A family name in Vancouver's city directories
The Godkins
In the city directories 1940 · four people at four addresses
The directories print four people named Godkin at four 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 Godkins lived
- 1
601 Granville Street
Downtown, 1940
- M E Godkin, in tobacco 1940
Next door in 1940: Colonial Theatre at 603. The block, door by door
- 2
5195 Hoy Street
Renfrew-Collingwood, 1940
- J H Godkin, a laborer 1940
Next door in 1940: P Brolly at 5121. The block, door by door
- 3
2070 Kitchener Street
Grandview-Woodland, 1940
- Mrs H M Godkin, widow of S F 1940
Next door in 1940: Miss J L Carlson at 2048 and V Larson at 2072. The block, door by door
- 4
What they did
The name section prints a trade for two of the four: a laborer and a tobacco. One is a widow, listed under her own name.
Their neighbourhoods
The addresses are in Downtown, Fairview, Grandview-Woodland and Renfrew-Collingwood. 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 M E Godkin, in tobacco, at 601 Granville Street. J H Godkin is listed at 5195 Hoy Street in 1940; 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 James H Godkin there as the householder, a laborer.
Mrs H M Godkin is listed at 2070 Kitchener Street in 1940; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists Hannah M Godkin there as the householder, widow of S F. The 1940 name section lists Morley E Godkin at 3050 Oak Street, in tobacco.
Today
2070 Kitchener and 3050 Oak still have their buildings from before 1946; 5195 Hoy (2021) has a newer building, by the City's record; the City no longer lists 601 Granville, so that building is probably gone (inferred).
Every line as printed
All 6 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
- Godkin M E tobac601 Granville, p. 63
- *Godkin J H5195 Hoy, p. 89
- Godkin Jas H lab5195 Hoy, p. 227
- *Godkin Mrs H M2070 Kitchener, p. 99
- Godkin Hannah M wid S F2070 Kitchener, p. 227
- Godkin Morley E tobac 601 Granville3050 Oak, p. 227
British Columbia and Yukon Directory, street section
The book of the Godkins
Every directory, as one book
The family book reads the Godkin 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 G. Want a name removed? Tell us.