658-666 Herald Street – the Hook Sin Tong Charity building

658-666 Herald Street, built in 1911 by architect C. Elwood Watkins for the Hook Sin Tong Charity.

The original building permit, issued to Hook Sin Tong by the City of Victoria in October 1911, describes a “new brick building, 3 storey, 17 rooms. Purpose: stores” with an estimated construction cost of $23,000.

The building is still owned by the Hook Sin Tong Charity, which rents out retail space on the street level as well as space on the upper floors.

Here is a map showing the location of the Hook Sin Tong Charity Building:

Here is a Google Street View image of the Hook Sin Tong Charity building, 658-666 Herald Street:

Additional Information About The Hook Sin Tong Charity, 658-666 Herald Street

• Assessed Value (July 2018): $3,113,500; Land $2,052,000 Buildings $1,061,500
• Assessed Value (July 2017): $2,792,900; Land $1,684,000 Buildings $1,108,900
• Assessed Value (July 2015): $2,203,900; Land $1,132,800 Buildings $1,071,100
• Assessed Value (July 2014): $2,046,400; Land $1,505,700 Buildings $940,700
• Canadian Register of Historic Places – listed in 1992

A Brief History of the Hook Sin Tong Charity Building, 658-666 Herald Street

This landmark building was built in 1911-1912 by architect C. Elwood Watkins for the Hook Sin Tong Charity, an association formed by Chinese immigrants from Chung San province in southern China.

The original building permit, issued to “Hook Sin Tong” by the City of Victoria in October 1911, describes a “new brick building, 3 storey, 17 rooms. Purpose: stores” with an estimated construction cost of $23,000.

The building is still owned by the Hook Sin Tong Charity, which rents out retail space on the street level as well as space on the upper floors.

It is listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places as the Hook Sin Tong Charity Building.

Here are links to some historic photographs of the Hook Sin Tong Building:

• City of Victoria Archives photo M08117 – 1912
• City of Victoria Archives photo M08118 – 1912
• City of Victoria Archives photo M08119 – interior, 1912
• City of Victoria Archives photo M01375 – 1961

The photos below show some additional features of the Hook Sin Tong Charity Building.

Recessed balconies on upper floors, like this one on the Hook Sin Tong Charity Building, were a common architectural feature of Chinese association buildings in late 19th and early 20th Victoria.