Aug 21: solar eclipse!

Today, August 21, 2017, there was a solar eclipse over certain states in the USA. Here in Vancouver BC we had an 87% eclipse but without special glasses I didn't notice anything unusual except a murkiness in the air. The sun dimmed a tiny bit, but if I wasn't aware of an eclipse happening I wouldn't have noticed anything.

Here is Kelsie, age 16, laying in her first partial eclipse and she didn't seem aware of anything. But she's half blind, so that isn't surprising. 

The next solar eclipse in these parts is in 2042 I believe. I'll be 82 so I might get the special glasses then. LOL!

I remember the solar eclipse on Feb 26, 1979. Here is a video clip of it from online:
1979 eclipse

And here is a photo I took this morning, showing a bit of eclipse shadows through the tree!

By Loretta Houben

Expo '86: World in Motion....30 years ago today!

May 2, 1986

30 years ago today, Expo '86 opened and Vancouver has never been the same. It seems so long ago, and I was only 25 years old, the age of Paul Partington. The photo above was taken on Oct 7 but it's my favourite of myself. In those olden days I had a camera which held 24 or 36 print film. It cost $5.99 or $7.99 to buy the film, (I usually used Kodak) and it cost $20 to develop a roll! That was nearly $30 for 24 photos! It's hard to imagine, so of course I rarely took photos. That's why the few I have of Expo are so precious.

 This is a shot from Main Street Skytrain terminal. What a change in the city since then! There's now a row of ugly looking apartment condos where the entrance once was. 

 This is the Roundhouse where Engine 374 was located. Robert and I purchased a brick with our names on it for $19.86 to help restore the engine. At Expo we were disappointed to discover the bricks weren't ready for viewing, but fortunately the brick with our names survived and is now inside the building beside the engine. I blogged about it HERE.

 The many bright colours of Expo! Each area had a coloured zone, with matching buildings and even matching flowers. It was a delight for the eyes and the senses. I was one of little faith and thought it would all be exceedingly boring, and while Expo was being built, I had no idea or understanding what it was about, having never attended a world's fair. I had a chance to purchase a full 6 month pass for $100 but turned it down and bought two books of 3 day passes. I regretted it deeply. 

 Expo was glorious! My favouite memories were the sights, sounds and vibrant colour of the place itself, the things to do and see, the souveniers, the delicious food, and best of all, the tourists who spoke every language under the sun. I used to listen and watch while riding the Skytrain, which was another wonderful legacy of Expo. How we loved it!

The downside of all this glory was that the world discovered us, especially China, and a lot of money exchanged hands and suddenly Vancouver is a place where ordinary Vancouverites can no longer afford to live. A 400 square foot apartment downtown costs $2,400 to rent, and an ordinary 1,600 square foot home on a small lot is worth $1,250,000!!!!

Our heads are still reeling from the after affects of Expo, but 30 years ago, we were having a blast, while "something was happening here"!

By Loretta Williams Houben

Vancouver's 130th birthday: April 6, 2016

Today, April 6, 2016 is Vancouver's 130th birthday.

This photo of myself and Matthew on Vancouver City Hall's front steps was taken 15 years ago in 2001. I had an invitation to attend the ceremony because a short story I wrote was included in the book "Hurricane in the Basement" which was put together for the Millennium the year before, in 2000.

I'm not sure why the city isn't celebrating this year for the 130th. If they are, I haven't heard of any special event taking place.

Myself standing beside the story I'd written which was enlarged on a large poster at the Vancouver Museum. We visited it after the events and birthday cake at City Hall.

The "Hurricane in a Basement" book was laminated and put into a binder in the museum.

They also included a photo in this binder which didn't make it into the actual book due to room constraints. I wonder what happened to this binder?

Another photo of City Hall. I've always liked this building on W 12th Avenue.

By Loretta Houben

Collingwood Historical Society

Today I attended the Collingwood Historical Society, a new society that has just formed. I'm one of 6 members. I've lived in this area all of my life, except for 5 years when we were first married and couldn't afford the rent here. (and that was 34 years ago!)

Being a member of a committee isn't fast paced; it's rather slow and boring work to begin with. Hopefully things will pick up now, and the good work will begin.

The above photo shows the first library in the Collingwood area of Vancouver BC.

It was named the Bursill Institute Library, and founded by John Francis Bursill on the same street on which I live.

