http://www.historicplaces.ca/
West
Hotel
488 Carrall Street,
Vancouver, British Columbia
Statement
of Significance
Description
of Historic Place
The
historic place at 488 Carrall Street is an eight-storey, plus penthouse,
brick hotel located at the northwestern edge of Vancouver's historic
Chinatown.
Heritage
Value
This
large hotel, with its distinctive sign, was most likely constructioned
between 1910-1912, during Vancouver's pre-World War One building
boom. The heritage value of this building lies in its representative
history and its architecture.
This building is of value for demonstrating a pattern of use that
was common in parts of downtown Vancouver where both retail and
residential spaces were geared to serving the itinerant population
of male resource workers who came and went from the city at regular
intervals. Especially in the winter, when the logging camps were
shut down, men lounged on the street and passed their time in the
bars. Like other hotels in the area, 488 Carrall Street (also known
as the West Hotel) suffered numerous fires over the years as a result
of residents falling asleep with a lit cigarette that then set the
mattress on fire.
Of particular interest in this building is the endurance of the
beer parlour, which likely catered to men recently returned from
the bush. From the 1920s to the 1970s, provincial laws carefully
regulated the consumption of beer and liquor. This reflected social
attitudes which abhorred drunkenness and condemned the social ills,
such as prostitution and gambling, associated with alcohol. Social
reformers preferred total prohibition, but when this failed, they
demanded that beer parlours be hidden from public view and that
no food or entertainment be served to entice men to drink more.
Inside, drinking was also carefully regulated. In such Vancouver
establishments, men and women were segregated, with a separate area
set aside for 'ladies and escorts.' Aspects of this history, including
the continued existence of the beer parlour, contribute to the heritage
value of the building.
Architecturally, the building, makes good use of the site, occupying
the full lot. It was also relatively tall compared to its neighbours
and compared to other hotels in the area. The building features
elements, such as the window assemblies, external fire escapes and
internal
light wells, which are typical of hotels
built at this time in Vancouver, reflecting housing reforms that
required these features. The large signs on the building make it
a local landmark. Overall, the building contributes to our understanding
of working class male history in Vancouver.
Source: City of Vancouver Heritage Conservation Program
|
There
was a large neon clock on the side of the West Hotel
Date:1959
VPL archives
|
|
Date: 1951
VPL 81558A
Photographer : Art Jones
|
Character-Defining
Elements
The
character-defining elements of 488 Carrall Street include:
-location on Carrall Street, at the northwestern edge of Chinatown
-various features typical of hotels constructed at the time, such
as window assemblies, external fire escapes and internal light wells,
designed to maximize air ventilation, bring light into the rooms,
and provide fire escapes
-arrangement of windows in rows and columns at the front elevation,
with stone sills
-paired and single double-hung wood vertical sliding sash window
assemblies and their glass
-large signs proclaiming the name of the business and the presence
of a pub
-continued use of the ground floor for entertainment
-continued use of the upper floors for accommodation |