Chinatown

This is 524 Pender Street - in 1904 when this photo was taken by Philip Timms, there was no division of East and West Pender - of the manager of the Timms and Company Print Shop, George F. Timms and his son, Max.

Philip Timms took this 1907 photo of boarded up buildings in Chinatown after the race riots.

These last two photos, taken by Philip Timms, show businesses damaged during the race riots of 1907.

Today, I want to talk to you about Vancouver's Chinatown. Like most North American Chinatowns, ours was established and maintained by segregationist policies and racist attitudes among the local citizens and government. 

Chinese immigrants, like the European settlers, came to Canada looking for a better way of life. Often, they were given the lowest jobs for the poorest pay. The first wave of Chinese immigrants came over in the 1850s during the Fraser gold rush. However, CPR engineer, Andrew Onderdonk recruited between 8,000 and 17,000 Chinese workers between 1881 and 1885 in order to build the mountainous sections of the railway around Yale. This influx is what led to the formation of Vancouver's Chinatown.

These people worked for half the wages of the white labourers and often sent money home to China. Many of the Chinese were stranded in BC after the railway was completed. The CPR had no further use for them and took responsibility for the people they brought over. The Chinese settled in an area near Pender and Carrall Streets, which the called "Saltwater City". This 'city' soon reached the shores of False Creek.

Even though the Chinese helped build the railway that cemented Confederation, many of them dying in the process, they were not rewarded or welcomed. As we know, a 'head tax' was put on each new Chinese arrival, making it difficult for the male Chinese population here to bring over their wives and children.

W.M. Bruce took this photo on March 29, 1902 of the laying of the cornerstone for the Carnegie Centre.

The Metropole Hotel and Oaks Cafe on Abbott Street. Photo by Stuart Thomson, taken in 1925.

Looking east from near Carrall to Columbia in 1904. This section of what is now East Pender was called Dupont Street until 1907. The businesses and men are Chinese. Photo by Philip Timms.

In 1906, this is what the 400-500 blocks of Carrall Street looked like. From left to right - Methodist Chinese Mission, 445 Carrall St., Sam Kee & Co., 433 Carroll St.. Sun Sun Fine Tailoring, 429 Carrall St. Express horse - wagon. Philip Timms is listed as photographer.

By the dawn of the twentieth century, approximately 2,100 Chinese people lived in Chinatown. Most of them worked in their own small business since they were excluded from many occupations. The laws of the time prevented Chinese from voting and prompted many confrontations. Two noteworthy events include a riot in 1887 and a 1907 rampage. In 1907, members of the Asiatic Exclusion League marched on Chinatown, looting and destroying property. 

The federal government got into the fray in 1923 with the Exclusion Act, which effectively prevented Chinese immigration. It took 25 years for the act to be repealed. During this time, the population of Chinatown dwindled. The old died or moved out of the area. It was the bravery of Chinese-Canadian soldiers in World War II that forced the Feds to repeal the act and give Chinese-Canadians the vote. Wives and children, newly arrived, settled in Chinatown and Strathcona. 

Chinatown was threatened in the 1960s when the city's freeway plans might have demolished both neighbourhoods. Fortunately, residents' protests not only stopped the roadway but also prompted a greater appreciation of this part of the city's heritage.

Philip Timms caught this photo in 1904. This is Looking west from Columbia to Carrall on E. Pender St. (Dupont until 1907). Chinese men are on the street along with several wagons and a dog. In the background is the Central School (centre). 

In 1926, Stuart Thomson took this photo of the Chinese Branch of the Royal Bank.

The Bailey Bros took this 1887 photo looking east on Dupont Street (now Pender)

October 25, 192. Stuart Tomson photographed the funeral procession for David C. Lew

In 1971, Chinatown was designated a historic district and in 1979, a streetscape improvement program emphasized the architecture and ambience of the area. Vancouver's Chinatown is Canada's largest and home to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Garden, the Chinese Cultural Centre, unique buildings (You've seen many of them in past entries of the Vancouver Vagabond) and many small businesses.

Given the time and history of when many of Vancouver's streets were named, it isn't surprising that few streets are named after the Chinese population. There are over 770 streets in Vancouver and only Chinatown's Canton Alley, which disappeared in 1954 and Shanghai Alley refer to this ethnic group who did so much for the growth of this city and country.

Andrew Onderdonk is the only CPR official not have anything named after him - that was at his insistence.

A 1917 photo of the Sam Kee building, a truly unique building. The photo was taken by the Dominion Photo Co on September 20. If you want to know why this building is unique, see this entry

October 1921, photo taken of the Union Station by the Dominion Photo Co. It is still there today but has been renamed. Read about here.

 November 19, 1921, the Dominion Photo Co took this picture of the Ceperley, Rounsefell and Company building. It is at 739 West Hastings Street.

July 1927 and the Province newspaper building is decorated for Dominion Day. Photo by Dominion Photo Co.

