These were the second premises designed and developed by Leek and Co, who were heating and ventilation engineers. They built this building around 1904, about ten years after they moved into the first property that they developed, two blocks from here. The original brick and stone building here cost $6,000, and Leek & Co moved in (when it was numbered as 811). In 1910 they built an addition that cost another $12,000 – we’re guessing that was adding the second floor. Originally they had obtained a permit as early as 1899, but seem to have delayed for a few years. They designed and built another 5-storey warehouse on Homer Street in 1910 (which they then moved to), and later a two storey workshop in 1926, also on Homer Street.
The Leek family were from Harrogate in Yorkshire, arriving in Ontario in 1880 and Vancouver in 1892. William Leek was the patriarch, who in the 1901 censes was shown born in 1849, aged 52. His wife, ‘Helen’ was shown two years younger. It helped that their marriage had taken place in England, before they emigrated, as it was actually in 1864 (which would have suggested Mrs Leek was only 13 when she wed). William was really born in 1833, (so actually 68) and his wife, Ellen Pearson in 1839, (62), so their wedding had been in every way legal, but their responses to the census clerk were far from accurate.
Their family’s ages were also adjusted, but not to quite the same degree. Walter was born in 1870, (but shown as 1873), son James was shown in 1878, (really 1876) and they also knocked two or three years off most of the five daughters shown living at home, and the census totally missed Verna (who was five). William, Walter and James were described as ‘steam fitter’. John Leek was the oldest son, and had left home, and had a wife and seven year old daughter. He accurately described himself as aged 34, and was listed as an engineer.
William Leek died in San Diego in February 1913. He and Ellen had left with their daughter Edith for a stay lasting ‘several months’, but he died two weeks into the trip. The California death register said he was aged 63. (He was 80).
The 2-storey version of the Leek Building was retained as an investment, and if the family had help in designing the building it might have come from Honeyman and Curtis, who had their offices here. (In the 1970s architects Eng and Wright had their offices here). The Provincial Botanical Office was one of the first tenants, although the street directory didn’t have them staying long. The Phi Epsilon Fraternity also occupied one of the units, and some of the spaces became residential. In 1920 Theo Hutton, the principal of the BC Conservatory of Music lived here, and the organisation were based here too. Arthur Foxall, a music teacher, also lived here, and James Minns, a signwriter had his business premises here. Dowstairs the Canada Cycle & Motor Co Ltd had a large warehouse.
In 1940 the tenants on the main floor were Horne Tailor & Co, real estate, with McDonald’s Remedial Gym occupying the former bicycle warehouse, and upstairs were Huisson & Barwell tailors, Penguin Products, waterproofing, Cascade Mining & Milling, and E W Dean & Co who were manufacturers’ agents. In our 1981 image Stertzer Tailor’s are upstairs, alongside Altair Resources (one of a number of mining businesses who occupied the building over the years), with the Government Liquor Store (with the rare wine selection) and the Specialty Shop downstairs. In 1983 the building was for sale for $5m, then reduced to $4.2m, approved for a 75,000 sq. ft. 16 storey office that was never built. (If it had been, the development we see today may never have happened).
The building was demolished in 2013 (replacing the final tenants, a sushi restaurant, Murchies Tea and a salad bar). A new office building, designed by Harry Geiger in Switzerland, was inserted through and above the adjacent Stock Exchange building from 1929. The retained heritage part of the building to the east became a hotel, and this is the office atrium.
Image source: City of Vancouver Archives CVA 778-301
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Changing Vancouver 