BTB Kublakan I was impressed that you used the entriuge of the tunnels to touch upon the prominent social issue of homelessnes. Eventhough the two are interconnected you focussed upon the sociopolitical rather than the echant of the contretemps which "polute victoria"

cheers man, keep the thread alive!

Posted by A. Lien Nice work baily_ca. It looks like the old and new photos could almost be overlayed. (The 3rd archival one you posted) This would then show the placement of the old building. And the areas that had doors and windows, besides the obvious one... That brick and rock work is very random. The first photo is now Bastion Square, shot from the other direction. I pretty much confirmed this by looking at a photo in the book, Victoria, A History in Photographs. I think way back someone got under a space near the old HBC Warehouse. It didn't look like a basement though. I tried to get into the basement of Chandlers, but was denied access. That's where there is the Chinese writing, as posted back a ways. Allegedly painted by a worker to ward of ghosts. Given the Native history here, there must be lots of bones and things buried under much of the old shoreline areas. I think they found a skull or something about 15 years ago when renovation Capital Iron. The facade photo you posted could be a breakthrough, and if they didn't fill it all in, there is likely some very interesting spaces under there. Add to this the story I was told, of the tunnel up to Birks, (explored by the kids in their teens). Since it was a warehouse on the waterfront, a covered walkway or tunnel would make sense. I agree with you about the local media. Thankfully there is one exception. Focus Magazine. They have had some excellent heritage oriented articles. That was how I found out, and photographed, the old barracks in Esquimalt before their destruction. A heritage crime. Also The News Group occasionally publishes interesting historical type articles. Added: That last window, in the lower left sure looks damn close to the color photo posted by J.P. And further to the right, where there are now the giant planters, could well be those doors...

I know this is old hat now A. Lien, but what barracks were torn down in Esquimalt. I am ex military as well as being in love with the history of the Victoria area. This tearing down of old history is a crime.

Glad you agree it was a terrible thing to tear down that solid, extremely well built structure of NATIONAL HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE.

If you go in the gates by the RV Park, then bear left, basically follow the waterfront, there they were. Will try to find my photos, posted somewhere, can't remember where right now. You could contact FOCUS Magazine, and get a copy of their excellent story on the potential pending destruction.

No such thing really as old hat, what goes around comes around. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Welcome. Feel free to post your city if you like.

With your connections, you could get into military archives, and see old photos of the buildings. And maybe find the tunnels under Esquimalt Base, now used, (apparently) for storage. Found a thread a few years ago about them, haven't been able to find it again.

Ah yes...those barracks. I remember well the day A.Lien took JPeterman and I to see the thing, and stand in gasping wonder at the logic that goes behind the destruction of such a grand old place.

I think we came away from the experience with a single conclusion: idiots who push pencils and have never left their desks are making decisions that are completely outside their realm of intelligence. Idiots. Morons. Bottom-line imbeciles.

Sad.

It has been awhile since I was last in Victoria. Born in St. Josephs in 1953. Raised in James Bay when it was a working class neighbourhood. No self respecting Victorian would be caught dead in James Bay at the time. We were the cast offs. I loved the place. lol. I left Victoria in 1980 for five years ( I thought). 28 years later I was finally able to get back to the island so I've decided to settle on Denman Island. Can't afford Victoria, but once I am settled in I will be making frequent visits to my old haunts(at least when the touristo's have left).
Can you fill me in on the location of the barracks. Hopefully not at Work Point Barracks (once army, now navy).

Nice mini rant K.K. I think the Work Point Barracks were built in about 1896. Tried to find the article in Focus Mag, it's not in their archives. An email to them would get the story or info.

Denman Island, a nice paradise Pathfinder. I'm not far behind you, Jubilee 1958.

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If I can recall rightly this is in Naden and was part of the olf infirmery/hospital. This was supposed to be protected, but as usual the military can do what it wants on its own property. There are some old buildings inside Naden that belonged to the old village of Esquimalt way back when, but when the navy expanded Esquimalt and its residences were moved. By the way A. Lien it's good to see us old farts haven't lost touch with our youthful curiousity. lol

Just checked google and found out Work Point Barracks was opened around 1876 when the artillery was moved from Beacon Hill in Beacon Hill Park. Wood structures too start, then brick building built after that. Most of the original structures still stand other then the more modern buildings around the old parade square.

Interesting info pathfinder1. It may be okay to walk around some areas of the base area by the marina, not the main base with checkpoint of course.

We didn't get stopped, I didn't see any no tresspassing signs. They probably had cameras watching us, and could have taken us out if in the mood. Ya, good to stay curious, so much to see and do.

Posted by A. Lien Interesting info pathfinder1. It may be okay to walk around some areas of the base area by the marina, not the main base with checkpoint of course. We didn't get stopped, I didn't see any no tresspassing signs. They probably had cameras watching us, and could have taken us out if in the mood. Ya, good to stay curious, so much to see and do.

Actually, A.Lien, there's a dark sedan parked outside your house.

A. Lien you were wondering awhile back in Dec. 07 about a retreat for our provincial governments in case of attack by the Japanese or in later years a nuke threat. This place you are curious about is in Nanaimo. In fact each province had an underground bunker for the government heads to go running to in case of a nuclear holacaust. They still exist as far as I know, but they are no longer used. Who in the hell would want to go under ground and survive for a few more miserable months knowing the rest of the world didn't exist. What a bunch of maroons.
By the way most of these bunkers did not have the type of vents you were talking about with the fins on them. They used internal air cleaners.
The type of vents you are talking about can be found in Albert Head. They were used to catch the wind which then forced fresh air into the tunnels below the gun emplacements.

