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Heritage Value: Constructed as an electrical grid substation by the B.C. Electric Railway Company, the Horne-Payne substation was part of the expansion of this utility company to central Burnaby that occurred as a result of the opening of the Burnaby Lake Interurban line in 1911. The Receiving Station is intended to rearrange the company’s system of distributing power over the whole of the Burrard Peninsula. Power will come to the transformers there and be converted and distributed to the various substations in Vancouver, New Westminster and the suburbs...Work has already been started at the foundation for the new plant. (Vancouver Daily Province, April 29, 1913) When constructed the substation was situated within a forest clearing in a largely undeveloped section of northwest Burnaby. The area now surrounding the substation is heavily developed for semi-industrial purposes. This steel-frame and poured concrete structure was designed to be utilitarian, but with decorative detailing. The south-facing front of the structure features massed corners detailed with decorative relief panels at the roofline. Additionally, this well-balanced building displayed symmetrical fenestration with blind, and tall multi-paned steel-sash windows, some crowned with keystones. A tower added to the east side of the building’s front is the most substantial change made to the appearance of the Horne-Payne substation. This industrial structure was designed by prominent British Columbian architect, Robert Lyon (1879-1963). Born in Edinburgh, Lyon apprenticed and worked as an architect in Scotland until 1908 before moving to New York in 1909. In 1911, he began his career in Vancouver as an “architectural engineer,” with the B.C. Electric Company that lasted until 1918. After a short tenure in the lumber industry, Lyon returned to architecture, this time with his own firm in Penticton. Active in municipal politics, he was instrumental in the incorporation of Penticton as a city, and became its first mayor from 1948-1949. Lyon retired from architecture in 1958 and died in 1963. Lyon also designed the Central Park Gate in Burnaby.

Locality: Vancouver Heights

Historic Neighbourhood: Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area: West Central Valley Area

Architect: Robert Lyon

Area: 47400.00

Contributing Resource: Building

Ownership: Private

Street Address: 3700 2nd Street

Street View URL: Google Maps Street View

Images

Exterior view of the Horne-Payne Receiving Station, 2015.. South elevation.. thumbnail

Historic view of the Horne-Payne Receiving Station, 1920. (View from the southwest. Historic Photo.) Copyright: City of Burnaby. Photo ID 158-001. thumbnail

Thomas & Margaret Coldicutt Residence

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark647

Repository: Burnaby Heritage Planning

Description: Residential building.

Associated Dates: 1911

Street View URL: Google Maps Street View

3 images

Repository: Burnaby Heritage Planning

Geographic Access: 6th Street

Associated Dates: 1911

Description: Residential building.

Heritage Value: This house was built by Thomas Davis Coldicutt (1879-1970) and Margaret Jane Coldicutt, pre-eminent local citizens. Thomas Coldicutt was born in Birmingham and arrived in Canada in 1900, finding success in the steamboat industry. In 1902, he married Margaret Jane Styler who had been born in Redditch, Worcester, England, and in 1908 they settled in East Burnaby–some of the first pioneers to the area–and established a fruit farm. Thomas had a successful real estate, insurance and brokerage business, and was elected as a councillor for East Burnaby in 1909. He was also active in civic, political and social circles in Burnaby and became president of the Burnaby Board of Trade. "East Burnaby is booming and the signs of prosperity that may be seen on every hand. Most of these are substantial dwellings, such as effect a permanent improvement to the countryside. Among those whose homes have been completed, or on the point of completion may be mentioned. Councillor Coldicutt, who has built himself a habitation on Second Avenue at a cost of $4,000. (The British Columbian, 1911). In 1913, Coldicutt sold his original farm described as “the show place of Burnaby” to the Burnaby School Board for the development of Second Street School and this house was moved from Second Street and Sixteenth Avenue to this site. It has been extensively altered, but retains its original form, scale and massing.