The first owner of the property of four lots is listed as W. Vaughan-Robinson, in 1915.
From 1916 to 1925 the registered owner is Herbert Neville-Smith. A a split-cedar-and shake house was built in 1919. According to Jim Spilslbury, Mr. Smith was a quiet man, a surveyor or civil engineer. Mrs. Smith taught Sunday school to Jim and the other Savary youngsters.
W. Vaughan-Robinson is again listed as the owner, from 1926 to 1932. The house was apparently used by the Tait family at some point. The Tait boys were Fritz and Barlow, who worked for a time with Walter Prescott's logging company at the Springs.
In 1933 the property was purchased by Ferdinand Drexel (wife Alice, and children Wilson, Patricia (m. Jennings) and Margot (m. Kenmuir). The house was demolished in 1939 and a new one built, designed by Ferdinand’s son Wilson, who modeled the layout on his friends’ cottage on Bowen Island. The fireplace was constructed by George Bloomfield. Family lore has it that Ferdinand rented the McNeely/Jones cottage for Wilson’s family because he didn’t want the children marking up the beautiful maple floors!
Ferdinand Drexel died in 1955 and the title passed to his children Wilson Drexel (wife Dorothy, children Ralph, John, Darrell, Julie, Mary Jo and Peter) and Margot Kenmuir (husband Jack, children John and Wendy (m. Noel). Patricia Jennings did not participate in the transfer.
After Wilson's death, Margot Kenmuir and John Drexel (wife Karen, children Graham and Meghan) became joint owners.
In 1990 Margot Kenmuir took over John Drexel's share.
Peter Saunders built a bungalow on a front lot in 1991-92 for Margot's use.
On Margot Kenmuir's death in 1997, the property passed to her children John Kenmuir (wife Alice, daughter Chelsea) and Wendy Noel (son Matthew (deceased), and daughters Melissa and Angela).
Published 2025
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