Nestled off the corner of Douglas Street and a stone’s throw away from the Save On Foods Memorial Centre lies an unusual house. Indeed, given how most of the area has since been cleared for commercial buildings as of the 1980s, any “house” on that side of Discovery Street is an unusual sight to see. One of only a handful of Edwardian-style brick homes here in the city, the house is complete with Doric columns, slate roofing, stained glass windows, and a gorgeous rich red and white paint job. One would imagine finding such a house in Old Town Toronto or Kingston Ontario... And yet, flanked by business buildings, this “Temple” stands proudly on 714 Discovery Street. Known today as Discovery Sports Club (DSC), the “Temple” is home to the Castaway Wanderers RFC, Castaways FC, and the Castaways Cricket Club (CCC).

However, before it became home to the ladies and gentlemen of one of the oldest sports organizations in Victoria, The DSC “Temple” went by a very different yet simple name: The Baker House. Although over a century old, the materials, design and architecture of the old house carry all the charm and conveniences one would have come to expect from an elitist pre-Great War home. Built in 1910, the house was home to one of the wealthiest independent industrialists in Victoria who, quite literally, helped to build the city brick by brick.

On February 10th, 1854, James “Jim” Baker was born to a large Irish farming family in London Ontario. As a teenager, Jim travelled with his family to British Columbia to join his father, Richard Baker. His father was part of the “Micawber” generation of British adventure capitalists who travelled to the province in search of opportunity for themselves and their families. Along with his brothers and mother, young Jim arrived in San Francisco via Panama, where boarded the SS Active for Victoria. He arrived in the Inner Harbour St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th) of 1867. In his youth, James Baker worked the old HBC Farm on Lansdowne Road with his father until he was 18. When he was older, he struck off on his own to work the old “Lee” milk ranch and served as a member of the old “hook & ladder” company of the Fire Department.

Shortly afterwards, Jim Baker travelled to the mainland for more opportunities. As a labourer, Baker purportedly helped to build the first Penitentiary in New Westminster in 1874, and when word spread of the Cassiar Gold Rush, he tried his hand at gold mining.

After what was described as “a successful season”, he decided to return to Victoria to get into the teaming business with his brothers John & Richard. James’s other brothers, William and Michael, had also become quite successful in Victoria: in 1875, James’ eldest brother Michael went into commercial agriculture with their father to form the Grain Dealing business R. Baker & Son. Moreover, he was a structural engineer for the HBC (where he helped build the modern wharves of the inner harbour) and was a founding member of the British Columbia Agricultural Commission. With the funding accrued from his gold mining and other family ventures, James Baker eventually helped develop the family business until the Bakers had a fleet of some forty teams at their disposal.

With this strong and stable base, James Baker used his mining and construction knowledge to diversify his family’s commercial activities into contracting. He was awarded a contract for blasting rock on Fort Street in 1886, and another contract to blast rock on Wharf Street in 1887. In 1889, he participated in grain speculation with his father and brother by raising oats at Hillside (although his fields burned down that summer). He found more consistent success in contracting; he excavated a large cellar for Messrs. Rowbotham & Co. at the corner of Douglas and Pandora, and began a $7,000 construction contract on a “McAdam Road” from Marvin’s Hill to the Park, where there was “much blasting to be done.”Aside from building the “Cadboro Bay Road” from Hillside on Saanich Road in 1889, he would go on to build several more roads in Metchosin and Sooke (ex. The Happy Valley Road) via Government contracts.

***James “Jim” Baker, (Feb 10th, 1854 – June 27th 1929), BC Archives G-02525***

Ever the venture capitalist, James Baker had seen the growing demand for building materials as the city transitioned from a city of wood to a city of stone and brick. It was also in 1889 when James Baker proposed “to start a brickyard on the Saanich Road which will employ only white labour.” By 1891, James had imported an ACME brick-making machine with a heavy and powerful engine and boiler set up at his brickyard on Saanich Road. James brought his brother John along into the business and was firmly entrenched in the brick trade as the “Baker Brick & Tile Co” or the “Baker Bros”.

