Sponsorship for the 1895 Vancouver City Council minutes is still available.
The transcriptions were made by volunteers Anonymous, Cathy Harmer, Darrin Pezer/Proactive Building Maintenance, Gerald Soon, Hal Bell-Irving, Joanne McCormick, Rachel Amanda Hennessy, Susan Willows, YVR Mike & Janny P.
Click on any headline to see the full transcript of that meeting.
New Council squabble over Board of Works seat – January 14, 1895 12:00 pm
The Standing Committees for Vancouver City Council 1895 were established, in spite of a dispute about whether Alderman McCraney or Alderman McPhaiden would sit on the Standing Committee on Works.
Cambie Grounds Cleared for Football Team – March 18, 1894
Council granted The Vancouver Associated Football Team’s request that the chain gang rake off stones from the Cambie Street Recreation grounds. MacRae & Hall selected to build two wheels for…
City Band Found in Good Order – March 25, 1895
All instruments being used by the City Band were found in good condition. From now on, each Band member must sign in a register book at City Hall for the…
More relief work granted – April 1, 1895
Thomas Dunn's store [pictured here] given the City hardware contract. Mr. Mason, a jeweller, was granted permission to put a watch sign on the sidewalk, on the condition that he might be asked to remove it in future.An additional $200 was granted to each of the five wards for relief work.
Sgt. Haywood’s name is cleared – April 8, 1895
Evidence regarding Sergeant Haywood’s use of City coal and electricity completely cleared him of any wrongdoing; he was reinstated and given an apology. Council rescinded the motion made on March…
Aldermen vote themselves $300 annual salary – April 17, 1895
Council set themselves remuneration of $300 each per year. $25 was granted for the burial of John Johnston, and $100 for the burial of former mayor M. A. MacLean [monument…
South Vancouver’s part of North Arm Road ‘nearly useless for traffic’ – April 22, 1895
Vancouver’s portion of North Arm Road (Fraser Street) was in good repair, but South Vancouver’s portion was ‘nearly useless for traffic’. Vancouver Council wrote to South Vancouver that they be “urgently requested to keep their portion of the road in good repair and in a properly passable state”.
Special Meeting considers terms for street railways – April 25, 1895
The object of the meeting was to consider the agreements for the leasing of the following streets for street railway purposes viz:- Hastings Street between Carrall and Cambie Streets, Granville…
Council Reviews City Budgets – May 2, 1895
Vancouver’s overall income for 1895 was expected to be 434,654.65. The largest expense items were $107,607.85 for Interest and the Sinking Fund (previous debt) and $48,564 for the School Board.…
Road to Hastings Mill in Poor Condition – May 13, 1895
Mr. C. M. Beecher wrote to Council regarding the poor condition of Dunlevy Avenue leading to Hastings Mill (pictured above). S.H. Boardman etal asking for a small culvert across the…
Half Holiday June 3 for Grand Lodge’s Visit – May 27, 1895
Monday June 3 1895 was declared a Vancouver half holiday in honour of the visit of the Grand Lodge of the Knights of Pythias. The Chief of Police supplied his customary report on Vancouver’s electric lights, which must have been unsatisfactory, as Council upheld the Fire Water and Light Committee’s recommendation that the City not continue its lighting arrangement with the Consolidated Railway & Light Company.
Bars and Saloons Must Close Over Sundays – June 10, 1895
The Liquor License By-Law was completed; any infractions must be prosecuted within seven days. Jeweller Geo E. Trorey asked permission to erect a watch sign in front of his store…
Opium Tax to be reduced? – June 17, 1895
Merchants Hip Tuck Lung etal asked that the Opium License be lowered. Street sweeping contractors Champion and White did not feel able to continue at the old price, but will continue while tenders for a new contract are examined. Teachers’ salaries to be paid on June 28, rather than waiting until after the July 1 holiday. John Courtney, Andrew Gill, and Chas Thompson were hired as firemen, making $45 per month each.
