Search Results | Heritage Burnaby

Alfred Bingham's writings - Track 3

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory253

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1903-1940

Length: 0:09:46

Summary: This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's descriptions of road construction in Burnaby, including the names of the settlers and logging companies involved in their construction. Alfred discusses the changes that took place during World War I, along with municipal Relief work that he t…

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's descriptions of road construction in Burnaby, including the names of the settlers and logging companies involved in their construction. Alfred discusses the changes that took place during World War I, along with municipal Relief work that he took part in at Burnaby Mountain. Alfred also discusses early schools and mentions his wife, Ada Bingham.

Date Range: 1903-1940

Photo Info: Alfred Bingham, April 20, 1947. Item no. 010-066

Length: 0:09:46

Subjects: Construction - Road Construction; Land Clearing

Planning Study Area: Burnaby Mountain Area

Scope and Content: Recording is of Alfred Bingham's writings, as read by Alfred Bingham. Major themes discussed are: Pioneers, early days in Burnaby and the Co-op Movement. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes: Alfred "Alf" Bingham was born in England in 1892 and moved to Canada in 1912. His first job in Canada was laying track for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTPR) from Edmonton to McBride in 1912. His second was in Vancouver at the Rat Portage Mill on False Creek, working on the Resaw machine. He quit after one week due to poor working conditions. After taking part in the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike as a delegate of the Retail and Mailorder Union (A.F.L.) on the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council, Alfred moved to Burnaby where he and fellow Burnaby residents Aungus McLean and Percy Little worked ten hour days to build a Shingle Mill on the edge of Burnaby Lake for Simpson & Giberson. George Green, carpenter and millwright (author of “The History of Burnaby”) also helped in the construction of the mill. Alfred built his own home from lumber cut from the mill in the Lochdale area on Sherlock Street between Curtis Street and Kitchener Street. On April 10, 1920 Alfred married Mary Jane “Ada” Reynolds. Alfred and Ada often took in foster children during their marriage. Due to her nursing experience, Ada was often called upon to deliver babies in the Burnaby area. Alfred and Ada Bingham were instrumental members of the Army of the Common Good, collecting vegetables and grains from growers in the area and even producing over 125 tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed children and youth suffering from the lack of resources during the Depression years. The army was in operation for ten years and during that time the members organised the Credit Union movement of British Columbia and drew up the Credit Union act thorough the Vancouver Co-operative Council. They also started Co-Op stores and the Co-Op Wholesale Society. Alfred was also Secretary of the Burnaby Housing committee and in 1946 he became the Secretary of the North Burnaby Labour Progressive Party (LPP). Mary Jane “Ada” (Reynolds) Bingham died on August 9, 1969. Her husband Alfred died on April 29, 1979.

Total Tracks: 12

Total Length: 1:38:06

Interviewee Name: Bingham, Alfred "Alf"

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Oral history subseries

Transcript Available: MSS142-001 contains transcripts for each of the short stories

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

Alfred Bingham, April 20, 1947. Item no. 010-066 thumbnail

Audio Tracks

Track three of recording of Alfred Bingham's writings

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/100-13-20-2/100-13-20-2_Track_3.mp3

CP 581 at Cranbrook

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3289

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [after 1903]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Canadian Pacific Railway steam locomotive no. 581 (built in 1903) at Cranbrook.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Canadian Pacific Railway steam locomotive no. 581 (built in 1903) at Cranbrook.

Subjects: Transportation - Locomotives; Transportation - Rail

Names: Canadian Pacific Railway Company

Accession Code: BV985.6114.61

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [after 1903]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2024-03-19

Notes: Title based on note written on verso of photograph; Handwritten note in black ball-point pen on verso of photograph reads: "CP 581/ at Cranbrook"; Stamp on verso of photograph reads: "419"

Images

CP 581 at Cranbrook, [after 1903] thumbnail

CP 585 at Victoria, B.C.

