A family name in Vancouver's city directories
The Zesses
In the city directories 1940 · four people at three addresses
The directories print four people named Zess at three addresses in 1940 in two 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 Zesses lived
- 1
112 East 26th Avenue
Riley Park, 1940
- I H Zess, retired 1940
- Robert O Zess, a diver 1940
Next door in 1940: H Auton at 120. The block, door by door
- 2
1855 East Georgia Street
Grandview-Woodland, 1940
- W C Zess, a diver at BC Marine 1940
Next door in 1940: Mrs H M Lougheed at 1845 and Mrs S Young at 1857. The block, door by door
- 3
1690 East Pender Street
Grandview-Woodland, 1940
- P D Zess, a laborer 1940
Next door in 1940: J H Berg at 1666. The block, door by door
What they did
The name section prints a trade for three of the four: a diver (2) and a laborer.
Their neighbourhoods
The addresses are in Grandview-Woodland (2) and Riley Park. 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 I H Zess at 112 East 26th Avenue; 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 Isaac H Zess there as the householder, retired, with Robert O Zess, a diver. In 1940 the directory lists W C Zess at 1855 East Georgia Street. The 1940 name section lists William C Zess there as the householder, a diver at BC Marine.
In 1940 the directory lists P D Zess at 1690 East Pender Street. The 1940 name section lists Philip D Zess there as the householder, a laborer.
Today
112 East 26th (1994) and 1855 East Georgia (1966) have newer buildings, by the City's record; the City no longer lists 1690 East Pender, so that building is probably gone (inferred).
Every line as printed
All 7 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
- *Zess I H112 East 26th, p. 240
- Zess Isaac H retired112 East 26th, p. 682
- Zess Robt O diver112 East 26th, p. 682
- Zess W C1855 East Georgia, p. 56
- Zess Wm C diver BC Marine1855 East Georgia, p. 682
- Zess P D1690 East Pender, p. 128
- Zess Philip D lab1690 East Pender, p. 682
British Columbia and Yukon Directory, street section
The book of the Zesses
Every directory, as one book
The family book reads the Zess 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 Z. Want a name removed? Tell us.