August in Vancouver History
byVancouver was incorporated in April of 1886 and the months that followed were full of growth, development, and unfortunately a giant setback in the form of the Great Vancouver Fire. By the time August rolled around, the city was rebuilding and as Chuck Davis notes in his History of Metropolitan Vancouver, it was usually a time when new technologies were introduced to the city. Here are just a few advancements that happened in Vancouver, in August, over the last century:
August in Vancouver History
1895: Old Market Hall on Main Street. Archives# City P6.
August 2, 1897
There was an “Ethiopticon Kinetoscope” exhibition today at Vancouver’s Market Hall, bringing motion picture movies to the city for the first time.
August 3, 1939
Vancouver’s police department cars had two-way radios installed.
1898: English Bay. Archives# Be P124.
August 6, 1898
Telephones were installed at English Bay, the cost to use them was 5 cents.
1912: BC Electric Railway Company’s interurban tram station. Archive# LGN 1162.
August 8, 1887
A switch was thrown and the first electric lights came on in Vancouver.
August 11, 1915
Premier Richard McBride was on the North Shore to open up Marine Drive, an important arterial road that opened up areas like Caulfeild.
August 13, 1977
The Vancouver Lookout, atop Harbour Centre, opened on this day. Neil Armstrong, who had already made a set of famous footprints on the moon, came up and left a fresh set in concrete at this Vancouver attraction.
August 23, 1990
The Surrey campus of Kwantlen University College opened.
August 25, 1960
Premier W.A.C. Bennett opened the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing in a solemn ceremony that commemorated the men who had died in its construction.
August 26, 1957
At midnight, one-way streets were instituted, changing the way we get around downtown Vancouver.
August 31, 1957
Elvis Presley performed one song at Empire Stadium and had to leave the stage when fans began to battle with police. He returned to sing four more songs, none of which could be heard over the screaming.
Sources: Vancouver History. Related Posts: January 1st in Vancouver History, February in Vancouver History, March in Vancouver History, July in Vancouver History, October in Vancouver History, November in Vancouver History, December in Vancouver History.
