The Heritage Hall is a beautiful building that was built a few years after the Lee Building and is located a few blocks south on Main Street. We will be contacting local merchants to see if they would like to be involved in a making the day a 'community' event also. More details, including time, to follow.
July 8:
Watch the Lee Building show on 'The Express'. This is a production I put together. I am interviewed also. See the following link (start at 9 minute mark, the show is for 3 1/2 minutes): http://www.youtube.com/user/TheExpressVan#p/u/5/cyRqD6uFV3Q
July 7:
As I was not able to assist in the 'donation' requested by the VHF I am grateful that the 'Lee Building Owners council has approved and submitted the donation for the 125 Places Matter on behalf of the Proud Owners of the Lee Building'. Thank you.
June 9:
It has been awhile since I've been able to add to this site. My apologies. A death in our family has kept me involved with those matters for the past few months...
(written July 8th) Another 'spatial intuitive understanding of completion/timing':
We videotaped the 'The Express' show on March 28th. In the show I talk about taking older people's knowledge while it's here. When we completed the taping I felt as if one chapter/success was accomplished with the videotaping. Little did I realize at the time I was about to be 'thrown into' something else - caring for my mother (and step-father). On March 31st, a few days later, my mother was admitted to hospital (due to her cancer) and was admitted to hospice in early April. The following two months proved to be a whole different kind of experience. I am very grateful to have been able to have been there for my parents. It was a gift - the time that I spent with and for my mother and I'm glad to be able to give back to my step-father also.
Meanwhle, the Lee Building was successful in the VHF nomination:
The Vancouver Heritage Foundation has chosen the site that you nominated as one of Vancouver’s 125 places that matter. Thank you so much for helping us to celebrate and commemorate Vancouver’s 125th birthday. Now you have the opportunity to be part of its future.
Your nominated site will be commemorated along with 124 others, by installing a plaque. The plaque and the project website, linked to the plaque through Smartphone technology, will explain the history and value of the site....
April 7, 2011:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheExpressVan#p/u/5/cyRqD6uFV3Q
Watch the show on the link above. It's a great show! We are on at the 9 minute mark. Thank you immensely to Shaw TV, Bianca Solterbeck and Jim Reis. Special thanks to Doris Kirstiuk - a past resident in the Lee Building for 45 years AND she is actually older than the building itself! The show was originally aired Tuesday April 5th on the Shaw TV program 'The Express'. It is now shown on YouTube per the link above.
March 28, 2011:
The videotaping for 'The Express' Shaw TV show is now complete. When I know the date it will be aired I will post it here. Might possibly be by or on April 5th. My heartfelt thanks to everyone who made today such a success! From Bianca & Jim & Gallant from Shaw TV, the Vancouver Archives, Doris Kirstiuk, Sharon Schick, Marilyn Stark, and Tim Louis for the use of his boardroom. Wow - what a fantastic day! Will be very interesting how it all condenses down into the show. From the rooftop to the basement we filmed :)
Even if you do not have Shaw TV you will still be able to view the show - on a computer via Youtube, usually on the same day. Stay tuned!
The Vancouver Heritage Foundation has a vote going on until midnight April 6th.
125 winners will win a Commemorative Plaque!
Let's make Herbert & his Building a Winner!
Please vote for 'Herbert Lee - The Lee Building' and tell all your friends so that the 99-year-old building may be honoured in this way! Go to the Voting Form 2 'Nominated in March':
https://placesthatmatter.wufoo.com/forms/voting-form-2-places-that-matter/ (I am not able to get the link to work for some reason so please go to your browser and type it in)
From the text I gave them (separate nominations: one Herbert, one Lee Bldg.) they joined the two. There is information that I submitted that doesn't appear on their page.
What I sent them:
(HL)
From a 1937 newspaper article: 'In the death of Mr. Lee, Vancouver loses one of its pioneer business men and city builders. He came to Vancouver in 1898 from London, Ontario... In 1903 he bought a store and grocery business at 2425 Main Street, and by 1911 he succeeded in building the seven-storey business office and apartment block situated at the northwest corner of Main and Broadway, and known ever since as the Lee Building. An old issue of 'The Western Call'..., described Mr. Lee as a business man who practiced sound principles, fair treatment, and sound business methods. He took an active interest in the affairs of the city. He was a leading member of the executive of the Liberal Association, and was president and one of the founders of the Maple Leaf Lacrosse Club in 1908. Later... he organized the Vancouver Lacrosse Club in 1920.
