1901 and 1903: Good Years

Hello one and all. Did you have a great weekend? Mine didn't start off the greatest but I am pleased with how it progressed.

Today I am going to post a bunch of pictures and then some information on the city. Thanks to the website The History of Metropolitan Vancouver for helping me with the information.

Some of the photos I am showing you today are of interesting things I happen to see on my walks.

In 1884 huge knot free beams (112 feet by 28 inches or 34 m by 70 cm) left Burrard Inlet Sawmills bound for Beijing's Imperial Palace.

F.L. Carter-Cotton owned the paper The Advertiser, which was about a year old and on March 31, 1887, The Advertiser merged with another year old paper, the News.

These were taken through the window at a doctor's office.

Squatter Sam Greer - where Greer's Beach got its name (Greers Beach is now Kitsilano Beach) - shot the sheriff when the law officer came to evict him on September 26, 1891. Greer's act of defiance didn't help eithier since while the official was recuperating Greer and his family were removed, the buildings levelled and Greer jailed.

The founder of Roger's Sugar Refinery and his wife - Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Tingley. Rogers - had a housewarming party at their mansion Gabriola on Davie Street. The information I read states that there is a restaurant there now but the one mentioned is not listed so I will check on that one day.

King George V and Queen Mary were Vancouver's first Royal Visit on September 30, 1901. At that time they were still the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and the young city really showed off for them. The future ruler of England and his wife even got to watch "a forest giant being cut up" when they visited the Hastings Sawmill.

The future city of North Vancouver was booming as well in 1901. A census recorded 365 people living there and it was described in the British Columbia Directory as a suburban townsite.

A five-day steamer service that travelled from Seattle to Skagway - with a stop in Vancouver - was inaugerated in 1901. The Vancouver Board of Trade put pressure on to make sure this service was undertaken.

On January 6, 1903 the Vancouver Business College opened with four students.

On March 10, 1903 the old Ross McLaren mill in Port Coquitlam saw new life. The Fraser River Sawmills Company was formed on that day and operated out of the old mill. The Fraser River Sawmills Company would grow to become the largest shipper of lumber in the British Empire. 

April 15, 1903 was the day that Union activist Frank Rogers was shot and killed on a Vancouver Street. Although someone was arrested for this crime, the suspect was acquitted in court later and the murder was never solved.

Summer of 1903 was when a cable suspension bridge was extended across the Capilano Canyon and replaced an earlier, rougher version. This was the start of the first commercial attraction in North Vancouver. (Just in case you aren't aware I am speaking of the Capilano Suspension Bridge which is a major tourist attraction today. Now I would visit there and write the history but I am terrified of suspension bridges. Maybe someday though.)

I was walking along Robson Street on Saturday and happened upon this vehicle.

I wonder how he or she drives this?

On August 26, 1903 the Art, Historical and Scientific Association created the Vancouver Museum.

On October 1 of the same year a Mr. W.S. Holland heard a disturbance around 3 am. He looked out to see what appeared to be a large dog chasing his chickens. So Holland shot the intruder and then went back to bed. The next morning Holland went out to find not only a few dead chickens but also a big, dead timber wolf. Holland lived at the corner of Burnaby and Cardero Streets. Even back then that was in the city.

On October 8, 1903 at the St. James Hall in Vancouver, a social center for sailors - the first Mission to Seamen - was established.

On November 3 a plan was established to get rid of the pesky crows in Vancouver. Although a by-law banned the discharging of firearms in Stanley Park officials said they would look the other way that day as the park was closed to the city and numerous hunters came out to bag one of the creatures and get paid a bounty. The crow had the last laugh though. Today, near the Willingdon exit on Highway 1 in Burnaby, from about 5,000 to 8,000 crows gather every day as dusk falls.

On a reinforcement wall along Commercial Drive there is a series of mosaics set in the wall. This is one that I really like.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, B.T. Rogers, Gabriola,Fraser River Sawmills CompanyKing Edward V,Vancouver Museum,history,

A Wet, Grey Christmas

If you live in Vancouver and you find joy in a white Christmas you may find yourself disappointed many times. We tend to have wet, grey Christmases with lots of green grass and such.

But that doesn't meant that Vancouverites let the the lack of snow damage their Christmas spirit. We just decorate what is around.

