THE DOWNFALL of
Stoker Farm, last week
condemned by North

Vancouver City
Council for demolition,
continued over the
weekend when it was
the target of arsonists.

The farmhouse, which
just a couple -of years ago
was the subject of a vigorous
campaign by preservationists
who wanted it maintained as
a historical site, was torched -
early Sunday morning.

There have been several
fires at the empty building,
although all were minor in
coniparison with the
weekend incident.

Though City council had

RUINS of top floor of Stoker Fann are. exaimined by
North Van City .Fire ‘Inspector Gavin . Soames,

MERCHANTS on “Lonsdale: o
may soon get a visit from the
North Vancouver City bylaw

enforcement officer,
reminding them that they are
responsible for keeping the
sidewalk in front of their
business tidy.

Alderman Bill Sorenson
said at Monday’s council
mecting that some pcople

following the weekend s arson. .

have | phoned ‘him, -com-
plaining about litter on the
sidewalks: The west side of
Lonsdale Avenue, between
13th and 15th, seems to be
the worst, he commented.

City Administrator Ed
Raymond said he has spoken
to the bylaw enforcement
officer about approaching
the merchants.

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like that,”
‘prevention officer

agreed just six days earlier.to
order the demolition of the
building because of its
dangerously dilapidated
state, City firefighters were
still concerned about putting
out the blaze.

“You never know if
someone who lit it happens
to be inside, or something
said chief fire
Larry

Barker. You go at it

BN

st
EX

Nay

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UE

we

carefully but you still have to
getitout.”. -

The fire had. been started
in an upstairs bédroom,
breaking through the roof in
four areas.

Fire inspectors believe
that whoever started the fire
used gasoline or some other
accelerant. ~

Fire crews found the blaze
already had a firm grip on
the
arrived at 3:14 a.m., and that
it was difficult to reach.

Barker commented: “It
was hard to get at because it

building when they’

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8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday thru Saturday

call 987-2966

A3 - Wednesday, December 1, 1982 - North Shore News

have to go up the stairs and ~
there were no lights or
anything, with just_one little
Stairway.”

“It was a hard fire to get
out, with a lot of spot fires
inside the walls, the roof and
the rafters.”

The fire crew managed to
knock down the blaze
comparatively quickly,
although by the time all the

spot fires were out they had

been there for about 90
minutes. They- returned to
CONTINUED ON PAGE A4

West End
 6B9-7A41

ALSO
INSIDE

Izzard

PAGE B10

Christmas
creations
PAGE CI

in town!
PAGE B9

Adopt
a pet
PAGE B11

Automotive... .——«.... —« AIT
Classified ............ . A118
Community Round-Up - .. A16
Entertainment. ... 88
Food ... .Cw
Malibos |. oo A
Sports... ira :) |
Travet . Ci
TV Time... 614

Or