Jennifer Gray-Grant, executive director for Collingwood Neighbourhood House, heads the committee, and she commended me today on my writing ability, saying I had a unique style. I write articles for the Renfrew Collingwood newspaper, and have written historical and commemorative ones since 2006.

I was pleased to have her compliment me, as she was a newspaper journalist in the past.

I just had to comment about it here on my little blog, because I've often posted about my articles and my writing Wednesdays.

By Loretta Houben

30 years ago...our new IBM PC!

30 years ago!!!!!!

I find it incredibly difficult to believe that we've had a personal computer for 30 years! I remember this one: we were so proud of it. It only had GREEN FONT on a black screen. No colour, no photos, no video and the WWW was unheard of although Robert did try to explain to me that it was coming in the future. At least, he told me about it in the early 1990's and said that by 1994 I would be able to read newspapers and books online, and also to see in COLOUR. I didn't believe him. He also mentioned that sometime within the next decade a person would be able to buy and sell online. I didn't believe him. And I remember seeing blurred and slow moving video clips at a conference in the early 1990's. I never thought I'd live to see the day of YouTube, eBay, Facebook, let alone seeing it all on smart phones. We have certainly evolved!
PS: we also were the proud owners of a Dot Matrix Printer.

By Loretta Houben

Paper dolls.

I found this and the paper dolls below on Pinterest.

If you haven't discovered Pinterest yet, you are in for some eye candy.

Currently I have 53 boards, and 5,712 pins.

I have 643 likes, and 385 followers. Nearly all of them are complete strangers to me!

But it seems we adore the same things.

We've been having extremely HOT weather here in Vancouver BC since May.

It's been the driest, hottest weather ever on record for this stretch of time.

Ever.

Whew...I've run my A/C unit more than I've ever run it before since we purchased it in 2009.

Tomorrow (July 21) we will go to stage 3 water restrictions, which means no lawn watering, no window washing or washing of property, no car washing, and no pool filling. Wah! 

Everything here is coated in dust. We had a bit of rain a week ago. It was sort of misty though and not a full out Vancouver soaking like we are used to. My hubby loves it as he is half lizard.

I find it interesting but I don't really care for heat. My brain melts into a puddle and I'm very tired.

I can't walk or bike ride. I think I'd collapse if I tried it.

Last evening Robert and I drove to Central Park with Kelsie, and went for a walk under the trees, where it was not at all cool. There wasn't one breeze. It was stifling hot at 8:00 pm. Ugh.

Everything was coated in a thick layer of dust, and tinder dry. I'm sure the torrential rains will return soon enough but for now, it's really weird out there.

By Loretta Houben

5 years ago today: Olympic torch fever!

Five years ago, on February 11, 2010, we were so excited because the Winter Olypmics were about to take place in Vancouver BC. Well, I was excited once the torch relay went through our neighbourhood. Before it all began I wasn't sure about the cost, and our winter weather was non-existent! We are having similar weather this year. It's very warm and balmy, no snow on the mountains, lots of warm rain and the spring flowers and pink trees are bursting into bloom.

Here I am, on Kingsway near Boundary only 5 blocks from our house.

Just as Robert snapped the picture, the torch bearer turned away. But it was still very exciting. There were mobs of people and you could feel the thrill in the air. The Olympic flame was passed along and continued into downtown where the opening ceremonies took place the next evening, on February 12.

The first few days of the Olympics were rainy and overcast, but then the sun came out. It was a wonderful time which I think I'll always remember with great fondness.

I blogged extensively about it. Just click on "2010 Olympics" in the right hand label.

Loretta Houben

Memory Monday: Life in the big city.

Oh woe is me!

This is my neighbourhood above and below.

This is where I've always lived.

Beautiful Vancouver BC.

The two pictures are from this website.

In the picture above, I've circled our house at the top, to the right of the tower on the left.

The large circle around the 3 towers shows what it will look like when the development is finished in 2017. The foremost tower closer to Kingsway will be 36 floors high.

The one behind it on the corner of Vanness and Boundary will be 33 floors high.

Sometimes I could sit down and cry. Our lovely view of Central Park will be blocked.

The hole for the towers was dug in the spring of 2013 and I've never seen such slow building. Two lanes of Boundary Road are constantly blocked and there is only one lane of traffic even in rush hour. It's just horrible but of course will be a thousand times worse once the towers are filled with people. The thing which irks me no end is that around 20 single family homes were torn down to make way for these towers. The site on which they are situated was once two quiet residential streets. Some of the houses were brand new. Yet the city calls this "progress". Yes, it really irks me!

