3130 Balfour Avenue

Address: 3130 Balfour Avenue
Built: 1913
1913 householder: Alex Smith, store manager
Photo credit: Vicki Jackson, July 2012

This house was built in early 1913 at a cost of $3,500. It is a fine example of a California Craftsman-style bungalow. It was designed by an eminent Seattle architect, E. E. [Elmer Ellsworth] Green, who designed about two dozen homes in Victoria during this period.

The house was built for Alex Smith, branch manager of the Hollywood Meat Market at 1704 Lillian Road in Fairfield. The Hollywood Meat Market was one of three stores in Victoria owned by the Vancouver Prince Rupert Meat Company in 1914.

Presently, we don't know more about Smith or the company he worked for. But Smith must have been well-paid, or had independent financial means, because this was a very substantial home. Smith lived here until 1916 or 1917. [The 1917 Victoria City directory shows Charles A. Jones – co-owner of the Economy Wet Wash Laundry on Bridge Street in Rock Bay – at this address, 3130 Balfour Avenue.

The Floor plans for the house are on file at City Hall. The Victoria Heritage Foundation has inventoried the plans and described them as follows:

Five room house, with large front porch with imposing pillars and stairs, reception hall, dining room with apsidal end, with windows, beamed ceilings in main rooms, double fireplace in dining room and bedroom, fireplace in living room, collonaded entry from reception hall to living room. Hinged seat and clothes shute in bathroom to laundry in basement (presumably). Boxed corner extensions in living room and front bedroom, with windows and possibly window seats. Back porch with flower shelf. Wood panel wainscotting and plate rail in dining room. Corner closet in back bedroom. Full basement with wood storage, laundry room and vegetable room.

This handsome, well-maintained residence would be a good candidate for the City's Heritage Register. Its neighbour at 3140 Balfour Avenue was recently added to the Heritage Register.

When this house was built, Balfour Avenue was called Emma Street. The name was changed in 1917.