Jump to content

      



























Photo

6 Pix from Number Six


  • Please log in to reply
19 replies to this topic

#1 Number Six

Number Six
  • Member
  • 261 posts

Posted 03 November 2006 - 10:09 PM

I was sorting through my folder of pix from the BC Archives and found half a dozen personal favourites that I don't believe have been featured on VV before.

The first is an 1860's photo showing a group of gents in front of Seeley's Hotel (present day Belmont Building) and the first James Bay bridge.



#2 Number Six

Number Six
  • Member
  • 261 posts

Posted 03 November 2006 - 10:13 PM

Next up is a great shot of the Post Office and Parliament Buildings under construction (circa 1896):



#3 Number Six

Number Six
  • Member
  • 261 posts

Posted 03 November 2006 - 10:17 PM

The next two show the construction of the causeway in the early 1900's:





#4 Number Six

Number Six
  • Member
  • 261 posts

Posted 03 November 2006 - 10:21 PM

an 1880's photo of the "Mousequetaires" Saloon at the corner of Government and Johnson:



#5 Number Six

Number Six
  • Member
  • 261 posts

Posted 03 November 2006 - 10:30 PM

and finally a photo that has always amazed me. This one shows the Victoria Theatre at the turn of the last century (it was eventually incorporated into Spencer's Department store and then Eaton's before being demolished in the late 1980's).

The line up of people waiting to enter this grand building demonstrates that Victoria was certainly vibrant, at least 106 years ago.



#6 Holden West

Holden West

    Va va voom!

  • Member
  • 9,058 posts

Posted 03 November 2006 - 11:14 PM

Wow, great pictures. The Douglas/View building with the round corner is fantastic and has been posted and admired before.

I've posted this before. On the right is the Victoria Theatre/Eatons building shortly before it was demolished. You can see how it was "modernized" at some point. The art deco panels in the Marks and Spencer were moved over to the McDonald's seen under construction on the right.


"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 zoomer

zoomer
  • Member
  • 2,144 posts
  • LocationVictoria - Downtown

Posted 03 November 2006 - 11:23 PM

Wonderful pictures..I could look at those all day.

What annoys me is how those incredible pictures are only available in such poor resolution and quality to the public. I can't wait for the day (if ever) that we can download high quality digital reproductions of these like we can of Charles Cushman's pics (one of Victoria at the bottom taken on Sept 17, 1938)

Anyways, while you mention the vibrancy of your last picture I'm even more amazed on the grand plans of the post office and obviously more so of the parliament buildings considering the rather ungrand and rather unurban surrondings at the time!! Victoria dreamed big back then...whatever happened to us since? Have we become so pragmatic, boring, fearful, concerned with the bottom line that we can no longer
dream...?





#8 Holden West

Holden West

    Va va voom!

  • Member
  • 9,058 posts

Posted 03 November 2006 - 11:38 PM

Victoria dreamed big back then...whatever happened to us since? Have we become so pragmatic, boring, fearful, concerned with the bottom line that we can no longer
dream...?


Just consider how wide Victoria's arterial streets were designed all those decades ago compared to other BC towns. Victoria was seen very early as a major Capital city (despite the single family houses and tennis courts surrounding the Legislature!).

The [url=http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/cushman/index.jsp:471ac]Cushman archive[/url:471ac] is fantastic--tragically he only took a single roll of colour slide film while he was in Victoria in 1938. What we would give for 100 photos or more! Hint: use search term: Vancouver Island
"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

#9 zoomer

zoomer
  • Member
  • 2,144 posts
  • LocationVictoria - Downtown

Posted 04 November 2006 - 12:08 AM

Yes, it's amazing really that Cushman's only real pictures of Canada (despite being so well travelled) were in Victoria. Ok, a couple of Niagara Falls, and a few from airplanes while flying over Canada but that's about it.

Here's another cool one of View street in 1944. Decidely less vibrant, but oh so beautiful!

VICTORIA; VICTORY LOAN PROMOTION ON LAMP POST ON VIEW STREET.



#10 gumgum

gumgum
  • Member
  • 7,069 posts

Posted 04 November 2006 - 12:12 AM

Great pics.
The one with the kids I love the most.

