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What did January look like 130 years ago?

As we move towards the end of the first month of 2018, it might be interesting to look back to the end of a much earlier January – back 130 years to 1888 to see what was newsworthy at that time in the Royal City.
Archie and Dale Miller
Our Past with Archie and Dale Miller

As we move towards the end of the first month of 2018, it might be interesting to look back to the end of a much earlier January – back 130 years to 1888 to see what was newsworthy at that time in the Royal City.

If some of the early residents were still entertaining, they might have wanted some liquid refreshment to add to their festivities. Perhaps the popular store of Eb Brown would have just what they wanted, as he had just brought in a large shipment on the sailing vessel Viola. Among the recent arrivals were Bass India Pale Ale, Guinness Stout, champagne and clarets.

The snow was rapidly disappearing as there had been “abundant rainfall” and the “strong wind … had the effect of breaking up a large quantity of ice on the river … and the tide carried it out into the gulf.”

And speaking of ice, what was done all those years ago by companies that needed ice for freezing later in the year? They gathered it in winter and put it away for use as needed. We read in late January 1888 that 750 tons of ice had been “put up for D W Port and Co’s fish freezing establishment.” It had been gathered from the North Arm of the Fraser and some was 11 inches thick.

An interesting form of entertainment was scheduled at the Herring Opera House. This was to be a foot race for which the opera house would be reconfigured to create a “track” on which the competitors would run, until one runner completed the set distance, in this case, 10 miles. This race was to be between Messrs Stokes and Myers, “the former allowing the latter five minutes of a start.”

(The race didn’t happen. It seems it “was somewhat abruptly interrupted by the arrest of Myers. It is said that the Vancouver police have a charge against him.”)

One fellow who would become very well known in the area for his businesses, his interest in lacrosse and horse racing, as well as his extensive community involvement, was Joe Quoi. In late January 1888, an article lets the town know that Quoi has opened a laundry.

There were a number of advertisements for special events upcoming in the city. There was to be the Annual Ball of the Hyack Fire Company, a sale of assorted works in support of the Holy Trinity bell tower, and a dramatic evening at the Opera House by Gustavus Levick with Miss Celia Alsberg and their travelling company. We will check into these events.