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This Edwardian style home in Mount Pleasant was built in 1912 at a cost of $2500. (1975 image from Vancouver Photo Archives).

Serving ice cream treats and childhood memories for Kitsilano-ites since at least 1972. (1972 photograph from Vancouver Photo Archives). 

Vancouver's oldest building was once part of Hastings Mill, Gastown's first sawmill, and the first commercial business to operate in what would become the City of Vancouver. The store was located in the back of the mill at the foot of what is now Dunlevy Street. The footpath between the mill and Gassy Jack's saloon became Alexander Street. Built in 1865, it was one of the few buildings to survive the 1886 fire that leveled the City. It briefly served as hospital and morgue for victims of the fire. After the mill closed in 1928 the structure was moved to its present location at the foot of Alma Street, and houses a variety of artifacts from Vancouver's early years. (1930-ish image from Vancouver City Archives.)

This 1925 secondary school on Vancouver's West Side was named after Julian Hedworth George Byng, a hero of Vimy Ridge and Canada's Governor General at the time. Notable alumni include Cobie Smulders, Dan Mangan and Ross Rebagliati. (1925 photo from Vancouver City Archives). 

In 1924 Bekins Moving and Storage purchased the Sun Building at Pender and Beatty and opened their first office in Canada. The company was a pioneer in the moving business, operating the largest fleet of moving vehicles in the country. In 1937 the company sold the Sun Building and moved to this facility in Kitsilano. It remained their Canadian headquarters for over 40 years. It has since been used as a Canadian Tire, then a sporting goods store, and now a Dollarama. And the catalpa tree has been standing silently, watching it all over the years. (1977 photo from POP SNAP).

There have been lots of stores and restaurants calling this corner home over the years, and this 1965 building at York and Yew is still going strong. So are the trees across the street. There is always lots of foot traffic in this bustling neighbourhood. Thanks to Linda Beaulieu who provided me with this photograph, and to her parents who built the building.  

When the Canadian Pacific Railway linked Vancouver with the rest of the country in 1885, people migrated here in droves. The City's population grew from 26,000 in 1901 to over 100,000 a decade later. General Wolfe Elementary was constructed in 1910 to meet the needs of the rapidly growing Cambie neighbourhood. It was named after General James Wolfe, who lost his life leading the battle of the Plains of Abraham. It's sturdy brick construction is a testament to the value that early South Vancouver residents placed on education. Trivia: The young boy in the famous 'Wait for me Daddy' photograph went to school here. (1912 photo from Vancouver Photo Archives.)

This 1921 Marpole school was named after the British Prime Minister at the time. It's Classical Revival design by the firm Twizell, Birds & Twizell earned it a City heritage designation, but in spite of that the school recently succumbed to the wrecking ball, as it was deemed to be seismically unsound. (1921 photo from Vancouver City Archives).  

This beautiful photo by Selwyn Pullan was taken in 1957, the year that the iconic BC Electric building was completed. It was designed by Ned Pratt and Ron Thom. Pullan was a prolific architectural photographer who studied under Ansel Adams. The 22-storey building was converted to residential condos in 1995 and rechristened the Electra. (1957 Selwyn Pullan photo).

The Hotel Georgia was finished in 1927 at a cost of $1.5 million. It has undergone several name changes and renovations over the years, and has hosted such distinguished guests as Nat King Cole, Elvis Presley and Queen Elizabeth. Its current owner, Pacific Reach Properties, purchased the hotel and the adjoining residential tower for $145 million. The  Georgian Revival style building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (1949 photo from Flickr.)