More like 'Alfred Bingham's writings - Track 6'
Helen 'The Swinging Girl' Neon Sign
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark591
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Description
- Commercial building.
- Associated Dates
- 1956
- Formal Recognition
- Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register
- Other Names
- Helen's Childrens Wear Sign
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Other Names
- Helen's Childrens Wear Sign
- Geographic Access
- Hastings Street
- Associated Dates
- 1956
- Formal Recognition
- Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register
- Enactment Type
- Bylaw No. 12771
- Enactment Date
- 19/04/2010
- Description
- Commercial building.
- Heritage Value
- While the building here is of some importance as the former North Burnaby municipal office, its primary importance is its delightful neon sign that has become a North Burnaby landmark. Helen Arnold opened Helen’s Childrens Wear shop in the building next door to the old Municipal offices in 1948. In 1955, when North Burnaby moved out, she moved into the vacated building. As part of the renovations, Helen enlisted the assistance of her good friend Jimmy Wallace, owner of Vancouver’s Wallace Neon Company, to create a new sign for her expanded business. One of the company’s designers, Reeve Lehman, created the swinging neon girl that was installed in 1956. Designed in two parts, one section of the sign is cloud shaped and reads ‘Helen’s’ while the other section is a moving representation of a little girl on a swing. The sign is nine feet six inches high and nine feet wide, and the lower section is animated with an internal motor and gears. It immediately became a landmark on Hastings Street, and recently the sign’s design fame has spread far and wide as one of the best surviving examples of kinetic neon art in North America.
- Locality
- Vancouver Heights
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Willingdon Heights Area
- Community
- Burnaby
- Names
- Helen's Childrens Wear
- Street Address
- 4142 Hastings Street
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
Images
![Nichols Chemical Co. Ltd. - Drawing No. 50785, [1959] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Technical_Drawings/1998_0023_0014_002.jpg?width=280)
Nichols Chemical Co. Ltd. - Drawing No. 50785
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription11392
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1959]
- Collection/Fonds
- Nichols Chemical Company fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 technical drawing : blueline print ; 87.5 x 111 cm
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of technical drawing identified as No. 50785 with handwritten annotation reading "W.O.M. - 8560". Property Exclusively of General Chemical Company.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Nichols Chemical Company fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 technical drawing : blueline print ; 87.5 x 111 cm
- Material Details
- Scale 1:.25
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of technical drawing identified as No. 50785 with handwritten annotation reading "W.O.M. - 8560". Property Exclusively of General Chemical Company.
- Subjects
- Buildings - Industrial - Factories
- Responsibility
- General Chemical Company
- Geographic Access
- Barnet Road
- Street Address
- 8655 Barnet Road
- Accession Code
- BV998.23.14
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1959]
- Media Type
- Technical Drawing
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Barnet (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Burnaby Mountain Area
- Scan Resolution
- 300
- Scan Date
- 2022-05-10
- Notes
- Title based on contents of item
- Stamp on verso reads: "R.L. Johnston"
- "Scale 1/4" = 1'
- Date stampled "Oct. 19 1959"
- Annotation next to date stamp reads: "Dwg Rec'd 10-24-59"
- Stamp at bottom reads: "Property of / General Chemical Division / Allied Chemical & Dye Corporation"
Images
![Nichols Chemical Co. Ltd. - Drawing No. 50785, [1959] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Technical_Drawings/1998_0023_0014_002.jpg)