Page 73 of Gerald Wellburn’s Historic Vancouver album is one of the highlights of the collection.
Page 73 with Sam Greer’s letter sold for $17,000 in our 22nd April 2017 auction.
An 1884 letter from Sam Greer on Joseph Mannion‘s Granville Hotel letterhead, witnessed by Matthew Baillie Begbie. Joesph Mannion was an informal Mayor of early Vancouver. The Granville Hotel was opened by him in opposition to Gassy Jack’s hotel. A period of ‘commercial expansion’ in Burrard Inlet notes Wellburn.
Sam Greer fought a war with the C.P.R. and was evicted from Greer’s Beach. Vancouver’s postmaster, and former Gastown lawman, Jonathan Miller chose the new name Kitsilano for Greer’s Beach.
Mr J M Spinks
July 2nd 1884
My Dear
Sir I got your letter
To day with Cheque I am going
to put on Some Chinamen to Clear on the Beach to
Keep every person off
I was offered $500 for my
Bargain but Indian Agent McTiernan
helped me out. This is the best
property on the Bay I got $75
from Henderson to help
me on the Bill of Sale. It is through
Mr. McTiernan I got the land I had no
Dealing with the Indians it is Signed and
Sealed In your Name Drawed up
by Howse & Rickman by a Lawyer
20 Men has asked me for a Intrest
this is good property Come over at once
Yours truly S. Greer
