Bears, Lions and Shoes

This is the Canadian Fairbanks building on Water Street in Gastown. It was built in 1905 for the Canadian Fairbanks Company who supplied machinery and supplies to the logging and mining industry.

This building, like others on the North Side of Water Street, was built on piles. In 1980s it became obvious that the foundations had decayed to the point of collapse. But fortunately in 1987 the building was renovated and saved.

Here is a fine example of making use of existing structures and resurrecting them.

304 Dunlevy Street was originally built as a funeral chapel in 1893 with an addition being added in 1936. But this fine building that is quite large is not longer used to service the dead. In fact it is now used to entertain the living.

This is now a arts and entertainment venue. The interior has been redesigned to accomodate the new purpose but, from what I have read, enough aspects of the original purpose of the building has been kept so that the Chapel stays interesting.

Abrams Block, originally Tremont Hotel then Kings Hotel and then the Klondyke Hotel  and now Abrams Block. This Rennaissance Revival structure was built around 1888. The name of the architect has been lost to history.

This is another building that is listed as being one of the oldest in Vancouver. I wasn't around then, I don't know how much was destroyed by the great fire and I am not going to argue with their facts.

The Leckie Building was built in 1908 and 1913 for a shoe and boot company to use as their factory and sales office. The J. Leckie Company made good use of this heavy timber construction building.

For many years this interesection at Cambie and Water Streets was the very edge of town. In the 1880s Cambie Street was a forest and home to bears, wolves and deer. It was also the hunters from the township of Granville (Gastown) hunted for meals.

Another interesting glimpse of Gastown wouldn't you say?

I hope you find the beauty around you.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, Leckie Building, Abrams Block,the Chapel,Tremont Hotel,walk,history,