Happy Heritage Week 2021 with the theme “Where do you find Heritage?” Our first stop is at Keith Road and Lonsdale, on the west side of Victoria Park. Look around. What do you see? Close your eyes and take yourself back to 1915. What would you hear? Here’s a clue … clip-clop, clip-clop. Yes, there were horses back then, who pulled loads up Lonsdale. This original solid granite trough was used to quench the thirst of those hard-working horses. But why is it on the left hand side of the road? Up until 1922, traffic in BC followed the British system. Now a centenarian, the trough is recognized by the City of North Vancouver on its Heritage Register. Beside the trough is a stylized metal horse named “The Long Ascent” which is part of the North Vancouver public art collection.
The granite horse trough at Keith Rd. and Lonsdale.
Other heritage resources in the immediate vicinity of the horse trough include the following (see captions below photos):
Victoria Park - Cleared of tree stumps by local residents in the early 1900’s and made into a promenade park in 1910. Many of the original trees still stand today. Photo courtesy of North Vancouver Museum and Archives. Inventory N˚4856.
The Cenotaph at Victoria Park was built in 1923 and is used for Remembrance Day ceremonies
Cold War Air Siren – This air raid siren was built in the 1950’s when North America was concerned about the Soviet nuclear threat. The siren which included a blast of 3 minutes with a rising and falling note was meant to warn citizens of an impending nuclear attack. It was decommissioned in 1988 but stands today as a reminder of the Cold War.
Heritage really is everywhere, especially at Lonsdale and Keith Road! We challenge you to go and find these heritage structures and post a photo of yourself in front of them on our Facebook page…kind of like a heritage scavenger hunt!