"Burnaby Historical Society" found 13 records

Murdock and Lillian McMurray interview November 17, 1975 - Track 2

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory244

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1906-1975

Length: 0:09:00

Summary: This portion of the recording pertains to Murdock McMurray's memories of riding the tram as a young man and briefly, of working for Ed Brown. Murdock mentions Reeve Byrne and the development of first water system in Burnaby. He also discusses Gilley Brother's Logging Company practices near his fath…

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the recording pertains to Murdock McMurray's memories of riding the tram as a young man and briefly, of working for Ed Brown. Murdock mentions Reeve Byrne and the development of first water system in Burnaby. He also discusses Gilley Brother's Logging Company practices near his father's ranch of six acres, which grew mostly strawberries to sell in Vancouver.

Date Range: 1906-1975

Photo Info: Emerson Doran (left) and Murdoch McMurray, 1917. Item no. 229-004

Length: 0:09:00

Subjects: Agriculture - Fruit and Berries

Geographic Access: Imperial Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Kingsway-Beresford Area

Interviewer: McGeachie, Doreen “Pixie”

Interview Date: November 17, 1975

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with Murdock McMurray and his wife Lillian (Wray) McMurray conducted by Pixie McGeachie on November 17, 1975. Major themes discussed are: Burnaby's development, the Wray Shoe store and Murdock McMurray's cordwood delivery business.

Biographical Notes: Murdock McMurray was born in Vancouver in 1892 to Wilhelmina May and Robert William McMurray. Other children in the family included older siblings John “Jack” and Margaret Lillian, younger siblings Minnie May born May 4, 1895 and Hampton born June 8, 1902. Murdock’s father Robert worked for the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) but retired shortly after moving his family to Burnaby in 1906. He bought six acres of land of what had been previously the Gilley Ranch, the base of operations for Gilley Bros. Ltd. at 2519 Windsor Street (later renumbered and renamed to the 6400 block Imperial Street). Murdock McMurray quit school early to apprentice as a printer. By sixteen he had left the trade and gone into partnership with his older brother Jack. With a team of horses, harness and a wagon, the brothers helped to macadamize roads, haul building supplies for new homes, deliver cord wood for heating, clear land and excavate basements. When Jack McMurray set off to serve overseas during World War I as a driver in the engineer corps, Murdock bought his team of horses and continued working, mainly in the Deer Lake district. In 1916 Murdoch McMurray partnered with Emerson Doran, nephew of the owner of Doran's Mill to buy Edmonds Coal and Wood fuel yard. As everything was geared towards the war effort, Murdock and Emerson soon ran out of work and had to sell the business. Murdock sold off his horses and equipment and went to work at the ship yard on Pitt River. By 1919 Jack McMurray had returned home from overseas and was working as a fireman at the Shull Lumber and Shingle Mill on the Fraser River. In 1921, he and Murdock teamed up with Emerson Doran and repurchased the Edmonds Coal and Wood fuel yard which they ran together until 1947. Murdock McMurray married Lillian Wray on September 17, 1925. Lillian was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Wray, who came to settle in the Jubilee area of Burnaby in 1919. The family lived on Dow Road and Edward Wray operated Jubilee Shoe Store and Post Office. He was known throughout the district as "Wray - The Shoe Man." Mrs. Wray died in 1957 at the age of eight-six and Edward Wray died January 14, 1967 at age of ninety-three. Murdock and Lillian lived at Inverness Street (now Arcola) and raised three children together, Bob, Jack and Bessie. Murdock McMurray died in New Westminster on April 28, 1985 at the age of ninety-two. Lillian Ethel (Wray) McMurray died in Burnaby on February 28, 1986 at the age of eighty-seven.

