The Byrnes Block
by Vanchan Chittam
The Byrnes Block (also known as Alhambra Hotel, Herman Block, Alhambra), a two-storey commercial building, is located in Gastown (Byrnes Block). It was constructed between 1886 and 1887. The site is valued because it is one of the oldest buildings in Vancouver, located on its original location; it is an important site for the Alhambra hotel; the Block is also valued for its architecture --- the Victorian Italianate style (Byrnes Block).
History of GastownGastown is a historic site in Vancouver, British Columbia. It was established as a township in 1867 (Gastown). Gastown is located on the northeast of today’s downtown Vancouver (Google Map). The name of Gastown comes from “Gassy Jack,” a nickname of John Deighton (Waite 2010: 67).
In 1867, John Deighton travelled from New Westminster to the south shore of Burrard Inlet in order to open a saloon, located close to the Maple Tree Square, for the workers of the Hastings Mill (Waite 2010: 66, Kalman and Ward 2012: 6). The area around Deighton’s saloon, which was also known as ‘Gassy Jack’ Deighton’s saloon, came to be known as Gastown (Waite 2010: 67). By 1870 the townsite surveyed named this new city Granville, and the Deighton’s saloon was demolished (Waite 2010: 67). Jack, then, rebuilt a new hotel nearby his demolished-bar site and named it the Deighton Hotel (Waite 2010: 67). The Great Vancouver Fire 1886
On 13 June 1886, the wildfire resulted from the clearing of the new CPR (Canadian Pacific Railway) townsite spread out of control (Waite 2010: 72). Within 20 to 45 minutes, the entire new city was destroyed by the fire. Many wooden constructions, including the Deighton Hotel, were caught in the Great Fire (Waite 2010: 74, Chronology: 1886). After the Great Fire, the city passed a new law mandated all the buildings be constructed of brick or stone rather than wood (Tully).
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After the Great Fire 1886
Shortly after the great fire of Vancouver in 1886 a Victoria realtor, George Byrnes, purchased and built the Alhambra Hotel on the location of the Deighton Hotel (The Alhambra Hotel – Water and Carrall, George Byrnes). The Byrnes Block was one of the fireproof buildings that were built after the great fire of Vancouver in 1886 (The Alhambra Hotel – Water and Carrall). It appears, however, that the building was initially for Rand Brothers (The Alhambra Hotel – Water and Carrall, George Byrnes). The Byrnes Block was designed by architect Elmer H. Fisher, who was best known for his work during the rebuilding after the great fire of Seattle in 1889 (Elmer H. Fisher). Despite its luxuriousness, such as “its ornate window pediments, top floor pilasters, and decorated cornice,” and an additional chimney in each room, the Alhambra Hotel charged more than a dollar a night (Kalman and Ward 2012: 9).
Today, the Byrnes Block still stands at its original location, at the corner of the Maple Tree Square. The Alhambra Hotel, which is located in the Byrnes Block, is recently completed its restoration by an awarded-winner architectural firm in Vancouver to preserve its original appearance (Alhambra, The Alhambra Building). The restoration works include an additional use of glass and steel frames on the existing structures (see fig.3) (Alhambra, The Alhambra Building).
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The Characteristics of the Byrnes Block
The Byrnes Block is designed in a Victorian Italianate style, which was one of the famous housing styles in Victorian era, from the mid to late 1800s (Italianate). Common characteristics of the Italianate architecture include two to three stories in height, with flat or hip roofs, projecting cornices on both roofs and window lintels, and two over two double-hung windows (Hayward 1981). According to Mary Ellen Hayward, majority of Italianate houses in Baltimore were constructed in bricks whereas other expensive materials such as marble and brownstone were used only for trim (Hayward 1981: 56). Other features of the Italianate style are heavily molded stone, or cast iron window lintels; wide entrance stairs; and separate entrance halls (Hayward 1981: 57).
