Search Results | Heritage Burnaby

Bearn family

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37072

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1923 (date of original), copied 1992

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 6.9 x 12.3 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of William "Bill" Bearn taking his children for wagon ride on Marine Drive. There were eight Bearn children: Ruth, Gladys, Doris, Helen, Jean, Audrey, William "Bud," and Shirley.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1923 (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 ; 6.9 x 12.3 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 315-535

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1994-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of William "Bill" Bearn taking his children for wagon ride on Marine Drive. There were eight Bearn children: Ruth, Gladys, Doris, Helen, Jean, Audrey, William "Bud," and Shirley.

Subjects: Transportation - Wagons; Transportation - Horses

Names: Christianson, Audrey Frances May Bearn; Haddock, Doris Edna Bearn; Law, Gladys Evangeline Bearn; Solloway, Helen Beryl Bearn; McGregor, Jean Phyllis; Taylor, Shirley Bearn; Bearn, William "Bill"; Bearn, William "Bud"; Whittacker, Ruth Bearn

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Marine Drive

Historic Neighbourhood: Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Big Bend Area

Images

Bearn family, 1923 (date of original), copied 1992 thumbnail

Bob and his team

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34424

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1925

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 7.8 x 11.3 cm on page 17.3 x 26.3 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of two men, one seated on a wagon behind a team of two horses and the other standing to the left. The photograph is captioned: "Bob and his team" although no other identification is given. This photograph appears to have been taken in Hope, BC by Arthur Peers, who travelled through the…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1925

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Peers family subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 7.8 x 11.3 cm on page 17.3 x 26.3 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 020-131

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of two men, one seated on a wagon behind a team of two horses and the other standing to the left. The photograph is captioned: "Bob and his team" although no other identification is given. This photograph appears to have been taken in Hope, BC by Arthur Peers, who travelled through the Fraser River Valley and worked on the construction of the Trans-Provincial Highway during the later 1920s.

Subjects: Construction - Road Construction; Occupations - Labourers; Transportation - Wagons; Transportation - Horses

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Peers, Arthur Francis "Mike"

Notes: Title based on caption accompanying photograph

Images

Construction of Saint Theresa's Roman Catholic Church

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription903

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: March 19, 1929

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 6.9 x 11.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Douglas Road (later renamed in part Canada Way) with Laurel Street in the background on the left and the site of Saint Theresa's Roman Catholic Church as a lot with blackened stumps. The church was located at the southeast corner of Canada Way and Laurel Street. The photograph is ta…

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 6.9 x 11.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Douglas Road (later renamed in part Canada Way) with Laurel Street in the background on the left and the site of Saint Theresa's Roman Catholic Church as a lot with blackened stumps. The church was located at the southeast corner of Canada Way and Laurel Street. The photograph is taken from the same angle as HV975.105.1. There is a freight wagon loaded with lumber, pulled by two horses on Douglas Road. An annotation on the back of the photo reads, "March 19th 1929 / The first load of lumber taken for the construction of St St [sic] Therese [sic] Church on the Grandview Highway / Burnaby BC."

Subjects: Construction; Transportation - Horses; Transportation - Wagons

Names: St. Theresa's Roman Catholic Church

Geographic Access: Douglas Road; Canada Way; Laurel Street

Accession Code: HV975.105.2

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: March 19, 1929

Media Type: Photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Douglas-Gilpin Area

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2023-06-13

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; Information on the scope and content of the photograph is taken from an acquisition record from the time of the accession

Images

Construction of Saint Theresa's Roman Catholic Church, March 19, 1929 thumbnail

Digging In

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34387

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1926

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 7 cm on page 17.5 x 26.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a steam shovel digging into a hill. A horse team pulling a dump wagon stand next to it. The location is unknown. This photograph appears to have been taken by Arthur Peers, who travelled through the Fraser River Valley and worked on the construction of the Trans-Provincial Highway dur…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1926

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Peers family subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 7 cm on page 17.5 x 26.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 020-094

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of a steam shovel digging into a hill. A horse team pulling a dump wagon stand next to it. The location is unknown. This photograph appears to have been taken by Arthur Peers, who travelled through the Fraser River Valley and worked on the construction of the Trans-Provincial Highway during the later 1920s.

