Historic Vancouver Photos

[osirisboy]

its too bad it didnt take down the building beside it

[Dave2]

you never knew what? the YWCA? i remember when it got demolished it wasn't that long ago really (1997)



Dunsmuir Street, one way... eastbound!

[Klazu]

That YWCA must have been the ugliest building in all Downtown at that time. Just hideous! So is it Bentall 5 that is standing on this same lot today?

[osirisboy]

Ok there drama boy. Bental 5 is hideos? It's one thing to not particularly for it but if you think that's hideos you must think everything sucks

[whatnext]

Yep, that blowed up real good (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dfoVqhQVyQ). :haha:

Funny, I don't remember that YWCA building at all.

[Klazu]

@osirisboy: Please read my post once more. I think YWCA was hideous, not Bentall 5. :cheers:

[SpongeG]

cactus club and the plaza part of bental 5 sits where the YWCA building sat - where the tower part is now was a lower part of the building and parking if i can remember, used to stand there to catch the busses back to coquitlam for many years

[Dave2]

cactus club and the plaza part of bental 5 sits where the YWCA building sat - where the tower part is now was a lower part of the building and parking if i can remember, used to stand there to catch the busses back to coquitlam for many years

Burrard & Dunsmuir. The info page gives the date as sometime between 1980 and 1997. The Park Place construction should narrow that down considerably. 1981 perhaps? http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/3/9/391692/07840bc1-c854-4319-8fed-a6037f4fa4dc-A42919.jpg

[Dave2]

Looking westbound.. Note Discovery Square pre Skytrain http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/3/9/391712/832ca3d7-e9a8-4b6e-b0c2-e0a596ceaee9-A42921.jpg

[osirisboy]

@osirisboy: Please read my post once more. I think YWCA was hideous, not Bentall 5. :cheers:

haah im so sorry about that. I didnt see the it in your post

[entheosfog]

I absolutely love the detail you can see in the Vancouver Archives scans they have on there now, like this one, Dunsmuir and Richards, NE corner (1940s):
http://imageshack.us/a/img843/4413/dunsmuiratrichardsneand.jpg
Here's the link to the original file location, and you can zoom in on the photographs:
http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/7/6/761456/725e7e9b-8f43-48e4-84b4-0a861bc1abad-A13597.jpg
CVA 1184-3280

[Dave2]

Can anyone identify a building in this 1962 photo?

http://flic.kr/p/4FuRib

Mouse to the tagged Ailsa Lodge (1020 Melvile). To the right is a red peaked roof, behind is a 9 story buiding. Name? Still standing?

The four story building with the awnings at the left rear of the Ailsa was "The Melville", N/E corner of Melville & Thurlow. In 1966 The Melville gained a few extra floors. At the right Bentall 1 is under contruction.

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/4/0/405209/74593a6b-7dbc-4cd9-9b26-92e006da903e-A58798.jpg

15 years later, The Mellvile is gone, replaced by Bentall 4

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/3/8/389164/de3534ff-bf3c-4e0b-b1d1-197d441b75da-A75153.jpg

[Dave2]

I absolutely love the detail you can see in the Vancouver Archives scans they have on there now, like this one, Dunsmuir and Richards, NE corner (1940s):
http://imageshack.us/a/img843/4413/dunsmuiratrichardsneand.jpg
Here's the link to the original file location, and you can zoom in on the photographs:
http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/7/6/761456/725e7e9b-8f43-48e4-84b4-0a861bc1abad-A13597.jpg
CVA 1184-3280

The detail is indeed amazing. July 2 1937. 1143 Davie is on fire. Zoom in and you can see a 'for sale' sign

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/3/1322888/a8e08136-f7bf-4cbd-bd65-e94d508c290e-A01559.jpg

Pretty sure the house next door is the Gurkha Kitchen / Davie Flowers today http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/3/1322877/f96d457e-8fc7-4d9e-aafc-5d7ba57261af-A01558.jpg

[Dave2]

Two last Davie Street scenes.

The Capitola Pharmacy c. 1924. Currently Macintosh Grocery. The Davie frontage is now storefronts.
http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/7/9/796260/e6783a82-3ba1-490b-bfbc-768397231038-A08938.jpg

Davie & Burrard 1958. Cunninghams et al is now the Esso Station, but the Embassy Ballroom, (Dante's Inferno, Retinal Circus, Crazy Horse. The Rock Palace, Chances, Celebrites) still offers Modern Dancing every night. http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/8/0/808045/acbc6a39-79e4-4456-8193-8764962ad7f3-A25004.jpg

[osirisboy]

wow the pic of davie and burrard is cool, pretty unfortunate whats there now. the house beside it would have made for a cool restaurant with a patio in the front which is common to see back east but I dont really see that often here.

[Dave2]

A lot of detail in this 1921 view of the northside of Georgia & Granville. On the right is the previous Hudson Bay. Farther north is "Don't Argue" Tobacconist mentioned in today's Sun http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/8/1/813738/cd7d6ffa-2440-480b-a55e-68fb8c9ef9b9-A37390.jpg

1933, Don't Argue has moved to the NW corner, the signposts now has "Airport" as a destination. http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/3/1355833/acf6c9e8-4399-414b-bfe8-a1e4fcdaecbc-A18401.jpg

1972. Coming soon Pacific Centre phase 2
http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/2/1218877/b6caff77-9d3b-41e5-b6a5-387a4196eef0-2010-006.202.jpg

190? http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/8/5/859931/0b3a50d9-f79e-4705-9b82-413efce4b9b1-A37043.jpg

[osirisboy]

thats fantastic, the last one is great!