The characteristics of the Victorian Italianate style that the Byrnes Block corporate including (Byrnes Block): • two stories in height with a flat roof • elaborated window hoods • projecting cornice on both roof and windows with eave brackets (fig.2) • an elaborated arched corner pediment • cast iron windows (storefront windows on the ground floor) • double-hung windows (on second floor) The statue of Gassy Jack is located in front of the Byrnes Block close to the original location of the old maple tree, where Water Street and Carrall Street meet. Under this statue, a plaque states: “Gassy Jack” 1830-1875 The Founding Father of Gastown John Deighton was born in Hull, England. He was an adventurer, river boat pilot and captain, but best known for his “gassy” monologues as a saloonkeeper. His Deighton House Hotel, erected here on the first subdivided lot, burned in the great fire of June 13, 1886. On December 25, 1986, this statue was dedicated to the city of Vancouver by the owner of this historic site, Howard Meakin, a third generation Vancouver realtor. A commemorative work of the Byrnes Block is a plaque at the entrance of the building, describing a brief history of the site, accompanied by a few pictures from the past (fig. 1). In 2003 the Byrnes Block received its recognition, as a Heritage Designation, from the city of Vancouver (Byrnes Block). Today, the Alhambra building contains an office and many retails (The Alhambra Building). |
REFERENCES
“Alhambra.” Acton Ostry Architects Inc. 25 March 2013. <http://www.actonostry.ca/projects/alh/>.
“Byrnes Block.” Canada’s Historic Places. 14 January 2003. Parks Canada. 20 March 2013. <http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=2529>.
"Chronology: 1886". The History of Metropolitan Vancouver. SiteUptime, n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2013. <http://www.vancouverhistory.ca/chronology2.html>.
“Elmer H. Fisher.” United States History.23 March 2013. <http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h3148.html>.
“Gastown.” UBC Wiki. 11 April 2011. University of British Columbia. 20 March 2013. <http://wiki.ubc.ca/Course:GEOG350/2010WT2/Gastown%23Boundaries>.
“Gastown Vancouver, BC.” Google Map. 2013. Google. 25 March 2013. <https://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&q=gastown+map&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x54867177614ef47b:0xd1fea64d6d378461,Gastown,+Vancouver,+BC&gl=ca&ei=sQBRUaLbKcjmigKjp4HQDw&ved=0CC8Q8gEwAA>.
"George Byrnes". buildingvancouver. Wordpress, 12 Feb. 2012. Web. 25 Mar. 2013. <http://buildingvancouver.wordpress.com/2012/02/12/george-byrnes/>.
Hayward, Mary E. "Urban Vernacular Architecture in Nineteenth-Century Baltimore." Chicago Journal 16.1 (1981). Jstor.
“Italianate.” The Old House Web. 23 March 2013. <http://www.oldhouseweb.com/architecture-and-design/italianate-1850-1890.shtml>.
Kalman, Harold, and Robin Ward. Exploring Vancouver: The Architectural Guide. 4th ed. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 2012. Google Scholar. <http://books.google.ca/books?id=wp7az8ku_gkC&pg=PA9&lpg=PA9&dq=exploring+vancouver+the+architectural+guide+byrnes+block&source=bl&ots=WKoMpLpaZk&sig=6e2MchGb4Du88F4TnSJfOu1ICDg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=zRhRUbPILqqWjAKD74FQ&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA>.
“The Alhambra Building.” Salient. 25 March 2013. <http://www.thesalientgroup.com/commercial/alhambra-building.php>.
"The Alhambra Hotel – Water and Carrall". Changing Vancouver then and now images. Wordpress, 19 Mar. 2013. Web. 25 Mar. 2013. <http://www.vancouverhistory.ca/discoveries2.htm>.
Tully, Bernie. "CPR comes to Vancouver". The history of Metropolitan Vancouver. SiteUptime, n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2013. <http://www.vancouverhistory.ca/discoveries2.htm>.
Waite, Donald E. Vancouver Exposed: A History in Photographs. “Gassy Jack Deighton’s Gastown.” Vancouver: Waite Bird Photos Incorporated, 2010. <http://www.globalbirdphotos.com/ve/066_071_'Gassy%22_Jack_Deighton's_Gastown_Author.pdf>.
Waite, Donald E. Vancouver Exposed: A History in Photographs. “The Great Vancouver Fire of 1886.” Vancouver: Waite Bird Photos Incorporated 2010. <http://www.globalbirdphotos.com/ve/072_075_Great_Vancouver_Fire_of_1886_Jacqui_Underwood.pdf>.
Wyse, Dana and Ainsley Vogel. Vancouver; A History in Photographs. Heritage House Publishing Company. Surrey, BC. 2009. Google Scholar. <http://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=O1PUPDLl8z0C&oi=fnd&pg=PA7&dq=history+of+gastown&ots=GhQSNLCQsU&sig=X4RDE3YweVT22e2x8QLFvgP_E9o#v=onepage&q=history%20of%20gastown&f=false>.