Subjects: Land Clearing; Occupations - Labourers; Transportation - Horses; Transportation - Wagons; Construction Tools and Equipment

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Peers, Arthur Francis "Mike"

Notes: Title based on caption accompanying photograph

Images

Dr. John Playfair and his wife Mary

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription46117

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: January 1969

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 15 x 18.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of provincial Social Credit candidate for Burnaby-Willingdon in the 1968 by-election, Dr. John Playfair riding in a one-horse sleigh with his wife Mary. This was part of his campaign to urge voters to "get to the polls" and vote.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: January 1969

Collection/Fonds: Columbian Newspaper collection

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 15 x 18.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 480-1005

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: 2003-02

Scope and Content: Photograph of provincial Social Credit candidate for Burnaby-Willingdon in the 1968 by-election, Dr. John Playfair riding in a one-horse sleigh with his wife Mary. This was part of his campaign to urge voters to "get to the polls" and vote.

Subjects: Transportation - Horses; Transportation - Sleds

Names: Playfair, Dr. John; Playfair, Mary; Social Credit Party of Canada

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Dibble, Bob

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Dr. John Playfair and his wife Mary, January 1969 thumbnail

Elsie Nicholson

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38241

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1921]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 12.2 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Elsie Nicholson standing next to the horse named "Holly" at the Nicholson farm in the area of Boundary Road and the C.N.R. rail line. The barns and farm outbuildings can be seen in the background.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1921]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Margaret McCallum subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 12.2 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 375-002

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1986-42

Scope and Content: Photograph of Elsie Nicholson standing next to the horse named "Holly" at the Nicholson farm in the area of Boundary Road and the C.N.R. rail line. The barns and farm outbuildings can be seen in the background.

Subjects: Agriculture - Farms; Occupations - Farmers; Agriculture - Crops; Transportation - Horses; Animals - Dogs; Transportation - Wagons

Names: Nicholson, Elsie

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Boundary Road

Street Address: 2550 Boundary Road

Historic Neighbourhood: Broadview (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: West Central Valley Area

Images

E.W. Nicholson at his farm

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38240

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1921]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 12.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of E.W. Nicholson, haying on his farm at Boundary Road and the Canadian National Railway tracks with his horse "Holly."

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1921]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Margaret McCallum subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 12.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 375-001

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1986-42

Scope and Content: Photograph of E.W. Nicholson, haying on his farm at Boundary Road and the Canadian National Railway tracks with his horse "Holly."

Subjects: Agriculture - Farms; Occupations - Farmers; Agriculture - Crops; Transportation - Horses; Animals - Dogs; Transportation - Wagons

Names: Nicholson, E.W.

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Boundary Road

Street Address: 2550 Boundary Road

Historic Neighbourhood: Broadview (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: West Central Valley Area

Images

E.W. Nicholson at his farm, [1921] thumbnail

Horses and crews working

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34343

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1927]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 7 x 12 cm on page 17.4 x 24.2 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of numerous horse teams and workmen working along a road at an unknown location. This may be in the Deroche of Nicomen Island area of British Columbia. A sign on the road reads: Danger / Go Slow.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1927]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Peers family subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 7 x 12 cm on page 17.4 x 24.2 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 020-050

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of numerous horse teams and workmen working along a road at an unknown location. This may be in the Deroche of Nicomen Island area of British Columbia. A sign on the road reads: Danger / Go Slow.

Subjects: Construction - Road Construction; Occupations - Labourers; Transportation - Horses; Transportation - Wagons

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Horses and crews working, [1927] thumbnail

Loading a dump wagon

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription34383

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1926

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.1 x 10.2 cm on page 17.5 x 26.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of a man using a steam shovel to load a dump wagon which is being pulled by a team of horses. Another man can be seen sitting on the wagon. Both are unidentified. This photograph appears to have been taken by Arthur Peers, who travelled through the Fraser River Valley and worked on the c…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1926

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Peers family subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.1 x 10.2 cm on page 17.5 x 26.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 020-090

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS2007-04

Scope and Content: Photograph of a man using a steam shovel to load a dump wagon which is being pulled by a team of horses. Another man can be seen sitting on the wagon. Both are unidentified. This photograph appears to have been taken by Arthur Peers, who travelled through the Fraser River Valley and worked on the construction of the Trans-Provincial Highway during the later 1920s.

Subjects: Occupations - Labourers; Transportation - Horses; Transportation - Wagons; Construction Tools and Equipment

Media Type: Photograph

Photographer: Peers, Arthur Francis "Mike"

Notes: Title based on caption accompanying photograph

Images

Wagon ride to Central Park

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription38253

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1926

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 9 x 15 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of of nineteen children in a wagon going to Central Park May Day activities. The exact location of the photograph is unknown.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: 1926

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Margaret McCallum subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 9 x 15 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 375-015

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1986-42

Scope and Content: Photograph of of nineteen children in a wagon going to Central Park May Day activities. The exact location of the photograph is unknown.

