William Street

1904 February — “A sidewalk on William Street for 3 blocks from Park Drive would cost $100. Laid over to the estimates.” This was in response to a proposal from J. Green and others which had been referred to the Engineer for a report. In June it was approved.i

1904 June — The Board received a request from a Mr Carter asking that William Street be opened from Park Drive to Cotton Drive, and Cotton Drive from Bismark to Charles. This was referred to the Engineer for a report. A week later, they agreed to open both William and Charles from Clark Drive to Park Drive. ii

1905 March — B.F. Mathius (?) et al asked for the opening of William as far as Lakewood Drive. H. Carter also asked for work on William from Park Drive to Cotton. The requests were put over for estimates. iii

1905 June – William Street from Clark to Park Drives was ordered to be ditched and leveled for an estimated cost of $2,200 under By-Law 508. The work from September 1905 to March 1906 actually cost $1,785.95 in labour and another $1,109.50 in materials.iv

1905 July – Appropriation #321 dated 17th July 1905 ordered the opening and grading of William Street from False Creek to Victoria Drive at an estimated cost of $1,700.v

Also in August, the Board recommended approval of Ald. McDonald’s request for a 3-plank walk on the southside of William between Woodland and Park Drive, and the extension of the sidewalk along Salsbury from Pandora Street two blocks southward. vi

1905 November — Ald. Morton requested that William Street be repaired from Park Drive to Victoria Drive. This was passed to the Engineer for a report. The Board passed to the chain gang the job of removing stumps on Park Drive between 4th and 5th Avenue. vii

1906 June – The work gang was instructed to remove stumps on the southeast corner of William and Victoria drive. The work was not completed until 6th November. viii

1906 July – The chain gang was ordered to remove stumps at William and Salsbury. ix

1907 May — R.A.W. Beach wrote that “Having purchased lots 8 & 9 block 5 William Street, may I ask that the road be cleared of stuff to allow the water pipes through … P.S. would it be possible to give us a sidewalk?” That same month, Willaim was cleared and graded from False Crook to Victoria Drive. The work was completed on 12th September. x

1907 May – William street was graded and rocked from Park Drive to Victoria Drive. xi

1907 June — Five residents petitioned the Board to “request a plank sidewalk be constructed from Woodland drive down the northside of William Street, then along the east side of McLean Drive to Napier Street. At present some of us in order to reach the road have to cross over other men’s property at a great inconvenience to them and us.” Three-plank sidewalks were laid on the north side of William from Woodland to McLean Drives and from Semlin to Lakewood Drives. George Freeman was the foreman for both pieces of work and the work was completed on 31st July and 7th September respectively. xii

1908 December – A sewer was laid along William from Park to Victoria Drives. The work was completed on 10th February 1909. xiii

1909 June – A sewer was laid along William Street from Victoria Drive to Lakewood. The work was completed on 26th July. xiv

1909 July – 6’ concrete sidewalk proposed for both sides of William between Clark and Victoria Drives. Cost $6,242.94 with city paying $333.52 under By Laws 563 and 624.xv

1912 June – 6’ concrete sidewalk is proposed for the south side of William Street from Victoria Drive to Lakewood Drive at a cost of $1,238.00 with the city paying $57.37.xvi

1912 June – 6” concrete curbs proposed for both sides of William between Victoria and Commercial Drives at a cost of $1,228.50 with the city paying $74.14.xvii

1913 December – 6’ concrete sidewalk proposed for both sides of William Street between Clark and Victoria Drives at a cost of $7,914.87 with the city paying $1,224.83.xviii

i  Board of Works, Minutes 18 Feb 1904, 9 Jun 1904, CVA, MCR-36 Roll2; Vancouver Daily World 1904 26 Feb, p.5

ii  Board of Works Minutes 2 Jun 1904, 9 Jun 1904, CVA, MCR-36 Roll 2

iii  Board of Works Minutes, 9 Mar 1905, CVA, MCR-36 Roll 2

iv  By-Law 508 accounting, CVA, Series 356, Street Improvements 1905-1906, 134-D-5

v  Appropriation #321, CVA, Series 356, Street Improvements 1905-1906, 134-D-5

vi                Board of Works Minutes, 10 Aug 1905, CVA, MCR-36 Roll 2

vii  Board of Works Minutes, 2 Nov 1905, 9 Nov 1905, CVA, MCR-36 Roll 2

viii  WO 848, 25 Jun 1906, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

ix  WO 945, 20 Jul 1906, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

x  R.A.W. Beach to Board of Works dated 29 May 1907, CVA, Series 342, Board of Works, Letters Reported 18th June 1907, 129-A-5 File 11; WO 1274, 15 Mar 1907, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xi  WO 1392, 9 May 1907, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xii  Petition to Board of Works dated 17 June 1907, CVA, Series 342, Board of Works, Letters Reported 2nd July 1907, 129-A-5 File 12; WO 1486, 25 Jun 1907, and WO 1511, 10 Jul 1907, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xiii  WO 2682, 3 Dec 1908, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

xiv  WO 3157, 5 Jun 1909, CVA, Series 356, Record of Work Orders 1906-1910, 128-B-2

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

xvi  Schedule published 15 Jun 1912, CVA, Series 356, Proposed Street Improvements, 134-A-2 File 1

xvii  Schedule published 28 Jun 1912, CVA, Series 356, Proposed Local Improvements, 134-A-2 File 1

xviii  Schedule published 12 Dec 1913, CVA, Series 356, proposed Local Improvements, 134-A-2 File 1