Vancouver "Then and Now" Pool
Vancouver is changing so fast, much of what we grew up with has been bulldozed or beautified. We'd like to get photos of Vancouver "then" and now. Archival, your parents' snapshots, whatever, and then a photo you've taken of the same area from the same angle as it stands currently...if possible, and placed side by side. Open to any shots of Metro-Vancouver, same parameters as the Guess Where Vancouver group.
Yale Hotel - 1944/2009
entheos_fog has added a photo to the pool:
This great old picture shows not only the Yale before its renovated ground level state, but the building that used to stand beside it, which is now just a vacant lot. The addition in the rear of the hotel has lost its cornice but there are plans for the rehabilitation of the hotel and that includes the retention of the rear addition, so it will hopefully get it back.
The ground level of this hotel has seen the most change and the signs have been added over the years. Plus, the ground level looks better than it did in 1975. And I'm not sure when the 'Yale Hotel' sign dates from, but the protruding sign is at least newer than 1975:
www.flickr.com/photos/entheos_fog/3774511982/in/set-72157...
The Cecil Hotel to the right is going to be redeveloped and torn down but part of the deal is the restoration (again) of this hotel, one of Vancouver's oldest buildings.
1200 Block of Homer Street - 1925/2009
entheos_fog has added a photo to the pool:
This building, located in Yaletown, is typical of the old warehouse-style construction in the neighbourhood that has been converted to either residential or office suites. It looks as though it's been restored at some point in its life as it's in great shape, but I wonder if any of those old painted signs are still under the new paint.
This side of Homer Street now features a continuous street wall of buildings built right up to the sidewalk, as you can see with the building to the right of 1206.
As well, looks likes there's just as many power lines overhead as there was back then.
1200 Block of Granville Street - 1928/2009
entheos_fog has added a photo to the pool:
I'm not sure when this fabulous old building was torn down but it was decades before the replacement was constructed, which I think was in the 1990s. I always wondered what occupied this corner lot before the mini park that was there before.
Here's a then and now I did of this corner from the early '80s:
www.flickr.com/photos/entheos_fog/4107182388/in/set-72157...
The former Austin Hotel, which is now a Ramada, looks great but its cornice was reconstructed at one point as it was loped off in that '80s comparison and looks different from this 1928 photo.
1000 Block of Granville Street - 1930/2009
entheos_fog has added a photo to the pool:
Low rise retail buildings have replaced this elegant two-story building on the corner, but it looks like that happened quite a long time ago, as the replacements look to be relatively old themselves. The hotel building is still there and thankfully looks nice and intact, complete with its cornice. It's currently a hostel. The building beside it to the left looks to be the same building as in the top photo but heavily altered. Some of the low-rise buildings beyond may be the same ones as well. Also note the streetcar in the old photo and what appears to be a pretty cool sign down the street there.
Lyric Theatre - 1936/2009
entheos_fog has added a photo to the pool:
The exact location of the 'now' may not be identical as there's no reference to the old photo because everything in old photo is gone. To the right, you can see a bit if the second Hotel Vancouver which was demolished in 1949 and sat as a vacant lot for decades. I do find it interesting that the vertical signs are almost in the same spots though.
Lyric Theatre - 1935/2009
entheos_fog has added a photo to the pool:
This is looking the other way (north) from the other comparison of the Lyric I did. Sadly, everything in this view is gone, which may not be as bad if the Sears building wasn't such a horrible replacement. Here's a better view of the 2nd Hotel Vancouver and its place in the streetscape on Granville Street.
Downtown Vancouver Crowds - 1918/2010
entheos_fog has added a photo to the pool:
These two pictures are NOT of the same location but show an amazing amount of people on the streets, almost 90 years apart. The top photo was taken from the Sun Tower in 1918 when "The Human Fly", Harry Gardiner, scaled it as a publicity stunt. The bottom photo most of you will recognize from the last day of the 2010 winter Olympics after Canada won the gold medal in men's hockey. It was taken from the Winners building three floors up looking down at Robson and Granville.
What amazes me is the fact that in 1918 when Vancouver had a population of about 109,250 (according to the VPL), there was this kind of crowd to show up for a guy climbing an office tower. The crowds downtown in the bottom photo were estimated at 150,000, which is more than the population of Vancouver in the top photo! I'm quite amazed at that photo but I wonder why so many people are on the street then, but nowadays, it takes a monumental event like the Olympics to get that many people in one place. I dunno, maybe people had less to do back then!
One thing that's funny about the top photo is the tops of some old cars amongst the throngs of people. Like they were just driving around then, BAM, all these people showed up and they were trapped down there.
Regardless, both photos offer a great time capsule into Vancouver's history indeed.
