Drysdale Residence

The heritage value of the Drysdale Residence is associated with the early residential development of North Vancouver as one of a group of heritage homes that face Ottawa Gardens as part of the first phase of development in the area prior to the First World War. Designed to attract affluent families to the North Shore of Burrard Inlet, the planning and development of this area was initiated by the North Vancouver Land and Improvement Company at the beginning of the twentieth century and the area reflects a number of architectural styles related to its different stages of development.

Built in 1909, the Drysdale Residence is valued as a good example of vernacular, Edwardian-era architecture. The house was built and originally owned by J.C. Williams, a local contractor who worked on a number of houses in the Ottawa Gardens and Grand Boulevard areas. Typical of many contractor-built homes, it was likely built on a speculative basis and was acquired the following year by James Thomas Drysdale (1864-1935), a retired farmer. Lacking stylistic pretensions, the house is notable for its high level of integrity and characteristic period features such as its broad front verandah and leaded windows.