What's in a Name? Chumasero Edition

There are names of local historical significance that many native Vancouverites instantly recognize, such as Hidden, McLoughlin or Kiggins. However, some important names from the past have been all but forgotten. One such surname is Chumasero.

Chumasero-Smith House

Alfred Chumasero, a native of Ohio, moved to Vancouver is 1890 and is thought to be the first Filipino-American to settle in the state of Washington. He is perhaps most well known for operating a drug store at the northwest corner of Main Street and 6th Street in the Schofield Building (space most recently occupied by Top Shelf Martinis on Main). He also operated a hardware store, an electric station and was a partner in one of the City's first electric companies.

Former location of A.C. Chumasero ~ Druggist at the northwest corner of 6th and Main in downtown Vancouver

Screen capture from an expired eBay listing for a bottle from Alfred Chumasero's drug store

The Chumasero-Smith house at 310 W 11th Street (pictured at the top of the page) is the former residence of Alfred Chumasero and his wife, Mary Estelle Smith. The house was built in 1903 and moved from its original location in 1925. The street on which the house was originally sited was renamed to Chumasero Street in his honor following his death. Chumasero Street was later renamed to Harney Street in compliance with the City's alphabetized street scheme (ascending order east to west from Columbia: Columbia, Daniels, Esther, etc.). Read my post here for more background on the Harney name.

References:

  • Jollota, Pat. Naming Clark County. 2002 edition.

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