Aerial Photos of BC from 1940's and 1950's

[Dylan Leblanc]

Gosh, look at that 10 story Bank of Toronto. I guess Victorians really did have something against those Toronto sized buildings.

[Bingo]

The Odeon Theatre is under construction.

That looks like a cigarette billboard ad at Douglas and Pembroke.

Could it be the lady for British Consols.

[aastra]

Geez, look at that building on the southwest corner of Pandora and Government. Also, that one on the southeast corner of Broad and Pandora.

[Rick Pitts]

I sure would like to see the photo of that Kings Rd/ Douglas St. corner. When I was a kid my grandfather had a plumbing shop called Empire Plumbing and Heating next door to Pharmacy on the corner. He used to take care of the boiler in that building in the 50's......gawd I'm old.

[History Buff]

Blanshard Street ends at Pandora in this photo.

[aastra]

The old annex/breezeway at Oaklands School was demolished a few years ago but it hasn't even been built yet in that 1947 picture.

I was way out to lunch when I said this. The annex with the pillars was definitely there in 1947. You can see it in the picture, behind the large trees.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by aastra

I was way out to lunch when I said this. The annex with the pillars was definitely there in 1947. You can see it in the picture, behind the large trees.

Which photo are we talking about?

[Langford Rat]

Bingo, I'm pretty sure that is her. The MacDonalds Lassie. She was (is) an iconic Canadian trademark for British Consol and Export "A" (the green death) brand cigarettes. She was created by one of Canada's most famous illustrators, Rex Woods, in the mid-thirties.

[MarkP]

Got the Burnside area of Victoria from 1951...

This is another cool one with lots of detail.

http://vintageairphotos.com/1-69/

Mark

[Sparky]

Holy crap Mark, that one is excellent. I love the shot of the roundabout, the JSB, Point Ellis Bridge, RAP.

You can count the pieces of wood stacked at the mill.

I think I see the beginnings of the Monterey Restaurant.

Thank you for that.....this one is going to take some time to digest.

[Rick Pitts]

Hello anyone out there. Does anyone have that picture of Kings Rd and Douglas St tha AASTRA was mentioning???? Really would like to see it as my grandfathers plumbing shop was next door.....Empire Plumbing and Heating. Just in case my E mail is fordzill06@telus.net

Rick

[MarkP]

Rick, it might have been this one: http://vintageairphotos.com/bo-54-136/

It seems to "just" catch King and Douglas.

You might also catch it on this one: http://vintageairphotos.com/bo-47-1524/

In fact, you could check out all the Victoria images at http://vintageairphotos.com/tag/victoria/. It's possible that you might catch the store from different angles.

Sorry there's no better way to search for an intersection.

Mark

[Sparky]

^^ Welcome to Vibrant Victoria Rick.

[MarkP]

Here's one of the Bay Street Bridge area from 1954...

http://vintageairphotos.com/bo-54-152/

Mark

[Mike K.]

That's a great photo, Mark! I don't think I had seen the old Bay Street bridge before.

[MarkP]

Someone asked a while back about James Bay. I didn't think there were any, but I found one. James Bay from 1956.

http://vintageairphotos.com/56-44/

Mark

[G-Man]

Very cool photo. Not quite as high res as the last few.

Amazing how James Bay is pretty much devoid of trees.

Also can someone explain the logistics of ogden point to me? Why would it have been beneficial to unload box cars there. Why not simply transfer stuff from a ship to the wharf and then back again. I mean that is a lot of box cars that need to be shipped there unloaded then shipped away again.

[Bingo]

Originally Posted by G-Man

Very cool photo. Not quite as high res as the last few.

Amazing how James Bay is pretty much devoid of trees.

Also can someone explain the logistics of ogden point to me? Why would it have been beneficial to unload box cars there. Why not simply transfer stuff from a ship to the wharf and then back again. I mean that is a lot of box cars that need to be shipped there unloaded then shipped away again.

It does seem strange. They used to store prairie grain in the elevators, and then load it onto ships. The fish packing plant is on land now occupied by the cruise ship terminal. The rail car ship Canora, made frequent trips to the docks.

Note the remains of the WWII gum emplacement at the outer end of the wharf.

http://www.ogdenpoint.org/history_of_opes.html

[Nparker]

Originally Posted by Bingo

Note the remains of the WWII gum emplacement at the outer end of the wharf.

The idea being that if any of the Axis powers invaded the west coast that we would blow bubbles at them?

[Bingo]

Ha ha...good one.

[MarkP]

Just when I thought there were no more cool shots of Victoria, I come across another. :-) It's Burnside looking north toward Saanich from 1951. Great detail...

http://vintageairphotos.com/1-79/

Mark

[sebberry]

Thanks Mark!

I think all of these photos are pretty good. No need for "cool" factor, just being able to see Victoria back then is cool in itself.

[History Buff]

That is an awesome photo.

I enjoyed looking at the Tillicum Mall site and the CN line where it crosses Interurban road. At that point there is some trestle visible.

The tunnel under Bay st at Bridge is neat too I was just taking photos of the tunnel last week

[Mike K.]

I think that's the Selkirk Trestle, no?

[History Buff]

Originally Posted by Mike K.

I think that's the Selkirk Trestle, no?

Selkirk is there but the one I am looking at is near the top of the frame a little to the right.

The Tillicum Mall site is easy to find as teh trees behind it look the same as today.

The overpass for the CN line (galloping goose has 2 concrete pillars visible . TCH has not been built yet or you can find Portage inlet and use that as landmark



Another point of interest is that the Crack House that was just torn down on Jutland at Gorge is Visible and a few doors down on Gorge just over the Gorge rd Bridge is the Windsor Court Auto Court which was torn down to build the 3 Windsor Court Apartment blocks which were later renamed the Washington Hill Apartments