Total Tracks: 7

Total Length: 0:58:55

Interviewee Name: McMurray, Lillian Wray; McMurray, Murdoch

Interviewer Bio: Doreen "Pixie" (Johnson) McGeachie was a resident of Burnaby for over sixty years. Pixie married John Aloysius "Jack" McGeachie and raised their children Kathi (Dunlop) and David McGeachie in the house the couple built themselves in 1947. Pixie served as the editor for the Burnaby Examiner newspaper and wrote a column entitled "Burnaby History" for The News. In 1974 she authored her first book titled "Bygones of Burnaby" which was one of the first to develop anecdotal stories about pioneer life in Burnaby. She authored "Burnaby - A Proud Century" in 1992 and in 2002 she wrote a biography of the city's namesake in the book "Land of Promise: Robert Burnaby's letters from Colonial B.C." She also contributed many hours of volunteering; helping to establish Burnaby's first museum Heritage Village in 1971, serving as President of the Burnaby Historical Society from 1991-1993. She served a six year term on Burnaby's Heritage Commission leading the charge to preserve many historic sites throughout the city, and during her twenty years as the Community Archives volunteer archivist for the historical society, she succeeded in gathering thousands of rare and valuable historic photographs and documents which now forms the core of the photograph collection on the Heritage Burnaby website (as these items were donated by the Society to the City Archives in 2007). The City of Burnaby awarded Pixie McGeachie the Kushiro Cup as Citizen of the year in 2002. In 2006 she received a Heritage BC project award for leading the Friends of Interurban 1223 project, and in 2008 Heritage BC recognised her again by presenting her with the Ruby Nobb Award. John Aloysius "Jack" McGeachie died October 12, 1981 at the age of sixty-seven. Doreen "Pixie" (Johnson) McGeachie died August 14, 2010 at the age of eighty-nine. On 24 September, 2011, the City of Burnaby dedicated the reading at the City Archives in honour of Pixie and formally named it the Pixie McGeachie Reading Room in recognition of her years of service to the community.

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.

Images

Emerson Doran (left) and Murdoch McMurray, 1917. Item no. 229-004 thumbnail

Audio Tracks

Track two of recording of interview with Lillian and Murdock McMurray

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS137-010/MSS137-010_Track_2.mp3

Agricultural Exhibit

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34526

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1925

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.4 x 25.3 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Burnaby's Agricultural Exhibit at New Westminster. Vegetables, fruit, plants, flowers, and trees are on display inside a building. There is electric lighting. A sign on the right is shaped like an arch and reads, "Welcome to Burnaby." A mural showing Burnaby Lake is behind the dis…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1925

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Photographs subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.4 x 25.3 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 038-001

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of Burnaby's Agricultural Exhibit at New Westminster. Vegetables, fruit, plants, flowers, and trees are on display inside a building. There is electric lighting. A sign on the right is shaped like an arch and reads, "Welcome to Burnaby." A mural showing Burnaby Lake is behind the display.

Subjects: Agriculture - Crops; Exhibitions - Agricultural; Agriculture - Fruit and Berries; Plants - Flowers

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Agricultural Exhibit

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34527

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1920]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.4 x 25.3 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Burnaby's Agricultural Exhibit at New Westminster. Vegetables, fruit, preserves, flowers, and plants are on display inside a building. There is electric lighting. A sign above the display reads, "Burnaby." A sign above a container on the lower left reads, "Ginseng / Grown in Lozel…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1920]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Photographs subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.4 x 25.3 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 039-001

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of Burnaby's Agricultural Exhibit at New Westminster. Vegetables, fruit, preserves, flowers, and plants are on display inside a building. There is electric lighting. A sign above the display reads, "Burnaby." A sign above a container on the lower left reads, "Ginseng / Grown in Lozells District by Mr. Romer."

