A family name in Vancouver's city directories
The Melvins
In the city directories 1940 · nine people at seven addresses
The directories print nine people named Melvin at seven 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. The most under one roof: three Melvins at 1160 West 10th in 1940.
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 Melvins lived
- 1
- 2
2571 Dundas Street
Hastings-Sunrise, 1940
- J C Melvin, proprietor of Fairway Market 1940
Next door in 1940: Miss E I Benson at 2565 and J Mulgrew at 2587. The block, door by door
- 3
1810 East 7th Avenue
Grandview-Woodland, 1940
- Rev J W Melvin, a pastor at the Trinity United Church 1940
Next door in 1940: A McKenzie at 1804 and Trinity United Ch at 1820. The block, door by door
- 4
2950 East Pender Street
Hastings-Sunrise, 1940
- G C Melvin, a clerk at Brandram-Henderson 1940
Next door in 1940: A Floeting at 2946 and G A Weir at 2964. The block, door by door
- 5
1160 West 10th Avenue
Fairview, 1940
- Rev M G Melvin, a pastor at the Chalmers United Church 1940
- Dorothy J Melvin, a student 1940
- John Melvin, an assayer 1940
Next door in 1940: J G Darling at 1146 and H P Baird at 1174. The block, door by door
- 6
1621 West 3rd Avenue
Fairview, 1940
- A B Melvin 1940
Next door in 1940: P Decker at 1617. The block, door by door
- 7
2036 West 48th Avenue
Kerrisdale, 1940
- H F Melvin, a superintendent at Barret Co 1940
Next door in 1940: Miss S M C Clarke at 2006 and D A Acorn at 2046. The block, door by door
What they did
The name section prints a trade for seven of the nine: a pastor (2), an assayer, a clerk, a proprietor, a superintendent and a teacher.
Their neighbourhoods
The addresses are in Fairview (2), Hastings-Sunrise (2), Kerrisdale (2) and Grandview-Woodland. 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 Grace W Melvin at 6212 Balaclava Street, a teacher at the Vancouver School of Art. J C Melvin is listed at 2571 Dundas Street in 1940. The 1940 name section lists John C Melvin there as the householder, proprietor of Fairway Market.
Rev J W Melvin is listed at 1810 East 7th Avenue in 1940. The 1940 name section lists Rev James W Melvin there as the householder, a pastor at the Trinity United Church. G C Melvin is listed at 2950 East Pender 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 lists George C Melvin there as the householder, a clerk at Brandram-Henderson.
Rev M G Melvin is listed at 1160 West 10th Avenue in 1940. The 1940 name section lists Rev M Gordon Melvin there as the householder, a pastor at the Chalmers United Church, with Dorothy J Melvin, a student, and John Melvin, an assayer. A B Melvin is listed at 1621 West 3rd Avenue in 1940.
In 1940 the directory lists H F Melvin at 2036 West 48th Avenue; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists Hadley F Melvin there as the householder, a superintendent at Barret Co.
Today
2571 Dundas, 1810 East 7th and 1160 West 10th still have their buildings from before 1946; 2950 East Pender (1986) and 2036 West 48th (1989) have newer buildings, by the City's record; the City no longer lists 6212 Balaclava and 1621 West 3rd, so those buildings are probably gone (inferred).
Every line as printed
All 15 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
- Melvin Grace W tchr Van Sch of Art6212 Balaclava, p. 425
- Melvin J C2571 Dundas, p. 46
- Melvin John C prop Fairway Mkt2571 Dundas, p. 425
- Melvin Rev J W1810 East 7th, p. 190
- Melvin Rev Jas W pastor Trinity Un Ch1810 East 7th, p. 425
- *Melvin G C2950 East Pender, p. 128
- Melvin Geo C clk Brandram-Henderson2950 East Pender, p. 425
- Melvin Rev M G1160 West 10th, p. 199
- Melvin Rev M G1160 West 10th, p. 199
- Melvin Dorothy J studt1160 West 10th, p. 425
- Melvin John assayer1160 West 10th, p. 425
- Melvin Rev M Gordon pastor Chalmers United Ch1160 West 10th, p. 425
- Melvin A B1621 West 3rd, p. 178
- *Melvin H F2036 West 48th, p. 264
- Melvin Hadley F supt Barret Co2036 West 48th, p. 425
British Columbia and Yukon Directory, name section, where each person's work is printed
The book of the Melvins
Every directory, as one book
The family book reads the Melvin 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 M. Want a name removed? Tell us.