From 1935 through 1969 Ivan Ackery, the most awarded theatre manager in North America, ran the Orpheum – at that time a Famous Players movie palace. When Hollywood stars made live appearances, Ackery let them escape admiring mobs through this alley.
In 1969 Jim Bohlen, Paul Coté and Irving Stowe founded the “Don't Make a Wave Committee” – changing its name a year later to the Greenpeace Foundation. Now an international environmental organization centered in Amsterdam, it opposes nuclear tests, wildlife destruction and environmental pollution.
Born in 1844 in Scotland, MacLean arrived on Burrard Inlet in January, 1886. His progressive policies for the city helped elect him first Mayor by a margin of 17 votes and he was easily re-elected for a second term. He died in 1895.
In August 1914 volunteers built the first artillery emplacements at Siwash Point. A month later the army established a second battery at Point Chey. With Japan's increasing aggression in the 1930's installations were rebuilt to cover the harbour from here and Ferguson Point.
A century ago there was a natural portage through the swamp between False Creek and Burrard Inlet. The Indians, who had huts nearby, called the area Lucklucky, ‘Grove of Beautiful Trees’. Vancouver's first church, a Methodist mission to the Indians, was built at the foot of Abbott in 1876.
On April 13, 1903, longshoreman Frank Rogers, a prominent socialist and labour leader, was mortally wounded during a bitter strike between the C.P.R. and the United Brotherhood of Railway Employees. Roger's funeral was attended by members of all trade unions. The suspected killer was never convicted.
Vancouver's first library and museum building was established here in 1903 with funds donated by the American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Used solely as the city museum from 1957 to 1967, it was later renovated to serve residents of the downtown eastside.
Vancouver's Main Post Office (from 1910 to 1958), the Hotel Georgia and the Art Gallery were taken over on May 11, 1938 by some 1200 unemployed men protesting lack of relief payments. They occupied the Post Office until June 20 when the use of tear gas by the RCMP instigated the infamous Post Office Riot.
This is Vancouver's oldest building. Erected in 1865 near the foot of Dunlevy Street, it housed the settlement's store and post office. In 1930 it was placed on floats and towed to this location – where it is owned and operated as a museum by the Native Daughters of B.C.
The Fire Department has grown up with Vancouver. Buckets and axes have given way to street alarm boxes (1890s); horse-drawn fire wagons to motor-driven engines housed in halls like this (1907). The force has grown from a few volunteers to a complement of some 800 quartered in 20 file halls.
On March 20, 1917, Police Chief Malcolm MacLennan attempted to arrest Robert Tate, a crazed drug addict who had shot and killed eight-year-old George Robb. While under siege, Tate fired on the police, killing MacLennan and wounding four others before committing suicide.
Formed in 1889, the Union Steamship Company became Vancouver's first home-controlled shipping firm. From this area U.S.C. provided upcoast freight and passenger service and weekend sailings to area resorts. The North Vancouver and West Vancouver cross-harbour ferries also left from here.