Subjects: Transportation - Wagons; Transportation - Horses

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Wagon ride to Central Park, 1926 thumbnail

Freda Phillips

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription35656

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [192-] (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 Freda Phillips (youngest sister of Gladys Phillips Comberbach) and an unidentified friend working on the farm leased by the Phillips family at 515 Byrne Road (later renumbered 5670 Byrne Road).

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [192-] (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.: 204-514

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1988-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of Freda Phillips (youngest sister of Gladys Phillips Comberbach) and an unidentified friend working on the farm leased by the Phillips family at 515 Byrne Road (later renumbered 5670 Byrne Road).

Subjects: Transportation - Horses; Agricultural Tools and Equipment

Names: Phillips, Freda

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Byrne Road

Street Address: 5670 Byrne Road

Historic Neighbourhood: Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Big Bend Area

Images

Freda Phillips, [192-] (date of original), copied 1986 thumbnail

Horse-drawn plough

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36336

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1961 or 1962]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 18 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of a boy clearing land with a horse-drawn plough at 5288 Hardwick Street, near Still Creek. The two draft horses are standing facing the tree line. The boy is standing behind them, holding on to the plough, and turning to smile at the camera.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1961 or 1962]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Tony S. Fabian subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 18 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 251-001

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1991-09

Scope and Content: Photograph of a boy clearing land with a horse-drawn plough at 5288 Hardwick Street, near Still Creek. The two draft horses are standing facing the tree line. The boy is standing behind them, holding on to the plough, and turning to smile at the camera.

Subjects: Agricultural Tools and Equipment - Plows; Transportation - Horses

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Douglas-Gilpin Area

Images

Horse-drawn plough, [1961 or 1962] thumbnail

Horse-drawn plough at work

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36337

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1961 or 1962]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 18 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of a boy clearing land with a horse-drawn plough at 5288 Hardwick Street, near Still Creek. The two draft horses are moving towards the tree line. The boy is moving along behind them, working the plough.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1961 or 1962]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Tony S. Fabian subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 18 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 251-002

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1991-09

Scope and Content: Photograph of a boy clearing land with a horse-drawn plough at 5288 Hardwick Street, near Still Creek. The two draft horses are moving towards the tree line. The boy is moving along behind them, working the plough.

Subjects: Transportation - Horses; Agricultural Tools and Equipment - Plows

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Douglas-Gilpin Area

Images

Horse-drawn plough at work

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription36338

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1961 or 1962]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 18 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of a boy and a man clearing land with a horse-drawn plough at 5288 Hardwick Street, near Still Creek. The two draft horses are walking towards the camera with their ears up. The boy is standing behind them, holding on to the plough, and the man is walking along beside him. Clothes are ha…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1961 or 1962]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Tony S. Fabian subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.5 x 18 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 251-003

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1991-09

Scope and Content: Photograph of a boy and a man clearing land with a horse-drawn plough at 5288 Hardwick Street, near Still Creek. The two draft horses are walking towards the camera with their ears up. The boy is standing behind them, holding on to the plough, and the man is walking along beside him. Clothes are hanging to dry on a line that is partially visible on the left.

Subjects: Agricultural Tools and Equipment - Plows; Transportation - Horses

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Douglas-Gilpin Area

Images

Mr. Manuel with a plough

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37512

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [192-] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.1 x 5.3 cm print on contact sheet 20.3 x 25.3 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Mr. Manuel working a plough pulled by two horses at Cassie Avenue (later the location of Metrotown).

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [192-] (date of original), copied 1991

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Burnaby Image Bank subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.1 x 5.3 cm print on contact sheet 20.3 x 25.3 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 370-100

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1999-03

Scope and Content: Photograph of Mr. Manuel working a plough pulled by two horses at Cassie Avenue (later the location of Metrotown).

Subjects: Geographic Features - Fields; Transportation - Horses; Agricultural Tools and Equipment - Plows; Occupations - Farmers

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph; 1 b&w copy negative accompanying

Geographic Access: Cassie Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Maywood Area

Images

Mr. Manuel with a plough, [192-] (date of original), copied 1991 thumbnail

Murdock and Lillian McMurray interview November 17, 1975 - Track 5

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory247

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1904-1975

Length: 0:09:26

Summary: This portion of the recording pertains to Murdock McMurray's memories of his first team of horses. Lillian (Wray) McMurray and her husband discuss their son Bob McMurray's volunteerism and professional activities.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the recording pertains to Murdock McMurray's memories of his first team of horses. Lillian (Wray) McMurray and her husband discuss their son Bob McMurray's volunteerism and professional activities.

Date Range: 1904-1975

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

Length: 0:09:26

Names: McMurray, Bob

Subjects: Transportation - Sleighs; Animals - Horses

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.