Introduction and biographical sketch

Robert Logan Mayhew was born in Calgary on 29 April 1912 to Robert Wellington Mayhew and Grace Logan Mayhew. He attended Willows School in Oak Bay and later St Michael's School, where he served as a prefect in 1937. His father was Reeve of Oak Bay in 1933 and an MP from 1937 to 1952, serving as the Minister of Fisheries and later as the Ambassador to Japan. Logan Mayhew was involved in running the family roofing and building firm in Victoria until 1951 when he established an automotive and machinery equipment firm. Logan Mayhew and Margaret Jane Bucklin (8 May 1920 - 19 September 2007) met in Victoria in the 1930s. They had three children: Robert Jr., Marlyn Jean and Rani Lee. Margaret Mayhew was an avid golfer and member of the Victoria Golf Club. Logan Mayhew died on 12 November 1990.

The Mayhew home at 3515 Beach Drive was designed by architect Ron Thom of Berwick Thompson and Pratt and constructed beginning in the fall of 1950. It was the first Modern Post and Beam style house built in Oak Bay.

Related collections and resources:

• 7 drawings, Canadian Architectural Archives at University of Calgary click here
• Papers of Robert Wellington Mayhew and Grace Logan Mayhew, University of Victoria: click here
• Margaret Mayhew obituary
• Logan Mayhew death certificate
• The Logan Mayhew House is on Canada's Historic Places Register: see entry here.
• The house is also included in the Modern Archicture Design Story virtual exhibition by the University of Victoria's Legacy Art Galleries: click here

Collection listing:

The material listed below is available to consult in person at Oak Bay Archives but has not been digitized (2023).

OBA PR 131/1. Correspondence and other documentation.

1/1 Plant list for landscaping 3515 Beach Drive ca.1950

1/2 Correspondence, estimates and receipts relating to the construction of 3515 Beach 1950-1951

1/3 Correspondence, estimates and receipts relating to the construction of 3515 Beach 1950-1952

1/4 Alterations and roofing of 3515 Beach 1979-1984

1/5 Alterations and roofing of 3515 Beach 1979-1984

1/6 Articles and news clippings 1950 onwards

1/7 Thom partnership ca.1950

1/8 House plan correspondence to Margaret Mayhew 1949-1951

1/9 Publications and news clippings 1950-1974

1/10 Photocopy of sketch by Edward Goodall of 3515 Beach ND

OBA PR 131/2. Photographs and plans

2/1/1-2 2 b/w photographs of sketches of 3515 Beach Drive ca.1950

• 2/1/1 B/W photographic print of watercolour sketch showing view over roof of 3515 Beach Drive toward mountains - planes of roof and chimney stacks are shown as well as trees incorporated into the design. Photograph has been altered in pencil with the addition of a long diagonal rectangle at lower right. Artist of original sketch not identified; photograph by Graham Warrington, Vancouver. ND, ca. 1950. (Accn 2009/3/1)
• 2/1/2 B/W photographic print of pencil sketch showing part of 3515 Beach Drive from the garden - trellis and divided patio surrounding ?a shallow rectangular pool, including surrounding trees. Artist of original sketch not identified; photograph by Graham Warrington, Vancouver. ND, ca. 1950. (Accn 2009/3/2)

2/2/1-33 33 5 1/2 x 3" b/w photographs of construction of 3515 Beach (33 images) 1950-1951 (Accn 2009/3/3-35 - no.9 missing or void March 2024. If void, total 32.)

2/3/1-14 14 b/w 6x9cm b/w photographs of construction of 3515 Beach, 1950-1951. (Accn 2009/3/26-49)

2/4/1-24 24 6x9 cm B/W photographs of construction of 3515 Beach Drive. Winter 1950-1951 (Accn 2009/3/50-73).

• 6 annotated "Winter 1950 / Alex Johnston / 3515 Beach Dr. / l.r. [i.e. living room] fireplace"
• 11 annotated "Nov. 1950 / The butterfly roof over the kitchen area / 3515 Beach Dr."
• 15 annotated "Spring 1950 / 3515 Beach Dr. / Kitchen / B__ Dunkley / Ron Thom"
• 16 "Winter 1950 / 3515 Beach Dr. / W. wing / Fred Rockett"
• 18 "Spring 1950 / 3515 Breach Dr. / Logan Mayhew / Alex Johnston / B__ Dunkley / Ron Thom"
• 19 "Winter 1950 / 3515 Beach Dr. / Ron Thom"
• 20 "March 191, S.W. patio outside children's playroom
• 24 annotated later "not 3515".

2/5/1-17 17 colour photographs of roofing of 3515 Beach Drive, 1987. (Accn 2009/3/74-90). 1 shows Claude Maurice standing on a sawhorse and another man standing in front of a moulded bath/shower unit.

2/6/1-11 11 colour Polaroid photographs of roofing of 3515 Beach Drive [1987]. (Accn 2009/3/95-101)

2/7/1-2 2 b/w photographs of 3515 Beach Drive [ca.1960]. (Accn 2009/3/102-103). Photographer of 2/7/1: Bill Halkett, Victoria.

2/8 colour negatives of 2/5 1987

2/9 Album of news clippings relating to the construction of 3515 Beach 1950-1955 - read transcript/description here [PDF]

2/10 architectural plans

2/10/01 Uplands plan, part of Section 31. 10 June 1912. 78 x 103 cm

2/10/02 Proposed Mayhew residence Birley Wade & Stockdill. 5 March 1946. 39 x 53 cm

2/10/03/1 Proposed Mayhew residence, Marvell Construction Co. Main floor plan. 19 March 1948. 41 x 63 cm. onionskin – caution fragile.

