Hunter House

1306 (formerly 1308) W 12th Ave was built in 1912, costing $8,000. It was designed by J. P. Matheson & Son, and built by Thomas Scott. John Philip Matheson moved to Vancouver from Prince Edward Island in 1892, and working with his son Robert, designed several commercial and residential buildings in Vancouver, including Lumbermen’s building at 590 Richard Street and Caroline Court at 1058 Nelson Street, both on the Heritage Register. Hunter House, a tudor revival residence, was likely designed by Robert.

Typical of Tudor Revival style, this three storey house with cross-gable roof has a number of exterior materials. The lower floor and piers are masonry veneer, the main floor has cedar shingle siding, while the upper floor and gable ends are roughcast stucco with half timbering detail. The decorative half-timbering is made more elaborate with quatrefoil panels. The bay window bump outs and narrow vertical leaded windows grouped together are also commonly seen in Tudor Revival buildings.

Hunter House was built for Albert Lawrence P. Hunter, a barrister and partner of the firm Maitland and Hunter, and Eliza Hunter. The family only lived here until 1919, when a physician named Horace Coates bought the house.

John Philip Matheson (the architect and builder) moved to Vancouver from Prince Edward Island to New Westminster in 1888, and to Vancouver in 1892. Working with his son Robert, they designed several commercial and residential buildings in Vancouver, including Lumbermen’s building at 590 Richard Street and Caroline Court at 1058 Nelson Street, both on the Heritage Register.

Source

Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada, British Columbia City Directories, Historical Vancouver Building Permits