Emily Carr had originally hoped to live in the second floor of the house and rent out the lower two suites. But this never happened as the tenants' rent would never quite cover expenses. She would split the second level into two suites. In 1917 Emily turned the entire second floor into a ladies boarding home, and she moved into the attic. If there were no tenants, Emily would close the house for the winter. For one winter (1916-17), Emily went to San Francisco to paint ballroom decorations for the Hotel St. Francis.
Though Emily looked back and thought of her 23 years at the "House of All Sorts" as bitter, she did have fond memories tucked away in the house.
There were three places that Emily remembered fondly; the studio, the attic and the garden.
Perhaps what would turn out to be the most important visitor Emily had at the "House of All Sorts" was Eric Brown who was Director of the National Gallery of Canada. In 1927, Eric Brown came to see Emily in hopes of perhaps including some of her work in the Exhibition of Canadian West Coast Art (Native and Modern). He was impressed and asked Emily to send fifty of her canvases east for the exhibition. He also promised her that she could meet the members of the Group of Seven on her way to Ottawa (as most lived in Toronto). While reluctant at first to make the trip east, Emily went. This trip would lead Emily Carr to meet Lawren Harris (of the Group of Seven) who would have a profound effect on her. Lawren would provide the encouragement that Emily needed to begin painting again with a renewed energy. They would remain friends until Emily's death in 1945.
One of Emily's more ambitious projects while at the house was to start a "People's Gallery". She had hoped to start a gallery that would exhibit Canadian artists and give those people who were truly interested in art a place to go and learn. In 1932, the "People's Gallery" held its first four-artist exhibition in the two lower suites of the house. But after only one exhibit, the "People's Gallery" was closed. Emily was unable to convince enough people to donate money to support the operation of the gallery.
Emily Carr would spend four more years in the "House of All Sorts". There would be some more small exhibitions in her studio as Emily had always had in the house. Finally in 1936, Emily would trade the "House of All Sorts" for a bungalow on Oscar street. (The real estate market so poor that it was impossible for Emily to sell the house.)
Emily Carr was born in Victoria, B.C. Canada on December 13, 1871 and died in Victoria, March 2, 1945 at the age of 74. Emily died in St. Mary's Priory (now the James Bay Inn).