Subjects: Agriculture - Crops; Exhibitions - Agricultural; Agriculture - Fruit and Berries; Plants - Flowers

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Agricultural Exhibit

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34528

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1921

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.4 x 25.4 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Burnaby's Agricultural Exhibit at New Westminster. Tables with fruit, vegetables and flowers are displayed. Greenery and photographs (mainly of people) are on the walls, including a portrait of former Reeve Nicolai C. Schou (second portrait from right). A sign in the corner reads, …

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1921

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Photographs subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.4 x 25.4 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 040-001

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of Burnaby's Agricultural Exhibit at New Westminster. Tables with fruit, vegetables and flowers are displayed. Greenery and photographs (mainly of people) are on the walls, including a portrait of former Reeve Nicolai C. Schou (second portrait from right). A sign in the corner reads, "Burnaby's Exhibit," and a mural hangs on the walls above the exhibit. A woman and man are standing behind a table at the back left.

Subjects: Agriculture - Crops; Exhibitions - Agricultural; Agriculture - Fruit and Berries; Plants - Flowers; Documentary Artifacts - Photographs

Media Type: Photograph

Images

Burnaby Agricultural Exhibition

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34529

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1920]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Burnaby's Agricultural Exhibit at New Westminster. Fruits, vegetables and flowers are displayed on tables. Greenery and photographs (mainly of people) are on the walls, including a portrait of former Reeve Nicolai C. Schou (second portrait from right). A sign in the corner reads, "…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1920]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Photographs subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 040-002

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of Burnaby's Agricultural Exhibit at New Westminster. Fruits, vegetables and flowers are displayed on tables. Greenery and photographs (mainly of people) are on the walls, including a portrait of former Reeve Nicolai C. Schou (second portrait from right). A sign in the corner reads, "Burnaby's Exhibit," and a mural hangs on the walls above the exhibit. Two men are standing behind a table in the centre.

Subjects: Agriculture - Crops; Exhibitions - Agricultural; Agriculture - Fruit and Berries; Plants - Flowers; Documentary Artifacts - Photographs

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Burnaby Agricultural Exhibition, [1920] thumbnail

Cram family fruit stand

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35703

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1920 (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Cram roadside fruit stand on Kingsway with Mary Cram in front. The Cram family sold fruit, produce, honey, and cottage cheese from their farm at Kingsway and what is now 6515 Denbigh Avenue. The stand was located directly in front of the Cram-Tidball family home.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1920 (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Pioneer Tales subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 204-561

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1988-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Cram roadside fruit stand on Kingsway with Mary Cram in front. The Cram family sold fruit, produce, honey, and cottage cheese from their farm at Kingsway and what is now 6515 Denbigh Avenue. The stand was located directly in front of the Cram-Tidball family home.

Subjects: Agriculture - Fruit and Berries; Agriculture - Farms

Names: Vogt, Mary Cram

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Denbigh Avenue

Street Address: 6515 Denbigh Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Windsor Area

Images

Cram family fruit stand, 1920 (date of original), copied 1986 thumbnail

Frank and Bill Price eating raspberries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36989

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [192-] (date of original), copied 1992

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.8 x 8.2 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of father and son, Frank and William "Bill" Price, eating raspberries while picking them at their family property on Royal Oak Avenue at Oakland Street, in the area north of Kingsway.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [192-] (date of original), copied 1992

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Burnaby Centennial Anthology subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.8 x 8.2 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 315-447

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1994-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of father and son, Frank and William "Bill" Price, eating raspberries while picking them at their family property on Royal Oak Avenue at Oakland Street, in the area north of Kingsway.

Subjects: Occupations - Farmers; Agriculture - Fruit and Berries; Geographic Features - Gardens

Names: Price, Frank; Price, William Francis "Bill"

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Royal Oak Avenue; Oakland Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Marlborough Area

Images

Frank and Bill Price eating raspberries, [192-] (date of original), copied 1992 thumbnail

Interview with John Mallory June 24, 1975 - Track 6

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory123

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1929-1939

Length: 0:07:16

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to John Mallory's thoughts on the economic struggle of the worker verses the overly political struggle of the time. John also explains how block committees functioned.