[Alex Mackinnon]

A lot of detail in this 1921 view of the northside of Georgia & Granville. On the right is the previous Hudson Bay. Farther north is "Don't Argue" Tobacconist mentioned in today's Sun http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/8/1/813738/cd7d6ffa-2440-480b-a55e-68fb8c9ef9b9-A37390.jpg

1933, Don't Argue has moved to the NW corner, the signposts now has "Airport" as a destination. http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/3/1355833/acf6c9e8-4399-414b-bfe8-a1e4fcdaecbc-A18401.jpg

1972. Coming soon Pacific Centre phase 2
http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/2/1218877/b6caff77-9d3b-41e5-b6a5-387a4196eef0-2010-006.202.jpg

190? http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/8/5/859931/0b3a50d9-f79e-4705-9b82-413efce4b9b1-A37043.jpg

Have you seen any looking more at Howe and Georgia? My grandfathers family business used to be on that corner until Pacific Centre bumped them in the 70s. The store was the New York Fur Co. I think it should be right beside that Norman G Cull sign.

[entheosfog]

Have you seen any looking more at Howe and Georgia? My grandfathers family business used to be on that corner until Pacific Centre bumped them in the 70s. The store was the New York Fur Co. I think it should be right beside that Norman G Cull sign.

Although you can't really see the business in this photo, you cans sort of see the 'fur' in the sign, just to the right of the back of the car. And it's a super cool photo:
http://imageshack.us/a/img17/1736/e26da6aadc2049bcab0afdb.jpg
http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/1/1180983/e26da6aa-dc20-49bc-ab0a-fdb2bc9deb12-A20251.jpg

And I thought this was a very interesting photo, I think looking at the SE corner of Georgia and Howe in 1969:
http://imageshack.us/a/img812/9327/79d7f26b92344176b97d025.jpg
http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/2/1218856/79d7f26b-9234-4176-b97d-025127c4ea0f-2010-006.091.jpg

[Dave2]

Have you seen any looking more at Howe and Georgia? My grandfathers family business used to be on that corner until Pacific Centre bumped them in the 70s. The store was the New York Fur Co. I think it should be right beside that Norman G Cull sign.

There is a House of Furs in this January 9 1972 photo (click link for large size)

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/9/0/902246/e802fc97-a0c6-4bc3-bce1-8c3e0abd3dcf-A21624_141.jpg

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/9/0/902246/e802fc97-a0c6-4bc3-bce1-8c3e0abd3dcf-A21624.jpg

[Dave2]

And I thought this was a very interesting photo, I think looking at the SE corner of Georgia and Howe in 1969:
http://imageshack.us/a/img812/9327/79d7f26b92344176b97d025.jpg
http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/2/1218856/79d7f26b-9234-4176-b97d-025127c4ea0f-2010-006.091.jpg

It's the little things in mundane scenes like this that make them interesting today. The 499 sign on Howe (and 1/99 on Georgia with a To 401 Freeway). Parking rates, measured in cents. And the outline of the 1891 Opera house, and its two later facades. May 4, 1969, the entire block will soon be cleared to make way for Eatons Pacific Centre.

Same Day, Robson/Granville.

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/2/1220543/da66569c-418a-4014-b888-4923b1e5e422-2010-006_141.jpg

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/2/1220543/da66569c-418a-4014-b888-4923b1e5e422-2010-006.097.jpg

[entheosfog]

It's the little things in mundane scenes like this that make them interesting today. The 499 sign on Howe (and 1/99 on Georgia with a To 401 Freeway). Parking rates, measured in cents. And the outline of the 1891 Opera house, and its two later facades. May 4, 1969, the entire block will soon be cleared to make way for Eatons Pacific Centre.


That's why I have such a huge fascination with old Vancouver photos, especially ones form the 1960s-80s. Many of the photos like these were done by the city of Vanouver to just document the streets and buildings, but they hold so much information of things that don't exist anymore. Like the cabs, fashions, businesses and the things you mentioned as well. And with the high res, you can really get a lot from these photos.
Like this one, from 1974, which shows the old location of Dressew and advertising the new name:
http://imageshack.us/a/img195/2900/dresswe.jpg
http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/3/8/382679/5a01baf0-2e11-4ebb-a06c-3706f3dc5a2a-A60446.jpg

[officedweller]

And the fur place next door is now Pappas Furs, right?

[Dave2]

And the fur place next door is now Pappas Furs, right?

Yes. http://goo.gl/maps/tbYXZ

Speaking of furs, the image i linked to yesterday was a different fur store in the 700 W. Georgia, not the one Alex Mackinnon mentioned.

On page 9 of this thread "Locked In" posted a night shot from the CBC archives dated Feb 8 1956 which shows the fur store at N/E corner of Howe/Georgia. Birks clock reads 4:38. Must be AM!

