There It Is… insulCrete!
In this shot from the 1970s looking south from the corner of 5th Avenue and Burrard there is a billboard for the product that altered the look of thousands of older homes across the city.
Category: History
Forgotten Urban Objects
In the 1960s Vancouver embarked on a number of civic improvements including its street furniture and one of the items was this forlorn looking object seen here in this 1978 photo. What is it? It’s a newspaper kiosk for that long lost profession of the corner newspaper vendor. When papers published more than one edition… Continue reading Forgotten Urban Objects
No Tunnels, damn…
So nice to see Shelly Fralic’s column in the December 24th edition of the Vancouver Sun (page A15) debunking the silly rumours that surround Gabriola, the Roger’s mansion on Davie Street. It’s surprising what a little bit of research, fact checking and common sense can turn up. And nice to see Brian Rogers interviewed too.… Continue reading No Tunnels, damn…
Oh, Just A Little Bit of Change…
At the foot of Keefer Street in 1913 you would have been confronted with the smell, dirt and dust of the Vancouver Gas Company’s coal gas plant. The street was nothing more than a dirt track from Main Street to the edge of False Creek. There was no Columbia Street south of Pender Street, just… Continue reading Oh, Just A Little Bit of Change…
When the Bijou is not the Bijou…
This image has bugged me for some time. It is a Vancouver Archives photo (CVA 371-2061) showing the Bijou Theatre. But it’s not the Vancouver Bijou which was on Carrall near Hastings facing what is now Pigeon Park. Looking at the image, which shows the aftermath of a flood, you can see a sign for… Continue reading When the Bijou is not the Bijou…
Build House, Move House…
On a recent walking tour of the Cedar Cove area of Vancouver (centred around Victoria Dr and Powell Street) we came across this fabulous set of buildings at 2036 Triumph Street. Local lore has it that the house was once on Powell Street at the waterfront and that it was moved to it’s current location.… Continue reading Build House, Move House…
Two Books to Add to Your Bookcase
The Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC (CCHSBC) has two new books out which you should read. Eating Stories: A Chinese Canadian & Aboriginal Potluck is a new edition of the publication with a new forward by Jean Barman. It’s chock-a-block full of stories and recipes from the Chinese Canadian and Aboriginal perspective. It’s great… Continue reading Two Books to Add to Your Bookcase
On the Streets and Up the Stairs in Chinatown
Celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of BC with a walking tour. Robert Sung and I are presenting a walking tour of Chinatown which looks at the area’s history and society buildings. Be prepared to climb some stairs as we’ve lined up a selection of society buildings for the tour. It’s… Continue reading On the Streets and Up the Stairs in Chinatown
An Ever-changing City
Friends of the Archives Fall Fundraiser: Wednesday, October 22, 2014 7:00 pm-9:00 pm Doors open 6:00 pm H.R. MacMillan Space Centre 1100 Chestnut Street Join Andy Coupland and John Atkin as they explore the changing nature of Vancouver through before-and-after images selected from the blog Changing Vancouver and the Vancouver Archives. Set against the background… Continue reading An Ever-changing City
Who was Maxine Anyway
I recently had the pleasure of leading a walk in the West End for the Vancouver Heritage Foundation as part of their Sunday coffee series at JJ Bean. Their newest location on Bidwell is behind the preserved facade of Maxine’s Beauty School. The most oft asked question about that location is the tunnel that supposedly… Continue reading Who was Maxine Anyway
What Floats to the Top of My Desk 