Located at the modern-day location of the Mayfair Mall and Topaz Park, the Baker Brickyard produced millions of bricks during the brickyard’s production lifetime. These “Baker Bricks” were renowned for being composed of high-quality green or blue clay identified by the “Baker” maker’s mark indented over the top portion of the brick itself. Renowned for being high-quality products, the brick yard produced some 50,000 bricks a day as the firm’s bricks were used in various building projects. Coincidentally, it was also in 1891 that Mr. Baker served as an alderman of the Victoria City Council for three years. A “staunch conservative” who held “long experience” in contracting and public works, he served as the representative for the Johnston St. Ward for 1891 and 1892 and then served as the representative for North Ward in 1893. During these years, Mr. Baker did exceptionally well with building contracts in the areas he served (such as the building of the brick house on 968 Balmoral Rd) ... Almost too well. It was during 1893 that he was plagued by court challenges when it was proven his political and commercial responsibilities intersected.

***Baker Brick Yard, c. 1940s, (City of Victoria Archives Item # M10131_141)***

The case, listed as “The Supreme Court of BC, John Coughlan & M.C. Mayo vs. The Corporation of Victoria; Anton Henderson, James Munro Miller, and James Baker”, it was claimed Baker was “disqualified from so sitting or acting or voting for the reason that he is directly interested in a contract with the corporation of the City of Victoria”. James Baker was supplying brick and drainage tile to the contractor for the city who was engaged in the construction of the Cook Street Surface drain and was accused of being “indirectly interested in said contract.”

Critics said of him thusly: “...his real mission if there is one for him in this world. Is not in the city council. Ald. Baker should not forget that his exculpation is due to a too-lenient public opinion, and it will not be safe to assume that he has received a carte blanche to pursue his old tactics in the council or to renew the practice condemned by the court if not by public opinion”. Despite talks of resignation in September, the election was conceded and he won with 265 votes to 145 to become the Alderman for Northshore for 1893. This manoeuvring did cost him in the court of public opinion, however: in January 1894, he attempted to become an alderman for North Ward again, and did not win.

Afterwards, James Baker never again pursued politics, but the influence he accrued while serving as an alderman clearly aided in allowing him to have more access to government contracts. That same year he was plagued with lawsuits in 1893 was the same year the famous architect Francis M. Rattenbury offered $9.00 per thousand bricks supplied for the new provincial government building contracts. James Baker, along with Smith Elford and Humber & Son, in total supplied nearly “a million and a quarter” bricks to Mr. Rattenbury.

***Example of Baker Bricks from Recently Renovated BC Parliament Steps***

Baker’s commercial influence only grew along with his diversified interests, especially as he directly supplied the architects with both material and manpower. Through his continued partnerships with the contractors of McGregor & Jeeves as well as the Luney Brothers, as well as his affiliation with numerous architects like Mr. Wilkins and Mr. Rattenbury, Mr. J. Baker and his bricks aided in building numerous high and low-profile locations. Examples include the Bank of Montreal (Corner of View & Govt Streets), Williams’ Clothing Store (Yates Street), and several others. On Yates Street, he helped to build a new building for Mr. Thomas Earle MP between “Oriental and Waddington Alleys” with Architect Mr. Thomas Hooper... “The building will be of stone and brick with pressed brick front, and will be three stories with basement, costing in the neighbourhood of $11,000.”

To make way for building these new stone and brick buildings, the pre-existing wood structures which populated the city would have to be removed. Baker was present for these jobs as well. In January 1900, James Baker was a contractor for Mr. J. Gerard Tiarks, hired to tear down the Williams Block on Yates Streets to allow for the new buildings in the business heart of the city. This meant James was present for not only rebuilding the City of Victoria but tearing down the Old Victoria as well. Often, Baker would petition the city for repairs near his brickyard, especially along Douglas Streets between Tolmie and Topaz avenues, due to the constant transportation traffic required to bring his bricks to his job sites.

