Vancouver / Names / D / Dowdall

A family name in Vancouver's city directories

The Dowdalls

In the city directories 1940 · three people at three addresses

The directories print three people named Dowdall 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 Dowdalls 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

    3902 Commercial Street

    Kensington-Cedar Cottage, 1940

    • G J Dowdall, a grocer & confectioner 1940

    Next door in 1940: H Hold at 3906. The block, door by door

  2. 2

    1030 Robson Street

    West End, 1940

    • Grace I Dowdall, a waitress at White Corner Hamburger 1940

    Next door in 1940: Miss F Brand at 1028 and Robson Farm Mkt at 1032. The block, door by door

  3. 3

    1459 Robson Street

    West End, 1940

    • Jean Dowdall 1940

    Next door in 1940: Miss R Hadwin at 1449. The block, door by door

What they did

The name section prints a trade for two of the three: a grocer and a waitress.

Their neighbourhoods

The addresses are in West End (2) and Kensington-Cedar Cottage. 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 J Dowdall, a grocer, at 3902 Commercial Street. The 1940 name section, where each person's work is printed, lists George J Dowdall there, a grocer & confectioner. The 1940 name section lists Grace I Dowdall at 1030 Robson Street, a waitress at White Corner Hamburger. The 1940 name section lists Jean Dowdall at 1459 Robson Street.

Today

1030 Robson still has its building from before 1946, dated 1910 by the City's record; 3902 Commercial (1970) has a newer building, by the City's record; the City no longer lists 1459 Robson, so that building is probably gone (inferred).

The 3500 block of Commercial Street, looking north from 20th Avenue past the Bank of Hamilton
About 1913 The 3500 block of Commercial Street, looking north from 20th Avenue past the Bank of Hamilton. Not at the house at 3902 Commercial: no archive photo of the 3900 block is known that we can show. City of Vancouver Archives, LGN 504. 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 Dowdalls

Every directory, as one book

The family book reads the Dowdall 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.

One email, when it's ready. We use your email for nothing else and never share it. Privacy

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 D. Want a name removed? Tell us.