1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to John Mallory's thoughts on the economic struggle of the worker verses the overly political struggle of the time. John also explains how block committees functioned.

Date Range: 1929-1939

Length: 0:07:16

Subjects: Organizations; Political Theories

Interviewer: Bradbury, Dr. Bettina

Interview Date: June 24, 1975

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with John Mallory by Simon Fraser University (SFU) masters student Bettina Bradbury June 24, 1975. Major themes discussed are: the Depression and the Unemployment movement. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: John Audrey Mallory was born in Carman, Manitoba on January 10, 1903 to John and Bertha Nina (Rodgers) Mallory. The Mallory family moved to Deep Creek, British Columbia for a time before arriving in New Westminster. John Audrey Mallory married Janet Ellis Morice on November 15, 1924. John Mallory helped to build a mill at Powell River where he played baseball before he moved to Burnaby in the late 1920s. He built a house at 11th Avenue and 13th Street. He later moved to 1851 4th Street, working a few months out of the year as a construction foreman. He also worked renovating various mills. Towards the end of the thirties, he had established his own heating and plumbing business. John Mallory was very active in the labour movement, beginning with the Independent Labour Party which was renamed the Independent Labour Party Socialists, then the Socialist Party of Canada. He joined the Workers' Unity League (WUL) and their affiliates the Unemployed Workers Association at this time as well. Together with fellow organizers, John fixed up the Edmonds Hall and held fundraising parties for the Unemployment movement. Seen by others as an agitator, John organized countless strike movements, protests and demonstrations in his capacity as an organizer for the Workers' Unity League. John left the Socialist Party of Canada due to what he saw as their intolerance with other parts of the working class movement to join the Communist Party of Canada. He was later expelled from the Communist Party for "Trotskist leanings." Bertha Nina (Rodgers) Mallory died May 20, 1964 at the age of eighty-two. Her husband John Mallory died April 1, 1966 at the age of ninety-four. John Audrey Mallory died July 7, 1981 at the age of seventy-eight.

Total Tracks: 13

Total Length: 1:56:06

Interviewee Name: Mallory, John

Interviewer Bio: Bettina Bradbury teaches history and women's studies at York University. She is the author of Wife to Widow. Lives, Laws and Politics in Nineteenth-century Montreal. (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, June 2011), 520p; Working Families. Age, Gender and Daily Survival in Industrializing Montreal. (Toronto: Canadian Social History Series, McClelland and Stewart, 1993); (Republished Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1996) (3rd edition, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007). These interviews were undertaken after she completed her MA at Simon Fraser University in 1975 with the support of an LIP grant.

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.

Audio Tracks

Track six of interview with John Mallory

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-11/100-13-11_Track_6.mp3

Interview with William Pritchard and Norman Penner by Dr. Lawrence Fast July / August 1973 - Track 2

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory75

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1919-1933

Length: 0:03:53

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to the impact of the "red scare" at the time of the Winnipeg Strike of 1919. Norman Penner, William Pritchard and Dr. Lawrence Fast discuss this phenomenon.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the interview pertains to the impact of the "red scare" at the time of the Winnipeg Strike of 1919. Norman Penner, William Pritchard and Dr. Lawrence Fast discuss this phenomenon.

Date Range: 1919-1933

Photo Info: William A. Pritchard, Burnaby Reeve 1930-1932 and council member 1928-1930. Item no. 459-016

