A Lifeguard Remembered

Constructed in 1928 by Dominion Construction, the Queen Charlotte Apartments is a fine example of Colonial Spanish Revival style.

With its mission shaped roof parapets, tile roofs cantilevered from the wall surface, recessed balconies and multi paned wood frame windows this well known West End landmark can't be missed. The building is symmetrical in its massing and has a two storey entrance way that is quite elaborate.

There are also some noteworthy features inside. Wooden mouldings, doors, floor and a banister compliment the decorative tile work and metal light fittings. There is even the original birdcage elevator. In 1981 the Queen Charlotte Apartments became a strata corporation and the building consists of 25 units.

As you walk along Beach Avenue you will come to Alexandra Park and a fountain marks the entrance.

This is a tribute to Vancouver's first lifeguard, Seraphim Joe Fortes. Fortes was a sailor originally from Barbados then later Liverpool who was also a competitive swimmer. He arrived in Vancouver in 1885 and worked as a labourer and bartender in Gastown. He had a cottage on English Bay and acted as an unofficial bodyguard as well as teaching numerous children how to swim.

The inscription says: 'This fountain erected by the citizens and children, co-operating with the Kiwanis Club of Vancouver, commemorates the life and deeds of 'Joe' Fortes. For many years guardian of this beach.

-Little Children Loved Him-

A.D. 1927

Fortes died in 1922 and there was a record breaking funeral procession which was unusual since Fortes was one of Vancouver's few black citizens.

Our city has honoured Fortes in many ways such as with this monument, a library and a branch of the Vancouver Public Library. In 1985, one hundred years after he arrived in Vancouver, a downtown restaurant opened that was named after him. It is the year 2011 and it is still there.

This is Joe Fortes on a mural on Beatty Street.

This is the Alexandra Park Bandstand. Or at least that is what it used to be called. The Queen Anne style architecture is characterized by its light and airy wooden structure, cantilevered floor, curved brackets, hipped roof and ornate fretwork.

The Vancouver Park Board, with financial assistance from Haywood Securities, Amon Industries and the BC Heritage Trust, restored this 1914 beauty. It is now called the Haywood Bandstand.

I hope you find the beauty around you. (I forgot that on Monday's post but know that I always want you to find these things.)

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, Joe Fortes, Dominion Construction,Haywood Securities,Vancouver Park Board,History,BC Heritage Trust,Library,Joe Fortes Restaurant,

Laughter and Sylvia

Yesterday was the first day of spring and blossoms abound in certain areas of the city - primarily the West End though the yellow bush was taken under the Granville Street Bridge.

This grand old building is at the corner of Beach Avenue and Gilford Street. The Sylvia Hotel was built in 1912 by  Booker, Campbell and Whipple Construction Company and designed by Seattle architect W.P.White. The original owner, Mr. Goldstein, named the building for his daughter Sylvia.

Originally this landmark building was known as the Sylvia Court Apartments but during the depression the building and its residents fell on hard times and in 1936 it became an apartment hotel.

During World War II many of the suites were converted to rooms to provide accomodations for the crew of the merchant marine.

The terracotta extension is softened by the Virginia Creeper that now covers the Gilford Street side of the building.

It is a lot easier to see the foliage on the walls when there are leaves and greenery. But it is still too early in the season for that.

In 1954 Vancouver's first cocktail bar opened at the Sylvia Hotel and until 1958 the Sylvia was the tallest building in the West End. In fact the hotel restaurant's slogan was 'Dine in the Sky'.

'Mr. Got to Go' is a famous Sylvia Hotel cat that has inspired two children's books. Written by Lois Simmie and illustrated by Cynthia Nugent these charming tales tell of a stray cat who arrives at the hotel one day and ends up taking over. American folk singer-songwriter Cheryl Wheeler also mentions a cat in a song she wrote about the hotel. Wonder if it is the same one?

And what about the person the building was named after? Sylvia Ablowitz grew up in the West End and often swam in English Bay. She even won a race between the bay and Kitsilano Beach.
After graduating from the University of British Columbia, Sylvia moved with her family to Los Angeles where she worked for a labour union. She returned to Vancouver in 1928 where she met her husband Harry Ablowitz when she attracted his attention by diving into False Creek from a boat carrying Jewish singles on a cruise.

Sylvia and her husband founded a reality company and settled in North Vancouver. The couple were devoted to helping Jewish seniors and kept involved with Jewish community groups. They helped set up a rest home and hospital that have now been in operation for nearly sixty years. In her 90s Sylvia volunteered for a telephone home-check program that assisted other Jewish seniors. In 2002 Sylvia died at the UBC Hospital at the age of 102.

These interesting figures are a patinated bronze art display at the corner of Davie Street and Beach Avenue. It is called A-MAZE-ING LAUGHTER and was created by the Chinese artist Yue Minjun. He modeled the joyous face after his own face in a state of hysterical laughter. Doesn't it make you feel good just to look at them?

Before I go I would like to wish the most important woman in my life a belated happy birthday. I hope you have many more Mommy.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, A-MAZE-ING LAUGHTER, Harry Ablowitz,Sylvia Albowitz,Yue Minjun,History,Lois Simmie,Cynthia Nugent,W.P. White,

Rand and Fire

This is the Rand House which was built in 1896. It was actually built for Henry Town who was an Englishman who is reported to have made his fortune in South Africa's 1870s Diamond Rush.

So you may now be thinking why is this called the Rand House when it was built for a man named Town? Well you see Town had a sister named Laura and she married W.J. Edward E. Rand. Rand came from Canning Nova Scotia to New Westminster in 1882 to join his brother who had moved to BC a few years earlier.

The brothers got together and formed the real estate company the Rand Brothers. In 1885 Rand moved to the city of Granville - which was incorporated as Vancouver the next year - and recognized that there was a great future in store for this city and the province of British Columbia.

The Rand Brothers operated a highly successful real estate company until 1897 when Edward bought out his brother's interest in the company. The company is now one of the oldest continually conducted under one name in Vancouver. It is now Rand & Fowler Insurance.

Not too far from the Rand House, on Nicola Street this time, is the Number 6 Firehall.

Built in 1907 by architect Arthur J. Bird this is said to be the first firehouse built in North America that was capable of accomodating motor vehicles. Bird was looking ahead because until 1908, horse drawn units were still used.

Bird was the City Architect and he was also responsible for the addition on the south side.

Interesting lawn decorations on the Nicola Street entrance.

In 1988 Henry Hawthorn Architects rehabilitated the building so that it could continue to serve the community with grace and beauty.

It's funny. When I took this photo I never noticed the horseshoe at the top of the door!

I did however take the time to notice this plaque.

I made certain to get a photo of this and post it here to remind us that the job of a firefighter is not an easy one nor is it guaranteed to be safe. Whenever a fire breaks out we expect these men and women to come to our rescue and to save our possessions and maybe even our lives. To any fire fighter who is reading this I would like to say thank you.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, Arthur J. Bird, Rand House,No.6 Firehall,Henry Town,History,W.J. Edward E. Rand,Rand & Fowler Insurance,Henry Hawthorn Architects,