2/10/03/2 Proposed Mayhew residence, Marvell Construction Co. Basement plan. 19 March 1948. 41 x 63 cm. onionskin – caution fragile.

2/10/04 Residence for Logan Mayhew, Uplands Victoria BC. Full main floor & roof plan. Revised 9 September 1948. 82 x 93cm. Blueprint.

2/10/05/1 Plan of topographical survey of Lot 6 Block 1 Plan 1216A Section 31 Victoria BC & profile of sanitary sewer. [Mayhew property]. 22 February 1950. 64 x 53 cm. Original ink on oilcloth.

2/10/05/2 Plan of topographical survey of Lot 6 Block 1 Plan 1216A Section 31 Victoria BC & profile of sanitary sewer. [Mayhew property]. 22 February 1950. 64 x 53 cm, Paper copy.

2/10/06 Residence for Logan Mayhew – no date, ca. 1950. Sharp & Thompson, Berwick, Pratt. 9pp. 74 x 96cm

2/10/06/1 Residence for Logan Mayhew: ground floor plan. no date, ca. 1950. Sharp & Thompson, Berwick, Pratt. 74 x 96cm

2/10/06/2 Residence for Logan Mayhew: elevations. no date, ca. 1950. Sharp & Thompson, Berwick, Pratt. 74 x 96cm

2/10/06/3 Residence for Logan Mayhew: foundations. no date, ca. 1950. Sharp & Thompson, Berwick, Pratt. 74 x 96cm

2/10/06/4 Residence for Logan Mayhew: roof framing. no date, ca. 1950. Sharp & Thompson, Berwick, Pratt. 74 x 96cm

2/10/06/5 Residence for Logan Mayhew: sections & details. no date, ca. 1950. Sharp & Thompson, Berwick, Pratt. 74 x 96cm

2/10/06/6 Residence for Logan Mayhew: kitchen details. no date, ca. 1950. Sharp & Thompson, Berwick, Pratt. 74 x 96cm

2/10/06/7 Residence for Logan Mayhew: fireplace, rec room storage, closet, dressing room details. no date, ca. 1950. Sharp & Thompson, Berwick, Pratt. 74 x 96cm

2/10/06/8 Residence for Logan Mayhew: main floor plan incl carport, shed, patio. no date, ca. 1950. Sharp & Thompson, Berwick, Pratt. 74 x 96cm. Onionskin - fragile.

2/10/06/9 Residence for Logan Mayhew: main floor plan, MS revisions to central entrance vestibule. no date, ca. 1950. Sharp & Thompson, Berwick, Pratt. 74 x 96cm

2/10/07 Mayhew residence Design for outdoor lanterns. August 1951. 78.5 x 33cm. Caution: onionskin, fragile.

2/10/08 Mayhew residence, bedroom. Elevations. North Park Studio. 20 November 1968. 43 x 28 cm. Paper, photocopy.

2/10/09 Master suite renovations, September 1986. Elevations, Plan no. 0877. 80 x 57.5 cm. Claude Maurice architect.

2/10/10 Mayhew residence Bedroom elevations. 20 November 1986. 43 x 28 cm. Prob. North Park Studio.

2/10/11 Mayhew residence bedroom plans November 1986. North Park Studio. 3pp. 43 x 28 cm

2/10/12 Master suite renovations. Revised 17 December 1986. 80 x 57.5 cm. Claude Maurice architect.

2/10/13 Master suite renovations. Revised 24 December 1986. Elevation, plan no. 0877. 80 x 57.5 cm. Claude Maurice architect.

2/10/14 Master suite renovations: plan & elevations. Revised 2 January 1987. 80 x 57.5 cm. Claude Maurice architect.

2/10/15 Master suite renovations. Revised 2 January 1987. 80 x 57.5 cm. Claude Maurice architect.

2/10/16 Master suite renovations: plan & elevations, ceilings, windows. Revised 2 February 1987. 80 x 57.5 cm. Claude Maurice architect.

2/10/17 Master suite renovations. Revised 2 February 1987. 80 x 57.5 cm. Claude Maurice architect.

2/10/18 Mayhew residence – no title, no date. 43 x 28 cm. not identified 2024.

2/10/19 Mayhew residence – no title, no date. Exterior plan (?). 67.5 x 32cm. Caution: onionskin, fragile.

2/10/20 Mayhew residence – no title, no date. Garden lighting plan. Caution: onionskin, fragile.

2/10/21 Garden trellis (“Trellice”) – no date. Drawn by R.J. Thom, architect, Thompson Berwick Pratt. 45 x 75 cm. Blueprint.

2/10/22 General landscape plan, 14 March 1952 1/3 ( 2 copies), 2/4 (1 copy), 3/4 (3 copies). Muirhead & Fisher. 85 x 83 cm. Blueprints

2/10/23 Garden construction plan 4/4 (3 copies). 14 March 1952 Muirhead & Fisher. 70 x 80 cm. Blueprints

2/10/24 Watercolour sketch of Mayhew house (carport), no date. Stamped Sharp & Thompson, Berwick, Pratt. 78 x 56 cm

2/10/25 pencil sketch, design for lighting/lanterns in oak & parchment no title or date

2/10/26 Copy of 1/1 plant list. Blueprint.

Please note that these plans and drawings are in copyright in Canada. They have not been digitized.

Plans reviewed and list updated A Sander January 2024.