Despite his success as a commercial contractor, James Baker was never satisfied in “shoehorning” himself into one specific venture. In 1898, he also formed the Victoria Ice Company, which his brother John managed until he took total ownership in August 1909, and the direct partnership between Baker Brothers Brick & Tile Co. and the Victoria Ice Company officially dissolved. Outside of his family contacts, he was an active investor on both the Canadian and American sides of the border, having placed interests in the Dennis Downing Shingle Company at Castle Rock in Vancouver Washington.On 17th February 1900, James Baker bought out his partner Mr. William Colston’s coal & wood dealing business. Originally named “Baker & Colston”, he renamed the business “James Baker & Co”. Relying on sources of coal in Seattle, by December 1900 he was able to remarket his coal and wood products at “$6.00 per ton”, and by late 1901, they diversified their coal seams from other communities in Washington State, particularly from Leary and Roslyn. Unfortunately, given how the Dunsmuir Family had a virtual monopoly on the Vancouver Island Coal Trade, James Baker had no choice but to go to American sources because Robert Dunsmuir “refused to sell us coal... finding it impossible to find it anywhere else.” James Baker realized he was a small fish in a big pond, so decided to close his coal business on Oct. 15th, 1903, when he realized he could not compete.

*Left to Right (Standing): David Baker (August 29th, 1881), Helen Louise Baker (July 3rd, 1883), Joseph Baker (January 28th, 1885), Mildred Baker (September 17th, 1886)*

While managing his commercial activities, Mr. James Baker also managed a large family of his own. He married his brother George’s widow, Frankfurt born Clara Helen Wagner, in 1886, and raised George and Clara’s five sons and six daughters together. Although Clara was six years James’ senior, the couple did have one child together, James Jr. Baker, born January 2nd, 1888. The large family lived quite well together as James and the other members of the Baker Clan accumulated further business ventures. Unfortunately, in November of 1902, Clara passed away in their residence of 65 Pembroke from diabetes. The funeral took place at their home on the Friday Afternoon of November 19th, 1902, and was conducted by Reverend H.J. Wood. Her death devastated James, and as time went on and more of his adopted children moved on, he was looking for companionship. In 1904, he met Helen Clara Marrion, a bookkeeper from Surrey England who worked for the Victoria Ice Co. Despite being 22 years his junior, the two married. They did not have any children.

Finally, in 1910, James Baker decided to semi-retire from his business ventures. Victoria had grown quite a bit during his life there, and he found his current home of 713 Pembroke Ave did not befit a man of his status. As such, he was determined to build the finest home in Victoria for his retirement, and to have it be built with bricks from his own yard.

Reaching out to his friend Charles Elwood Baker, plans were drawn up to build “The Baker House” upon Lot 754, Block O of Discovery Street (today 714 Discovery) between Douglas and Blanshard Streets. The plans were drawn up and agreed to by April of 1910 for a sum of $7,000.00. On June 17th, 1910, the plans were finalized when Plan No. 4086 “Application to Connect with Sewer” was filled out for 714 Discovery Street for “James Baker Esquire”. Within the application, James Baker Esq. was listed as the owner of the property, with the pipelayer listed as the Luney Bros and the plumper as Menzies & Co. The application was confirmed on 17th June 1910 by architect C. Elwood Watkins, and work commenced immediately. The Baker House was restored to its former glory in the 1990s, and the Victoria Heritage Foundation describes the property’s exterior thusly:

“This Edwardian Classical Revival two-storey brick residence is one of the few surviving residential buildings on the northern edge of Downtown. The multi-hipped slate roof has multiple modillions in the eaves. Both sides of the house have two-storey angled bays under hipped roofs. The rear has a generous porch with spindle balusters and three chamfered posts. The front façade has a hip-roofed, two-storey angled bay to the left; to the right is a deep open porch with solid balustrade and Tuscan columns supporting a large, hipped roof. The entrance has a glazed panel in the door and leaded sidelights and transom. The front corners are emphasized by painted quoins. Many windows are one-over-one double-hung sashes in combination with larger single-pane windows and leaded art glass transoms. The original concrete block garden wall imitates rusticated stone blocks.”

***Watkins’ Blueprints Front Elevation from Discovery Street, c. April 1910***

According to the blueprints of the property, the interior of the house was the picturesque image of Edwardian interior design befitting a British Canadian of Victoria: Once one walked through the front porch, the person opening the door would be greeted by a large reception Hall with a fireplace on the left-hand side and an impressive staircase and carved banister making its way up to the second floor.

