Did you know that many of the streets in the downtown east side were constructed of wood blocks and that those wood blocks still exist under a layer of pavement?
Every now and then, when the layer of pavement is eroded, the wood blocks are exposed, revealing Vancouver’s transportation history dating back a 100 years.
See Also: Rubber Sidewalks in East Van
Photographer Ted provides some brief history on wooden streets in Vancouver:
From about 1910 onwards, the streets were paved with wooden bricks of Norway Pine that were 4″ x 8″ and 6″ deep. The road was first layered with gravel, then wet cement, followed by the wooden bricks, and a final layer of some sort of coating.
After long, wet winters, Vancouver’s old wooden streets, many built more than a century ago (1890’s) and covered in asphalt, begin to re-emerge. These artifacts of the area’s old growth forests, were found on Alexander Street, just west of North Dunlevy Street in what is now considered the east end of Gastown.
Image by Ted’s photos – For me & you
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