Dome and Justice
The old courthouse at Cambie and Hastings
Author: John Atkin
John Atkin is a civic historian, author, and walking tour guide in Vancouver.
How We Lived…
Real Estate ads can give us a window into how we used to live. Here’s one from the Vancouver Sun in the early 1930s with a great detailed description of a house for sale in Shaughnessy.
Sketching the City
My friend Jo Scott B has been sketching some of the buildings we’ve been looking at during our UBC Continuing Studies course. Check them out on her site http://www.joscottb.com/joscottb.com/Vancouver_sketchbook_2013.html
In The Background: William Doss
In 1908, Recreation Park at the corner of Smithe and Homer played host to the circus. The banners advertise such side show attractions as Mungo, a Maori Chief, The Randalls, champion sharpshooters and the intriguing sounding William Doss, the Human Telescope. Here’s a 1902 New York Times article describing Mr Doss’ abilities: “Wille Doss, the Human… Continue reading In The Background: William Doss
In the Background: revised dates
Looking at an early photograph of the Byrnes Block on Maple Tree Square and I’m interested to see the date on the pediment, 1887. A shot from the early 2000’s shows an earlier date… somewhere along the line I guess the clocks were wound back… and then the recent restoration put the clocks forward a… Continue reading In the Background: revised dates
In the Background: Purdy’s Have to Move
A sign in the window of 675 Granville Street in 1935. Vancouver Archives: CVA 99-4761
Vancouver, Not Vancouver
My colleague Andy Coupland found this mislabelled post card the other day. The station was tracked down in Quebec City as seen in the colour shot from the 1960s . http://www.canadianrailwayobservations.com/jan2012via.htm.
Telling it Like it is…
Doing a little research on City Council in the 1970s and came across this gem from June 9, 1970. The Mayor of course is Tom “Terrific” Campbell and he’s authorized the purchase of new riot sticks – he just forgot to tell council.
Carrall and Dupont (Pender) Street
This image appeared on Ebay many months ago and it was described as a Chinatown funeral in Vancouver c.1900, but I couldn’t place the location. But behind the crowd in the window of the corner storefront is a sign for the Opera Resort, this puts it at the south east corner of Carrall and Pender… Continue reading Carrall and Dupont (Pender) Street
City Hall Demolished
In 1958 Vancouver’s old City Hall met the wrecker’s ball. This was the city’s second city hall after the 1886 fire and was once home to the public market and a theatre. The old hall was replaced with a short lived public market building. Archives photo 2010-006.155
What Floats to the Top of My Desk 