The architect of this building developed near Commercial Drive possibly didn’t expect the owner to add the pediment that was constructed. It’s something of a head-turner, which was exactly the intention of the business located here. The architect was listed as C Schmidt – although Carl Schmidt was really a draftsman. His client was listed as ‘Theo Geardes’, who spent $12,500 in 1912 to put the building up, seen here a year later.
Theo Gaerdes was born in San Francisco in 1887, and arrived in Canada with his parents into Victoria when he was aged two, and to Vancouver in 1903. John H Gaerdes ran a number of city bars over the years, including the Lighthouse Hotel and the Louvre in 1909. Like many others he dabbled in property – in 1910 he published a notice in The Province that said all his property in Vancouver and Burnaby was off the market.
His son, Theo, worked for a tinsmith, James H. Hatch, and later formed his own company in partnership with William Hughes as Gaerdes & Hughes before starting Grandview Sheet Metal at the age of 26. Despite his father’s German origins the business seems to have survived the war, with Theo marrying in 1917 (and honeymooning in Seattle). His wife, Marion, gave birth to Doreen in 1918, described in a 1922 bridal shower as “little Miss Doreen Gaerdes, a fairy In gauzy mauve, entered the room drawing a gaily decorated buggy laden with gifts which she presented to the guest of honor”. Doreen married Robert Newall in 1940 in Christ Church Cathedral, with the reception at her parent’s home, a block from here. Their honeymoon was in Harrison Hot Springs.
Theo’s business seems to have started in 1911 at 1729 Venables, taking on ‘Warm air heating, furnaces and general jobbing’. In 1918 they were advertising their garbage cans; ‘Buy Direct from Makers for Less and save Money’. Free delivery. Gutters put up and furnaces repaired.’ He moved here after construction in 1912, with his name in the middle of the extraordinary tinwork on the top of the building.
Theo moved his business to 1739 Venables around 1926 and in 1930 the Dainty Date Co were in the building. In 1941 Flowercraft Supply operated here, and Huigley, Lea & Meagher, who specialized in metal roofing were here in the late 1940s, with Biddlecombe Sheet Metal Works in 1954. In 1957 these premises were offered for lease, with a lane-level basement, and Unicorn Metal Products were here in 1962.
There were six apartments in the ‘Pretty Apartments’ on the second floor, at 1863. A two-room suite was $30 in 1928. In 1940 “Burglars Chased From City Residence Three burglars disturbed by D. Whitford, 1683 Venables, while ransacking an adjoining suite occupied by H. D. Peterson on Friday night, Jumped through an open window, dropped 12 feet to the ground and escaped.” In 1950 the rent for a 3-room suite was $50, and in 1959 $55. In 1971 the suite had cablevision, but the rent had jumped to $135 a month.
The building was redeveloped in 1972, and Van City Marble moved in and a stone supplier was located here for many years. The 1972 building was effectively rebuilt as ‘The Wallace’ (although described as a renovation) in 2015 by Kevington Building Corp. At this point in the block Continental Stone World moved in, with the East Van Brewery occupying the space next door with a street patio in front of the unit.
In 1967 Theo’s Grandview Sheet Metal business, machinery and building were for sale. Marion Gaerdes died in March 1973 aged 78, and Theo in May, aged 86.
Image source: City of Vancouver Archives CVA LGN 1228
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Changing Vancouver 