Northern Junk Co. - what would they have sold?

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

10/12/2005 03:21:18 PM · #1

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Found this place while traveling in Victoria, BC this past summer. This was shot using my Elan 7 film camera and Zenitar 16mm FE lens.

Comments would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Message edited by author 2005-10-13 15:00:19.

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

10/12/2005 03:22:17 PM · #2

Junk bonds?

Apple iPhone 5

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

10/12/2005 03:28:09 PM · #3

Celtic folk bands?

kirbic

Canon EOS R5

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8 L IS

10/12/2005 03:36:10 PM · #4

Originally posted by jhonan:

Celtic folk bands?

1993??
Man that place has not changed at all in 12 years, LOL.

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

10/12/2005 03:38:43 PM · #5

I found that. I also found this:

"...the Northern Junk Company buildings on Wharf Street are owned by a very wealthy lady (last name Kramer) who inherited the properties from her husband in the late 1970s. The Northern Junk Company buildings (not the real building names - but most people refer to them as such) were used for retail as recently as the 1970s and possibly 80s. Mrs. Kramer does not live "up-island" - she has a home in Oak Bay, nor is she crazy or loony. She just won't sell them for less than what she thinks they're worth - at this point, she wants to lease them - but the catch is, the person leasing has to pay for renovations - which will be HUGE, considering how long they've been neglected."

It would seem that the Mountain Equipment Co-op wants to restore them and install a store there, but I think there are issues because of them being considered Heritage Buildings.

jimmythefish

Canon EOS-10D

10/12/2005 03:40:42 PM · #6

Victoria's my hometown, and I'm not positive what the Northern Junk Company was, but I'm pretty sure it was a retail junk shop back in the 70s. The buildings there have been sitting empty since the 70s. The building is owned by a widow who until recently didn't want to sell them unless she could get a 'reasonable' price. The catch was that anyone leasing the property would have to both do significant renovations to the buildings to bring them to code, and also, as they are heritage buildings (built in the 1860s) deal with extensive city council demands as well. A fairly well-known local band named themselves Northern Junk after the building. Secret tunnels are rumoured to exist under the building, linking Chinatown to the waterfront, but that's under debate.

The buildings are slated to be renovated, with as much of the facade as possible retained, by Mountain Equipment CO-OP. I haven't been to Victoria since May, though that's what I hear from my parents. It's pretty big news there right now.

jimmythefish

Canon EOS-10D

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

10/12/2005 03:41:36 PM · #7

Ha, beat me to it...

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

10/12/2005 03:44:03 PM · #8

Well, they probably probably what we now call salvage or recyclables or second-hand goods.

However, it reminds me of a story told by reporter Linda Ellerbee in her autobiography, about a long-time Far-East correspondent who was finally being repatriated stateside. In a classic case of "it's all in how you phrase it," he wired(!) headquarters that he expected the network to pay "to transport family and junk" back to the US, which is how NBC came to foot the bill for bringing home his rather large Chinese wooden yacht.

10/12/2005 03:52:07 PM · #9

Originally posted by jimmythefish:

Secret tunnels are rumoured to exist under the building, linking Chinatown to the waterfront, but that's under debate.

That's cool! I hope that's true.

Anybody have anything to say about the photo?

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6

10/12/2005 06:31:41 PM · #10

bump for the after supper crowd.

KaDi

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

10/12/2005 06:52:42 PM · #11

Originally posted by mariomel:

bump for the after supper crowd.

I think the musical group is your answer:
Historic Places - Victoria
Also, browse these search results:
About that building...