Hearth and Homes

(of Yesterday and Today)

In 1954, after 12 years 1 month and 11 days, I resigned from the army and settled on the West Coast. I decided to move to Vancouver Island near Victoria, British Columbia. And I thought after risking my life in two wars, it was time I had something to show for my effort that I could say "this is mine and this is what I fought for!".

My Goal - My Dream

The Pan Abode home I designed, and built with my own hands at 3450 Fulton Road Colwood B.C.

Aerial shot of my home - under construction, located on top of Triangle Mountain (1961)

I started to look for property where I could build a home and watch the passing ships in my old age. Waterfront property was financially out of my reach so I decided to search for a hill top where this dream could be accomplished. I found what I was looking for! It was property near the summit of Triangular Hill, now referred to as Triangle Mountain. I thought perhaps I could not afford to build a home but I would at least have a place to call my own and have picnics with my family and watch the shipping from our own land!

The spot I chose for the location of our home was on a ridge facing east. It offered a panoramic view from The Lions in North Vancouver southward to Victoria and islands beyond, Whitby Island and ending up with a view of Port Angeles! I bought a five acre eastern facing strip all facing the sea from a kindly Prof. Burtchill in 1959 and the excitement started. Kaye and I tried clearing a road to the upper level of our property but after about 150 feet we decided the going was too tough so we saved and in 1960 we hired a bulldozer to make a road to the to top of our property.

The narrow pathway we managed to clear before seeking help.

We managed to get this far and saw the futility of our efforts.

In the course of building a road on which we could drive our Volkswagon to the picnic area, water appeared bubbling up from an area the bulldozer had scraped to fill a trench while making a portion of the lower road passable. This water turned out to be the only water to be found in he surrounding area much to the consternation of future home builders years later. This discovery of water enabled me to construct a well and approach DVA for a loan to build a home. Now I could drive the 1000 foot long driveway to the top part of my property where I planned to build my house.

Finally, the new road allowed us to reach the building site in our 58 VW.

You will note I had a few trees to drop and their stumps to remove before I could start. Fortunately I knew how to use explosives.

Before I could apply for a DVA loan I had to prove to DVA that my well would provide 9,000 gallons an hour so I rented a portable pump and succeeded in showing them I had sufficient water to proceed. I was then given the title The Queen's Carpenter and received permission to proceed. I commenced building at 3450 Fulton Road September 1961. I next had to convince BC Hydro to run power from Sooke Road up Fulton Road to prepare for Colwood expanding and of course to a close proximity to my location so I could electrify my future home. They very kindly accommodated me after some questionable diplomatic maneouvering by me and all I had to do was buy two 40 foot poles from a private source on which to run power from Fulton Road to my residence.

I chose the site and alignment for the house to face east and engaged Farmers Construction to do the cribbing for the cement foundation as it was an exacting job for a Panabode.

Exhausted and taking a break after removing the cribbing.

My two brothers-in-law, Mits and Don arrived from Vernon with a large truck just in time to haul the Panabode components from Victoria to the building site. It was packaged and piled so cleverly on the truck that it only took three trips!

The flooring arrives.

The windows and doors arrive.

I was so grateful for the help they gave carrying the logs to where I was waiting with a 15 pound sledge hammer to fit the logs and pound them tightly into place. In seven days the house was ready, all doors and windows installed and just the roof to install! By the way, I lost 30 pounds pounding those logs into place. We had worked every day, almost from dawn until dusk rain or shine! The roof/ceiling took another two days as the two inch tongue and groove planks had to be nailed! The tar and gravel roofing crew came on time and I had a new home for my family to move into February 1962.

The flooring is down and initial placement of the first logs.

Building the master Bedroom wall.

Preparations for the first ceiling beam.

The second beam is ready for installation

The roofing is finished.

The roof/ceiling took another two days as the two inch tongue and groove planks had to be nailed! The tar and gravel roofing crew came on time and I had a new home for my family to move into February 1962.

 The Finishing Touches

Hot water heating is finished, now for the ceiling in the basement.

Regulations prohibited me doing the plumbing but I installed everything else, hot water heating, plumbing and did the electrical wiring.

Backfill soil

Ok what else can I do?

Oh dear - more back fill for
the rear of the house.

I’ll have it for you in a minute dad!

Brian by 4-foot opening fireplace.

We lived happily on Triangle Mountain without neighbours for about four years before the secret of the view from Triangle Mountain was learned.

Triangle Mountain 1962

Below are a couple of shots of the Triangle Mountain place taken from the cliff-face.

Triangle Mountain - 1962

This is the view we had overlooking Victoria Harbour,
East towards Mount Baker.

My current Residence,
3131 Lynnlark Place, Colwood, B.C. (2005)