Vancouver / Names / M / Modern

A family name in Vancouver's city directories

The Moderns

In the city directories 1940 · four people at four addresses

The directories print four people named Modern 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 Moderns 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

    4341 Dunbar Street

    Dunbar-Southlands, 1940

    • Sprayers Modern, in painters 1940

    Next door in 1940: Brand Fisheries Beaver at 4345. The block, door by door

  2. 2

    2960 Granville Street

    Fairview, 1940

    • Corsetry Modern 1940

    Next door in 1940: Wiles Hat Shop at 2956 and Shell Serv at 2990. The block, door by door

  3. 3

    2638 Main Street

    Mount Pleasant, 1940

    • Salon Modern, a beauty shop 1940

    Next door in 1940: G Collett at 2634 and Lewis Delctsn at 2642. The block, door by door

  4. 4

    977 West 19th Avenue

    South Cambie, 1940

    • Woodcraft Modern 1940

    Next door in 1940: J F Metcalfe at 971. The block, door by door

Their neighbourhoods

The addresses are in Dunbar-Southlands, Fairview, Mount Pleasant and South Cambie. 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 Sprayers Modern, in painters, at 4341 Dunbar Street. Corsetry Modern is listed at 2960 Granville Street in 1940. In 1940 the directory lists Salon Modern, a beauty shop, at 2638 Main Street. Woodcraft Modern is listed at 977 West 19th Avenue in 1940.

Today

4341 Dunbar still has its building from before 1946, dated 1925 by the City's record; 977 West 19th (1974) has a newer building, by the City's record; the City no longer lists 2960 Granville and 2638 Main, so those buildings are probably gone (inferred).

A No. 14 Dunbar streetcar on Dunbar Street, past bungalows
1940 A No. 14 Dunbar streetcar on Dunbar Street, past bungalows. Not at the house at 4341 Dunbar: no archive photo of the 4300 block is known that we can show. City of Vancouver Archives, 2009-005.530. Public domain.

Every line as printed

All 4 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
1940

British Columbia and Yukon Directory, street section

The book of the Moderns

Every directory, as one book

The family book reads the Modern 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.

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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.