This site had its beginning in February 2014. It is a record of my journey of learning about local Vancouver history (and now has over 550 posts).
I’ve made an effort to ensure that the information conveyed here is as accurate as I can make it and in some small way to shed new light on each subject treated. If you are interested, please join me on this venture of discovery and learning!
For a few examples of another, earlier project, see the videos here: Vancouver Street Corner Histories.
Enjoy!
M.
Vancouver As It Was: A Photo-Historical Journey 
I have to say it, your blog is totally underrated! You’ve had some brilliant posts, and I ought to be paying more attention and sharing more often!
I’m much obliged to you for this affirming comment. I appreciate it.
Really enjoyable site. Well presented. Keep up the good work here.
Thanks for your affirmation!
I have spent hundreds of hours looking through the VPLs Historical Photos collection and, apparently, I need to visit the archives because your samples are really great, and many are of things I haven’t seen elsewhere. If you happen to see a delivery van like the one included at the link below, please let me know. In the meantime, I look forward to seeing what you post.
http://www.victoriajvan.blogspot.ca/
I’m pleased to hear that you are discovering images on VAIW that are new to you. I’m not aware of a van like the one shown at the link. But if you are a vintage auto fan, you may find the following CVA photos of interest:
http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/1000-haro-street-north-side-5
http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/218-union-street-front
http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/255-prior-street-front
http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/400-homer-street-west-side-5
You may also be interested in seeing this image of Oxford Motors on Burrard St. during the WWII years. It is a Morris seller. Although there are no visible Morris vans in this image, it might be a clue to finding out more about early Morris vehicles sold in Vancouver…
http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/p-c-p-c-r-p-building-before-new-front-constructed-at-650-burrard-street
FWIW, the photo of the Court House Paint In with the MG roadster is backwards. Regardless, I enjoyed the photos
You’re correct. CVA occasionally scans the image incorrectly. I’ve made the change on my site, however. Thanks for noticing and commenting!
re Fine Work by Unknown Artist from Waitt’s VIEWS BRITISH COLUMBIA & ALASKA
The publication is a Leporello album, printed c1889. The first image of Victoria is signed “Louis Glaser, Leipzig.” (6mm wide x .5mm high) The images are actually lithographs, printed from 5 or more stones each, from an image separated into tonal values (not colour) by Glaser’s employees (up to 200 at one time).using the Glaser method which he developed. The lighter colours are printed first, the darkest last, with the darker colours being printed in glossier ink, giving the images an appearance of depth. The photographer is currently unknown to me for this album. Glaser is supposed to have printed 300 such albums for 200 different publishers around the world, and at one time also had an office in New York (probably not where he printed). He also did thousands of postcards. I purchased a VIEWS online and inspected it closely. The signature is not visible in the posted image, and most pages have multiple images (not as posted).
Thank you for commenting in such detail.
Nice work Gary!
I’ve just been cleaning my bookshelves and found a tiny little book called “Recollections of Early Vancouver in My Childhood 1893 – 1912 by Dr. Gladys C. Schwesinger, Ph. D.” I am an inveterate Value Village snooper and must have found it there. I will keep it aside for you if you would like it. I think I probably have other obscure publications on my shelves, as well. I’m a retired English teacher but used to teach Social Studies now and then. The Schwesinger book consists of detailed recollections and photographs. I also have the giant history of the Shaw family,
if you’d like that. You are archiving history. I am just collecting books. Thank you, by the way, for your wonderful site.
Hi, I am just wondering if I could “borrow” some of your work for one particular listing. I am writing a book myself and would give you credit, of course.
I just came upon your posts and my grandmother was Mary Eunice Barr. You mention her in your post from 2017 as she was the original owner of The Book of Roberts that you have. Dr. Fewster was her doctor and he delivered my mother! Let me know if you’d like to know anything about her. FYI, my mother has a copy of the history of the Vancouver Poetry Society.
Thanks for commenting! Would you like to own my Book of Roberts? If so, let me know; we can work out some sort of means of getting it to you.
I just came across your post about Save-On Meats, my grandfather is Sonny Wosk and I’m so grateful you were able to find information about him! Thank you for this amazing site.
Happy to see the mention of Toronto sculptor Merle Foster in The Neglected Place of George William Paterson in Local History. I’m Foster’s biographer. I have pix from the family of the Fathers of Confederation under construction.
Just popped by to say thank you so much for creating and sustaining this blog. Every post, regardless of the subject, is truly excellent – because the quality of writing is excellent. A rare thing in today’s world.
Cheers
Lawrence
Thank you very much for your very affirming remarks! I appreciate them.
I really love this website. I know it takes A LOT of work and passion to take on a project like this so thank you so much for doing the work and making these wonderful photos and insights available to us all 🙂
Thanks very much for your generous affirmation. I truly appreciate it!
Great website! Ed Bowes’ (Bonds) nickname was Ned, not Ted, tho
Thanks for the correction.
Absolutely love this blog! Such great tidbits of information! I stumbled upon it by looking for Jackson T. Abray’s Cosmopolitan Hotel photos as he did own it, not just manage 😉
Thanks so much for making the time to say so!
Hi
I just saw ‘Freeze Varmint’ from 2016. Nice sleuthing on the picture! The ‘Arlington’ was brand new in 1889, developed by Dr. James Whetham. (It wasn’t called the Arlington until some years later).
The Rogers Block is still standing – (the red painted building with the Emery businesses). It was developed by Jonathan Rogers in 1894 and then1898 (using different architects) He later built the Rogers Block on Granville. His wife Elizabeth had her name associated with a few developments, often next to one carried out by her husband. https://buildingvancouver.wordpress.com/2011/08/28/jonanthan-rogers/
The vacant site today was home to The Hunter Block, developed by Thomas Hunter, probably in 1902. https://changingvancouver.wordpress.com/2018/11/08/hunter-block-west-hastings-street/
Hello! I just wanted to thank you for your 2017 article on Charles Findlater and the Elgar Choir (The Happy Wanderers). I suppose because the article is older, I wasn’t able to comment there. But I am Charles and Amy’s great granddaughter, and I was doing a little research when I chanced upon your article. It was lovely to read all of the details, and see some comments from fellow members. Both my father and my aunt were in the choir, but regrettably, both have passed on. So for me, detailed information is limited to articles such as yours (if I am lucky enough to find them), and I deeply appreciate the work you did. Thank you for helping me find another little piece of my family’s history. You never know when something you’re writing about will touch someone’s heart and mean a lot to them. Keep up the great work!
Thanks very much for this very generous comment, Angela. I appreciate it. I must say, that in this post, I depended heavily on the recollections of my friend and former Findlater choir member, Nancy Nelson (nee Haines). Sadly, Nancy passed away late in 2021. I miss our correspondence. Thanks again for your comment.