I want to thank the book, Namely Vancouver by Tom Snyders and Jennifer O'Rourke for the above information and the Vancouver Public Library for the photos.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

The Dominion Photo Co took this January 5, 1928 photo of the Yet Sang Company.

The Dominion Photo Co took this photo of Shanghai Alley on February 14, 1944.

Chinatown - East Pender Street looking West towards Carrall in 1912 as captured by the Dominion Photo Co.

Philip Timms snapped this shot looking east on the 100 block of East Hastings on the north side.

Chang Toy

Today I am going to tell you about one of the men responsible for the building of Vancouver- Chang Toy.

Born in Guangdong province in southern China in 1857, Chang Toy's father died when Toy was three. This didn't stop Chang Toy from going to school though. He was married as a child - so that his mother could have a servant.

In 1874, Chang came to Canada. Initially, he lived in Victoria before moving to New Westminster where he worked at a sawmill. In 1876, Toy moved to Granville and bought a share in a laundry. He then added a small grocery business and started labour contracting other Hakka speaking Chinese workers.

As the years passed, Chang Toy got involved in more businesses such as charcoal burning, an import and export business, steamship ticket sales and real estate. Originally, the goods were shipped from a more established Victoria merchant, the Wing Chong Company to Chang's business, the Sam Kee Company. Funny thing is that Sam Kee appears to be a totally made up name.

Chang Toy. Photo courtesy of the City of Vancouver archives.

After the Great Fire of 1886, Chang Toy moved to Steveston. But by 1888, he was back in the newly named Vancouver. Retail sales rose steadily and the company also acted as a wholesaler - bringing in goods from Hong Kong then shipping them to other parts of B.C. 

In the early 1900s, Sam Kee's store was on the south side of Pender backing onto a much larger False Creek. Sam Kee was also a clearing house for Chinese sending money back to China. By 1908, trade in things such as rice had grown hugely. Chinese sourced rice was shipped mainly to major Vancouver wholesalers like Kelly-Douglas and W H Malkin. On the export side, Hong Kong and later Shanghai had a market for salted fish.

As that trade expanded, Sam Kee made complex relationships with Japanese fishing concerns. When the sources of fish declined, the company made connections in Nanaimo. Sam Kee added a wharf, fish tanks and a saltery. Then Chang Toy's company turned around and leased the area to Japanese companies who supplied the fish Sam Kee exported. 

The different traders in Chinatown were rivals but they worked together when needed. In 1893, Alexander Cumyow and Chang Toy pooled their resources to buy property, which they then leased to Wing Sang and other merchants before selling two years later.

I want to thank the website Building Vancouver for the information on Chang Toy. I will tell you more about him on Wednesday.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

Artwork in the City

Today I went on a mission. I decided that it was time to show all my readers the building artwork in this city.

Some murals are there to educate. Such as this one:

This side of the building shows some of the history of the North Strathcona area with the painting and facts. I made sure to copy down some information. Of course my little digital camera wasn't able to get the entire wall.

These three were in a panel in Chinatown. To me it represents a bit of their culture. Actually when I saw someone working on it yesterday it gave me the idea to do a blog entry on murals around the city.

It was hot out today and I was getting quite tired so I headed back to my stomping grounds -Commercial Drive -and there is wealth of artwork. Just take a look.

And then there is the one that really makes you stop and look. It is located at Venables and Commercial Drive.

These murals are a great way to brighten buildings, make a business unique and give local artists an outlet for their talent. There are also paintings on the sidewalk of the Drive. I marvel at the talent and patience that goes into creating each one of these.

Hope your weekend was great and you find the beauty around you.


TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, mural,
artwork,North Strathcona,Chinatown,Walk,Commerial Drive,

Religious Harmony

A relatively short walk from my place - okay some may not think it is a short walk but it is for me - is a section of the city where cultures are blending.

Chinatown is a blend of the past and the present, of different Asian cultures and of the North American society in which it resides. Of course we have the shopping - foods and smells that can be alien to many of us - and the languages spoken can be harsh to the unaccustomed ear. It can be an exciting and tiring place.

On one street I saw this Cathedral for Korean worshippers. Reminds me of a Catholic structure - sturdy, ornate, majestic.

Then I went up another street and there was a Buddhist temple with the door wide open.

I tiptoed in and asked an eldery man if I could take a photo. He spoke to a monk and I was granted permission to do so. But before I could move any further I had to take off my shoes. And it was more than worth it to be able to get close to the display.

Don't you agree that is quite the display? Gorgeous. And there was such a feeling of calm and peace in that small building. And silence. It was a nice break from my walk.

When I left I thought about the first church and mentally compared it to this one. Two different religions, two different presentations of their faith yet they exist with only a street or two between them. That is one of the freedoms that immigrants to this country have come to expect. And that all citizens deserve.

I will be writing on this area again. There is a wealth of photo opportunities, history and information in that area so I will be writing on it again.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, Buddhist Temple,
Korean,history,Chinatown,Walk,