The Oppenheimer Group sponsored the Vancouver City Council minutes from 1888
The transcriptions were made by Margaret Sutherland and Joy Marie Vasquez.
Click on any headline to see the full transcript of that meeting.
Mayor: David Oppenheimer (bio) Aldermen: Sam Brighouse (Ward 1) John M. Lefevre (Ward 1) Joseph Humphries (Ward 2) John Dougall (Ward 2) Henry Bell-Irving (Ward 3, resigned) Robert Clark Charles A. Coldwell (Ward 3, elected in byelection) Richard H. Alexander (Ward 4) Joseph Mannion (Ward 4, resigned) G. S. McConnell…
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First Council Meeting with Mayor David Oppenheimer. Meetings generally Monday 7:30 PM. Standing Committees created – Finances, Board of Works, Fire Water and Light, Board of Health. This transcript was made in 2014 by Transcribimus volunteer Margaret Sutherland and sponsored by The Oppenheimer Group original handwritten minutes here January 2,…
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Reports from the Committees established the previous week. Appointment of Council Committee under Mayor Oppenheimer to purchase team of horses for fire engine. Letter from F Munro noting that Keefer has hired Chinese, letter from Keefer explaining. Discussion about precautions regarding smallpox. This transcript was made in 2014 by Transcribimus…
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Bylaw introduced to regulate firing of guns, setting off firecrackers and bonfires. Public library requests donation for the purchase of books. City Solicitor gives opinion that Keefer not guilty of breach of contract by buying gravel from Chinese merchant. Payment of $600 to Keefer for gravel. Amended lease for CPR…
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Committee appointed to meet with Richmond Committee regarding constructing bridges from Lulu Island and Sea Island. Map submitted with streets with sewers and plans for additional. Alexander and Oppenheimer recommend street trees be planted. Request to Province for 64 acres of land in Hastings Townsite for public park for recreation.…
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Ald. Brighouse granted three months leave of absence. Map of Foreshore of False Creek submitted. Petition from city officials asking their salary be paid on the first of every month. Report requested for comparison of cost on vitrified or wooden sewers and making them deep enough to drain basements. Board…
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Two requests to federal government: (1) to build lighthouse at First Narrows (now Lions Gate) because of large increase in vessels, and (2) for permission to build Granville Bridge to ultimately connect to North Arm of the Fraser River. This transcript was made in 2014 by Transcribimus volunteer Margaret Sutherland…
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City Engineer to call for tenders for improvement of Cambie Street. Citizens ask to relax the by-law about mixing mortar on the street. Fire, Water & Light Committee wants a telephone installed in the fire hall. Chief of Police to destroy John McKeown’s team of horses if they have the…
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Special Meeting to review the agreement with Claude Gauthier to have a smelting works within the City of Vancouver.
Council to bring to Victoria the Vancouver citizens’ petition to lower property qualifications for both voters and elected officials. 58 men working on the (Stanley) Park Road. Offices of City Solicitor and Police Magistrate divided. Council sent request to the Minister of Public Works for Canada for bridge over North…
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Five dollar reward to report those dumping on city streets. Approved $20 to man whose team of horses had been destroyed after being infected by glanders. Approval to raise $125,000 by way of debentures for general improvements. Request to provincial government to sell lands for settlement. Note that in these…
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Mr. Pitt asks remuneration for loss of leg through being run over by fire engine. Mr. Abbott [CPR] asked to kindly remove fence on Heatley Avenue and to construct crossing on railway. Numerous calls for tender to improve streets. Bridge on Pender Street near brewery, etc. Money put aside for…
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Henry Abbott in support of Granville Bridge over False Creek. Ferguson et al. in support of road to connect Lorne Street with proposed road to North Arm. City Scavenger to furnish bond, pay license fee. Refused to permit construction of glass and wood structure behind Cordova Street. Ald. Humphries moved…
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A Special meeting of the City Council to review the loan by-law and determine the rate of taxation for the current year.
