S C BURTON HOUSE
This modest home belonged to one of Kamloops' most colourful citizens. Sydney Charles Burton was feisty Kamloops businessman who was also an active member of many public boards as well as an oftentimes vitriolic politician. Burton was a real estate agent. In his spare time, he was secretary of the Magic Grater Co. and the R.I.H. board. In 1904, Burton was elected alderman by acclamation. This was followed by a stint as manager of Canadian Real Properties. Burton was elected as alderman again in 1912 and 1913 and was also elected president of the Conservative Association. During his term as alderman, Burton got into a very public row with venerable Kamloops citizen Capt. Worsnop. A special public meeting had to be called to settle it.
Burton emerged relatively unscathed. He was elected president of the Board of Trade (Chamber of Commerce) in 1915 and successfully ran for mayor in 1920 and again in 1921 and 1922. While mayor, Burton was also president of the Football Association and the Fire Underwriters Association. He ran unsuccessfully for Police Commissioner for Kamloops, but was appointed Commissioner for Merritt instead. Burton died, probably of exhaustion, in 1941, one month after his wife Jane Anne died.
As for the house, it contains many highly typical Craftsman style details. From the pyramid columns on the front verandah, to the front door, multipaned windows, barge boards, and exposed rafters, this house says 1920s. It is late in the decade as is evidenced by the shrinking size of the front verandah.
Source: Kamloops Heritage Commission