Welcome to my April 2017 Great and Powerful 2017 Blogging from A to Z Challenge!

Today, G is for Government Street!

Here is a Google map showing where Government Street is located in James Bay.

I’m going to keep this post shortish, mainly because there is a lot about Government Street online.  So, I’ll give you a short history, some links, and then some current pictures!

What I could find out about Government Street:

Government Street stretches from Dallas Road in James Bay all the way up to Hillside, way away from James Bay.  It runs all through downtown Victoria, and you can find people walking all over the street during tourist season, as well as the horses and carriages, so be careful driving!

The portion of Government Street in James Bay used to be home to the Birdcages – the old government buildings here in our provincial capital.  From http://www.victoriaheritagefoundation.ca/Neighbourhoods/jamesbayhistory.html

“The series of buildings designed by H.O. Tiedemann were dubbed the Birdcages because their bell-cast roofs, half-timbering and ornate balconies gave them an exotic appearance. Moving the colonial offices to James Bay was daring because the new site was far removed from the centre of business activity in downtown Victoria. Douglas was accused of choosing the location because it was next door to his own house, thus enhancing his own property values. The bridge he had built across the bay in 1859, ostensibly to connect the Birdcages with downtown, was seen as another self-serving act. The governor denied conflict of interest, but was quick to take advantage of the situation by pushing a road through the western edge of his property from the south end of the James Bay Bridge, and creating lots along the thoroughfare, which he named Birdcage Walk. The resulting subdivision, Birdcage Terrace, became a fashionable address lined with Italianate and Gothic villas for civil servants, business and professional people. The Walk extended to the south of Douglas’s property and in the mid-1880s a matching pair of Italianate houses were built there for Hon. John Robson and his son-in-law Joseph Hunter (506 & 514 Government St). ”

Part of Government Street used to be called Carr Street, as it was home to famous Canadian artist, Emily Carr.

• 501 Government Street – the Birdcages Confectionery:  http://www.victoriaheritagefoundation.ca/HReg/JamesB/Government501.html
• 615-17 Government Street: http://www.victoriaheritagefoundation.ca/HReg/JamesB/Government617.html
• Picture of the Birdcages: http://search-bcarchives.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/government-street-looking-south-toward-james-bay-bridge-victoria-birdcages-visible-at-far-right

Here are some pictures I’ve taken of Government Street in the past.

Why didn’t I take pictures this week?  Well I was going to go out after work on Friday, but of course, the weather did NOT cooperate.  In fact, it was so windy, they cancelled ferry service off the island.  AND it was raining.  Luckily, I did have pictures in the old archives, so here you go!

At the downtown end, we have the Leg., and the Empress.

And the museum (this is the TC 10K race, going by the museum).

Heading back towards Dallas Road, we go down what used to be Birdcage Walk…

And the Birdcages Confectionery.

A little closer to Dallas is what used to be Carr Street…

And the Emily Carr house.

And one block from Dallas Road, a little library resting place!

What else do you want to know about Government Street?  Ask away, and I will see what I can find out for you!

Thanks for visiting letter G of my A to Z Challenge post of 2017.  You can find more G posts at http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2017/04/atozchallenge-4-8-2017-letter-g.html.  Stay tuned for H is for... on Monday!!

Welcome to my April 2017 Great and Powerful 2017 Blogging from A to Z Challenge!

Today, F is for Beckley Street!

Here is a Google map showing where Beckley Street is located in James Bay.

Like other streets I’ve discussed so far, Beckley Street is also one block, from Rendall to Oswego.

What I could find out about Beckley Street:

It was named for Beckley FARM…see…F is for Farm! Beckley Farm was the original name of this area.

From http://www.victoriaheritagefoundation.ca/Neighbourhoods/jamesbayhistory.html:

“James Bay derives its name from the body of water, named in honour of Sir James Douglas, which was a shallow tidal inlet extending from what is now called the Inner Harbour eastward almost to Blanshard Street, encompassing the present site of the Empress Hotel, Victoria Conference Centre and Crystal Garden. After Fort Victoria was built in 1843, the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) established Beckley Farm on the James Bay Peninsula, and people went around the head of the bay to get there, but in 1859 a wooden piling bridge was built to span the water. After that people said they were going “across James Bay.” Today the term “James Bay” is used almost exclusively for the neighbourhood, not the body of water.”

And from http://www.jamesbaybeacon.ca/?q=node/1526

“Under the ownership of the HBC, the land on the James Bay Peninsula was surveyed and subdivided. The northern area within the boundaries of our present Simcoe, Toronto and Montreal Streets was subdivided, mostly into town lots. The lands that lay south and west of those streets were retained as farmland by the HBC, for grazing cattle and grain and root crops. These rich fertile flat lands of James Bay became farms for the early settlers. Originally, all of the area was called “Ogden Fields Farm.” By the early 1850s it was known as “Dutnall’s Farm,” named after John Dutnall, the HBC farm bailiff. Then by 1855 its name became “Beckley Farm” – after the village of Beckley in East Sussex, England. The total expanse of the Farm was 1,212 acres.”

And from http://www.beaconhillparkhistory.org/contents/appendix_C2.htm, here is a map showing the Beckley Farm area of Victoria.

I found out that Emily Carr once lived on Beckley Street, back in the 1930s.  It’s also home of one of the last video rental places in Victoria:  James Bay (Videos and ) Pet Supplies (http://www.jamesbaybeacon.ca/?q=node/1002)

• Map of Beckley Farm: http://contentdm.library.uvic.ca/cdm/ref/collection/collection5/id/271
• From the BC Archives,Nan Cheney (left) and artist Emily Carr on porch of 316 Beckley St., Victoria: http://search-bcarchives.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/nan-cheney-left-and-artist-emily-carr-on-porch-of-316-beckley-st-victoria
• The Famous Artist Next Door (from The Islander): http://victoriahistory.ca/blog/2010/08/the-famous-artist-next-door/

Here are some more pictures I took of Beckley Street just this week.

