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Building History

Milner operated in Seattle, Victoria, BC, and Vancouver, BC, during the 1908-1927 period. He submitted drawings in the competition for Vancouver, BC's Horse Show Building in Hastings Park, one of eleven to enter. He won the competition, but not without controversy. As noted in the Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada, 1800-1950, " In late 1908 Milner was one of eleven architects from the United States and Canada who submitted a design in the competition for the Horse Show Building at Hastings Park, West Georgia Street at Gilford Street, VANCOUVER, B.C., 1908-09; burned 1960 (Vancouver Daily World, 7 Dec. 1908, 14; 18 Dec. 1908; 19 Dec. 1908, 17, descrip.; C.R., xxiii, 6 Jan. 1909, 21; dwgs. City of Vancouver Archives). The runner-up in the competition was Henry B. Watson, who publicly criticized the design by Milner as being inferior to his own elaborate Edwardian proposal (see the Watson critique of the winning design in the Vancouver Daily World, 14 Dec. 1908, 11, illus. & descrip.)." (See "Milner, Warren H.," Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada, 1800-1950, accessed 03/27/2015.) As noted in this rich Canadian resource, Milner also worked in Victoria, BC, with architect John R. Wilson. While the Horse Show Building was used for large public gatherings, it was also employed as an armory for the Irish Fusiliers of Canada(Vancouver Regiment), a Royal Canadian Army infantry regiment.

Building Notes

The City of Vancouver Archives maintains 21 original drawings and photographs pertaining to the Horse Show Building. According to the West End Vancouver History.com web site, the Horse Show Building "...had a capacity of about 3500 people, plus extra standing room. For concerts, with chairs on the main floor, the capacity was between 6000 and 7000 people. The exterior was to be painted lemon chrome, with white trim and a black roof. Pennants were to fly from the twenty-two flag poles, and the royal emblem was to preside over the band balcony." (See "Horse Show Building," West End Vancouver History.com accessed 03/27/2015.) The armory/assembly hall occupied a long site, 264 feet by 131 feet, taking up four parcels of land on the southwestern corner of Georgia Street and Gilford Street.

Demolition

A rapidly spreading blaze destroyed the wood-frame Horse Show Building within about an hour in the morning after Saint Patrick's Day, 03/18/1960. All military memorabilia stored in the building by the Irish Fusiliers was incinerated.

PCAD id: 19526