A family name in Vancouver's city directories
The Methvens
In the city directories 1940 · three people at two addresses
The directories print three people named Methven at two addresses in 1940 in two of the city's neighbourhoods. No first name or initials tie one address to the other: 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 Methvens lived
- 1
4547 Welwyn Street
Kensington-Cedar Cottage, 1940
- J C Methven, a laborer at BC Electric Power & Gas 1940
- David H Methven, a shipper at Pratt's Beauty Supplies 1940
Next door in 1940: P G Scott at 4537. The block, door by door
- 2
2340 Windsor Street
Mount Pleasant, 1940
- J N Methven, a driver at Johnston National Storage 1940
Next door in 1940: E Quigley at 2320. The block, door by door
What they did
The name section prints a trade for all three: a driver, a laborer and a shipper.
Their neighbourhoods
The addresses are in Kensington-Cedar Cottage and Mount Pleasant. 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 C Methven at 4547 Welwyn Street; 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 C Methven there as the householder, a laborer at BC Electric Power & Gas, with David H Methven, a shipper at Pratt's Beauty Supplies. In 1940 the directory lists J N Methven at 2340 Windsor Street. The 1940 name section lists James N Methven there as the householder, a driver at Johnston National Storage.
Today
4547 Welwyn still has its building from before 1946, dated 1927 by the City's record; the City no longer lists 2340 Windsor, so that building is 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.
- *Methven J C4547 Welwyn, p. 166
- Methven David H shpr Pratt's Beauty Supp4547 Welwyn, p. 427
- Methven Jas C lab BC Elec Power & Gas4547 Welwyn, p. 427
- Methven J N2340 Windsor, p. 169
- Methven Jas N drvr Johnston Natl Stge2340 Windsor, p. 427
British Columbia and Yukon Directory, street section
The book of the Methvens
Every directory, as one book
The family book reads the Methven 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.