My colleague Larry Wong drew my attention to this article from the Chinese in the Northwest Research Committee web site. If you don’t know this site it’s a fascinating and detailed ongoing research project. The Tacoma Art Museum Sells a Chinese Collection Donated in Memory of the 1885 Driving-Out In 1976, Colonel John and Mary Young, second-generation… Continue reading When Museums Don’t Get History…
Sitting by an open window, this seamstress is at work upstairs at Famous Clothiers on Hastings Street. The photo taken in 1927, shows the former Leland Hotel annex in the 600 block of Hastings Street near Granville. Vancouver Archives photo Bu N295
From the press release: The Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC (CCHSBC) is pleased to announce that long time Chinatown advocate Fred Mah is to honoured for his contributions to the Chinese Canadian community and to Vancouver at the society’s annual banquet March 9, 2013. Ken Yip, CCHSBC president said “we are delighted that we… Continue reading Fred Mah Chinese Canadian Historical Society Honouree for 2013
The Vancouver Archives has put some 500 plus maps up on their site! Maps are so much fun and this collection is a great resource. “The project makes these maps available to everyone quickly online, and makes them easy to re-use. It reduces damage to the oversized originals due to handling, as they no longer… Continue reading Maps, Maps, and more Maps
Chinatown, a complex and fascinating neighbourhood and Vancouver’s oldest community is now one of Canada’s newest National Historic sites. Join John Atkin and Jeannette Hlavach, authors of the application for historic site status, as they explore the history and development of this area and look at what it takes to get a place on the… Continue reading What’s up with Chinatown?
The Vancouver Historical Society was established in 1936 to stimulate public interest in Vancouver’s history, to encourage historical research and publication, and to promote the designation and preservation of historic sites. It is incorporated provincially as a non-profit society and registered federally as a charity. Meetings are on the fourth Thursday of the month (except… Continue reading February At the VHS: Curt Lang’s Vancouver
The Star Theatre was on the site of the old police station on Main Street. Unlike many of the theatres at this end of town it only showed movies. Here’s a sandwich board guy letting everyone know what’s on. He’s standing in front of McDonough Hall on the southeast corner of Hastings and Columbia. It’s… Continue reading In the Background: Movies at the Star
Hasting Street 1912 and the Archives photo (SGN1536) shows a busy street scene. Way in the background is this guy on his ladder repairing the illuminated sign for the Dick’s Clothing store. See this post on Changing City for more info on William Dick.
Here’s a shot of the corner of Main and Keefer showing the Hotel Mayo. The corner building dates from the 1890s and its neighbour is probably of the same era. This Vancouver Archives photo (CVA 447-308) shows both buildings before they were pretty much demolished and rebuilt as one structure using the original bricks which… Continue reading Hotel Mayo, Keefer and Main
The Vancouver Archives full resolution images are great. It makes for all sorts of discoveries. Here’s 132 W. Hastings and the detail. The photographer and his camera set on a tripod are visible in the reflection.
What Floats to the Top of My Desk 