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.
Armstrong & Morrison’s Steel Pipe Approved – January 4, 1897
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…
Vancouver Wants Industrial Railway to the Coast – January 25 1897
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…
Drill Shed Needed for Artillery Companies – January 28, 1897
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…
Proposed By-Law to Raise $70,000 for Schools – February 1, 1897
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…
Fish Peddling, the Corpse, and the Pound Keeper – February 8, 1897
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…
Tidal Flats to be Filled In? – February 22, 1897
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…
Liquor By-Law Amended – March 8, 1897
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…
No Bicycle Roads To Be Built – March 15, 1897
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…
Estimates Granted – March 30, 1897
$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…
Vancouver Budget Finalized – April 2, 1897
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…
Electric Poles on Barnard Street Must Be Moved Aside – April 5, 1897
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…
Bicycle Parking Granted for Trial Period – April 26, 1897
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…
New Women’s Ward Reduced to 2 Stories – May 10, 1897
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.
Street Railway Company Must Build Waiting Room – May 17 1897
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…
New Streetcar Route for Robson, Denman, Georgia – May 25, 1897
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…
Pender Street to be Widened at Burrard – May 31 1897
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…
YWCA To Give Magic Lantern Show – June 7, 1897
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…
Council Divided on Funds for Swimming Facilities – June 14, 1897
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.…
Temporary Tracks To Be Laid at Granville & Pender – July 12, 1897
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…
Notice Given to Tenants of City Market – July 19, 1897
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…
Ward 1 By-election Set – July 26, 1897
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…
3 Additional Fire Alarm Boxes for Vancouver – August 2, 1897
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,…
Jockey Club’s 10 Per Cent to Improve Grounds – August 9, 1897
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…
Fenders Needed on Public Streetcars – August 16, 1897
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…
Vancouver Objects to Federal Government Cuts to Leper Colony Funding – August 23, 1897
[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 &…
Vancouver’s First Water Conservation Rules – August 30, 1897
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,…
Train Noise to be Quieted – Sept 7 1897
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.
Alderman Coldwell Dead – September 10, 1897
Council held a Special Meeting to mark the passing of Alderman Coldwell and to make funeral arrangements.
Swing Span for Granville Street Bridge considered- September 13, 1897
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…
Water Street in “Disgraceful Condition” – September 20, 1897
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…
Tremont Hotel Verandah to be Removed – September 27, 1897
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…
Ex-Mayor Fred Cope Dead – October 4, 1897
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 &…
Council Excludes Street Light Near Catholic Church – October 11, 1897
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…
Special Meeting to Review Smelter Proposals – October 12, 1897
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…
Typhoid Fever in Mount Pleasant – October 25 1897
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…
Pender Street in Unsafe Condition – November 8, 1897
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,…
City Council Spends $2,000 on Klondike Advertising – November 15, 1897
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…
MacKinnon Block Roof to be Altered – November 19, 1897
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…
Linton’s Cabins Rebuilt – November 22, 1897
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…
C.P.R. Asks for Tax Exemption – Vancouver November 24, 1897
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…
C.P.R. continues to press for tax exemption – November 29, 1897
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.…
CPR Properties to be Exempted from Taxes for 20 Years – December 3, 1897
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.
Local Council of Women Request the Appointment of a Police Matron – December 6, 1897
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…
Streetcar Will Run to New City Hall – December 13, 1897
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 &…
Westminster Avenue Laundry Under Investigation – December 20, 1897
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…
Year’s Accounts Wrapped Up – December 27, 1897
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…