Vancouver History: From the Archives

Comments 2 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Exploring more of Vancouver’s history this week I took a gander at the listed photograph subject terms that I can search through on the City of Vancouver Archives website.

Finding some of the most obscure results, I thought it would be fun to post a few retrospective photos of our city, featuring some unusual imagery.

Circus Animals
1900-1910 – A Parade with elephants goes down Granville Street


Archives item#: CVA 677-1011

Croquet
1907 – A man and woman play croquet at Denman & Barclay (now Barclay Heritage Square)


Archives item#: CVA 677-119

Gazebos
1900-1910 – A gazebo-like shelter dubbed the “summer house” at Prospect Point


Archives item#: St Pk P260

Radios
1931 – The Radio Sales Company installs a giant radio at Victory Square


Archives item#: CVA 99-4145

Soda Fountains
1914 – The interior of Cairns Drug Store located at 732 Granville


Archive item#: CVA 371-912

Tourist Trade
1905 – Investigate Vancouver, BC, Canada


Archives item#: CVA 677-565

Wrecking
1955 – The old Granville Bridge being demolished


Archives item#: CVA 447-132

Finally, you can search the following term on the archives website to find some amusing and somewhat puzzling photos of yore.

Wild Animals as Pets
1910 – A little girl in Vancouver (on Waterloo Street) and her pet Black Bear

I’ll continue the Then and Now photo series next week and I’m open to themes if you have any suggestions (ie. hotels, apartments, stores, streets, parks etc.)

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2 Comments  —  Comments Are Closed

  1. CaioTuesday, February 16th, 2010 — 11:53pm PST

    Thank you for the wonderful pictures. Sometimes I wish I could live in those old pictures. I am glad Vancouver stills pretty.. But know in a different way than in the past.

  2. Chuck DavisWednesday, February 17th, 2010 — 11:40am PST

    Miss 604: Thanks for these dandy photos. I’ve seen some of them before, but never the elephant parade shot. Why don’t you approach the Archives with a proposal for a book of offbeat local photos, with commentary?

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