1867: The south shore of Burrard Inlet
was a wilderness. Its only non-native settlement was a lumber
mill where the owner didn’t allow alcohol on the premises.
One September day, “Gassy Jack” Deighton arrived
(he received his nickname because of his penchant for spinning
tall tales and talking without end). He stepped ashore with
a barrel of whiskey, telling the millworkers that if they’d
build him a saloon, he’d serve them drinks. The saloon
was up and running within a day…just across the property
line of the mill. Gastown was born.
1870: On March 1st, in order to give it a
more distinguished name, Gastown was officially proclaimed
to be “Granville”, after the British colonial
secretary. But everybody in the rough and tumble settlement
continued to call it Gastown.
1886: Gastown was incorporated as the City
of Vancouver, after British explorer, George Vancouver. That
was April 6th. On June 13th, a brush-clearing fire got out
of control and turned all but two of Vancouver’s 400
buildings to ashes.
Into the 1920s: Gastown grew and prospered,
as did the rest of the City of Vancouver. But good times couldn’t
last forever.
Depression Years: Gastown fell on hard times
and deteriorated into a stereotypical skid road area until
the 1960s.
1960s: With talk of demolishing the area
becoming more widespread, a group of dedicated citizens took
it upon themselves to save Gastown’s distinctive architecture
and character. The city rallied around them. Gastown was not
just saved, it was reborn.
1971: The provincial government declared
Gastown an historic area, protecting its heritage buildings.
Today: Gastown is a refreshing mix of old
and new, downhome and upscale, a place for tourists, Vancouver
residents and office workers alike. Various shops have the
streets buzzing during the day. A host of restaurants and
nightspots keeps the area humming into the wee hours. And,
more and more, Gastown is becoming home to permanent residents…just
like in the old days. |
