THE CLOSING OF VIEW STREET IN 1858.
It is known to few only that View Street at one time reached from
Cook to Wharf Street.
[Portrait: Senator Macdonald.]
In the Victoria _Gazette_ of 1858 appear several items regarding
this street. A public meeting was called for by certain citizens who
considered themselves more aggrieved than the general public, in that
they, being residents of the upper part of View Street, had on coming
to business, to walk on to Fort or Yates Street to get to Government
or Wharf. Without any notice the street was fenced across on Broad
and also on Government. The _Gazette_ states that there was
great dissatisfaction at the fencing of the vacant space on
"Broadway" and Government Streets, which the paper stated was used as
a cabbage patch, and there was talk of pulling the fence down.
All the agitation seems to have amounted to nothing, for not only was
the fence not pulled down, but J. J. Southgate, one of the earliest
merchants of Victoria, erected a large wooden building on the street.
By referring to the engraving this building may be seen indicated by
a cross. Later on Southgate erected the present brick building which
Hibben & Co. have just vacated after an occupancy of forty odd years.
The _Gazette_ stated later on that the Governor had sold the
lots to Mr. Southgate, and that settled the matter.
That it was not intended that View Street should end at Broad
is evident, as Bastion Street was then known as View Street, being so
called in Mallandaine's first directory (1859.)
Mr. Trounce, who owned the land through which Trounce Avenue passes,
after the closing of View Street, decided to make an alleyway through
his property so as to more easily let his stores. This alley has been
open ever since, but used to be closed for a day each year for many
years after.
I might state that J. J. Southgate, who was a prominent Mason, called
a meeting of "all Free Masons at his new store on Monday evening,
July 12th, 1858, at 7 o'clock, to consider important matters
connected with the organization of the order."
T. N. Hibben & Co., who have just vacated this site after so many
years, have moved only once before since going into business on the
corner of Yates and Langley Streets, in 1858, by the firm name of
"Hibben & Carswell." The building is that brick one lately sold. Both
founders of this well-known and long-established business, together
with their bookkeeper who later became a partner (Mr. Kammerer) have
passed away, and the firm now consists of Mr. Hibben's widow and
William H. Bone, who has been connected with the firm since 1871.
"Did the Thoroughfare Once Run Through to The Harbor? A Question
of Records.
"The question of whether or not View Street, which is now blocked by
stores and office buildings at Broad Street, was ever open to traffic
as a thoroughfare clear through, which theory D. W. Higgins, in an
interview published in the _Colonist_ last week denied, is causing
considerable discussion among old-time residents. Yesterday Edgar
Fawcett, who first broached the subject, gave the _Colonist_ the
following further argument on the question:
"As my friend Mr. Higgins joins issue with me on my account of the
closing of View Street in 1858, I am going to give him some further
evidence. I would not for a moment match my memory or knowledge of
events of the early history of Victoria with Mr. Higgins, who arrived
months before I did, and from his position as a newspaper man had far
better opportunities of getting knowledge of passing events. But Mr.
Higgins did not arrive early enough, if the evidence in the Victoria
_Gazette_ is worth anything. I had the opportunity of reviewing
the first year's numbers, and jotted down all items I thought of
interest. This I gave to the _Colonist_ readers some years ago,
and the items regarding View Street were some of them. I think Mr.
Higgins will forgive me if I say that the _Gazette's_ evidence
is likely to be more correct than mere memory. I am glad of the
opportunity to correct an error I made in copying from my former
article; that of substituting the name of Southgate for Stamp.
Southgate's name occurred several times in items, and I find by
referring to my former article, that I have Captain Stamp's name all
right. Now for the further evidence. I would ask if it is likely that
any one would build a wharf on Broad Street, say at the office of the
Daily _Times_, Ltd., which is now at the foot of View Street? I
ask this because in the _Gazette_ it is announced that Rousette
is building a wharf at the foot of View Street, which meant next to
the Hudson's Bay Company's warehouse on Wharf Street. Further, I
produce from Mallandaine's First Directory, compiled in 1859,
two advertisements which will show that View Street ended on Wharf
Street opposite the Hudson's Bay Company's store:
F. J. St. Ours
Wharf Street, near View
Kaindler's wharf--Victoria, V. I.