Length: 0:03:53

Subjects: Political Theories

Interviewer: Fast, Dr. Lawrence

Interview Date: July / August 1973

Scope and Content: Recording is of an interview with William Pritchard and writer Norman Penner by Dr. Lawrence Fast. Norman Penner is the editor of the book "Winnipeg 1919" about the strike from the striker's perspective. William Pritchard wrote the speech that was included in the book. Major theme discussed is: The Winnipeg General Strike. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: William "Bill" Arthur Pritchard was born on April 3, 1888 in Salford, England, the son of a miner and factory worker. In May 1911, Bill moved to British Columbia and within a week of arriving became an active member of the Socialist Party of Canada. From 1914 to 1917, he served as editor of the Western Clarion – the SPC newspaper. He became such a well-known socialist figure that when he travelled to Winnipeg to participate in the General Strike in 1919, he was one of only seven people arrested and imprisoned for his participation in the event despite the fact that he was in no way directly involved in its planning nor development. In 1922, Bill and his family settled in North Burnaby in the Capitol Hill District. Almost immediately after his arrival, Bill began to advocate for change and a planned development scheme for the municipality. Pritchard ran successfully for the position of Reeve and held the post until the end of 1932. One of Reeve Pritchard’s highest priorities while in office was to attempt to provide work for as many unemployed as possible all the while trying to elicit more support from the provincial and federal governments. Bill was a strong advocate of the belief that relief work should be focused on projects that would see a comprehensive development scheme for Burnaby – including planned sewers, roads and water supply. Despite Bill's best efforts, however, Burnaby was forced into receivership and at the end of 1932, a Provincial Commission stepped in to take over the governance of the city. Reeve Pritchard, having done all he could as a champion of the unemployed, stepped down as Reeve but left behind an undeniable legacy of courage and determination. He was rewarded for his enormous contributions to the city in 1975 when he was chosen to be made a Freeman of Burnaby. William Pritchard died on October 23, 1981. Norman Penner was born in Winnipeg in 1921 to Rose and Jacob Penner and brother to Roland, Ruth and Walter. Their father Jacob was a leading member of the Communist Party and popular Winnipeg Alderman. Norman graduated from high school in 1937 but did not begin university until much later, preferring to begin his adult life from 1938 to 1941 as a full-time officer of the Winnipeg branch of the Communist Party of Canada. From 1941 to 1946 he served with the Canadian Army which included two-and-a-half years of overseas combat duty. On his return to Canada in 1947 he again returned to his duties as a full-time officer with the communist Labour-Progressive Party (formed in 1941 after the Canadian Communist Party was officially banned). After the abortive Hungarian revolution in 1956, Norman Penner resigned from the party and instead worked as a self-employed manufacturer’s sales representative until 1971. In 1964 he decided to go back to school part time and graduated with a BA from the University of Toronto in 1969. He took an MA in 1971 and a PhD in 1975 from the same institution. Penner was hired as a lecturer at York University's Glendon College in 1972 and soon became a professor, continuing to teach until 1995. He wrote extensively on the Canadian left. Penner edited and introduced "Winnipeg 1919: The Strikers' Own History of the Winnipeg General Strike" in 1973, published "The Canadian Left: A Critical Analysis" in 1977 and contributed three chapters to as well as editing "Keeping Canada Together Means Changing Our Thinking" in 1978. He published "Canadian Communism: The Stalin Years and Beyond" in 1988 and "From Protest to Power: Social Democracy in Canada 1900 to Present" in 1992 as well as numerous articles, reviews and book chapters. Norman Penner was married to Norma Lipes for sixty-seven years. The couple had four children: Steve (Mary Ellen Marus); Joyce (Herman Parsons); Gary (Marlene Kadar); and Bob (Shaena Lambert). Norman Penner died April 16, 2009 at the age of eighty-eight.

Total Tracks: 4

Total Length: 0:30:47

Interviewee Name: Pritchard, William A.; Penner, Norman; Fast, Dr. Lawrence

Interview Location: Library of Vancouver City College, Langara Campus

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.

Images

William A. Pritchard, Burnaby Reeve 1930-1932 and council member 1928-1930. Item no. 459-016 thumbnail

Audio Tracks

Track two of interview with William Pritchard and Norman Penner

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-02-1/100-13-02-1_Track_2.mp3

Open meeting with William Pritchard and Norman Penner July / August 1973 - Track 5

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory82

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1688-1919

Length: 0:08:51

Summary: This portion of the meeting pertains to William Pritchard's thoughts on Socialism and Revolution in their various incantations. He also discusses the political leanings of the arrested Winnipeg Strikers.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the meeting pertains to William Pritchard's thoughts on Socialism and Revolution in their various incantations. He also discusses the political leanings of the arrested Winnipeg Strikers.

