545 E 46th Ave

Originally 345 E 48th Ave., the residence at 545 E 46th Ave. is a Gabled Vernacular style home, distinguished by its gabled roof and double-hung windows. This style of home commonly set the main floor at least half a storey above ground level in order to accommodate the basement clearance needed for central heating mechanical equipment. Gabled Vernacular homes became popular in Vancouver as the narrow style fit well with the smaller urban lot sizes.

545 E 46^th Ave. was initially located between Draper and Fraser Streets. However, Draper Street soon became a part of St. George Street in December of 1910, as did many of the streets in South Vancouver at the time. Hugh Hudson, a carpenter, is first listed as a resident of the home in 1915. Other later residents include William Aitken, a baker, and his wife Mary, who are shown to have lived in the home for over a decade.

Although now part of the city of Vancouver, the neighbourhood of Sunset was formerly located in the then separate municipality of South Vancouver. It remained a small district for many years and it was not until 1911 that the population began to see a significant increase in numbers. Land that had once been cheap was then being subdivided for profit margins far above the cost only 10 years prior. Growth of the area levelled out after the initial boom leading into the 1920s but soon thereafter, the agricultural land became the site of homes for World War II veterans in the 1940s. In the 1950s, the Sunset area welcomed the additions of Wilson Park and John Oliver Secondary School. In the 21st century, Sunset is a diverse, working-class area, home to many independently-owned shops.

Source

British Columbia City Directories 1860-1955, VanMap, Heritage Vancouver Building Permits Database