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9FW9P3-u1EI/TPQoIrr8HLI/AAAAAAAAD0w/vVwbkDAtDc0/s1000/untitled.jpg

[Dave2]

Burrard looking south, 1946. Lot's of smoke over False Creek that day. Vancouver City Archives

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/2/1253772/78f3d11d-91ac-49d6-aa3a-53c9e9957638-A15425_141.jpg

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/2/1253772/78f3d11d-91ac-49d6-aa3a-53c9e9957638-A15425.jpg

[Alex Mackinnon]

There is a House of Furs in this January 9 1972 photo (click link for large size)

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/9/0/902246/e802fc97-a0c6-4bc3-bce1-8c3e0abd3dcf-A21624.jpg

I think that might be it. I'll have to check with my family.

[entheosfog]

Hey ya'll, I recently started a Facebook page dedicated to Vancouver history through photos. It's still in its infancy but I'm hoping it will grow into something.

https://www.facebook.com/VancouverThen

[officedweller]

Burrard Building at Changing Vancouver website.
An example of a spandrel disaster being "righted" to resemble the original render?

http://changingvancouver.wordpress.com/2013/01/07/burrard-building/

[Klazu]

Burrard Building at Changing Vancouver website.

Well that worked out pretty nicely. I would have never guessed this building is 19 floors under the glass exterior.

"The building is still popular with tenants, and vacant suites are generally leased quickly. Although the site is one of very few Downtown that has no viewcones crossing it – and hence no height limit for a replacement building – leases on the few suites on offer today are for up to 10 years, suggesting the owners are in no hurry to cash in on its redevelopment potential."

[phesto]

Well that worked out pretty nicely. I would have never guessed this building is 19 floors under the glass exterior.

"The building is still popular with tenants, and vacant suites are generally leased quickly. Although the site is one of very few Downtown that has no viewcones crossing it – and hence no height limit for a replacement building – leases on the few suites on offer today are for up to 10 years, suggesting the owners are in no hurry to cash in on its redevelopment potential."

Rumours floating around that it may be sold sooner than later...

[Klazu]

I hope to see a ~250m building on that lot one day. There is no better place in Downtown to have like that. It would crown Downtown nicely (and my view). :slob:

[officedweller]

From Heritage Vancouver Flickr:

1958 Post Office concept. I wonder whether it can support a tower as shown?

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7116/7004562164_ff1e2d8a4a_z.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagevancouver/7004562164/in/photostream

1958 Post Office - As Built

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7229/7004561960_d089411333_z.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagevancouver/7004561960/in/photostream/

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8003/7150651999_332f9e6823_z.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagevancouver/7150651999/in/photostream/

[s211]

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8003/7150651999_332f9e6823_z.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagevancouver/7150651999/in/photostream/

I can almost smell the fuel from the Jet Age in that picture. That rocks!

[Architype]

I like the P.O, but always wondered why it was built with only that very small section on top. After seeing that rendering I think there is a good chance it was built to structurally support more floors forming a tower as shown.

[officedweller]

Here are the images of the TD Tower and Eaton's designed by IM Pei from Appendix F of the 725 Granville redvelopment application. Note that TD Tower was originally to be 44 floors (Cesar Pelli changed the skin to all glass).

http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/committees/DE-416152-725-granville.pdf

http://imageshack.us/a/img580/882/74295128.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/580/74295128.png/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://imageshack.us/a/img404/1029/48720853.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/404/48720853.png/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://imageshack.us/a/img29/1502/59986026.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/29/59986026.png/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[spaceprobe]

Here are the images of the TD Tower and Eaton's designed by IM Pei from Appendix F of the 725 Granville redvelopment application. Note that TD Tower was originally to be 44 floors (Cesar Pelli changed the skin to all glass).

http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/committees/DE-416152-725-granville.pdf

http://imageshack.us/a/img580/882/74295128.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/580/74295128.png/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://imageshack.us/a/img404/1029/48720853.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/404/48720853.png/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://imageshack.us/a/img29/1502/59986026.png (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/29/59986026.png/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

why were there so many towers that were originally proposed to be taller...all ultimately built shorter? There wasn't height restrictions back then...

[officedweller]

why were there so many towers that were originally proposed to be taller...all ultimately built shorter? There wasn't height restrictions back then...

Probably economic factors (i.e. pre-leasing to tenants).
The current Canaccord Tower (form Stock Exchnage Tower, a part of Pacific Centre) was supposed to be taller if BC Tel had taken space, but they built "The Boot" in Burnaby instead.

[connect2source]

It's rather unfortunate that IM Pei wasn't the architect, his fame just may have resonated enough to garner the Eaton's building some sort of heritage 20 year status thereby preserving the integrity of what would have been an iconic landmark.

I love IM Pei's layout to the towers in both PC South and North, the interplay reminds me of Mies van der Rohe's positioning of the TD Centre in Toronto. This would have had such presence as opposed to the current mishmash of the IBM, Canaccord and Four Season's structures. I wonder if IM Pei was proposing any natural light, glass roof for the mall portions of Pacific Centre North?

[s211]

Those notches in the original tower footplate sure are strange...

[Dylan Leblanc]

rad!

[Dave2]

Stumbled on this quite by accident just after reading this thread.

Pacific Centre, Granville Mall no office buildngs west of Burrard. And one apartment tower south of Georgia between Richards and Seymour to 'test the appeal"

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=3DOefFFSZ7MC&dat=19640721&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

[EastVanMark]

Stumbled on this quite by accident just after reading this thread.

