Category Archives: Architecture

The Morden Colliery – 2017

The Morden Colliery is a remnant from the coal mining industry that operated in the Nanaimo area on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Coal mining was started in about 1908 by the Pacific Coast Coal Mines Company. The Morden Colliery opened in 1912 with limited success, lasting only until 1921 with a brief reopening in 1930. What remains is the 72 foot head frame and tipple made of reinforced concrete, unusual as they were traditionally made with timbers. The mine is now flooded and is part of the Morden Colliery Historic Park and Regional Trail.

Squatter’s House – 1971

One of a collection of squatter houses on the Maplewood Mudflats in North Vancouver, British Columbia. The inter-tidal area had long been an artist’s, writer’s, free spirit’s colony but controversial because it was below the high tide mark so therefore ‘free’ land. Finally in 1971 the District of North Vancouver moved in and condemned the houses for health reasons. On the day I took this photo bulldozers had arrived to demolish the houses but protesters caused a temporary delay. A few months later all the houses were burned down ending an interesting part of Vancouver history. Malcolm Lowry wrote Under the Volcano in a nearby cabin in the 1950’s.

1971:08-09_watermarked

Historic Steveston Riverfront (12 photos) – 2015

Steveston is located in the south-west corner of the Vancouver area at the mouth of the Fraser River. It was founded as a small village in 1880 and soon became the hub of British Columbia’s salmon fishing and canning industry. Labourers were at first seasonal but soon began to move into the area year round and were made up of Japanese, First Nations and European. These photos show a re-creation of the original houses for the workers and some of original cannery buildings.

The Steveston Riverfront

The Steveston Riverfront

Bulrushes and Wildflowers

Bulrushes and Wildflowers

The Britannia Shipyard is the oldest building in Steveston and the oldest shipyard building in British Columbia. It was originally built as a cannery in 1889 and converted to a shipyard in 1918. It was used to repair and maintain BC's fishing fleet.

The Britannia Shipyard is the oldest building in Steveston and the oldest shipyard building in British Columbia. It was originally built as a cannery in 1889 and converted to a shipyard in 1918. It was used to repair and maintain BC’s fishing fleet.

The shipyard is now a museum wiht many of the old tools used to work on the boat. It is a massive building.

The shipyard is now a museum with many of the old tools used to work on the boats. It is a massive building.

The boats would come right inside the building to be worked on.

The boats would come right inside the building to be worked on.

Ships steering wheels would be made onsite.

Ships steering wheels would be made onsite.

From blanks to nearly finished.

From blanks to nearly finished.

The area is being restored to give the feel of old time Steveston. The houses were originally built out over the river on pilings and interconnect by wood boardwalks.

The area is being restored to give the feel of old time Steveston. The houses were originally built out over the river on pilings and interconnected by wood boardwalks. The houses are furnished with items from the early 1900’s.

A local

A local

Another river view

Another river view

The wood boardwalk

The wood boardwalk

The reason for Steveston's existance.

The reason for Steveston’s existence.

One of the best known houses on the riverfront is the Murakami House built around 1885. My blogging friend Leslie Robinson recently did an excellent post on this house and it is worthwhile taking a look at.