If you've read the bestselling Vancouver WAS Awesome (our history book authored by Lani Russwurm) and our regular FEATURE by the same name, or if you follow Jason Vanderhill's POSTS, you'll know we've got a couple of great local historians amongst us at V.I.A.. These two have you covered when it comes to educated looks at historical events in our city, but this isn't stopping me from joining them in sharing more interesting pieces of our past.
Now, I'm the first to admit that I'm a hack; I'm no journalist, nor do I have a degree in history (or anything). But over the years I've become a bit of an expert on this city (mostly from a contemporary standpoint), so I'm filtering through some old newspapers and will be sharing tidbits that I feel might be interesting to you today.
So let's begin! THIS edition of the Vancouver Sun was published exactly 94 years ago to the day and although it's a mere 14 pages long it's packed with an almost impossible amount of stories. As many were only a few sentences long and most weren't accompanied by photos or illustrations, they were able to jam a lot into the paper back then.
Something to note is the headline on the top left corner of the cover: "HONEST MAN EXISTS" . That was news back then too!
In 1920 "reefer" meant something else entirely, and department stores were encouraging mothers to buy them for their sons.
There were more than a couple advertisements for coal in the paper. Back when you had a choice of who was piping the energy into your home. Or, I should say, carrying it in a large sack and dropping it on your doorstep.
In a previous post Lani shared THIS INSIGHT on Don't Argue. You may recognize this tobacco salesman's logo/name being used by a pizza joint on Main Street present day.
The Lions Gate Bridge opened up in 1938, 18-or-so years after this paper was printed. Apparently the ferry business bringing people across Burrard Inlet was doing a little better than one of our present day ferry operators which often comes under fire these days.
Fraser Valley milk producers were telling readers about the importance of milk as "OUR CHEAPEST FOOD". I'm not sure that's their angle these days but there's still a thriving milk industry out there.
The first white dude ever born in BC died. RIP white dude.
These real estate prices are interesting. A house with 25 feet of street frontage along the 900 Block of Hornby, across from where the Law Courts are now, for $4,500. A 7 bedroom house on Robson, next to where Aritzia is now, for $6,400. And for those who couldn't afford those inflated prices and would rather live out in Burnaby? 1 acre lots were $300.
And hey, since people were saving all that money on land and houses they got Birks to customize some engraved silver toiletware for them. Okay!
Thanks for reading. Until next week!