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3295

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [after 1903]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Canadian Pacific Railway steam locomotive no. 585 (built in 1903) at Victoria, British Columbia.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Canadian Pacific Railway steam locomotive no. 585 (built in 1903) at Victoria, British Columbia.

Subjects: Transportation - Locomotives; Transportation - Rail

Names: Canadian Pacific Railway Company

Geographic Access: Victoria

Accession Code: BV985.6114.67

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [after 1903]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2024-03-19

Notes: Title based on note written on verso of photograph; Handwritten note in black ball-point pen on verso of photograph reads: "# 535 C.P. at Victoria B.C"; Stamp on verso of photograph reads: "269A"

Images

CP 585 at Victoria, B.C., [after 1903] thumbnail

Murdock and Lillian McMurray interview November 17, 1975 - Track 3

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory245

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1904-1975

Length: 0:09:45

Summary: This portion of the recording pertains to Murdock McMurray's opinion of shopping at a store in the present day. He mentions George Green's book "History of Burnaby", the Royal Oak Hotel and the development of Alta Vista. As well, Murdock mentions his father Robert William McMurray. Lillian (Wray) M…

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the recording pertains to Murdock McMurray's opinion of shopping at a store in the present day. He mentions George Green's book "History of Burnaby", the Royal Oak Hotel and the development of Alta Vista. As well, Murdock mentions his father Robert William McMurray. Lillian (Wray) McMurray is heard helping her husband with these descriptions.

Date Range: 1904-1975

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

Length: 0:09:45

Names: McMurray, R.W.; Royal Oak Hotel

Subjects: Buildings - Commercial

Historic Neighbourhood: Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)

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 three 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_3.mp3

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.

Images

Audio Tracks

Track five 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_5.mp3

Men and boys standing on schooner

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription4783

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: 1905-1940

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 6.3 x 8.10 cm ; copy print

Scope and Content: Schooner with sails up and tender on calm water close to rocky shore. 7 boys men wearing bathing costumes are standing on deck.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 6.3 x 8.10 cm ; copy print

Material Details: "Columbian files 1971" written on verso in black pen.

Scope and Content: Schooner with sails up and tender on calm water close to rocky shore. 7 boys men wearing bathing costumes are standing on deck.

History: Part of a set of photographs from the Columbian Newspaper, which operated out of New Westminster under this name starting in 1900 until its dissolution in 1988. Photographs found in the collection of the Burnaby Village are dated 1971.

Other Title Information: title based on content of photograph

Accession Code: BV018.19.9

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: May be restricted by third party rights

Date: 1905-1940

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 24-04-2018

Images

Men and boys standing on schooner, 1905-1940 thumbnail

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

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

CP 6151 at Victoria

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3278

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [after 1906]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Canadian Pacific Railway steam locomotive no. 6151, a 0-6-0 Switcher (built in 1905 and 1906) at Victoria, British Columbia. A railway labourer looks to be cleaning or painting the side of the locomotive.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Canadian Pacific Railway steam locomotive no. 6151, a 0-6-0 Switcher (built in 1905 and 1906) at Victoria, British Columbia. A railway labourer looks to be cleaning or painting the side of the locomotive.

Subjects: Transportation - Locomotives; Transportation - Rail; Occupations - Railroad Labourers

Names: Canadian Pacific Railway Company

Geographic Access: Victoria

Accession Code: BV985.6114.50

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [after 1906]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2024-03-19

Notes: Title based on note written on verso of photograph; Handwritten note in black ball-point pen on verso of photograph reads: "CP 6151 at/ Victoria"; Stamp on verso of photograph reads: "840"

Images

CP 6151 at Victoria, [after 1906] thumbnail

CP 3456 at Drake Street Yard

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3293

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [after 1906]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Canadian Pacific Railway steam locomotive no. 3456 (built in 1906) at Drake Street Yard in Vancouver.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Canadian Pacific Railway steam locomotive no. 3456 (built in 1906) at Drake Street Yard in Vancouver.