***Watkins’ Blueprints: Ground Floor Plans, c. April 1910***

Once one continued on the ground floor, one would witness a second fireplace flanked by three rooms: the breakfast and dining rooms, which flanked either side of that chimney, as well as the drawing room, which lay opposite the chimney in the reception hall. The back half of the ground floor contains a pantry, a washroom, two staircases (one to the second floor and another to the basement), and a Kitchen. The kitchen possessed another fireplace, associated plumbing to the city’s sewage and clean water, and an exit to the back porch verandah. All three chimneys have brick flutes rising out of the slanted slate roof.

On the second floor there was a large hallway: at the front, there was a sewing room, four bedrooms with clothes closets, and a spacious bathroom and linen closet. It was a picturesque home befitting the wealthiest of Victoria’s English society, and it was filled with the finest Weiler Brothers Furnishings as a birthday present for his wife Helen.

James Baker enjoyed retirement... Perhaps a little too much, as he was one of the first recorded instances in Victoria of driving an automobile while “in a state of drunkenness” along Douglas Street one summer evening in 1911. He and his wife often hosting friends and family at their home, at their summer cottage up at Prospect Lake, and took trips down to Europe, Eastern USA, California, and Hawaii. James’ son, James Jr., would come along on this often month’s long trips. In the City Directory of 1912, it was noted that the Baker House hosted G.H. Baker, James Baker Jr., Peter Davidson, and Charles Thurston De Long. According to the city directory, Charles himself was an employee of the Baker Brick & Tile Co. Ltd. and was hosted at the property until his new house was completed at 508 Garbally Road, where he and his family lived from 1912 to 1922. The house was actively used by Jim’s new wife as the headquarters of the Victoria Nightingale Chapter of IODE; several events and meetings were held to raise funds for the Royal Jubilee Hospital and was actively involved in coordinating various other events for the Chapter. Despite retirement, it seems James was busier than ever.

Unfortunately, James’ son, James Jr., was very sickly, and after a bought of Tuberculosis, James Jr. passed away at Sunnyview Sanitorium in Kamloops on September 12th, 1918. The death of his sun seemed to have greatly affected James, for after a brief period after hosting the funeral at their new home, he decided to come out of retirement in Feb 1920 despite being nearly 70 years old. He was present for the re-inspection of his Brickyard in 1921 (which at this time was producing 40,000 per day), and voiced his opinion of a new schoolhouse supposedly being built out of wood instead of brick while possessing a $46,000 budget. But life had slowed James down quite significantly: One of his former managers at the Baker Brick & Tile Co-manager, Walter Luney (of Luney Bros) managed the company on behalf of Mr. Baker, and was predeceased by his other brothers and family members, James Baker passed away June 27th, 1929. After remaining in the family for a couple of decades, Evans, Coleman & Evans eventually acquired Baker Brick & Tile Co. in the 1940s

Although James Baker passed on, the house was more alive than ever. Helen Clara Baker was an active member in the Nightingale Chapter of IODE and was instrumental in raising funds for various charitable projects. The Baker Residence served as the IODE’s headquarters until her departure from the property in the 1940s.

Helen hosted many in her home as guests and eventually rented the home to Mr. Andrew & Grace Paton, who rented the house from 1933 – 1943. Andrew was an Exalted Ruler of the Victoria Elks Lodge, and Grace was of the Royal Purple Elks Club of BC, and of the IODE. Eventually, in the mid-1940s, the house was finally sold to Henry & Viola Huntley, who then sold the property to Hilmar Olai & Margaret Lucy Hovind in the early 1950s. The house, being so large and spacious, was often advertised by the Hovinds as having “Nice Large Rooms, Suitable for One or Two” for rent. During this period as a rental house, many altercations would occur between the tenants, such as this hilarious example from 1965:

“An altercation between two tenants at 714 Discovery Street over a loud television resulted Monday in the conviction of one of them for assault. James Avery was bound for six months on a $100 bond for the assault on Albert Cole, an elderly and near deaf man. Magistrate William Ostler said he would have thought the noise of Avery’s TV would have come through in dulcet tones to Mr. Cole, but the elderly gentleman apparently objected to the noise and complained to the police. Constable Brian Bailey said that when he arrived Avery threatened Mr. Cole and made a lunge at him. Constable Bailey said Avery insisted the argument started because Mr. Cole “is an atheist” and had nothing to do with the television.”