Commission Merchant
Storage
Etc., Etc., Etc.
* * * *
Reid & Macdonald
Commission and General Merchants
Warehousemen
Wharf Street,
Corner of View Street
Victoria, V. I.
"Neither Bastion Nor View.
"To the Editor:--Having read with great interest Mr. Edgar Fawcett's
letter _re_ the query as to the permanent term for the street
now named as View and Bastion, may I make a suggestion that in the
event of a re-naming that the thoroughfare be known as Fawcett
Street? Many old residents are perpetuated in street names, and I
feel sure, after the indefatigable efforts put forward by Mr. Fawcett
in all issues connected with archaic research in Victoria and its
immediate environs, that it would be a fitting tribute on the part of
the city fathers to perpetuate the name of such a zealous citizen.
"Well Wisher.
"Victoria, B.C., Nov. 8th, 1910."
"View or Bastion or Both?
"To the Editor:--In case the project for extending View Street
through the burnt block is carried out, what name would be given the
street when it connects with Bastion at the corner of Government?
Although View Street as originally planned commenced at the
waterfront where the Hudson's Bay Company's store stands, I think
'Bastion' a better name for the street, as it was the northern
boundary for the fort, and, as is well known, Richardson's cigar
store stands on ground formerly occupied by the N. E. bastion, and is
therefore a historic spot or landmark.
"Since the correspondence with respect to View Street and where it
commenced and ended, I have met two gentlemen who were residents in
1855 and who both state positively that View Street was always open
for traffic from Wharf Street eastward until 1858, when the land now
proposed to be expropriated was fenced in on Government and Broadway,
as Broad Street was then known, by Captain Stamp, with the consent of
Governor Douglas, on behalf of the Hudson's Bay Company."
"The Bridge to the Reserve.
"Sir:--There cannot be two opinions as to the utility of a bridge
over the harbor from the bottom of Johnson Street. The first bridge
crossing to the Songhees reserve at this point was built by Governor
Douglas prior to 1860, it being an ordinary pile bridge such as
graced, or disgraced, James Bay until the Causeway was built. The
first bridge over to the reserve was part of the highway to
Esquimalt, Craigflower, Metchosin and Sooke, and was very much in use
in the olden days.
"A continuous stream of people, many Indians amongst them, passed to
and fro, and in times of potlatches, when there were hundreds of
Indians living there, and as many visitors from other reservations on
the island, and even mainland, it was a busy place. The ceremony of
making a medicine man I have seen on two occasions, when a candidate
was locked up for days, being kept without food, and then at the
appointed time let loose, when he ran about like a madman and was
supposed to catch a dog, of which there were scores on the reserve,
and in his hunger bite pieces out of the dog. It was very unsafe at
times for persons to go over to the reserve at night, on account of
the drunken Indians.
"But this is beside the question I started to write about, which was
the bridge and its approach on Johnson Street end. I repeat what I
said in reviewing four old pictures of 1866 which appeared in the
_Colonist_ of a few weeks ago. In speaking of the old buildings
to be seen on the water-front next to the sand and gravel concern,
'there are two which, I remarked, should not have been allowed to
remain so long.' One was known in the earliest times as the 'salmon
house,' where the Hudson's Bay Company salted, packed and stored
their salmon. It may have been considered an ornament in those days,
but in these days of progress it is an eyesore and very much in the
way. Opposite this building, and across the street, was manufactured
most of the 'tangle leg' whiskey sold to the Indians in those days,
and which drove them crazy, rather than made them drunk.
"Edgar Fawcett."