Victoria Block
342 West Pender Street
Victoria Block c1980, Vancouver City Archives
The building at 342 West Pender Street was occupied by a number of artists
and art organizations over the years. The Henderson and Wrigley City Directories
note the following artists at that address:
Mrs. Stateira Frame (1919)
Thomas W. Fripp (1919 - 1922)
Norman Henry Hawkins (1918 - 1919)
Duncan McKinnon (signpainter, 1920)
Mrs. Adela W. Pilkington (1919, 1921)
Stanley Tytler (1926)
Miss Margaret Wake (1918 - 1920)
Miss Isabel Weir (1919)
The Vancouver Sketch Club also had their studio in
the building, starting around 1918. The Commercial Art Studio was listed in
the building in 1925, later moving to Hastings Street.
Seen in the photograph, Dixon's Coffee Shop (Restaurant) to the right of the main
entrance is now the Paper Hound Bookstore (paperhound.ca), carrying on in the tradition of the
adjacent L. De Jong Bookstore on the corner, which is now a restaurant. The
building is still there in 2023.
Clippings
"For some time the meetings and exhibitions of the club were held at the
studio of Miss Wake, but about two years ago an independent
studio was secured at the present quarters, 342 Pender street west This location
has become known for its art associations, the building having also
contained the studios of such well known artists as
Mr. Thos. W. Fripp,
Miss Margaret Wake,
Miss Isabel Weir, and
Mr. Norman Hawkins."
From "Sketch Club Is Well Organized" by I.B.
Vancouver Province, July 17 1920
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