Pacific Centre, Granville Mall no office buildngs west of Burrard. And one apartment tower south of Georgia between Richards and Seymour to 'test the appeal"

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=3DOefFFSZ7MC&dat=19640721&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

Nice find Dave! Reading that article just shows how progressive and bold our fair city USED to be. That development would have rivaled anything going on in other cities that were twice as large as Vancouver. Sadly, now things seem to have gone in reverse....:(

(note the article about Premier Bennett going after a national bank for British Columbia....we sure were an ambitious bunch back then... great times to be in BC)

[officedweller]

Great article.

Interesting that they wanted to lower Granville St. from Robson to Dunsmuir to create a sunken transit mall. I'm not sure if that would have worked - it may have just ended up being an underpass of Georgia St.

The Coliseum on the CBC site is interesting, as well as the pedestrian walkway from the Coliseum to the Birks Building south of Georgia St.

BTW - we did have a national bank - the Bank of British Columbia. 885 West Georgia was origibally the Bank of BC Building. HSBC took over the Bank of BC in the 1980s.

[Architype]

Interesting article. I'm not sure that a sunken pedesrian mall would be a very pleasant place to be though.

[hollywoodnorth]

couple neat pics I found on The Sun site ..

http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Photos+Accidental+archive/7939864/story.html?cid=hot_photo


http://www.vancouversun.com/life/7939574.bin?size=620x400s

The bus depot at the corner of Dunsmuir and Seymour streets in Vancouver taken by Leonard Frank in August 1938.
Photograph by: Leonard Frank, Vancouver Sun


http://www.vancouversun.com/life/7939573.bin?size=620x400s

Photo filed April 24, 1956 of men on log boom in False Creek with Hotel Vancouver in background.


http://www.vancouversun.com/life/7939578.bin?size=620x400s

A hand-coloured photo of a grisly crash between a couple of streetcars and an automobile probably from the late 1930s or 1940s.


http://www.vancouversun.com/life/7939811.bin?size=620x400s


Another Dave Buchan classic photos of an accident.
Photograph by: Dave Buchan, Vancouver SUn


http://www.vancouversun.com/life/7939813.bin?size=620x400s


A car ran through the front of Smithe Coffee Bar
Photograph by: Dave Buchan, Vancouver Sun

[spm2013]

Stumbled on this quite by accident just after reading this thread.

Pacific Centre, Granville Mall no office buildngs west of Burrard. And one apartment tower south of Georgia between Richards and Seymour to 'test the appeal"

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=3DOefFFSZ7MC&dat=19640721&printsec=frontpage&hl=en

Interesting to read they wanted an 8 million dollar arena built downtown at the time as well.. And the Toronto Maple Leafs were going to pay for it if the City gave them the land. :notacrook:

[officedweller]

Post from Changing Vancouver - The Hudson's Bay Seymour Building (1st phase of the existing building) including a render with a future expansion of 4 additional floors:

http://changingvancouver.wordpress.com/2013/02/11/lacey-johnson-houses-seymour-street/

Render with future phase:
http://changingvancouver.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/10-storey-bay.jpg
http://changingvancouver.files.wordpress.com

Photo with 2nd store side-by-side (demolished to expand the Seymour Building to Granville Street)
http://changingvancouver.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/georgia-st-1917-the-bay-2-and-3-cva-260-1043.jpg
http://changingvancouver.files.wordpress.com

[Dave2]

Have you seen any looking more at Howe and Georgia? My grandfathers family business used to be on that corner until Pacific Centre bumped them in the 70s. The store was the New York Fur Co. I think it should be right beside that Norman G Cull sign.

:poke:

http://flic.kr/p/8sTo7a

[officedweller]

Great then and now opf Yaletown at the Vancouver Courier, including these.
I didn't know there was a recreation ground at Homer & Smithe - that explains why the site was level as a parking lot with steep sides from both Smithe & Homer (I had thought it was for level train tracks).

http://www.vancourier.com/news/Yaletown+Then/8230745/story.html

http://www.vancourier.com/news/cms/binary/8230796.jpg?size=620x400s
Then: A truck makes a delivery in the 1100 block Mainland Street in June 1937.
Photograph by: Photo courtesy Dominion Photo Co. photo, Vancouver Public Library 24127.AM54-S4-: LGN 1191, Vancouver Courier
http://www.vancourier.com/news/Yaletown+Then/8230745/story.html

http://www.vancourier.com/news/cms/binary/8230795.jpg?size=620x400s
Now: The west side of the 1000 and 1100 blocks of Mainland Street in April 2013.
Photograph by: Dan Toulgoet, Vancouver Courier
http://www.vancourier.com/news/Yaletown+Then/8230745/story.html

http://www.vancourier.com/news/cms/binary/8230792.jpg?size=620x400s
Then: Recreation Park sports field once stood at the southeast corner of Smithe and Homer streets. On opening day, May 11, 1905, somewhere between 3,000 and 4,700 fans (estimates of the crowd vary) paid 25 cents to see the Vancouver Vets trounce a Victoria ball team 4-2. The field was also home to lacrosse games, circus events, amateur athletics, police sports games, and local events marking the death in 1910 of King Edward VII and the 1911 coronation of King George V.
Photograph by: Philip Timms photo, Vancouver Public Library 6727, Vancouver Courier
http://www.vancourier.com/news/Yaletown+Then/8230745/story.html

http://www.vancourier.com/news/cms/binary/8230791.jpg?size=620x400s
Now: Today, highrise towers fill the city block where Recreation Park once stood. Today, baseball can be found at Nat Bailey Stadium, 4601 Ontario Street, home to the Vancouver Canadians.
Photograph by: Dan Toulgoet, Vancouver Courier
http://www.vancourier.com/news/Yaletown+Then/8230745/story.html

