Vancouver / Names / J / Johnston / Robson Street

A family name on Robson Street, West End and Downtown

The Johnstons

In the city directories 1940 · six people at six addresses

The directories print six people named Johnston at six addresses in 1940, all on Robson Street, with the close spelling Johnstone. No first name or initials tie one address to another: we can't tell if they're one family. The directories print the name on 166 other streets too, all listed on the Johnston name's own page.

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 Johnstons 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

    220 Robson Street

    Downtown, 1940

    • Cecil R Johnston 1940

    Next door in 1940: Central Chair Works at 210 and Mrs P Brooks at 230. The block, door by door

  2. 2

    715 Robson Street

    Downtown, 1940

    • G Johnston, a caretaker at Granville Mansions 1940

    Next door in 1940: Badette Barbara at 711 and Star Loan Co at 719. The block, door by door

  3. 3

    915 Robson Street

    Downtown, 1940

    • Miss E Johnston, who ran a restaurant 1940

    Next door in 1940: Morgan & Paris at 911 and Arts Richmond at 919. The block, door by door

  4. 4

    1136 Robson Street

    West End, 1940

    • Maimie Johnston 1940

    Next door in 1940: Silver Leaf Conf at 1134 and Helen's Kitchen at 1140. The block, door by door

  5. 5

    1310 Robson Street

    West End, 1940

    • John Johnston 1940

    Next door in 1940: Dent J M & Sons at 1300 and Mrs B Bethune at 1332. The block, door by door

  6. 6

    1425 Robson Street

    West End, 1940

    • Mrs Elizabeth Johnston 1940

    Next door in 1940: J Ramsay at 1415 and J J Mansfield at 1431. The block, door by door

What they did

The name section prints a trade for two of the six: a caretaker and a restaurant.

Their neighbourhoods

The addresses are in Downtown (3) and West End (3). 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

The 1940 name section, where each person's work is printed, lists Cecil R Johnston at 220 Robson Street. G Johnston is listed at 715 Robson Street in 1940. The 1940 name section lists George Johnston there as the householder, a caretaker at Granville Mansions. The 1940 name section lists Miss E Johnston at 915 Robson Street, who ran a restaurant.

The 1940 name section lists Maimie Johnston at 1136 Robson Street. The 1940 name section lists John Johnston at 1310 Robson Street. The 1940 name section lists Mrs Elizabeth Johnston at 1425 Robson Street.

Today

1136 Robson (1976) has a newer building, by the City's record; the City no longer lists 220 Robson, 715 Robson, 915 Robson, 1310 Robson and 1425 Robson, so those buildings are 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.
1940

British Columbia and Yukon Directory, name section, where each person's work is printed

The book of the Johnstons

Every directory, as one book

The family book reads the Johnston 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 J. Want a name removed? Tell us.