While the automobile is an important part of both our transportation needs and our culture, it is also a target and focus of those who dislike anything and everything about it.
Throughout our history, however, this type of transport, whether car, truck or bus, has played a prominent role in our development.
In New Westminster, this mode of transportation has defined some areas of town, acted as a component in a neighbourhood's growth and established businesses that prospered for years. The service station, gas station, auto dealership, auto parts, etc. all figure in our business history as well as in the evolution of certain streetscapes.
Early images of automobiles in this city also act as very useful markers in working out a date of a particular view.
Over the years we have received great information from various sources about the cars in photos to help date the image.
New Westminster had early connections to groups interested in the improvement of existing highway systems and the creation of others at a time when there were very few autos in the area.
In the early 1900s, a "good roads" group was vocal, tourist facilities for "autoists" were built, servicing establishments opened, and a whole series of new advertisements began to appear. One very early auto even had a tie to a major bank heist.
Some of our walking tours of the city include stories that are directly connected to the car.
For instance, walks in Uptown, Sapperton and along 12th Street definitely include this topic in stories of early commerce, local activities and colourful personalities. In early August, a tour of the downtown area will talk about, among other topics, service stations and car dealers - yes, in New Westminster's downtown.
Watch for announcements about this walk.
Recently we were asked about the change in British Columbia from driving on the left instead of as we do now, on the right. "Did this really happen?" It most certainly did. The "rule of the road" change saw people go to bed Dec. 31, 1921 having to drive on the left, but they woke up on Jan. 1, 1922 having to drive on the right. Another automobile-connected piece of our history.
This story of the car is a popular topic, and a guest speaker at the Historical Society on Wednesday, June 19, starting at 7: 30 p.m. in the auditorium of the New Westminster Public Library, will add to this story with lots of automotive bits and pieces. Gary Miller, local resident, no relation to us, truly knows his cars from specs and logistics to trivia - all great stuff.
Gary will join Archie, who will show slides of early automotive scenes and businesses, to fill in details, facts, figures and ephemera about what is shown in the photos. This will be an entertaining historical presentation.
Now, about that car and the bank robbery .