I grew up a few blocks away on Euclid Street.

Our home faced the area where all the towers are now, which you see to the left of the new ones. In the late 1950's when my parents bought this little house, there was an apple orchard. A few months after they moved in, the trees were all taken out, and then just before my parents moved in 1963, the site was developed for warehouses, which remained until 1994, when they began to be torn down to make way for the towers. The whole area has changed so much, it's actually hair raising.

The above photo shows me and my Dad in the little Euclid house back yard.

It was on the corner of Tyne and Euclid. It was torn down recently and a huge monster house is in its place.

Me and my Mom in 1961, with the fairly undeveloped neighbourhood in the background.

Tyne Street is behind us. A low rise complex was built in the 1970s just behind, and now there are towers in the distance.

Me and my little cousin Melodie in 1962, at Euclid Ave.

Now a school field and Collingwood Neighbourhood School are across the street.

The front of our little house on Euclid St in 1961.

Helping my Dad in 1963. He built the fence along the front and later that year we moved to Monmouth Ave to be near Grenfell School. You can see the vacant area across Euclid St. The rest of the road hadn't been developed yet, and for nearly 30 years warehouses were here, and now around 8 towers are here, with the Skytrain in the distance where those houses are.

I believe Ruby Street is just ahead. I can't make out those blurred houses, but most are still standing.

I wish the picture was more clear.

I find it fascinating how residential neighbourhoods change. This area was once all bush and trees, and Kingsway was an Indian path. A hermit once lived in our area in a tree stump. And in 1911 the first library was in a house on Ruby Street just across from where we live.

This area has a lot of history and it is very interesting.

Loretta Houben

Visiting the past in Cloverdale BC.

I'm rather behind in my blog postings this summer of 2014, due to the heat and humidity we have experienced for nearly four months. I don't really do too well in that kind of environment and turn into a limp dishrag! I've also been keeping up with household chores, gardening, taking care of my parents, and writing each month for the Renfrew Collingwood Community newspaper.

In between those things, Robert and I get away and do something different each weekend, as this summer due to his new job and the project he's working on, he doesn't get time off except for a day here and there.

Saturday August 23 we headed out to Cloverdale, just across the Fraser River one half hour drive from our home. While poking about online last year I discovered the

  Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Society. 

Volunteers have done a marvelous job re-building the Cloverdale Interurban Station.

Train 1225 is the one in the photo above. For $10 each you can ride it out into the countryside to Sullivan Station. The trains used to run out into Chilliwack! My Dad remembers riding on them as a youngster. This link shows the refurbishing of train 1225. What a great deal of work! And all by volunteers! Robert and I enjoyed our excursion immensely and we highly recommend it to all railway buffs!

Stations of the Fraser Valley Line

Fraser Valley Heritage Railway Newsletters

By Loretta Houben

My high school graduation dress...1978.

June 9, 1978

36 years ago!

I thought I was all grown up but realized that although I was 18 at last, and graduating from Windermere High School, I didn't know everything as I had imagined I would.

I wrote in my journal: "I wonder where I'll be 18 years from now..."

Now it's been another 18 years from "now" which I find unbelievable.

How the time flies when you're having fun!

This pretty baby blue dress was purchased from a store in McMinnville OR in 1977, the summer before, at a sale; it was only $15.00 US! It fitted me perfectly except for the length.

A few days before grad I was frantically hemming the delicate fabric ruffle and the lining.

I believe I weighed 92 lbs at the time. My parents gave me the lovely corsage from Crest Florists on Kingsway in Vancouver BC, and I had my hair done at Collingwood Coiffures in the same block.

This was one of the happiest times of my life.

By Loretta Houben

Memories of the Stanley Park miniature railway, Vancouver BC.

June 7 & 8 2014 was the 50th anniversary of Stanley Park's miniature train.

I took these photos ten years ago, when it was 40 years old.

I'm so glad I did, as it was gutted by an arson fire in June 2012.

Also it didn't look as picturesque as my photos show, as it was turned into an Indian Village, I guess to attract the tourists. (I don't believe trains have anything to do with native Indian culture; I don't think the native Indians ever had trains) 

For some reason in August 2004, the Stanley Park station was empty, so I'm glad I took these shots. I lightened them up in a photo program as my first digital camera was only 2.5 mega pixels.

I remember lining up with crowds of people here when I was a young girl.

