The writer recently had the pleasure of attending the Centenary Tour of one of the Kilby Houses of Caulfield built 100 years ago in 1924. This event was made possible by the West Vancouver Foundation which supports community-building activities. The house and property have been beautifully maintained in the old English cottage garden style that would have made Francis Caulfeild, the original designer of Caulfeild Cove, proud. The Kilbys themselves are inextricably woven into the social fabric of Olde Caulfeild as one of the original purchasers in 1909 when they built their first cottage as a summer residence.
The Province, May 4, 1909. Source: Newspapers.com
Edwin ("Ted") Charles Kilby had, by 1909, become well enough known in social circles to have the construction of his new residence reported in the newspaper. The Kilbys, however, were more than just Ted; they were five siblings who immigrated to Vancouver in 1898 after all their belongings were auctioned off in Leicester, England, likely the result of a failed business by their father, Henry.
On February 5, 1898, in the Leicester Chronicle, notice was posted of a three-storey factory and warehouse with dwelling house of "Henry Kilby and Son, hosiery manufacturers..." being auctioned for sale. Also auctioned separately were lands owned by E. Kilby on March 17, 1898.
The Leicester Chronicle, February 5, 1898. Source: Newspapers.com
Finally on March 12, 1898 an auction notice stated that "Upon receiving instructions from the Misses Kilby, who are going abroad, TO SELL BY AUCTION, Upon the Premises, On Wednesday, March 23, 1898, THE WHOLE of the VERY SUPERIOR FURNISHING APPOINTMENTS, bedding, carpets, valuable pictures, books, plated items, china and domestic requisites."
The Leicester Chronicle, Sat March 12, 1898. Source: Newspapers.com
The five siblings who came to Vancouver were E.C. (Ted) Kilby born in 1863, Miss Alice Kilby born circa 1869, Miss Florence Emma Kilby born March 1, 1870, Miss Jean Kilby born circa 1877 and Mrs. Elizabeth Bailey born circa 1853. Elizabeth Kilby married John David Bailey on May 19, 1875 but all indications are that there was no Mr. Bailey with them when they came to Vancouver.
When they arrived in Vancouver in 1898, E.C. Kilby opened a Hosiery store at 623 Hastings St on October 22 1898. He advertised his business as selling the finest woolen hosiery manufactured in Leicester England direct from the manufacturer, as well as underwear, yarns, gloves and knitted goods.
Vancouver Daily World, Sat Oct 29, 1898. Source: Newspapers.com
Ted's business turned out to be very successful and was likely supplemented with real estate investments that offered high profits to anyone who had the credit to buy. Flipping real estate in Vancouver's property boom from 1898 to 1913 was a lucrative venture. Ted Kilby's business was selling fine clothing to the wealthier residents of Vancouver which would have helped build business connections and provide access to credit that would have enabled him to speculate on local real estate. By 1902, the Kilbys had accumulated enough wealth to acquire a very fine house in the finest residential suburb at that time, the West End. His residence was known as “The Crossways" and built on Beach Avenue which was the trendiest place to build at that time. Below is a photo of that residence from the Major Matthews Collection before its demolition. They lived in that home until they moved permanently to Caulfield in 1924. Prior to that, the cottage at Caulfeild was a summer home. The sisters would move to Caulfeild in April and return to the Crossways in October. It appears Ted stayed at the Crossways year-round.
1902 photo of The Crossways, residence of the Kilby's at 1261 Beach Ave, Vancouver . Source: City of Vancouver Archives, [Bu P513.4]
The Kilby’s summer cottage was originally located at 4762 The Highway in the heart of Caulfeild with two adjoining lots on the waterside that acted as their front yard at what is now 4747 Pilot House Road. It had the nickname "Killcare" as it was referred to in a 1918 social column in the newspaper. The name was on the gate to their cottage written with cut bamboo.
Amy Larnder and likely Mrs. George Larnder on right, taken at the gates to the Kilby house at 4762 The Highway. Courtesy of West Vancouver Memorial Library, [0472.WVML]
The name "killcare" is unfamiliar this century (except as a community in Australia) but over one hundred years ago it was opposite to "kill-joy" and synonymous to carefree. Here is a quote by an ecclesiastical writer named Prebendary Webster that puts the term in context in his defence of maintaining Sunday as a day of rest.
