Napier Street

1905 July – Appropriation #110 dated 20 July 1905 ordered the opening and grading of Napier Street for a distance of 3,000 feet from False Creek to Victoria Drive at an estimated cost of $1,700. By October 1905, the work was completed at a cost of $1,728.47 in labour.i

1905 September — O. Meere and others asked that Napier Street and Parker Street be cleared from Victoria Drive to Semlin Drive “and even to Lakewood.” The Engineer reported that no money was available as the streets had not been included in the previous By-Law.ii

33’ lots on Napier and Victoria and Williams Street. $200. iii

1906 January — “$325 each buys 2 full lots on Napier Street, close to Park Drive; beautiful high lots.” “$80 cash and $10 monthly buys a choice lot near the tramline on Napier Street. There only three lots left on this block. The price is $325 each. iv

1906 February — The Board of Works approved the following for future estimates: Napier, Victoria to Lakewood, open & grade, $645.v

“Napier Street, 5 lots including corner. Close to car line, with fine view. $1,850.” vi

1906 March — The Board of Works resolved to ask for $30,000 for Street Improvements in the following year’s estimates including opening Napier from Victoria to Lakewood, at an estimated cost of $645. vii

1906 April — Double corner on Napier, 88×132, close to Clark. $800. viii

1906 August – 3-plank sidewalks were laid on Napier from Clark to 100’ east. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 11 October.ix

1906 October – 3-plank sidewalks were laid on the south side of Napier from Woodland Drive to McLean Drive. The work was completed on 15 January 1907. x

1906 November – The Board recommended 3-plank sidewalks for Napier from Clark Drive 150 feet for $30; and on 6th Avenue from Park Drive east for 600 feet for $80. In this month work began on laying 3-plank sidewalks on the south side of Napier from Clark to 150’ east. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 27 November. xi

1906 December — In December 1906 Peter Richards wrote to the Board of Works asking “your engineer to rough clear Napier from Victoria Drive to Lakewood Drive along Napier Street to enable me to draw lumber onto Lot 22, block 33 … on which property I am proceeding to build and at present I have no means of access forward of a track.” Also that month work began on laying 3-plank sidewalk on the south side of Napier from Park Drive to 150’ west. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 26 February 1907. xii

1907 April — A large number of petitioners led by J.J. Miller wrote to the Board of Works: “… respectfully beg of your Council to cause Napier Street from Victoria Drive to Lakewood Drive to be cleared and made passable for traffic. Some of us have built on Napier Street and are unable to get access to our properties; others of us intend to build this summer.” The signatories were J.J. Miller (1869 William), V. Penepede (?) (Napier near Semlin), Peter Richards (1940 William), William Moody (corner Napier & Victoria Drive), Giuseppe P- (1851 Venables), Pasquale Ottorillo (Napier & Victoria Drive), Fred Dodd (Semlin & Napier), E.A. Dodd (Semlin & Napier), Philip Hilty, Archie McNeill (1937 William), Mrs Elliott (William Street), Mrs Beach (William Street).xiii This petition was apparently “negatived” and so J.J. Miller wrote once again to say that “I am directed by those interested to apply to you for the services of the chaingang to clear at least a right of way …”xiv

1907 May — J.J. Miller and 8 other residents wrote to the Board about “the necessity of forming (?) Napier Street from Park Drive to Victoria Drive and also the making of a sidewalk on the same street.” That month work began to “cut a trail” along Napier from Victoria Drive to Lakewood. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 12th August. xv

1907 June – A 3-plank sidewalk was laid on the south side of Napier from Cotton Drive to 270’ west. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 31 July. xvi

1907 July – A 3-plank sidewalk was laid on the south side of Napier from Park Drive to Victoria Drive. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 7th October. xvii

1907 September — Five residents of the 1600 block Napier petitioned the Board of Works “that our street be opened up and put in a proper condition.” xviii

1907 October – Napier was cleared and graded between Cotton Drive and Park Drive. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 27th January 1908. xix

1908 October – A 3-plank sidewalk was laid on the north side of Napier from Victoria Drive to Lakewood Drive. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 12th December. Also that month, a new sewer was laid on Napier between Park and Victoria Drives. Mr. Burgoyne was the foreman and the work was completed on 29th October. Work was also authorized to clear and grade Napier from Victoria Drive to Nanaimo Street. The work was completed on 5th February 1909. xx

1908 November – A 3-plank sidewalk was laid on the north side of Napier from Park Drive to Salsbury Drive. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 24th November. xxi

1908 December – A 3-plank sidewalk was laid on the south side of Napier from Victoria Drive to Semlin Drive. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 8 January 1909. xxii

1909 January – A 3-plank sidewalk was laid on the north side of Napier from Lakewood to Templeton Drives. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 5th March.xxiii

1909 April – A new sewer was laid on Napier between Victoria and Lakewood Drives. Mr. Mills was the foreman and the work was completed on 11 May. xxiv

1909 July – 6’ concrete sidewalk proposed for both sides of Napier Street between Clark and Victoria Drives. Cost $5,937.06 with city paying $499.22 under By Laws 563 and 624.xxv