Licensing Committee notes that Provincial Legislature is considering liquor issues; these should be left to municipalities. Mr. Abbott of CPR to be notified city has let contract certain improvements. Mr. Abbott to be asked to place a draw in their bridge across False Creek. Thanks given to people who organized…
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Request for Opera House about to be built be exempt from taxation for 20 years. Recommend purchase of six boxes and two gongs as a fire alarm system in the city and purchase of another fire engine. Donation of $200 toward the purchase of sugar beet root seed. A letter…
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City recommends purchase of a second fire engine. City Auditor John Devine’s salary increased. Assistant City Engineer J. Romang’s raise denied. CPR to build Heatley Street crossing over railway. Contracts for street improvements for Hastings, Dunlevy, Westminster [Main Street].
Efforts to oppose provincial legislation affecting property assessments. Petition to remove stump at the corner of Granville and Robson. Signs to be placed at the False Creek Bridge for vehicles to pass on the left side. Alderman. Oppenheimer to introduce by law for hotels and boarding houses to have fire…
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Order in Council has been passed permitting bridges across False Creek and Coal Harbour. Bank of Montréal to purchase debentures of $150,000. Shows confidence in the future prospects of the city. H Buster to receive license for day and night scavenger. Space between City Wharf and railway to be a…
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The streets inspector to collect from the house owners twenty five cents per building on which a street number has been placed. Ten acres of “The Park” [Stanley Park] placed under control of the Athletic Association. Introduction of a by-law to provide fire escapes in hotels.
The Health Inspector authorized to tear down the old building on the Hospital Lots and that the chain gang be utilized for that purpose. Carried. Alderman Bell-Irving resigns. Communication to H.P. Caron, Minister of Defense in Ottawa asking him to take some provisions for the defense of Vancouver before the…
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Joseph Mannion resigns his seat on City Council. Council set aside $800 for building a school house on the south side of False Creek. E.V. Edmonds asked to donate two lots for school. Volunteer Fire Brigade to be given $200 in upcoming year to use as they see fit. Continue…
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Great number of tenders for road work reviewed and recommended by Board of Works. Special Engineer to be employed to review plans for bridge across False Creek at Granville Street, surface drains, and laying of water and gas pipes. This transcript was made in 2014 by Transcribimus volunteer Margaret Sutherland…
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Mr. H. V. Edmonds has agreed to donate to the City of Vancouver for school purposes part of the triangular block… on Ninth Avenue and…Westminster Road (where the Kingsgate Mall is now). $250 set aside to construct immigration sheds. By-election established to fill the positions left vacant by former Aldermen…
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Every recommendation for opening streets or laying sidewalk or other work shall state the estimated cost of the same and that before any contract is signed such estimate shall be passed upon and reported on by the Finance Committee. Applications shall be called for the position of caretaker at the…
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Council considers the question of appointing a medical board, purchasing furniture, medicine and other needs as the hospital nears completion. Mr. A. E. McCartney to be paid $100 for superintending building. C.P.R. patients to be accommodated at City Hospital at a charge of $5.00 per week.Mr. H. T. Ceperley asks…
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Mr. James Hartney requests reimbursement for goods destroyed in quarantine. Board of School Trustees to meet at City Hall any evening except Mondays. Board of Works received four plans for the Bridge across False Creek which we have referred to Mr. Cambie.
City Engineer…to drain the low lands on Pender Street crossing Howe, Hornby and Granville. City Treasurer instructed not to collect any tax on personal property this year and to repay any tax that he has already collected.
Mr. H. Abbott offered to give a site for Immigrant sheds North of the Company’s Offices on Cordova Street. Many tenders received for sewerage. Contractors will be notified to cover up the Sewer pipe on the lane running between Hastings Street and Pender Street…and to put lanes and sidewalks in…
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Furnishing of the new City Hospital to be completed within fourteen days. Towing and recovery of old floating hospital will cost $3,000.00 This transcript was made in 2018 by Transcribimus volunteer Leesa Poffenroth to see or download the original handwritten minutes, click on the button below 1888-08-aug-10-board-of-health-minutesDownload [page] 62 Vancouver…
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Communication from John D. Ronald acknowledging receipt of money for Engine No 2. A telephone, a bell and pump to be purchased for the new Fire Hall and sufficient lumber for the erection of water closets, fences etc. Vancouver Cricket Club strongly objects to the idea that a circus be…
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Council allows recreation grounds used by Sell’s Circus without permission for once, but permission will be needed in future. Land budget for school south of False Creek increased to $910 from $500. Budget of $500 set aside to build a City Morgue. Park Ranger to be hired to keep roads…
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Former Vancouver Mayor M.A. McLean appointed Police Magistrate at a salary of $1,000 per year. City Officials given an annual ten-day holiday. Fri Oct 12, 1888 set aside as Arbour Day, “for the purpose of planting trees and shrubs, and as a public holiday.”
