451 Powell Street (1907 | July 2013)

106 years of change at Powell Street near Jackson Avenue.

 

Last week the City of Vancouver ordered an emergency demolition of an old building in Vancouver's Japantown due to a partial structural collapse. The abandoned old building at 451 Powell Street was threatening to collapse the adjacent building (Uchida Building) that it was leaning on.

 

Apparently, this location had an eventful long life. Cabins were built at the rear of property around 1899. The building with a breezeway was built a few years later at the front of the property. In 1907, it was damaged during the Anti-Asian Riots of 1907 (see left photo).

 

Here are some of the past occupants according to old City of Vancouver directories:

 

1908 - Satta W restaurant; Sawa S barber

1919 - Ishizaki K tailor; Katada M barber

1930 - vacant; Yamagishi K; orientals

 

1940 - 451a Kita Mrs M drsmkg sch; 451b Yamagishe Mrs M barber; 451b Yamigishe K;

451b (rear) Tshaka I bean cakes; HI-4276

 

1945 - Walker N; (rear) Horse W; 451a Krinhill J stove rprs

1950 - 451 Oriental; 451a Orientals

1955 - 451 Lee Hong; 451a Otis Alu; 451b Lee Ling Guey

 

During the 1940s, Japanese names disappear as Japanese-Canadians were removed to internment camps during World War II. By 1979, the building was occupied by Smithfields Quality Meats (middle top photo). By July 2013, the building is owned by the Philippine Women Centre of BC but it is vacant for the past few years (middle bottom photo).

 

Done