#11 Number Six

Number Six
  • Member
  • 261 posts

Posted 04 November 2006 - 10:07 AM

I love the Cushman photos ... I had never seen them before. It's also the first time I've seen a colour photo of the beautiful but sad female Kermodei bear that was kept in Beacon Hill Park for 24 years (the attitude towards animals is one part of our heritage I do *not* miss).

It would be great to see the the provincial archive provide higher resolution versions of these photos (without having to pay for dye sublimation prints). Some great examples are contained in Keith McLaren's book "Light on the Water" ... some truly stunning images of the inner harbour.

Here are a couple of interesting City of Victoria Archive links to check out:

The H.U. Knight fonds (a few photos have appeared here before):

http://aabc.bc.ca/aabc/cityofvictoria/KnightWebGallery/knight_list.htm

These are short video's called "Victoria Vignettes" that are often played on the Shaw Cable channel:

http://www.victoria.ca/archives/archives_vct.shtml

#12 Holden West

Holden West

    Va va voom!

  • Member
  • 9,058 posts

Posted 04 November 2006 - 10:54 AM

I had a hunch the Seattle Archives might have some local content and I was right--although it's only a couple of photos:

Island Highway, 1913:



Trounce Alley, 1967:


"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

#13 m0nkyman

m0nkyman
  • Member
  • 729 posts

Posted 04 November 2006 - 10:57 AM

Is this the fountain that is (semi) preserved at the bottom right of the world's ugliest mural?


#14 Number Six

Number Six
  • Member
  • 261 posts

Posted 04 November 2006 - 11:09 AM

Yes, that it! My understanding is that parking lot (and fountain) was part of a car showroom or lot. I've not seen that photo before.

#15 zoomer

zoomer
  • Member
  • 2,144 posts
  • LocationVictoria - Downtown

Posted 04 November 2006 - 02:42 PM

Here's a great picture of Harris Green from in front of the Church of Christ Scientist on Pandora...my how quickly trees can grow! Then again, I guess that was 81 years ago as the pic was taken in 1925. As Holden mentioned earlier, such wide grand boulevards for the time. Also makes you realize how barren Victoria was, and that Victorians from the past would think we are living in a very lush city today.




I love that part of Harris Green, it was one of the most impressive parts of the city to me when I first came here as a teenager in the 80's from a small town.

#16 Holden West

Holden West

    Va va voom!

  • Member
  • 9,058 posts

Posted 04 November 2006 - 02:57 PM

Yes, what a difference mature trees make. I've been told that Harris Green and the Pandora split avenue was the result of a drafting error.
"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

#17 Holden West

Holden West

    Va va voom!

  • Member
  • 9,058 posts

Posted 05 November 2006 - 06:16 PM

Yet another amazing photo of the Spencer's/Eatons/Victoria Theatre building in 1929, SW corner of Douglas and View...



Look at the difference in the windows compared to the original.
"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

#18 zoomer

zoomer
  • Member
  • 2,144 posts
  • LocationVictoria - Downtown

Posted 05 November 2006 - 06:35 PM

/\ I dunno what's more impressive, the impressive Christmas display in those windows (and roofs), or the incredible rows of rather uniform looking black vehicles! I guess you could say the choice of vehicle style and colour has definetly improved. :)

this picture was taken in the early 190?, hard to believe that in 100 years there has been virtually no change at all from Douglas to City Hall!



#19 Holden West

Holden West

    Va va voom!

  • Member
  • 9,058 posts

Posted 05 November 2006 - 06:42 PM

^You can see the old "[url=http://www.antonymaitland.com/ironchch.htm:cdef8]Iron Church[/url:cdef8]" on the site of the Bay.

I want to go back in time and warn them, "Enjoy the view while it lasts! Ross Place is coming!"
"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

#20 zoomer

zoomer
  • Member
  • 2,144 posts
  • LocationVictoria - Downtown

Posted 05 November 2006 - 06:44 PM

ah, good call! I was only looking at the left side of the picture. I find it hard to make out much detail at 1024 x 768

 



0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users