Main

This is part of where I was headed yesterday before I got deterred. The first place on my stop was the Native Education Centre.

Although this center has been in existence since 1967 it moved into these quarters in 1985. The building was designed to look like  Pacific Coast Longhouse. It is like a piece of nature in the middle of the concrete.

The totem pole has an opening where I was told one woman uses to meditate. There is a door that can be opened on special occassions.

Walk about a block south of the centre and you can see a little bit of history again.

The Doering and Mastrand Brewery Building was built in 1904 when waters from brewery creek used to run through the area. This building has been very useful over the years housing such businesses as a candy factory, dairy, ice plant and a meat packing plant. In 1993 it was converted to, you guessed it, artist live/work studios.

A block or two away from here is the Quebec Manor.

Pretty pictures but I couldn't find a lot of information on this building. I do know that it was built around 1911 - at least according to a tenant that I met outside. He also told me that place is haunted, he deals with a couple of ghosts. In a place this old that isn't surprising.

The tile inlay at the main entrance is eye catching. I also took this next one of the lobby through the front door.

This may not be the best photo of the intricate tile work inside but I love the way the flowers were reflected in the glass.

Quite a few blocks away from here is Heritage Hall.

This building is at the corner of Main and 15th Avenue. When it was built in 1914 - 1916, Main Street was the major north-south connector between Main and Broadway and Main and Hastings.

The detail is exquisite. This building must have had a regal purpose such as a church or something like that. Maybe even a bank.

The land was bought in 1912 by the Canadian government and in 1914  a contract was given to T.J. Whiteside and G.E. Williamson to build a structure designed by A. Campbell Hope, with David Ewart as chief architect. It cost $92, 000 and what was the original purpose? A post office. Speculation was that this area would experience a surge in residents and this ornate building would help to generate more business. That didn't happen. However this building has served Vancouver well over the years.

From 1916 to 1949 Heritage Hall was a post office. From 1937 to 1963 it was the Dominion Agricultural Building and from 1963 to 1976 it was home to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.Then it remained empty and allowed to fall into disuse for six years even though it had been declared a heritage structure in 1974 by the city and in 1976 by Public Works. Fortunately in 1983 a group of people got together, raise funds and brought the hall back to life.

Remember the houses I was showing you yesterday? Well here is another one. This is an Edwardian built in 1908.

Here's its neighbour, built a year before.

Quite some time ago, July 8 2010 to be exact,  I wrote a little piece and showed you photos of a these statues by a stairway leading up the side of the hill from Great Northern Way. Then the statues were grayish, weather beaten and looking old. Now someone has given them new life.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, Heritage Hall, Edwardian,Quebec Manor,RCMP,walk,history,