Peace Arch
By Curt Cunningham

The first Peace Arch was built during the summer of 1915 when the Vancouver B.C. Automobile Club erected an arch made of logs. On the side they attached a copper plaque that read; "Erected by the Vancouver Automobile Club in commemoration of the Peace Centenary 5 July 1915." This commemorated the 100 years of peace between Great Britain and the United States.

When the Treaty of Ghent was signed in 1814, it marked the end of the War of 1812, between the United States and Great Britain. It defined the boundary separating each country’s territorial interests along the 49th parallel. In 1817 the Rush Bagot Agreement made provisions to leave the boundary without forts or solders. As a result of these treaties, both countries continue to live in peace and the border remains without fortification, extending across the entire continent of North America.

Later Albert Todd, President of the Pacific Highway Association along with Samuel Hill, President of the Good Roads Association decided to erect a larger arch made from concrete about a mile west of the Pacific Highway border crossing.

In the summer of 1920, work began on the arch that would be 67 feet tall. The concrete arch was framed with 50 tons of steel. It took 800 cubic yards of concrete to complete the arch. Work was completed by the fall of 1920 and the dedication ceremony was officiated by Samuel Hill on September 6, 1921.

The arch was built straddling the border and had iron gates inside it's portal that were to be permanently held open to signify the peace between the two great nations. On the west side above the gates is written; "1814 Open One Hundred Years 1914", and on the east side above the gates; "May These Gates Never Be Closed". Above the portal on the American side it reads; "Children Of A Common Mother" and over the portal on the Canadian side reads; "Brethren Dwelling Together in Unity".

When the arch was dedicated, the Peace Arch park was not yet built and the arch was surrounded by the people living there. Over time Sam Hill purchased the land around the arch to create the park which was dedicated in 1931.

In the 1940s singer Paul Robeson was one of the most prominent African-American men in the world. However, with the advent of McCarthyism, the US government branded him as one of the most dangerous men in the world'. His concerts were cancelled, recordings were removed from the shelves, and his passport was revoked. Robeson's career and personal life suffered greatly from these actions.

On May 18th 1952, Robeson was denied permission to leave the U.S. and sing at a Mine Mill Conference in Vancouver, BC. So instead of crossing the border, Robeson stopped at the Peace Arch and stood on the back of a flat bed truck and sang songs of defiance and solidarity to 40,000 people who had gathered there.

On May 18th 2002 that historic event was commemorated with another concert on the border in Peace Arch park. Its purpose was to bring together people of conscience from Canada and the United States, to celebrate the life and achievements of Paul Robeson and to build solidarity among those who are working for change.