A family name in Vancouver's city directories
The Willetts
In the city directories 1940 · nine people at nine addresses
The directories print nine people named Willett at nine addresses in 1940 in six 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 Willetts lived
- 1
6287 Adera Street
Kerrisdale, 1940
- Bonnie J Willett, widow of J D 1940
Next door in 1940: W E Robi at 6261. The block, door by door
- 2
447 East 6th Avenue
Mount Pleasant, 1940
- J C Willett, a trucking 1940
Next door in 1940: R G Eveleigh at 429 and Mrs J Sutcliffe at 457. The block, door by door
- 3
- 4
1973 Haro Street
West End, 1940
- Reginald H Willett, retired 1940
Next door in 1940: Miss S A Dewar at 1955. The block, door by door
- 5
5888 Marguerite Street
Kerrisdale, 1940
- B Willett, a lumberman 1940
Next door in 1940: W Bone at 5874. The block, door by door
- 6
1447 Thurlow Street
West End, 1940
- H T Willett, proprietor of the Re-Nu Wind Shade Co of BC 1940
Next door in 1940: M G Gladwin at 1441. The block, door by door
- 7
2424 West 13th Avenue
Kitsilano, 1940
- John H Willett, an examiner at the Customs 1940
Next door in 1940: W G MacLaren at 2436. The block, door by door
- 8
123 West 14th Avenue
Mount Pleasant, 1940
- A Linden Willett 1940
Next door in 1940: Mrs L Dudley at 117 and Mrs R Pearsall at 129. The block, door by door
- 9
3550 West 32nd Avenue
Dunbar-Southlands, 1940
- H M Willett, a serviceman 1940
Next door in 1940: A Beach at 3544 and Rev J R Frizell at 3564. The block, door by door
What they did
The name section prints a trade for five of the nine: an examiner, a janitor, a lumberman, a proprietor and a serviceman. One is a widow, listed under her own name.
Their neighbourhoods
The addresses are in Kerrisdale (2), Mount Pleasant (2), West End (2), Dunbar-Southlands, Kitsilano and Victoria-Fraserview. 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 Bonnie J Willett at 6287 Adera Street, widow of J D. J C Willett, a trucking, is listed at 447 East 6th Avenue in 1940. In 1940 the directory lists W J Willett at 7105 Elliott Street. The 1940 name section lists Walter J Willett there as the householder, a janitor at Pacific Meat.
The 1940 name section lists Reginald H Willett at 1973 Haro Street, retired. B Willett is listed at 5888 Marguerite 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 Benjamin Willett there as the householder, a lumberman.
H T Willett is listed at 1447 Thurlow Street in 1940; the 1940 line is marked * too. The 1940 name section lists Harry T Willett there as the householder, proprietor of the Re-Nu Wind Shade Co of BC. The 1940 name section lists John H Willett at 2424 West 13th Avenue, an examiner at the Customs. The 1940 name section lists A Linden Willett at 123 West 14th Avenue.
H M Willett is listed at 3550 West 32nd Avenue in 1940. The 1940 name section lists Harold M Willett there as the householder, a serviceman.
Today
6287 Adera (2018), 447 East 6th (1968), 7105 Elliott (1999), 5888 Marguerite (2012), 123 West 14th (2015) and 3550 West 32nd (1977) have newer buildings, by the City's record; the City no longer lists 1973 Haro, 1447 Thurlow and 2424 West 13th, so those buildings are probably gone (inferred).
Every line as printed
All 13 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
- Willett Bonnie J wid J D6287 Adera, p. 661
- Willett J C trucking447 East 6th, p. 186
- Willett W J7105 Elliott, p. 48
- Willett Walter J jntr Pac Meat7105 Elliott, p. 661
- Willett Regd H retired1973 Haro, p. 661
- *Willett B5888 Marguerite, p. 111
- Willett Benj lbrmn5888 Marguerite, p. 661
- *Willett H T1447 Thurlow, p. 156
- Willett Harry T prop Re-Nu Wind Shade Co of BC1447 Thurlow, p. 661
- Willett John H examr Customs2424 West 13th, p. 661
- Willett A Linden123 West 14th, p. 661
- Willett H M3550 West 32nd, p. 248
- Willett Harold M servmn Home Cigarette Cbts3550 West 32nd, p. 661
British Columbia and Yukon Directory, name section, where each person's work is printed
The book of the Willetts
Every directory, as one book
The family book reads the Willett 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 W. Want a name removed? Tell us.