Old Strathmore reborn in new app

Tyler Lowey
Times Reporter

 

A new app has headed to Strathmore, bringing the streets alive from 1905.
Andrew Farris is one of the co-founders of a new app called On This Spot. It is an app that connects the present day with what Strathmore looked like when it was settled by using historical photos.
“Through travelling, I noticed there was a huge, yawning gap for what was available with the history apps and what you were able to interact with,” said Farris. “I plan to photograph roughly 200 photos within two metres of where the original photo was taken. Then, the photos would get superimposed on a map in the app, chained together to tell a coherent narrative about the town.”
The photos feature Strathmore post-move from its original settlement near Eagle Lake.
Farris and his partner Chris Reid have already successfully launched On This Point for Vancouver, mapping out downtown, Stanley Park and several bridges, showing what they used to look like. He incorporates the historical records and archived photos of the town to paint a picture in the app.
Strathmore is one of the first small towns to be featured in this groundbreaking app, much in part to Councilor Denise Peterson, who stumbled upon it last summer.
“I was in Vancouver when I saw an ad for this free app,” said Peterson. “I was absolutely amazed at the photo detail in the photos from back then. The fading photos and the commentary to go along with it were very helpful and provided great insight. I couldn’t help but think of our community being a part of this app.”
Through a couple phones calls and meeting with the Western District Historical Society, Peterson was able to convince Farris to bring his talents to Strathmore.
“We want to create a living museum to help conjure up the past,” said Farris, who studied history at the University of Victoria and has a background in web development.
Working with the town and the Western District Historical Society, Farris aims to have the Strathmore version up and running by January.
“We like to challenge ourselves. We are serious about the coverage here,” said Farris.
The app will contain roughly 150 photos, with four walking tours and several descriptions. A considerable amount in relation to the 600 photos used for Vancouver.
“The walking tours identify themes that stick out from history,” said Farris. “They are interesting and fascinating findings along the way.”
The walking tours will include pin locations around town where significant photos took place. There will be a new and old photo for comparison and a wider theme description for each location.
“One of the things that really stuck out for us was Strathmore’s military history,” said Farris. “Back in 1914 during the First World War, Strathmore had a very high proportion of men enlist in duty. It is stories like that we are trying bring to life in this app.”
The app is linked with Google Maps, so users can walk around and see historic photos in your area. Users can take photos and upload them to their social media feed, to share where they have been.
Farris didn’t arrive during Strathmore’s most picturesque season, so, in order to avoid app users thinking that Strathmore is the North Pole, once the snow melts, users are encouraged to take photos of the town and submit them to Farris for judgment.
By incorporating this program into an app, and the ever-growing use of smart phones, Farris believes that possibilities are endless for people to read and learn. One day, Farris dreams that On The Spot will be used in Canadian towns and cities, coast to coast.