A family name in Vancouver's city directories
The Woodroffs
In the city directories 1940 · three people at two addresses
The directories print three people named Woodroff at two addresses in 1940 in two of the city's neighbourhoods. No first name or initials tie one address to the other: 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 Woodroffs lived
- 1
7045 Fraser Street
Sunset, 1940
- J L Woodroff, proprietor of Ajax Roofing 1940
Next door in 1940: Metropolitan Bky at 7007 and M J Galway at 7069. The block, door by door
- 2
3013 Heather Street
Fairview, 1940
- Mrs M Woodroff, widow of W J T 1940
- Cliff C Woodroff, a driver at Metro Bakery 1940
Next door in 1940: Mrs E M Duffy at 3005 and Mrs E M Baines at 3021. The block, door by door
What they did
The name section prints a trade for two of the three: a driver and a proprietor. One is a widow, listed under her own name.
Their neighbourhoods
The addresses are in Fairview and Sunset. 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 L Woodroff at 7045 Fraser Street. The 1940 name section, where each person's work is printed, lists Jack L Woodroff there as the householder, proprietor of Ajax Roofing. In 1940 the directory lists Mrs M Woodroff at 3013 Heather Street. The 1940 name section lists Minnie Woodroff there as the householder, widow of W J T, with Cliff C Woodroff, a driver at Metro Bakery.
Today
3013 Heather still has its building from before 1946, dated 1910 by the City's record; the City no longer lists 7045 Fraser, 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.
- Woodroff J L7045 Fraser, p. 53
- Woodroff Jack L prop Ajax Roofing7045 Fraser, p. 673
- Woodroff Mrs M3013 Heather, p. 82
- Woodroff Cliff C drvr Metro Bky3013 Heather, p. 673
- Woodroff Minnie wid W J T3013 Heather, p. 673
British Columbia and Yukon Directory, street section
The book of the Woodroffs
Every directory, as one book
The family book reads the Woodroff 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.