Ann Elizabeth (Eliza) Chittick House

Built in 1922 by Eliza Chittick, this Arts and Crafts–style home is one of six houses in the Moody Park neighbourhood still remaining from 1922. The one-and-one-half-storey wood-frame residence retains much of its original character, including a full-width front porch with wide stairs and low cheek walls leading to the entrance.

The house's simple form, emphasis on natural materials, and handcrafted detailing, and most of its exterior features remain original, contributing to the home’s heritage value and its presence within the streetscape.

Over time, the house was altered and eventually divided into two separate apartments, with the basement converted to a secondary suite. The exterior was covered with stucco and vinyl siding, and while much of the interior remained intact, the building had fallen into very poor condition.

The homeowners purchased the home in 2003 and began a comprehensive restoration, returning the house to a single-family home while preserving its original character. The building was fully rewired and replumbed, and original windows were carefully repaired. Floors were uncovered, sanded, and refinished, and painted woodwork was stripped and restored. Period-appropriate doors and hardware were sourced, and missing elements were recreated to match surviving details.

The original kitchen was relocated to improve functionality, and the former kitchen became a pantry and laundry area. The bathroom was rebuilt, structural repairs were undertaken, and interior adjustments restored a more open and historically appropriate layout. A salvaged fireplace mantel from another historic home was installed as a focal point in the living room.

Exterior work included removal of vinyl siding and stucco, repair of original fir siding, and restoration of wood shingles. The front and rear porches were carefully documented and reconstructed to match their original appearance. Missing trim details were reinstated, and the home was repainted in a historically sympathetic palette.

Later improvements included a full basement renovation designed to complement the historic character, along with a detached garage featuring a living roof. The surrounding garden, pond, and planted roof create habitat for birds and insects, reduce rainwater runoff, and contribute to a sheltered outdoor environment.

Today, the Ann Eliza Chittick House remains a well-preserved example of a modest Arts and Crafts home and an important early residence in the Moody Park neighbourhood.

Who Was Eliza Chittick?

Ann Elizabeth (Eliza) Chittick was born in 1869 in Hanover, Ontario, to Irish immigrant parents. In 1922, at age 52, she applied for a building permit to construct this house using day labour, at an estimated cost of $1,500 — a notable achievement for a single working woman of the period.

The 1931 census records Ann Eliza living here with her sisters Ellen and Matilda, with Ann Eliza listed as head of household. She worked in domestic service, likely at Royal Columbian Hospital, and remained in the neighbourhood for many years. Later, she moved next door to live with another sister until her death in 1955.

The three sisters are commemorated together at Fraserview Cemetery, a reminder of the close family ties that shaped this home’s early history.

by Bruce Hemstock