Some while ago, I produced a Census Finding Aid for the 1911 Canada Census. Now that the 1921 Census data is available, I have made the same kind of aid for that series. The purpose here is to allow researchers looking for specific addresses or specific streetscapes to find the data they require more easily … Continue reading Census Finding Aid 1921
For the third year in a row, we have celebrated two-dozen Grandview houses that are at least 100 years old. This year's set focuses on groups of historic houses and includes, for the first time, a number of houses west of Commercial Drive – a sometimes overlooked historic area that has been infilled with quite … Continue reading The 2014 set of Centenary Signs houses
I spent the day in Chilliwack, at their archives. It was my first visit, both to the city and to the institution. It was a partly cloudy and a partly sunny day, great both for the highway and for walking around. It was neat to be out of the big city, I have to say. … Continue reading Chilliwack Archives
We had another interesting meeting last night, with even more newcomers filling out the room. It was great to see them. After introductions, Penny reported on the response to the 2014 Centenary Houses project. She and Maria delivered 35 letters of proposal about two weeks ago, and we have already heard back positively from about … Continue reading Meeting Notes: May 2014
"Cities need old buildings so badly it is probably impossible for vigorous streets and districts to grow without them." This is something to keep in mind as we fight to preserve the things we love about our wonderful Grandview neighbourhood!
Today is the third anniversary of the first ever meeting of the Grandview Heritage Group, sitting around Penny's table wondering what we might do with ourselves now that we were working together. Looking back, I don't think we have anything to worry about; what we have achieved in three short years has been magnificent. The … Continue reading Birthday #3 !!!
A friend sent me the link to the Blizzy63 Photostream, which is a feast of old postcards from around the province. I was interested to see images of St. Francis of Assisi monastery and church at Semlin and Napier, in the distinctive hand-tinted photographic format with cursive lettering of photographer Frank Gowen. I'd believed that … Continue reading Postcards of St. Francis of Assisi
There was a heavy rainstorm and a wintry wind last night, but still the came out for the latest of our regular monthly meetings. As always, the meeting was full of erudite and fun stuff: We discussed: The student program, working with UBG Geog. It didn't work very well for us this year. In fact, … Continue reading Meeting Notes: April 2014
The Daily World was perhaps the most important newspaper in Vancouver in the first decade or more of the twentieth century. At one point it claimed to carry more advertising inches than any other newspaper on the continent! When the paper was owned by Louis D. Taylor (our most-often elected Mayor) the profits were large … Continue reading The Daily World Made Available Online
Here is a fine review from the Courier of Maurice Guibord's walking tour of West Grandview. This is their image, too: Bravo, Maurice!
The New York Public Library has just made available a collection of 20,000 maps in high definition downloadable format. I am certain there will not be a single map of Grandview there, nor even of Vancouver, but I believe it is important to celebrate and praise the opening up of such material that previously was … Continue reading 20,000 Maps Made Available
We had about twenty people at our meeting last night, with a couple of new visitors. I don't think anyone was disappointed with all that we managed to cover in a couple of hours. Michael Kluckner gave a detailed and excellent illustrated talk that led us through the history of heritage legislation and regulation in … Continue reading Meeting Notes: March
This morning a number of us met with two sisters who had contacted us because their family had lived in Grandview from the early days. Their grandfather was Dr. Thomas Agnew who practised at First and Commercial Drive from 1916 to his death in 1948, and their uncle was Dr. Glen Agnew who joined his … Continue reading The Value of Family Papers
After some preliminary work, we are now ready to put together the list of buildings that we will celebrate with centenary signs this year. We have picked out some spots that we really want to include this time out, but we need to find more possibilities. The rule is that the building must be at … Continue reading Centenary House Signs Campaign 2014
Spotted at 1885 Venables today – a couple of guys securing the badly leaking roof of the Green House, indicating the city's desire to ensure the building doesn't suffer any more water damage while it evaluates its suitability for rehabilitation. Good news.
In the early 1960s there was great concern about the health, welfare and education of children in Grandview, and the apparent slumming down of the neighbourhood in general. In that period, much of the health and welfare delivery system was in the hands of United Community Services (UCS, which eventually morphed into United Way). On … Continue reading Fifty Years Ago Today
Here is a statement from the City through Senior Heritage Planner Marco D'Agostini about the Green House at 1885 Venables – the former rectory for Grandview Methodist Church referred to in previous posts. "The Vancouver East Cultural Centre with the support of the city is looking at possible retention of the Green House for the … Continue reading Green House Keeping?
As reported in the previous post, Scott's Grocery is having a close-out sale; Steve and Esther, who have run it for more than 20 years, are retiring to Burnaby, the building has been sold, and the new owner reportedly wants to build "apartments" on the RM4-zoned site. Here's Scott's in Google Street View: ... and … Continue reading Scott’s and other grocery stores
We had another excellent meeting last night, with some new people joining us for the first time. I think they had a good tme. Our discussions included: the Green House next to the Cultch. Michael reviewed the history of our involvement and our desire to see the building renovated rather than demolished. It was noted … Continue reading Meeting Notes: February
A petition has been launched in an effort to stop or at least slow down the wanton demolition of Vancouver's character houses. I would urge everyone to sign on at change.org.. The petition includes a poignant video which is sad but worth the two minutes or so it takes to watch: http://youtu.be/NwO3x9Xflmw
grandviewheritagegroup.ca 