Vancouver / Names / E / Esson

A family name in Vancouver's city directories

The Essons

In the city directories 1940 · seven people at six addresses

The directories print seven people named Esson at six addresses in 1940 in four 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 Essons 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

    1842 Commercial Drive

    Grandview-Woodland, 1940

    • J Esson, a baker 1940

    Next door in 1940: K Hanada at 1836 and Hillcrest Meat Mkt at 1844. The block, door by door

  2. 2

    160 East Hastings Street

    Downtown, 1940

    • Robert Esson 1940

    Next door in 1940: Royal Thea Barber Shop at 146 and Regent Hotel Shoe Shine at 162. The block, door by door

  3. 3

    1724 McSpadden Avenue

    Grandview-Woodland, 1940

    • J Esson, proprietor of Fraser Bakery 1940
    • Bessie C Esson, a saleswoman for J Esson 1940

    Next door in 1940: H W Titmus at 1726. The block, door by door

  4. 4

    1575 West 14th Avenue

    Fairview, 1940

    • Minnie M Esson, a saleswoman at the Hudson's Bay Company 1940

    Next door in 1940: cavendish (the) at 1565 and Miss E K Hipperson at 1585. The block, door by door

  5. 5

    1565 West 16th Avenue

    Fairview, 1940

    • Mrs H R Esson, widow of J 1940

    Next door in 1940: ottawa court at 1551 and gloucester court at 1575. The block, door by door

  6. 6

    4354 West 9th Avenue

    West Point Grey, 1940

    • William B Esson, a student at UBC 1940

    Next door in 1940: Mrs S W Webb at 4344. The block, door by door

What they did

The name section prints a trade for three of the seven: a saleswoman (2) and a proprietor. One is a widow, listed under her own name.

Their neighbourhoods

The addresses are in Fairview (2), Grandview-Woodland (2), Downtown 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 Esson, a baker, at 1842 Commercial Drive. The 1940 name section, where each person's work is printed, lists Robert Esson at 160 East Hastings Street. In 1940 the directory lists J Esson at 1724 McSpadden Avenue; 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 John Esson there as the householder, a baker, with John W Esson, proprietor of Fraser Bakery, and Bessie C Esson, a saleswoman for J Esson.

The 1940 name section lists Minnie M Esson at 1575 West 14th Avenue, a saleswoman at the Hudson's Bay Company. Mrs H R Esson is listed at 1565 West 16th Avenue in 1940. The 1940 name section lists Helen R Esson there as the householder, widow of J. The 1940 name section lists William B Esson at 4354 West 9th Avenue, a student at UBC.

Today

160 East Hastings, 1724 McSpadden, 1575 West 14th and 1565 West 16th still have their buildings from before 1946; 4354 West 9th (2015) has a newer building, by the City's record; the City no longer lists 1842 Commercial Drive, so that building is probably gone (inferred).

Every line as printed

All 10 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 Essons

Every directory, as one book

The family book reads the Esson 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 E. Want a name removed? Tell us.