From the message, this house was on Yukon St. in Vancouver, BC, Canada, and the postcard may have been sent to someone in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The house # on the porch post appears to be “3035”. Message in ink on back as below. Unused postcard; one cent stamp box.
Vancouver BC
May 8/11
Dear Friend
I received your postal last week and was very pleased to get it. No I am not following Winnipeg fashion in the harem skirt although I certainly think they are an improvement on the hobble skirt. There are several girls in Vancouver that are wearing them. We had the loveliest weather during April, it was just like summer almost too warm, but it has rained nearly every day of this month. This is a picture of our house on Yukon St. were we live now. so if any of you come to Vancouver you will be able to find the house. Best regards to all, Ruby.
Since I too once lived on Yukon Street in Vancouver, BC, I was immediately interested in this image, but I was also most happy to see Ruby’s mention of a current fashion in 1911 Vancouver – the harem skirt. Much more comfortable than the hobble skirts! And yes, I do have postcards featuring both harem and hobble skirts, mostly comic ones, but no others from Vancouver.
I believe the writer was Ruby Margaret Gow, daughter of John Alexander Gow and Mary Euphemia White. This is largely based on the signature “Ruby” and the address: 3035 Yukon St. Vancouver and directory listings from 19111 on which show John A. Gow, a shipper at Seymour Lumber Co. at that address. (Ruby Gow is not listed.)
As Ruby’s message implies, they may not have lived there long before she sent the postcard. The 19091 directory shows John A. Gow at another address: 142-10th Ave. E., Vancouver.
If thiis is the right Ruby, then in 1913 she married Norman Hull. I do have a file of tentative information on this family.
Please contact me if the family or the photograph is of interest to you. I am not related (as far as I know.)
1Henderson’s Greater Vancouver Directory, 1909, and for 1911 and 1912, both Part 1.(Vancouver, BC, Canada: Henderson Publishing Co.). Accessed 14 April 2014 at Vancouver Public Library, Online Resources, British Columbia City Directories, 1860-1955: http://www.vpl.ca