[Dave2]

Great then and now opf Yaletown at the Vancouver Courier, including these.
I didn't know there was a recreation ground at Homer & Smithe - that explains why the site was level as a parking lot with steep sides from both Smithe & Homer (I had thought it was for level train tracks).

http://www.vancourier.com/news/Yaletown+Then/8230745/story.html

http://www.vancourier.com/news/cms/binary/8230796.jpg?size=620x400s
Then: A truck makes a delivery in the 1100 block Mainland Street in June 1937.
Photograph by: Photo courtesy Dominion Photo Co. photo, Vancouver Public Library 24127.AM54-S4-: LGN 1191, Vancouver Courier
http://www.vancourier.com/news/Yaletown+Then/8230745/story.html

http://www.vancourier.com/news/cms/binary/8230795.jpg?size=620x400s
Now: The west side of the 1000 and 1100 blocks of Mainland Street in April 2013.
Photograph by: Dan Toulgoet, Vancouver Courier
http://www.vancourier.com/news/Yaletown+Then/8230745/story.html

http://www.vancourier.com/news/cms/binary/8230792.jpg?size=620x400s
Then: Recreation Park sports field once stood at the southeast corner of Smithe and Homer streets. On opening day, May 11, 1905, somewhere between 3,000 and 4,700 fans (estimates of the crowd vary) paid 25 cents to see the Vancouver Vets trounce a Victoria ball team 4-2. The field was also home to lacrosse games, circus events, amateur athletics, police sports games, and local events marking the death in 1910 of King Edward VII and the 1911 coronation of King George V.
Photograph by: Philip Timms photo, Vancouver Public Library 6727, Vancouver Courier
http://www.vancourier.com/news/Yaletown+Then/8230745/story.html

http://www.vancourier.com/news/cms/binary/8230791.jpg?size=620x400s
Now: Today, highrise towers fill the city block where Recreation Park once stood. Today, baseball can be found at Nat Bailey Stadium, 4601 Ontario Street, home to the Vancouver Canadians.
Photograph by: Dan Toulgoet, Vancouver Courier
http://www.vancourier.com/news/Yaletown+Then/8230745/story.html


In 1898 (7 years before the Recreation Park opened), the south-east corner of Homer & Smithe was almost at water's edge!

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/6/1675603/1a87f2c6-f37c-4cbc-a40a-7a70bd7fda44-MAP547_141.jpg

Hi Res http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/6/1675603/1a87f2c6-f37c-4cbc-a40a-7a70bd7fda44-MAP547.jpg

[Dave2]

Vancouver vs New Westminster, Recreation Park (Homer & Smithe)

All photos are public domain, Vancouver Archives

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/1/1102059/6cac89fc-1d3b-4275-885c-5d9058a38ab0-A60829_141.jpg

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/1/1102059/6cac89fc-1d3b-4275-885c-5d9058a38ab0-A60829.jpg


http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/1/1102200/c44d23f3-beac-4c89-aae8-a0801302877e-A60848_141.jpg

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/1/1102200/c44d23f3-beac-4c89-aae8-a0801302877e-A60848.jpg

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/1/1102230/b01d2c02-cd4f-44bd-bfb5-a762b6a11875-A60851_141.jpg

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/1/1102230/b01d2c02-cd4f-44bd-bfb5-a762b6a11875-A60851.jpg

[officedweller]

In 1898 (7 years before the Recreation Park opened), the south-east corner of Homer & Smithe was almost at water's edge!

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/6/1675603/1a87f2c6-f37c-4cbc-a40a-7a70bd7fda44-MAP547.jpg

Thanks! Nice hi-res copy.

[Prometheus]

That's quite the grandstand. It's evidence of how popular lacrosse once was, when it was the official national sport of Canada. I believe it is still the official national sport of Canada, along with hockey.

[officedweller]

Render of City Hall at its originally planned site - the old courthouse site at Victory Square (current VCC):

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/cms/binary/8288735.jpg?size=620x400s
Photograph by: Vancouver Sun Files, .

...
Reading the riot act apparently soured McGeer on the proposal to build a new city hall at Pender and Cambie, just above Victory Square. So he moved it to 12th and Cambie. But a W.J. Moore photo-illustration was recently found in The Sun archives that shows the art deco structure at the original Victory Square location.
...

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/This+history+April+1935/8286689/story.html

[Sir Conga]

I'm not sure where else to put this, but you guys gotta check this out.

http://earthengine.google.org/#intro

It's a time lapse of Satellite imagery spanning the globe.

You can watch False Creek build up on both sides. You can watch Dubai spring up out of the sand. You can see the desert bloom in Saudi Arabia. See the incredible upwards expansion of Shanghai. You can watch lakes and glaciers disappearing, and forests being cleared: close to home and in places like the Amazon. Absolutely unreal.

