Strange Stories and Broadway

These are 630 and 636 East Broadway. Both homes were  built in 1908.

The first resident in 630 was Robert Welsh's widow Christina. A mariner by the name of Robert C. Melon occupied 636 first.

I am going to tell you more strange and wonderful stories about Vancouver and just to give credit where credit is due I am getting this information from The History of Metropolitan Vancouver website. The info on the buildings is from Bob_2006's Photostream on Flickr.

The current address of this building is 163 West Broadway but when it was built in 1907 it was 143 Ninth Avenue.

If you have ever been in Stanley Park you may have noticed the numerous grey squirrels running around. All of those furry little creatures are descendants of eight pairs of squirrels brought from New York City in 1909.

A Leslie W. Richmond is the first resident listed for this address and that record appears for 1908. Richmond worked as a clothier at the Belfast Clothing Store at 42 West Cordova Street.

A young English actor by the name of William Pratt stopped for awhile in Vancouver in 1910. Pratt worked as a carpenter on what was to become the PNE before going onto Hollywood where he became known as Boris Karloff.

Two years later an English revue company by the name of Karno's Comedians performed in Vancouver. Among the cast were  Charlie Chaplin and Stan Laurel.

In 1910 there was a neighbourhood formed in Vancouver that got its name from the Interurban train stop there, Cedar Cottage\. The stop was named for the Cedar Cottage Brewery.

There were a group of Vancouver businessmen who wanted to build a dam across the Second Narrows. The dam would have been 15-metres high. The only problem with that was that it would have flooded Port Moody and, naturally, the residents of that town protested. Successfully too since there is no dam and Port Moody still exists.

Marie Lloyd was an English music hall performer who wanted to visit Vancouver in 1914 but the mayor banned her from appearing. The disgraceful performer actually had the gall to raise her floor length gown two inches to show her ankles during her performance. How dare she!

I hope you find the beauty around you.

Karen Magill, Vancouver, Boris Karloff, Charlie Chapliin, William Pratt, Broadway, British Columbia

Seat of Power

If you walk west along Broadway then go south on Cambie you will come to this magestic building.

Here is where matters pertaining to the city of Vancouver are decided. (I mean Vancouver BC of course not Vancouver Washington) The grounds that lead from these stairs to the ones pictured above are pristine and lush with tall, full trees, benches to sit on and even a garden that has been allowed to retain some of its natural wildness.

The West 12 Avenue entrance has a garden area that is a bit more manicured.

Once you climb the long, imposing set of stairs you are greeted by an eight foot statue of Captain George Vancouver.

On April 29, 1792 Captain George Vancouver's two ships entered the Strait of Juan de Fuca between Vancouver Island and Washington State. Vancouver was the first European to enter the Burrard Inlet. He named it after a friend, Sir Harry Burrard who happened to be another British Officer in the Royal Navy. Vancouver spent the next three weeks surveying the area.

This city hall was built in 1936. From 1929 to 1936 City Hall was in the Holden Building, a 1911 structure that has been restored. Before that the city's mayor and council had an office from 1897 to 1929 in a building that was a southern neighbour to the Carnegie Library. That city hall is no longer standing.

On January 3, 1936 construction began on this current city hall and it was finished by December 1 of that same year. Eight days after the building's completion a new mayor, George Clark Miller, was elected. So he took office in the new building on January 2, 1937. But the city didn't forget Mayor Gerry McGeer who laid the first cornerstones to this building at the beginning. A plaque is showcased inside as well as a bust by the West 12 Avenue entrance

The interior designers at City Hall haven't forgotten the past either. Being a writer I was very interested in what I found on the second floor:

At least I think I was on the second floor.

This is a beautiful building that has had a few additions since its initial creation and one that fits the city that Vancouver has become since its incorporation in 1886. Not only did we host the 2010 Winter Olympics and 2010 Winter Paralympic Games with style, humour and grace - in 2006 we were listed as the third largest city in Canada. And, the icing on the cake, Vancouver has been ranked highly numerous times as a world wide 'livable city'.

One of the reasons that may be is that Vancouver seems to do a lot of building and creating. While walking along Broadway I happened to see this:

I was informed that this is some sort of pump. I don't care really I just think it looks graceful. And it is useful too.

Or perhaps the reason is the charming treasures found along the roadsides.

It could also be some of the people you meet as well. This is Jaime who I started talking with while waiting for a light to change. Very friendly, very open man with a positive spirit. He's also a blogger and I hope to be exchanging links with him soon.

Whatever the reason I find this a very livable city that I love.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, Captain George Vancouer, City Hall,Carnegie Library,2010 Winter Olympics,Walk,livable city,Strait of Juan de Fuca

Hub of Activity

Today was the first of my monthly grocery shopping trips. To do this I walk a mile and half south on Commercial Drive to Safeway located at Broadway and Commercial.

What a busy intersection! There are two commuter stations, numerous small coffee shops, a couple of clinics, banks, drug stores and, of course, fast food establishments. Not only can a person catch a commuter train to other parts of the city and the outskirts but there are also connections to different bus routes. This is one busy corner of the city.

As I was walking along Commercial Drive I came across another one of those plaques I was telling you of that speak of the history of the area. This person was remembering the Drive in 1948, a time when it wouldn't be strange to hear the clip clop of horses' hooves on the cobblestone streets as the animals pulled milk trucks for daily milk deliveries or the rag man's wagon.

Perhaps it was a scene somewhat like this one?

This person also remembered going to the movies at the Grandview Theatre near First Street and Commercial Drive. That is now the location of The El Sureno Market and I didn't find much information about the theatre.

I did manage to find out a little on the Rio Theatre on Broadway, just up from the hub of Broadway and Commercial.

This theatre was originally opened in 1938 and has, of course, gone through many changes and updates since then. Not only does the RIO hold midnight screenings of cult films and show current releases- the majestic theatre also holds special events such as CD release parties, live theatre and even hosted the Canadian Porn Awards. I think I have even seen a mother's event. There were a lot of ladies with strollers lined up to get in. Through the magic of Facebook and other social media the RIO theatre is once again making a name for itself.

After I did my shopping I started to walk home along Victoria Drive, my mind still thinking about the plaque about Commercial Drive in 1948. I started to pass one of my favorite homes in this area:

I couldn't find any information on this house although the gentleman sitting on the stoop informed me that an elderly neighbour of theirs had told him that it was once a home for the elderly. The Rosealee Manor?It is now a family home and this man and his father are working on fixing it up. It is divided into eight suites but if it were once a single family home I wonder what the inside would have looked like then. I'll have to keep my ears open and see if anything turns up in my further research.

Isn't it just gorgeous?

That's all for now. Tomorrow is the second part of my end of the month ritual. I'll see you then and I hope you find the beauty around you.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, Broadway,
Rosealee Manor,Safeway,Rio Theatre,Walk,1948,