It doesn't matter that there isn't snow covering the trees or the yards. Stringing lights and hanging decorations still lend a festive air when everything is green.

One of Vancouver, and BC's, exports is fish. In 1901 we had a peak year for salmon. Forty-nine canneries operated on the Lower Fraser river and nearly a million cases were packed.


Also in 1901 the Moodyville Mill closed. It had been the main source of export income for BC for twenty years. However it was found to be more cost effective to move the mill closer to the source of the logs rather than bring the logs to the mill.

When I was a child my family had an artificial silver Christmas tree, much bigger than this one. One year my father bought my mom a silver watch for Christmas then hid it on the tree. Of course just above her eye level. She almost tore the tree apart trying to find her present! My dad can be an oversized brat.


Back to history of 1901. W.H. Malkin Co. was founded at the address of 115 Water Street. In those days the water from Burrard Inlet came right up to the warehosue doors. A Malkin, William, was once mayor of Vancovuer and there are descendants to this day residing in the city.

This was at my dentist's office and I just thought is was so beautiful. Perhaps I will make something similiar for my place next year. Or not, depends how motivated I get.

1901 was the year that the City Hospital was incorporated under the name of the Vancouver General Hospital which it is still known by today.

Remember when I wrote on the Mountain View Cemetery and mentioned Sara Ann McLagan? It was 1901 when John McLagan, founded and editor of the Vancouver Daily World died. His widow, Sara Ann, then became the first woman publisher of a daily newspaper in Canada. (She was also managing editor, editorial writer, proof reader and occasional reporter.) 

The Province reported that in the year from June 1, 1900 to May 31, 1901 St. Paul's Hospital had admitted 561 patients, had discharged 506 of them, and still had 35 in beds. Some 25 patients had died, 11 of them within three days of entry. Catholics numbered 153, Protestants 383 and other religions 25. Males? 393. Females? 165. (The last two figures add up to 558, three short of the total. Hmm.) Fifty patients had been admitted with typhoid fever, and seven of them had died. The statistics go on for two long and detailed columns.

Have you ever noticed how many different Christmas trees are around/ There is the silver, artificial ones I showed earlier. My parents now use a ceramic tree.

My dentist's office had an upscale one.

And then there are the traditional trees.

Some say that the Christmas tree originated in the 16th century in Germany. Others say it is taken from a pagan Winter Solistice tradition. (According to some Christianity moved the date of Christ's birth from July to December so that it would coincide with pagan traditions. The Christians were having a difficult time converting some pagans and had to make adjustments to the religion. I don't know what is true and after all these centuries it doesn't really matter any more.)

In 1902, on March 29, Grand Master F.M. Young of the B.C. Grand Lodge of Masons laid the cornerstone for what was to become the Carnegie Center at Main and Hastings Streets. Mayor Thomas Neelands presided. It was originally called the Vancouver Free Library.

Doesn't this place remind you a large home from a period movie? It is one of the older homes on Victoria Drive, not far from where I live.

Are you aware of Clover Leaf Salmon? That is a product that has been around since 1889. The British Columbia Packers Association purchased 42 canneries in May of 1902 with Alexander Ewan as its first president.

On September 12, 1902 Charles Woodward incorporated Woodward's Department Store and three days later excavation began on the site at Hastings and Abbot Streets for the construction of a four storey emporium. It was there for many years and long time residents have fond memories of that store. The bankruptcy of Woodwards in 1993 saw the building empty out and stand vacant for many years. Finally in 2006 it was taken down and now it has found new life as a condo development with stores on the ground floor.

Even though the lot was 66 feet wide and 132 feet long it didn't cost Woodward that much. Eight feet below sidewalk level was a swamp which the city drained for Woodward.

Christmas decorations can be so much fun. They add that special touch to a home or business and help people get into the spirit of the season.

This will be my last entry for 2010. Next week I am going to try to focus on getting my novel finished - yes I am that close! But I wish all of you a very merry Christmas and may you be healthy and happy in 2011.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, Clover Leaf Salmon, Vancouver Free Library,Vancouver General HospitalCity Hospital,Carnegie Center,history,

Natural Facts

Remember when I said that it had snowed last week? Well today I am going to show you some photos of my city on that day. I'm also going to fill you in on some historical facts.