Myself and Matthew.

Leona, Robert and Matthew waiting for the train.

Here it comes! When I was young, it traveled the opposite direction. Sometimes peacocks were standing on the grass behind the train, and if we were lucky, they had their gorgeous tails spread out. I always associate Stanley Park with the strange cry of the peacock birds.

Robert, Leona and Matthew. There is barely time to snap photos before the train loads and takes off.

Returning to the depot. I believe the train winds through a two mile track, crossing back and forth in a circular loop. It was so exciting when I was small. We never went to Disneyland or Florida as a family, but we had the Stanley Park train!

When this picture was taken, the train was only 9 years old!

My Dad holding Marie, myself sitting beside him with Leona and Marlene in front of us.

By Loretta Houben

Aristocratic restaurant at Granville and Broadway

This is where my grandpa, John G Williams, worked as a janitor in the 1950s.

I remember driving past here but we never stopped in to eat, as my parents said in the 1970s it wasn't that good anymore.

Here is an interesting article about the restaurant:

Aristocratic

Currently, as of January 2014, a Chapters book store is at this spot, with a neon Aristocratic sign in the window.

By Loretta Houben

Neon signs in Vancouver

While rambling through the web tonight, I found this picture so clipped it and saved it.

Here is the article about the "Jesus the Light of the World" sign, and my Dad, Jack Williams, is mentioned in it.

My Dad helped build this church in 1950, and he attended it for most of his life.

When it relocated to Langley BC in 2001 he was rather heartbroken.

He and my Mom drove out there for a few years, but the drive took its toll on them, being an hour each way, and they had to give up attending the church in 2007.

By Loretta Houben

The 1972 CrissCross Directory for Vancouver BC.

While at the downtown library branch the other day, I looked up the 3000 block of Kingsway in Vancouver BC. I discovered 3014 Kingsway, where the Apostolic Faith church was located from 1950 - 2001. My Dad, Jack Williams, helped build the church, and was involved in many meetings as a choir member, usher, and seaman worker with the tract ministry. In 1972 David Hunter Garden Shops was located next door to the church at 3030, and I remember peering through the chain link fence at the Sunday shoppers on nice days, in between Sunday School and church.

At 3353 on the opposite side of Kingsway, and past Joyce St, was Clef Music Studio, which I believe was owned and operated by Robert McQuillan who was a neighbour on Monmouth Ave. (He had twin daughters; Sandra and Susie who we often played with) 

At 3355 the Hobby World was where I sometimes went with my Mom, especially after a dreadful dentist appointment. Mom would buy me a small treat from there. 

The Toronto Dominion Bank at 3363 (which is still there in 2014) was where I opened my first bank account in 1970. 

3237 Carleton Bike Shop was where I purchased my first bike in 1979; a Raleigh blue bike which I dearly loved. I used my first bonus cheque from Canarim Investments and I was simply thrilled!

And here is the cream of the crop!

The Wishing Well Gift Shop at 3333 Kingsway was the most delightful shop ever!

It was a tiny shop filled with the most fascinating things. When you stepped into it, there was a step down into the shop, and on the left, near the window, was a marvelous collection of German dolls and their furniture. I loved those dolls. My Mom would often put one in our Christmas stockings. I'll have to add a photo once I find it. On the right side of the shop were household items, fancy ones. For instance, my Mom bought a beautiful lamp with her Dad's inheritance money in the 1970s from this shop. Once I saved up the vast sum of .69 cents to buy a cricket brooch, and the kind shop owner let me have the brooch for FREE! Maybe it had lain there for years. I never forgot it.

So the City Directory has given me a vast amount of memories, just by looking at the page for Kingsway between Rupert and a bit past Joyce Street. 

I don't think that the future generations with their cell phones and online info will ever have as much fun as this.

One more thing: I believe Dr R. Svalestuen was our family dentist in the 1960s, until my Mom in desperation found another dentist in 1970 (Dr. Wilcox). This Dr. S was a terror, with red hair and a temper and my Mom remembers he drank and operated as a dentist while a little drunk. I will have to verify that this is the correct man. (up above with a magnifying glass next to his name). It was no wonder I needed a little treat from the Hobby Shop! I had terrible teeth since the age of 5.

By Loretta Houben

Looking in the 1972 Vancouver BC Crisscross Directory.

I think I could live at the library!

On January 2, 2014, I had a chance to explore the 7th floor of the downtown branch, and discovered the criss cross book from 1972.

