“To have a B&B, you have to genuinely love people,” says Larry Gray, who, with his wife, Sandra, transformed a heritage house in Victoria into a B&B and then wrote about it. Anecdotes of restoring a heritage property with stories of ghosts and guests are captured in the pages of Larry’s book, A “Heritage” Gem.

Originally from Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, Larry was introduced to the insurance claims business in his late teens, took a brief training session and finally, with his then family, moved to California, a warmer climate, where he set up his own business. 

Holidaying back in Canada, after his marriage breakup, Larry reconnected with an old friend, Sandra Davis, whose marriage had also ended. Like Larry, Sandra has an insurance background from her work with Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC). Reunited, Larry and Sandra were married in 1977, and their combined family made their home in California, where Larry, as claims investigator, and Sandra taking care of insurance affairs and licences, operated their insurance business, Valley Claim Service.  

Looking for a change after nearly three decades in the business, the couple decided that running a B&B would be a new and exciting experience.  

Exploring places to start a B&B, the Grays began investigating suitable homes in the New England states until they realized the weather in that region of the country was as cold as the weather in Portage La Prairie, which they originally escaped because of the frigid winter weather. 

Having represented ICBC in Los Angeles, the Grays decided Victoria would have a more inviting climate and would be a better location for a B&B, but the right property was hard to find. They were about to return to L.A. when the perfect house came on the market. It felt like the ideal place for a B&B, says Larry, and it soon captured the would-be innkeepers.

Transforming an old heritage house into a B&B turned out to be more interesting than Larry and Sandra expected. While Larry continued to spend time in L.A., wrapping up their American business, Sandra stayed in the Heritage House to engineer the necessary renovations where she was surprised to find she was not alone.

The original owner, the late, pipe-smoking Captain Robert N. Walker, apparently continued to hang out at the old house. Sandra recognized his presence by the telltale pipe smoke, which she didn’t appreciate. One day, offended by the smell, she admonished him for this bad habit. 

“Captain Walker,” she said, “there is no smoking allowed here anymore. Thank you.” He continued to make his presence felt by the sound of footsteps and doors opening and closing, but the smoking stopped. 

Captain Walker is not the only ghost in the house. According to sightings by guests at the B&B, the captain’s Japanese wife, Sato, also likes to make herself at home.

After finishing the renovations in Victoria and tying up their business in California, the Grays opened their heritage house for business. A unique property with a unique “old-world” décor to make guests feel they stepped into the friendly past, the house included old-world reminders, like Larry’s parents’ wedding photos done in chalk, Sandra’s great-grandmother’s wedding dress displayed on a mannequin, a grandfather clock, an old-style telephone and a 1938 vintage cash register among other antique paraphernalia.

“Sandra always appreciated age and quality,” says Larry. “Lucky me - the older I get, the more she loves me.”

During their 20 years of B&B operation, the couple gathered many stories to share. A guest journal in each of the rooms captured guests’ personal stories about their stay. Larry, too, has stories to tell about entertaining the guests with his own tongue-in-cheek tales. 

“We met wonderful people from all over the world,” says Larry. “We dealt with some agencies in Europe and that gave us a lot of guests, a lot of Americans, a few Canadians, but mainly global travellers, New Zealand, Australia. We had several guests that came back for the second and third time and you really begin to relate with them and develop a relationship.”

Suffering from a shoulder fracture after an accident, and unable to continue the work that a B&B required, Larry and Sandra decided to retire their B&B. Larry’s ambition turned to writing and Sandra, an original heritage buff, still works with the Heritage Committee. 

The Heritage Gem is no longer open for business, but the ghosts and guests that have passed through the house remain alive in the pages of Larry’s book.
     
A “Heritage” Gem is available at Bolen Books, Chapters, Munro’s Books, Royal BC Museum gift shop, Senior Living online bookstore, some smaller bookstores and local coffee/book shops, as well as the website. 

For more information about Larry Gray and A “Heritage” Gem, visit www.cricketpublishing.net

NOVEMBER 2011 SENIOR LIVING MAGAZINE VANCOUVER ISLAND