Sponsorship for the 1897 Vancouver City Council minutes is still available.
Transcription is still in progress as at Nov 30 2022. To date, transcripts have been made by volunteers Joanne McCormick, Gerald Soon, Hal Bell-Irving, Lynn Shane, Krystyna Richards, Leah Minuk, Rachel Amanda Hennessy, Alannah Hall, Darlene Ochotta, Margaret Sutherland, and Anonymous
Click on any headline to see the full transcript of that meeting.
The Mayor and City Clerk were empowered to sign a contract with Armstrong & Morrison for riveted steel pipe. The Chain Gang was directed to to clear the brush off the square on Powell Street . This transcript was made in 2002 by Transcribimus volunteer Leah Minuk Illustration COV Archives…
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Council sent a long resolution to the Dominion (federal) government about a planned industrial railway through Lethbridge and the Crow’s Nest pass; that it be extended to the coast using a route surveyed in 1896, and that it be “free from the manipulations of large monopolies.”
Council agreed to ask the Provincial Government to provide a site for a Drill Shed for the Artillery Companies of Vancouver, as it had done for other BC cities. This photo shows the Drill Shed on Pender at Beatty Street, perhaps 1899.
A By-Law to raise $70,000 for Schools received second reading. Appointed as the 1897 Free Library Board were Wm. Brown, G.W. Hobson, R.B. Ellis, W.D. Brydone-Jack, Wm Prentice, W.A. Wilson and Dr. Tunstall. Officer Coldwell was suspended one month without pay for being intoxicated while on duty. This transcript was…
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Vancouver’s solicitor, A. St. George Hamersley, gave his opinions that a) The City could not impose a license on fish peddlers unless it could be proved the fish were caught outside BC waters, b) That a corpse on the premises of Dr. McAlpine was legal under the Medical Act, although…
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Aldermen McQueen and Brown propose that as the 200 acres of tidal flats east of the Westminster Bridge (today’s Main Street) are “a nuisance to the public” and “of no use to anyone” that the City try to acquire the land to be filled in “for public places of resort…
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The Liquor Licensing By-Law was amended to forbid liquor sales combined with “any exhibition of natural or artificial curiosities” or “dramatic theatrical or musical performances or exhibitions of sparring or wrestling.”
City Solicitor A. St. George Hamersley gave as his opinion that that “the Council could not reserve a part of the Street for Bicycle riders nor impose a compulsory tax on them“.
$6,000 was budgeted for renovations to the new City Hall premises at the Market building, $1,500 for the Mayor, $3,000 for the Aldermen. This transcript was made in 2022 by Transcribimus volunteer Darlene Ochotta Text source: City of Vancouver Archives Series 31Volume 7 pages 514-515 To see or download original…
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Total budget for 1897 was $363,937. $36 was set aside for Bear Pits under the Parks budget. This photo from 1898 shows a bear in a tree in the bear pit at Stanley Park with trees in the background.
The Vancouver Electric Railway and Light Company (shown here) will be notified to move the poles out on Barnard Street to the required distance where the new walk is to be laid. Alderman Coldwell granted one month’s leave. City Ward Budgets to be paid quarterly from now on. This transcript…
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Local merchants Scott & Devlin asked permission to erect a small moveable stand for putting away bicycles at edge of curb opposite 303 Hastings Street. Permission granted as an experiment for six months.
As all the tenders received were higher than the budgeted amount, it was decided to ask for tenders for a 2 storey addition to the hospital for a women’s ward.
Council agreed that if the Street Railway Company agree to erect a suitable waiting room at the terminus of the line on Coal Harbour they be granted permission to build the track in accordance with the recommendations of the Railway & Light Committee. Pictured above is the Marpole waiting room…
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An agreement for street railway on Pender, Georgia and Denman was reviewed (photo shows streetcar on Robson Street). James Armstrong refused permission to graze cows on Fairview. A new Heath Officer to be appointed at salary of $40 per month. Council informed some Toronto investors that the city of Vancouver…
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A new bylaw was introduced to widen Pender Street at Burrard Street. Sam Brighouse’s property at Pender and Burrard was bought for $1,000. Photo shows southeast corner of Pender and Burrard nine years later, in 1906.