This page shows our family's neighbours living on Monmouth Ave at the time.

 The top person at 3328 is Parker Moore; I was friends with his daughter Nancy, and we both attended Sir Wilfred Grenfell School. She was very nice but I'v long since lost track of her. Dick and Sara Neufeld lived at 3338, and often had us over for tea and dessert after church. They attended the same church as us and knew my Dad from before he was married in 1955. They were quite the characters. Ray Young lived at 3349 and we didn't know him, but in 1987 we purchased his house! By that time someone else owned it. R Crosbie at 3353 had a horrible mean son named Wayne, who often teased us, and once kicked me in my lower back as I rode my bike down Monmouth past his house. However, I was good friends with his sister Lori for a few years, and I remember going to her house for a birthday party in 1968. Ray Feehily had a son, Peter, who teased Leona and I and called us names when we played in our front yard. He would chant "Leona Peeona...Loretta Spaghetta" as he walked by, over and over. 

JG Williams at 3372 was my Grandpa! He lived there until he died in June 1974, and my Grandma, Alma May lived there until 1988. Donald Barrett at 3375 had 2 daughters; Elaine and Betty. We were friends with Betty. Raidar Ramslie at 3381, and his wife Sadie, had around 5 kids. We played with Darlene and Bonnie; Darlene was Marlene's age. When Marlene was born, we thought it was funny that shortly after Sadie had her daughter and named her Darlene!

I Simmonds at 3386 lived to the right of us, and was an older woman who we thought was rather cranky, but she loved us, and would give us huge bags of large chocolate bars on Halloween night, and would give us nice gifts at Christmas; once I got a doll, and I remember her knitting mittens for us; my pair was a soft yellow set. I also remember that in 1969, when men landed on the moon for the first time, we sat watching it on TV in her living room. She had a small house, with pink wallpaper in the living room, and a large black tree printed on one side of it.

 One time Mrs. Simmonds had locked herself out of the house, and she had me crawl in through her tiny bathroom window to unlock the back door for her. I remember she had a beautiful rose garden in the back yard, and a huge chestnut tree near the back lane. Every fall she would burn the masses of chestnut leaves in her incinerator and the smoke would billow and roll all over, and make my Mom very irritated as it really stunk! I thought Mrs. Simmonds looked like an old witch! But I liked her too, and found her very interesting. I would often watch her through our dining room window, as it faced the side her kitchen window was situated, and I would spy on her, as she made her supper, banging her pots and pans around or washing dishes. She had a pet bird which I could also see close to the window. She had such a tiny little house; living room, kitchen, bathroom and 2 small bedrooms but I thought it was perfect. Mrs. Simmonds was born on Feb 29, another very odd thing about her. She had a daughter named Agnes.

Well, I didn't mean to write this much about neighbours from the past, but the memories came pouring out! This is one of my favourite hobbies of all, and the more I indulge it the happier I become.

By Loretta Houben

A lovely Sunday afternoon and a hike to Beaver Lake.

We hiked to Beaver Lake on Sunday May 19. This lake is in Stanley Park, which is 1000 acres in size in the middle of Vancouver BC. It's a beautiful place to spend the day. But we went there on the spur of the moment, after having lunch with friends at a Korean restaurant on Robson St. Yes, we walked to the park from Robson and Nicola, but we all had good walking shoes! We went along the fairly new walkway at the water's edge, through the rose gardens and to the lake, such as it is. It's very overgrown as you can see by the above photo.

Huge skunk cabbage, or swamp lantern. The bright yellow flowers have bloomed off.

Professor Robert told us that the native Indians used the leaves to wrap their food.

Professor Robert in action, pointing out the flora and fauna to Jay.

Beautiful iris.

A large beaver dam.

Proof that I was at Beaver Lake. It's a kilometer in circumference.

A portion of the rose gardens, which aren't in bloom yet.

Vancouver in the background.

Yun, Peter, Robert, me, Maryanne and Jay.

Genett took the picture. This is a small portion of our Small Group.

(Bible study group which meets each Thursday evening.)

At Sura Korean restaurant. Peter and Maryanne treated us to lunch.

It was superb. I loved it all, especially the pork and the Korean noodles and the beef.

After the feast. I loved how it was served and presented and loved the decor.

The waitresses were too busy and I didn't want to ask them to take a picture while we were seated.

It was a lovely Sunday afternoon!