Date Range: 1688-1919

Photo Info: William A. Pritchard, Burnaby Reeve 1930-1932 and council member 1928-1930. Item no. 459-016

Length: 0:08:51

Names: Woodsworth, James Shaver

Subjects: Political Theories

Interview Date: July / August 1973

Scope and Content: Recording is of a open meeting with William Pritchard and writer Norman Penner. Norman Penner is the editor of the book "Winnipeg 1919" about the strike from the striker's perspective. William Pritchard wrote the speech that was included in the book. Audience members were invited to ask Pritchard questions. Major theme discussed is: The Winnipeg General Strike. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: William "Bill" Arthur Pritchard was born on April 3, 1888 in Salford, England, the son of a miner and factory worker. In May 1911, Bill moved to British Columbia and within a week of arriving became an active member of the Socialist Party of Canada. From 1914 to 1917, he served as editor of the Western Clarion – the SPC newspaper. He became such a well-known socialist figure that when he travelled to Winnipeg to participate in the General Strike in 1919, he was one of only seven people arrested and imprisoned for his participation in the event despite the fact that he was in no way directly involved in its planning nor development. In 1922, Bill and his family settled in North Burnaby in the Capitol Hill District. Almost immediately after his arrival, Bill began to advocate for change and a planned development scheme for the municipality. Pritchard ran successfully for the position of Reeve and held the post until the end of 1932. One of Reeve Pritchard’s highest priorities while in office was to attempt to provide work for as many unemployed as possible all the while trying to elicit more support from the provincial and federal governments. Bill was a strong advocate of the belief that relief work should be focused on projects that would see a comprehensive development scheme for Burnaby – including planned sewers, roads and water supply. Despite Bill's best efforts, however, Burnaby was forced into receivership and at the end of 1932, a Provincial Commission stepped in to take over the governance of the city. Reeve Pritchard, having done all he could as a champion of the unemployed, stepped down as Reeve but left behind an undeniable legacy of courage and determination. He was rewarded for his enormous contributions to the city in 1975 when he was chosen to be made a Freeman of Burnaby. William Pritchard died on October 23, 1981. Norman Penner was born in Winnipeg in 1921 to Rose and Jacob Penner and brother to Roland, Ruth and Walter. Their father Jacob was a leading member of the Communist Party and popular Winnipeg Alderman. Norman graduated from high school in 1937 but did not begin university until much later, preferring to begin his adult life from 1938 to 1941 as a full-time officer of the Winnipeg branch of the Communist Party of Canada. From 1941 to 1946 he served with the Canadian Army which included two-and-a-half years of overseas combat duty. On his return to Canada in 1947 he again returned to his duties as a full-time officer with the communist Labour-Progressive Party (formed in 1941 after the Canadian Communist Party was officially banned). After the abortive Hungarian revolution in 1956, Norman Penner resigned from the party and instead worked as a self-employed manufacturer’s sales representative until 1971. In 1964 he decided to go back to school part time and graduated with a BA from the University of Toronto in 1969. He took an MA in 1971 and a PhD in 1975 from the same institution. Penner was hired as a lecturer at York University's Glendon College in 1972 and soon became a professor, continuing to teach until 1995. He wrote extensively on the Canadian left. Penner edited and introduced "Winnipeg 1919: The Strikers' Own History of the Winnipeg General Strike" in 1973, published "The Canadian Left: A Critical Analysis" in 1977 and contributed three chapters to as well as editing "Keeping Canada Together Means Changing Our Thinking" in 1978. He published "Canadian Communism: The Stalin Years and Beyond" in 1988 and "From Protest to Power: Social Democracy in Canada 1900 to Present" in 1992 as well as numerous articles, reviews and book chapters. Norman Penner was married to Norma Lipes for sixty-seven years. The couple had four children: Steve (Mary Ellen Marus); Joyce (Herman Parsons); Gary (Marlene Kadar); and Bob (Shaena Lambert). Norman Penner died April 16, 2009 at the age of eighty-eight.

