View northeast on Lynn Valley Rd. Streetcar tracks. Fromme Block at Centre Road. Circa 1920. Inventory # 6645 – courtesy of MONOVA: North Vancouver Archives.
When you look at this snowy scene of Lynn Valley, what do you see? I immediately recognize the “Fromme Block” which sits at the corner of Lynn Valley Road and Mountain Highway. I also see the tracks of the Lynn Valley streetcar that ended at what we now know as the “End of The Line” store. But what the heck is that house doing in the middle of the block? I had to go all the way back to 1908 to answer that question. And in so doing, I learned about the two iterations of the “Lynn Valley General Store”. So, join me as we turn back the clock for some time travelling to the early days of Lynn Valley.
In 1908, Lynn Valley was a sparsely populated area occupied mostly by lumberjacks and shingle mill employees. However, Julius Fromme, a lumberman and developer, who owned 160 acres of land in the area, believed the area was suitable for residential development. So, in an effort to attract residents, he decided to build a general store. He chose the eastern corner of Lynn Valley Road and Ross Road as a suitable location. The store was designed in a western boom-town style, with a false front, commercial space on the main floor and residential accommodations on the 2nd floor and for some strange reason, was built at an odd angle relative to Lynn Valley Road.
Construction of S & M (Stewart & MacDonald) Trading Co. at Lynn Valley Rd. & Ross Rd., December 1908 Inventory # 6643. Image courtesy of MONOVA: North Vancouver Archives.
The building was completed in December 1908 and opened as the S&M (Stewart & MacDonald) Trading Company.
S & M (Stewart & MacDonald) Trading Co. store at corner of Lynn Valley and Ross Roads. December 1908. Inventory # 12409. Image courtesy of MONOVA: North Vancouver Archives.
Within a month, it changed its name and its operators. It became the Lynn Valley General Store and was operated by Francis M.J. Barker and E.V. Stuart, with Mr. Barker living upstairs, for the shortest of commutes! This is thus the first iteration of the Lynn Valley General Store.
Lynn Valley General Store, circa 1908. L to R: Mr. Mr. J.M.S.(?) Duval, Ethel Campbell, ?, Miss Ellen (Nellie) Probert (later married Warren Y. Archibald), unidentified man. The big dog is Oscar. Inventory #7934. Image courtesy of MONOVA: North Vancouver Archives
Lynn Valley General Store, January 1909. Jack Barker at left. Inventory #6644. Image courtesy of MONOVA: North Vancouver Archives
Interior of Barker's first? Lynn Valley General Store [at Lynn Valley and Ross Roads]. Circa 1911? L to R: ?, clerk Jack Moss, George Barker. Inventory # 12424. Image courtesy of MONOVA: North Vancouver Archives
In 1910, the new streetcar line was added, which brought with it the possibility for much quicker development, beyond the town centre.
New streetcar line at Lynn Valley Road and Ross Road. Lynn Valley general store at right. Circa 1910. Inventory # 2153. Image courtesy of MONOVA: North Vancouver Archives
By 1912, the business of the Lynn Valley General Store was thriving and needed bigger premises. So, it moved a short distance to a brand, new building - also owned and built by Julius Fromme - at the corner of Lynn Valley Road and Centre Road (now called Mountain Highway). This is thus the 2nd iteration of the Lynn Valley General Store.
Interior of Barker's second? Lynn Valley General Store [in Fromme Block?] with Christmas decorations. Circa 1912. Jack (left) and George Barker behind counter. The boy is Harold Fromme (son of Julius Fromme). Inventory #12423. Image courtesy of MONOVA: North Vancouver Archives
Mr. Francis M.J. Barker (Jack) is listed as the proprietor/grocer at the Lynn Valley General Store from 1912-1916 in the City Directories of the time. Jack’s brother, Harold G. Barker (George), was also involved in the business as a bookkeeper or clerk from 1913-1916. From 1913-1916, the store was named Barker’s Store.
