Sunday Church Feature
Young Nak Presbyterian Church in Seoul, Korea

"To Church, To Church"

"Yes, two churches in one day. First Jennifer B. and I took the subway to the Presbyterian church.   The European type church held about 1500 worshipers.  It featured stained glass windows, spiral staircases to the balcony, and a choir of 100. 

"We were late for the 10 am English service; we waited at the "foreigner's door" during the first prayer. Then the usher seated us in a special roped off section for "foreigners". We listed to the translation on earphones and put our collection in a velvet bag. In other buildings the total congregation of 10,000 watched the service on TV or attended Bible Classes.

"After the Presbyterian service a man we met on the street led us to the Catholic church.  The 12 o'clock service that we thought would be in English was in Korean.  The church and singing was magestic and beautiful.  We took communion in the aisle and circled the pews to place our offering in an urn type basket on the floor.  The heaters under the pews warmed our feet." (See Reference)

"Young Nak (YN) Presbyterian Church was founded on December 2, 1945 by 1992 Templeton Prize recipient, Kyung-Chik Han. Inaugurated by twenty-seven refugees from Soviet occupied Korea, Young Nak steadily increased in membership as more refugees sought religious freedom below the 38th parallel.[1] On March 24, 1949, ground was broken for a new facility to replace the building and tent that had become too small for the growing congregation.[2] By the time the new church building was completed in May 1950, membership had increased to over 4,000.[3] By 1992, when Rev. Han was awarded the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion, membership had grown to 60,000 (making it, at that time, the largest Presbyterian congregation in the world), excluding 500 sister churches planted by members of the original congregation.[4] In 1998, under the auspices of Rev. Han, who at the time was a Pastor Emeritus, Young Nak gained an English language ministry, International Worship in English, which was founded by an American missionary to Korea, Bill Majors. For his efforts, Majors was made an Honorary Citizen of Seoul in 2005.[5] Presently the senior pastor of YN is Rev. Chul Shin Lee (1997-present)." (See Link.)

Photo: Origin unknown.

Link:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Nak_Presbyterian_Church
Reference: From the "Seoul Star" a newsletter written by Suzanne Wilson for family and friends during her six week trip to Seoul, Korea in January and February 1996. Suzanne was visiting her daughter who was teaching English.  Jennifer B. was her daughter's roommate and fellow ESL teacher. 

Saturday Travel Feature
Seoul Olympic Park, Seoul, Korea

"Seoul (Korean pronunciation: [sʌ.ul] ( listen)), officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Korea (South Korea). With a population of over 10 million, it is one of the world's largest cities[4] and is by far the most densely populated city among OECD nations.[5] The Seoul National Capital Area, which includes the Incheon metropolis and most of Gyeonggi province, has 24.5 million inhabitants,[6] and is the world's second largest metropolitan area.[7] Almost half of South Korea's population live in the Seoul National Capital Area, and nearly a quarter in Seoul itself, making it the country's foremost economic, political, and cultural center.

"Seoul is located on the Han River in the center of the Korean Peninsula, and was settled in 18 B.C. when Baekje, one of the Three Kingdoms of Korea, established its capital in what is now south-east Seoul. The city then became the capital of Korea during the Joseon Dynasty and the Korean Empire. The Seoul National Capital Area is home to four UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Changdeokgung, Hwaseong Fortress, Jongmyo Shrine and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty.[8]" (See Link .)

"Covering over 1.5 million square meters and the ancient site of the Mongchon Toseong Fortress (with its moat dating back to the early Baekche Kingdom), Olympic Park preserves the spirit of the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The stadiums, arranged in a fan-shaped pattern around the park, were the main stages for the sports events. With extensive grassy fields, sculpture gardens, walking paths, and rest areas, the park is open all day as a multi-purpose area for leisure, sports, and cultural activities." (See Link 1.)

Teaching English in Seoul, Korea was the destination for many Canadian young people during the 1990's. Suzanne Wilson's son and daughter were among those that went for a three month period in this pursuit. During the time that her daughter was there in 1996, Suzanne Wilson visited for six weeks and as a retired ESL teacher also taught in a girls high school classroom and tutored younger children. The photo above was taken on a snowy January day when she took the subway to visit the 1988 Summer Olympic Site. The Pagoda was at the entrance to the site. The photo won a first prize in a 1996 Richmond Museum Photography contest.

