Interviews and Perspectives of a Vancouver Heritage Home

It Starts Here

So goes the byline of the Province.

Currently the darling of mainstream media, the Walmar Estate, a grand old 1925 Tudor Revival Styled home, was visited today by a local Vancouver Province reporter.

Interviews and Perspectives

Cheryl Chan a reporter for the Province, stopped by the WilMar Estate at 2050 SW Marine Drive in Vancouver, to gain some perspective of this heritage Vancouver home.

During her interview I gently guiding her through the home. While doing so I watched with interest as she studied the features – many of which she had never seen before. Fascinating was how they piqued her curiosity, prompting many questions which were gladly answered.

Eyes opened wide as she viewed the discretely hidden buttons placed under fireplace mantels that when pressed would ring for servant attention. The servants in turn would know precisely where to attend as a light panel above the kitchen door directed them via a numbered square on that panel.

Ms. Chan marvelled at the direct in house communication that was facilitated through what now would be considered an ancient electronic device. The Northern Electric ‘InterPhone’ a talking device featuring separate ear and mouth pieces allowed voice contact by selecting buttons that alerted another receiver in the home.

As the tour proceeded, soon she came to understand the costs involved should a buyer choose to renovate this home. Noted was the overwhelming amount of asbestos wrapped insulation surrounding the heating pipes. It served as a prime example of the extensive work required to rid this home of such life threatening hazardous material. Additionally, though a work of tradesman’s art, the knob and tube wiring that fills the house and is no longer considered acceptable under current building code standards prompted her to ask more questions about the ability to insure this home. The answers began to change her perspective.

Beauty and The Beast

This Vancouver home, the Wilmar Estate, is both a beauty and a beast. At first blush it elicits the opulence and comfort associated with such grand estates. That is the beauty! The beast however, resides inside the walls, the basement, the attic and those glass lenses that let in the light.

Structurally that home appears to be sound. Time has however, not been kind to this lady mechanically. Much needs changing. It is those changes and the all the associated post fixes brought on by the changes that will empty pockets.

Worthy Exercise

Inviting main stream media to talk about the Wilmar Estate has been a worthy exercise.

First and foremost it has offered a unique informational opportunity to those interested to come and experience estate life in 1925.

Second from this Vancouver Realtors® self serving view, it has inspired people talk about this home. What remains is the continuing hope that with this tremendous exposure, a Vancouver home buyer will raise their hand to purchase the property. Subsequently, they may choose to restore this home or, remove the physical presence from this earth.

Regardless of that buyer’s decision, I sleep well knowing that in having dedicating some time and effort, Vancouverites numbering in the hundreds have had or will have a great Vancouver historical experience.

To that end this weekend, approximately 50 Vancouver professional photographers have been invited to take pictures of the Wilmar Estate in a grand slam effort to record posterity. Anticipated is a final collection of perhaps thousands of photographs. Each in their own way, will preserve for eternity what a part of Vancouver life was like in 1925.