A family name in Vancouver's city directories
The Romes
In the city directories 1940 · twelve people at eight addresses
The directories print twelve people named Rome at eight addresses in 1940 in eight of the city's neighbourhoods, with the close spelling Roome. 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 Romes at 5891 Alma 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 Romes lived
- 1
5891 Alma Street
Dunbar-Southlands, 1940
- R Rome, an assistant city engineer at the City of Vancouver 1940
- Alex H Rome, a student at UBC 1940
- John A Rome, an apprentice at the BC Electric Railway 1940
Next door in 1940: J Carwardine at 5883. The block, door by door
- 2
925 Granville Street
Downtown, 1940
- Joseph Rome, a laborer at Acme Shingle 1940
Next door in 1940: Liberty Cafe at 921 and Sixteen Sweet at 927. The block, door by door
- 3
4506 West 11th Avenue
West Point Grey, 1940
- G G Roome, an accountant 1940
- Dorothy A Roome 1940
Next door in 1940: Mrs A J Hann at 4502 and T C Koelman at 4510. The block, door by door
- 4
833 West 16th Avenue
Fairview, 1940
- I Rome, of North West Products 1940
Next door in 1940: F T Greaves at 823 and A Garden at 837. The block, door by door
- 5
160 West 21st Avenue
Riley Park, 1940
- W E Roome, a salesman 1940
Next door in 1940: G S Toller at 148 and S A McDonell at 166. The block, door by door
- 6
1441 West 26th Avenue
Shaughnessy, 1940
- A Rome, proprietor of BC Junk 1940
- Harold Rome 1940
Next door in 1940: W Ramsay at 1425 and R C Janion at 1457. The block, door by door
- 7
134 West 6th Avenue
Mount Pleasant, 1940
- Elijah Rome, a junk peddler 1940
Next door in 1940: Canada Casket Co at 122 and K Murata at 138. The block, door by door
- 8
1543 William Street
Grandview-Woodland, 1940
- Mrs A E Roome, widow of E H 1940
Next door in 1940: M J McAllister at 1537 and Mrs A L Bowes at 1549. The block, door by door
What they did
The name section prints a trade for seven of the twelve: an accountant, an apprentice, an assistant city engineer, a junk peddler, a laborer and a proprietor, among others. One is a widow, listed under her own name.
Their neighbourhoods
The addresses are in Downtown, Dunbar-Southlands, Fairview, Grandview-Woodland, Mount Pleasant, Riley Park, Shaughnessy and West Point Grey. 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 R Rome at 5891 Alma 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 Robert Rome there as the householder, an assistant city engineer at the City of Vancouver, with Alex H Rome, a student at UBC, and John A Rome, an apprentice at the BC Electric Railway. The 1940 name section lists Joseph Rome at 925 Granville Street, a laborer at Acme Shingle.
G G Roome is listed at 4506 West 11th Avenue in 1940. The 1940 name section lists George G Roome there as the householder, an accountant, with Dorothy A Roome. I Rome is listed at 833 West 16th Avenue in 1940. The 1940 name section lists Isaac Rome there as the householder, of North West Products.
W E Roome is listed at 160 West 21st Avenue in 1940. The 1940 name section lists William E Roome there as the householder, a salesman. A Rome is listed at 1441 West 26th Avenue in 1940; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists Aaron Rome there as the householder, proprietor of BC Junk, with Harold Rome.
The 1940 name section lists Elijah Rome at 134 West 6th Avenue, a junk peddler. In 1940 the directory lists Mrs A E Roome at 1543 William Street; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists Amy E Roome there as the householder, widow of E H.
Today
4506 West 11th, 160 West 21st and 1441 West 26th still have their buildings from before 1946; 5891 Alma (2016) and 833 West 16th (1988) have newer buildings, by the City's record; the City no longer lists 925 Granville, 134 West 6th and 1543 William, so those buildings are probably gone (inferred).
Every line as printed
All 18 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
- *Rome R5891 Alma, p. 5
- Rome Alex H studt UBC5891 Alma, p. 530
- Rome John A appr BCER5891 Alma, p. 530
- Rome Robt asst city eng Van City5891 Alma, p. 530
- Rome Jos lab Acme Shingle925 Granville, p. 530
- Roome G G4506 West 11th, p. 205
- Roome Dorothy A4506 West 11th, p. 531
- Roome Geo G acct4506 West 11th, p. 531
- Rome I833 West 16th, p. 222
- Rome Isaac of North West Prods833 West 16th, p. 530
- Roome W E160 West 21st, p. 232
- Roome Wm E slsmn160 West 21st, p. 531
- *Rome A1441 West 26th, p. 241
- Rome Aaron prop BC Junk1441 West 26th, p. 530
- Rome Harold1441 West 26th, p. 530
- Rome Elijah junk pdlr134 West 6th, p. 530
- *Roome Mrs A E1543 William, p. 167
- Roome Amy E wid E H1543 William, p. 531
British Columbia and Yukon Directory, street section
The book of the Romes
Every directory, as one book
The family book reads the Rome 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 R. Want a name removed? Tell us.