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November 1996 WEST VANCOUVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY Pages AND THIS IS THE WAY IT WAS “Inglewood” It was all because of a young lad’s dream that I grew up in West Vancouver. Robert Davies, a young man in his twenties travelled from Birmingham, England, and sailed into Vancouver harbour. He was so impressed with the wondrous sight - the sea, the mountains and overall beauty - that he vowed he would, one day, come back and make his home on the North Shore. Back in England the desire stayed with him and it was arranged that he would go first to Canada, become established, and his bride-to-be Nellie Corbett, my Dad’s sister, would follow. On July 21,1916, they were married at Christ Church Cathedral in Vancouver. We were living at that time in Waltham, Massachusetts. Because my father thought there would be more work and opportunity in Canada, we came shortly after that in 1919. My Grandmother and Aunt Connie came out from England and we settled here and were happy. In 1919 my Aunt Nellie and Uncle Bob bought from Mr. Godfrey the beautiful old log house which is located at 1366 Inglewood Avenue. We have always called it “Inglewood,” and because so much of my childhood was spent there, it was like a second home to me, familiar both inside and out. It was a large property with access entrances from 14th Street and from Inglewood Avenue, both wide enough for a car to enter. Under my Uncle Bob’s supervision and care, “Inglewood” back in the 1920’s was a commendable landscaped area. He spent long hours on these grounds to keep them inunaculate. This meant arising early, taking advantage of the extra time this afforded. There were flower gardens and bordered pathways. You could walk about and enjoy the scent of roses which pervaded the air. There was the summer house covered with ivy to shade you from the sun as you sat there under the trellis. Hammocks were hung in the arbors and on the large front verandah of the house. Rockeries and many fruit trees separated the three levels of lawn. You can perhaps imagine us children reaching up and picking the elongated-shaped apples, taking the first bite. The juices would run, instilling forever a memory of the special flavour. The large blue plums were sweet and juicy. On the top level of lawn there was a large wooden swing. You stepped inside and four children could sit on each side facing one another. In later years this whole top lawn was made into tennis courts. There was a stream miming along the back of the house and it was over this that my uncle built a playhouse for my cousins. I can still picture how it was divided into tiny rooms. Next to it stood the garage, part of it for storage and part for a 1922 Chevrolet. Captivating and of great interest was the long and roomy hencoop built at the lane end, housing the “Rhode Island Red” chickens. They would stare out at you or flutter about when you reached in to gather the freshly-laid By: Florry Corbett Mitchell, - February, 1995 brown eggs. You grasped the eggs, warm and smooth in your hand. You held them gently. The log house sat comfortably midst the gardens. It was like being in a countryside estate in England, the setting fulfilling your dreams. There was always amazement as you entered the house. You were caught in surprise, impressed with the vasmess of the room as you stepped inside. At the north end was the stone fireplace, unique because it was built from rounded stones, varying in size, gathered from the beach at Ambleside. Many Christmas days were spent in that room in front of a blazing fire. Our family, gathered together, would open gifts, crack the Brazil nuts and peel the interesting oranges from Japan. At the south end stood the extra large oval dining table. Never to this day, in a private home, have I seen one that would accommodate so many. Sitting around it we would watch and wait patiently as Uncle Bob carved the enormous turkey. There was a swinging door that led to the kitchen area, large roomy bedrooms on the east side and the cozy glassed-in “sun room” to the west. “Inglewood” was a handsome home boasting spacious rooms, stained glass windows and high beamed ceilings. It was a perfect place to celebrate special occasions. It was the setting of my sister’s wedding reception in August of 1932. Mrs. Rhodes, our neighbour, pioneer and avid gardener, filled the rooms to overflowing with the gorgeous blooms she had grown. Certainly the decorated arbors deserve mention for they were the talk of West Van at that time. So the years have passed. Countless memorable days at “Inglewood” are as vivid today as they were then. Pictures of it hang at our museum quarters. Today it is someone else’s home. It is secluded, it is private - for me a lasting joy. ^ WVM&A .. •ni'TinpHiB'. IE'S**-: rv r. ‘Inglewood’, Home of Robert Davies, 1366 Haywood Ave. Editor's Note: We first published an article by Florry Corbett Mitchell in March of 1^5. We were so pleased with it that we urged her to write more. She did write two articles but Florry passed away last summer before her work reached us. However, her daughter, Sandra Grant, has kindly given us permission to publish them, one of which appears above. We deeply regret the loss of this lively and very talented lady.