Morley, Butler Get Sunbury Reward – June 24, 1895
The $500 reward for information about the Sunbury murder from 1890 [ad pictured here] was given to George Morley and Mr. Butler. The Federal government advised they had contributed $1000 toward the keep of the Darcy Island lepers. The proper proportion would be allocated to Vancouver's share of the lepers' maintenance. Water pipes will be installed to the English Bay bathing sheds.
Council Meeting Cancelled Due to Lack of Quorum – July 2, 1895
Illustration shows the North Shore Mountains from Prospect Point, 1895. A quorum not being present at this meeting, no business was transacted.
By-Election Set For August 2 – July 18, 1895
Aldermen H. R. McCraney (Ward 3), G. W. Thomas (Ward 4) and W. P. Brown (Ward 5) had resigned, so the by-election in those wards was set for August 2.…
No Additional Money for School Board – July 22, 1895
The Texas Lake Ice Co. [pictured] asked that the City water main be sapped to supply water to their offices and warehouse. The Finance Committee approved payment of $10 to…
English Bay Swimming Improvements Pursued – August 12, 1895
The Vancouver & District Labour Council asked for better safety for swimmers at English Bay. They asked Council to buy two life buoys, a (life-saving) a hook and a “man…
City Demands Details on Reservoir, Robson Street streetcar – August 19, 1895
The Plumbing Inspector reported there was “no foundation” for E. Nicoll’s injury claim due to falling into a ditch on Pender Street. The City Engineer to deliver details on each…
Granville Street Car Service To Run Every Twenty Minutes – August 26, 1895
Street cars south of Robson Street on Granville Street to run every twenty minutes (increased from every thirty minutes). Hospital patient Charles Freund, who was being pressed for his hospital…
Pioneer Place deeded to Vancouver by the C.P.R. – September 9, 1895
The C. P. R. deeded the triangle of land known as “Pioneer Place” at Hastings and Carrall to the City. Council passed a motion to enter into an exclusive contract…
Council Accepts Consolidated Railway & Light’s $250 Offer For Robson Street – September 16, 1895
Consolidated Railway & Light offered $250 to address the damage done to Robson Street, provided the city released the company from any further liability. A motion to defer the decision…
Improvements Voted for Granville Street – September 23, 1895
The Board of Works was instructed to put down a six foot sidewalk from 8th to 9th Ave on South Granville Street. $15.00 was also set aside for the purpose…
Vancouver Asks Victoria for Deadman’s Island – September 30, 1895
Council, concerned by press accounts that some individual or entity had asked for Deadman’s Island, wrote to the Provincial Government to ask, “that the Island should be placed under the…
Council Declares Holiday to Attend Fair – October 7, 1895
Thursday Oct 10, 1895 was declared a public holiday to allow the citizens to visit the Agricultural Fair at New Westminster. Two police officers to be reprimanded: Officer MacLean for…
Hospital Verandahs Need Repair – October 21, 1895
The City Engineer reported that the Verandahs around the old hospital (pictured here) were rotted away in many places. Retailers McLennan & Mc Feely submitted a claim for $10.00 for…
False Creek Filling Up – November 11, 1895
The City Clerk was instructed to communicate with the Marine Department with a view of getting them to make necessary dredging in False Creek “as same is rapidly filling up”.…
Beattie Must Give Up Lease on Market – November 25th 1895
“That Mr. A. M. Beattie not having paid the rent agreed…” the City terminated his lease of the Market, and authorized the City Solicitor to take steps to recover the…
Weekly Market Established – December 9, 1895
Council established a weekly Market Day and hired a Market Clerk to supervise. The City Clerk to inform neighbouring communities and encourage farmers’ participation. The Police Committee recommended that all…
Vancouver Owed $30,000 in Unpaid Taxes – December 23, 1895
A By-Law given third reading authorized Council to borrow $30,000 “pending the collection of the taxes that are overdue for the year 1895.” Council also recommended against the Province of…