It was clear by this time the house was no longer the symbol of affluent residential wealth it once was... However, in the late 1960s/ early 1970s, the property was sold by the Ovinds and turned into a strictly commercialized rental space by two German businessmen. The house saw the likes of West Gate Reality, Dundurn Developments Ltd., the Symphony Board of Victoria, and the Austin Investment Corp Ltd within a short time frame.

However, the Baker House was never designed to be an office, and many of these businesses would use the house as a “stop-gap” until they found more appropriate business accommodations. Finally, the Baker House found a permanent organization to house when the Castaways RFC purchased the home as their new clubhouse:

“After occupying various clubhouses on Parry St., 750 Discovery St. and David Clarke's basement on Prospect Pl., the club finally purchased 714 Discovery Street (aka The Temple), in 1977 for the princely sum of $175,000, from two German businessmen from Frankfurt who owned the building.”

***The Baker House Before Restoration c. 1982 (Courtesy of the VHF)***

The Castaways RFC continued the practice of renting out the top portion of “The Temple” while retaining the main ground floor for their uses; the spaces were rented out to various clients such as travel agencies and other sports teams (ex. P. Lawson Travel, Victoria Mussels Baseball Club, Vancouver Island Field Hockey Association, etc.). Determined to convert the house into a proper sports clubhouse, in 1982 the building was almost completely rezoned to accommodate the renewed attention; this included significant renovations, including trophy cases, a professional English pub-style bar, and the very necessary requirement of the “A Class” Liquor License for The Castaway’s Sports Club. The Castaways Sports Club, invigorated by an amalgamation with the Oak Bay Wanderers RFC, pursued in earnest the ability to have the Baker House become a permanent Heritage Property within the Victoria Heritage Registry. Having applied in 1988 / 1989, the property was surveyed by Valda Vidners and Don Luxton of Foundation Group Designs LTD. The quality / condition of the property was described thusly:

“Well articulated structured with three full height projecting bays; entry porch with Doric columns; corner quoining; cornice modillions; brackets at side bay; tall internal chimneys; stained glass in stairwell, at entry and sidelights, and in transoms throughout; stringcourse banding the entire house... The Conditioning / Integrity appears to be in good repair and reasonably well maintained. Some peeling of the top layer of paint evident- may indicate moisture retention in walls or poor application. The front porch elements have deteriorated, and there is evidence of the porch settling. The brick was most likely not originally painted – it may be beneficial in the long term to remove the paint to allow evaporation to take place naturally; the paint may be trapping moisture inside the walls. Cosmetically, the house has survived in substantially original condition.”

***The Baker House During Restoration, c. 1997***

Although the process to acquire this designation did take some time, in December of 1996 the Baker House received the official “Heritage Designation (714 Discovery Street) By-Law No. 391. No. 96-89”, thereby ensuring 714 Discovery Street to be a protected heritage property. The Castaways Sports Club changed their name to Discovery Sports Club in 1992, and under the direction and guidance of Jim Grier, Denis Carson, Doug Grey, Hugh Creighton, Karl Klashinsky, Bill Palmer, Graham Hunter, Frank Carson, Paul Baylis and Nigel Banks of Banks Design, the house was restored to its original paint and grandeur. The Baker House, now known as the DSC, was honoured with a Hallmark Society Award from the Victoria Heritage Foundation and has since stood proudly for the past forty years as a Temple of Sports Excellence.