175 E. Broadway, Vancouver, B.C. - Lee Building that he built in 1912 and lived in (from same newspaper article below: 'In later years Mr. Lee engaged in the wholesale produce business and devoted a good deal of his time in managing the building which bears his name..').
(LB)
The Lee Building is the seven-story heritage building built in 1912 by Herbert Lee. There is tremendous heritage in the Lee Building and that area, known as the Mount Pleasant area, was the hub of activity and commerce south of the Fraser for many years and the Lee Building was the tallest building south of the Fraser River. The Lee Building contains many wonderful features such gorgeous copper walls, an antique chandelier, marble floors, stairs and walls. The south sidewalk corridor was created around 1952 when Broadway was widened. It is the only building in Vancouver with an overhang like this. There are bus lines and a street lamp connected directly to the building. There was a billboard on top of the building for many years as part of the landmark. Apartments and businesses occupy the building. The building is a very important part of the history of Vancouver.
On their page:
• Herbert Lee-The Lee Building
175 E. Broadway
From a 1937 newspaper article: 'In the death of Mr. Lee, Vancouver loses one of its pioneer business men and city builders. He came to Vancouver in 1898 from London, Ontario... In 1903 he bought a store and grocery business at 2425 Main Street, and by 1911 he succeeded in building the seven-storey business office and apartment block situated at the northwest corner of Main and Broadway, and known ever since as the Lee Building."
There is tremendous heritage in the Lee Building and that area, known as the Mount Pleasant area, was the hub of activity and commerce south of the Fraser for many years and the Lee Building was the tallest building south of the Fraser River. The Lee Building contains many wonderful features such gorgeous copper walls, an antique chandelier, marble floors, stairs and walls. The south sidewalk corridor was created around 1952 when Broadway was widened. It is the only building in Vancouver with an overhang like this. There are bus lines and a street lamp connected directly to the building. There was a billboard on top of the building for many years as part of the landmark. Apartments and businesses occupy the building.
(Box to) Vote for Herbert Lee, Lee Building
Many Thanks!!
For the Celebration:
1. Ideas for the proposed '1912 Day' community event for the local merchants. I/we will be sending out invitations over the next while...
2. Additional media coverage: I am very interested in connecting with additional long-time-ago residents of the building. I have connected with ex-residents as far back as 1936-1944 who knew my grandmother, Beatrice (Herbert passed away in 1937 and Beatrice in 1948). I would very much like to connect with more residents such as these! 'The Express' show will assist with this hopefully. Telus TV (local community programming?) and Georgia Strait are two more outlets. As well, what about the newspapers? We do have one lady at the Vancouver Sun interested in writing a story closer to the event date yet we could use coverage now to attempt to locate more past residents. Could we please get assistance with lining this up?
3. Speakers: historian and architect; such as an architect to speak about the building and one who is familiar with the Mt. Pleasant area and the importance of the Lee Building throughout the years. Particulars such as: (my understanding is) this is the only building in Vancouver that has a sidewalk corridor within its structure and the only one that has bus lines attached directly to it (when Broadway was widened). There are other interesting details that I found when perusing the original plans and drawings that I can relate to the speaker. Stroud and Keith were the architects. Donald Luxton, FRAIC (Well-known heritage consultant, advocate and author) has expressed interest in being a part of our celebration. http://www.heritagebc.ca/awards/bc-heritage-award/2009-donald-luxton
4. Decoration: Heritage Hall in 1912 decor. The HH itself was built in 1914-16 so that's pretty close. Ideas/decorators?
5. Food: what English and Irish food would be applicable for the event. We will be contacting sponsors.
6. Photography: a family member has offered to do the photography.
7. Entertainment: We are looking to have some superb guitarists on hand to provide the entertainment. As well; I will sing one or two songs in honour of my grandparents.
8. Videos: Sharon has been successful in locating a particular 'heritage video'.
9. Costume: 1912 attire. There is a very good costume store with a great selection nearby at 217 W. 6th Ave..
10. Videographer: to record a 1/2 hour taping for us for the event. Shaw TV has offered to edit the footage over the next year if we get someone to tape it for us.
11. Canadian Heritage funding and City of Vancouver funding: there could be funding available for the building. We need someone from the board to research and inquire to determine what would be necessary to accomplish this. Please contact me for details. Some of the funding hinges on the event date. In addition, Libby Davies has communicated to me: she is willing to write a letter in support of the application and lend her support in whatever other way she is able.