The Y. W. C. A. was granted the use of the Market Hall for a magic lantern lecture*. The lantern shown above is from the Museum of Vancouver online history collection. The Health Committee recommended help for Mrs. Crook, a destitute woman with four children, and for Mr. J. A.…
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Council partially approved a request from the Queen’s Jubilee Committee to fund swimming facilities and a park on English Bay. The Committee requested $5,000 but only $2,000 was eventually approved. (Photo shows English Bay four years later, in 1901.) Council planned to travel to Victoria to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond…
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The British Columbia Electric Railway Company was allowed to lay temporary bent rails at Granville and Pender Streets because the agreed upon size and weight of bent rails was not available. Right hand side of photo shows curved streetcar and curved track at Pender and Granville Streets. This transcript was…
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In order to convert the Market Hall to a City Hall all Market tenants were advised, “your tenancy of the stall in the Market Place will be terminated on the 31st day of August 1897.” Also the C. P. R. was notified their dock at the foot of Cambie Street…
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Council established a by-election for Ward 1 to fill Alderman Shaw’s vacated seat. Shown above is St. Luke’s home, where Council agreed to fund Mrs. Crook for $5.00 per week “and $6.00 when nursing is required“.
Council approved the Fire and Police Committee’s selection of Gamewell’s tender to supply 3 fire alarm boxes: one to be installed on the corner of 7th Av. and Bridge Street, one at Keefer Street & Campbell Av and one near the intersection of Pender Georgia and Broughton Streets. Text Source:…
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10 per cent of proceeds from the Jockey Club’s Fall Meet need not be paid to the City if it is used instead to improve the grounds. $500 was voted toward the Salvation Army for food and shelter. R. Casselman complained that fishermen were dumping rotten salmon on the beach…
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Council to write to the Tramway company reminding them that they are in violation of their contract with the City in not having fenders on public streetcars; also to the CPR asking them to not sound their whistles within City Limits and to slow down their traffic as much as…
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[Vancouver] Council can see no just reason why the Dominion Government should not make an annual grant in support of the [D’arcy Island leper colony. Committee approved the Finance & Health Committee’s joint recommendation that Mr. James Wilkinson, a chronic patient, be sent to England at the Charity rate viz…
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Council agreed with the Water and Market Committee’s rule “That ….sprinkling the street with hose by private consumers is strictly forbidden and no person …shall be allowed to sprinkle… lawns, gardens, yards or grounds…except between the hours of 5 and 8 o’clock in the morning and 6 and 10 o’clock…
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Letter received from R. Marpole General Superintendent of the CPR Co. stating that hereafter whistling by engines would be abolished and the screech of trains moderated.
Council held a Special Meeting to mark the passing of Alderman Coldwell and to make funeral arrangements.
