In this week’s blog, we’re doing some myth busting while telling the real story behind the Lost Lagoon Fountain in Stanley Park.
Official souvenir book for Vancouver’s 1936 Golden Jubilee. Courtesy MoV
A couple of weeks ago, Chris Stiles sent me a photo of Vancouver that her husband’s grandparents had purchased from Frank Gowen in 1913. I wanted to see other photos by Gowen, who specialized in postcards, and found one he took of the fountain in Lost Lagoon. Before I posted it on my Facebook page Every Place has a Story, I looked it up in one of my reference books and found it was installed as part of Vancouver’s Golden Jubilee in 1936, “a leftover from the Chicago World Fair.”
Except that it wasn’t.
Lost Lagoon’s spanking new fountain in 1936. Courtesy CVA 612-039
Urban Myth:
A sharp-eyed reader quickly corrected me, and said that it was an urban myth, the fountain was designed right here in Vancouver.
So, let’s set the record straight.
Robert H. William, an electrical engineer of Hume & Rumble, Electrical Contractors and Engineers designed the Lost Lagoon Fountain for the Vancouver Jubilee Committee. According to a story in the Vancouver Sun, August 8, 1936, Williams was inspired by a fountain he saw in Los Angeles. Lost Lagoon was drained, and the fountain was built on top of a concrete mat that had been laid over 70 piles driven into the mud. It took a month.
Casper Golhof Snr and seven of his children in 1938, three of whom are still alive
The Plan:
“When operating, it is like a symphony concert, in motion and colour instead of music,” Williams told a reporter. All equipment was built in Canada, the pumps were constructed in Vancouver and only union labour was used.
There were 54 floodlights, 310 jets and the colours were white, amber, green and blue and red.
Heather Virtue-Lapierre at Lost Lagoon in 1951
The original plans had called for natural rock facings to cover the concrete, but there wasn’t enough money.
Not everyone liked it. People said it was too much money to spend in the middle of the Depression. A 1937 news story called it “a squat, moth-coloured eyesore.” A City Councillor called it “a monstrosity that yells at you $35,000,” the final cost of construction.
Lost Lagoon Fountain, courtesy Glen Mofford
The fountain was turned off for a few years during the second world war, then it received a much needed makeover for Expo ’86. It’s been out of commission for a few years now.
32 comments on “The Real Story Behind the Lost Lagoon Fountain”
Interesting, and I would have to say that I like the idea of renaming the fountain after Dr. Bonnie Henry. This would be a significant gesture.
Nope. Let the Fountain alone, and find a place for Dr. Bonnie’s name. I would suggest a world-leading lab at UBC. Funding should be adequate to provide fellowships for up-and-coming young scientists from the field of Public Health around he world. That’s where her focus should be.
agreed
Interesting story! Somewhere I’ve seen a photo of the UBC Engineers’ Volkswagen Beetle sitting on the fountain spouting like a whale but can’t locate it.
Thanks Lisa, and I really want to see that photo!
Thanks, Eve. It would be lovely if the fountain was restored. In the Depression it probably cheered people up, and during the Pandemic, it might do the same!
It would definitely cheer me up Judith!
This is a landmark that should be maintained by the par/city as it is the gateway to the Park and Bridge. Possibly Jimmy Pattison could help in some way and receive a tax break.
Wow! All those years I drove sightseeing buses around the park, telling guests from all over the world that the fountain had come from the Chicago World’s Fair. Now I’ll have to publish an official retraction.
I wonder how the fake story came to be?
Oh no! It’s so weird how some of these urban legends come about. I’ve double and triple sourced things for my new book Vancouver Exposed from quite credible sources, only to find something that just wasn’t true keeps getting passed along as fact.
