The Lee Building contains many wonderful features such as one of the original elevators which today is unused as it has been for many years, blocked off but visible from the main hall.  Gorgeous copper walls, ceiling and an antique chandelier adorn the elevator.  The hallway marble floors and walls are beautiful and the structure of steel pillars encased in concrete is very sound & earthquake-proof.  The stairs are made of marble also and the view from the rooftop is amazing.  The view down the staircase from the top beckons for a film crew to be using that area for a film production.  Apartments and businesses occupy the building.  There is a large wall photo up the stairs from the main hallway of the building.  This photo was taken about 1916.  The south sidewalk corridor was created in the 1950's as a sidewalk needed to be established when Broadway was widened.  I've been told that is the only building in Vancouver with an overhang like this.  There are bus lines and a street lamp connected directly to the building as it is right against the roadway.   

Unfortunately, my grandfather, Herbert Lee, lost the Lee Building to the bank during the depression.  The 1929 crash caused the bank to foreclose and reclaim the building, but my grandparents and father were allowed to remain living on the top floor all through the 30s and 40s.  My grandparents are buried at Mountainview Cemetary and I have provided the cemetary with a family photo for their records.  See their Herbert Lee page.  The building is currently owned by over thirty people (or was a few years ago). 

The billboard on top of the building had been the cause of some legal action with the owners and city council.  The building owners attempted, through years in the courts, to maintain the large sign on the roof.  The final decision was made by the courts that the advertising (which was assisting with renovations) was to stop.  The building has come a long way & more can be done with it.  That revenue stream is now over though. Being the granddaughter of the person who built this building 98 years ago, which stands as a very important part of the history of Vancouver, I believe my grandfather would be proud.  The building manager takes great care in the building and I am grateful for that.  The history of this area and building is fascinating and I am very glad it stands today and is being so well kept.  Thank you owners!  

I have researched my Lee family history back to England and Ireland and the trail has been relatively easy with archived records.  Pam, in Isle of Wight, England, did some research for me re: Isle of Wight and we've now taken the history back one more generation to records of the 1700's.    Bob, in Eastbourne, did research for me also.  Thanks!  I have connected with family relatives and have more yet to do.  I've begun the Ireland connection and some helpful people have given me the next steps in the search.  It's been wonderful.  The next steps are going to be best done with me in England and Ireland.  I'm looking forward to the trip.

See Mount Pleasant for history of the area. 

 

*There is a stone plaque kitty corner to the building on the other side of the street that shows a photo from 1908.  To see this photo go to the Vancouver Library page at photo and type in 'Main at Broadway'  or VPL Accession Number: 6718 to see the photo that is on the plaque & others.  This is the corner prior to the building being built.  See 'Lee' - my grandfathers grocery store - in the background behind the people.  Thanks to the Vancouver Library & to Philip Timms. 

 

These photos below are compliments of the Mt. Pleasant Business Association.

 

EARLY PHOTOS

 

1908 Kingsway and Main. Before the Lee Building was built.  The location is where the lady is standing in the middle of the street: she is standing in front of my grandfather's store before he built the Lee Building next door.

 

   1927 The Lee Building in the background

 

   1927 The Lee Building, before the sidewalk corridor was created on the Broadway side.

 

I have received a number of very interesting E-mails from connections on the net.  I have connected with two sets of second cousins! and found out about siblings of my grandfather's I didn't know existed.  One second cousin lives less than 1 mile from us!  The contact in the US: He sent me the list of the other siblings & I made him aware of family history prior to our great grandfather!  Another connection: Renelle Wilson in July 2008.  She has this to say: ".... my grandmother lived there in the 50's and early 60's and we visited her there every summer.  She lived on the 7th floor.  I remember being pretty bored, so much so that I would stare out the windows and count taxis.  But I also rememeber that she emptied her garbage down a chute, and I was thrilled as a child to be able to do that chore.  I also remember when there were elevator operators, people who adjusted that elevator up and down until it was level and ready to unload, or load.  Later the elevators became automatic.  One morning as we exited the elevator on the main floor, I saw a man lying on the stairs.  I was so worried, but was told that he was just 'a drunk'.  So life was in downtown Vancouver.... The light switches in her apartment were round and you pushed them in, the bathtub was a glorious claw footed contraption.  She had a murphy bed....the other big memory of Nana's place was that it had a HUGE sign on the roof (we used to go up there sometimes) that said "Read the Sun".  I assume the controversy today isn't over that sign; it was lit up at night I think.  As we drove home, my sister & I would try to catch glimpses of the big red sign..."  Thank you very much Renelle.  There is another contact, from back east, who lived in the building at the time of my grandparents.  He was able to tell me things about my grandmother I never knew - things she liked & was involved in!  Very appreciated.  Thank you, G.M.  Keep them coming in!  Thank you all for filling in pieces of history!  I would be thrilled (all of us 2nd cousins recently joined would be) to have at least one person from each of the applicable siblings.  The current manager of the Lee Building & I have discussed there being a 100-Year Celebration for the Building to occur in 2012.  That would be Beautiful! and I hope that as many related family can attend as possible!