By Austin Wild

Bibliography:

City of Victoria Downtown Heritage Inventory, 1988-1989 (Pt. II, D-F). City of Victoria & Foundation Group Designs Ltd., pg. 132-134

Daily Colonist, “Mr. Baker was Active in Many Fields”, Sunday, June 30th, 1929, pg. 6

Victoria Daily Times, “Death of Richard Baker”, Monday, August 18th, 1890, pg. 8

Heritage Register North Bark, “968 Balmoral Road” Victoria Heritage Foundation, 2015 https://victoriaheritagefoundation.ca/HReg/NorthPark/Balmoral968.html

Victoria Daily Times, “Tenders for Work”, Thursday, September 30th, 1886., pg. 4

Victoria Daily Times, “Tenders”, Thursday, March 17th, 1887. Pg. 4

Victoria Daily Times, “Fire at Hillside”, Thursday, July 4th, 1889. Pg. 4

Victoria Daily Times, “Improvements”, Wednesday, February 13th, 1889., pg. 4

Victoria Daily Times, “News of The City & Province Briefly Told”, Saturday, August 10th, 1889. Pg. 4

The Daily Colonist, “Mr. Baker was Active in Many Fields”, June 30th, 1929, pg. 6

Victoria Daily Times, “News of The City & Province Briefly Told”, Sat., December 21st, 1889, pg. 4.

Victoria Daily Times, “Brief Locals: One Day’s Doings in City and Province Briefly Related”. Tuesday, March 24th, 1891, pg. 5

Victoria Daily Times, “To the Electors of Johnson St. Ward”, Monday Jan 11th, 1892, pg. 5

Victoria Daily Times, “The Appeal to Law”, Saturday, Aug. 19th, 1893, pg. 5

Victoria Daily Times, “Ald. Baker”, Friday, Sept. 15th, 1893 (Parts I – III), pg. 4

Victoria Daily Times, “Short Locals”, Saturday, Sept. 23rd, 1893, pg. 5

Victoria Daily Times, “Mayor & Aldermen”, Thursday Jan. 11th, 1894, pg. 5

Victoria Daily Times, “Short Locals”, Saturday, Sept. 23rd, 1893, pg. 5

Victoria Daily Times, “City News in Brief”, Friday Nov. 24th, 1899, pg. 5

Victoria Daily Times, “City News in Brief”, Saturday Jan. 20th, 1900, pg. 5

Victoria Daily Times “Dissolution of Partnership”, Friday, 20th Aug 1909, pg. 7

The Evening Post, “New Shingle Mill”, Friday, Sept. 3rd, 1909. Victoria BC., pg. 5

Victoria Daily Times, “Notice of Dissolution: Coal & Wood Dealers.”, Saturday, Feb. 17th, 1900, pg. 8

Victoria Daily Times, “Seattle Coal, James Baker & Co.” Monday, Dec. 24th, 1900, pg. 8

Victoria Daily Times, “City News in Brief”, Saturday 22nd Nov. 1902., pg. 5

Victoria Daily Times, “Notice to the Public”, Friday, Oct. 2nd, 1903, pg. 3.

Victoria Daily Times, “Died: Mrs. James Baker” Wednesday 19th Nov. 1902, pg. 5

Victoria Daily Times, “City News in Brief”, Saturday 22nd Nov. 1902., pg. 5

BC, Canada Marriage Index, James Baker & Helen Clara Marrion, Dec. 6th, 1904, 1904-09-012723

Russell, Nick, “Glorious Victorian Homes, 150 Years of Architectural History in British Columbia’s Capital”, 2016 pg. 18.

This Old House: Victoria's Heritage Neighbourhoods, Victoria Heritage Foundation, Vol. 3. 2014., pg. 20-21

Times Colonist, “On the Street Where You Live: One Brick at A Time By Danda Humphreys”. March 11th, 2001., pg. 5

Victoria Daily Times, “Douglas Street”, Saturday, July 15th, 1911, pg. 20

Victoria Daily Times, “Social & Personal”, Thursday, Sept. 9th, 1920, pg. 6

Victoria Daily Times, “Social & Personal”, Thursday 13th March 1913. Pg. 11

Victoria Daily Times, “Sale of Work & Silver Tea: Mrs. Baker is Hostess Gratifying Event for Chapter.” Saturday, May 22nd, 1920, pg. 6

The Times Colonist, “Births, Marriages, Deaths: Died.” Thursday 12th Sept. 1918, pg. 14