"The weekly rest day [Sunday] builds up a reserve of cheerfulness, which is of priceless value in the battle of life. Sunday which is not a thorough change from the rest of the week is a kill-joy Sunday. The Sunday which leaves the mind free for higher thought and a clearer vision of heavenly things is a kill-care Sunday, and makes the nation strong, merry, and free." Quote in The Hanwell Gazette and Brentford Observer 1919 05 17 p1
By 1924, the Kilbys built a new home on the main lot and moved the old cottage to a property beside the original lots which had been owned by the Clubb family, next door. The original house was slid over skids to its new foundation and still stands to this day at 4735 Pilot House Road. Both the main house at 4762 The Highway and the original house at 4735 Pilot House Road are formally recognized as having heritage value and are on the District of West Vancouver Heritage Register. . There is a third house still standing that was owned by the youngest sibling, Jean (Kilby) Rorison, located at 4716 Piccadilly South but it is not listed on the Heritage Register at this time.
The Kilby's new home, built in 1924, is now nicknamed "Resthaven" (H.A. Stone's house nearby was known similarly as "Stonehaven"). Over time, Florence lived at Resthaven, and her sister Alice lived in the older cottage next door that had been called Killcare. Jean had married Robert Douglas Rorison on January 5, 1911 and was listed in the 1914 Social Register as living in Shaughnessy Heights. Her address based on the City Directory was 1490 Matthews Ave. That home is still standing and is an excellent example of the very fine homes built in Shaughnessy Heights at the time. Though it is unclear when the two separated (Mr. Rorison's obituary in 1934 does not even mention Jean), she kept his name until her death. In 1926, she acquired the property at 4716 Piccadilly South which had a home on it already and she improved the house almost doubling its assessed value. She lived in that home until her passing January 27, 1941 at the age of 63.
Ted Kilby was the first of the siblings to pass away. He died at the age of 67 on January 26, 1931, and his sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Bailey, passed away just a month later on February 26, 1931 at the age of 78.
A newspaper article at the time of Ted's death reported a story that reflects Ted's character and relationship with his father, Henry. At the time of Henry's death in England, circa 1915, Ted went to England, put together a list of all Henry's unpaid creditors, which was substantial, and paid them all off in full with interest. The creditors were so grateful that they held a banquet in his honour and presented Ted a silver tea service. The fact that Ted waited until Henry's death before taking care of his debts reveals a likely strained relationship between Ted and his father. Ted may have been more concerned about protecting the family name rather than the father.
Ted Kilby was a committed member of the Shakespeare Club. He was described at the time of his death as the "moving spirit" of the Shakespeare Club for 30 years with Ted's last year in 1931 being the only year that the Club didn't meet. Ted was also a mason being a member of Cascade Lodge No.12, A.F. and A.M.
In the 1914 Social Register was the listing "Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Kilby" but the writer has found no reference to Ted having a wife anywhere else. He appears to have never married.
Florence and Alice were the sisters most often referred to in the social columns as the "Misses Kilby". The Kilbys were all listed in Vancouver's Social Register in 1914 with E.C. Kilby, a Miss Kilby and Mrs. (Elizabeth) Bailey being shown as members of the Art, Historic and Scientific Association. Alice Kilby was shown as a member of the Canadian Women's Club. Florence was listed as a member of the Women's Musical Club. In 1919, Florence Kilby was elected to the Board of the Valcartier Camp Chapter of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire (I.O.D.E). The social columns of the time were full of fundraising events for this group and others over the years that the Kilbys participated in. Jean Rorison and her eldest sister Mrs. Elizabeth Bailey liked to attend lectures such as the Lenten Series that included topics which ranged from the formation of the League of Nations to artistic and literary topics. Social columns at the time printed lists of attendees and the Kilby name was usually represented by at least one of the sisters
Alice Kilby passed away on August 22, 1934 at the age of 65 and Florence was the last of the siblings to pass away. She died, still living at "Resthaven", on December 26, 1957 at the age of 87.
1909 photo of the Kilby sisters on their way to the water. Source: West Vancouver Archives [1867.2.WVA.RAH]
In the book about Caulfeild village written by H.A. Stone, called "A Short History of Caulfeild Cove", he said that the first three lots purchased at Caulfeild were by himself, H.A. Stone, as well as E.C. (Ted) Kilby and H.P. Clubb (next door to the Kilby's). To this day, all three homes still stand perched high enough to enjoy a magnificent view of English Bay yet close enough for a short walk to the waterfront park below. The forward in Stone's book was written by Jean Kilby Rorison, and included a poem she had written called "Down Dogwood Lane".
Excerpt from "A Short History of Caulfeild Cove
Jean's love of Caulfeild was shared by many, including the Kilbys, and continues to this day.