Truemors
Vancouver B.C., Canada, by Frank Dawson :
I am waiting for a bus today at on Cambie at Broadway. I am heading to downtown Vancouver. It raining but that’s normal this time of year. There are a number of students at the bus stop along with other adults who have umbrellas. The students don’t have umbrellas and on of the is trying to keep dry by using a non umbrella. I think to myself “To be or not to be“ after all its raining you should have a umbrella. To be is definitely the answer.
The bus finally comes I have taken a couple of picture of the scene at the bus stop and I am starting to put a story together. I am getting of the bus downtown at a unplanned stop I look up at the sign it says THE UMBRELLA SHOP. What a surprise . I have the rest of my story now !
I go inside and am quite amazed at the different kinds of umbrellas they have . Big ones small ones , ones for the sunshine. I talk to the person behind the counter and identify myself. I get permission to take a few pictures inside .
I ask a few questions and find out the Umbrella Shop is the only manufacturer of umbrellas in Canada making umbrellas in Vancouver since 1935. The business was started by Ida and Isy Flader.
History of the umbrella
The basic umbrella was invented over four thousand years ago. We have seen evidence of umbrellas in the ancient art and artifacts of Egypt, Assyria, Greece, and China.
These ancient umbrellas or parasols, were first designed to provide shade from the sun. The Chinese were the first to waterproof their umbrellas for use as rain protection. They waxed and lacquered their paper parasols in order to use them for rain.
The word "umbrella" comes from the Latin root word "umbra", meaning shade or shadow. Starting in the 16th century umbrella became popular to the western world, especially in the rainy weather of northern Europe. At first it was considered only an accessory suitable for women. Then the Persian traveler and writer, Jonas Hanway (1712-86), carried and used an umbrella publicly in England for thirty years, and he popularized umbrella use among men. English gentleman often referred to their umbrellas as a "Hanway."
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