The Editor,
Re: "Historic tram getting facelift," News, July 29.
Allow this historian a word or two on the future tram building.
First off, the proposed building is not of a heritage nature pertaining to Steveston. The original Canadian Pacific Railway Steveston Station was, and the city could and should recreate that.
To house the tram, all they would have to do is lengthen the freight shed part of the building and the tram would be accommodated.
Note the picture and the lengthened freight shed in the background. Aside from the lengthened freight shed, this is the exact configuration of the Steveston Station. (looking at it from the park side.)
Myself, having copies of the original CPR architect's drawings, pointed that out to (the city) and offered to let them copy the documents that I had, to then recreate the station.
My offer was only partially received and now I see why. They wanted to design their own building, not build a heritage one.
The city wants a building with more windows, and that would be easy to do with this station.
All you would have to do is add two extra freight door sized windows in the lengthened freight shed, and the public would have a good view of the tram.
There would be space to show off artifacts and office space for Richmond Museum and tram volunteers.
Why can't we recreate the heritage that was in Steveston and show visitors what the building looked like?
Gordon Kibble
Richmond
