16 - Friday, August 12, 1994 - North Shore News

N. Van grew fast from rugged

THE FIRST-EVER municipal council
meeting was typical of what the new
Municipality of North Vancouver was
like in 1891: it was held on an isolated
ranch in the mountains.

By Glen Anwick
Contributing Writer

With the exception of the business centre of
Moudyville, now known as the LonsJale area,
North Vancouver was described by critics of
the day a: ocing “a rocky terrain of rail-less
forest. an impenetrable tangle of undergrowth,
impassable swamp... surrounded by thick rings
of impassable forests.”

Moodyville had sprung up as a one compa-
ny sawmill town operated by its benevolent but

strictly teetotalling owner Sewell (Sue) Moody.
He kept a tight rein on his conmunity and its
employees because he didi want it to becertic
as corupt and booze-filled us the much wilder
Gastown across the itdet.

By 1907. merchants and residents in
Lonsdale. which by then had 3,000 residents,
wanted greater powers over its affairs and bet-
ter control over its monies. The group voted to
break away from the district.

The new city council of the day worked to
liberalize local development measures,

The area recovered from @ poor credit rating
and high rate of taxation by selling property to
eager buyers who flocked to “a ready market at
good prices.”

Just before the First World War, the North
Vancouver City board of trade advertised for
more tradesmen, more investors and more cop-

Stainmaster plush (instatted wipad)
S17.99 sq. ya.
Heavy/Nylon Trackless (instatted w/pad)

526.99 sq. yd

Ultimate Plush (installed w/pad)
S29.99 sq. yd
Level Loop (8 great colors)

SI.99 sq. yd

Sheet Vinal

"S799 sq. ya
Hardwood (3/4” solid oak)
™ $4.99 sq. yd
Hundreds of Area Rugs

™ $49.99 sq. yd

per and coul mine development. (Phe lauer
would make environmentalists of today gasp in
horror at the notion.)

The district meanwhile changed to some
extent by develupment of the Lynn Valley are:
and the arrival of electric power, streetcars,
water and sewer services, telephones, roadways
and bridges, albeit a few years after the city.

With its more isolated and rugged nature,
the district maintained a wild west image for
many years. In 1929 two of its councillors,
Works and Dennis, settled a heated argument
they had in couucil chambers by going outside
on to the municipal hail’s front fawn and hav-
ing a fist fight.

Dennis continued his antics the following
year and was evicted bodily from another hos-
tile council meeting by police under orders
from the reeve (mayor).

beginning

After the Second World War, the district
and city continued phenomenal residential and
business growth, Residents of both areas dis-
played their community hearts and spirits by
helping out those unfortunate enough to be
caught during the 1949 flood. Torrential nvers
overtlewed, washing out numerous bridges and
destroying many homes.

By 1966, North Vancouver City and
District, with populations of 28,000 and 46,000
respectively, were described by the national
business newspaper Financial Post as having
“houses in the mountains and industries on the
shoreline.”

The Post mentioned the region’s growth
was spurred by the removal of the “bothersome
tolls” on the Lions Gate Bridge, the addition of
the Second Narrows Bridge and the opening of
the Upper Levels Highway.

GREAT FOR THE
FAMILY ROON!

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