A family name in Vancouver's city directories
The Chownes
In the city directories 1940 · eight people at five addresses
The directories print eight people named Chowne at five addresses in 1940 in four of the city's neighbourhoods, with the close spelling Chown. No first name or initials tie one address to another: we can't tell if they're one family. The most under one roof: four Chownes at 5250 Marguerite 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 Chownes lived
- 1
5583 Cypress Street
Shaughnessy, 1940
- E V Chown, a branch manager for Mutual Life 1940
Next door in 1940: G C Nairne at 5549. The block, door by door
- 2
5250 Marguerite Street
Shaughnessy, 1940
- G U A Chowne, a manufacturers agent 1940
- Audrey M Chowne, a student nurse 1940
- Dorothy D Chowne, a stenographer at Boeing Aircraft 1940
- G Anskar Chowne 1940
Next door in 1940: F Young at 5230 and Mrs E E Milloy at 5270. The block, door by door
- 3
2961 West 49th Avenue
Kerrisdale, 1940
- H R A Chowne, a salesman at W H Moore & Co 1940
Next door in 1940: W Howie at 2937. The block, door by door
- 4
1832 West Georgia Street
West End, 1940
- G V A Chowne 1940
Next door in 1940: Outboard Motor Supply at 1830 and coast quarries at 1840. The block, door by door
- 5
2828 West King Edward Avenue
Arbutus Ridge, 1940
- E A S Chowne, a representative at Central Scientific Co 1940
Next door in 1940: C W Croley at 2822 and J G C Hogg at 2850. The block, door by door
What they did
The name section prints a trade for five of the eight: a branch manager, a manufacturers agent, a representative, a salesman and a stenographer.
Their neighbourhoods
The addresses are in Shaughnessy (2), Arbutus Ridge, Kerrisdale 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 E V Chown at 5583 Cypress Street. The 1940 name section, where each person's work is printed, lists Eric V Chown there as the householder, a branch manager for Mutual Life. In 1940 the directory lists G U A Chowne at 5250 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 lists Godfrey U A Chowne there as the householder, a manufacturers agent, with Audrey M Chowne, a student nurse, Dorothy D Chowne, a stenographer at Boeing Aircraft, and G Anskar Chowne.
In 1940 the directory lists H R A Chowne at 2961 West 49th Avenue; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists H Reginald A Chowne there as the householder, a salesman at W H Moore & Co. In 1940 the directory lists G V A Chowne at 1832 West Georgia Street.
E A S Chowne is listed at 2828 West King Edward Avenue in 1940; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists Edgar A S Chowne there as the householder, a representative at Central Scientific Co.
Today
5583 Cypress and 2828 West King Edward still have their buildings from before 1946; 5250 Marguerite (2005) and 2961 West 49th (2015) have newer buildings, by the City's record; the City no longer lists 1832 West Georgia, so that building is probably gone (inferred).
Every line as printed
All 12 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
- Chown E V5583 Cypress, p. 40
- Chown Eric V br mgr Mutual Life5583 Cypress, p. 109
- *Chowne G U A5250 Marguerite, p. 111
- Chowne Audrey M studt nurse5250 Marguerite, p. 109
- Chowne Dorothy D sten Boeing Aircraft5250 Marguerite, p. 109
- Chowne G Anskar5250 Marguerite, p. 109
- Chowne Godfrey U A mfrs agt 1832 W Georgia5250 Marguerite, p. 109
- *Chowne H R A2961 West 49th, p. 265
- Chowne H Regd A slsmn W H Moore & Co2961 West 49th, p. 109
- Chowne G V A mfr's agt1832 West Georgia, p. 59
- *Chowne E A S2828 West King Edward, p. 96
- Chowne Edgar A S rep Central Scientific Co2828 West King Edward, p. 109
British Columbia and Yukon Directory, street section
The book of the Chownes
Every directory, as one book
The family book reads the Chowne 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.