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Some long gone greats: historical Victoria photos


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#1 Scaper

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Posted 25 September 2006 - 09:34 PM

This is now the Royal Bank Building on Douglas.



This was replaced by a really ugly four story building on Douglas.





THESE NEXT TWO PHOTO'S ARE A GOOD COMPARISON OF WHAT DOUGLAS LOOKED LIKE IN THE 20'S AND HOW IT LOOKS TODAY.

CAN WE SAY WE LOST THAT BIG TOWN LOOK???





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#2 Number Six

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Posted 18 October 2006 - 09:25 PM

The old Second Empire Post Office is, in my opinion, the finest Ghost from our past. It was "deconstructed" in the mid-50's after the Post Office moved to the new Percy L. James building farther up Government. A truly magnificent building.



#3 aastra

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Posted 18 October 2006 - 09:40 PM

a-02798_141.jpg

 

pic from BC Archives...

Yep, that one is a heartbreaker.


Edited by aastra, 17 March 2021 - 12:29 PM.

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#4 aastra

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Posted 18 October 2006 - 09:42 PM

Here's another:

i-01662_141.jpg

 

pic from BC Archives...


Edited by aastra, 17 March 2021 - 12:28 PM.


#5 aastra

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Posted 18 October 2006 - 09:45 PM

I've seen this pic many times but only just now did I realize what this photograph is showing us...the covering up of the fine facade of the Oddfellows building.

i-26498_141.jpg

 

pic from BC Archives...


Edited by aastra, 17 March 2021 - 12:27 PM.


#6 Holden West

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Posted 18 October 2006 - 09:45 PM

That's the Federal building site today--corner of Yates and Government. The building holding the Street clothing store is on the left. What a loss.
"Beaver, ahoy!""The bridge is like a magnet, attracting both pedestrians and over 30,000 vehicles daily who enjoy the views of Victoria's harbour. The skyline may change, but "Big Blue" as some call it, will always be there."
-City of Victoria website, 2009

#7 aastra

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Posted 18 October 2006 - 09:47 PM

Another favourite:

d-05414_141.jpg

 

pic from BC Archives...


Edited by aastra, 17 March 2021 - 12:27 PM.


#8 aastra

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Posted 18 October 2006 - 09:48 PM

And another:

h-03013_141.jpg

 

pic from BC Archives...


Edited by aastra, 17 March 2021 - 12:25 PM.


#9 Holden West

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Posted 18 October 2006 - 09:49 PM

This thread is too depressing! Oh, the humanity! We need to invent a time machine--stop stuccoing the Odd Fellows building for the love of God!
"Beaver, ahoy!""The bridge is like a magnet, attracting both pedestrians and over 30,000 vehicles daily who enjoy the views of Victoria's harbour. The skyline may change, but "Big Blue" as some call it, will always be there."
-City of Victoria website, 2009

#10 Number Six

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Posted 18 October 2006 - 09:50 PM

yep ... that's a beauty. And it's a fine example of how optimistic they were in those days, building the first section of what was expected eventually to be a fine block of "big city" buildings.

#11 aastra

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Posted 18 October 2006 - 09:50 PM

And another (just in case anybody thinks we like all new development just because it's new):

b-00434_141.jpg

 

pic from BC Archives...

 

Edit: here are some 1860s/1870s buildings that are still around, just to lighten the mood a bit:

 

Church_of_Our_Lord_Victoria_from_Google_Streetview.jpg

 

Angela_College_Victoria_from_Google_Streetview.jpg

 

Temple_Emanu-El_Victoria_from_Google_Streetview.jpg


Edited by aastra, 17 March 2021 - 12:31 PM.


#12 aastra

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Posted 18 October 2006 - 09:52 PM

Wilson, what did they do to you?

e-01552_141.jpg

 

pic from BC Archives...


Edited by aastra, 17 March 2021 - 12:32 PM.


#13 aastra

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Posted 18 October 2006 - 09:53 PM

b-05372_141.jpg

 

pic from BC Archives...


Edited by aastra, 17 March 2021 - 12:33 PM.


#14 Oxford Sutherland

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Posted 18 October 2006 - 09:54 PM

This is too painful

#15 aastra

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Posted 18 October 2006 - 09:55 PM

Nobody's fault on this one, but it still hurts:

c-09021_141.jpg

 

pic from BC Archives...


Edited by aastra, 17 March 2021 - 12:34 PM.


#16 Number Six

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Posted 18 October 2006 - 09:56 PM

do any of you remember the stucco that covered the Synogogue on Blanshard? That was a butt ugly building which was transformed by removing the plaster and revealing the beauty underneath.

I toured the Oddfellows building during the open house on Canada Day. According to the guide the stucco is the only thing holding the bricks together. It seems the building is leaning outwards and there was a real danger of a collapse. Of course it could be repaired but the costs are not something the Oddfellows could afford (according to the guide).

#17 aastra

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Posted 18 October 2006 - 09:57 PM

Probably unrealistic to mourn one as old as this, but some of its contemporaries still stand (the synagogue, for example):

b-00458_141.jpg

 

pic from BC Archives...


Edited by aastra, 17 March 2021 - 12:35 PM.


#18 Number Six

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Posted 18 October 2006 - 10:09 PM

It's ok to mourn the Driard ... in fact it probably desevers more than usual as it demolished very recently, in the late 80's to make way for the new Eaton's Centre. The building in that picture (Driard House) was renovated into a larger hotel built over the Victoria Theatre that eventually became part of Spencer's Department store before being absorbed by Eaton's.

#19 Baro

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Posted 18 October 2006 - 10:12 PM

This thread is so sad. Not only were a lot of these build wonderfull looking, but many were in the 5-6 story range and then replaced by buildings half their height.. (or simply had their tops chopped off...)
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"beats greezy have baked donut-dough"

#20 aastra

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Posted 18 October 2006 - 10:17 PM

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

M01374_141.jpg

 

pic from city of Victoria archives...


Edited by aastra, 17 March 2021 - 12:38 PM.


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