Pathfinder

Posted by KublaKhan Actually, A.Lien, there's a dark sedan parked outside your house.

No, it was a maroon Lexus.

Posted by Mowgli-dog No, it was a maroon Lexus.

...yer killin me.

Posted by Mowgli-dog No, it was a maroon Lexus.

No, it was me on my bike.


It just has a side-car.

Posted by KublaKhan Actually, A.Lien, there's a dark sedan parked outside your house.

Dude, that's MY car '64 Linkin JFK Special, vintage U.S. Gov. plates, registration unknown, untraceable. It's rarely visible for more than a few seconds at a time... Does not use 'regular' gas, baahaabaahhhhaaaaa.

Interesting comments pathfinder1. A friend and I checked out the Nanaimo bunker last year. Looks impressive from Google Earth. It's just a big grassy mound, from the outside. We didn't get in, or I wouldn't be in any condition to be writing this.

Rumors are that it's been filled in, Chances of me believing that, Zero2nun. I'm keen to know more about these, thanks!

Regarding Work Point and the old heritage building, sadly it's gone. My work takes me in the area from time to time, and there's just a muddy field of goose droppings with a dumpster next to it, just behind the Haida building (visible in the background of the photo a few posts up) with the cement path still visible. Very sad.


One thing I've noticed is the difference between the old buildings the army built and the new buidlings the navy put in: The army named their buildings after battles (Vimy, Ypres, etc.). The navy names theirs after people (Rear admiral so-and-so). I guess the real incentive in the navy is to get your ticket punched to the top and get a building with your name on it.

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Yo Peterman. The post office. Grab a handful of those orange gummy things while you're there.

I am sure this building was deemed expendable because it's structure was made of wood instead of brick. No real past to our heritage. Just an old wood building made by Canadians instead of the Royal Engineers. Really to bad.
I hope the same will not happen to Coal Island near View Royal. That should be on the top of everyones to save list. Sorry to distract from the Exploration of tunnels side of this thread.

Let me tell you a little bit about my history.
Born in 1953 and raised in James Bay. At that time James Bay was just a working class neighbourhood. Considered my most others in Victoria as a place to stay away from. Too many rowdies there.
If you were from James Bay you either worked at the docks working the freighters, or VMD building the BC Ferries, Coke plant, Bapco Paint, etc.
It was a great place to grow up. There was no end of exploring. We would start at the corner of Douglas and Dallas road on any given weekend and begin to scour the neighbourhood. At that particular corner is a small blockhouse built into the water. This used to supply the salt water to the Crystal Garden way back when my Dad was a kid. If I recall rightly by uncle helped build it.
From there we would head west scouring the cliffs looking for arrow heads from the old burial grouds. Of course in those days we weren't thinking about sacred areas that should be left for the more professional to be digging through. There is probably more history in that section of land just south of Government Street then we can imagine. Next stop would be the Breakwater ( my grandfather helped in the construction) and the dock system. It was a busy place for sure. Lumber dorries, fork lifts, trains and trucks buzzing all around the place. As kids we used to hang out around the freighters bumming cigarettes off the foreign crews. Shit, we used to go on board ship and have smokes and drinks. It's a bloody wonder we weren't kidnapped, but when your a kid you don't think of those things.
The docks had grain elevators, warehouses, fish packing plants, and a railhead for the old ship Kenora. She would get loaded up with rail cars full of lumber and grain and head off to Vancouver.
It's hard to believe now when you walk along Dallas Road toward the old lumber yard what a bee hive of activity used to go on there. It was a young mans wonder land. No end of exploring the yards in those days.
I have to go for now, but I will continue if you are interested.

Posted by pathfinder1 Let me tell you a little bit about my history. Born in 1953 and raised in James Bay. At that time James Bay was just a working class neighbourhood. Considered my most others in Victoria as a place to stay away from. Too many rowdies there. If you were from James Bay you either worked at the docks working the freighters, or VMD building the BC Ferries, Coke plant, Bapco Paint, etc. It was a great place to grow up. There was no end of exploring. We would start at the corner of Douglas and Dallas road on any given weekend and begin to scour the neighbourhood. At that particular corner is a small blockhouse built into the water. This used to supply the salt water to the Crystal Garden way back when my Dad was a kid. If I recall rightly by uncle helped build it. From there we would head west scouring the cliffs looking for arrow heads from the old burial grouds. Of course in those days we weren't thinking about sacred areas that should be left for the more professional to be digging through. There is probably more history in that section of land just south of Government Street then we can imagine. Next stop would be the Breakwater ( my grandfather helped in the construction) and the dock system. It was a busy place for sure. Lumber dorries, fork lifts, trains and trucks buzzing all around the place. As kids we used to hang out around the freighters bumming cigarettes off the foreign crews. Shit, we used to go on board ship and have smokes and drinks. It's a bloody wonder we weren't kidnapped, but when your a kid you don't think of those things. The docks had grain elevators, warehouses, fish packing plants, and a railhead for the old ship Kenora. She would get loaded up with rail cars full of lumber and grain and head off to Vancouver. It's hard to believe now when you walk along Dallas Road toward the old lumber yard what a bee hive of activity used to go on there. It was a young mans wonder land. No end of exploring the yards in those days. I have to go for now, but I will continue if you are interested.

Thanks for sharing, it's always interesting to hear what Victoria used to be like. I heard Capital Iron used to be quite the place for kids to rummage around and such...