Every Place Has a Story

The Missing Telephone Operators of BC

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November 5 is the 60th Anniversary of Vancouver’s last manual telephone exchange. Angus McIntyre writes about its history and the changeover.

By Angus McIntyre

If you grew up in the City of Vancouver in the 1950s you may well remember your telephone number looked like this: KErrisdale 3457-M. Or ALma 0609-L.

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The Shaughnessy Murder of Marion Hamilton

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Marion Hamilton, 68 was murdered in her Shaughnessy home in 1975. It’s a creepy story of a once prominent Vancouver family, a run-down old mansion, greed, and the shocking identity of her murderer.

The story of Marion Hamilton’s murder first appeared in my book At Home With History

When police found the body of Marion Hamilton, 68, in her Nanton Street home in 1975, they assumed it was death by natural causes.

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Richard Berrow’s Law/History Quiz:

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My friend Richard Berrow designed this quiz for his colleagues in the legal profession, and kindly sent me a copy. I thought that my friends and colleagues in the local history community would also enjoy it, and give these esteemed lawyers a run for their retainers. If you’ve read Sensational Vancouver, you’ll easily answer three of these questions.

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The Second English Bay Pier

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Most people are surprised to learn that from 1907 to 1939 there was a pier at English Bay, but it was only recently that I found out that English Bay actually had two piers. Local historian and collector Neil Whaley has kindly provided a guest blog about the second pier at English Bay, the one where all the music and dancing took place.

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The Art of Frits Jacobsen

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Frits Jacobsen arrived in Vancouver in 1968 and drew many of Vancouver’s long since demolished heritage houses.

By Jason Vanderhill

I first heard about Frits Jacobsen, and saw his beautiful drawings in a post by Jason Vanderhill on his Illustrated Vancouver blog. Jason kindly allowed me to repost it here.

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Kits Point and the Summer of ‘23

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By Michael Kluckner

Michael Kluckner is a writer and artist with a list of books that includes Vanishing Vancouver and Toshiko. His most recent book is a graphic biography called Julia. He is the president of the Vancouver Historical Society and chair of the city’s Heritage Commission.

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City Reflections: The Epic

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I am excited to tell you that City Reflections is now on YouTube. As you’ll read in John Atkin’s story, it was a massive volunteer undertaking by members of the Vancouver Historical Society. It has been, and will continue to be, a huge tool for researchers—I would never have got John Vance (Blood, Sweat, and Fear) to work on his first day in 1907 without it! 

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