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Walk up Pleasant Valley Road from the 35th Avenue roundabout and you’re walking past some of the oldest homes in Vernon. In the 1890s, East Hill was where the town’s merchants, mayors and professionals chose to live. Four of their Victorian-era houses still stand side by side.
The four Pleasant Valley Road houses
3203 Pleasant Valley Road (1893)
The oldest of the group was built by merchant W.R. Megaw, who became Vernon’s mayor in 1899. It’s a Queen Anne-style home and was converted to apartments in the 1960s.
3201 Pleasant Valley Road (1894)
Built for Vancouver lumberman David McNair. Over the years it has housed law offices and, in the 1990s and 2000s, an international hostel.
3303 Pleasant Valley Road (1894)
Associated with C.F. Costerton, who became Vernon’s mayor in 1921. It was removed from the Heritage Register in 2014 but is still part of the street’s story.
3401 Pleasant Valley Road (1895)
Built by Samuel Sommerville, a former alderman and tax collector, in a Late Victorian style. Today it’s the Caetani Cultural Centre, an arts hub right in East Hill.
Why it matters if you’re buying in East Hill
That history is a big part of East Hill’s appeal. Beyond these four landmarks, the neighbourhood is full of early-1900s character homes with deep lots, mature trees and details you can’t buy new. If you’re drawn to one:
- Check whether it’s on the City of Vernon Heritage Register before planning big changes.
- Budget for a thorough inspection covering wiring, plumbing, foundation and drainage.
- Ask what’s been updated, and when.
I’ve built and renovated more than seven homes and I live in East Hill, so I’m happy to walk any character home with you. See East Hill homes for sale or call me at (250) 550-6979.
Historical details via the City of Vernon Heritage Register and Castanet.
