Today in Local History – July

Above: First Avenue Viaduct opened in 1938 [Image: Vancouver City Archives]

On July 1, 1938 the First Avenue Viaduct was opened to traffic.

Vancouver population July 1, 2008: 604,708 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,218,506 (est.)

Two dredges dropped their buckets into the muddy waters of the Georgia Strait on July 2, 1968 as work on the Roberts Bank superport began.

Vancouver population July 2, 2008: 604,721 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,218,577 (est.)

On July 3, 1906 Chief Capilano of the Squamish Nation went to London to meet King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra. The chief, accompanied by Cowichan and Cariboo chiefs, presented a petition to the King concerning aboriginal land rights. Chief Capilano later reported the delegation was warned such matters might take as much as five years to settle.

Vancouver population July 3, 2008: 604,734 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,218,648 (est.)

On July 4, 1886 the first CPR passenger train from the east pulled into Port Moody. (The first passenger train into Vancouver will arrive in May of 1887.)

Vancouver population July 4, 2008: 604,746 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,218,719 (est.)

On July 5, 1959 the Queen Elizabeth Theatre opened in Vancouver.

Vancouver population July 5, 2008: 604,759 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,218,790 (est.)

On July 6, 1899 Vancouver aldermen in horse-drawn carriages toured city sewer works under construction.

Vancouver population July 6, 2008: 604,772 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,218,861 (est.)

On July 7, 1946 Vancouver’s first Jewish home for the aged, Louis Brier Home, was opened by comedian and humanitarian Eddie Cantor, who gave a benefit performance in its support.

Vancouver population July 7, 2008: 604,785 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,218,932 (est.)

On July 8, 1898 this joke appeared in the Province: “I say, waiter, this salmon cutlet isn’t half so good as the one I had here last week.”

“Can’t see why, sir, it’s off the same fish.”

Vancouver population July 8, 2008: 604,798 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,219,003 (est.)

On July 9, 1912 newspapers reported that “Vancouver’s progressive police department now has a chief’s car, a detective car, a paddy wagon and an ambulance.” Even more important, they hired their first women: Nancy Harris and Minnie Miller (in administrative roles).

Vancouver population July 9, 2008: 604,811 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,219,074 (est.)

On July 10, 1905 construction started on the first buildings at Colony Farm, the agricultural arm of the Coquitlam Mental Hospital, informally called Essondale (now Riverview Hospital). The farm won contests across Canada for the quality of its produce and livestock.

Vancouver population July 10, 2008: 604,824 (est.)Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,219,145 (est.)

On July 11, 1934 Hollywood star John Barrymore, the “Great Profile” (and Drew Barrymore’s grandfather) visited Vancouver on his huge yacht Infanta.

Vancouver population July 11, 2008: 604,837 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,219,216 (est.)

On July 12, 1979 Granville Island Public Market opened, and became an immediate hit, one of the great Vancouver experiences.

Vancouver population July 12, 2008: 604,850 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,219,287 (est.)

On July 13, 1934 Coquitlam councillor Thomas Douglas was shot dead at his North Road gas station. Because he was a socialist—he had run provincially for the United Front, a Socialist party—some thought the murder had political overtones.

Vancouver population July 13, 2008: 604,863 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,219,358 (est.)

On July 14, 1950 Frederick Ducharme was hanged for the murder of Woodward’s employee Blanche Fisher. Check out our 1949 chronology for the bizarre story.

Vancouver population July 14, 2008: 604,876 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,219,429 (est.)

On July 15, 1960 Harry Jerome, Jr., perhaps the greatest sprinter Canada has ever produced, running at a meet in Saskatoon, set the world record of 10.0 seconds flat in the 100 metres.

Vancouver population July 15, 2008: 604,889 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,219,500 (est.)

On July 16, 1917 float plane builder Jimmie Hoffar took the sports editor of the Province up to 2,000 feet in his “H-1.”

Vancouver population July 16, 2008: 604,902 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,219,571 (est.)

On July 17, 1932 the first CPR trains began to run through a tunnel under the downtown, built to get the trains off city streets. That same tunnel is used today by SkyTrain.

Vancouver population July 16, 2008: 604,915 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,219,642 (est.)

On July 18, 1968 the Bank of British Columbia opened in Vancouver. Today, it’s HSBC Bank Canada.

Vancouver population July 16, 2008: 604,928 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,219,713 (est.)

On July 19, 1989 major leaguer Sammy Sosa of the Chicago White Sox, who had started the season at a red hot pace, went into a colossal slump. With his average hovering at the “Mendoza line” (.200), Sosa was sent down to Triple-A Vancouver today. He wasn’t here long.

Vancouver population July 16, 2008: 604,941 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,219,784 (est.)

On July 20, 1937 with rumors of war in Europe growing, women from Canada and the U.S. sang the two national anthems in a ceremony at the Peace Arch.

Vancouver population July 16, 2008: 604,954 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,219,855 (est.)

On July 21, 1944 the Vancouver Foundation was formed under chairman W.J. VanDusen. The Foundation has awarded many millions of dollars to various good causes since. Their web site: www.vancouverfoundation.bc.ca.

Vancouver population July 16, 2008: 604,967 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,219,926 (est.)

July 22, 1931 was opening day for the Vancouver Airport and Seaplane Harbour. Premier Simon Fraser Tolmie officiated, and a crowd of 55,000 people turned up for the four-day opening ceremonies.

Vancouver population July 16, 2008: 604,980 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,219,997 (est.)

On July 23, 1901 Mr. and Mrs. B.T. Rogers had a housewarming party at their new mansion, Gabriola, on Davie Street. It was the grandest home in the city. (B.T. was the sugar company Rogers.) Today, it’s Romano’s Macaroni Grill.

Vancouver population July 16, 2008: 604,993 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,220,068 (est.)

On July 24, 1993 the Central City Mission moved to a new home at 415 West Pender Street. It had been on Abbott Street since 1910.

Vancouver population July 16, 2008: 605,006 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,220,139 (est.)

On July 25, 1904 the Bank of Nova Scotia opened its first branch in Vancouver. It was at 418 West Hastings.

Vancouver population July 16, 2008: 605,019 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,220,210 (est.)

On July 26, 1935 the Lyric Theatre on Granville Street opened to feature movies. It had started in 1891 as the Vancouver Opera House, later (1913) became the Orpheum—not the present one—with vaudeville acts. The Lyric would be demolished in 1960 to make way for development of Pacific Centre.

Vancouver population July 16, 2008: 605,032 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,220,281 (est.)

On July 27, 1938 the biggest waterfront fire in the city’s history (still is) destroyed Pier D. See our 1938 Chronology for more details.

Vancouver population July 16, 2008: 605,045 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,220,352 (est.)

On July 28, 1958 Terry Fox was born in Winnipeg.

Vancouver population July 16, 2008: 605,058 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,220,423 (est.)

On July 29, 1953 the Korean War ended.

Vancouver population July 16, 2008: 605,071 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,220,494 (est.)

On July 30, 1967 Nanaimo mayor Frank Ney’s wacky inspiration bore fruit: the first Nanaimo-to-Vancouver bathtub race was held. 212 powered bathtubs entered.

Vancouver population July 16, 2008: 605,083 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,220,565 (est.)

“Canadians,” said Mrs. Florence Aymond, a well-known British examiner in speech arts and drama, speaking in Victoria July 31, 1948 “speak the most consistent English in the world-even if it is consistently wrong.”

Vancouver population July 16, 2008: 605,096 (est.)
Metropolitan Vancouver population: 2,220,636 (est.)