1909 October – Napier Street was cleared and graded between Templeton and Garden. The work was completed on 3rd January 1910. xxvi

1909 November – A 3-plank sidewalk was laid on the north side of Napier from Salsbury to Victoria Drives. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 13th December. Also that month, a 3-plank sidewalk was laid on the north side of Napier from Park Drive to Cotton. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 4th January 1910. xxvii

1910 May – A 3-plank sidewalk was laid on the south side of Napier from McLean to Odlum Drives. George Freeman was the foreman. In the same month, both sides of Napier were graded for concrete sidewalks between Clark and Victoria Drives. xxviii

1910 July – Napier Street was rocked between Park Drive and Salsbury Drive. xxix

1912 June – 6’ concrete sidewalk is proposed for both sides of Napier from Victoria Drive to Lakewood Drive at a cost of $2,493.00 with the city paying $438.00.xxx

1912 October – 6” concrete curbs were proposed for both sides of Napier between Victoria and Lakewood Drives at a cost of $2,307 with the city paying $513.xxxi

1913 June – 6’ concrete sidewalk on both sides of Napier Street between Victoria Drive and Lakewood Drive were proposed at a cost of $2,525.40 with the city paying $261.73. xxxii

1913 September – 6” concrete curbs were proposed for Napier between Commercial and Victoria Drives at a cost of $2,181.40 with the city paying $208.39.xxxiii

1913 December – 6’ concrete sidewalk proposed for both sides of Napier Street between Clark and Victoria Drives at a cost of $8,334.42 with the city paying $1,403.09.xxxiv

i  Appropriation #110 accounting, CVA, Series 356, Street Improvements 1905-1906, 134-D-5

ii  Board of Works Minutes, 14 Sep 1905 and 21 Sep 1905, CVA, MCR-36 Roll 2

iii  These from an ad by Williams, Hoare & Co in World 18 Sep 1905, p.8

iv  These from ads by Dow, Fraser & Co in World 1906 Jan 9, p,3; 13, p.20

v  Board of Works Minutes, 13 Feb 1906, CVA, MCR-36 Roll 2

vi  These from an by Ford-Jackson Co in World 10 Feb 1906, p.21

vii  Board of Works Minutes, 6 Mar 1906, CVA, MCR-36 Roll 2

viii  World 7 Apr 1906, p.13

ix  WO 1025, 20 Aug 1906, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

x  WO 1125, 30 Oct 1906, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xi  Board of Works Minutes, 6 Nov 1906, CVA, MCR-36 Roll 2; WO 1152, 8 Nov 1906, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xii  Peter Richards to Board of Works dated 29 Dec 1906, CVA, Series 342, Board of Works, Letters Reported 15 Jan 1907, 129-A-5 File 1; WO 1183, 12 Dec 1906, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xiii  J.J. Miller et al to Board of Works dated 16 Mar 1907, CVA, Series 342, Board of Works, Letters Reported 9th April 1907, 129-A-5 File 6

xiv  J.J. Miller to Board of Works dated 22 Apr 1907, CVA, Series 342, Board of Works, Letters Reported 7th May 1907, 129-A-5 File 8

xv  J.J. Miller et al to Board of Works dated 30 May 1907, CVA, Series 342, Board of Works, Letters Reported 2nd July 1907, 129-A-5 File 12; WO 1416, 18 May 1907, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xvi  WO 1484, 25 Jun 1907, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xvii  WO 1517, 10 Jul 1907, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xviii  Vancouver Board of School Trustees to Board of Works dated 8 Oct 1907, CVA, Series 342, Board of Works, Letters Reported 22 Oct 1907, 129-A-5 File 20

xix  WO 1688, 30 Oct 1907, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xx  WO 2529, 16 Oct 1908; WO 2554, 24 Oct 1908; WO 2552, 22 Oct 1908, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xxi  WO 2582, 4 Nov 1908, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xxii  WO 2655, 1 Dec 1908, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xxiii  WO 2730, 14 Jan 1909, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xxiv  WO 2957, 8 Apr 1909, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xxv  Schedule published 7 July 1909, CVA, Series 356, Proposed Local Improvements, 134-A-2 File 1

xxvi  WO 3514, 13 Oct 1909, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xxvii  WO 3596, 10 Nov 1909; WO 3649, 24 Nov 1909, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xxviii  WO 4091, 10 May 1910; WO 4165, 26 May 1910, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xxix  WO 4316, 19 Jul 1910, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xxx  Schedule published 15 Jun 1912, CVA, Series 356, Proposed Local Improvements, 134-A-2 File 1

xxxi  Schedule published 2 Oct 1912, CVA, Series 356, Proposed Local Improvements, 134-A-2 File 1

xxxii  Schedule published 6 June 1913, CVA, Series 356, Proposed Street Improvements, 134-A-2 File 1

xxxiii  Schedule published 13 Sep 1913, CVA, Series 356, Proposed Street Improvements, 134-A-2 File 1

xxxiv  Schedule published 12 Dec 1913, CVA, Series 356, proposed Local Improvements, 134-A-2 File 1