north shore news EIGHBOURHOODS | Mahon dreamed BORN in Yorkshire, England, in 1862, Edward Mahon was the sixth son of Sir William V.R. Mahon of Castlegar county, Ireland. Following in his father’s footsteps, he studied the min- istry, then law. But both pro- fessions conflicted with his strong sense of ethics and integrity, so he became a pio- neer in B.C. Quoted by his son years later Mahon had stated, “You can make moncy out of real estate and business without telling lies.” Mahon and his brother Gilbert came to B.C. in 1889 and became interested in min- ing in the Slocan/Nelson area. They established a small camp called Castlegar after their Irish heritage. About the same time, another brother John came out to visit B.C. and foreseeing the potential tor development of the North Shore, he established the North Vancouver Land & Improvement Company Ltd. in 1891. Holding principle shares of $500,000, J. Mahon appointed his brother, ward, as president, a posi- tion he held for 45 years. With noted shareholders }. Balfour Ker and J.C. Keith, the company held the majority of lots available for carly settle- ment in what became the townsite of the future city of North Vancouver. The land was surveyed in 1896 with the first five settlers arriving a year later. They took up acreage in DL 549, near 15th Street and Lonsdale Avenue, still a logging road at that time. Mahon was also an active member of Mahon, McFarland and Mahon (Proctor), real estate, financial and insurance brokers with offices located at the corner of Pender and Seymour Streets in Vancouver. He was a member of the committee instrumental in incorporating the City of North Vancouver in March How can we thank you for making the Civic Canada’s best selling car? 725 Marine ir. Norila Van. 987-4618 1906. A brochure put out by the North Vancouver Land & Improvement Company in about 1902 describes the area as having a “new and com- modious horel (Larson’s North Vancouver Hotel) now doing business, livery stables, Provision store, post office, supply of dairy conimodities, hay and feed for cattle, build- ing materials, laundry and a church.” The brochure con- cludes with: “Do not lose the opportunity to buy before a boom starts. You can now get into a townsite with an assured future ar bedrock prices.” As another investment, Mahon bought the Capilano Flume Company from W. T. Farrell in 1908, leasing the small sawmill and flume to a Japanese group. In apprecia- tion of this unprecedented business transaction at the time, the Japanese built him a large log house with curled eaves, near the Capilano River as he had desired. It has since become part of the Spuraway complex at 235 Keith Road. Mahon was a 48-year old bachelor when he bought Block 25 of Subdivision 3, containing 24 acres including G.G. Mackay’s old fog cabin near the first canyon, the Capilano Suspension Bridge and timbered land on the west side of the Capilano River. The new residents of the cabin included his bride-to-be, Lilette Rebbeck, her widowed mother and family. He mar- ried the beautiful young woman nearly 30 years his junior in 191] and they had one son, Bryan Mahon, in 1913. Both Mahon and his wife The log house built for Edward Mahon, painted circa 1909. It's now part of the Spuraway Complex at 235 Keith Road. were socially and politically active in the city of Vancouver for many years until his death in 1937 at age 75. His dream about a beautiful, prosperous town on the North Shore many years before had become a reality. He was honoured for his efforts to develop the City of North Vancouver, including the Grand Boulevard, by the naming of Mahon Street and Mahon Park in about 1915. Down Memory Lane reveals the stories behind the street names around the North Shore. Information for this col- umn supplied by Roy Pallant, The Laughing Bridge, by Eleanor Dempster (1988); the City of Vancouver Archives, and the North Vancouver Museum & Archives, 987-5618. PACIFIC (6 “Seit., March +3; ni ‘March? Sale to take place in rear parking lot of Home Hardware Cash A AmB. eet on Access via rear lane Sat. 10-5, Sun. 12-4 SIMPSON HOME HARDWARE naenasea ca ammcrane Ts Standard Features Include: * Ait Conditioning * Power Door Locks » Keyless Entry * Body-Coloured Door Handles * “Special Edition” Badging * Driver and Front Passenger Air Baps (SRS) ¢ AM/FM Sterco System * Adjustable Steering Column + 5-Speed Manual Transmission with Starter-interlock System *2Z9imo Whe STIS Cows esymamt sous taxes You’re welcome.