We can learn about a place in books from all types of 颅perspectives 鈥� from 颅architecture to Black 颅culture, 颅fiction or nature, but how about from sordid and 颅raunchy behaviour, which Victoria had in spades about 150 years ago!
Warning to readers: The 颅following contains 颅bawdiness, unbecoming lasciviousness and an abundance of smutty conduct. Discretion is advised.
Let鈥檚 begin with saloons.
Aqua Vitae by Glen A. 颅Mofford (2016, TouchWood 颅Editions) describes the 颅numerous saloons that once graced Victoria 鈥� primarily downtown 鈥� between 1851 and 1917. Not all drinking establishments were raunchy, but some, such as the Pony Saloon on 颅Government Street, were more flagrant and rowdy than others. Assault and robbery were common in the back alleys, and at one point, someone died and the 鈥渂ody was 颅disposed of in a most undignified manner,鈥� along with its decimated skull, under the floorboards.
It remains a cold case to this day, but may have had 颅something to do with a red-haired lady.
Many of these old saloon buildings still stand 鈥� for 颅example, the James Bay Inn, 颅formerly the Lushes Park Hotel, in my neighbourhood 鈥� and they make for an interesting theme for a stroll. The book provides detailed maps and background stories.
The Lushes Park Hotel had a connection to Emily Carr鈥檚 颅family, who lived nearby. 颅William Lush purchased the property from Emily鈥檚 father, Richard Carr, but problems arose when Lush and his wife applied for a liquor licence, which he obtained (much to Mr. Carr鈥檚 dismay) after a couple of attempts and a lengthy petition of support.
Emily wrote: 鈥淗acks filled with tipsy sailors and noisy ladies drove past our house 鈥� it hurt father right up till he was seventy years old when he died.鈥�
An amusing advertisement for the Hotel Prince George at the corner of Pandora Avenue and Douglas Street reads: 鈥淚t Looks Like a Hotel, Outside and Inside.鈥� Hmmmmm.
This leads me to our next 鈥� some may say unsavoury, albeit often tragic 鈥� subject, Victoria Unbuttoned, A Red-Light 颅History of B.C鈥檚 Capital City, by 颅historian and fine writer Linda J. Eversole (TouchWood 颅Editions, 2021).
You may recall the author鈥檚 previous book about the 颅stubborn and notorious Stella. This story covers the world鈥檚 oldest profession in more detail and introduces you to many more characters, including a well-known madam, Lillian Gray, who (referring to her mug shot) 鈥渁lways took a good picture 鈥� and even in her lowest moment, she still pulled it off with style. She managed to get a hint of movement in the final frame, likely to make sure the record was blurred.鈥�
These women had to endure perpetual prosecution and abuse 鈥� most of their lives were spent at the police station or in court having to listen to outrageous and flamboyant pontifications such as: 鈥淥ne bad woman in the community is worse than having bubonic plague, rabies, 颅smallpox, scarlet fever and diphtheria together,鈥� to which the judge replied: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 pretty bad.鈥�
Many sordid and morbid tales are told in the very 颅readable Amazing Stories series, 颅published by Heritage House, recognized by its glossy 颅turquoise covers.
Do you recall a few years back when a sharp-eyed 颅border official in Ontario noticed a 颅fellow鈥檚 jeans 颅moving 颅awkwardly around his nether regions as he nervously tried to enter sa国际传媒?
It was discovered that he was smuggling an 颅abundance of baby turtles into sa国际传媒 and he had taped and strapped the 颅little creatures to his upper thighs and groin area.
If you enjoy reading about early smuggling exploits, you will enjoy Smugglers of the West, Tales of 颅Contraband and Crooks by Rosemary Neering (2011).
British Columbia Murders, Notorious Cases and Unsolved Mysteries by Susan McNicoll (2010) describes six 颅sometimes gruesome death scenes, 颅exhumations and forensic 颅procedures, including a husband who slowly poisoned his wife with arsenic. Weed killer was found under his kitchen sink and 鈥渁bout three ounces were 颅missing from the can.鈥� He also had a girlfriend.
This story is particularly interesting because it 颅happened relatively recently in Vancouver, in the 1960s, and has 颅connections to sites and people we may 颅recognize, such as the radio 颅station CKNW and the 颅enormous neon BowMac sign on West Broadway.
The Law and the Lawless (two books), Frontier 颅Justice in 颅British Columbia and Yukon, 1858-1911 and 1913-1935 颅respectively, edited by Art Downs (2014), is a collection of stories of shootouts, duels, 颅murders, drunken brawls, 颅hangings and other horrors.
Arthur Ellis was the public executioner of sa国际传媒 in 1913, and very skilled at the job 鈥� known best for the speed of the deed. He proudly boasted that his hanging of 鈥渢he Flying Dutchman鈥� 鈥� a murderer who killed his last victim in Union Bay 鈥� was completed in a mere 47聽seconds, 11 seconds less than the old record, set by his uncle.
In case you feel we are falling from grace these days with all our societal troubles, read these books and your perspective may alter.
On the other hand, since 颅history does have a way of repeating itself, it鈥檚 probably wise not to have rat poison or weed killer in your home.
