Beacon Beckons – New Exhibit at Sidney Museum and Archives Explores Beacon Avenue History progress at the time. The Sidney Museum by Brad R. Morrison, Sidney Archives Manager and Archives has just Consequently, the launched its 40th organizers of the town anniversary exhibit, developed plans to “Beacon Beckons.” promote the Victoria This new exhib& Sidney Railway it focuses on the Company, which was development of Beaincorporated on April con Avenue between 23rd, 1892. This was 1891 and 1920. all that was needed to Through an extensive get the ball rolling. assembly of photoThe Daily Colonist graphs, advertisereported the next ments, physical disDecember that “improvements carried out had been on plays and artifacts, “Beacon Beckons” opens the doors a wholesale scale. There is a good general store doing to an understanding of the pioneer life and business a fine business, a post office and an excellent hotel, development during Sidney’s first 30 years. besides a boat-building establishment and several Registered as a townsite in August 1891, fifty acres other infant, but flourishing industries. The principal of land owned by the Brethour brothers was subdivstreet, a mile long, is as straight as an arrow, and would ided into 21 blocks of 17 or 12 lots each. These blocks be a credit to any city. Of course Sydney [sic] has not stretched from the waterfront to Fifth Street from east yet got either electric lights or tramcars, but they, like to west, and from Mount Baker Avenue to Oakville the railway, are bound to come.” Six months later, the Avenue from north to south. Beacon Avenue quickly newspaper reported Sidney had “a commodious 300became the business centre of the town with 40 lots by 150-foot wharf with a large warehouse, butcher’s, along its length. blacksmith’s and carpenter’s shops, general store, and last, but not least, a new sawmill.” The new development produced mixed feelings. “Sidney promises to become of considerable importWithin 20 years, nearly every lot along Beacon ance,” reported the Daily Colonist. However, other Avenue was occupied by a building, including a small speculations suggested that while Sidney was a “fine Chinatown along the south side between Fourth and place for an outing … no one will ever live there.” Fifth Streets. The “Beacon Beckons” exhibit highlights the changes that Beacon Avenue, as the centre of SidThe town’s growth depended on the successful buildney, underwent. Why did some industries thrive, while ing of a railway traversing from Victoria to Sidney. When others failed? What might have happened to Sidney if the railway scheme collapsed after a financial disagreecircumstances during these formative years had been ment with the City of Victoria in October 1891, it seemed slightly different? These questions and more are raised unlikely that Sidney would be the success that the Brein displays at the Sidney Museum exhibit during the thour brothers had hoped. Few lots had been sold, and month of August between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. the construction of the “Sidney House” (aka Hotel SidPhoto courtesy Sidney Archives - P.975.36.1. ney) and three bachelor cottages were the only noticeable
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august 2011