There were two ways to have a closeup look at the fountain. Over forty years ago you could still rent a rowboat and tour Lost Lagoon. The rentals were at water level below the old Chilco Street bus loop, in a space now occupied by the Stanley Park Nature House. “https://stanleyparkecology.ca/education/nature-house/”
In the 1970s winters were still so cold that Lost Lagoon froze over, and ice skating was permitted for several weeks. The concession stand opened for hot drinks and snacks, and lights were set up for evening skating. I drove evening shifts on the Stanley Park bus in those days, and during my break at the Loop I would walk out to the fountain to have a look. I remember how big it was close up. I would arrive at the bus loop in my bus, open the front doors and there was the sound of several hundred people skating on the ice. Lights are still put up on the fountain at Christmas.
In the 60s my buddy and I would launch a small dinghy and row all over the lagoon. . Also in the 60s my dad bought me a small sailboat . Itwas about 18 inches long and operated like a real sailboat. One day one of the swans decided my sailboat was an intruder and when the swan was done my toy was destroyed. My family also skated on the lagoon. I guess because we lived in the West End we took the fountain for granted.
My Wife’s Grandfather worked on the original installation doing the plumbing for that fountain back in the 30’s . That Fountain should be working, I think the City of Vancouver Parks should get it running again.
Angus, yes in the early 70’s especially 1970 & 1971 when 9 then 10′ fell respectively. January of 71 having 47″ of snow for the month. A record overnight snowfall on Jan 15th when 24″ fell.
On the far side just before the bridge to second beach the boardwalks and some cement pilings remain of something? Anyone know what was there?
The geometry of the Fountain: It lies exactly on the centre line of Georgia Street. If you draw that line across Downtown to False Creek, it will lead directly to Science World, formerly the EXPO 86 Discovery Centre. This is not an accident. The Fountain celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the City of Vancouver, while EXPO 86 celebrated its centenary.
Fascinating! Thanks for adding to the fountain’s story David.
When I was a kid I was convinced that Lost Lagoon was bottomless and nobody had ever found the bottom. Of course, in actual fact, it was considered ‘lost’ because it was so shallow that all the water disappeared at low tide.
When the road causeway was built all that changed.
I’m glad the name stuck
The Amalgamated Transit Union was on strike with B.C. Hydro for the full month of January, 1971. I had picket duty from midnight to 6:00 am, and with the old-timers we dutifully marched back and forth in front of the old Cambie Garage at 14th and Cambie. It was so cold gas meters froze, and huge icicles formed from eavestroughs to the ground.
In the forties the Fountain was one of the few tourist attractions in Vancouver. We would take our out of town guests for a “drive by”to see the splendour of the fountain when it lit up, particularly at night.
I must add that Angus’s last comment was in reply to my weather comment about 1972.
Now my question is ” restored from when?” I never was finished according to the post. . Are they referring tp the coloured lighting?
In the first pic the Weeping Willow tree is still there. Too many trees surround the Lagoon in my opinion blocking its view esp in winter when the xmas tree effect on.
Your opinion is the same as mine. The view into the lagoon from the causeway is an important asset, but it was sacrificed to cover someone’s rear. You probably remember that twenty years ago the city cut a number of trees down in the park to allow for a wider causeway. To smooth things over with protesters, the city agreed to replace the cut trees, which they planted densely along the northern shore of Lost Lagoon. They even had trees growing in the median for a time, until they saw the folly of that decision. Silly is as silly does.
I was told by a buss driver, that before the causeway, when high tide came in, the lagoon would be lost because it now would be part of the ocean
Read Pauline Johnson a famous mèti poet, she named the lagoon in a poem, and her remains are across the street from the tea house at third beach.
In the 90’s as a kid I always watched the fountain waiting for the centre jet to spray a high stream into the air as Dad drove down Georgia street.
Last time I saw it running was 2014.
Would like to talk to you regarding my story of stowing away in 1965 from Liverpool to Montreal on empress of England n didnt get caught. Also jumped ship in Skagway (was running the gift shop)on the Prince George . Both escapades were done with my buddy who lives in Victoria.
He was the purser on the George.
