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Graphic Dorothy Foster

HENRY “CURLY” Switzer’s House, 840 Mathers Ave., near the Upper Levels and Taylor Way.

Switzer home was a first

WEST VANCOUVER has a
number of important heritage
sites, even though the histori-
cal structures that stood upon
them no longer physically
exist.

NORTH SHORE
HERITAGE
By Dorothy Foster

The West Vancouver Heritage
Inventory has listed some of these
sites because it is important to
remember their location, as well
note where significant ‘
events occurred.

Some of these
include: native sites,
cannery and marine
sites, lumber operation
locations, and a num-
ber of demolished
buildings.

I was going
through this list look-
ing for a unique home
that I remember pass-
ing by with my par-
ents in the ‘60s.

It was the kind of structure that

. would grab everyone’s attention
as they drove by.

Since it wasn’t in the inventory
l contacted Rupert Harrison, West
Vancouver's historian.

He remembered the place well,
and put together some information
for me. .

This futuristic home was
designed and built by a West

Vancouver resident, the late
Henry “Curly” Switzer, general
superintendent for Kaiser in
Canada.

Switzer, a carpenter and con-
tractor, designed this home on a
weekend for himself. At the time,
the Lions Gate Times wrote that
Switzer was also well known for
his Red Mountain boy’s orchestra
and records.

This Jetson-style home could
be built on a rocky or marshy site
that wouldn’t need a basement
foundation.

It was the first of its kind in
North America, and inquiries

$6 This Jetson-style home could
be built on a rocky or marshy

site that wouldn’t need a

basement foundation. 99

came in from all over the conti-
nent.

When this ultra-modern land-
mark was under way in 1960,
local plumbing, roofing, and
building supply companies ail

clamored to be associated with it.

Despite its innovative design,
Mrs. Switzer claimed “it was quite
like a normal home.”

it had a circular staircase lead-
ing to the two bedrooms, kitchen,
dining room, and two bathrooms
that were on the wings, just off of
the central foyer.

The central foyer also held the
fireplace.

A special plastic dome was
designed for a skylight, and the
base of the centre cement support
measured |7 feet wide. .

Decks were built between the
wings.

There was covered
parking, and a great
deal of their yard was
freed up for patios and
gardens.

This home was
occupied by the
Switzers until the land
was needed for the
Upper Levels expan-
sion in 1971. It was
then demolished
because it couldn't be
moved. :
Although it was the
only one of its kind in Canada, a
similar home built in 1964 in
Puyallup, Washington, still stands.

Take a trip down if you feel the
desire to see first-hand what it
looked like.

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Friday, August 19, 1994 - North Shore News - 17

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