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North Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­residents used to live in tents when building their houses

In 1911, about one-third of the single-family dwelling building permits in North Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­were issued for temporary housing!
North Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­tent 1911 pic
Photo: North Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­Museum & Archives, # 4008

In 1911, when this photo was taken, North Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­was in the midst of a building and population boom.

Newspapers were full of stories about the rising price of real estate and the scarcity of rental properties – sound familiar?

 Many people began the path to home ownership by purchasing and clearing a lot, then living on it for a while in a shack or permanent tent.

In 1911 about one-third of the single-family dwelling building permits in North Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­were issued for temporary housing.

And the local newspaper advertised furnished canvas tents for rent at $2 per month. This photo shows the tent in which Evelyn and Albert Elliott (recent emigrants from England) lived in for a year and a half. Their tent was on a lot they owned, located behind Mr. Smith’s Store at the end of the Capilano streetcar line.

The Time Traveller feature offers a weekly glimpse into the North Shore’s past, courtesy of North Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­Museum and Archives.

For more information about the history of the North Shore and to learn about the new Museum of North Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­opening in late-2020, visit and sign up for our e-newsletter at . Currently, the Archives of North Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­at 3203 Institute Rd. in Lynn Valley is open by appointment only, contact: [email protected]

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