Francis and Vera Dickins Residence

Built in 1910-1911, this Edwardian style house features a cross-gabled roof, a gabled projected porch, pointed bargeboards, open soffits, and triangular brackets. 2576-2578 West 5th Avenue was built and designed by Braithwaite & Glass, who developed many houses in Kitsilano during the speculative building boom between 1910-1911.

The building permit lists the street numbers for 3 frame dwelling houses as follows: 2574, 2582, and 2590 [2578]. 2590 West 5th is the corner lot, while 2578 encompasses the two lots on the east. The house is named for the longest-term owners, Francis and Vera Dickens. Francis was a bookkeeper for Moody Shingles, and later went on to form F.C. Dicks and Company. Francis and Vera began living in the house in 1940. Francis passed away in 1968, and Vera remained at the house until 1972.

The house was approved as a C-Listing addition to Vancouver Heritage Register by City Council on December 19th 2018. Addition to the register was specified as condition of a previously approved development permit application. The house is significant as it exemplifies development of middle-class housing in the neighbourhood, along with its association with long-term residents Francis and Vera Dickens.

Source

City of Vancouver Report 2018, City of Vancouver Archives, Hugh McLean