HERITAGE HALL HISTORY

The Long Version

The 104 page illustrated Heritage Hall, Biography of a Building, traces the history of the building from its early days as a post office through the federal government years and into the exciting period of restoration as a community facility. Recipient of a 2006 City of Vancouver Heritage Award and a 2003 Heritage Society of British Columbia Honour Award, the book consists of selected oral history and researched documentation. Available for sale through the Heritage Hall administration office for $21.95. (See contact info.)

"This well-produced book about Heritage Hall avoids descending into vanity press or promotional fluff and comes up a winner." – Donald Luxton, heritage consultant and author.

The Short Version

People love to speculate about the big brown stone building with the clock tower at the corner of Main Street and 15^th Avenue. Some think it was an early city hall, others visualize a church, some think it was a bank. One little boy in the neighbourhood is sure it is a castle. Those in the know call it the old Post Office or the old RCMP building.

When Postal Station "C" was constructed in 1914-16, Main Street was the major north-south connector between "uptown" at Main and Broadway, and "downtown" at Main and Hastings. There are conflicting theories about why such an ornate building was built in this location, but most agree the building was an attempt to stimulate commercial growth in the Mount Pleasant area. It has also been suggested that the location of the electric street car station across the street at 14^th and Main caused the city fathers to locate the imposing building where they did. Unfortunately, the new surge of residents did not arrive and the shopping and business areas of the city shifted west.

The Government of Canada bought the land in 1912 for $40,000. In 1914 a contract was let to T.J. Whiteside and G.E. Williamson to build the Post Office on the corner of Main and Howard Streets in the new suburb of Mount Pleasant. The building was designed by A. Campbell Hope, with David Ewart as chief architect. The building was constructed in 1915 at a cost of $92,000.

Designated a heritage structure by the City of Vancouver in 1974, and by Public Works Canada in 1976, the old Post Office building at Main Street and 15^th Avenue is a landmark in the Mount Pleasant community. It is one of the oldest official buildings in Vancouver and over the years it has served the city well.

• 1916-49 Opened/operated as Postal Station C, Mount Pleasant
• 1937-63 Operated as the Dominion Agricultural Building
• 1963-76 Occupied/operated by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• 1976-82 Vacant and allowed to fall into disuse

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