Past Tense

Canton Alley, ca. 1930 Source: Photo by James Crookall, City of...

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:23:28 -0400

Canton Alley, ca. 1930

Source: Photo by James Crookall, City of Vancouver Archives #260-295

Vancouver cycling club, 1914 On the Georgia Street side of the...

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:39:15 -0400

Vancouver cycling club, 1914

On the Georgia Street side of the Court House (VAG)

Source: City of Vancouver Archives #1376-254

Slum dweller, 300 block East Cordova, 1943 Photograph shows a...

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:07:11 -0400

Slum dweller, 300 block East Cordova, 1943

Photograph shows a small child standing by a row of houses in the slum district of Vancouver.

Source: Photo by Jack Lindsay, City of Vancouver Archives #1184-638

Stanley Park, 1892 Source: Photo by Alexander Henderson, McCord...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:00:21 -0400

Stanley Park, 1892

Source: Photo by Alexander Henderson, McCord Museum #MP-1974.4.14

Hollow Tree, 1890s Source: Photo by the Neelands Bros., City of...

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 01:29:34 -0400

Hollow Tree, 1890s

Source: Photo by the Neelands Bros., City of Vancouver Archives #LGN 470

Alleyway, 1970s? Source: Photo by Al Ingram, City of Vancouver...

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 17:50:00 -0400

Alleyway, 1970s?

Source: Photo by Al Ingram, City of Vancouver #800-211

Fire fighting, 1917 Source: Photo by Stuart Thomson, City of...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:11:03 -0400

Fire fighting, 1917

Source: Photo by Stuart Thomson, City of Vancouver Archives #99-725

Fire on 1100 block Homer Street, 7:20 am, Monday 24 March...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:29:03 -0400

Fire on 1100 block Homer Street, 7:20 am, Monday 24 March 1969

Source: Ernie H Reksten, City of Vancouver Archives #2010-006.080

Granville Street, 1970s Source: Photo by Al Ingram, City of...

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 23:27:51 -0400

Granville Street, 1970s

Source: Photo by Al Ingram, City of Vancouver Archives #800-481

Maple Tree Square, Sunday 8 December 1968 Source: Photo by...

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 16:45:38 -0400

Maple Tree Square, Sunday 8 December 1968

Source: Photo by Walter E Frost, City of Vancouver Archives #447-339

Blue Blood Alley, June 1887 One year after the Great Fire,...

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 01:19:23 -0400

Blue Blood Alley, June 1887

One year after the Great Fire, behind those houses was still mostly forest and tree stumps.

Source: The West Shore, Volume 13, No. 6, June 1887

Blue Bloods, 1902 The first exclusive neighbourhood in Vancouver...

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 00:07:26 -0400

Blue Bloods, 1902

The first exclusive neighbourhood in Vancouver was on the CPR land acquired from the Three Greenhorns, on the bluffs overlooking Coal Harbour and nicknamed Blue Blood Alley. Some sources say Blue Blood Alley refers to West Georgia Street, while others say it was Seaton Street (now Hastings west of Burrard), but it may have been the general area. Note the killer view, including the squatter shacks on Deadman’s Island.

When the rest of the West End was cleared and developed as a residential neighbourhood, it was similarly well-heeled. Eventually less well-to-do folks, even renters, began seeping into the area, and the uppercrust decided it was time to go.

The CPR opened up Shaughnessy Heights in 1909 with the intention of it developing as the new prestigious neighbourhood. Lots were offered for a mere $50 down, but only on the condition that the buyer spend at least $6000 to develop their property. During the Depression, many people lost their homes and the area was derisively called “Poverty Hill” and “Mortage Heights.” The Glen Brae, or Tait Mansion, was being rented out as a kindergarten for $75 per month.

Later in the 1930s, the British Properties in West Vancouver was developed as the next posh neighbourhood. This time the development was financed by the Guinness beer family, not the CPR, which included construction of the Lion’s Gate Bridge to make it accessible. Earlier attempts to build a crossing at the First Narrows were thwarted by a city council wanting to preserve the integrity of Stanley Park, but during the economic crisis, the City was in no position to turn down such a major financial investment and job creation project.

As for the West End, most of the mansions there were converted to apartments or rooming houses, and were then torn down mid-century to make way for the densely populated West End we know today. A handful remain, including Roedde House, Gabriola Mansion, and Abbott House, the only survivor of Blue Blood Alley.

Source: View from 1287 Robson Street, ca. 1902, City of Vancouver Archives #Van Sc P123.1

Granville Street, 1975 Photo dated by the BC apples...

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 11:55:55 -0400

Granville Street, 1975

Photo dated by the BC apples campaign.

Source: Photo by Al Ingram, City of Vancouver Archives #800-281

Two women on a rock, English Bay, ca. 1900 Yes, those are swim...

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:00:18 -0400

Two women on a rock, English Bay, ca. 1900

Yes, those are swim suits.

Source: Photo by William M Stark, City of Vancouver Archives #SGN 1071

Vancouver Soda Water Works, 719 Gore Avenue, ca. 1900 Source:...

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:29:00 -0400

Vancouver Soda Water Works, 719 Gore Avenue, ca. 1900

Source: City of Vancouver Archives #Bu P25

Bike paths, Saturday 8 July 1905 The original bike lane...

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 22:20:56 -0400

Bike paths, Saturday 8 July 1905

The original bike lane controversy.

Source: Vancouver Province

Corner of Bute and Nelson, 1890 Source: Photo by Bailey Bros.,...

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 01:05:18 -0400

Corner of Bute and Nelson, 1890

Source: Photo by Bailey Bros., City of Vancouver Archives #Dist P59

Grey Cup spectators, 1955 Source: Photo by Leslie F Sheraton,...

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 21:51:00 -0400

Grey Cup spectators, 1955

Source: Photo by Leslie F Sheraton, City of Vancouver Archives #2008-022.221

100 block Dunsmuir Street, Monday 27 May 1974 Source: City of...

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 19:42:01 -0400

100 block Dunsmuir Street, Monday 27 May 1974

Source: City of Vancouver Archives #778-65

Georgia Street west of Burrard, Monday 27 November 1922 Source:...

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 17:00:32 -0400

Georgia Street west of Burrard, Monday 27 November 1922

Source: Photo by WJ Moore, City of Vancouver Archives #Str N196