More Mole Memories

1137 Pendrell Street was built in 1889 making it one of the oldest houses on the block and in the city. It was built on the same full city lot as 1139 and it appears that the first owners purchased the property together.

Robert Cosgrove, who lived here, was a labourer and worked to Thomas Tomkins. He was 28 years old when he built this house. It was modernized in 1909 with a new concrete foundation, Edwardian style front porch and second front entrance.

1139 Pendrell I am going to have to go back for more photos of.

This is a greenway that is located at 1133 Pendrell. Originally a Victorian house that was built in 1899 stood was in this spot. The first residents were a clerk, John McMillan and his wife and two children. Sadly the house was gone by 1970.

This unique home is a blend of Victorian and Edwardian features. It was built on the cusp of the Edwardian age - in 1899 - and was home first to John and Isabella Evans.

You are looking at 1127 Pendrell Street, a home that was built in 1904-5 by James Gillott. This Newfoundlander had experience in almost all aspects of the trade and is listed in city directories as a plasterer, contractor, mason and builder. He built, and probably designed, Orange Hall on East Hastings. (Which I have written on way back when.) The first resident at 1127 Pendrell was Charles D. Mackenzie who was in something to do with real estate. MacKenzie resided in this home for more than twenty years.

This house which presently resides at 1125 Pendrell Street has an interesting history. It's called the Watson House and was originally located at 909 Thurlow. For the grand price of one dollar it was sold to the City of Vancouver on the condition it be moved to a permanent location.

This 1897 home was restored by the Mole Hill Community Housing Society in 2004 and is now supportive housing in partnership with the Coast Foundation.

The house that was originally in this spot was built in 1904 and was a mirror image to 1127 Pendrell. Probably because it was built by James Gillott as well The first resident of the original home was David Robinson who worked at the Dominion Government Assay Office. A long time Mole Hiller, Mrs. Annie Oliver, was the last resident. She lived here until her death in the late 1970s and after that the city demolished the home.

This house had the honor of being home to some of Vancouver's earliest residents - Catherine Costello. Catherine was born in the United States and arrived in Vancouver before the great fire of 1886. She and her Irish born husband, Michael, lived on a farm in the area around 11th and Sophia. Michael was active in building and operating hotels as well as real estate speculation in the building boom that followed the fire.

Costello was a popular fellow and seemed to be a genuinely decent man. He also built and operated several canneries in New Westminster and Steveston, had interests in Alaska and organized and became president of the Alaska Fisheries Union. Costello was also an alderman in 1889 and 1890. He died suddenly on October 14, 1901 at the age of 56. Cause was a 'racing heart'.

Six years later his widow had the home at 1103 Pendrell built. She lived there until her death of a cerebral hemorrhage on December 22, 1926. Ownership then passed to her niece Kate and it is thought the family continued to own the house into the late 1930s and possibly until after WWII.


I hope you are enjoying this tour of Mole Hill because I am not finished and this isn't counting the houses I didn't get good photos of!

I hope you find the beauty around you.

Karen Magill, Victorian, Vancouver, Mole Hill, James Gillott, Alaska Fisheries Union, History, Watson House