The Oswego end…

…with James Bay Video and Pet Supplies!

A Monkey Puzzle tree in one of the yards.

A few of the houses actually back onto Beckley, while they face Niagara on the other side.

Flowers on Rendall near Beckley.

What else do you want to know about Beckley Street?  Ask away, and I will see what I can find out for you!

Thanks for visiting letter F of my A to Z Challenge post of 2017.  You can find more F posts at http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2017/04/atozchallenge-4-7-2017-letter-f.html.  Stay tuned for G is for... tomorrow!!

Welcome to my April 2017 Great and Powerful 2017 Blogging from A to Z Challenge!

Today, E is for Erie Street!

Here is a Google map showing where Erie Street is located in James Bay.

Like other streets I’ve discussed so far, Erie Street is also one block, from Dallas Road (well, actually Dallas turns into Erie) to St. Lawrence (which again, it turns into – Victoria streets do this a lot…).

What I could find out about Erie Street:

Well, again, not a lot.  No heritage houses on Erie, just a condo building…

…and a couple of businesses, namely Finest at Sea, our local fish store,

and a relatively new cafe/studio called Imagine.

Across the street is Fisherman’s Wharf – there it is in the distance.

They have seals at Fisherman’s Wharf!

Here are some more pictures I took of Erie Street just this week.

Looking towards the Dallas end.

Looking toward the St. Lawrence end.

A fun sculpture on the condo complex.

What else do you want to know about Erie Street?  Ask away, and I will see what I can find out for you!

Thanks for visiting letter E of my A to Z Challenge post of 2017.  You can find more E posts at http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2017/04/atozchallenge-4-6-2017-letter-e.html.  Stay tuned for F is for... tomorrow!!

Welcome to my April 2017 Great and Powerful 2017 Blogging from A to Z Challenge!

Today, D is for Dock Street!

Here is a Google map showing where Dock Street is located in James Bay.

Like other streets I’ve discussed so far, Dock Street is also one block, from Niagara Street to Dallas Road.

What I could find out about Dock Street:

Not a lot.  There are no heritage houses on Dock Street.  I suspect the name Dock comes from being so close to the docks, down on Dallas, but it’s only a guess.  Although, I bet you would believe it!

At one end of Dock are some community gardens…

…and the White Eagle Polish Hall.

Complete with palm trees…why, oh why are there palm trees??

And at the other end are some apartment buildings…

And the ocean and Ogden Point.

Here are some more pictures I took of Dock Street just this week.

Facing Niagara…

…and facing Dallas Road.

And at the end of Dock, on Dallas, are two wonderful Heritage houses that were moved from near the Legislature buildings down to Dallas last year.  I love a city that preserves its heritage!!

What else do you want to know about Dock Street?  Ask away, and I will see what I can find out for you!

Thanks for visiting letter D of my A to Z Challenge post of 2017.  You can find more D posts at http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2017/04/atozchallenge-4-5-2017-letter-d.html.  Stay tuned for E is for… tomorrow!!

Welcome to my April 2017 Great and Powerful 2017 Blogging from A to Z Challenge!

Today, C is for Clarence Street!

Here is a Google map showing where Clarence Street is located in James Bay.

Clarence Street is one block, from Niagara Street to Simcoe.  It runs parallel to the street I live on, and you can see the tall apartment block behind our house.

What I could find out about Clarence Street:

• 112 Clarence Street: http://www.victoriaheritagefoundation.ca/HReg/JamesB/Clarence112.html
• 146 Clarence Street:  http://www.victoriaheritagefoundation.ca/HReg/JamesB/Clarence146.html

This second house is important, as it gives us the origin of the name Clarence Street.  To quote the page above:

“William John Goepel paid the taxes until 1897. Born in London, England, he came to BC in 1875 and married Sarah Bate in 1881. He was a gentleman and real estate agent, but may have lost money in the 1893 depression, because by 1895 he was a gold commissioner in the Kootenays (his residence was still listed as 38 Simcoe), and by 1898 a Government Inspector in Nelson, BC. The Goepels returned to Victoria by 1920, and William became Deputy Minister of Finance for the Province. He died in Victoria in 1936 at 79. Sarah was the daughter of Mark Bate, first mayor of Nanaimo, BC, in 1875, and a long-time member of St. Mary’s Anglican Church Choir in Oak Bay, Sir James and Lady Douglas Chapter of IODE, the Women’s Club, and BC Historical Association. She was also active in charitable organizations, including the Women’s Auxiliary of St. Mary’s Church, as president of the Altar Guild, the Mothers’ Union and Little Helpers, and the Friendly Help Club. Sarah died in 1944 at 92. Clarence St was named after the Goepels’ youngest son, Clarence Dorset Goepel (1883-1947). Born in Victoria, he lived in Oak Bay 35 years and owned Pacific Chemical Co.”

Here are some pictures I took of Clarence Street just this week.

Looking towards Simcoe.

Looking back towards Niagara

146 Clarence (see link above)

The teacup plum tree

What else do you want to know about Clarence Street?  Ask away, and I will see what I can find out for you!

Thanks for visiting letter C of my A to Z Challenge post of 2017.  You can find more C posts at http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2017/04/atozchallenge-4-4-2017-letter-c.html.  Stay tuned for D is for… tomorrow!!