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2254 Belmont Avenue (ex-2154 Haughton)
Built 1909
Designated 2011

Malcolm & Sarah Smith

The front-facing gable and half-width recessed porch of this 1½-storey house is typical of the Edwardian genre, so popular in the Fernwood area during the building boom in the first decade of the 20th Century. But this stylish Arts & Crafts version has a number of distinctive features.

Seven chunky columns clustered on the front porch have unusually heavily chamfered edges. An angled bay on the right front protrudes slightly, and is capped with a hipped roof. The window assembly in the front gable has a ribbon of four windows, rather than the usual two or three. The main floor is covered with double-drop siding, while the upper storey and dormers are shingled. The front door assembly has glazed side panels and a transom with art-glass. The bargeboards are layered and have heavy, triangular ends. And the foundation is constructed of the comparatively unusual pre-cast concrete blocks, rather than stone, brick or poured concrete. The blocks are continued on the stepped balustrades of the wide front-facing steps.

Two elements on the left side of the house are also distinctive, but probably represent modifications: a ribbon of five windows likely replaces an original wraparound extension to the porch; and a curious and impractical balcony on the upper left may have also been an afterthought. These windows all have horns matching the rest of the house, suggesting a very early date for these alterations.

The house has seven leaded windows. Dormers on left and right sides significantly expand the upper floor. A dentil band defines the division between ground and upper floors.

A corbelled chimney serves kitchen and furnace, but there is no chimney or fireplace in the living/dining rooms. Possibly also missing are finials on the four roof peaks.The house is situated on a corner lot, so the secondary street façade is dressed up with an angled bay.

This house was built for $3,000 and shares several features with its neighbour across the intersection: 2306 Belmont also has heavily chamfered columns, a similar entry assembly, similar art glass, and similar foundation blocks. The two were built within months of each other, suggesting they may have shared an architect and/or builder, although neither is known.

The first owners of the house were Malcolm (1858- 1916) and Sarah Smith. Malcolm had retired from farming and moved to Victoria. After his death, Sarah continued to live in the house until 1929.

Benjamin (1853-1942) and Rachael (1871-1954) Cooney were the occupants between 1933 and 1942. Benjamin was listed as being retired by 1933.

Patrick (1905-1976) and Dorothy (Burford) Skinner owned the house between 1948 and 2008. Dorothy was born in Manitoba where she worked for the Government and during WWII enlisted in the Candian Women’s Army Corps. After their marriage in 1948 they moved to Victoria where they operated a business from the basement of the house called Hollins-Skinner Letter Service, later Skinner-Admineo Hollins Multigraphers.

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