Coal Harbour - History

History

Notable inhabitants and developments in Coal Harbour's past include:

• Sḵwxwú7mesh settlements, notably on Deadman Island, Brockton Point and Lumberman's Arch.
• In 1862 minor exploration began of the visible coal seams on the flank of the bluff overlooking the harbour, first noted by Captain Vancouver. This bluff was approximately where most of West Hastings Street is today. The coal was low-grade, but its occurrence in clays similar to porcelain-making clays of the English Midlands led to the staking of what is known as the Brickmaker's Claim by the Three Greenhorns. The Brickmaker's Claim is now the West End. No clay was ever mined nor porcelain ever made, but one of the Greenhorns was the developer of the clay mine and brickworks at Clayburn on Sumas Mountain near Abbotsford.
• A settlement of Kanakas (Hawaiians) near today's Bayshore Inn and the eastern end of Lost Lagoon was known as the Kanaka Rancherie, or the Cherry Orchard due to its many cherry trees. The area is now called Devonian Harbourside Park, and memorial cherry trees have been planted there in memory of AIDS victims.
• the Vancouver Boating Club, now Vancouver Rowing Club, from 1887 (originally at the bottom of the bluff at the foot of Howe Street)
• the Pacific Lumber Mill Company in the late 19th century
• The Royal Vancouver Yacht Club (their first clubhouse floated in Coal Harbour at the foot of Cardero street in 1903)
• Boeing Canada's Seaplane and Boat Factory beginning in the l 1919; (they purchased the Hoffar-Beeching Shipyard at 1927 West Georgia in 1929)
• William Boeing's yacht, the superb Taconite, was built at Hoffars in 1931.
• the Vancouver Shipyards through the 1930s
• the CP Rail Station & Canadian Pacific Steamships passenger terminal/dock
• Harbour Ferries, a tour-boat and water-taxi service, continues to operate from docks in Coal Harbour
• Howard Hughes, who resided in the top two floors of the Bayshore Inn (Westin Bayshore) for 5 months and 28 days in the 1970s (6 months would have triggered Canadian residency and taxation issues for Mr. Hughes).
• Denman Arena, an indoor ice arena that stood from 1911-1936.
• Trader Vic's, for many years held to be Vancouver's best night-out, was launched in a tiki-style hut next to the Bayshore.
• HMCS Discovery, a naval base on Deadman Island.
• In 1993 Vancouver City Council froze applications for development of the Marathon Realty lands between Canada Place and the Bayshore Hotel. The company was required to reach an agreement with The First Narrows Floating Co-op, representing floating home and live-aboard boat residents in pre existing marinas, for their inclusion in the redevelopment of the waterfront. Negotiations concluded with the guarantee of space for residents in Coal Harbour Marina on extended leases.