562 Sumas

Address: 562 Sumas Street
Built: 1912
1912 householder: William C. Watson, foreman, James Leigh & Son lumber mill

This handsome Edwardian-era home is almost completely hidden from the street by trees and hedges. It originally stood on a corner lot with a lawn and garden facing on to Manchester Road.

The building plans for this dwelling indicate a full width porch with colums at the corners. There is a wrap-around box bay at the left side corner and an angled bay on the right side. The interior featured fireplaces, with ornamental mantles, in a corner room (described as a study) and in the main living room.

William Watson may have built this home and, since he was the foreman of one of Victoria's leading lumber mills (James Leigh & Sons), construction materials were probably of the highest quality.

In 1914, Watson and his family moved across the street to a new house at 535 Sumas Street. The new house had been built by local contractor Richard Lang, who also built his daughter's home at 529 Sumas Street.