ADDITIONAL WEB LINKS
· http://www.vancouverheritagefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/MGCarrallStreet_web.pdf
· http://pasttensevancouver.wordpress.com/2009/08/04/the-great-vancouver-fire/
· http://www.miss604.com/2010/06/the-great-vancouver-fire-of-1886.html
“Alhambra.” Acton Ostry Architects Inc. 25 March 2013. <http://www.actonostry.ca/projects/alh/>.
“Byrnes Block.” Canada’s Historic Places. 14 January 2003. Parks Canada. 20 March 2013. <http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=2529>.
"Chronology: 1886". The History of Metropolitan Vancouver. SiteUptime, n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2013. <http://www.vancouverhistory.ca/chronology2.html>.
“Elmer H. Fisher.” United States History.23 March 2013. <http://www.u-s-history.com/pages/h3148.html>.
“Gastown.” UBC Wiki. 11 April 2011. University of British Columbia. 20 March 2013. <http://wiki.ubc.ca/Course:GEOG350/2010WT2/Gastown%23Boundaries>.
“Gastown Vancouver, BC.” Google Map. 2013. Google. 25 March 2013. <https://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&q=gastown+map&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x54867177614ef47b:0xd1fea64d6d378461,Gastown,+Vancouver,+BC&gl=ca&ei=sQBRUaLbKcjmigKjp4HQDw&ved=0CC8Q8gEwAA>.
"George Byrnes". buildingvancouver. Wordpress, 12 Feb. 2012. Web. 25 Mar. 2013. <http://buildingvancouver.wordpress.com/2012/02/12/george-byrnes/>.
Hayward, Mary E. "Urban Vernacular Architecture in Nineteenth-Century Baltimore." Chicago Journal 16.1 (1981). Jstor.
“Italianate.” The Old House Web. 23 March 2013. <http://www.oldhouseweb.com/architecture-and-design/italianate-1850-1890.shtml>.
Kalman, Harold, and Robin Ward. Exploring Vancouver: The Architectural Guide. 4th ed. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 2012. Google Scholar. <http://books.google.ca/books?id=wp7az8ku_gkC&pg=PA9&lpg=PA9&dq=exploring+vancouver+the+architectural+guide+byrnes+block&source=bl&ots=WKoMpLpaZk&sig=6e2MchGb4Du88F4TnSJfOu1ICDg&hl=en&sa=X&ei=zRhRUbPILqqWjAKD74FQ&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA>.
“The Alhambra Building.” Salient. 25 March 2013. <http://www.thesalientgroup.com/commercial/alhambra-building.php>.
"The Alhambra Hotel – Water and Carrall". Changing Vancouver then and now images. Wordpress, 19 Mar. 2013. Web. 25 Mar. 2013. <http://www.vancouverhistory.ca/discoveries2.htm>.
Tully, Bernie. "CPR comes to Vancouver". The history of Metropolitan Vancouver. SiteUptime, n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2013. <http://www.vancouverhistory.ca/discoveries2.htm>.
Waite, Donald E. Vancouver Exposed: A History in Photographs. “Gassy Jack Deighton’s Gastown.” Vancouver: Waite Bird Photos Incorporated, 2010. <http://www.globalbirdphotos.com/ve/066_071_'Gassy%22_Jack_Deighton's_Gastown_Author.pdf>.
Waite, Donald E. Vancouver Exposed: A History in Photographs. “The Great Vancouver Fire of 1886.” Vancouver: Waite Bird Photos Incorporated 2010. <http://www.globalbirdphotos.com/ve/072_075_Great_Vancouver_Fire_of_1886_Jacqui_Underwood.pdf>.
Wyse, Dana and Ainsley Vogel. Vancouver; A History in Photographs. Heritage House Publishing Company. Surrey, BC. 2009. Google Scholar. <http://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=O1PUPDLl8z0C&oi=fnd&pg=PA7&dq=history+of+gastown&ots=GhQSNLCQsU&sig=X4RDE3YweVT22e2x8QLFvgP_E9o#v=onepage&q=history%20of%20gastown&f=false>.
ADDITIONAL WEB LINKS
· http://www.vancouverheritagefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/MGCarrallStreet_web.pdf
· http://pasttensevancouver.wordpress.com/2009/08/04/the-great-vancouver-fire/
· http://www.miss604.com/2010/06/the-great-vancouver-fire-of-1886.html