Further in Fifty

In September of 1950, the first Chinese juror, Jack Chan, served on jury duty.

On October 2, Clarence Wallace was sworn in as B.C.'s first lieutenant governor, succeeding Charles Arthur Banks.

October 2, 1950 was also the day that the comic strip Peanuts appeared.

Captain "Gerry" Lancaster wrote a history of the port of Vancouver, reported the Province newspaper on November 8, 1950. That recorded history can be found at the Vancouver Public Library, call number NW 387.1 L24p.

The West Vancouver Memorial Library opened on November 11, 1950. There was an earlier library, which opened in 1921, but it had closed during the depression.

Also in November, Surrey residents, Sargit Singh and Bob Bose, won the Canadian championship in potato judging at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto.

1950 was also the year that the Japanese were allowed to return to Vancouver.

Hugh Pickett and his partner Holly Maxwell took over the management of Famous Artists Ltd in 1950. Pickett eventually bought out Maxwell and ran the company until 1982 when he sold it to Jerry Lonn of Seattle.

Irving House was purchase by the City of New Westminster in 1950. Formerly the residence of Captain Irvin and his family, the city turned the home into a historic centre. It is still being used as such today. (I will have to get out there this summer and write about it.)

1,200 homes were connected to the new, modern sewage plant in White Rock.

Surrey began having zoning problems as businesses, industry, farmers and residents started to see their interests colliding with others. It was necessary to establish a town planning committee at City Hall.

The Vancouver Sun established Camp Gates on Bowen Island for its paper carriers. It was named after the circulation manager, Herb Gates.

Thirteen kilometres of a double-lane road to the top of Mount Seymour was completed.

The first diesel train came to White Rock. The residents would set their watch by the three trains that arrived at 9 am, 1 pm and 9 pm.

Thanks to The History of Metropolitan Vancouver website for the above information.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

Karen Magill

Wowed

I have so many photos of flowers and such tucked away in my files that it is time I showed them off. And we'll look at the history for the second half of 1931 at the same time. Be prepared to be wowed!

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 first reeve of South Vancouver, William John  Brewer, died on June 24, 1931. He had moved to the South Vancouver area after the Great Fire of 1886 destroyed his Granville street business and was originally from England.

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.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, British Properties, Vancovuer Airport and Seaplane Harbour,Guiness Brewing,DaVinci,History,charles Marega,Royal Bank of Canada