A family name in Vancouver's city directories
The Cowes
In the city directories 1940 · four people at three addresses
The directories print four people named Cowe at three addresses in 1940 in two of the city's neighbourhoods. 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 Cowes lived
- 1
2686 Eton Street
Hastings-Sunrise, 1940
- J K Cowe, who worked for the CPR 1940
- Jessie F Cowe, a saleswoman at Woodward's 1940
Next door in 1940: A F Helm at 2680 and C H Wren at 2690. The block, door by door
- 2
1210 Rossland Street
Hastings-Sunrise, 1940
- R D Cowe, a freight hand at the CPR 1940
Next door in 1940: G F De Cook at 1220. The block, door by door
- 3
4278 West 9th Avenue
West Point Grey, 1940
- J A Cowe, a driver at Crown Cartage 1940
Next door in 1940: H A Whiteside at 4264 and A T G Farquhar at 4292. The block, door by door
What they did
The name section prints a trade for three of the four: a driver, a freight hand and a saleswoman. Two of them worked for CPR.
Their neighbourhoods
The addresses are in Hastings-Sunrise (2) and West Point Grey. 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 J K Cowe at 2686 Eton 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 John K Cowe there as the householder, who worked for the CPR, with Jessie F Cowe, a saleswoman at Woodward's. In 1940 the directory lists R D Cowe at 1210 Rossland Street; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists Robert D Cowe there as the householder, a freight hand at the CPR.
In 1940 the directory lists J A Cowe at 4278 West 9th Avenue; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists John A Cowe there as the householder, a driver at Crown Cartage.
Today
2686 Eton and 4278 West 9th still have their buildings from before 1946; the City no longer lists 1210 Rossland, so that building is probably gone (inferred).
Every line as printed
All 7 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
- *Cowe J K2686 Eton, p. 49
- Cowe Jessie F slswm Woodwards2686 Eton, p. 132
- Cowe John K trumn CPR2686 Eton, p. 132
- *Cowe R D1210 Rossland, p. 145
- Cowe Robt D frt hd CPR1210 Rossland, p. 132
- *Cowe J A4278 West 9th, p. 197
- Cowe John A drvr Crown Ctge4278 West 9th, p. 132
British Columbia and Yukon Directory, street section
The book of the Cowes
Every directory, as one book
The family book reads the Cowe 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.