The Oak Bay EncyclopediaTM
T . H . E . . E . A . R . L . Y . . Y . E . A . R . S

A listing of noteworthy
people, places and things from
Oak Bay's early years.

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Click on any letter, above, to visit specific section of encyclopedia


H

Haida (killer whale)
Famous Oak Bay attraction from 1969–1982
Profile under development

Hall Road
see Street/Place Names section

Hallowe'en Bonfire
This annual tradition started in 1938
The first public Hallowe'en Bonfire was staged by the Oak Bay firefighters in 1938 on the land adjoining the firehall.
"For me Halloween brings back memories of fantastic fireworks in the local Chinese stores, the bonfire at the firehall with Fred Usher's band entertaining and, when I was quite young, going "trick or treating." Tricks were played on those who persisted in handing out apples, and on the dentist who handed out toothbrushes instead of candy.
A few readers will smile when I mention that occasionally during the evening very loud explosions would be heard indicating a homemade devise had been set off.
The usual pranks of window soaping and reducing the Bowker Creek bridge to a few planks continued year after year.
On one memorable occasion around noon the Sunday morning following Halloween, a rather forlorn person dressed as a robot and looking very out of place was seen wandering down Hampshire Road after having been arrested for causing a disturbance by being drunk the previous evening. This robot went on to become a respected member of the investment community in Victoria.
— Richard Goodall, OBHS class of 1960
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Hamiota Street
see Street/Place Names section

Hampshire Hall
see Hampshire Road Methodist Church, below

Hampshire House ladies' and children's wear
2247 Oak Bay Avenue (...1934–1957... phone books)
Former location of Oak Bay Library and Book Shop. (...1930... phone book)
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Hampshire House building
1159 Beach Drive
Hampshire House was build in the 1960s on property adjacent to the Oak Bay Beach Hotel. Originally offering just rental apartments, the building was subsequently converted to 36 condominium units.
The front profile, off Beach Drive, shows three levels, but the complex is built down to the beach front, allowing for six levels on the waterfront.
"This apartment building was constructed as a rental building in the 1960s. I recall meeting a Paul Hansen, who had been CFO of Taco Bell down in the States. He came here to retire — and the first thing he did was sub-divide Hampshire House into condominiums.
The concrete and steel building was renovated inside and outside during the period 2004–7 at the same time the new Oak Bay Beach Hotel was constructed.
The building has a website at www.1159beach.com "
— Bill Smith, Hampshire House resident / photographer

Hampshire Road
see Street/Place Names section

Hampshire Road Methodist Church
1792 North Hampshire Road
(1913–1925)
Methodists and Presbyterians amalgamate to form the Oak Bay United Church
The Hampshire Road Methodist Church* was built in 1913 at 1792 Hampshire Road (at Cranmore Road).
A year later the St. Columba Presbyterian Church moved from 1602 Hulton (now Redfern) into Oak Bay to its new building at Granite and Mitchell Streets.
On June 10, 1925, the Methodist, Presbyterian and Congregational Churches across Canada amalgamated to become the United Church of Canada. Consequently, that same month, the Hampshire Road Methodist Church became the Hampshire Road United Church, and the St. Columba Presbyterian Church became St. Columba United Church.
A year later these two congregations merged to become the Oak Bay United Church, with services held at the Granite and Mitchell Streets church.
The Hampshire Road building continued to be used for Sunday school classes until 1937 and was called Hampshire Hall. In 1943 the building was sold to the Glad Times Tabernacle and was, over the years, used by various sport groups and other organizations before it was demolished in 1967 to make way for a medical/dental clinic. Neighbourhood protests stopped the building of the clinic and a house was subsequently moved onto the property.
* The church was originally referred to as Willows Church when the congregation held services in the waiting room of the Patrick Arena while the church was being constructed.
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Hampshire Terrace
see Street/Place Names section

Handi-Spot Cleaners
2246 Oak Bay Avenue (...1950–1954... phone books)
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Hansford's Grocery
947 Monterey Avenue (1948 phone book)
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Harling Point
see Street/Place Names section

Harlow Drive
see Street/Place Names section

Harper Method Hairdressing
2548 Windsor Road (...1941–1942... phone books)
2541 Estevan Avenue (...1956... phone book)
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Harris Island
see Street/Place Names section

Harrison Grocery Co
2215 Oak Bay Avenue (...1918–1934... phone books)
2224 Oak Bay Avenue (...1941–1946 phone books)
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Hart's Hardware & Records
2530 Estevan Avenue (1957... phone book)
2509 Estevan Avenue (...1959... phone book)
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Hastings, Chas, cleaning and pressing
1195 Newport Avenue (...1930–1934... phone books)
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Haultain Street
see Street/Place Names section

"Haunted House"
2120 Penzance Road
One of two houses in Oak Bay with a "reputation"
Oak Bay's "haunted house"
This derelict, unpainted old house once stood at the edge of the Chinese Cemetery at Harling Point and tested the "daring do" of many a young lad in the late 1950s.
Click on the MEMORABILIA button to view or contribute recollections, photos and artifacts

