Hoy House

Description
Hoy House is a grand two storey wood framed and stucco house built in 1934 located on the northwest corner of Barlow Avenue and McLean Street in Downtown Quesnel, BC. The historic place includes the building and the parcel of land it occupies.

Heritage Value
Hoy House is located in Downtown Quesnel which is the commercial and administrative center of the city. Over the years, major renovations have occurred, however the house supports the other buildings on the street that have experienced change. While not in its original form, the house is a physical reminder of the people who shaped the development of Quesnel. This building was the first stucco house in Quesnel. It was built by well-known local builder Harry Joyce.

The house is named for Chow Dong Hoy who was known locally as ‘C. D.’ At the age of 19, C.D. was sent to Canada from his home in Canton, China by his father who wanted his son to have a better opportunity. C. D. landed in Victoria in 1902 where he leaned English and then travelled to Barkerville. He worked as a dishwasher, a survey crewman, a miner and a cook. Later, C. D. became a photographer and watch repairman. He also sponsored and financially assisted other Chinese immigrants who moved to Quesnel. C. D. helped the owners of the Nugget Café after the fire of 1925 in Chinatown. The “Chinatown Fire” June 1925, destroyed all thirteen the buildings on the north side of Carson Avenue between Front and Reid Streets. Unlike the previous fires of 1916 and 1923, two men lost their lives. They were boarding in the apartment above the café and were asleep when the fire occurred. The Hoy family is recognized for their contribution to the development of the community with a street named in their honour.

Character-Defining Elements
The character-defining elements of Hoy House include:

• a large two storey wood framed house;
• the most modern house in Quesnel at the time of construction in 1934;
• the first house in Quesnel to have a stucco exterior;
• although it has been altered to accommodate its many commercial uses, the original form of the structure is still evident today;
• an interesting roof line;
• a chimney located in the highest roof peak in the center of the house.