Six months ago this column set the scene for an anniversary of a major building in New Westminster's downtown area.
The Westminster Building, formerly Westminster Trust Building, is 100 years of age.
In 1912, the community had read of the plans for the structure and the purchase of the highly valued property at Columbia and Begbie Streets. The story started in 1910, moved through 1911, and during 1912 there was great interest in this construction project.
Just as we watch building projects today and marvel at the process, the same interest would have been directed in 1912 towards the structure that was beginning to rise from an excavated hole on this prominent corner.
While construction of the new civic building at the same street corner today has massive cranes, construction equipment and enormous trucks delivering concrete, the Westminster Building had its own attention grabbers with stone, steel, concrete, wooden piles and scaffolding.
The project's design and appearance was clearly evident for much of 1912 and there was tremendous interest in the "skyscraper" - what it would mean to the street, and who would open offices and rooms in the innovative building.
In June of that year, the Trust Company reported that the building would be ready by the end of September and they would be in their own new offices in August.
While this plan didn't work out, there was great demand for space in the new building, rentals moved rapidly, and the occupation date moved to October.
This was such an exciting project in the city that when the Governor General, the Duke of Connaught, arrived for a state visit in September, it was deemed important that the new building be part of the decoration of downtown.
A newspaper noted that "the local skyscraper is decorated in a manner befitting its size. Long streamers are attached to the top of the building and reach nearly to the ground to which are attached a myriad of flags of varied designs and colours."
In mid-October notices began to appear in the local press identifying who was moving into the Westminster Trust Building. The earliest entries reported that the "Progressive Association" had moved in to Room 16; the British North American Securities Corporation Ltd. had Rooms 7, 8 and 9 on the fifth floor; and W. E. Sinclair, the Shoeman, would be in one of the storefronts.
That particular store had moved down the street from the 600 block to open a new establishment. This store actually made shoes onsite and it had a "ladies' shoe shining parlour."
It also featured up-todate shelving, "from which goods can be reached from the floor by means of rolling ladders." You can see this type of ladder and shelving arrangement up the street today at Copp's Shoes.
There is more on the Westminster Building's anniversary year still to come.