Haynes Park
see Street/Place Names section

Haynes Point
see Street/Place Names section

Hayward, E. C.
Reeve of Oak Bay (1928–1932)
Biographical material welcomed

Hazel Street
see Street/Place Names section

Henderson, William
(1837–1931)
Second reeve of Oak Bay (1909–1911), Senior Architect with the Dominion Department of Public Works, and Superintendent of Telegraphs for the province
William Henderson was born in Scotland in 1837 and worked as a stone mason before turning his talents to architecture. He emigrated to Ottawa, Canada, in 1872 and found work with the Department of Public Works. He was subsequently transferred West to oversee national building projects.
He arrived in Victoria in 1898 and lived atop Hampshire Hill while serving on the Oak Bay Councils of 1906 and 1907. In 1908 he began the first of three consecutive terms serving as reeve of Oak Bay. In 1910 he moved into Inverallochy, the home he built at 2150 Oak Bay Avenue.
Henderson was deeply religious and greatly enriched the community with his charitable work. He was also very involved in Freemasonry, becoming a Grand Master for British Columbia. One biographer of Henderson wrote:
He is highly respected and admired and his record in public life, as well as his efforts in behalf of all movements tending towards the moral uplift of the community, places him in the foremost rank of Victoria's estimable citizens.*
William Henderson is remembered by Henderson Road, and Henderson Lodge, which meets in Henderson Hall, the former parish hall of St. Mary's Church.
* British Columbia Biographical, Volume III, 1914, page 932

Henderson Hall
see William Henderson

Henderson Road
see William Henderson

Henderson's Corner Store
2000 Oak Bay Avenue (...1941–1944... phone books)
Former location of Jones' Corner Shop
Subsequent location of Frost's Corner Store
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Henderson's Oak Bay Grocery
2252 Oak Bay Avenue (...1957... phone book)
see Oak Bay Grocery

Henry Bros grocery
2018 Oak Bay Avenue (...1918... phone book)
see next listing

Henry, S.J., groceries and provisions
2007 Oak Bay Avenue (...1930–1934... phone books)
see next listing

Henry's Grocery
2007 Oak Bay Avenue (...1941–1957... phone books)
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Heron Street
see Street/Place Names section

Hewlett, H. F.
Reeve of Oak Bay (1923–1924)
Biographical material welcomed

Hewlett Place
see Street/Place Names section

Highland Glen Bakery
1210 Newport Avenue (...1934... phone book)
Subsequent location of Newport Pharmacy. (...1947–1957... phone books)
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Hilda Beauty Shop
1165 Newport Avenue (...1941–1954... phone books)
2548 Windsor Road (...1956–1957... phone books)
see two following listings
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Hilda Hairdressing Parlors
1189 Newport Avenue (...1930... phone book)
see preceding and following listing
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Hilda Hairdressing Salon
2548 Windsor Road (...1934... phone book)
see two preceding listings
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Hill-Tout Studios
1650 Hampshire Road (1947 phone book)
2186 Oak Bay Avenue (1948 phone book)
2186 Oak Bay Avenue was the home of several photography studios before its conversion to a night club — the Club Tango — in 1954.
see Gibson Studios, Roye Photography
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Hindson Upholstering & Draperies
2509 Estevan Avenue (...1956–1957... phone books)
2284 Cadboro Bay Road (...1959... phone book)
CUSTOM UPHOLSTERING
SLIP COVERS & DRAPERIES
"New Furniture Made to Order"
RECOVERING & REPAIRING
2509 Estevan . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3798
— ad in 1957 phone book
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Hodge's Grocery
2509 Estevan Avenue (1951–1953 phone books)
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Hofflin, C C, Dr veterinary surgeon
2004 Oak Bay Avenue (...1944... phone book)
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Holly Farm
For many years there was a holly farm in south Oak Bay bounded by McNeill Avenue, Falkland Road and Runnymede Place.

Click on image to see aerial photo, 1954
"I think we had at least 10 forts in the farm and surrounding bush. Even a tree fort and 2 underground forts. I often think of the danger we put ourselves in from falling or caveins."
— Ian Else, OBHS class of 1960
* * *
"I remember getting Christmas holly at the farm which was right behind my great uncle's property.."
— Richard Goodall, OBHS class of 1960
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Hood Lane
see Street/Place Names section

Hope, H. P.
First principal of Oak Bay High School (1915–1923)
Biographical material welcomed

Hope's Bakery
2030 Oak Bay Avenue (...1959... phone book)
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

House of TV & Appliances
2002 Oak Bay Avenue (...1956... phone book)

1956 AD COMING
Also advertised as Economy Plan Appliances
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Housez Studios photography
1171 Newport Avenue (...1959... phone book)
CHILD SPECIALISTS
1171 Newport . . . . . . . . . . . EV 4-2512
— ad in 1959 phone book
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Hudson, Chas druggist
2012 Oak Bay Avenue (...1930–1944... phone books)
Subsequent location of Davenport Pharmacy
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Hudson's Bay Company
Profile under development

Humber Road
see Street/Place Names section



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Contents copyright © 2004-2012 Gary Wilcox Studios Incorporated.
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