Downtown Post Office - 1960s/2009
entheos_fog has added a photo to the pool:
The Post Office building looks almost identical in both photos and I have to admit I really like the old beast. It's architecture is unmistakable of the time it was built in and it was a little feat of engineering when built.
Here's some more info courtesy of Bob2006:
www.flickr.com/photos/bobkh/294279707/
Lots has changed in the background though with many new highrise condos springing up. And the cars don't look as cool nowadays either.
Dunsmuir St at Homer St - 1947/2009
entheos_fog has added a photo to the pool:
Another casualty of the wrecking ball in an area of downtown Vancouver where so much heritage has been lost. Thankfully the church is still there though, amongst all the skyscrapers that have gone up in this view.
The old photo features some pretty sweet cars as well.
515 Seymour Street - 1944/2009
entheos_fog has added a photo to the pool:
This photo shows the Clarence Hotel about 40 years after the other comparison I took, and already the modifications have begun. The ground level's east side has been covered up and the front entrance is quite modified from its original look, the stone arch gone and presumably all the original stone arches are gone, too. The addition in behind has been added but at least at this point the cornice and rooftop decoration elements are all still there.
And in this photo, it appears that all of the surrounding buildings are still there, including the small building next door.
515 Seymour Street - 1900s/2009
entheos_fog has added a photo to the pool:
This hotel building has been heavily modified over the years and the result is what you see there today, a homely looking building. The addition wasn't built when the top photo was taken and the original building featured those great stone arches, lots of roof decorations and a cornice, all of which are gone now. Maybe one day this building will be restored a la Flack Block, with the arches remade.
All the surrounding buildings from the top photo have been replaced.
Randall Building - 1976/2009
entheos_fog has added a photo to the pool:
This building is in very fine condition these days and was renovated in the early '90s. Thankfully the awning is gone from the ground level retail portion. This building was built in 1929.
300 Block of West Hastings St - 1940/2009
entheos_fog has added a photo to the pool:
Quite a shame these old buildings were replaced for what you see in the right. At least the building on the far left is still there, but it has been altered somewhat.
The old picture provides an interesting glimpse of this part of Hastings Street in the 1940s, including Dunn's Tailors and Pall Mall Cafe and its cool sign.
309 West Cordova Street - 1888/2009
entheos_fog has added a photo to the pool:
This building is called the Springer and Van Bramer Block and it was probably photographed shortly after it was completed. It stands at the northwest corner of Cordova and Cambie Streets and has lost much of its ornamentation over the years. Maybe one day this building can be restored to look like how it was intended to be.
Pigeon Park - 1963/2009
entheos_fog has added a photo to the pool:
Lots has changed with Pigeon Park since 1963, and once again, the area is in transition. The park has recently undergone some renovations and it seems the amount of homeless people hanging about has gone down since it's been re-opened. That probably has something to do with the Woodward's development opening up further down the block.
The Merchant's Bank Building, on the left, looks much cleaner in the old photo and I hope it gets the restoration it deserves. It's interesting to see this area in the 1960s when the Downtown Eastside wasn't as rundown as it is today, and it resembled a more 'normal' Vancouver inner-city neighbourhood.
History
21mickrange has added a photo to the pool:
Originally for WAIIBC, this is the Mundays cabin on Dam Mountain, at about 600m . Don packed all the materials in to build this place in the early 1900s. Their only child was born there, and they didn't live there too long. Later they moved to Grouse Mountain where they were stiffed for over a year's wages that Grouse never paid them. some things never change :D
Granville and West Cordova (1940 | 2010)
SqueakyMarmot has added a photo to the pool:
70 years of change - a news stand to parkade.
Boulder Hotel - 1900s/2009
entheos_fog has added a photo to the pool:
Around 1910, another story was added to this building which was built around 1890 and is a fabulous old building that stands at the border between the Downtown Eastside and Gastown. The building next door, however, did not make it.
Pigeon Park - 1960s/2009
entheos_fog has added a photo to the pool:
Pigeon Park recently went through a huge makeover recently but the Merchant's Bank Building there could use a restoration as it sits grimy and mostly vacant. It's interesting that a bargain store has occupied the bottom level of this building for so long, and still does these days. Also, it's interesting to see Pigeon Park back in the day when the Downtown Eastside wasn't such a downtrodden neighbourhood. And by golly, the trees sure have grown! Looking up Hastings Street gives us a glimpse of what it was like back in the 1960s, with signs and wonderful clutter everywhere.
Boulder Hotel, Street Level - 1900s/2009
entheos_fog has added a photo to the pool:
Just another sunny day outside the Boulder Hotel! I love how the sign says Open Day & Night, and seeing the fashions of the men hanging out in front. This building was built in 1890 and while the retail portion has changed a lot, it's still a great old building.