A family name in Vancouver's city directories
The Rostrons
In the city directories 1940 · three people at three addresses
The directories print three people named Rostron at three addresses in 1940 in three 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 Rostrons lived
- 1
578 Alexander Street
Strathcona, 1940
- William Rostron 1940
Next door in 1940: Mrs K Suzuki at 526. The block, door by door
- 2
4387 Commercial Street
Kensington-Cedar Cottage, 1940
- W Rostron, a laborer 1940
Next door in 1940: J O Jones at 4379 and H G Holmes at 4397. The block, door by door
- 3
407 East 19th Avenue
Riley Park, 1940
- R Rostron, a laborer at R&H Sawmill 1940
Next door in 1940: R Wilson at 405 and Mrs M Pound at 409. The block, door by door
What they did
The name section prints a trade for two of the three: a laborer (2).
Their neighbourhoods
The addresses are in Kensington-Cedar Cottage, Riley Park and Strathcona. 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
The 1940 name section, where each person's work is printed, lists William Rostron at 578 Alexander Street. W Rostron is listed at 4387 Commercial Street in 1940; 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 lists William Rostron there as the householder, a laborer.
R Rostron is listed at 407 East 19th Avenue in 1940. The 1940 name section lists Robert Rostron there as the householder, a laborer at R&H Sawmill.
Today
407 East 19th still has its building from before 1946, dated 1928 by the City's record; 4387 Commercial (1972) has a newer building, by the City's record; the City no longer lists 578 Alexander, 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.
- Rostron Wm578 Alexander, p. 534
- *Rostron W4387 Commercial, p. 34
- Rostron Wm lab4387 Commercial, p. 534
- Rostron R407 East 19th, p. 228
- Rostron Robt lab R&H Sawmill407 East 19th, p. 534
British Columbia and Yukon Directory, name section, where each person's work is printed
The book of the Rostrons
Every directory, as one book
The family book reads the Rostron 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.