Buildings Associated With Freemasons On Vancouver Island – Victoria

This landmark building at 1050-1058 Pandora Avenue / 1508-1516 Cook Street was built in 1911 by architect William Ridgway Wilson for David Russell Ker, a member of Victoria Columbia Lodge No. 1 in Victoria. David Russell Ker called it the Executive Building and had it designed with apartments on the second floor and eight separate stores or commercial spaces on the street level.

But this building is far better known as the location of Wellburn’s Grocery (now Wellburn’s Market), founded and operated by Matthew B. Wellburn (1871-1969), who was also a member of Victoria Columbia Lodge No. 1 in Victoria.

1912 Victoria newspaper report about 1050-1058 Pandora Avenue / 1508-1516 Cooks Street, built for David Russell Ker by architect William Ridgway Wilson
1912 Victoria newspaper report about 1050-1058 Pandora Avenue / 1508-1516 Cooks Street, built for David Russell Ker by architect William Ridgway Wilson

Here is a Google Street View image of 1050-1058 Pandora Avenue:

Here is a map showing the location of 1050-1058 Pandora Avenue:

Here are some web pages with more information on this building:

This landmark building is slated for “re-development”. here are links to some article about this proposal:

Other buildings associated with David Russell Ker include:

1407 and 1411 Government Street, Victoria, B.C. 1407 Government Street was built in 1889 by the Brackman-Ker Milling Company, which was owned by David Russell Ker, a member of Victoria-Columbia Lodge No. 1 (photo: Temple Lodge No. 33 Historian)
1407 and 1411 Government Street, Victoria, B.C. 1407 Government Street was built in 1889 by the Brackman-Ker Milling Company, which was owned by David Russell Ker, a member of Victoria-Columbia Lodge No. 1 (photo: Temple Lodge No. 33 Historian)
1420 Broad Street, built in 1907 by architect Francis Rattenbury for the Brackman-Ker Milling Company, owned by david Russell Ker, a member of Victoria-Columbia Lodge No. 1
1420 Broad Street, built in 1907 by architect Francis Rattenbury for the Brackman-Ker Milling Company, owned by david Russell Ker, a member of Victoria-Columbia Lodge No. 1
512-514 Fort Street, Victoria, BC. Built for David Russel Ker (photo: Temple Lodge No. 33 Historian)
512-514 Fort Street, Victoria, BC. Built for David Russel Ker (photo: Temple Lodge No. 33 Historian)

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