History of 696 Beach Blvd.

[GillyWilson]

Hi neighbours! We just purchased 696 Beach Blvd. and I was wondering if anyone has any knowledge of the house's history? The MPAC said it was built in 1890. Is this really possible? Any information would be great! Thanks Great website by the way, I'm having some of the old beach pictures developed for our den.

 

[Crawfish]

I might be wrong but I think this might have been the Jento house.

 

[scotto]

Hi Gilly;
Thanks for joining and welcome to the Beach, we had some discussion a couple years back about the oldest house on the Beach and according to the Dorothy Turcotte's book "The Sand Strip", homes where built starting back in late 1870's.
Back in those days it was the rich and the affluent who had the first homes and they were mostly their summer residences. However your house maybe a tad small compared to what was built back then, next time I am at the library I will have to have look to see how far your house goes back.
To your question, is it possible, I would say yes.
Also, being so close to Knapman Ave. I wonder if the Knapmans built and owned that house as they did with many in the neighbourhood.

http://hamiltonbeachcommunity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1537

The attached picture is from 1980, 696 Beach Blvd is the light coloured house to the right.

 

[scotto]

I might be wrong but I think this might have been the Jento house.

I was trying remember where I heard that name before, Fred Jento was the Burlington Beach Commission Chairman back in the 1950s, he is mention here;
http://hamiltonbeachcommunity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=933
And there are many articles mentioning him here;
http://hamiltonbeachcommunity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1977&highlight=Jento

So CF, you remember Fred owning that house back in the fifties?

 

[GillyWilson]

Thanks for your help! That would be great if the next time you are at the library you could check it out for me.