book of the Chesses
Every directory, as one book
The family book reads the Chess 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 C. Want a name removed? Tell us.