Vantage Point – The View from Richmond’s First High-Rise Development

Posted on April 9, 2015 by richmondarchives

In the shadows of the Park Towers complex, Richmond Square and beyond looking northeast, ca. 1974. City of Richmond Archives Photograph 1988 123 656

Advertisement in Richmond Review newspaper, November 10, 1972. City of Richmond Archives newspaper collection

The early 1970s saw the construction of Richmond’s first high-rise buildings, the 17-storey Park Towers complex off Minoru Boulevard. The three-tower project was designed by Erickson-Massey Architects under the terms of the municipality’s first land use contract. Prior to this time, the highest building in Richmond was Richmond General Hospital, at a height of 6 storeys.

The first two towers (“C” and “B”) opened for occupancy in 1972 and were designed as rental accommodation. The final tower (“A”) was completed the following year and became condominium housing. The Towers were advertised as a place for “luxurious living …in the heart of Richmond.”

Richmond Square, No. 3 Road and beyond looking east, ca. 1974. City of Richmond Archives Photograph 1988 123 652

Shortly after construction of the final tower, Engineering Department staff took photographs from the building of its surroundings, including Richmond Square (now Richmond Centre Mall) to the east and Minoru Park to the west. These slides were recently described and scanned as part of the City of Richmond Archives’ ongoing digitization program.

Richmond Twin Theatres, Municipal Hall and beyond looking southeast, ca. 1974. City of Richmond Archives Photograph 1988 123 654

The images provide a view of Richmond’s Town Centre in transition at the beginning of its rapid development through the 1970s and 1980s.

Minoru Park (with Minoru Chapel) and beyond looking northwest, ca. 1974. City of Richmond Archives Photograph 1988 123 660

[Note – this is an updated version of an article first published in the Spring 2015 issue of the Archives News]

Focus on the Record – Records of Early Parks and Recreational Facilities

Posted on March 19, 2015 by richmondarchives

The establishment of a Recreation Commission in 1954 and the subsequent incorporation of parks and recreation services into the administrative structure of municipal government under the direction of the Parks and Recreation Commission resulted in the rapid growth of recreational land, facilities, and services in Richmond.

Little League Tournament at Brighouse Park, 1961. City of Richmond Archives Photograph 1978 33 28

Prior to the establishment of the Commission, just over 20 acres of land in the municipality was parkland, much of which was maintained by local community associations and groups. The Parks and Recreation Commission was initially established composed of elected members of both Council and School Board, which allowed for the coordinated development of school playing fields and municipal parks, simplified the planning of their locations, and reduced duplication of services.

Deed of Land. Purchase of part of present-day Minoru Park, 1958. City of Richmond Archives MR 66, File 1540

In 1958, major plans and projects came to fruition under the direction of the Commission, the most significant being the purchase of land from BC Turf and Country Club, the owners of the Brighouse Park Race Track. That land, first known as Centennial Park, is the southern part of what is now Minoru Park. By 1959, Centennial Pool, Richmond’s first swimming pool, had been opened on the site.

Swim meet at Centennial Pool, 1963. City of Richmond Archives Photograph 1985 77 26

Development there continued through the 1960s with the installation of a track, the building of a pavilion, arena, arts centre and library.

Opening of Minoru Sports Pavilion, 1964. City of Richmond Archives Photograph 1978 32 40

In 1970, the municipality acquired 217 acres for the Richmond Nature Park as the first of many new parks and community centre projects in that decade.

Aerial view of Richmond Nature Park, 1977. City of Richmond Archives Photograph 1978 41 5

The City of Richmond Archives holds records documenting the growth of recreational opportunities in Richmond, including minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission, bylaws and bylaw files relating to park acquisition and the building and maintenance of facilities, administrative and operational records of the early Recreation Department and the later Leisure Services Department, records of the Richmond School Board, and records of community associations and cultural and sports groups affiliated with the Commission.

[Note – this is an updated version of an article first published in the Spring 2014 issue of the Archives News]

The Skookum Slide – A Slippery Slope into Childhood Memory

Posted on March 5, 2015 by richmondarchives

Few communities can lay claim to having a large amusement park attraction in their downtown core, but from 1969 to 1973, Richmond could. The Skookum Slide was only in existence for a few years, but is remembered fondly by those who grew up here in that time, despite tales of the occasional bruise or broken bone.

