A family name in Vancouver's city directories
The Pennells
In the city directories 1940 · four people at four addresses
The directories print four people named Pennell at four addresses in 1940 in two 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 Pennells lived
- 1
3139 Kingsway
Renfrew-Collingwood, 1940
- E H Pennell, proprietor of The Cactus Garden and Miller Block 1940
Next door in 1940: W West at 3185. The block, door by door
- 2
3030 Vanness Avenue
Renfrew-Collingwood, 1940
- W Pennell, a salesman 1940
Next door in 1940: R Johnson at 3022. The block, door by door
- 3
546 West 12th Avenue
Fairview, 1940
- Mahala Pennell, widow of T W 1940
Next door in 1940: D J Armstrong at 540 and W Eaton at 548. The block, door by door
- 4
848 West Broadway
Fairview, 1940
- Frank Pennell, a painter 1940
Next door in 1940: H W Ramage at 844 and Mrs A C Flett at 866. The block, door by door
What they did
The name section prints a trade for three of the four: a painter, a proprietor and a salesman. One is a widow, listed under her own name.
Their neighbourhoods
The addresses are in Fairview (2) and Renfrew-Collingwood (2). 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 H Pennell at 3139 Kingsway; 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 Ernest H Pennell there as the householder, proprietor of The Cactus Garden and Miller Block. In 1940 the directory lists W Pennell at 3030 Vanness Avenue; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists William Pennell there as the householder, a salesman.
The 1940 name section lists Mahala Pennell at 546 West 12th Avenue, widow of T W. The 1940 name section lists Frank Pennell at 848 West Broadway, a painter.
Today
The City no longer lists 3139 Kingsway, 3030 Vanness, 546 West 12th and 848 West Broadway, so those buildings are probably gone (inferred).
Every line as printed
All 6 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
- *Pennell E H3139 Kingsway, p. 99
- Pennell Ernest H prop The Cactus Garden and Miller Blk3139 Kingsway, p. 488
- *Pennell W3030 Vanness, p. 160
- Pennell Wm slsmn3030 Vanness, p. 488
- Pennell Mahala wid T W546 West 12th, p. 488
- Pennell Frank pntr848 West Broadway, p. 488
British Columbia and Yukon Directory, street section
The book of the Pennells
Every directory, as one book
The family book reads the Pennell 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 P. Want a name removed? Tell us.