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Online Heritage Inventory

Folk Victorian House

General Information
Thumbnail photograph of Folk Victorian House
Click to see full image
Type of Resource: Building
Common Name: Folk Victorian House
Address: 4091 Chatham Street
Neighbourhood (Planning Area Name): Steveston
Construction Date: c. 1890s
Current Owner: Private
Designated:

Statement of Significance
Description of Site
The Folk Victorian House is a one-storey rectangular residential structure with a hipped roof. It is located on a small lot on an extension of Chatham Street to the east of No. 1 Road. It is one of two small homes located side by side on this short, narrow street which was formerly a private road.

 Statement of Values
The heritage value of the house lies in its age and its historical association to the history of the Japanese in Richmond. Likely built in the 1890s, the Folk Victorian House is one of two small homes that existed in the area of what is now Chatham Street and No. 1 Road. The number of Japanese families in Steveston was growing during this time, most arriving to work in the canning and fishing industries. Along with other nearby buildings, such as the Japanese School and the Fishermen’s Hospital, these homes characterized this area as a precinct of Japanese culture and services.
The architectural style of the house, described as Folk Victorian, is representative of several other buildings of the same era, similar location and Japanese cultural background, such as the School and Hospital.

 Character Defining Elements
Key elements that define the heritage character of the site include:
· Characteristic elements of the Folk Victorian style, such as a rectangular shape, hipped roof with central chimney, horizontal wood clapboard siding and double hung wooden windows
· Large trees, both evergreen and deciduous, that surround the house and speak to its residential character
· The location of the house on this short narrow portion of Chatham Street, almost a back lane, which recalls the historical orientation of the buildings in the area.

 History
The Folk Victorian House is a one-storey rectangular residential structure with a hipped roof. It is located on a small lot on an extension of Chatham Street to the east of No. 1 Road. It is one of two small homes located side by side on this short, narrow street which was formerly a private road.

 Architectural Significance
Architectural Style
Folk Victorian

 Building Type
Domestic

 Name of Architect or Builder
Unknown

 Design Features
The house is rectangular in plan with a hipped roof and a central chimney. The roof has a gable end facing north. The roof cover is asphalt shingle. It sits on a concrete foundation and has horizontal wood clapboard siding. The original windows are double hung wooden windows. There are new aluminum windows on the two additions and on the front façade of the enclosed front porch. The front porch has a hipped shed roof, and it is possible that it has replaced the original front facing porch. The house and trim are painted white. Interestingly, the exterior house number maintains the old address of 409 Chatham Street.

 Construction Method
Wood frame construction

 Landscape Significance
Landscape Element
Domestic garden

 Design Attributes
Four large conifers in the front yard, two on either side of the house, and a large birch in the rear yard appear to be mature enough to be associated with an early garden surrounding the house. However, the trees do not appear on the 1932 airphoto, and therefore must be associated with later occupants of the house. There are wood fences of varying vintages surrounding the house. Most appear fairly recent except for the one between 4091 Chatham Street and it neighbour to the east.

 Integrity
Alterations
There have been two additions: one on each of the east and west sides of the house.

 Original Location
Yes

 Condition
The house appears to be in good condition.

 Lost
No

 Documentation
Evaluated By
Denise Cook, BLA, PBD (Public History)

 Date
Thursday, January 10, 2002

 Documentation
Documents
Kalheim, Debra. Heritage Inventory Form, 1977.
Ross, Leslie. Richmond, Child of the Fraser, Richmond ’79 Centennial Society, 1979.
Stacey, Duncan. Salmonopolis, The Steveston Story, Harbour Publishing, Madeira Park BC, 1994.
Takata, Toyo. Nikkei Legacy, NC Press Ltd. Toronto, 1983.
Historical Photographs
Photograph No. 1978 5 7 dated 1908, Richmond Archives.
Aerial Photograph No. A4508-38 dated 1932, Geographic Information Centre, UBC.
Location and Type of Plans Found
Richmond Fire Insurance Maps, 1897. UBC Special Collections.
Waterworks Atlas Map of area between Garry and Moncton Streets, east of No. 1Road, 1936. Item #1991 40 28, Richmond Archives.

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