Link 1: http://www.lifeinkorea.com/Travel2/seoul/168
Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seoul

Friday, July 16, 2010
Big Changes On Bewicke-5

The last house on the 1400 block of Bewicke Avenue is at 1456. As with the other homes on the block no records are available until the mid 1950's. In 1955 The owners were Jean M. and Cliff Halverson. Cliff worked as a plasterer.

By 1960 Mrs. Hillary J. Hurst was the owner. She was the widow of G. Hurst. She continued to own the house at least until 1980. In 1960 she was employed as a stenographer at Eaton's. In 1971 she still worked at Eaton's but as a clerk. And in 1980 she reported that she was retired.

In 1991 Mark Kennedy reported to the City Directory that he was the owner. And in 1995/1996 the only entry in the City Directory for 1456 Bewicke Avenue was "not verified".

All the properties on the 1400 block of Bewicke Avenue are slated for demolition. The house at 1444 is under a blue tarp. The project that has been presented is that of an 18 unit development.

Demolition: Permit applied for in 2009.

Photo: Digital colored above taken in 2010 by SW. A black and white negative and photo on a contact sheet taken in July 2009 as part of the Demolition and Construction Project 2001-2010 is on file at the North Vancouver Archives.
Reference: See Blog Post July 12, 2010 for more information on Bewicke Avenue.
Reference 2: See Blog Post July 13, for more information about the homes in the 1400 block of Bewicke Avenue.

Thursday, July 15, 2010
Big Changes On Bewicke-4

The house at 1436 Bewicke Avenue peeks from behind the layers of leaves on its front yard trees. But what can be seen shows that the original stucco and cedar clapboard exterior has been replace by white clapboard siding. This fourth house on the 1400 block of Bewicke Avenue was owned by E. G. and Margaret E. Martin in 1955. The City Directories report them as the in the 1995/1996 issue as well. That is at least 40 years that they lived in the 1400 block of Bewicke Avenue. This wasn't unusual for that block since their neighbors Jean E. and Alfred H. Richardson at 1404 Bewicke Avenue lived there even longer, 45 years. (See Blog Post July 12, 2010.)

The only job that Edwin Martin reported during the 40 years that they lived at 1436 Bewicke Avenue was as an employee of Eaton's Department Store. From at least 1955 to 1971 he was a window cleaner for Eaton's. In 1980 he reported that his job was as a maintenance man for Eaton's. In the 1991 and 1995/1996 Edward and Mary Martin were listed as retired.

Demolition: Permit applied for in March 2010.

Photo: Digital colored above taken in June 2010 by SW.
Reference 1: See Blog Post June 12, 2010 for more information on Bewicke Avenue.
Reference 2: See Blog Post July 13, for more information about the homes in the 1400 block of Bewicke Avenue.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Big Changes On Bewicke-3

The third house on the 1400 block is at 1428 Bewicke Avenue. This house also has the typical features of all the houses in the block: rock retaining wall, cement front steps with a wrought iron railing, large windows on either side of the single front door, and stucco and cedar clapboard exterior walls. It also has a large cherry tree on the south side of the front yard, a row of day lilies hugging the front wall of the house, and gay yellow dandelions and buttercups scattered through the grass.

Again there is no listing of this house in either the Building Permit Book or the 1952 City Directory. But in 1955 and 1960 Alfred N. and Barbara J. Pickering were the owners of 1428 Bewicke Avenue. In both of those years Alfred Pickering was employed as a longshoreman.

In 1971 the owners were Edwin F. and Jenny E. Baumley. Edwin Baumley worked as a handyman at Burrard Dry Dock. "Burrard(Dry Dock had) built over 450 ships, including many warships ... for the Royal Navy and Royal Canadian Navy in World War II."(See Link.)


There was "no return" to inquiries by the City Directory in 1980. In 1991 the resident, but not owner, was Deidre Carrigan. And in the 1995/1996 City Directory the address is not even listed.


Demolition: Permit applied for in 2009.

Photo: Digital colored above taken in 2010 by SW. A black and white negative and photo on a contact sheet taken in July 2009 as part of the Demolition and Construction Project 2001-2010 is on file at the North Vancouver Archives.
Reference 1: See Blog Posts July 12, 13, 15, and 16 for more information about Bewicke Avenue.

Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burrard_Dry_Dock

Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Big Changes on Bewicke-2

The neighbors to the north of 1404 Bewicke Avenue are at 1416 Bewicke Avenue. Again there are no records of any house being at this site until the mid 1950's. In 1955 and 1960 William M. and Lillian D. Speers were the owners. William M. Speers was of Speers Bros., C. A. and W. M. Speers a bulldozing company at 864 West 16th Street with a warehouse at 212 Fell Avenue, both in North Vancouver. In 1960 William Melville Speers reported that he was secretary of Speers Brothers Bulldozing and C. A. Speers was president. In 1961 Mrs. Lillian D. Speers was listed as a the widow of W. M. She was employed as a clerk at B. C. Hydro.

New owners of 1416 Bewicke Avenue are listed by 1980, Irene R. and Peter Lingbanan, a welder at Vancouver Shipyards. By 1991 the owners were  James M. and Karen Hughes. James Hughes was a student and Karen Hughes worked with Brenda Knight at Karen-Karita Boutique at 1755 Marine Dr. in West Vancouver. In the 1995/1996 City Directory James and Karen reported that they had lived at 1416 Bewicke Avenue for over 9 years. So they must have bought the house by 1986.

The two houses in the photo above, 1404 and 1416, are typical of the six houses built on this block. They feature: stone retaining walls, cement front steps with wrought iron railings, white stucco and cedar clapboard exteriors, and a large front window on either side of a single front door. Some have had modifications over the years.

Demolition: Permit applied for in 2009.
Photo: Digital colored above taken in 2010 by SW. A black and white negative and photo on a contact sheet taken in July 2009 as part of the Demolition and Construction Project 2001-2010 is on file at the North Vancouver Archives.
Reference1: See Blog Posts July 12, 14, 15, and 16, 2010 for more information on Bewicke Avenue.

HAPPY

70TH

BIRTHDAY

ALAN

Monday, July 12, 2010

Big Changes On Bewicke-1

Many of the streets in the City of North Vancouver were named in 1891 to honor major landowners. These included: Heywood Street, Lonsdale Avenue, Fell Avenue, and Mahon Avenue. Others were chosen to recognize men of business. These included: Hendry Avenue, Moody Avenue, and Bewicke Avenue. Percival Henry Bewicke was involved with the Moodyville Lands and Sawmill Company and was a major landowner.(See Reference 1.)

Bewicke Avenue, runs north and south in the western part of the City of North Vancouver. Its southern border is on Burrard Inlet at Bewicke Park on Native Lands. It then runs north to cross the commercial intersection of Marine Drive and West Keith Road and finally ends two blocks north of Larson Road. At this point it is just west of Wagg Creek and East of Mosquito Creek. The 1400 block of Bewicke Avenue is one block north of the intersection of Marine Dr. and West Keith Road.

This 1400 block of Bewicke Avenue was bush until the mid 1950's. There is no record at the North Vancouver Archives of any home at that address in the Building Permit Book or in the 1950 or 1952 City Directories. Then in 1955 six address appear: 1404, 1416, 1428, 1436, 1444, and 1456. Now all of these homes are slated for demolition and new multifamily units will be built.

The home at 1404 Bewicke Avenue is on the north east corner of Bewicke Avenue and West 14th Street. In 1955 the owners were Alfred H. and Jean E. Richardson. According to the City Directories and phone book they continued to live there until at least the Year 2000. That is 45 years for the Richardson's at 1404 Bewicke Avenue. In 1955 Alfred Richardson was employed as a machinist at M W and D. In 1960 he was a mechanic at Cummins Diesel. And in 1971 and 1980 he was employed as a mechanic at C P Air. In the 1991 and 1995/1996 City Directories Alfred Richardson reported that he was retired.

Demolition: Permit applied for in 2009.
Photo: Digital colored photo above was taken in 2010 by SW. A black and white negative and photo on a contact sheet taken in July 2009 as part of the Demolition and Construction Project 2001-2010 is on file at the North Vancouver Archives.
Reference 1: "The Ambitious City/A History of the City of North Vancouver" by Warren Sommer.
Reference 2: See Blog Posts July 13, 14, 15, and 16 for more information about the homes in the 1400 block of Bewicke Avenue.