722 replies to this topic

[Scaper]

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???

[Number Six]

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.

[aastra]

 

pic from BC Archives...

Yep, that one is a heartbreaker.

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

[aastra]

Here's another:

 

pic from BC Archives...

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

[aastra]

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.

 

pic from BC Archives...

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

[Holden West]

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.

[aastra]

Another favourite:

 

pic from BC Archives...

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

[aastra]

And another:

 

pic from BC Archives...

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

[Holden West]

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!

[Number Six]

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.

[aastra]

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

 

pic from BC Archives...

 

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

 

 

 

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

[aastra]

Wilson, what did they do to you?

 

pic from BC Archives...

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

[aastra]

 

pic from BC Archives...

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

[Oxford Sutherland]

This is too painful

[aastra]

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

 

pic from BC Archives...

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

[Number Six]

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).

[aastra]

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

 

pic from BC Archives...

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

[Number Six]

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.

[Baro]

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...)

[aastra]

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

 

pic from city of Victoria archives...

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