What's New

Recreation of a Greg Girard photograph from the 1970s. The building is currently a safe injection site run by Insite.  (1970s photo from GregGirard.com). 

Built in 1932 during the depths of the Great Depression, this Kitsilano gas station's neo-Spanish colonial style reflected a strong California influence that can be seen in several buildings throughout Vancouver. The gas station closed in the 1970s, and was replaced by a parade of restaurants, the most recent being Local, part of the Joey restaurant group. (1932 photo from VPL Digital Archives.)

 Peter and Betty George opened this popular ice cream shop in 1945. It quickly became a local landmark, providing memories for families and kids throughout Kitsilano.  (1970 photo from Vancouver City Archives). 

Capilano Brewing Company was founded in 1934 by Fritz Sick, whose family owned breweries throughout Canada and the US. After moving from this location to 1550 Burrard Street, Capilano Brewing was purchased by Molson's in 1958. (1941 Leonard Frank photo from Vancouver City Archives). 

Great Kodachrome photo of 1970s Vancouver from Pop Snap. (1970s photo from Pop Snap).

In 1885, while the Metis and the Canadian Government were battling it out on the Prairies, the Statue of Liberty was making its way from France to New York City. And oh yeah,  Lachlan Hamilton took a break from surveying and naming Vancouver's streets to shoot this image of False Creek from what is now Sunset Beach. (1885 image from Vancouver City Archives).

Although the photo is not old (1974), this house is one of the oldest in the Dunbar neighbourhood.  The Morrisette family built their home in 1912, across the street from a 10 acre parcel of land that they farmed. It has heritage status now, and is being carefully renovated into a private residence again, after a career as a rest home. (1974 photo from Vancouver City Archives). 

Ernie Hammond started his furniture business in 1927, moving to this massive warehouse when it was built in 1937. For a time they also owned the building across the street (now home to Mr. Mattress). Hammond Furniture last appeared in City Directories in 1976. (1948 photo from Vancouver City Archives). 

Built in 1890, the Secord is one of Vancouver's oldest hotels outside of Gastown. It's location in the middle of Japantown was perfect for providing housing to families of workers at Hastings Mill just down the road. For years it was a liquor-free establishment, but by 1920 it had been taken over and renamed the Imperial Hotel, with a beer parlour on the ground floor. In 1947 the name was changed again to the Marr and it became a popular watering hole, until BC Housing purchased it and converted it into a SRO, managed by Atira.  (1890 photo from Vancouver Photo Archives). 

There has been a hotel at the corner of  Columbia, Powell and Alexander Streets since 1887. The present structure was built between 1905 and 1912, and was originally called the City Hotel. The railroad ran so close to the building that the corner had to be lopped off to accomodate it. Over the years it has been home to many bars and clubs, and after a major renovation is seeking tenants. (1973 photo from Vancouver city Archives).