Address: 580 John Street
Built: 1908
1912 householder: Charles R. Carter, hardware salesmanA building permit was issued in April 1908 to R. Carter (possibly Robert Carter), for a 1 ½ storey frame dwelling, with 8 rooms, at a cost of $2,500. Building plans have been preserved at City Hall and inventoried by the Victoria Heritage Foundation [VHF]. The VHF described the original house, based on the plans, as follows:
Front gabled eight-room house with side gables. Recessed sleeping porch with semicircular arch. Truncated finials on gables. Shingles and dentils in front gable. Elongated bargeboards. Recess half width porch, with three turned columns. Octagonal bay on front of house beside the porch. Front facing central entrance and front steps. Inside there are pocket doors between dining room and parlour. Pantry off kitchen. Three bedrooms upstairsCharles Carter and his family lived here one hundred years ago. When the Carters were enumerated in June 1911, Ontario-born Charles R. Carter was 34 years old and his wife, Amelia, was 29 years old. Their children – son Fillmore, age 7, daughter Lorna, age 4, and son DeWolf, age 1 – were born in British Columbia. Fillmore Carter was a schoolboy and probably attended North Ward School.
A former plumber, Charles Carter was working as a sales clerk at the B. C. Hardware Company in 1912. The company was located at 825 Fort Street. In addition to hardware, it sold stoves and ranges, agricultural implements, gasoline enginers and cream separators.
Charles Carter may have been related to Robert Carter, a retired gentleman who lived next door at 584 John Street. As yet, we haven't established a connection.
The house was converted into a duplex in 1958. More recently, it has been painted in Edwardian-era colours. The filigree fretwork around the verandah and front gable is not original, but it is very striking and emphasizes the heritage of the building. This Edwardian Vernacular Arts & Crafts-style house is one of the most attractive buildings on John Street.