Vancouver / Names / W / Wilson / Robson Street

A family name on Robson Street, West End and Downtown

The Wilsons

In the city directories 1940 · nine people at eight addresses

The directories print nine people named Wilson at eight addresses in 1940, all on Robson Street, with the close spelling Willson. No first name or initials tie one address to another: we can't tell if they're one family. The directories print the name on 224 other streets too, all listed on the Wilson name's own page.

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 Wilsons 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

    421 Robson Street

    Downtown, 1940

    • John Wilson, a musician 1940

    Next door in 1940: J L Cameron at 417. The block, door by door

  2. 2

    611 Robson Street

    Downtown, 1940

    • A Wilson 1940

    Next door in 1940: C Hope at 609 and Van Tamale Parlor at 615. The block, door by door

  3. 3

    655 Robson Street

    Downtown, 1940

    • Mrs Bridget Wilson 1940

    Next door in 1940: York Cafe at 619. The block, door by door

  4. 4

    715 Robson Street

    Downtown, 1940

    • Miss J L Wilson 1940
    • Jessie L Wilson, a nurse 1940

    Next door in 1940: Badette Barbara at 711 and Star Loan Co at 719. The block, door by door

  5. 5

    1136 Robson Street

    West End, 1940

    • J Wilson 1940

    Next door in 1940: Silver Leaf Conf at 1134 and Helen's Kitchen at 1140. The block, door by door

  6. 6

    1154 Robson Street

    West End, 1940

    • George Wilson, a metal worker at D McLean Motor 1940

    Next door in 1940: W G Proctor at 1150. The block, door by door

  7. 7

    1689 Robson Street

    West End, 1940

    • W Wilson, a stockman at the Begg Parts Depot 1940

    Next door in 1940: Mrs G Parkinson at 1677. The block, door by door

  8. 8

    1973 Robson Street

    West End, 1940

    • Clif S Wilson, a clerk 1940

    Next door in 1940: Mrs S C Robertson at 1951. The block, door by door

What they did

The name section prints a trade for five of the nine: a clerk, a metal worker, a musician, a nurse and a stockman.

Their neighbourhoods

The addresses are in Downtown (4) and West End (4). 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 John Wilson at 421 Robson Street, a musician. The 1940 name section lists A Wilson at 611 Robson Street. The 1940 name section lists Mrs Bridget Wilson at 655 Robson Street.

Miss J L Wilson is listed at 715 Robson Street in 1940. The 1940 name section lists Jessie L Wilson there as the householder, a nurse. The 1940 name section lists J Wilson at 1136 Robson Street. The 1940 name section lists George Wilson at 1154 Robson Street, a metal worker at D McLean Motor.

W Wilson is listed at 1689 Robson Street in 1940. The 1940 name section lists William Wilson there as the householder, a stockman at the Begg Parts Depot. The 1940 name section lists Clif S Wilson at 1973 Robson Street, a clerk.

Today

1689 Robson still has its building from before 1946, dated 1911 by the City's record; 1136 Robson (1976) and 1154 Robson (1974) have newer buildings, by the City's record; the City no longer lists 421 Robson, 611 Robson, 655 Robson, 715 Robson and 1973 Robson, so those buildings are probably gone (inferred).

Every line as printed

All 10 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
1940

British Columbia and Yukon Directory, name section, where each person's work is printed

The book of the Wilsons

Every directory, as one book

The family book reads the Wilson 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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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.