This image, looking south east toward No.3 Road in 1973, shows the Skookum Slide on the right, the back of the Richmond Savings Credit Union in the centre and Wosk’s Furniture on the left. The red roof of the Dairy Queen can be seen above the Credit Union. City of Richmond Archives photo 2008 39 2 34.

John B. Stokes, President of Super Slide Limited of Vancouver, met with the Director of Planning for the Township of Richmond in late August 1968 and presented his proposal for this new recreational facility. Slides of this type had been operated for several years in California and across the southern United States, but they had not been adapted for the conditions to be found in more northern climates. The Richmond Slide was to be the first in North America fitted with a permanent roof.

Market research indicated that a population of 100,000 was needed to support the operation of the slide. Richmond’s population was only about 55,000, but the company felt that the township’s easy access from South-west Vancouver by car would provide more than enough business to make it profitable.

Tickets for the Skookum Slide. Image submitted to the Friends of the Richmond Archives Facebook page.

Ride prices would be set at one ride for 10 cents, three rides for 25 cents, eight rides for 50 cents and twenty rides for $1.00. Having general approval from the Planning Department, the company, which had changed its name to Skookum Slide Ltd., proceeded to search for a building location in the No.3 Road and Westminster Highway area.

A letter from Skookum Slide President John B. Stokes. City of Richmond Archives MR SE 92 SS7, file 43.

They were wanting to lease a property for at least ten years, but ended up sub-leasing parts of lots from the Richmond Savings Credit Union and the Dairy Queen, a lease which would run out on August 31, 1973.

A plan showing the proposed location for the slide on property sub-leased from the Credit Union and Dairy Queen. City of Richmond Archives accession 5337 43.

A plan showing the proposed location for the slide on property sub-leased from the Credit Union and Dairy Queen. City of Richmond Archives MR SE 92 SS 7, file 43.

Construction of the slide was underway by January 1969 with an opening planned for March 1st.

A clipping from the Richmond Review, January 8, 1969.

The operation of the slide was very simple, with no moving parts other than the customers, consisting of “boys and girls from 6 to 16 years of age” according to marketing information. Patrons would climb the stairs and ramps to the top of the slide, buy their tickets, be issued a burlap sack to sit on and ride the slide’s three “loops” to the bottom while music played at high volume over the sound system. Once the slide tickets ran out, the Dairy Queen was only steps away to enjoy a dipped cone or a banana split until Mom and Dad finished shopping at the nearby shopping centres.

Plan of the Skookum Slide. City of Richmond Archives PL 248 COM 5.

The lease ran out in September 1973 and plans for expansion of the Credit Union and Richmond Square Shopping Centre settled any possibility of extending the slide’s lease. The operation was shut down and the slide removed, leaving some extra parking spaces at the Credit Union and a few nostalgic memories in the minds of those who grew up in Richmond in the early 1970s.

Looking north toward the Skookum Slide from Richmond Square. City of Richmond Archives photo 2008 39 2 246.

Looking north toward the Skookum Slide from Richmond Square, 1973. City of Richmond Archives photo 2008 39 2 246.

Focus on the Record – Records of Early Dyking and Drainage

Posted on February 19, 2015 by richmondarchives

The dyke at London’s, Lulu Island, 1908. City of Richmond Archives Photograph 1978 5 6

In 1936 the Township of Richmond assumed control of dyking and drainage activities within its boundaries by amalgamating its own works established by by-law with those of two other existing authorities: the New Lulu Island Slough Dyking District (NLISDD) and the Lulu Island West Dyking District (LIWDD).

Dyking and the dredge “Beaver No. 2” in Steveston area, ca. 1905. City of Richmond Archives Photograph 1978 14 4

These two bodies had been established by petition of landowners to the provincial legislature: the NLISDD in 1900 encompassing the slough complex from Francis Road south; the LIWDD in 1905 largely encompassing the area west of No. 3 Road. Commissioners elected to administer these districts were responsible for appointing an engineer who drew up technical plans and assessments of the land benefited.

The City of Richmond Archives holds a wide assortment of records of these two bodies including minutes, assessment rolls, petitions and correspondence. Many provide details of an evolving landscape, where drainage of land and protection from periodic flooding was crucial to the success of farming activities.

Tax notice for Lulu Island West Dyking District, 1921. City of Richmond Archives, Thompson family fonds

Because the land was taxed by these bodies to pay for works, there were detailed records kept of land valuation and plentiful communication between the commissioners and landowners, including minutes of courts of revision. The records provide a vivid picture of early agricultural land use and the transition from private to public dyking.

