Vancouver Voyager: 1933

Here's something I haven't done in a while. I am going to post pictures of artwork and nature and other things I found interesting and tell you about 1933 in Vancouver.

On either January 21 or 27 Blackburn's Farmer's Market opened at the corner of Seymour and Robson Streets. The market had over forty stalls.

On March 12 Phillip Owen was born in Vancouver. Owen was to become our 42nd mayor in November of 1993. He held the office until 2001 when Larry Campbell took over.

On April 24 the first issue of the Vancouver News-Herald hit the stands. And they had competition. The Province had a circulation of 90,265 while the Sun had between 60,000 and 70,000. The News-Herald started with 10,000 and peaked at 40,000. The paper would last until 1957.

But the News-Herald had some notable contributors. 21-year-old Pierre Burton was the first city editor. Other news people included Barry Broadfoot, Himie Koshevoy and Clancy Loranger to name but a few.

On September 20, 1954 the paper shortened its name to the Herald and moved to a new larger, building on Georgia Street. It was purchased by magnate Roy Thomson and in less than three years, Thomson shut it down because it was too expensive. The last issue was on June 15, 1957.

May 29, 1933 was the day that Vancouver boxer, Jimmy McLarnin, won the world welterweight championship by kayoing Young Corbett.

On June 9 Vancouver City council voted to allow men to go topless on city beaches. (scandalous! I wonder how they would feel if they saw Wreck Beach - our local clothing optional beach.)

On May 30 a publication called the Unemployment and Relief, City of Vancouver had this note regarding 1933 shopping in Vancouver: "Vancouver offers the greatest inducement to the family working-man . . . the cost of living there being the lowest among eight of the chief cities of Canada for which complete data is available. For slightly less than $15 a week the working-man with a family of five can pay rent for a six-roomed house with modern conveniences, fuel and food bills . . .” Sure can't say that today! The cost of living here has skyrocketed.

On June 13, 1933, Major James Skitt Matthews began the Vancouver City Archives. Unofficially June 13 is known to some as Vancouver Day due to the important events that have happened on that day. On June 13, 1792 Captain George Vancouver explored and named Burrard Inlet. On June 13, 1859 a seam of coal was found in Coal Harbour. And on June 13, 1886 an out of control fire destroyed the city.

It is astounding the things I see sometimes! I guess some one was remodelling a home and didn't know where to put this. Or maybe it was new and waiting to be installed?

1933. The Great Depression is still on and on July3 police were called out to Burnaby. A sheriff was executing an order to evict a family from their house in the 4200 block of Eton Street and 100 unemployed civilians were 'interfering' with him carrying out his duties.

I watch court television a lot and so many people are saying that they can't pay their bills because the economy is bad. It is an excuse for almost everything. Yes it is difficult but I read stories of how it was in the thirties and shake my head at people today. Now times are hard if a person can't afford to have more than one cell phone; or has to limit the television channels they have; or can only afford one vehicle. Hard times then meant losing your home and living on the streets; it meant standing in line for hours to try to get some food; it meant having the man of the family often leave the home to travel and look for work. Not that there was any work to find and he would be gone for months. Some didn't return. I guess depends on perception.