Vancouver Island Masonic History Project

As part of our Vancouver Island Masonic History Project, with its sections on Vancouver Island Cemeteries – Masonic Interments and Deceased Brethren, here is a page on Thomas Shotbolt (1842-1922), who is buried in Ross Bay Cemetery, Victoria, B.C.

Thomas Shotbolt
Thomas Shotbolt

Thomas Shotbolt was a member of Victoria-Columbia Lodge No. 1 in Victoria. He was a pioneer druggist in downtown Victoria. The building he erected in 1877 for his drug store – now 585-587 Johnson Street – is still extant although the second storey was removed for some unknown reason in the 1950’s.

Thomas Shotbolt's former store, now 585-587 Johnson Street, Victoria, B.C.
Thomas Shotbolt’s former store, now 585-587 Johnson Street, Victoria, B.C.

Here is some information on Thomas Shotbolt. We will be adding more to this page in the near future.

“Shotbolt’s Building – This handsome building, situated on Johnson Street, on the site of the old store, in which the proprietor made his mark and his shekels, is forty-one feet wide and sixty feet deep. It is of brick, with massive walls, two stories high. The ground floor is divided into stores, one of which will be occupied by Mr. Shotbolt, and the other by Mr. T. Nicholson as a grocery. The ceilings are lofty and the stores well lighted. In the rear of the drug store is the laboratory, and the second floor contains a suite of five rooms in which Mr. Shotbolt’s family will reside. The fittings of the drug store are handsome, the counters being of black walnut, highly polished. The architect is Mr. Teague; brickwork by Mr. Bullen; carpenter work by Mr. T. Williams; painting by Lettice and Mitchell; plumbing by Stewart & Braden; the store fittings by Mr. Braden and Mr. Geo. Barrett. The whole establishment is very creditable and is an ornament to the part of the city in which it stands.”

(Source: Daily British Colonist, 27 January 1877, page 3)

Here are some more sources for information on Thomas Shotbolt:

Thomas Shotbolt is buried in Ross Bay Cemetery, Victoria, B.C.

Thomas Shotbolt grave, Ross Bay Cemetery, Victoria, B.C.
Thomas Shotbolt grave, Ross Bay Cemetery, Victoria, B.C.

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