Vancouver / Names / S / Sowden

A family name in Vancouver's city directories

The Sowdens

In the city directories 1940 · nine people at eight addresses

The directories print nine people named Sowden at eight addresses in 1940 in seven 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 Sowdens 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

    2546 Charles Street

    Hastings-Sunrise, 1940

    • J Sowden, a foreman at American Can 1940

    Next door in 1940: B J Engleman at 2534 and A Murray at 2550. The block, door by door

  2. 2

    1376 East 10th Avenue

    Kensington-Cedar Cottage, 1940

    • G Sowden, a box maker at American Can 1940

    Next door in 1940: S C Robinson at 1370 and N McK Wilson at 1380. The block, door by door

  3. 3

    3154 East 20th Avenue

    Renfrew-Collingwood, 1940

    • M Sowden, retired 1940
    • William P Sowden, a baker 1940

    Next door in 1940: W C Edwards at 3152. The block, door by door

  4. 4

    1148 Harwood Street

    West End, 1940

    • William C Sowden, a chauffeur for Star Cabs 1940

    Next door in 1940: F Thomson at 1146 and T R R Hoggan at 1156. The block, door by door

  5. 5

    700 Main Street

    Strathcona, 1940

    • Richard Sowden, a clerk 1940

    Next door in 1940: Service Tobacco Stand at 714. The block, door by door

  6. 6

    2829 Victoria Drive

    Kensington-Cedar Cottage, 1940

    • R H Sowden, a district fire chief at the City of Vancouver 1940

    Next door in 1940: W E Armitage at 2821 and A E Gee at 2835. The block, door by door

  7. 7

    1375 West 14th Avenue

    Fairview, 1940

    • S B Sowden, proprietor of The Florence and Liquiteria 1940

    Next door in 1940: Mrs M J Bailey at 1365 and grange (the) at 1395. The block, door by door

  8. 8

    3961 West King Edward Avenue

    Dunbar-Southlands, 1940

    • R J Sowden, a fireman at the City of Vancouver 1940

    Next door in 1940: G R McDonald at 3953. The block, door by door

What they did

The name section prints a trade for eight of the nine: a baker, a box maker, a chauffeur, a clerk, a district fire chief and a fireman, among others. Some worked for the same employer: two for American Can and two for Vancouver City.

Their neighbourhoods

The addresses are in Kensington-Cedar Cottage (2), Dunbar-Southlands, Fairview, Hastings-Sunrise, Renfrew-Collingwood, Strathcona 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 J Sowden at 2546 Charles 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 Joseph Sowden there as the householder, a foreman at American Can. In 1940 the directory lists G Sowden at 1376 East 10th Avenue; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists George Sowden there as the householder, a box maker at American Can.

In 1940 the directory lists M Sowden at 3154 East 20th Avenue; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists Mitchell Sowden there as the householder, retired, with William P Sowden, a baker. The 1940 name section lists William C Sowden at 1148 Harwood Street, a chauffeur for Star Cabs. The 1940 name section lists Richard Sowden at 700 Main Street, a clerk.

In 1940 the directory lists R H Sowden at 2829 Victoria Drive; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists Robert H Sowden there as the householder, a district fire chief at the City of Vancouver. In 1940 the directory lists S B Sowden at 1375 West 14th Avenue; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists Sam B Sowden there as the householder, proprietor of The Florence and Liquiteria.

In 1940 the directory lists R J Sowden at 3961 West King Edward Avenue. The 1940 name section lists Richard J Sowden there as the householder, a fireman at the City of Vancouver.

Today

2829 Victoria Drive, 1375 West 14th and 3961 West King Edward still have their buildings from before 1946; 2546 Charles (1997) and 3154 East 20th (1983) have newer buildings, by the City's record; the City no longer lists 1376 East 10th, 1148 Harwood and 700 Main, so those buildings are probably gone (inferred).

Every line as printed

All 15 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 Sowdens

Every directory, as one book

The family book reads the Sowden 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 S. Want a name removed? Tell us.