"Barker's Store" (Lynn Valley General Store) in the Fromme Block, circa 1913. Jack and George Barker in front, third and fourth from left. Signs in window "Dr. McMane upstairs" and "Post Office". Davies Drugs at right. Inventory #12464. Image courtesy of MONOVA: North Vancouver Archives
The main floor of the Fromme building also housed the local post office (Jack Barker was also the Postmaster) and the offices of Mr. Fromme’s company, the Lynn Valley Lumber Company. The 2nd floor consisted of residential apartments, which still exist today. This building remains a prominent Lynn Valley landmark and is now known as the Fromme Block.
So, what happened to the first store, when the General Store operation moved into the Fromme Block? Apparently, Julius Fromme retained ownership of the building but converted it into a house in 1912, which brings us full circle to the snowy 1920’s scene at the beginning of this blog. We now know that the house in the foreground of this photo was the original Lynn Valley General Store, while the building in the background is the second location for the store. How amazing that both iterations of the store are captured in one photo!
Lynn Valley Road looking Northeast. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Clay
Above is a shot of the same view today. The location of the 2nd Lynn Valley General Store in the iconic Fromme Block is easy to spot but can you spot the 1st location of the store? Or at least, can you spot its ghost? If you look very closely at the window of the Community Hall wing of the new Lynn Valley Library, built in 2007, you can see an etching of the 1st Lynn Valley General Store. The dark part of the image is provided through a series of quotes by North Shore writers. It is unfortunate that this amazing memorial is not easier to see but it’s still a neat way to remember the amazing history associated with the 1st Lynn Valley General Store!
Window of the Lynn Valley Village Community Hall. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Clay.
Close up of the window of the Lynn Valley Community Hall. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Clay.
Fun Facts
Boomtown style architecture became popular in mining and forestry towns in North American in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Boomtown style buildings were 1-2 floors, with a flat or slightly sloped roof and a false front that extended above the actual roof height. Usually, the main floor was commercial while the upper floor was residential, usually accessed by a separate exterior staircase. These buildings were cheap to construct due to their simple, box-like shape, and were spacious due to their lack of a traditional pitched roof.
Francis M.J. (Jack) and George Barker operated the Lynn Valley General Store at least until 1916. They are not listed in the City Directories during the war years so presumably they fought in WWI. It seems Jack excelled in the army as he is listed in the North Vancouver Directory again in 1921 as Major Francis J. Barker.
After WWI, the Barker Bros left the grocery business – Jack became a painter/decorator, while George worked his way up the corporate ladder in the Men’s Furnishing (Clothing) business, starting out in downtown Vancouver at T.B. Cuthbertson & Co and eventually becoming the manager of Milton’s at 30th and Marine Drive in West Vancouver
The original General Store sold groceries, hardware, building materials, animal feed and even dynamite - anything to sustain the residents and encourage them to continue building homes.
Julius Fromme retired from the lumber business in 1922 but was the Reeve of North Vancouver from 1924-1930. He built the house at 1466 Ross Road in 1900 and lived there until he died in 1941. This house is the oldest house in Lynn Valley and like the 1st Lynn Valley General Store built by Fromme, it also is sited on the lot at a skewed angle relative to the road. If you want to buy a piece of history, this house is currently for sale.
George and Jack Barker lived together on Doran Road, initially with their maternal aunt Rose at 1565 Doran (according to the archives), and later at 1367 Doran Road (according to the City Directory). 1565 Doran is no longer an address today and the home currently at 1367 Doran was built in 1977 and thus not the same home in which the Barkers lived.
References:
Boomtown Style Architecture. https://www.communitystories.ca/v2/ruees-vers-lor-malartic_gold-rush/gallery/boomtown-style-architecture/
DNV Heritage Register: https://www.dnv.org/sites/default/files/edocs/heritage-register-2020.pdf
The First Lynn Valley Store, by Sharon Proctor. Express Newsletter. Volume 21 No 1. March 2012