Horses and a Farmer

Do you remember when I wrote about that sports car that was being restored? Well this is the property on Powell Street where I saw it and this gathering of buildings has a history of its own.

At one time these buildings, located across from the sugar refinery, housed the horses etc used to transport goods.

Although much of the buildings have been redone at least on the outside, this interior still shows the old wood used when the building was constructed.

Can you imagine what these structures must have looked like about 100 years ago when they were constructed? A lot different than what you see now.

Now onto a story about a young man who came to our country under the service of another and made a success of himself.

Charles Maddam originally came to Canada in the service of the Marquis of Lorne - the Governor General - and the Marquis' wife Princess Louise who happened to be a daughter of Queen Victoria.

In 1888 Maddam built a home at 941 East 7th Avenue and this was the first substantial house built in the area.

Maddam and his family had a five acre farm covering what is now known as China Creek Park.

At that time the waters of False Creek ran along the northern edge of the property and that provided access to the farm by boat. The rich soil of the area allowed the Maddams to sell tons of rhubarb, apples, pears,  plums, prunes, loganberries, raspberries, strawberries and currants. The family also raised pigeons, dozens of breeds of chickens as well as producing wine and cider.

The Rainer Brewing Company of Seattle once offered the Maddams $100,000 for their land but the Maddams didn't sell. Unfortunately the family lost the land to taxes during the Depression.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

Karen Magill, Charles Maddam, Vancouver, Queen Victoria, False Creek, stables, History, Powell Street