These club premises were developed in 1929, designed by Sharp and Thompson with vaguely Spanish Colonial Revival styling. Originally founded in 1921, the Quadra Club briefly occupied the former premises of the Vancouver Club, who had built a new bigger building next door to their earlier premises, in 1914 (also designed by Sharp & Thompson). Its founders were members of the old Western Club, and the University Club, (which later merged with the Quadra) and it was named ‘after the Spanish admiral who handed turned over Spain’s possessions in the west to Great Britain’, (hence the design ‘on Spanish lines’).
In 1927 the club started efforts to raise $125,000 to build the club, with a reinforced concrete frame, with brick and artificial stone facing on West Hastings. There was a main floor with a large hall and readinmg room, and a dining room on the second floor to seat up to 125, with ‘a splendid view of Burrard Inlet’. The top two floors had 10 bedrooms and three or four bathrooms. There were two basement floors with kitchens and other back-of-house facilities as well as a bar, lounge and billiards room in the basement, and parking for 26 cars in the sub-basement.
Not long afterwards, before the new building colud proceed, the club had to find a new chief steward as H Nakamura was sentenced to six moths in the penitentiary for dealing in cocaine and morphine, sold to an RCMP detective in a sting operation.
When Henry Bell-Irving died in 1931, part of his estate included the $60,000 mortgage on the club. We hadn’t realised the rooms were residences, but when dental surgeon Dr Larry Gilroy died in 1934 the death notice said he resided at the club, and in 1939 Norman Wallace, a refinery accountant was living here (found liable for injuries Lucy Howell, a teacher, suffered as a result of a collision with his car).
Generally the news report were of luncheons, reunions, dances, balls, banquets, festivities and celebrations. Sometimes there were slide shows, recitals or working luncheons among trade representatives (like the B.C. Mushroom Growers’ Association). But occasionally the Club featured for more unusual activities.
In 1936 the Sun reported that “two gunmen are sought today as a result of their raid on the Quadra Club, 1021 West Hastings Street at 1:45 a.m. on Sunday. R. B. Jensen, night steward at the club, was parsing through the bar In the basement when a man sprang out of the shadows, shoved a gun against his ribs and announced: “Stick ’em up. This is a hold-up.” A second gunman then put in an appearance and the steward was forced into a card room at the rear of the basement. While one of the pair stood guard over him, the other forced open the cash drawer in the bar and scooped out $153. Both men fled through a window off the card room.”
A year later there was another newsworthy incident. “A hold-up failed when a bandit walked into a basement room of the Quadra Club, 1021 West Hastings where J. R. Lamb, E. Kelly, D. McKeddie and F. S. Williams were sitting at 3:05 a.m. Friday. “This is a hold-up,” announced the bandit as he entered the room. “This is no fooling. Put what you got on the table.” No gun was in evidence and McKeddie rose from the table and started toward the door of the room. The bandit turned and fled through the billiard room and escaped through an open window.”
For an organisation with several accountants as members, and the Conservative Association holding regular meetings, it was odd that in 1939 the Club was auctioned off for $10,000 in lieu of unpaid taxes going back to 1936. The club had a year to reimburse the successful bidder, with interest, but as the premises were worth $100,000 no doubt the debt took on greater importance. However, the club don’t appear to have solved their problems completely; instead they moved to Seymour Street, and this building was sold and became the Moose Hall, home to The Loyal Order of Moose Vancouver Lodge No. 888. Our image dates from 1985, after it had changed again, as a subsequent post will explore.
Image source City of Vancouver Archives CVA 790-1761
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Changing Vancouver 