A family name in Vancouver's city directories
The Gravells
In the city directories 1940 · three people at three addresses
The directories print three people named Gravell at three addresses in 1940 in three 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 Gravells lived
- 1
2804 East 4th Avenue
Hastings-Sunrise, 1940
- E E Gravell, a foreman at the City of Vancouver 1940
Next door in 1940: E R Barnett at 2822. The block, door by door
- 2
241 Robson Street
Downtown, 1940
- W Gravell, a laborer at the City of Vancouver 1940
Next door in 1940: R L Bennett at 225. The block, door by door
- 3
1285 West 15th Avenue
Fairview, 1940
- Carl Gravell, a florist 1940
Next door in 1940: S C Hayden at 1275 and Miss G M L Knox at 1295. The block, door by door
What they did
The name section prints a trade for all three: a florist, a foreman and a laborer. Two of them worked for Vancouver City.
Their neighbourhoods
The addresses are in Downtown, Fairview and Hastings-Sunrise. 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 E Gravell at 2804 East 4th 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, where each person's work is printed, lists Evan E Gravell there as the householder, a foreman at the City of Vancouver. In 1940 the directory lists W Gravell at 241 Robson Street. The 1940 name section lists William Gravell there as the householder, a laborer at the City of Vancouver.
The 1940 name section lists Carl Gravell at 1285 West 15th Avenue, a florist.
Today
2804 East 4th still has its building from before 1946, dated 1921 by the City's record; the City no longer lists 241 Robson and 1285 West 15th, so those buildings are probably gone (inferred).
Every line as printed
All 5 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
- *Gravell E E2804 East 4th, p. 181
- Gravell Evan E formn Van City2804 East 4th, p. 236
- Gravell W241 Robson, p. 142
- Gravell Wm lab Van City241 Robson, p. 236
- Gravell Carl florist1285 West 15th, p. 236
British Columbia and Yukon Directory, street section
The book of the Gravells
Every directory, as one book
The family book reads the Gravell 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.