Back in May, I posted a first analysis of the 179 individuals who were counted as living on Park Drive (later known as Commercial Drive) at the time of the census in 1911. In this second part, I'll take a look at immigration patterns, employment, wages and the position of women. Of the 179 people, … Continue reading Who Lived Here In 1911 (Part 2)
We had a marvelous meeting last night, with lively discussion on a wide range of topics. These included: our Centenary Signs project (the signs will be ready next week); the age of the buildings on the 1200-block Lakewood Drive (1909 and 1910); wallpaper stylings in early heritage homes; the large number of "party hats" (or … Continue reading Meeting Notes
In an earlier post, we described how the Brandon Block on Commercial Drive was pushed back by seven feet when the street was widened in 1913. Further to that, I have now found the Local Improvement Schedule that includes the widening. The Schedule was published on 18th October 1911 and called for the widening of … Continue reading Widening Commercial Drive
Thanks to everyone who came out for the history tour of Commercial Drive yesterday morning. It was great fun, we raised a little bit of money for our centenary birthday signs project, and we had a good time. Thanks again for your support! And don''t forget Michael Kluckner's walk through Grandview next month.
In the late spring of 1939, as the political situation in Europe darkened and war with Germany became inevitable, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth toured Canada by train to meet their subjects and bolster the bonds of Empire From small-town whistle stops on the Prairies to bustling cities coast to coast, eager crowds cheered, … Continue reading The King and Queen Visit Grandview
I have spent more than a few days recently with my head in the Canada Census for 1911. The original census takers' sheets are now available on line (I'll have more to say on that at the end of this post.) and it is possible to build up a fairly detailed picture of the pioneers … Continue reading Who Lived Here In 1911? (part 1)
Historian Jak King will conduct a two-hour guided walk along Commercial Drive from Venables Street to Second Avenue. He will identify and discuss many of the heritage buildings along the route and relate stories of the people and businesses that occupied them. Meet up on the southeast corner of Venables & Commercial at 9:45am Saturday … Continue reading Commercial Drive Walking Tour: June 9th
The Alvarado Block, which still dominates the corner at Commercial & Graveley, opened for business one hundred years ago in 1912. Owners J.Y. Griffin and J.M. Brown received a building permit on the 7th April 1911 and they hired architects Townsend & Townsend to design a $16,000 three-storey brick edifice with stores and apartments. Townsend … Continue reading The Alvarado Block
In 1903 and 1904, Grandview (or "Grand View" as it was generally called then) was being opened, with uncleared lots being offered in dribs and drabs in the early months, and then in a rush as 1904 began. By early 1904, one particular realtor -- Dow, Fraser & Co. -- seemed to have cornered the … Continue reading How Grand View Was Sold
Today is the first day of Heritage Week. In BC, the theme is Power and Energy. In celebration, thereof, I offer this 1950 image of BC Electric workers fixing a power pole at Grant & Commercial (VPL 81076):Here is the same corner, Grant & Commercial, looking northwest in 2011:The first thing I notice is just … Continue reading Power, Energy, Change & Continuity
On February 12th, 1912, Thomas Shiels opened the Grandview Theatre movie house at 1712 Commercial. It is the white-arched building in the middle of this image. The building permit had been dated 10th October 1910, with J.J. Donellan as architect and Jones & Purvis as builders. In his opening advertizing in the Western Call, Shiels … Continue reading Grandview Theatre — 100 Years Ago Today
In August 1911, T.A. Allan and his brother received a building permit to erect a three-storey brick apartment building on the corner of Commercial & Fourth Avenue. In the previous two years, the Allan Brothers had erected large buildings at 1872 Barclay, 1460 Bute, 1860 Comox and 3216 E. First. By the spring of 1912, … Continue reading 4th & Commercial: 1912
Just to the east of Cotton Drive, site of the previous photo, stands Commercial Drive, and these are images taken the same year as the panorama of Grandview, one hundred years ago in 1912. The year 1912 saw the end of a major building boom that had been in play for a couple of years. … Continue reading Commercial Drive in 1912
I see that Liberty Wines are just about ready to open at 1622 Commercial, in the storefront that used to be Waazubee Cafe. I also see they are only taking the south side of what has now become a two-storefront building for the first time. The original property on this lot was an office with … Continue reading Creating A New Storefront
From the earliest days of Grandview's development, the lots on the southeast corner of Commercial and Grant were owned by the Odlum family. Professor Odlum, the pioneering patriarch of the family, built himself a large house on Grant Street, leaving the lots along Commercial vacant, paying taxes on them and keeping them neat. In this … Continue reading The Development of the 1500-block Commercial
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