Address: 623 Manchester Road
Built: 1910
1912 householder: George Benner, evangelistThis well-maintained Edwardian Arts & Crafts style house was built by the firm of William Dunford & Son at a cost of $1,750. It has a box bay window in the front parlour and half width front porch with front facing steps. Another box bay for the dining room is located on the east side of the main floor. A double-hung bedroom window is located on the top floor in the centre of the front gable and there are side dormers on both sides of the roof. A tall, corbelled brick chimney stands near the east side dormer. Shingles cover the dormers, gable and the foundation course of the house, while the main floor is clad in double-drop siding.
Initially, this was the residence of William McIntyre, a real estate agent. In June 1911, when the census was taken, it was the home of Thomas Tourgis and Jane Tourgis and their daughter and son-in-law, Emma Benner and George Benner. Mr. Tourgis was born in the English Channel island of Jersey; he was a retired brick mason and was 72 years old when he was enumerated. Mrs. Tourgis, born in New Brunswick, was 66 years old. Emma Benner, also born in New Brunswick was 37 years old and worked as a nurse in the Victoria Private Hospital at 1114 Rockland Avenue. Her Ontario-born husband, George Benner, was 50 years. He is identified as an “evangelist” on the 1911 census. The Benners resided here in 1912 and they were still living in this house in 1915. According to the 1915 Victoria City Directory, Mr. Benner was postmaster and proprietor of the Marigold General Store in Saanich. The Benners moved out of this house sometime in the following year. In 1917, this house at 623 Manchester Road was the residence of William Richards. He was a carpenter with the Cameron-Genoa Mills, a lumber and shipbuilding firm located at Point Ellice.