[officedweller]

Coal Harbour circa 1940 from the PavCo website:

http://bcpavco.com/files/7613/5241/7211/CoalHarbour.jpg
http://bcpavco.com/projects/coal-harbour-seawall-improvement/history/

[Prometheus]

Good stuff. Thanks.

[ckkelley]

Sweet pic, thanks!

[Dave2]

Have you seen any looking more at Howe and Georgia? My grandfathers family business used to be on that corner until Pacific Centre bumped them in the 70s. The store was the New York Fur Co. I think it should be right beside that Norman G Cull sign.

48th Grey Cup Parade, 1960

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/2/1223349/ef8a4240-11c2-485e-b51a-bc33a683cfe0-2008-022.165.jpg

[Alex Mackinnon]

That's a good one. You can almost recognize people looking out the windows. Thanks.

[Dave2]

Hey ya'll, I recently started a Facebook page dedicated to Vancouver history through photos. It's still in its infancy but I'm hoping it will grow into something.

https://www.facebook.com/VancouverThen

8 months later

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – What happens when you combine a love of local history with some social media savvy? You might just come up with the “Vancouver Then” Facebook group!

“Vancouver Then” shows photos dating back a century"

which anyone can do (and has done).... it's the captions explaining the story behind the photos that makes VT tick.

Vancouver Household names

Walter Mulligan
George Lister Thornton Sharp
Lt. Col. William Frederick Richard Hart-McHarg.
John Hendry
Con Jones
Gustav Konstantin Alvo von Alvensleben

and this guy.

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/0/1067659/8b1a271d-b022-4d33-baca-4c1a05aceb2c-CVA1477-561_141.jpg

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/0/1067659/8b1a271d-b022-4d33-baca-4c1a05aceb2c-CVA1477-561.55.jpg
http://www.news1130.com/2013/07/20/facebook-page-celebrates-history-of-vancouver/

[spm2013]

That's a good one. You can almost recognize people looking out the windows. Thanks.

Not sure if you've seen these ones from the Vancouver Archives:

Inside 797 Georgia

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/3/1363936/238f4638-d97d-4993-a75c-5d0e16da4cf8-A18899_141.jpg

Storefront (fur store isn't there in the shot):

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/9/0/901819/ee5ca78b-dcca-4b32-8824-1a57ad482b0f-A21916.jpg

Another one during the funeral of Brigadier General Duff Stuart:

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/1/3/1343219/9914d152-3268-4a18-a939-c6a6600a66a5-A16681.jpg

[hollywoodnorth]

pics and story from the Vancouver TRADER VICS! :)

http://spacing.ca/vancouver/2012/09/19/restaurants-that-changed-vancouver-trader-vics/

[Dave2]

That's a good one. You can almost recognize people looking out the windows. Thanks.

There are countless similar photos of the parade in the 700 block.

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/not-yet-described-206;rad

[Dylan Leblanc]

Here's a postcard showing downtown in the late 1960s

http://gingert.net/images/vancouver-late60s.jpg

[Klazu]

The square in front of VAG has looked much nicer back then, minus the trees that are there nowadays.

[spm2013]

The MacBlo building is unrecognizable from the side :)

[red-paladin]

Still miss the medical building.

[phesto]

I forgot about those sculptures lining Georgia. I wonder how long they were there for? Here's a close up photo:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3523/3211330840_57e21c1b49_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/carver17/3211330840/)
Corner of Howe and Georgia (http://www.flickr.com/photos/carver17/3211330840/) by carver17 (http://www.flickr.com/people/carver17/), on Flickr

They look as though they were ugly as all hell, but cool to see something so ambitious...probably couldn't do those today!

[officedweller]

The MacBlo building is unrecognizable from the side :)

That's the side view that's supposed to resemble two douglas fir tree trunks - there's a slight flare towards the bottom.

Interesting that the square had more paving then than there is now (the lawn / wood chip area is currently bigger than shown)

[jsbertram]

Still miss the medical building.

... and the Rhea sisters?

[whatnext]

Here's a postcard showing downtown in the late 1960s

http://gingert.net/images/vancouver-late60s.jpg

Looking at photos like that make me call BS on the city's stats that traffic has been falling coming into downtown, or Gordon Price tumpeting (http://pricetags.wordpress.com/2012/06/25/extraordinary-facts-2010-downtown-traffic-volumes-1965/) that volumes are equal to 1965. Anyone who has lived and driven here for decades knows thats crap.

[Pinion]

Looking at photos like that make me call BS on the city's stats that traffic has been falling coming into downtown, or Gordon Price tumpeting (http://pricetags.wordpress.com/2012/06/25/extraordinary-facts-2010-downtown-traffic-volumes-1965/) that volumes are equal to 1965. Anyone who has lived and driven here for decades knows thats crap.

Without a doubt. I used to cross the city through downtown without hesitation all the time. Now it's only for dire circumstances. Only seen my brother at his place twice since he moved to Whalley and then South Surrey.

Stats can say anything you want them to say.

[spm2013]

When in doubt, throw up fake numbers and charts to support your agenda.

Like when they claim that the implementation of bicycle lanes causes less accidents. Well when you stop right turns on a red along that route then of course there is going to be less accidents. So is it a bike lane or the no turning on a red that is making things safer.

