History & Heritage
History
Riley Park's origins date back to 1893, when pioneers logged Little Mountain
and cut trails around its base. By the early 1900s, a scattered community
began to thrive on upper Main Street. Its residents were primarily Little
Mountain quarry workers, who mined volcanic rock for use surfacing the
area's first roads.
In the 1920s, one of the rock quarries was converted into the city's
water reservoir. In 1940, Little Mountain became Queen Elizabeth Park
and the water reservoir was covered to serve as the park's parking lot.
Another of the open pit rock quarries was transformed into a beautiful
sunken garden, now a tourist attraction and a favourite site for summer
wedding photographs.
By 1911, the area had its first post office and Main Street was lined
with shops. By the1930s the area had evolved into a close-knit neighbourhood
with small houses crowded onto small lots.
This neighbourhood has roots in Vancouver's baseball history. The Vancouver
Capilanos baseball team opened Capilano Stadium (now Nat Bailey Stadium)
at the
foot of
Little
Mountain
in 1952.
Vancouver
was
a member of the Northwestern League starting in 1907 and has had various
professional teams over the years. Professional baseball was also played
at Recreation Park (formerly at Smythe and Hamilton) and Athletic Park
(6th and Hemlock). Nat Bailey Stadium continues to be a much beloved
venue for various events to this day. In 1960 the Percy Norman Pool opened
next door in Riley Park, and later the city
began
applying
the
name Riley
Park
to
the surrounding
area.
Heritage
Established in 1886, Mountain View Cemetery is one of the city's most
significant heritage sites. It was built on the crest of the hill south
of the city overlooking the whole downtown area. Spanning most of the
city's history, its monuments illustrate the catastrophes endured by its
people and many of the lives of its most distinguished citizens. The older
sections contain a fascinating variety of sculptured stone monuments.
The 1908 Brock School, at 4860 Main Street, is another substantial heritage
building. It is the most well-preserved of three identical schools designed
by architect W.T. Whiteway, who also designed the downtown's landmark
Sun Tower. The wood framed school features a hipped bellcast roof, large
expanses of window, rounded entry arches, and wood siding.
Another striking heritage home is a large 1914 Craftsman house at 296
West 17th Avenue. The house has tapered porch columns, triangular knee
braces, and a front porch typical of the Craftsman style. Granite, clinker
brick, and stained and leaded glass is used to add surface texture.
The area north of King Edward also has a notable collection of older
homes detailed in the Edwardian and Craftsman styles. The buildings are
typically two storeys or more, have low-pitched roofs, front porches,
and are clad in wood shingles or siding.
Detailed information on the city's heritage and a complete list of heritage
buildings is available at City
of Vancouver Heritage.
Additional information is available through the City
of Vancouver Archives.
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