A Wet, Grey Christmas

If you live in Vancouver and you find joy in a white Christmas you may find yourself disappointed many times. We tend to have wet, grey Christmases with lots of green grass and such.

But that doesn't meant that Vancouverites let the the lack of snow damage their Christmas spirit. We just decorate what is around.

It doesn't matter that there isn't snow covering the trees or the yards. Stringing lights and hanging decorations still lend a festive air when everything is green.

One of Vancouver, and BC's, exports is fish. In 1901 we had a peak year for salmon. Forty-nine canneries operated on the Lower Fraser river and nearly a million cases were packed.


Also in 1901 the Moodyville Mill closed. It had been the main source of export income for BC for twenty years. However it was found to be more cost effective to move the mill closer to the source of the logs rather than bring the logs to the mill.

When I was a child my family had an artificial silver Christmas tree, much bigger than this one. One year my father bought my mom a silver watch for Christmas then hid it on the tree. Of course just above her eye level. She almost tore the tree apart trying to find her present! My dad can be an oversized brat.


Back to history of 1901. W.H. Malkin Co. was founded at the address of 115 Water Street. In those days the water from Burrard Inlet came right up to the warehosue doors. A Malkin, William, was once mayor of Vancovuer and there are descendants to this day residing in the city.

This was at my dentist's office and I just thought is was so beautiful. Perhaps I will make something similiar for my place next year. Or not, depends how motivated I get.

1901 was the year that the City Hospital was incorporated under the name of the Vancouver General Hospital which it is still known by today.

Remember when I wrote on the Mountain View Cemetery and mentioned Sara Ann McLagan? It was 1901 when John McLagan, founded and editor of the Vancouver Daily World died. His widow, Sara Ann, then became the first woman publisher of a daily newspaper in Canada. (She was also managing editor, editorial writer, proof reader and occasional reporter.) 

The Province reported that in the year from June 1, 1900 to May 31, 1901 St. Paul's Hospital had admitted 561 patients, had discharged 506 of them, and still had 35 in beds. Some 25 patients had died, 11 of them within three days of entry. Catholics numbered 153, Protestants 383 and other religions 25. Males? 393. Females? 165. (The last two figures add up to 558, three short of the total. Hmm.) Fifty patients had been admitted with typhoid fever, and seven of them had died. The statistics go on for two long and detailed columns.

Have you ever noticed how many different Christmas trees are around/ There is the silver, artificial ones I showed earlier. My parents now use a ceramic tree.

My dentist's office had an upscale one.

And then there are the traditional trees.

Some say that the Christmas tree originated in the 16th century in Germany. Others say it is taken from a pagan Winter Solistice tradition. (According to some Christianity moved the date of Christ's birth from July to December so that it would coincide with pagan traditions. The Christians were having a difficult time converting some pagans and had to make adjustments to the religion. I don't know what is true and after all these centuries it doesn't really matter any more.)

In 1902, on March 29, Grand Master F.M. Young of the B.C. Grand Lodge of Masons laid the cornerstone for what was to become the Carnegie Center at Main and Hastings Streets. Mayor Thomas Neelands presided. It was originally called the Vancouver Free Library.

Doesn't this place remind you a large home from a period movie? It is one of the older homes on Victoria Drive, not far from where I live.

Are you aware of Clover Leaf Salmon? That is a product that has been around since 1889. The British Columbia Packers Association purchased 42 canneries in May of 1902 with Alexander Ewan as its first president.

On September 12, 1902 Charles Woodward incorporated Woodward's Department Store and three days later excavation began on the site at Hastings and Abbot Streets for the construction of a four storey emporium. It was there for many years and long time residents have fond memories of that store. The bankruptcy of Woodwards in 1993 saw the building empty out and stand vacant for many years. Finally in 2006 it was taken down and now it has found new life as a condo development with stores on the ground floor.

Even though the lot was 66 feet wide and 132 feet long it didn't cost Woodward that much. Eight feet below sidewalk level was a swamp which the city drained for Woodward.