The only plausible reduction they should be claiming is any difference in accidents mid-block involving bicycles and cars.

[spm2013]

Also, knowing how these guys fudge numbers I wouldn't put it past them to take numbers during the Olympics when roads were closed down and compare that to 1965 numbers. And yes, there were multiple shooters on November 22. :)

http://pricetags.wordpress.com/2012/06/25/extraordinary-facts-2010-downtown-traffic-volumes-1965/

[WarrenC12]

When in doubt, throw up fake numbers and charts to support your agenda.

Like when they claim that the implementation of bicycle lanes causes less accidents. Well when you stop right turns on a red along that route then of course there is going to be less accidents. So is it a bike lane or the no turning on a red that is making things safer.

The only plausible reduction they should be claiming is any difference in accidents mid-block involving bicycles and cars.

So your counterpoint is simply that you don't agree with the numbers they've supplied? Great argument. :rolleyes:

[spm2013]

So your counterpoint is simply that you don't agree with the numbers they've supplied? Great argument. :rolleyes:

Well I agree with the accidents and intersection numbers. But they're taking credit for safety improvements related to accidents caused by right turn lanes. Sure you wouldn't have those restrictions without the lane. :rolleyes:

[s211]

A whole bunch of staff in our office are now waiting an extra hour or so before leaving the office because vehicular traffic's gotten so bad during rush hour.

And these are people that need their cars so don't go on another f'ing rant about why aren't they on transit. And speaking of transit, many people in the office that use transit are fed up with how overcrowded and slow it is.

Sorry, off topic. Back to really awesome golden age pictures.

[GlassCity]

A whole bunch of staff in our office are now waiting an extra hour or so before leaving the office because vehicular traffic's gotten so bad during rush hour.

And these are people that need their cars so don't go on another f'ing rant about why aren't they on transit. And speaking of transit, many people in the office that use transit are fed up with how overcrowded and slow it is.

Sorry, off topic. Back to really awesome golden age pictures.

Transit will never be as comfortable as driving, but it's really not as bad as some people pretend it is. I've stood on "crowded" skytrains before while people wait for the next one, even though there is plenty of space. This is a dense city of 2.3 million, of course it will be crowded. And they could always drive to a park and ride so they don't have to bus.

You say that they think it's too slow, but wouldn't it be faster than sitting in an office for an hour waiting for the cars to clear?

[s211]

Transit will never be as comfortable as driving, but it's really not as bad as some people pretend it is. I've stood on "crowded" skytrains before while people wait for the next one, even though there is plenty of space. This is a dense city of 2.3 million, of course it will be crowded. And they could always drive to a park and ride so they don't have to bus.

You say that they think it's too slow, but wouldn't it be faster than sitting in an office for an hour waiting for the cars to clear?

When a lady in the office complains that a bus was so crowded she had to stand on one foot a, declares it the last straw and denounces transit, and she's a card-carrying leftie, and would rather sit in traffic than stand on a bus, then you know the system is failing.

[SpongeG]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AF3plZBCPk4/Uto8StVlnGI/AAAAAAAAaE4/BSkO-Aqfk20/s1600/Vancouver,+Canada+of+1970s+(29).jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oMIJtzIL0Ys/Uto8Ujb2y0I/AAAAAAAAaFc/bymZ1futXt0/s1600/Vancouver,+Canada+of+1970s+(31).jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Rkdxc3MfGA/Uto8M9kg_4I/AAAAAAAAaDY/IHss9BJZUYA/s1600/Vancouver,+Canada+of+1970s+(15).jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JfvARQO8PDE/Uto8XLtP6lI/AAAAAAAAaGQ/Lka9-UK2Mds/s1600/Vancouver,+Canada+of+1970s+(8).jpg

many more pics to look at where these came from source (http://www.vintag.es/2014/01/beautiful-color-photographs-of.html)

and more here (http://www.vintag.es/2014/01/streets-of-vancouver-in-1977-78.html)

[Klazu]

Very interesting photos. Thank you for posting!

[whatnext]

There's nothing like Kodachrome. You can find POP SNAP's complete photostream on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49469560@N07/sets/

[osirisboy]

Wow it looked like a dump back then

[Klazu]

Few interesting ones that caught my eye (sorry, not sure how to link them from Flickr).

Robson Street (http://www.flickr.com/photos/49469560@N07/8261850047/in/set-72157631588622786/)

Coal Harbour before being built. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/49469560@N07/8198216223/in/set-72157631588622786) Didn't know The Cube was already there!

Where is this building (http://www.flickr.com/photos/49469560@N07/9196053447/in/set-72157631588622786) located? It looks like it could be from the 2000s.

Same with this one (http://www.flickr.com/photos/49469560@N07/11951277554/in/set-72157631588622786). Is that Skytrain under construction?

[officedweller]

Few interesting ones that caught my eye (sorry, not sure how to link them from Flickr).

Where is this building (http://www.flickr.com/photos/49469560@N07/9196053447/in/set-72157631588622786) located? It looks like it could be from the 2000s.

Same with this one (http://www.flickr.com/photos/49469560@N07/11951277554/in/set-72157631588622786). Is that Skytrain under construction?

Bellevue Ave. would be in West Vancouver.

The other is the Park Royal office tower and elevated roadway.

[itinerant]

Edit: Looks like officedweller beat me to it.