Victoria Daily Times, “Mainland Men Inspect Industry: Brickworks in Vicinity Visited by Delegation from Vancouver”. Monday, May 30th, 1921, pg. 1 & 16

Victoria Daily Times, “Brickmen Protest to (School) Trustees Against Proposed Impermanent Structure”, Thursday, July 15th, 1920, pg. 8

Daily Colonist, “Mr. Baker was Active in Many Fields ”, June 30th, 1929, pg. 6

Times Colonist, “‘Loud’ Noise of Television Set Sparks Assault”. Tuesday, June 29th, 1965, pg. 25

Times Colonist, “West Gate Realty”, Saturday Sept. 28th, 1974, pg. 15

Times Colonist, “City Firm Acquires 63% of Austin’s” Wednesday, Oct. 16th, 1974, pg. 7.

Klashinsky, Karl, “Back to The Beginning”, Castaway Wanderers RFC, April 11th, 2020, https://cwrugby.com/blogs/post/back-to-the-beginning

Times Colonist, “P. Lawson Travel”, Tuesday, Feb. 7th, 1978, pg. 19

Times Colonist, “Pitcher First Player Signed by Mussels”, Saturday May 13th, 1978, pg. 18.

Times Colonist, “Tigers Upset”, Monday Feb. 9th, 1981, pg. 12.

Times Colonist, “Victoria City Hall, Communications: Rezoning 714 Discovery Street”, Thursday, Oct. 28th, 1982, pg. 5.

Times Colonist, “Notice of Intent RE Liquor Control and Licensing Act Application for an “A” Licensed Establishment.” Monday, May 2nd, 1983, pg. 57

City of Victoria Downtown Heritage Inventory, 1988-1989 (Pt. II, D-F). City of Victoria & Foundation Group Designs Ltd., pg. 132-134

Times Colonist, “NOTICE Heritage Designations: By-Law No. 391 No. 96-89”. Dec. 5th, 1996, pg. 28

Sources:

1. City of Victoria Downtown Heritage Inventory, 1988-1989 (Pt. II, D-F). City of Victoria & Foundation Group Designs Ltd.

2. “Heritage Register North Bark, “968 Balmoral Road” Victoria Heritage Foundation, 2015 https://victoriaheritagefoundation.ca/HReg/NorthPark/Balmoral968.html

3. Klashinsky, Karl, “Back to The Beginning”, Castaway Wanderers RFC, April 11th, 2020, https://cwrugby.com/blogs/post/back-to-the-beginning

4. Russell, Nick, “Glorious Victorian Homes, 150 Years of Architectural History in British Columbia’s Capital”, 2016

5. This Old House: Victoria's Heritage Neighbourhoods, Victoria Heritage Foundation, Vol. 3. 2014

6. Newspapers Articles:

i. Victoria Daily Times, “Tenders for Work”, Thursday, September 30th, 1886., pg. 4

ii. Victoria Daily Times, “Tenders”, Thursday, March 17th, 1887. Pg. 4

iii. Victoria Daily Times, “Fire at Hillside”, Thursday, July 4th, 1889. Pg. 4

iv. Victoria Daily Times “Improvements”, Wednesday, February 13th, 1889., pg. 4

v. Victoria Daily Times “News of The City & Province Briefly Told”, Saturday, August 10th, 1889. Pg. 4

vi. Victoria Daily Times, “News of The City & Province Briefly Told”, Sat., December 21st, 1889, pg. 4.

vii. Victoria Daily Times, “Death of Richard Baker”, Monday, August 18th, 1890, pg. 8

viii. Victoria Daily Times, “Brief Locals: One Day’s Doings in City and Province Briefly Related”. Tuesday, March 24th, 1891, pg. 5

ix. Victoria Daily Times, “To the Electors of Johnson St. Ward”, Monday Jan 11th, 1892, pg. 5

x. Victoria Daily Times, “The Appeal to Law”, Saturday, Aug. 19th, 1893, pg. 5

xi. Victoria Daily Times, “Ald. Baker”, Friday, Sept. 15th, 1893 (Parts I – III), pg. 4

