Address: 3059 Washington Avenue
Built: 1911
1912 householder: Eugene Dufau, baker
Photo credit: Vicki Jackson, July 2012This house was built “on speculation” in 1911 during the height of the real estate boom in Victoria by the prolific Washington Avenue developer Wesley Newton Mitchell. A plumbing permit for the dwelling was issued on 21 October 1911, so it was probably on the market soon afterwards. In 1912 this was the home of John D. Morris, a tinsmith. He was employed by Gaspard Longpré, a tinsmith and plumber, whose premises were located at 735 Johnson Street.
As yet, we do not have much information about Morris. But he may have been enumerated in the 1911 census at 663 Burnside Road. John Morris, a 38 year old metal worker, was born in England in December 1872 and came to Canada in 1890. He was a Methodist. His wife, Irma, was 37 years old; she was born in Ireland and came to Canada in 1883. She was an Anglican. There were no children in this census household.
In 1912, John D. Morris moved into the newly-built Field Apartments, at 723 Field Street, a block south of Bay Street. The next occupant at 3065 Washington Avenue was Eugene Dufau, a baker. In 1912 he worked at the Pure Food Bakery & Candy Company and later (1914) at the Perfection Bakery. By 1916 Dufau had his own bakery. He was proprietor of People's Bakery at 823 Pandora Avenue. He moved out of this Washington Avenue home in 1917 and may have left Victoria, since he is not listed in Victoria City directories after that date.
Arthur Longlan, a carpenter, is listed at this address in the 1918 edition of Henderson's Greater Victoria Directory. But he was not here for long. In 1920, this was the home of the Reverend William H. Bates and his wife, Ada Bates. Mr. Bates died in 1921, but his widow remained at this address for several years.