In addition, Council minutes and bylaws, along with early records of the Board of Works, provide evidence of other dyking and drainage activities in the municipality, as well as of works after the dyking districts were amalgamated with the municipal government.

Flood box at Woodward’s Slough, 1952. City of Richmond Archives Photograph 1977 1 8

[Note – this is an updated version of an article first published in the Fall 2012 issue of the Archives News]

Road Names in Richmond – Addressing Community History

Posted on February 4, 2015 by richmondarchives

Street signage in Richmond. Where do those names come from? (Graham Turnbull photograph)

The use of road names as opposed to numbers in Richmond provides residents with a great opportunity to understand the social history of their community. In a relatively young municipality such as Richmond, people may be lucky enough to meet a neighbour or individual who possesses the same name as the road on which they live, and then on further inquiry discover the identity and significance of that individual’s ancient (or not so ancient) family member.

Excerpt from Council minutes of May 6, 1880, showing first page of motion to petition to declare public highways for No. 1 Road through No. 13 Road. City of Richmond Archives, MR 1, File 1-1

The early surveys of Richmond used a road numbering system for convenience, so the numbers themselves, while seemingly boring if you are not a surveyor by profession, have historical significance. Most residents of Richmond understand that the City’s main north/south numbered roads run parallel to each other at a distance of one mile between.

Numbered east/west roads, however, had their names changed in the 1930s, making intersection identification a lot easier. Steveston Highway used to be No. 9 Road – and No. 9 Road is now a north/south road in east Richmond; Blundell Road was No. 18 Road; Westminster Highway was No. 19 Road; and Cambie Road was No. 20 Road…. oh – and before that, it was No. 10 Road. And so on.

Street map of Richmond, 1937, showing changes to numbered east/west roads, along iwth old names in parentheses. City of Richmond Archives Map 1989 11 1

Street map of Richmond, 1937, showing name changes to numbered east/west roads (with old names in parentheses). City of Richmond Archives Map 1989 11 1

The process for choice and selection of road names in Richmond has been applied with solemnity, enthusiasm, practicality and fanciful desperation over the years, and gradually morphed into a more thoughtful and organized responsibility, with Council approved road-naming policies being adopted in 1979, 1984 and 1997.

The policies also provide a guide to definitions for the address descriptors such as: “Court: A court is a cul-de-sac which cannot be extended. It may carry the name of the street from which it originates, but no more than one such court can be so named. The term ‘place’ can also be used for a court;” “Gate: a gate is a short street less than 106 m (350 ft.) in length connecting two other streets;” “Crescent: A crescent is a named street in the form of a loop, both legs of which terminate on the same street…;” and my own personal favourite since I live on one, “Drive: a drive is an irregular or winding street over 230 m (750 ft.) in length and connecting two other streets”.

Street sign at corner in the old Cora Brown subdivision. McDonald Road (still in existence) was named after pioneer farming family on Sea Island. Edgington Avenue (disappeared with the federal expropriation of Cora Brown for airport expansion) was named after Private Erine Edgington, a former Richmond High student, who was killed in action in Italy during World War II. City of Richmond Archives Photograph 1997 42 1 483

Street sign in the old Cora Brown subdivision on Sea Island. McDonald Road (still in existence) was named after a pioneer farming family. Edgington Avenue, which disappeared with the federal expropriation of the subdivision for airport expansion, was named after Private Ernie Edgington, a former Richmond High student, who was killed in action in Italy during World War II. City of Richmond Archives Photograph 1997 42 1 483

So regarding the title of this blog – Richmond’s street names have come to our community from early pioneers, Richmond Good Citizens, land-owners and farmers, residents who died in their duty to country during the First and Second World Wars, members of royalty and their horses, politicians, general public sentiment, developer fancy and corporate sponsorship. The names chosen are not carved in stone, and a look at some of the now defunct names is an interesting study.

Research into the origins of Richmond’s road names is a fascinating and educational exercise. Sometimes the origins are lost in the mists of time, with no recorded evidence of why the name was chosen. Over the coming months, I’ll be taking a closer look at the Archives’ records and sharing some of the mysteries, secrets and stories behind the names, via this blog.

[Note: this is the first of a series of blogs by Christine McGilvray on road naming in Richmond. Christine, an active Archives volunteer and Past President of the Friends of the Richmond Archives, has been researching road names at the City of Richmond Archives for several years.]

Outside the Box – The Richmond Archives Blog

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