Address: 524 Cecelia Road
Built: 1913
1913 householder: Louis Theale, bartenderThis house was built in 1913. [Architectural description to follow.] A plumbing permit was issued for the property on 12 July 1913, so it was probably occupied at that time. It was the home of Louis and Marie Thiele. He was born in Germany and came to Canada in 1888; his wife Mary was born in England and came to Canada in 1907.
In 1909 he was working as a bartender at the Bodega Saloon at 1121 Douglas Street (corner of Douglas and View) and by 1912 he owned the place. He was then 47 years old and his wife was 35 years old. Interestingly, the liquor license for the saloon was in Mrs. Thiele's name. At this point, they were also selling equipment to other hotels and saloons in the city.
When the economy collapsed in 1913, their business may have suffered. In 1914 Louis Thiele was working as a bartender at the Bismark Hotel at 1303 Government Street. Hopefully, he wasn't there in May 1915, when the passenger liner Lusitania was been sunk by a German U-boat in the Atlantic. News of the sinking led to anti-German demonstrations in Victoria and many German-owned businesses were looted.