The Board of Works held a special meeting with local experts to discuss the question of the proposed new swing span for the Granville Street bridge. Motions were passed to have thistles removed and trees overhanging city sidewalks trimmed to regulation height. The Acting Mayor was empowered to call a…
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C. H. Wright called Council’s attention to the “disgraceful condition” of Water Street from Abbott to Carroll Streets. Photo is of Water Street, taken in 1897. Ex Mayor Henry Collins was appointed Assessor for 1897. The Milk Inspector given premises in the basement of the Market Hall to carry out…
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The Rand Brothers wrote to Council telling them the matter of removing the old verandah from Tremont Hotel {pictured above} on Carrall Street will be attended to. A $15 per year lease was granted to Mrs. Lina Marshall for a small piece of land at the south end of Stanley…
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City Council regrets the untimely death of Ex-Mayor Fred Cope (Mr. Cope’s house shown above). The City Crematory was authorized to burn a quantity of damaged fruit. The Fire & Police Committee recommended purchase of fire hose from McLennan & McFeely in New Westminster. This transcript was made in 2021…
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There was controversy about accepting the Light Railway and Tramway Committee’s report; it was only adopted after striking out the clause recommending the placing of a street light on Richards Street near the Catholic Church. The Finance Committee recommended the City Engineer be authorized to purchase a door for the…
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Two smelter proposals were reviewed: Mr. Harry Symons’ proposal was chosen to go forward. This transcript was made in 2021 by Transcribimus volunteer Joanne McCormick Original handwritten minutes City of Vancouver ArchivesCOV Series 31, Volume 8, pages 34-35 To see or download images of the handwritten minutes click the button…
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Dr. W D Brydone-Jack reported on cases of typhoid fever in Mount Pleasant but declined in future to notify the Health Officer of the existence of infectious diseases unless he was paid for it. 1,000 notices to be printed and mailed to householders on Mount Pleasant and Fairview where there…
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J. J. Sparrow complained of the disgraceful condition of of Pender Street (pictured) in front of his stables. Rent for the market hall fixed $20 for dances, $15 for concerts, $5 for Sunday during the day, $8 for Sunday night. The Finance Committee informed the Trades and Labour Council that…
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Council decided to spend $2,000 “for the purpose of advertising the advantages of Vancouver as an outfitting point for the gold fields of the Klondike”. Frank Baynes be appointed Police Constable at a salary of $60.00 per month. The Chief of Police stating that he had been advised that it…
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This transcript was made in 2021 by Transcribimus volunteer Joanne McCormick Illustration: CVA M-3-9.7 MacKinnon Block & Masonic Hall – Hastings & Granville 1898 Original handwritten minutes here: City of Vancouver ArchivesCOV Series 31, Volume 8, page 72 only To see or download photos of handwritten minutes, click on the…
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The Health Inspector reported Mr. Linton has rebuilt cabins in place of those torn down. Photo shows Mr. Linton’s yachts near the City Wharf. The finance committee authorized the $2.00 purchase of a Star Automatic Paper Fasteners (early model of stapler). The Trades By-Law was amended. This transcript was made…
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This transcript was made in 2021 by Transcribimus volunteer Joanne McCormick. Illustration: City of vancouver Archives CVA 2008-010.4143CPR Dock at foot of Howe St. c 1896 Original handwritten minutes: City of Vancouver ArchivesSeries 31 Volume 8 page 78 only To see photo of original handwritten page, click the button below:…
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McClary Manufacturing Company sent in plans for a new warehouse at 303 Cordova St. (pictured, still standing). City Lawyer gave the opinion that Council “had no power” to exempt C.P.R. lands from taxes. Former Mayor David Oppenheimer sent in a letter in support of the C.P.R.’s request for the Cambie…
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Council agreed to draft a By-law for the CPR to be exempted from City taxes for twenty years, in exchange for the CPR making certain improvements.
Council refused J.I. Seymour Wells’ request for a refund of his auctioneer’s license on the grounds that they had no power to make refunds. Miss J. Brown was paid $6.35 for nursing.
Council asked BC Electric Co to extend their Pender Street Car Service to the new City Hall on Westminster Avenue. The Water and Market Committee approved payment to Robertson & Hackett (pictured above) supplies $146.05. A Music Hall By-law was overturned 6-3. Requests to the Province of BC for 1888…
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The Health Committee got a letter from G. W. Thomas complaining about a “nuisance” (odour) from a Chinese Laundry near his premise on Westminster Avenue. The Wah Chong Family Laundry in this photo was located on Westminster Avenue, and may have been the very laundry complained of. Charles Mulhern and…
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BCER offered to run a streetcar every twenty minutes if Council would allow them to run a car in charge of only one man. Proposed amendments to the Act of Incorporation of the City of Vancouver to be published in the newspaper prior to being sent to the House in…
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