From the Archives of Western Newspapers

Posted on July 2, 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

By Samantha Johnson
For Southern Alberta Newspapers

June 29, 1886 – Vancouver
Advertiser

Vancouver, a city scarcely six-weeks old, was completely destroyed by fire in one hour on the afternoon of Sunday, the 13th. During the six months previous to Vancouver becoming a city, a conflagration of enterprising businesses, shrewd speculators and far-seeing capitalists had constructed imposing buildings, business blocks, stores and warehouses. Thus, from January to June, the most beautifully situated and commercially important city on the Pacific coast had become fairly started.

Having passed through fire and flame, Vancouver has pulled itself together and started on a new career of prosperity. In the history of western cities, our case of clean sweep by fire and immediate revival is unparalleled. Building has restarted, businesses have re-engaged, homes are being re-built. It has been a straight case of shoulder to shoulder. The unselfishness, liberality, and enterprise of our citizens has been emphasized in a thousand different ways.

Our citizens will be unable to hold a celebration for Dominion Day, but our friends in New Westminster have prepared a good programme and extended a hearty invitation to our people to visit that city. 

D. Lambert, painter, lately of Nanaimo and likely perished in the fire, leaves a wife and ten children in Worcestershire, England to mourn his passing.

June 27, 1907 – The Gleichen Call

There was a time in the west when growing wheat was the one and only crop for many farmers. Then came the lean years, although farmers did not learn the lesson as quickly as they might have. It took two or three experiences of poor crops or low prices for many to move to more diversified farming. Mixed farming is not a theory; it is an established factor in successful farming in any country.

Canada will be 40 years old on Monday and Gleichen will celebrate in true western style and the day will finish with a concert in the evening.

On Monday, 16 riders from the Knee Hill roundup came through town. They started out from the Bow River south of Strathmore and will scour the country in every direction as they make their way northward to Knee Hill.

June 26, 1909 – The Chronicle (Crossfield)

The regular CPR express to the coast was held up by five masked bandits at Ducks, 268 miles from Vancouver. The train the gang targeted was the No. 97, which was not carrying the booty they were looking for. The No. 5 train was carrying 90 silver bars from the Trail smelter, which will be shipped out on the Empress of China. When the bandits realized they had the wrong train, they got away on a boat waiting for them on the Thompson River. This is the same location Bill Miner held up a train three years ago and the Mounted Police suspect he is involved in this failed robbery as well.

An invention of Swedish engineers for increasing distinctness of sound in long-distance telephone calls was successfully trialed. An experimental conversation took place between Paris and Sundsvall, 300 miles north of Stockholm, a distance of 1,800 miles in a bee line. The conversations were carried by way of Berlin, thus, the length of wire used was much greater and this is believed to now be the long-distance telephone record.

Six and a half tons of virgin gold, valued at $8.2 million arrived on the steamer Jefferson from Juneau recently. It is said to be the largest ever shipment of gold from Alaska.