Downtown Victoria Tour
Courtney Street – 600 Block
625 Courtney Street
625 Courtney Street was built in 1911 by architect C. Elwood Watkins for Thomas Cusack (1868-1925), who used it for his printing business, T.R. Cusack Presses.
The building is listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places as the Cusack Printing Office.
625 Courtney Street, built in 1911 by architect C. Elwood Watkins for Thomas Cusack (photo by Victoria Online Sightseeing Tours)
625 Courtney Street, built in 1911 by architect C. Elwood Watkins for Thomas Cusack (photo by Victoria Online Sightseeing Tours)
Here is a map showing the location of 625 Courtney Street:
Here is a Google Street View image of 625 Courtney Street:
Additional Information About 625 Courtney Street
- Assessed Value (July 2018): $1,024,000; Land $693,000; Buildings $331,000
- Assessed Value (July 2017): $953,000; Land $613,000; Buildings $340,000
- Assessed Value (July 2016): $861,000; Land $583,000; Buildings $278,000
- Canadian Register of Historic Places
A Brief History of 625 Courtney Street
625 Courtney Street was built in 1911 by architect C. Elwood Watkins for Thomas Cusack (died 1925, aged 54), who used it for his printing business, T.R. Cusack Presses.
The building is listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places as the Cusack Printing Office.
We will add more historical information in the near future.
Here are links to some historic photographs of 625 Courtney Street:
Here is Thomas Cusack’s 1925 obituary in the Daily Colonist:
“PIONEER PRINTER CALLED BY DEATH
Late Mr. Thomas Cusack Arrived Here 40 Years Ago From Ontario and Learned Business in City
FOUNDED AND OPERATED PRINTING COMPANY HERE
Thomas Rodney Cusack (died 1925, aged 54), circa 1900. Thomas Cusack had 625 Courtney Street built for his Cusack Printing Company.(photo courtesy of Liz and Murray Gibbs (descendants) – family collection)
Victoria lost another of its early builders early last evening when death came to Mr. Thomas Cusack, 931 Pemberton Street [note: should be Pemberton Road] and founder of the Cusack Printing Company, Broughton Street, Victoria. [note: should be Courtney Street. Broughton Street is one block north of Courtney Street]
The late Mr. Cussack had been suffering ill health for the past two years, but the final attack came suddenly and he failed to rally. He was down town on Monday [note: 9 March 1925] and was a caller at The Colonist office concerning some article on early sport in Victoria, about which he was keenly interested.
Deceased was fifty-six years of age. He was born in St. Thomas, Ontario, later moving to Toronto. He came to Victoria forty years ago and served his apprenticeship in the printing establishment of Mr. H. G. Waterman, who is still in active business here. Later he established his own plant in The Times Building, situate where View Street now cuts through Broad to Douglas Street. Some years afterwards, when Lieutenant-Governor W.C. Nichol, at the time publisher of The Weekly Province, transferred his business to Vancouver, Mr. Cusack took over his plant in the old church building standing at the corner of Gordon and Courtney Streets. Growth of his business led to the construction of the building at 625 Courtney Street, which is the home of the Cusack Printing Company.
During his younger days he was a keen sportsman and was a member of the first lacrosse team organized in Victoria. He was for many years a member of the Y.M.C.A. and did much to build up the splendid traditions that organization enjoys. Since his arrival in Victoria the late Mr. Cusack has been a member of the congregation of Metropolitan Methodist Church, and up until a few years ago took an active part in church affairs.
Survivors include Mrs. Cusack and one daughter, Noel Cusack, living at home, and one sister, Mrs. R.L. Drury, of Victoria. Funeral arrangements have not yet been made.”
Thomas Cusack is buried in Ross Bay Cemetery, Victoria,
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