BY PAUL REID

Once again, we dive into Renfrew-Collingwood’s rich history to find these then-and-now photos of Earles Road Substation.

Built in 1912 and designed by architect Robert Lyon, the Earles Road Substation provided electrical service to the Central Park Line of the BC Electric Railway. This line linked downtown Vancouver to New Westminster and continued in operation until 1953.

For 35 or so years, the substation was boarded up until 1989 when the building was turned into a condominium by architect Linda Baker. Seeing potential in the old station, Linda and her team would turn the substation into 12 housing units of between 1,200 and 1,500 square feet. A three-story wood frame structure was built within the substation’s concrete shell to avoid any contaminates and the exterior received new balconies, windows and entrances.

The result transformed the then ugly, abandoned building into the beautiful neighbourhood landmark that it still is today.

If you have some old photographs, stories or memorobilia that you would like to share with our community, please contact the Renfrew-Collingwood Heritage Committee at 604-435-0323 or email renfrewcollingwoodheritage@gmail.com.

Working with advice from the Vancouver Archives and the Museum of Vancouver, the committee enables the residents and former residents of Renfrew-Collingwood to submit
items for inclusion in a Renfrew-Collingwood historical collection.

Copyright (c) 2016 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News