More Memories from the Mural

There are a few more photos inspired by the mural at Campbell and Hastings Streets. So I will show you those and fill you in on more information.

This is the Twambly House and is an example of Vancouver's Victorian Stick Style homes.

The Marr Hotel was originally called the Stanley Hotel until 1898. It is now a low income residence.

In the basement of this establishment are the remnants of the stables used by the city constabulary.

Gore Avenue was originally a skid road on which oxen pulled the timber to the mill.

Now I walk down East Pender in Chinatown and don't think much about it. It is a street with lots of streets on either side. However at one time that was mostly water, namely False Creek. False Creek's original easternmost bank ended at what is now Clark Drive. In 1912 the railway began to drain the creek and fill it in to make new land for yards and terminals for the Great Northern Railway and the Canadian Northern Pacific Railway.

The creek was named by George Henry Richards during a survey in 1856-63.

This building has always interested me and although I took photos of it last year I didn't find any information on it. But the mural has solved that problem.

This building appears to have been built in two stages - the rear portions doorway is below lane level which suggests that that part of the building was built pre 1914 whereas the front was built in 1928.

And just down the street is the Rice Building.

It was built in 1912.

This warehouse and adjacent office building may have been built in 1905. Its owners have included Vancouver Vinegar &  Pickle (1916), Asahi Rice Company, Snowden Importers (1920), Royal Mattress Co. (1927), and Northwest Sack Company (1932).

At one time the railway tracks ran directly behind the building. This made it easy to load goods straight from the warehouse to the train.

This is 787 East Cordova, at one time the home to the Strathcona Business Improvement Assn. and sponsor of the mural.

And Strathcona got its name for Donald Smith, Lord Stathcona and former Hudson's Bay Company governor. He was also one of the founders of the CPR.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

Karen Magill, Hastings Dance, Vancouver,Strathcona Business Improvement Assn.,Donald Smith,Asahi Rice Co.,History,CPR

In the Line of Duty

Around the city are these mosiacs that have been created to mark a time in history. This one is in remembrance of the Anti Asian riots in 1907. The riots started in Bellingham when a movement was started to drive Punjabi Sikhs out of the lumber industry. White supremacist marched on Vancouver's city hall to demand a white canada. From there things escalated and many rioters proceeded to attack those in Chinatown. When the group got to Japantown they were met with resistance as the Japanese, having heard about what was happening in Chinatown, armed themselves. A dark day in our history to be sure.

Here we have one of fish. Interesting, I don't know what it stands for but it is a pleasure to look at.

This one is more serious.

On March 20, 1917 a landlord attemped to collect four months back rent from one of his tenants - drug addicts Robert Tait and his prositute girlfriend Frankie Russell. Tait answered the door with a shotgun and threatened to blow the landlord's head off. So the landlord called the police.

One detecive and three constables arrived on the scene and attempted to talk with Tait. Tait fired the shotgun through a glass window at the police, permanently blinding the landlord and one of the officers as well as hitting another in the face. The police retreated to the street, flagging down a passing motorist to take the injured men to the hospital. Tait continued firing wildly into the street and fatally wounded an eight year old boy who was going to buy candy.

Chief Constable Maclennan was attending his son's tenth birthday when he was called to the scene. Maclennan was an officer ahead of his times. He fought for better working conditions for his men who at that time worked seven days a week without any time off. He lobbied to treat to build treatment centers for those addicted to drugs. He was also the type of leader who wouldn't ask any of his men to do something he wasn't willing to do.

Maclennan made the decision to storm the building and armed only with a heavy axe to break the door down he led his men.Tait had barricaded himself in a bedroom and was well armed. The police emptied their revolvers then retreated to reload. Once outside they realized Maclennan was not with them. The officers attempted to go back in and rescue their leader but gunfire made that impossible. A second attempt was made and this time they managed to pull his body out. Chief Constable Malcolm Maclennan was dead due to a gunshot wound to the head.

A single shot was heard then everything was quiet. Twenty minutes later Russell surrendered to the police after they threatened to dynamite the house. When the police entered the apartment they found Tait dead by a self inflicted wound.

The mosaic above is at the corner of East Georgia and Jackson in Strathcona, near where the incident happened.

This impressive building was in 1910 in anticipation of a new Harris Street streetcar line. (In 1915 Harris Street was renamed East Georgia) Can you see the detail on the last, smaller picture that is there? The Maclennan street mosiac is at this corner.

This building is from 1920. It was once home to many Jewish families. It was here at a Passover seder at her family's home that Mary Livingston met a vaudeville performer by the name of Benny Kubelsky. You would probably know him better by the name of Jack Benny.

While I was across the street taking photos I  noticed that one apartment had a visitor.

That's all for today but I will back tomorrow.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, Malcolm Maclennan, Robert Tait,Frankie Russell,East Georgia,walk,history,

Reading, Writing and Arthmetic

That time of year is coming up. Gone will be the days of summer, of swimming and playing in the outdoors. Soon the kiddies will be off to school, to learn and grow.

So let's take a look at some of the schools around the area.

It is fitting that I start with this school - Lord Strathcona Elementary - for it is the oldest in Vancouver. Despite the sign that says 1921, this school was actually first established in 1891. Although I have heard negative reports about this school lately, I know of a few great people who went here.

Donald Alexander Smith was 1st baron Strathcona and not only worked for the Hudson's Bay Company but also amassed a great fortune through investments in banking, land and railways. In 1886 he was knighted and raised to peerage. But that is not what makes him great. He was also a philanthropist. He used his fortune and influence to advance many causes including education.

Here is the Seymour School. Although the post is in the way you may be able to see that the date on the building is 1907. Actually it predates that.

The original building had eight classrooms and was completed in 1901. It was named for Sir Edward Hobart Seymour, an Admiral in the British Navy.

This establishment of learning was built in 1905. Named after Sir William Macdonald who was born on Prince Edward Island in 1831. He was a man who believed in the value of education and strived to further that goal.

Here is another view of the school from the East Pender entrance.

Another school not too far from me is the Hastings School.

This school was built in 1908 and it has gone through numerous renovations. Today it has a strong academic focus and involves parents in the support system. The adminstrators seem to strongly believe in the importance of family involvement with a child's learning and development.

Remember when I wrote on the Britannia Centre and the schools there? The photos I showed then looked pretty new but here is a glimpse of the history of this fine institution.

Okay, this next school isn't in Vancouver, not even British Columbia.

This is a little school in a town called Dewberry Alberta. My daddy went to school here! Dewberry is north east of Edmonton and in 2008 had a population of 231. I went there with my parents many years ago and it is a quaint place that really reminded me of the backbone that got Canada going. The people I met then have the spirit that makes countrys great.

While walking up Hastings Street today I met up with a young man by the name of Jaime. He was in town for his sister's wedding and he was a joy to be around. There was an aura of happiness and joy that surrounded him that surpassed the joy of his sister getting married to her long time partner. I think that Jaime has a good spirit all the time. I hope that Jaime has a safe trip home and enjoyed his stay here.

Jaime said something interesting to me though. When he found out that I wrote a blog on Vancouver he asked if I was from here. I think that is because most newcomers would be interested in the history and landmarks of the city whereas residents tend to ignore it. But when we do that what are we missing?

I hope you find the beauty around you.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, Lord Strathcona Elementary School, Hastings,Sir William Macdonald School,Dewberry Alberta,Walk,education,East Pender