xii. Victoria Daily Times, “Short Locals”, Saturday, Sept. 23rd, 1893, pg. 5

xiii. Victoria Daily Times, “Mayor & Aldermen”, Thursday Jan. 11th, 1894, pg. 5

xiv. Victoria Daily Times, “City News in Brief”, Friday Nov. 24th, 1899, pg. 5

xv. Victoria Daily Times, “City News in Brief”, Saturday Jan. 20th, 1900, pg. 5

xvi. Victoria Daily Times, “Notice of Dissolution: Coal & Wood Dealers.”, Saturday, Feb. 17th, 1900, pg. 8

xvii. Victoria Daily Times, “Notice to The Public”, Thursday Nov. 22nd, 1900, pg. 5

xviii. Victoria Daily Times, “Seattle Coal, James Baker & Co.” Monday, Dec. 24th, 1900, pg. 8

xix. Victoria Daily Times, “Died: Mrs. James Baker” Wednesday 19th Nov. 1902, pg. 5

xx. Victoria Daily Times, “City News in Brief”, Saturday 22nd Nov. 1902., pg. 5

xxi. Victoria Daily Times, “Notice to the Public”, Friday, Oct. 2nd, 1903, pg. 3.

xxii. Victoria Daily Times “Dissolution of Partnership”, Friday, 20th Aug 1909, pg. 7

xxiii. The Evening Post, “New Shingle Mill” (Victoria BC) Friday, Sept. 3rd, 1909, pg. 5

xxiv. Victoria Daily Times, “Douglas Street”, Saturday, July 15th, 1911, pg. 20

xxv. Victoria Daily Times, “Social & Personal”, Thursday 13th March 1913. Pg. 11

xxvi. The Times Colonist, “Births, Marriages, Deaths: Died.” Thursday 12th Sept. 1918, pg. 14

xxvii. Victoria Daily Times, “Sale of Work & Silver Tea: Mrs. Baker is Hostess Gratifying Event for Chapter.” Saturday, May 22nd, 1920, pg. 6

xxviii. Victoria Daily Times, “Brickmen Protest to (School) Trustees Against Proposed Impermanent Structure”, Thursday, July 15th, 1920, pg. 8

xxix. Victoria Daily Times, “Social & Personal”, Thursday, Sept. 9th, 1920, pg. 6

xxx. Victoria Daily Times, “Mainland Men Inspect Industry: Brickworks in Vicinity Visited by Delegation from Vancouver”. Monday, May 30th, 1921, pg. 1 & 16

xxxi. Daily Colonist, “Mr. Baker was Active in Many Fields”, Sunday, June 30th, 1929, pg. 6

xxxii. Times Colonist, “‘Loud’ Noise of Television Set Sparks Assault”. Tuesday, June 29th, 1965, pg. 25

xxxiii. Times Colonist, “West Gate Realty”, Saturday Sept. 28th, 1974, pg. 15

xxxiv. Times Colonist, “City Firm Acquires 63% of Austin’s” Wednesday, Oct. 16th, 1974, pg. 7.

xxxv. Times Colonist, “P. Lawson Travel”, Tuesday, Feb. 7th, 1978, pg. 19

xxxvi. Times Colonist, “Pitcher First Player Signed by Mussels”, Saturday May 13th, 1978, pg. 18.

xxxvii. Times Colonist, “Tigers Upset”, Monday Feb. 9th, 1981, pg. 12.

xxxviii. Times Colonist, “Victoria City Hall, Communications: Rezoning 714 Discovery Street”, Thursday, Oct. 28th, 1982, pg. 5.

xxxix. Times Colonist, “Notice of Intent RE Liquor Control and Licensing Act Application for an “A” Licensed Establishment.” Monday, May 2nd, 1983, pg. 57

xl. Times Colonist, “NOTICE Heritage Designations: By-Law No. 391 No. 96-89”. Dec. 5th, 1996, pg. 28

xli. Times Colonist, “On the Street Where You Live: One Brick at A Time by Danda Humphreys”. March 11th, 2001., pg. 5

The Baker House, Brick by Brick: The History of 714 Discovery Street

Who is the real monster? - An analysis of Gilgamesh and Hercules

Boudicca: Queen, Heroine, Goddess?