J. Humphries, chairman of the Board of Works reports “That the present electric light for street lighting is a humbug and expensive and would recommend…a more modern and economical system of electric light for street lighting.”Mrs. Roberts appointed hospital matron at $60 per month. Medical Association suggested regulations for the…
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Doctors Bell-Irving, Langis, Lefevre, McGuigan and Robertson appointed to medical staff for City Hospital. Board of Works has decided to have electric lighting in the new hospital. Request from John H. McMillan et al asking that the Corporation remove the (newly-built) Morgue from present location.
Aldermen Dougall, Coldwell, Alexander and Brighouse elected to form Parks Committee, with H.P. McCraney, A.G. Ferguson, and R.G. Tatlow
Ward 1’s budget exhausted: instituted separate accounts for each city ward. Work on False Creek Bridge, False Creek School House, and City Hospital continues. Brush, stumps, boulders and debris along the road to (Stanley) park not disposed of according to contract.
Intersections chosen for installation of electric lights and fire hydrants. Contractors agree to have debris along Stanley Park road disposed of by city, and the cost deducted from final payment. Hiring of cook and temporary nurse for new hospital approved.
City hospital informally opened Sept 22 with only one ward operative. Visiting hours Wednesdays and Sundays only between 3:00 and 4:00 pm. Citizens object to council’s “irregular” election of hospital medical staff. James Hartney to be compensated $280 for his property destroyed while he was quarantined.
City Engineer must keep a separate contract book for each ward. Police men to report location and date of broken streetlights. City drains to be diverted into culverts being dug by C.P.R to reduce fouling of Burrard Inlet north of Water Street. The Chief of Police to order uniforms for…
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Presbyterian Ladies’ Aid donates all linens and equipment for eight hospital beds. City accepts E.J. Clark’s offer of donation of lot for an athletic field. “Responsible parties” may apply for trees purchased by city.
Mayor to inform Dominion Government that city requests and will donate land to establish post office and customs house in a central part of the city. Request to council to re-locate newly built morgue.
Three part-time constables added to police force for the remainder of the year. James Stanford paid $790 for work to date on City Hall.
Dominion Government’s offer of 160 acres in the Hastings Townsite for a Public Park is accepted. Mayor David Oppenheimer granted $50 to establish a Fruit Growers’ Association.
Special meeting to commemorate death of Alderman Humphries; City Hall to be closed the day of his funeral; his desk to be draped for the remainder of the year.
Communication from John Boultbee asking for return of $20.00 worth of opium seized by the police from his client King Fung. Referred to City Solicitor. Sub-committee established to review of Charter of Incorporation. Hotel Vancouver manager claims damages to his vehicles due to the poor condition of nearby streets. Continue…
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Tenders called for food supplies to city hospital. Mayor may spend up to $125 per month to subsidize steamer service to Nanaimo 3 times per week. Alderman Brighouse to purchase a horse to flush out the sewers regularly. A.E. McCarney to be paid $75 for drawing plans for hospital, morgue.…
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Manager of Hotel Vancouver informed that as the fire department is a volunteer one, it cannot be ordered by council to supply water to the hotel. City officials to be paid on Dec 31st. Report of Licensing board referred back to the Committee.
At the end of December, 1888 the “Vancouver Daily World” newspaper published biographies of Mayor-Elect David Oppenheimer and the Aldermen who would form the Council for 1889. [table id=01 /]
Final reports from the Fire Brigade and the Board of Health were received. Aldermen Coldwell and Clark tendered thanks to Mayor David Oppenheimer for the “phenomenal progress” Vancouver has made under his leadership. This transcript was made in 2015 by Transcribimus volunteers Margaret Sutherland and Joy Marie Vasquez original handwritten…
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