H.T. Kirk House

When the former dance academy at 303 Third Avenue closed its doors in 2001, its youngest students were just two years old. Originally built for local hardware merchant Herbert Thomas Kirk and his wife Mary, this house was one of three owned by the Kirk family in the Queen’s Park neighborhood. Their previous home, a small Victorian cottage at the corner of Third Avenue and Third Street, was relocated in 1894 to make way for their new residence, completed around 1898. Today, the cottage stands at 228 Third Street, albeit altered over the years. The Kirks didn't reside long at their new address, moving in 1908 to their new home "Eldora" (named after their daughters, Elsie and Dora) at 321 Fourth Avenue. In 1929, Josephine Slater, formerly of Vancouver's Lyndon Studio of Dancing, purchased the house and established the Slater Dancing School. It became renowned for training notable dancers like Norbert Vesak, who later choreographed for the Metropolitan Opera ballet. Subsequently, the property housed the Boswell Dance Academy. The interior of the house was extensively renovated for dance classes, including removal of the grand staircase and original windows, and adding exterior aluminum siding. Acquired by the current owners in the autumn of 2008, restoration efforts began in earnest and were completed in December 2011. Restoration work included reverting the front façade to its original appearance, reopening the porch, installing a salvaged vintage front door, and reinstating the original oval window. Interior renovations uncovered and restored original fir floors, replicated cedar wainscoting, and preserved the original fireplace and stained glass. Adjacent to the main living areas, the former dance school's "smoking room" (formerly a waiting room) saw the removal of asbestos tiles and restoration of swinging doors. The dining room retained its original wainscoting and windows, with new flooring installed where needed. A 1912 addition, converted into a modern kitchen, features antique-style appliances and stained-glass cabinetry. Despite the damage caused by a 1972 addition for a cat shelter, including the replacement of original fir floors and plaster walls, significant restoration was achieved on the second floor, now a TV and laundry room. The transformation of the Kirk House into a cherished single-family home has delighted both its owners and the local community.