The Vancouver Archives is full of gems, giving us a look at what Vancouver was like centuries ago. But what if we wanted to know what an exact location today looked like 100 years ago? That’s what Vancouver’s Andrew Farris set out to achieve.
After getting the idea for a Then and Now photo series when he travelled to Nagasaki, Japan and realized the series made experiencing the history of the atomic bombing much more real, Farris wanted to capture more cities and show the change from then to now.
“I started making the website out of a love of history and to give myself something to do while backpacking around the world,” Farris told Vancity Buzz.
“The photos themselves are actually really easy to shoot,” Farris said, who shot all pictures for his five-part Vancouver series in the Fall and Winter of 2014. “Most of the time is spent on archival research and the web design.”
What’s next? “Now that I’ve done Vancouver and Victoria, I’m going to Europe to write and do photo essays. I’m putting together a huge Then and Now series for London right now.”
Each day this week, we’ll be featuring one part of Farris’ Vancouver Then and Now series. To see more of Farris’ work, visit his blog at www.onthisspot.ca.
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Lower Lonsdale’s first few days
Lining up for the ferry along Lonsdale
Another view of the long ferry lineup up Lonsdale
Hamilton Bank in the early days
Two kids playing on the beach at Ambleside
Before the Lions Gate Bridge, there was the Ambleside Ferry
This is the ferry terminal building, now a museum and art gallery
Enjoying the view of the Coast Mountains from Ambleside Pier
Docking a ferry at the Ambleside pier
Looking up towards the Coast Mountains from the foot of West Vancouver’s 17th Avenue
People flock to watch a cruise ship leaving for Alaska
The tennis courts at John Lawson Park
In 1949, the Capilano Bridge was washed out and the Dundarave Pier was temporarily pressed into service
Garthorne Grocery, later Capers Market, now Shoppers Drug Mart
The Conservative Hall, or Dundarave Hall, now a restaurant
Dundarave Pier, the year it was built
The Mawes Hotel on the left, now the Beach House Restaurant
Another view from Dundarave Pier
Marine Drive from 24th Street
Then photos courtesy of Vancouver Archives
Now photos courtesy of Andrew Farris / On This Spot
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