Where is this building (http://www.flickr.com/photos/49469560@N07/9196053447/in/set-72157631588622786) located? It looks like it could be from the 2000s.

West Vancouver 1960's apartment building on Bellevue Avenue called The Shoreland.
https://www.google.ca/maps?ll=49.329583,-123.170471&spn=0.001745,0.002414&t=h&z=19&layer=c&cbll=49.329633,-123.170634&panoid=dq8PQ68ak-MDr93X3ppvYg&cbp=12,148.06,,0,1.4


Same with this one (http://www.flickr.com/photos/49469560@N07/11951277554/in/set-72157631588622786). Is that Skytrain under construction?
1970's office building on west bank of the Capilano River in West Vancouver, just south of Marine Drive. Those things that looks like part of Skytrain are the supports for the ramp from the bridge over the Capilano River (to the right) that goes to present-day Future Shop on upper level of Park Royal South.

[Pinion]

Coal Harbour before being built. (http://www.flickr.com/photos/49469560@N07/8198216223/in/set-72157631588622786) Didn't know The Cube was already there!

It was nice in those days because you could see Burrard inlet from under the cube.

I came back to Vancouver in 1987 but still feel very nostalgic looking at those pics.

[spm2013]

There are some photos of the Westcoast building under construction in the Vancouver Archives (they aren't on the web because of copyright, so you can only see the thumbnails..)

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/;search?query=westcoast+under+construction

Also if you look at some old photos the area was filled with a lot of industrial/port facilities and it's more park like now than in the 60s (minus the condo towers).

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/ruins-of-stanley-park-armouries-horse-show-building-1900-west-georgia-street-after-fire;rad

[Klazu]

Nice aerial of Downtown from the beginning of last century.

http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/8/9/897440/ee54b68d-1f24-417f-b491-0956e3d4522f-A42965.jpg
http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca

[officedweller]

Thanks.
There appear to be 3 large buildings at the eastern foot of Robson Street (on Beatty) - where Terry Fox Plaza is (and the former approach to the Connaught Bridge) - I suppose those were demolished for the old bridge access (or does the access skirt those buildings, as a bridge seems visible there)?

[Spork]

Now that's an interesting angle.

Of note:
-What is that tall cylindrical thing in the middle of the photo?
-Note that you can see Central Park off in the distance with its trees standing tall. (EDIT: Or is that QE park?)

[officedweller]

That's the gasometer - a coal burning facility (the cause of much of the contaminated soils in the area).

http://illustratedvancouver.ca/post/69091464439/carrall-street-gas-plant

and that would be Central Park in the distance.

[Jebby]

Nice aerial of Downtown from the beginning of last century.

Beginning? If I'm not mistaken I see the current Hotel Vancouver in that shot, meaning it's post-1939. The Marine building is also there which was built in 1930.

So I'd day mid-last century.

[Klazu]

Beginning? If I'm not mistaken I see the current Hotel Vancouver in that shot, meaning it's post-1939. The Marine building is also there which was built in 1930.

Thanks. I didn't know the exact year when posting this, but was thinking it would be around that era. Although, you must admit that the view itself looks like it could as well be from the 19th century! :)

Considering that it's only 75 years old photo, it's truly remarkable to see how much this city has changed. I mean, there are still people alive that remember Vancouver looking like that, so just think how they may feel about this city having changed during their lifetime! It must be mindblowing! :)

[vansky]

population must've been around half a mllion back then, which means...most of vancouver city roads were laid out already, and it hasn't change all that much. many bridge were built pre-60s, and they are still there. i'm not sure why u would want to c anything replaced over maintenence, as it is history. vancouver is the demonstration of north american city planning, architecture and culture in the past 100 years, many malls and parking lots were built around the 60s. it still is classic in terms of shopping and car culture, despite being over taken in size, grandiousity, and aesthetic by malls around the world.

and despite borrowing ideas from other places, it's still a very typical north american city.

people else where are nothere to see what they could see back then in their homeland, they are here to get a taste of canada and north amrica, i'd strongly recommend the city to go back to seriously consider widening highways, building bigger parking lots and suburban shopping experience, perhaps, even striek a few 300ms just to show the world who's the real fetish for technology and consumerism.

but families hsould have 1 car for weekly shopping and entertainment, buses pass for work and bikes with motors for short distance travellnig.

[Tetsuo]

Beginning? If I'm not mistaken I see the current Hotel Vancouver in that shot, meaning it's post-1939. The Marine building is also there which was built in 1930.

So I'd day mid-last century.

but the picture has the Denman Arena that burned down in 1936

[Jebby]

but the picture has the Denman Arena that burned down in 1936

That is strange...What year was Hotel Vancouver topped out? I know it opened in May 1939, but I doubt it took 3 years between topping out and opening.

[whatnext]

The third Hotel Vancouver sat empty as a shell for several years due to the Depression.

[hollywoodnorth]

That's the gasometer - a coal burning facility (the cause of much of the contaminated soils in the area).

http://illustratedvancouver.ca/post/69091464439/carrall-street-gas-plant

and that would be Central Park in the distance.

also of note is what seems to be a 2nd Gasometer on what would be Clark Drive now. you can see it just above the Vancouver Sun building ..... see that?

looks like a set of 2 Gasometers ... small and large ..... interesting!