Subjects: Transportation - Locomotives; Transportation - Rail

Names: Canadian Pacific Railway Company

Geographic Access: Vancouver

Accession Code: BV985.6114.65

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [after 1906]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2024-03-19

Notes: Title based on note written on verso of photograph; Handwritten note in black ball-point pen on verso of photograph reads: "CP 3456/ Drake St Yard"; Stamp on verso of photograph reads: "068"

Images

CP 3456 at Drake Street Yard, [after 1906] thumbnail

CP 2531 at Edmonton

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3301

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [after 1908]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Canadian Pacific Railway steam locomotive no. 2531 (built from 1908 to 1910) at Edmonton with an engineer visible at the window.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Canadian Pacific Railway steam locomotive no. 2531 (built from 1908 to 1910) at Edmonton with an engineer visible at the window.

Subjects: Transportation - Locomotives; Transportation - Rail

Names: Canadian Pacific Railway Company

Accession Code: BV985.6114.74

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [after 1908]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2024-03-26

Notes: Title based on note written on verso of photograph; Handwritten note in black ball-point pen on verso of photograph reads: "CP 2531 at Edmonton"; Stamp on verso of photograph reads: "269A"

Images

CP 2531 at Edmonton, [after 1908] thumbnail

CP 3678

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3292

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [after 1909]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Canadian Pacific Railway steam locomotive no. 3678 (built from 1909 to 1911) at an unidentified location.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Canadian Pacific Railway steam locomotive no. 3678 (built from 1909 to 1911) at an unidentified location.

Subjects: Transportation - Locomotives; Transportation - Rail

Names: Canadian Pacific Railway Company

Accession Code: BV985.6114.64

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [after 1909]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2024-03-19

Notes: Title based on note written on verso of photograph; Handwritten note in black ball-point pen on verso of photograph reads: "CP 3678"; Stamp on verso of photograph reads: "068"

Images

Unidentified soldier

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription82733

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1910-1945]

Collection/Fonds: Hazel Simnett collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 15.5 x 10.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of an unidentified soldier.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [1910-1945]

Collection/Fonds: Hazel Simnett collection

Series: Simnett personal papers series

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 15.5 x 10.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 559-001

Access Restriction: In Archives only

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: 2013-22

Scope and Content: Photograph is a portrait of an unidentified soldier.

Subjects: Clothing - Military Uniforms

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph ; Bottom of image reads: "Ubique" ; Photograph stamp reads: "A Phillips / HP / Peabody Road /..."; Simnett personal papers series

Images

Unidentified soldier, [1910-1945] thumbnail

Interview with Elsie Ansdell by Eric Damer September 18, 2012 - Track 1

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory287

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date Range: 1910-1946

Length: 0:09:17

Summary: This portion of the recording pertains to the Brown-Johns first settling in Burnaby. Elsie (Brown-John) Ansdell discusses land clearing for the family home, each of her parents and her brothers.

1 image 1 audio

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Summary: This portion of the recording pertains to the Brown-Johns first settling in Burnaby. Elsie (Brown-John) Ansdell discusses land clearing for the family home, each of her parents and her brothers.

Date Range: 1910-1946

Photo Info: Elsie Brown-John (bottom, far right) with her class at Kitchener Street School, [1936]. Item no. 549-001.

Length: 0:09:17

Names: Brown-John, Victor Joseph Charles; Brown-John, Winnifred Douglas

Subjects: Land Clearing

Geographic Access: Napier Street

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Willingdon Heights Area

Interviewer: Damer, Eric

Interview Date: September 18, 2012

Scope and Content: Recording is an interview with early Burnaby resident Elsie (Brown-John) Ansdell conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, September 18, 2012. Major themes discussed are: settling in Burnaby and the early years of the Brown-John family.