Total Tracks: 7

Total Length: 1:03:00

Interviewee Name: Pritchard, William A.; Penner, Norman

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.

Images

Audio Tracks

Track five of open meeting with William Pritchard and Norman Penner

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-02-2/100-13-02-2_Track_5.mp3

Open meeting with William Pritchard and Norman Penner July / August 1973 - Track 6

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory83

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1919-1973

Length: 0:07:14

Summary: This portion of the meeting pertains to Pritchard's thoughts on whether socialism is stronger now or then. The two men discuss the One Big Union (OBU) movement.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the meeting pertains to Pritchard's thoughts on whether socialism is stronger now or then. The two men discuss the One Big Union (OBU) movement.

Date Range: 1919-1973

Photo Info: William A. Pritchard, Burnaby Reeve 1930-1932 and council member 1928-1930. Item no. 459-016

Length: 0:07:14

Subjects: Political Theories; Organizations - Unions

Interview Date: July / August 1973

Scope and Content: Recording is of a open meeting with William Pritchard and writer Norman Penner. Norman Penner is the editor of the book "Winnipeg 1919" about the strike from the striker's perspective. William Pritchard wrote the speech that was included in the book. Audience members were invited to ask Pritchard questions. Major theme discussed is: The Winnipeg General Strike. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: William "Bill" Arthur Pritchard was born on April 3, 1888 in Salford, England, the son of a miner and factory worker. In May 1911, Bill moved to British Columbia and within a week of arriving became an active member of the Socialist Party of Canada. From 1914 to 1917, he served as editor of the Western Clarion – the SPC newspaper. He became such a well-known socialist figure that when he travelled to Winnipeg to participate in the General Strike in 1919, he was one of only seven people arrested and imprisoned for his participation in the event despite the fact that he was in no way directly involved in its planning nor development. In 1922, Bill and his family settled in North Burnaby in the Capitol Hill District. Almost immediately after his arrival, Bill began to advocate for change and a planned development scheme for the municipality. Pritchard ran successfully for the position of Reeve and held the post until the end of 1932. One of Reeve Pritchard’s highest priorities while in office was to attempt to provide work for as many unemployed as possible all the while trying to elicit more support from the provincial and federal governments. Bill was a strong advocate of the belief that relief work should be focused on projects that would see a comprehensive development scheme for Burnaby – including planned sewers, roads and water supply. Despite Bill's best efforts, however, Burnaby was forced into receivership and at the end of 1932, a Provincial Commission stepped in to take over the governance of the city. Reeve Pritchard, having done all he could as a champion of the unemployed, stepped down as Reeve but left behind an undeniable legacy of courage and determination. He was rewarded for his enormous contributions to the city in 1975 when he was chosen to be made a Freeman of Burnaby. William Pritchard died on October 23, 1981. Norman Penner was born in Winnipeg in 1921 to Rose and Jacob Penner and brother to Roland, Ruth and Walter. Their father Jacob was a leading member of the Communist Party and popular Winnipeg Alderman. Norman graduated from high school in 1937 but did not begin university until much later, preferring to begin his adult life from 1938 to 1941 as a full-time officer of the Winnipeg branch of the Communist Party of Canada. From 1941 to 1946 he served with the Canadian Army which included two-and-a-half years of overseas combat duty. On his return to Canada in 1947 he again returned to his duties as a full-time officer with the communist Labour-Progressive Party (formed in 1941 after the Canadian Communist Party was officially banned). After the abortive Hungarian revolution in 1956, Norman Penner resigned from the party and instead worked as a self-employed manufacturer’s sales representative until 1971. In 1964 he decided to go back to school part time and graduated with a BA from the University of Toronto in 1969. He took an MA in 1971 and a PhD in 1975 from the same institution. Penner was hired as a lecturer at York University's Glendon College in 1972 and soon became a professor, continuing to teach until 1995. He wrote extensively on the Canadian left. Penner edited and introduced "Winnipeg 1919: The Strikers' Own History of the Winnipeg General Strike" in 1973, published "The Canadian Left: A Critical Analysis" in 1977 and contributed three chapters to as well as editing "Keeping Canada Together Means Changing Our Thinking" in 1978. He published "Canadian Communism: The Stalin Years and Beyond" in 1988 and "From Protest to Power: Social Democracy in Canada 1900 to Present" in 1992 as well as numerous articles, reviews and book chapters. Norman Penner was married to Norma Lipes for sixty-seven years. The couple had four children: Steve (Mary Ellen Marus); Joyce (Herman Parsons); Gary (Marlene Kadar); and Bob (Shaena Lambert). Norman Penner died April 16, 2009 at the age of eighty-eight.

