Bates and Burnett purchased the Brown House in 1946 and became the first decentralized law office in Vancouver. The below photograph was taken at a party held for the two on behalf of 50 years practicing law together. Mr. Bates is holding the big gift on the left and Mr. Burnett is holding the smaller (more…)
Learn More
Mary Josephine Tuomala Hilstrom (1863-1929) was the mother in law of Mr. Bates. She was also the maid for the Brown family for several years. Below is a biography of Mary written by her granddaughter, Mary Ellen Bates. (more…)
Learn More
William Charles (Billy) Bates was born in Toronto, Canada on 20 October 1885. His mother was born in the United States of parents who were of English and Scotch-Irish ancestry. His maternal grandmother was born in Belfast, Ireland of Scotch parents and his maternal grandfather was a (more…)
Learn More
Was the date the law firm of Bates and Burnett finalized the sale of the Brown House to James Gregg, who still practices and shares space with us in the house today. Bates and Burnett were innovative in that they were not only the first decentralized law office in the City of Vancouver, but also the (more…)
Learn More
Mary Ellen Bates, daughter of William C. Bates, an attorney who practiced in the Brown House from 1946-1960, sent me this article. It appeared in The Columbian June 11, 1946. Written by Clark Brown (no relation to Charles) the article is an announcement welcoming the offices of Bates and (more…)
Learn More
An announcement from 1946 advertising the new location of Bates and Burnett’s law firm hangs in the Brown House. This was the first decentralized law office in the City of Vancouver. They practiced law in the Brown House for 14 years until Attorney James Gregg bought the house in 1960 where he (more…)
Learn More
