Vancouver History: Stanley Park Board Minutes II

Continuing last weeks Vancouver History, here are the Board minutes from 1920 all the way to 1956 from A Guide to Stanley Park by Lynn Vardeman and Freda Carr. Note the increase in absolutely ridiculous proposals, along with the usual array of Vancouver-specific issues, difficulties, and frustrations - some things never change.

Enjoy:

1921 - Unemployment conditions - 100 relief men working in parks.

1926 - Magistrate Shaw billed for cost of pea-hen killed by his dog.

1927 - Board goes on record as being opposed to construction of road through park to proposed Lions' Gate Bridge.

1927 - Suggestion that monument be erected in Stanley Park to Christopher Columbus.

1931 - Recommendation against mechanical amusement devices in Stanley Park

1932 - Sunday play allowed on golf courses, tennis courts and bowling greens.

1939 - Board turns down offer of yak herd from Wainwright, Alberta. (Ed. Note: Are you serious Alberta?)

1939 - Suggestion that Board supply rickshaws for hire in Stanley Park

1939 - Public exhorted by portable loudspeakers to pick up litter.

1942 - Application for permission to operate elephant train around Stanley Park withdrawn because of gas rationing restrictions.

1942 - Crude oil found in bowel and gizzard of large number of sea-gulls found dead on the shore of Lost Lagoon. Ascertained later than an oil scow had overturned in the harbour.

1945 - Labourer rate 78 cents per hour.

1946 - Lifeguard rate 54 cents per hour.

1947 - Proposal that the Board finance the publication of an album of "Stanley Park Waltzes".

1948 - Litter in parks - it now appears impractical to do anything more than to supply sufficient refuse containers and to employ a crew of men to pick up the litter.

1948 - Five cent cones remain in spite of rise in price of ice cream.

1949 - Suggestion that an island be built in Lost Lagoon as a site for Theatre Under the Stars.

1951 - Proposal to establish "Fairyland" in Stanley Park.

1954 - Request for permission to hold sports car race in Stanley Park refused.

1956 - Deputy Superintendent returns from Hawaii with gifts from the Honolulu Park Board consisting of ten tropical frogs, two lace-necked Chinese doves and a Hawaiian booby.

(Photo by jakeinvan from the Beyond Robson Flickr Pool)