Paddon Residence

Until 1911, Union Street was known as Barnard Street, after Francis Stillman Barnard. The street was renamed in 1911 to avoid confusion with Burrard Street. As such, 523 Union Street first appears in city directories as 523 Barnard Street.

Built in 1893, this is one of the oldest surviving houses in the City, it was built only seven years after the Great Fire. The house first appears in city directories in 1903 with Edward Warren listed as the first resident. Warren, a messenger for the Bank of Montreal only lived at the house for a year.

Beginning in the 1920s, the building was inhabited by a long succession of Italian families, reflecting the large influx of Italian immigrants into the Strathcona nieghbourhood. The house saw many occupants in its early years, with the first long-term resident, Antonio (Tony) Lussin moving into the house in 1922. Lussin, a labourer, lived at the house from 1922 until 1947. Other residents included a druggist, and a longshoreman.

From 1911 on, the house is listed as 523 Union Street. In 2018, the address was revised to 521-523 Union Street. It was added to the City of Vancouver’s Heritage Register in 2019.

Source

City of Vancouver, VanMapp, British Columbia City Directories 1860-1955