Biographical Notes: Elsie (Brown-John) Ansdell’s father, a trained carpenter and cabinet maker, Victor Brown-John came to Canada from Wales in 1910. He cleared three lots at Napier and Gilmore Streets and built a two-roomed house. In 1912, he was joined by his wife and two eldest sons, Victor and Archie. Twin boys, Frank and Roy, were born in 1914 in the Burnaby home and their fifth son, Clive, was born in 1915. From 1916 to 1919 Victor John-Brown left Burnaby to serve overseas. Elsie Brown-John (later Ansdell) was born in 1921. Her younger brother, Gwyn "Jerry" was born in 1923. In 1925 Victor Brown-John suffered a fatal accident while working as a longshoreman in Northern British Columbia. Elsie attended Kitchener Elementary and North Burnaby High School. She married during the Second World War and moved to South Burnaby to raise her family whilst continuing to work in various department stores both in Vancouver and Burnaby.

Total Tracks: 4

Total Length: 33:02

Interviewee Name: Ansdell, Elsie Brown-John

Interview Location: Burnaby Village Museum

Interviewer Bio: Eric Damer is a lifelong British Columbian born in Victoria, raised in Kamloops, and currently residing in Burnaby. After studying philosophy at the University of Victoria, he became interested in the educational forces that had shaped his own life. He completed master’s and doctoral degrees in educational studies at the University of British Columbia with a particular interest in the history of adult and higher education in the province. In 2012, Eric worked for the City of Burnaby as a field researcher and writer, conducting interviews for the City Archives and Museum Oral History Program.

Collection/Fonds: Community Heritage Commission Special Projects fonds

Series: Burna-Boom Oral History Project series

Transcript Available: None

Media Type: Sound Recording

Images

Elsie Brown-John (bottom, far right) with her class at Kitchener Street School, [1936]. Item no. 549-001. thumbnail

Audio Tracks

Track one of recording of interview with Elsie Ansdell

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Oral_Histories/_Unrestricted/MSS171-001/MSS171-001_Track_1.mp3

Burnaby Lake Interurban

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription37174

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [before 1954]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 13 cm print

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Burnaby Lake Interurban in the snow. The house in the background is 2231 Fareham Street, a short street that ran behind Elwell and the tram tracks about midway between the Cumberland Road and Hill Street Stations. This rail line route is now the route of Highway 1 through Burnaby.…

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [before 1954]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Photographs subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 13 cm print

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 328-001

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only

Accession Number: BHS1996-14

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Burnaby Lake Interurban in the snow. The house in the background is 2231 Fareham Street, a short street that ran behind Elwell and the tram tracks about midway between the Cumberland Road and Hill Street Stations. This rail line route is now the route of Highway 1 through Burnaby. The uppermost window in the house was the donor's bedroom.

Subjects: Transportation - Electric Railroads

Names: British Columbia Electric Railway Company

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Fareham Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: East Burnaby (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Cariboo-Armstrong Area

Images

Burnaby Lake Interurban, [before 1954] thumbnail

Gavin House

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription51363

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [after 1911]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w copy negative ; 2 x 3.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Gavin House taken from a distance at a 3/4 view. Fence posts are visible. This home was designed by architect A. C. Hope.

1 image

Repository: City of Burnaby Archives

Date: [after 1911]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series: Community Archives Collection series

Subseries: Burnaby Art Gallery subseries

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w copy negative ; 2 x 3.5 cm

Description Level: Item

Record No.: 241-031

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Accession Number: BHS1990-05

Scope and Content: Photograph of the Gavin House taken from a distance at a 3/4 view. Fence posts are visible. This home was designed by architect A. C. Hope.

Subjects: Buildings - Residential - Houses

Media Type: Photograph

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Geographic Access: Buckingham Avenue; Sperling Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood: Burnaby Lake (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: Sperling-Broadway Area

Images

Locomotive no. 5115

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1716

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [after 1912]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of steam locomotive no. 5115 (built in 1912) at an unidentified location. A man in conductor's uniform is standing on the front of the train.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : sepia ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of steam locomotive no. 5115 (built in 1912) at an unidentified location. A man in conductor's uniform is standing on the front of the train.

