As we put this column together, we are poring over a multifold map brochure of the Lower Mainland from the 1950s, produced by the Associated Auto Court Operators of Vancouver and vicinity and Woodward Stores Ltd.
The Woodward's connection is most prominent, along with interesting maps and lists of local auto courts.
It is the Woodward's connection that helps us put a date on this intriguing item recently located in a box of old papers we were sorting for the recycling box. The red and blue cover promoted the Woodward's stores and listed Vancouver (the downtown site), West Vancouver (Park Royal), Victoria, Port Alberni, and Edmonton, and New Westminster - but no Oakridge. That key point places the brochure's publication date after New Westminster (1954) and before Oakridge (later in the 50s).
Items such as this old fold-out map with its lists, directions and comments, can be very interesting.
For instance, there is a notation promoting the main store's food floor as the "largest on the continent under one roof."
Many people will still tell you that the Woodward's food floors were the best and those of 'a certain age' will look back fondly to days of shopping there.
The map has an article on Customs Regulations with a different focus. The target is a visitor from the U.S. taking things home. It reads in part: "Purchases to the value of $200 per person once every 30 days may be taken or shipped back to the USA free of duty if stay in Canada is 48 hours or more."
The New Westminster store is featured with descriptions of the building and its departments as well as a map showing where it is in the city. Other local sites on this map are city hall with the bus depot directly across Sixth Street (today's Royal Towers' site), the arena in Queen's Park and the Pattullo Bridge.
Being a tourist type handout, it also has many references to other places to visit in the Vancouver area.
Some of the major sites in Vancouver are the city aquarium at English Bay Beach, the museum located at the top floor of the library at Main and Hastings streets, the city archives at the top floor of city hall at Cambie Street and 12th Avenue, and the Hastings Mill Museum.
The lists of auto courts are also of interest. We often forget that they could be found on many of the main regional thoroughfares such as Kingsway, Grandview Highway, Marine Drive on the North Shore, East Hastings Street, and the highways heading through Surrey, Delta, and White Rock.
We will have to check for the ones nearest to New Westminster.
There are so many other items to note on the map that maybe another look is in order - how about a ferry from Steveston to Sidney?