Christmas decorations can be so much fun. They add that special touch to a home or business and help people get into the spirit of the season.

This will be my last entry for 2010. Next week I am going to try to focus on getting my novel finished - yes I am that close! But I wish all of you a very merry Christmas and may you be healthy and happy in 2011.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, Clover Leaf Salmon, Vancouver Free Library,Vancouver General HospitalCity Hospital,Carnegie Center,history,

Wandering down Hastings

I have let you know a bit about Hastings Street yet I haven't even scratched the surface. As I mentioned in an earlier post, Hastings Street stretches a long way! And there is a fair amount of history connected to this thoroughfare.

This W rested atop the Woodwards retail building. It was installed in 1944 as a replacement for the pre-war searchlight beacon that had been there before.  Built in 1903 this was the premiere shopping destination for Vancouverites. Woodwards was famous for the W, its windows at Christmas time and the food floor in the basement. For ninety years residents were able to visit, shop and have memories made.

The building became vacant in 1993. Many ideas on what to do with the large space were proposed but nothing became definite. In 2006 the building was imploded - all but the original 1903 structure seen here - and the transformation began. Now this 1903-1908 heavy timber building is united with modern sky scraping units. It holds expensive condos mixed with social housing units.

Aren't those piggies cute?This is Save-On-Meats. The store opened in 1957 and closed in 2009. It was run that entire time by the same man. And although the butcher side of the business is closed Chan's Food Market and the Coffee Shop are apparently still open.

I like the way the metal shutters have been painted - and that they are not covered graffiti - so the place doesn't look shuttered and closed. According to a May article in scoutmagazine.ca someone has leased the building where Save-On Meats resides and was supposed to open in July. 

I took a little detour and walked a couple of blocks south on Granville. This is the Rogers Building built in 1911. Look at the detail on it.

The Rogers Building was named for Jonathon Roger who was a young immigrant from Wales. He also happened to be the first person to step off the first train to arrive in the newly formed Vancouver in 1887. His beginnings were rather simple - he was a painter. But he went on to become a contractor, builder, alderman, chairman of the city park board, president of the board of trade. Rumor has it that Rogers is responsible for over 1000 feet of buildings on Granville Street. When he stepped off that train and the Vancouver City Band began to play See The Conquering Hero Comes, Rogers thought it was for him. Maybe not that time but in years to come he probably had numerous tributes.

Top of Vancouver Revolving Restaurant on Hastings. When I was in my young teen years we went up and had lunch at this restaurant. If you want a view of Vancouver like none other then go here. If you aren't hungry you can go to the observation deck and just see the city. I can see that building from most places when I walk.

Sinclair Shopping Centre. This is an upscale shopping mall that is actually comprised for four different buildings that were restored. One of the buildings used to be the main post office for Vancouver from 1910 until 1958.

If you walk along the walkway beside the centre you will come to an office building at 200 Granville Street. It houses the Province and the Vancouver Sun newspapers. But I was more interested in the open area that looks out over the water.

Here you see a Seabus coming over from North Vancouver - it is a very short trip for those who want to avoid traffic.

There is the City of North Vancouver. Moodyville, now Moodyville Park, is the oldest settlement on Burrard Inlet. It even predates Vancouver. Logging the Douglas Fir of the area brought a water powered sawmill, built by Sewell Moody, and other amenities popped up soon after.

The ever present cranes for the Port of Vancouver. I saw a special on the Port on television and was astounded at what they do in a day. It is mind boggling to realize how much work it takes to keep that part of the city's prosperity running smoothly.

Just as a teaser, because there is so much to write on this, I am showing you a couple of pictures of the Station. There is a lot of pictures to take of this place - inside and out - and more history to relate. So I will save that for another day.

But before I say goodbye for the day I passed this woman standing on a stoop of a building on East Hastings. She was kind enough to let me take her photo so I want to thank her again. It is good to see people who are doing what they love.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, Hastings Street, Rogers Building,Sinclair Centre,The Station,Walk,history,Granville Street