Secret Garden

I am a coveter of secret places, especially those hidden away places in a city that take you away and conspire to make you think you're somewhere else. Imagine my delight then, to be invited to a function at Hycroft, home of the University Women's Club of Vancouver. Nestled into the moneyed hinterlands behind Granville and 16th Avenue, I've probably driven by here a hundred times without knowing what was hiding behind that stone wall.

Turns out it is a gorgeous piece of Vancouver architecure history, with furnishings and gardens to match.

The original owners were the McRae family, who completed the house in 1911. Eventually it was sold to the government for $1 and it was a convalescent hospital for a time during the war. Along the way, the University Women's club was looking for a home and they bought it in 1962. Incidentally, women were *still* not allowed to have mortgages at the time, so the members had to raise the money and buy it outright.

I don't believe that the place is generally open to the public, so you can see a "Christmas at Hycroft" which looks like an event not to be missed for any romantics in the crowd.