A family name in Vancouver's city directories
The Ponsfords
In the city directories 1940 · four people at four addresses
The directories print four people named Ponsford 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 Ponsfords lived
- 1
4376 Dunbar Street
Dunbar-Southlands, 1940
- A E Ponsford, an engineer 1940
Next door in 1940: S G Lemmon at 4358 and Miss O Lundgren at 4392. The block, door by door
- 2
1889 Haro Street
West End, 1940
- Alice Ponsford, widow of P 1940
Next door in 1940: king george apts at 1877. The block, door by door
- 3
1987 West 37th Avenue
Shaughnessy, 1940
- W Ponsford, a barrister 1940
Next door in 1940: J H Carlisle at 1973 and J C Nation at 1989. The block, door by door
- 4
837 West Hastings Street
Downtown, 1940
- W Ponsford, a barrister 1940
Next door in 1940: V E K Weldie at 833. The block, door by door
What they did
The name section prints a trade for two of the four: a barrister and an engineer. One is a widow, listed under her own name.
Their neighbourhoods
The addresses are in Downtown, Dunbar-Southlands, Shaughnessy and West End. 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 A E Ponsford at 4376 Dunbar Street. The 1940 name section, where each person's work is printed, lists Alfred E Ponsford there as the householder, an engineer. The 1940 name section lists Alice Ponsford at 1889 Haro Street, widow of P.
W Ponsford is listed at 1987 West 37th Avenue in 1940. The 1940 name section lists Wallace Ponsford there as the householder, a barrister. W Ponsford, a barrister, is listed at 837 West Hastings Street in 1940.
Today
1987 West 37th still has its building from before 1946, dated 1920 by the City's record; 837 West Hastings (1998) has a newer building, by the City's record; the City no longer lists 4376 Dunbar and 1889 Haro, 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.
- Ponsford A E4376 Dunbar, p. 45
- Ponsford Alfd E eng4376 Dunbar, p. 498
- Ponsford Alice wid P1889 Haro, p. 498
- Ponsford W1987 West 37th, p. 253
- Ponsford Wallace barr 312, 837 W Hastings1987 West 37th, p. 498
- Ponsford W barr837 West Hastings, p. 80
British Columbia and Yukon Directory, street section
The book of the Ponsfords
Every directory, as one book
The family book reads the Ponsford 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.