Right now I am going to review the year 1900.

Dantai, the recently incorporated  Japanese Fisherman's Benevolent Society had their first meeting at the Phoenix Cannery in Steveston on May 10.

On the issue of the Japanese on October 26 a Collector of Votes in Vancouver, Thomas Cunningham, refused to register any Japanese on the voters list even if they were naturalized citizens. Yet on November 1, less than a week later, Mrs. Shimizu hosted a ball at the Hotel Vancouver in honor of Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress of Japan.

On July 1 there was strike on the lower Fraser. Due partially to overfishing by the Americans (until 1934 fish traps were legal in Washington State) the salmon stock was greatly depleted. Hostilities arose between the White Fishermans Union and the Japanese fisherman who not only lived in cannery houses but depended on the canneries for food. The friction rose to a point where four hundred soldiers were brought in to protect the Japanese.

On June 9 John Oliver, a future premier, began his political career as an MLA for Delta.

On August 5 there was a letter to the editor posted in the Province newspaper. It read:

“There are few residents in the city and particularly in the West End who are not disturbed in their slumbers from 5 a.m. by the fearful and nerve-killing noises made by the crows. A vote should be taken as to whether the people want crows or not.” (I wonder what they intended to do about the crows?)

On May12 a ferry began regular trips between the south shore of Burrard Inlet and North Vancouver. After many successful trips North Vancouver No. 1 was retired and became a private residence, beached on a small island near Tofino.

September 5, 1900. A teacher's salary in Surrey was $60 to $100 a month. Lots by the river - between 10 and 13 acres - were being advertised for $105 a lot regardless of size. There was a partially cleared, 80-acre farm with an orchard and farmhouse advertised for $40 an acre.

The bells at Holy Rosary Church (it wasn't a cathedral yet) were blessed by a visiting papal delegate on October 21.

The Hudson's Bay Company opened a four storey emporium at the corner of Granville and Georgia on December 15, 1900. They have been there ever since.

December 30 Vancouver honored returning soldiers from the Boer War by holding a big civic parade.

Also in 1900:

The Canadian Pacific Railway financed a film to be made in Vancouver. They wanted it to be documentary to promote Canadian immigration to the west. But CPR didn't want any snow to be shown so it took two years to film.

Cannery owners united this year. They formed the Fraser River Salmon Canners Association in order to protect their interests against dissatisfied fishermen.

And this one is interesting. We all know that many Chinese were brought over to build the railroad. But in the early twentieth century Chinese men were often brought to Canada as 'indentured  laborers' by a 'Chinese boss'. These men would butcher and can the fish. Native and Japanese women would clean the fish and fill the cans while Japanese and European men would catch them. And there was a lot fish going through the canneries. About 57,600 pounds or 26,000 kilos a day. More than 200 cannery and fishery workers were need to process the 1,200 cases daily.

The Dewdney Trunk Road was built on the north shore of the Fraser.

In 1901 Vancouver reported a jump in populaton. In 1801 it was recorded as 13,709 and now the number was 29,000.

In January of that year CPR bought out Canadian Pacific Navigation Co.

I've mentioned this before when I covered the Carnegie Centre at Main and Hastings. On March 25, 1901 US steel magnate Andrew Carnegie granted Vancouver $50,000 to build a library. But only if Vancouver agreed to put in $5,000 a year and furnish a site. Since it is still standing there today you can guess that Vancouver agreed to the conditions and the library opened in October of 1903.

Someone had a bit of fun with the newspapers on November 19, 1901. First the San Francisco Call devoted its entire front page to announcing that they had uncovered a conspiracy. It was called the Klondike Revolution and apparently there was supposed to a plot to overthrow the Yukon government and establish a republic with Dawson City as its capital. The conspirators, backed by 5,000 miner waiting for a signal to overthrow the mounted police, were at Seattle, Victoria, Vancouver, Dawson and Skagway. The Province picked up the story and went to report that other San Francisco newspapers declared the story a hoax. I bet there was at least one reporter in trouble that day.

I didn't quite get the effect I was looking for here. The light just below the branches was making the leaves glow.

Have a great weekend where ever you are and I will talk with you on Monday.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, Andrew Carnegie, Mrs. Shimizu,Klondike Revolution,San Francisco Call,Province,history,