Total Tracks: 7

Total Length: 1:03:00

Interviewee Name: Pritchard, William A.; Penner, Norman

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Media Type: Sound Recording

Web Notes: Interview was digitized in 2010 allowing it to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council and the BC History Digitization Program of the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, University of British Columbia. It was recognized by the Heritage Society of BC with an award in 2012.

Images

Audio Tracks

Track six of open meeting with William Pritchard and Norman Penner

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-02-2/100-13-02-2_Track_6.mp3

Price Strawberry farm

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35946

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1920 (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.6 x 12.7 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Price Strawberry farm at 5220 Royal Oak Avenue. Oakalla Prison Farm can be seen in the background.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1920 (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Pioneer Tales subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.6 x 12.7 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 204-806

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1988-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Price Strawberry farm at 5220 Royal Oak Avenue. Oakalla Prison Farm can be seen in the background.

Subjects: Agriculture - Farms; Agriculture - Fruit and Berries

Names: Oakalla Prison Farm

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Oakmount Crescent

Street Address: 5220 Oakmount Crescent

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Oakalla Area

Images

Price Strawberry farm, 1920 (date of original), copied 1986 thumbnail

Royal Anne cherry tree

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35559

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1920 (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of a Royal Anne cherry tree in the backyard of the Cram orchard at 6515 Denbigh Avenue, on the northwest corner of Kingsway and Denbigh. The garage can be seen on the left. William Cram (father) would pick the cherries, and Mary Cram and Viola Cram (sisters) would load them in a wagon …

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1920 (date of original), copied 1986

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Pioneer Tales subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 204-417

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1988-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of a Royal Anne cherry tree in the backyard of the Cram orchard at 6515 Denbigh Avenue, on the northwest corner of Kingsway and Denbigh. The garage can be seen on the left. William Cram (father) would pick the cherries, and Mary Cram and Viola Cram (sisters) would load them in a wagon and sell them, a chore which they did not like.

Subjects: Agriculture - Fruit and Berries; Plants - Trees

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Denbigh Avenue

Street Address: 6515 Denbigh Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Windsor Area

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Murdock and Lillian McMurray interview November 17, 1975 - Track 2

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Agricultural Exhibit

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Agricultural Exhibit

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Agricultural Exhibit

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Burnaby Agricultural Exhibition

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Cram family fruit stand

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Frank and Bill Price eating raspberries

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Interview with John Mallory June 24, 1975 - Track 6

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Interview with William Pritchard and Norman Penner by Dr. Lawrence Fast July / August 1973 - Track 2

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Open meeting with William Pritchard and Norman Penner July / August 1973 - Track 5

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Open meeting with William Pritchard and Norman Penner July / August 1973 - Track 6

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Price Strawberry farm

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Royal Anne cherry tree

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