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Built in 1911 at a cost of $150,000, Caroline Court continues to provide rental housing to this day. Once a dominant presence on this quiet residential street, it is now surrounded by massive towers.   

This 1930 image shows the old Vancouver Club, on the right, for sale. The current home of the club looks pretty much the same as it did when it was built in 1914, although its membership has changed significantly (the once 'men only' club is now presided over by a woman). The old property is now a small urban park with city-owned parking underground. 

The building on the left is from 1925, the one on the right from 1912. The imposing house seen in the background is from before 1900, and survived, surprisingly, until the 1980s. The buildings are part of the historic Victory Square neighbourhood, so the development plan for the block will incorporate the original facades into the new buildings. (1974 photo copyright City of Vancouver).

By the early 1900s the warehouse district in Gastown was full, and unable to keep up with the growing demand for freight handling with rail access. CPR cleared the area west of Homer Street, laid tracks in the street and provided loading docks, and Yaletown was born. Many of these warehouses are still standing, including this 1912 building. When this photo was taken in 1925, tenants included a liquor company controlled by Vancouver's Reifel family, whose sole purpose was to smuggle alcohol to the US during prohibition. 

In 1911, buildings like this were common, with stores on the ground floor and apartments above. Sadly, most of those old-timers are now gone, but this one has not only survived, it has been returned to its former glory.  The Michas family purchased it in 1958, and painstakingly restored it, retaining many of the original fixtures. (1985 photograph copyright City of Vancouver). 

Before 1929, this intersection marked the boundary between the towns of Vancouver, South Vancouver, and Point Grey (hence the sudden jog in the road).  The image shows the construction of the BC Electric Railway line along Oak Street just after the merger of the three municipalities.  The two buildings on the right of the 1929 photo are still standing. 

Another view of the iconic Dominion Building. The caption on this photo says 'the business centre of Vancouver in 1911.' 

 

There are very few old photos of Vancouver this far east. This one from 1965 shows the 800 block of East Hastings Street, including the Rice Block on the corner, which was built in 1912 at the height of Vancouver's building boom of the early 20th century. It has been restored and is owned by BC Housing, providing 42 units of affordable homes.

 

In an area once known as Shanghai Alley, the corner of Carrall and Pender Streets is steeped in the history of both Vancouver and China.  The Chinese Empire Reform Association once called 525 Carrall Street home, and across the street sits the Chinese Freemason Building. Both played an integral part in the evolution of China in the early 1900s. 

Streetcar tracks were being removed from Commercial Drive in this 1954 image taken by Walter E. Frost.  The BC Block and Florida Market buildings are still standing today.