History

Photo: Steve Bosch/Vancouver Sun. 1912 The Only Restaurant Not only an eatery. The iconic Downtown Eastside restaurant The Only opened on Hastings in 1912 and survived until 2009, when it closed amid allegations of drug dealing on its premises.

City of Vancouver Archives. Ref: CVA 258-29. 1912 Point Atkinson Lighthouse Point Atkinson Lighthouse “flashed into being,” replacing an older version installed by the Dominion government in 1875.

Photo: Vancouver Police Museum. 1912 Vancouver Police Department It was in 1912 that the VPD hired its first female employees: Nancy (or Lurancy) Harris and Minnie Miller (or Millar). Their salary was $80 a month.

City of Vancouver Archives. Ref: AM54-S4-: Mon P35. 1912 King Edward VII Memorial Fountain The memorial drinking fountain dedicated to King Edward VII was unveiled at the courthouse. In the beginning, little bronze cups were left for drinkers...

City of Vancouver Archives. Ref: Trans N87.04. 1912 Street Traffic On June 24, the Vancouver Sun reported that “the roads are getting crowded: the total number of automobiles...in Vancouver is 1,769.

The city’s second mechanized ambulance, purchased in 1910. Photo: Vancouver Sun. 1909 Vancouver's First Mechanized Ambulance Vancouver took its first mechanized ambulance out for a test drive and ran over an American tourist, killing him.

Kalamazoo Library. 1907 John Philip Sousa On October 14, The famous American bandleader and composer John Philip Sousa performed here with his band— all 55 of them. The performance would have set you back $1.75 for the best seats.

City of Vancouver Archives, Pan N140B. Photo W.J. Moore.

Photo: Province Newspaper. 1948 Bing Crosby On September 22, Bing Crosby brought his hugely popular Philco radio show to Vancouver and recorded a benefit program for the Sunset Memorial Centre on East 51st Avenue. It aired on October 13.

Vancouver Public Library, Special Collections, VPL 13333. 1937 Helena Gutteridge Trailblazer. A long-time political and labour activist, Helena Gutteridge addresses a crowd during labour unrest in this 1938 photo.