Address: 614 Dunedin Street
Built: 1908
1912 householder: Leon Borde, compositorThis colonial bungalow was built in 1908. It has an inset porch with an elegant chamfered pillar on the left front, a box bay on the right front, and right-facing front steps. The foundation level is clad in cedar shingles, while the main floor level is covered with double-drop siding.
The first resident of this home was William Dixon, an engineer. He was employed by Hutchison Bros, a firm of electrical and mechanical engineers and iron and brass founders. The firm was located on the harbour at 409 Bay Street, near the corner of Bridge Street, walking distance from this dwelling.
In 1912, this was the home of 28 year old Leon Hippolyte Borde, his 23 year old wife, Edith, and their nearly-two year old son, Edgar Louis. The Borde family was one of Victoria's pioneer families. Leon Borde's grandfather, Jean, who was born in France, came to Victoria via San Francisco during the Fraser River gold rush in 1858. His father, Auguste Borde, was the water rates collector for the City of Victoria for many years, while his uncle, Hippolyte Borde, ran the popular Louvre Restaurant on lower Johnson Street.
Leon Borde was born in Victoria in 1883. He worked as a compositor for the provincial government printing department. In 1909 he married Edith Winnifred Cox of Victoria. Initially, they lived with his parents on Rock Bay Avenue, but in 1911 they moved to this house with their small son. They lived here until 1920 when they moved to Fernwood.*
*Leon Borde's parents lived nearby at 2818 Rock Bay Avenue in 1912. His father, Auguste Francis Borde, died on 20 September 1919. The obituary in the Victoria Daily Colonist (21 September 1919) provides an interesting account of his life and career, including his stint as chief of one of Victoria's early volunteer fire brigades.