Venables Street

1902 July — the Board of Works approved a 3-plank sidewalk on Venables Street from Clark to Victoria Drive.i

1904 March — “Petitions for work were numerous. One from residents on the north side of Venables between Salsbury and Victoria Drives for a 3-plank sidewalk was referred to the Engineer to report.”ii

1906 February — The Clerk was instructed by the Board of Works “to write to the General Manager of the BCER to ask him if the Company intended double tracking Venables any further west as the City wishes to rock Venables this season.” The Board approved the following work: Woodland, between Venables & Williams, rocked. iii

1906 April – The work order for Venables to be cleared and graded from Victoria Drive to the City Limits was issued. In August it was noted that “the appropriation for the opening up of Venables Street from Victoria Drive to the City Limits has been over-expended by $50.87.” In September, the work was estimated at $1,050. Between December 1905 and September 1906 the Engineer actually spent $856.07 in labour and $213.56 in materials. The work was finally completed on 11th October. iv

1906 June – Appropriation #314 dated 18 June 1906 ordered the rocking of Venables from Clark to Park Drive (and then along Park Drive from Venables to Charles) at an estimated cost of $3,100. The work was reported as completed on 21 Dec 1906 at a cost of $1,330.36 labour and $1,697.85 materials.v

1906 August — “The appropriation for the opening up of Venables Street from Victoria Drive to the City Limits has been over-expended by $50.87 … The appropriation for the opening of 4th Avenue from Park Drive to Woodland Drive is within $41 at the present time of being exhausted.”vi

1906 September – Venables was rocked between Clark and Park Drives. The work was completed on 8th March 1907. vii

1906 October – A 3-plank sidewalk was laid on the north side of Venables between McLean Drive and 170’ east. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 31st December. viii

1907 May – A 3-plank sidewalk was laid on the north side of Venables from McLean Drive to a point 140’ west. George Freeman was the foreman and the work was completed on 23rd August.ix

1907 September – A 3-plank sidewalk was laid on the south side of Venables from Victoria Drive to a point 280’ east. The work was completed on 22nd November. That same month a sewer was laid along Venables from Clark to Park Drive. J. Dixon was the foreman and the work was completed on 24th December. x

1907 November – Henry Carreau wrote to the Board asking ”for a plank sidewalk on Venables Street northside from Park Drive to connect with the sidewalk already laid on part of this block.” This was agreed to and the work was completed on 8th January 1908. xi

1908 February: GPA urge “City Council to improve Venables east of Semlin Drive, that the people who are building may be able to get in with lumber and supplies.”xii

1908 April – The north side of Venables was rocked between Clark and Woodland Drives. The work was completed . 12th December. xiii

1908 November – a sewer was laid on Venables between Salsbury and Victoria Drives. Mills was the foreman and the work was completed on 7th January 1909. xiv

1909 April – A sewer was laid on Venables between Victoria Drive and a point 300’ east. White was the foreman and the work was completed on 29th April. xv

1909 July – 6’ concrete sidewalk proposed for both sides of Venables Street between Vernon Street and Victoria Drive. Cost $7,440.84 with city paying $257.26 under By Laws 563 and 624.xvi

1910 June – A sewer was laid on the north side of Venables between Clark and Woodland. The work was completed on 12th December. xvii

1910 July – George Freeman’s work team was ordered to “lower sewer connections” on Venables “east of Park Drive.” xviii

1911 May – 45’ wide asphalt pavement with concrete curbs proposed for Venables between Vernon and Victoria Drive at a cost of $60,040.00 with city paying $31,045.00. xix

1912 April – 36’ vitrified brick pavement was proposed for Venables from Commercial to Victoria Drives at a cost of $23,600 with city paying $3,601. However, this proposal was defeated. xx

i  Board of Works, Minutes 10 Jul 1902, CVA, MCR-36 Roll 2

ii  Vancouver Daily World 4 Mar 1904, p.5                                                                                                      

iii  Board of Works Minutes, 27 Feb 1906, CVA, MCR-36 Roll 2

iv  WO 699, 19 Apr 1906, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2; City Comptroller to City Engineer 20 Aug 1906, CVA, City Engineer Letters Incoming, 129-A-4 File 4; Appropriation #312 accounting, CVA, Series 356, Street Improvements 1905-1906, 134-D-5

v  Appropriation #314 accounting, CVA, Series 356, Street Improvements 1905-1906, 134-D-5. A marginal note says “not complete.”

vi                City Comptroller to City Engineer 20 Aug 1906, Letters Incoming, CVA 129-A-4 File 4

vii  WO 1076, 29 Sep 1906, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

viii  WO 1135, 30 Oct 1906, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

ix  WO 1413, 18 May 1907, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

x  Vancouver Daily World 1907 Jul 26, p.5; WO 1602, 14 Sep 1907, WO 1622, 25 Sep 1907, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xi  Henry Carreau to Board of Works dated 4 Nov 1907, CVA, Series 342, Board of Works, Letters Reported 19 Nov 1907, 129-A-5 File 22; WO 1755, 29 Nov 1907, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xii  GPA Minutes, 1908 Feb 11

xiii  WO 2036, 4 Apr 1908, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xiv  WO 2622, 25 Nov 1908, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xv  WO 2949, 8 Apr 1909, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xvi  Schedule published 7 July 1909, CVA, Series 356, Proposed Local Improvements, 134-A-2 File 1

xvii  WO 4225, 21 Jun 1910, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xviii  WO 4270, 5 Jul 1910, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xix  Schedule published 5 May 1911, CVA, Series 356, Proposed Local Improvements, 134-A-2 File 1

xx  Schedule published 2 April 1912, CVA, Series 356, Proposed Local Improvements, 134-A-2 File 1