Gastown Grows Up

During the late 1870s and early 1880s, Burrard Inlet would see as many as 40 ships at one time loading or waiting to load timber. The logs were bound for places like Australia, California, China, South America, Mexico, the Hawaiian Islands, South Africa, Great Britain and Western Europe.

The population of Gastown grew but only as much as was needed. This little settlement didn't attract the speculators and minor capitalists who had been coming to BC since 1871 in anticipation of the railway.

There are events happening in Gastown during this time, which are interesting. In 1875, Gastown was re-surveyed by John Jane. Jane recommended the graveyard be transferred from Deadman's Island (now HMS Discovery) to Brockton Point.

Lots 14 and 16 in Block 6, near the Northwest corner of Abbott and Water Streets, were granted by the provincial government to William Pollard. Pollard transferred the land to a board of trustees to hold on behalf of the Methodist Church. The trustees were four Anglicans, two Methodists and one Presbyterian. The 16 by 30 foot church was built by volunteer white and Indian labour and completed in 1876 - known as the Indian Church.

Also in 175, a road was started to connect Gastown and Hastings, which was completed in 1877. The timber exports for the inlet for the year was 29 million board feet. During 1877, Morton, Brighouse and Hailstone divided the Brickmakers' Claim, Brighouse taking the eastern third abutting on Burrard Street, Hailstone the centre section and Morton that adjoining Stanley Park.

In 1879, Van Bramer replaced the Sea Foam with a new inlet ferry, the Senator - 51 feet, 6 inches long, 12 feet in the beam and 4 feet 6 inches draught.

The town's second church, Anglican St. James, was built on mill property and completed in 1880. It was dedicated by Bishop Sillitoe on May 15 and its rector was Reverend George Ditcham.

The following year, a two-plank-wide sidewaldk was laid by the chain gang. It ran from Gastown along Hastings road, past the church to the mill. (In 1915, Vancouver was still building these types of sidewalks.)

In the fall of 1881  Joseph Spratt of Victoria established a herring saltery and fish-oil plant on the south side of Coal Harbour.

Thanks to the book Vancouver, From Milltown to Metropolis by Alan Morley for the above information.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

The Visiting Dufferins

Gastown was not happy with the CPR deciding that Burrard Inlet would be the western terminus because in agreements and to everyone, the Burrard Inlet meant Port Moody across the water. Gastown was notable for not getting politically involved, for not saying anything and literally sawing wood.

In September of 1869, Governor Musgrave was deeply impressed by the commercial activity he saw in this part of the colony. When Lord and Lady Dufferin visited Gastown on September 14, 1876, the governor-general made a similar observation. He also commented on "the floating wooden dangers which carpet the sea" in the Inlet.

This was a great day for Gastown. The vice-regal party arrived in the morning on HMS Amethyst and were greeted by a crowd of 200 on Hastings Mill wharf and a 21-shotgun salute to which the Amethyst dipped her flag. Captain Raymur, supported by the government agent Ike Johns, presented the address of welcome. A huge log was sawed in the mill as the party watched. Lady Dufferin scandalized Captain Raymur when she insisted on visiting a small Indian rancherie just east of the mill. There she patted the heads of grubby children and talked to an aged Indian woman.

After lunch on the Amethyst, the party transferred to the SS Governor Douglas, brought from New Westminster for the occasion. Between Gastown and Hastings, the ship landed and the party watched two loggers fell a giant tree - six feet in diameter in the butt and 200 feet tall. The officials were thoroughly impressed especially when they saw the loggers leaping from their high springboards as the tree began to fall. Lady Dufferin remarked they were brave men and the governor-general shook their hands.

The party re-embarked for Hastings and the steamer departed with such swiftness Captain Raymur boarded her with an agile leap.

Maxie Michaud extended the welcome to the crowd at the stage terminal. Just before the visitors departed for the Royal City, Lord Dufferin said it had been a memorable day.

"For Burrard Inlet," loyally insisted Captain Raymur.

Thanks to the book, Vancouver, From Milltown to Metropolis by Alan Morley for the above information.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

The Welsh Come to Vancouver

This week I want to tell you about another man who was instrumental in building Vancouver - Jonathan Rogers.

I have mentioned Rogers before in a post earlier this year, he was the first person to step off the first passenger train, which pulled into the new city of Vancouver. I wonder if the young Welshman had any idea how connected to Vancouver he would become.

Jonathan Rogers was born at Plas-Onn, near Llangollen in Denbighshire, North Wales. He grew up speaking only Welsh and at the age of 16, moved to Liverpool where he worked at various jobs and perfected his English.

Jonathan Rogers. Photo from the City of Vancouver Archives.

Roger's aunt left him a legacy and he chose to make a start in the new world. So in 1887, Jonathan sailed for Montreal and boarded the first transcontinental train for Vancouver.

 Not long after he arrived, Rogers attended the first public auction of parcels of CPR land within the new city. Jonathan bought four lots in which are now downtown though at the time that land was outside the area. He went to work as a painter and later became a construction contractor.

As you can well imagine, there was massive speculation with the formation of a new city. Especially one with all the promise and benefits that Vancouver has. That speculation was soon halted though when the economic realities of building a city were realized and then combined with the collapse of lumber prices south of the border. A depression had hit the area.

Many people were leaving the city in search of better prospects. But Rogers was smart. He held onto his lands. In 1893, he partnered with the Hunter Brothers (James and Thomas) to build a 2-storey building on Columbia street, near Powell. Rogers wasn't giving on the new city.

In fact, in 1894, Jonathan announced that not only was he not leaving Vancouver, he was building another building on Hastings Street. the first half of the building was designed by William Blackmore, who used it for his own offices after the building was completed. But I will tell you more about that on Wednesday. Including why Rogers would be very unhappy with what the building is used for today!

I am getting this information from the Building Vancouver blog.

I hope you find the beauty around you.