On June 8, 1931 the Royal Bank of Canada opened what was then its main branch at Granville and Hastings. The main banking hall of the building is still considered to be one of Vancouver's great rooms.
The next day Dugald Campbell Patterson, a Burnaby pioneer, died. The family home - aptly named Patterson House - is a heritage home in Burnaby.
On July 3 of that year Canada's first baseball game that was played under lights took place at Athletic Park.
July 12, 1931 White Rock's Crescent Hotel was selling fresh crab salad for fifty cents.
The Vancouver Airport and Seaplane Harbour was opened by Premier Simon Fraser Tomlie on July 22. It was a four day celebration with 55,000 people showing up. The complex covered an area of 192 hectares (474 acres).
(A little note: Jack Kendrik worked as a commissionaire for the airport in the 1990s. He was born on the day it opened!)
On August 2 there was a 'Communist demonstration' near the Cambie Street Grounds. At least that's what the Province newspaper called it.
Also on the 2 and from the Province there was a statement that 'One person in every 300 in British Columbia is insane'. Interesting wouldn't you say?
It was perfect weather on August 15, 1931 when Canada's largest salt-water swimming pool opened it Kitsilano. The pool measured 200 by 60 metres [660 x 200 feet] and cost $50,000 to build.
For you sports fans. On August 28 former heavyweight boxing champ Jack Dempsey fought three men in two-round exhibitions at the old Vancouver arena located at Georgia and Denman. Dempsey was on his comeback tour. One of them that is.
On October 5 the Vancouver Art Gallery opened in a 1911 art deco building a few blocks west of its current location. Sculptor Charles Marega created large busts of Michelangelo and DaVinci to flank the entrance, and a frieze of medallions showing famous artists.
When the gallery moved to its present location and the building was demolished the busts and medallions ended up in the dump! Fortunately word got out and the fine pieces were rescued. The busts are with a private collector and the medallions are in gallery storage.
On October 10 West Vancouver sold 4,000 acres to a syndicate called British Properties for about $18.75 an acre for a total of $75,000. And just an interesting note. British Properties was financed by Guinness Brewing money.
Also in October of 1931 a plebiscite in North Vancouver approved the sale of beer by the glass.
On Monday's blog where I spoke of the engine in the sports car I said the original was a Country Climax engine. That was an error. It was a Coventry Climax engine. Thanks Dave for the correction.
I hope you find the beauty around you.
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