Subjects: Transportation - Locomotives; Transportation - Rail

Accession Code: BV985.6114.110

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [after 1912]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2024-04-02

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

Locomotive no. 5115

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription1717

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [after 1912]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 5.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of steam locomotive no. 5115 (built in 1912) at an unidentified location. A man in conductor's uniform is standing on the front of the train.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 5.5 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of steam locomotive no. 5115 (built in 1912) at an unidentified location. A man in conductor's uniform is standing on the front of the train.

Subjects: Transportation - Locomotives; Transportation - Rail

Accession Code: BV985.6114.111

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [after 1912]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2024-04-02

Notes: Title based on contents of photograph

Images

CN 5122

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3271

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [after 1912]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Canadian National Railway locomotive no. 5122 (built in 1912) at an unidentified location. Steam is rising from the engine at the wheel well.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Canadian National Railway locomotive no. 5122 (built in 1912) at an unidentified location. Steam is rising from the engine at the wheel well.

Subjects: Transportation - Locomotives; Transportation - Rail

Names: Canadian National Railway

Accession Code: BV985.6114.43

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [after 1912]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2024-03-19

Notes: Title based on note written on verso of photograph; Handwritten note in black ball-point pen on verso of photograph reads: "CN 5122"; Stamp on verso of photograph reads: "731 F"

Images

CN 5118

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3274

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [after 1912]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Canadian National Railway steam locomotive no. 5118 (built in 1912) at an unidentified location. An engineer is visible at the window of the train and steam is rising at the engine front.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Canadian National Railway steam locomotive no. 5118 (built in 1912) at an unidentified location. An engineer is visible at the window of the train and steam is rising at the engine front.

Subjects: Transportation - Locomotives; Transportation - Rail

Names: Canadian National Railway

Accession Code: BV985.6114.46

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [after 1912]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2024-03-19

Notes: Title based on note written on verso of photograph; Handwritten note in black ball-point pen on verso of photograph reads: "CN 5118"; Stamp on verso of photograph reads: "731 F"

Images

CN 5117

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3275

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Date: [after 1912]

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Canadian National Railway steam locomotive no. 5118 (built in 1912) at an unidentified station. The locomotive has been decorated with a Royal Crest. Men are visible walking towards the train from the left.

1 image

Repository: Burnaby Village Museum

Collection/Fonds: Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection

Description Level: Item

Physical Description: 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm

Scope and Content: Photograph of Canadian National Railway steam locomotive no. 5118 (built in 1912) at an unidentified station. The locomotive has been decorated with a Royal Crest. Men are visible walking towards the train from the left.

Subjects: Transportation - Locomotives; Transportation - Rail

Names: Canadian National Railway

Accession Code: BV985.6114.47

Access Restriction: No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction: No known restrictions

Date: [after 1912]

Media Type: Photograph

Scan Resolution: 600

Scan Date: 2024-03-19

Notes: Title based on note written on verso of photograph; Handwritten note in black ball-point pen on verso of photograph reads: "CN 5117/ note Royal Crest"

Research

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Alfred Bingham's writings - Track 3

Images

Audio Tracks

CP 581 at Cranbrook

Images

CP 585 at Victoria, B.C.

Images

Murdock and Lillian McMurray interview November 17, 1975 - Track 3

Images

Audio Tracks

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

Images

Audio Tracks

Men and boys standing on schooner

Images

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

Images

Audio Tracks

CP 6151 at Victoria

Images

CP 3456 at Drake Street Yard

Images

CP 2531 at Edmonton

Images

CP 3678

Images

Unidentified soldier

Images

Interview with Elsie Ansdell by Eric Damer September 18, 2012 - Track 1

Images

Audio Tracks

Burnaby Lake Interurban

Images

Gavin House

Images

Locomotive no. 5115

Images

Locomotive no. 5115

Images

CN 5122

Images

CN 5118

Images

CN 5117

Images