We were arrested next day on the White pass n Yukon train
They should get it up and running again.
Thank You so much for your sharing our story. My grandfather designed and erected the fountain. Lennox MacKenzi had nothing to do with it. He was simply the city electrical engineer tasked with inspecting it for the Golden Jubilee commitee.
My grandfather died young and suddenly so he never got to speak of his story till I went investigating for the truth.
I also have the drawings and papers, pictures and notes. Vancouver Golden Jubilee Fountain story is on Facebook.
Eve, is the fountain still not operational?? (I no longer live in the Lower Mainland and haven’t been to Stanley Park since before Covid.) what a shame if that’s the case! I wonder how we can convince the powers-that-be to get it going again – after all, if they refurbished it for Expo in 1986 it can be done again, no?
I suspect they’ve got their hands full with bike lanes ….
The fountain is nothing short of iconic. But Vancouver City Council has failed to support the notion. Rather, other works of “nonsense” are commissioned. I personally feel that Vancouver City has lost its soul.
I have vague memories from when I first came to Vancouver in 1958, the year of BC’s centennial. Was there a big, illuminated sign near that fountain to celebrate the centennial or am I more confused than I thought?
32 comments on “The Real Story Behind the Lost Lagoon Fountain”
Interesting, and I would have to say that I like the idea of renaming the fountain after Dr. Bonnie Henry. This would be a significant gesture.
Nope. Let the Fountain alone, and find a place for Dr. Bonnie’s name. I would suggest a world-leading lab at UBC. Funding should be adequate to provide fellowships for up-and-coming young scientists from the field of Public Health around he world. That’s where her focus should be.
agreed
Interesting story! Somewhere I’ve seen a photo of the UBC Engineers’ Volkswagen Beetle sitting on the fountain spouting like a whale but can’t locate it.
Thanks Lisa, and I really want to see that photo!
Thanks, Eve. It would be lovely if the fountain was restored. In the Depression it probably cheered people up, and during the Pandemic, it might do the same!
It would definitely cheer me up Judith!
This is a landmark that should be maintained by the par/city as it is the gateway to the Park and Bridge. Possibly Jimmy Pattison could help in some way and receive a tax break.
Wow! All those years I drove sightseeing buses around the park, telling guests from all over the world that the fountain had come from the Chicago World’s Fair. Now I’ll have to publish an official retraction.
I wonder how the fake story came to be?
Oh no! It’s so weird how some of these urban legends come about. I’ve double and triple sourced things for my new book Vancouver Exposed from quite credible sources, only to find something that just wasn’t true keeps getting passed along as fact.
There were two ways to have a closeup look at the fountain. Over forty years ago you could still rent a rowboat and tour Lost Lagoon. The rentals were at water level below the old Chilco Street bus loop, in a space now occupied by the Stanley Park Nature House. “https://stanleyparkecology.ca/education/nature-house/”
In the 1970s winters were still so cold that Lost Lagoon froze over, and ice skating was permitted for several weeks. The concession stand opened for hot drinks and snacks, and lights were set up for evening skating. I drove evening shifts on the Stanley Park bus in those days, and during my break at the Loop I would walk out to the fountain to have a look. I remember how big it was close up. I would arrive at the bus loop in my bus, open the front doors and there was the sound of several hundred people skating on the ice. Lights are still put up on the fountain at Christmas.
In the 60s my buddy and I would launch a small dinghy and row all over the lagoon. . Also in the 60s my dad bought me a small sailboat . Itwas about 18 inches long and operated like a real sailboat. One day one of the swans decided my sailboat was an intruder and when the swan was done my toy was destroyed. My family also skated on the lagoon. I guess because we lived in the West End we took the fountain for granted.
My Wife’s Grandfather worked on the original installation doing the plumbing for that fountain back in the 30’s . That Fountain should be working, I think the City of Vancouver Parks should get it running again.
