722 replies to this topic

[G-Man]

There was still one of those up and running at a park off Henderson. Will have to go see if it is still there.

[VicHockeyFan]

There were at least two and this was the first thing kids ran to in the playground. Another great thing that they got rid of in the park was the big wooden swings for 2 where you faced each other . You could really get then swinging high but there was a painful flaw in the design. If your feet were under the seat area when swinging it high there woudl be a major pinch point that could break bones. It was a safety issue and a liabilty so the City Axed then. there used to be one in Oak Bay near the Oak Bay Marina on the lawn. But Beacon Hill Park had many of then.

Ya, those were great, but did have that danger if you were quite serious about power-swinging.

[Jill]

Is the one in the park near the marina (Queen Elizabeth Park?) no longer up? My children used it not that long ago, while I stood and watched and remembered using one of the Beacon Hill Park swings. Anything like that now gives me motion sickness.

[Bingo]

It used to be great...but Mayfair Lanes has been gone since 2006, and now there is only a makeshift skateboard park, and a few crows.
http://www.canada.co...83-49e98eeb54e8

[sebberry]

I didn't take Satan for a skateboarder.

[Bingo]

Is the one in the park near the marina (Queen Elizabeth Park?) no longer up? My children used it not that long ago, while I stood and watched and remembered using one of the Beacon Hill Park swings.

Queen's Park - near the Oak Bay Marina

[Holden West]

I like to say, "The great buildings that Victoria has lost would constitute a fine city unto themselves."

 

Someone on one of the Old Victoria Facebook groups is wondering if one of these retaining walls is a remnant of the old brewery:

 

[D.L.]

If it is it certainly isn't anything from the buildings that stood on Government St. It's way too far from Government St. for that. The brewery could have extended further though.

[VicHockeyFan]

I don't know what's behind the back wall, but the one that runs north/south and separates the postal lot from Paul's does seem a bit odd to have been built on purpose for what it does now.

 

 

 

[D.L.]

The aerial photo accessed on this page - http://vintageairpho...com/bo-47-1450/   (click the picture to open the pop-up) shows nothing substantial at that location in 1947. The brewery complex extends only half way down the block, so not far enough for the wall.

[VicHockeyFan]

Anybody remember Rudy's Petpark Zoo?  I'd never heard of it until yesterday.

 

More:   http://www.amazon.co...a/dp/B00FDNYGRC

[sebberry]

Interesting find...

[Sparky]

^^ Ya it was up at the end of Durrance Lake Road. I think we have some old 110 photos hanging around. I will look on a rainy day.

[aastra]

Douglas Street before there were deer:

https://www.flickr.c...08/17170459189/

[Hotel Mike]

Are those windows, right behind the street car, now covered with stucco on the Oddfellows Building?

[G-Man]

Yes that is correct.

[Nparker]

Are those windows, right behind the street car, now covered with stucco on the Oddfellows Building?

[aastra]

It seems like large arched windows just had a run of bad luck in Victoria's old town:

 

pic from https://archives.vic...-johnson-street

 

Same spot today...

 

***

 

Bay windows were just as cursed:

 

pic from https://archives.vic...-johnson-street

 

Same corner today...

Edited by aastra, 20 November 2019 - 05:25 PM.

[Bingo]

I see the old gas pump at the side of the road.

I hope the buried fuel tank isn't down there leaking into the harbour.

 

[aastra]

That formerly beautiful building reminds me again how the heritage movement in Victoria has run off the rails. Nobody seems to care about the glorious "before" image. But they work damn hard to preserve (and impose) the flavourless sandblasted post-war "after" image.