Angus, yes in the early 70’s especially 1970 & 1971 when 9 then 10′ fell respectively. January of 71 having 47″ of snow for the month. A record overnight snowfall on Jan 15th when 24″ fell.
On the far side just before the bridge to second beach the boardwalks and some cement pilings remain of something? Anyone know what was there?
The geometry of the Fountain: It lies exactly on the centre line of Georgia Street. If you draw that line across Downtown to False Creek, it will lead directly to Science World, formerly the EXPO 86 Discovery Centre. This is not an accident. The Fountain celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the City of Vancouver, while EXPO 86 celebrated its centenary.
Fascinating! Thanks for adding to the fountain’s story David.
When I was a kid I was convinced that Lost Lagoon was bottomless and nobody had ever found the bottom. Of course, in actual fact, it was considered ‘lost’ because it was so shallow that all the water disappeared at low tide.
When the road causeway was built all that changed.
I’m glad the name stuck
The Amalgamated Transit Union was on strike with B.C. Hydro for the full month of January, 1971. I had picket duty from midnight to 6:00 am, and with the old-timers we dutifully marched back and forth in front of the old Cambie Garage at 14th and Cambie. It was so cold gas meters froze, and huge icicles formed from eavestroughs to the ground.
In the forties the Fountain was one of the few tourist attractions in Vancouver. We would take our out of town guests for a “drive by”to see the splendour of the fountain when it lit up, particularly at night.
I must add that Angus’s last comment was in reply to my weather comment about 1972.
Now my question is ” restored from when?” I never was finished according to the post. . Are they referring tp the coloured lighting?
In the first pic the Weeping Willow tree is still there. Too many trees surround the Lagoon in my opinion blocking its view esp in winter when the xmas tree effect on.
Your opinion is the same as mine. The view into the lagoon from the causeway is an important asset, but it was sacrificed to cover someone’s rear. You probably remember that twenty years ago the city cut a number of trees down in the park to allow for a wider causeway. To smooth things over with protesters, the city agreed to replace the cut trees, which they planted densely along the northern shore of Lost Lagoon. They even had trees growing in the median for a time, until they saw the folly of that decision. Silly is as silly does.
I was told by a buss driver, that before the causeway, when high tide came in, the lagoon would be lost because it now would be part of the ocean
Read Pauline Johnson a famous mèti poet, she named the lagoon in a poem, and her remains are across the street from the tea house at third beach.
In the 90’s as a kid I always watched the fountain waiting for the centre jet to spray a high stream into the air as Dad drove down Georgia street.
Last time I saw it running was 2014.
Would like to talk to you regarding my story of stowing away in 1965 from Liverpool to Montreal on empress of England n didnt get caught. Also jumped ship in Skagway (was running the gift shop)on the Prince George . Both escapades were done with my buddy who lives in Victoria.
He was the purser on the George.
We were arrested next day on the White pass n Yukon train
They should get it up and running again.
Thank You so much for your sharing our story. My grandfather designed and erected the fountain. Lennox MacKenzi had nothing to do with it. He was simply the city electrical engineer tasked with inspecting it for the Golden Jubilee commitee.
My grandfather died young and suddenly so he never got to speak of his story till I went investigating for the truth.
I also have the drawings and papers, pictures and notes. Vancouver Golden Jubilee Fountain story is on Facebook.
Eve, is the fountain still not operational?? (I no longer live in the Lower Mainland and haven’t been to Stanley Park since before Covid.) what a shame if that’s the case! I wonder how we can convince the powers-that-be to get it going again – after all, if they refurbished it for Expo in 1986 it can be done again, no?
I suspect they’ve got their hands full with bike lanes ….
The fountain is nothing short of iconic. But Vancouver City Council has failed to support the notion. Rather, other works of “nonsense” are commissioned. I personally feel that Vancouver City has lost its soul.
I have vague memories from when I first came to Vancouver in 1958, the year of BC’s centennial. Was there a big, illuminated sign near that fountain to celebrate the centennial or am I more confused than I thought?