3524 records – page 1 of 177.

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.
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

Less detail

Book reading given by Pixie McGeachie January 10, 1973 - Track 2

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory238
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1803-1884
Length
0:09:29
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Pixie McGeachie's continued reading of "Archdeacon on Horseback" by Canon Cyril E.H. Williams and herself. This section of the reading describes the earlier the impact of the gold rush on British Columbia and the formation of Lytton, BC.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Pixie McGeachie's continued reading of "Archdeacon on Horseback" by Canon Cyril E.H. Williams and herself. This section of the reading describes the earlier the impact of the gold rush on British Columbia and the formation of Lytton, BC.
Date Range
1803-1884
Photo Info
Pixie McGeachie (left) and Florence Godwin, 1992. Item no. 330-003
Length
0:09:29
Interview Date
January 10, 1973
Scope and Content
Recording is of a book reading given by Pixie McGeachie on January 10, 1973 to the Burnaby Historical Society from the book "Archdeacon on Horseback" by Canon Cyril E.H. Williams (then archivist in the Vancouver School of Theology, University of British Columbia) and Pixie McGeachie.
Biographical Notes
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.
Total Tracks
6
Total Length
0:54:31
Interviewee Name
McGeachie, Doreen “Pixie”
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 a book reading given by Pixie McGeachie

Less detail

Portrait of William Holmes

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3961
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[between 1841 and 1860]
Collection/Fonds
William Holmes fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (calotype) : b&w ; 50 x 39.5 cm (oval, sight) in frame 66 x 56 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph portrait of William Holmes.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
William Holmes fonds
Series
William Holmes family photographs series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (calotype) : b&w ; 50 x 39.5 cm (oval, sight) in frame 66 x 56 cm
Material Details
The photograph is a calotype print, which has been enhanced using charcoal and paint.
Scope and Content
Photograph portrait of William Holmes.
History
William Holmes was the first non-Indigenous resident of Burnaby.
Names
Holmes, William
Accession Code
HV971.46.1
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
[between 1841 and 1860]
Media Type
Photograph
Related Material
Portrait of Jane Holmes, HV971.46.2
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Portrait of Mrs. William Holmes

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3962
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[between 1841 and 1860]
Collection/Fonds
William Holmes fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (calotype) : b&w ; 49.5 x 39.5 cm (sight) in frame 75 x 65.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph portrait of Mrs. William Holmes. Portrait could be of either, Mary (Richardson) Holmes who married William Holmes in 1841 or Charlotte (McCullough) Holmes who married William Holmes between 1848 and 1854. Both marriages took place in Huron County, Ontario.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
William Holmes fonds
Series
William Holmes family photographs series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph (calotype) : b&w ; 49.5 x 39.5 cm (sight) in frame 75 x 65.5 cm
Material Details
The photograph is a calotype print, which has been enhanced using charcoal and paint.
Scope and Content
Photograph portrait of Mrs. William Holmes. Portrait could be of either, Mary (Richardson) Holmes who married William Holmes in 1841 or Charlotte (McCullough) Holmes who married William Holmes between 1848 and 1854. Both marriages took place in Huron County, Ontario.
History
Mary (Richardson) Holmes was the first wife of William Holmes and Charlotte (McCullough) Holmes was the second wife of William Holmes of Huron County, Ontario . William Holmes was the first non-Indigenous resident of Burnaby in 1860.
Names
Holmes, Mary Richardson
Holmes, Charlotte McCullough
Accession Code
HV971.46.2
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[between 1841 and 1860]
Media Type
Photograph
Related Material
Portrait of William Holmes, HV971.46.1
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Book reading given by Pixie McGeachie January 10, 1973 - Track 1

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory237
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1849-1872
Length
0:09:04
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Doreen "Pixie" McGeachie's introduction of the book "Archdeacon on Horseback" by Canon Cyril E.H. Williams and herself, telling the story of Archdeacon Richard Small. She begins by reading the book's forward, as well as the beginnings of the first chapter.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Doreen "Pixie" McGeachie's introduction of the book "Archdeacon on Horseback" by Canon Cyril E.H. Williams and herself, telling the story of Archdeacon Richard Small. She begins by reading the book's forward, as well as the beginnings of the first chapter.
Date Range
1849-1872
Photo Info
Pixie McGeachie (left) and Florence Godwin, 1992. Item no. 330-003
Length
0:09:04
Interview Date
January 10, 1973
Scope and Content
Recording is of a book reading given by Pixie McGeachie on January 10, 1973 to the Burnaby Historical Society from the book "Archdeacon on Horseback" by Canon Cyril E.H. Williams (then archivist in the Vancouver School of Theology, University of British Columbia) and Pixie McGeachie.
Biographical Notes
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.
Total Tracks
6
Total Length
0:54:31
Interviewee Name
McGeachie, Doreen “Pixie”
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 one of recording of a book reading given by Pixie McGeachie

Less detail

Annie Hill

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription66450
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1850]
Collection/Fonds
Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph
Scope and Content
Photograph is a portrait of Annie Hill, aunt to Louis Claude and Bernard Hill and matron of the North London Hospital, Highgate.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1850]
Collection/Fonds
Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
Series
Kitty Hill Peers family photograph series
Physical Description
1 photograph
Description Level
Item
Record No.
477-1064
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2007-12
Scope and Content
Photograph is a portrait of Annie Hill, aunt to Louis Claude and Bernard Hill and matron of the North London Hospital, Highgate.
Names
Hill, Annie
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Sir Richard Hill

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription82543
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1850-1880]
Collection/Fonds
Hill family and Vidal family fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 21.5 x 15.5 cm + 1 accompanying typed note
Scope and Content
Photograph is a portrait of a man identified as Richard Hill.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1850-1880]
Collection/Fonds
Hill family and Vidal family fonds
Series
Hill family and Vidal family photograph series
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 21.5 x 15.5 cm + 1 accompanying typed note
Description Level
Item
Record No.
550-117
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2013-03
Scope and Content
Photograph is a portrait of a man identified as Richard Hill.
Names
Hill, Richard Jr.
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on note accompanying photograph
Note in pencil on album page reads: "Sir Richard Hill - died in Dieppe, France / Father of Bernard Richard Hill & Louis Claude HIll"
Attached to verso of album page is a typed note written by A S Hill
Images
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Recording of John Burton - Track 5

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory213
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1850-1950
Length
0:09:14
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to John Burton's description of the galley press and the proofing process. He also discusses job printing (now referred to as commercial printing).
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to John Burton's description of the galley press and the proofing process. He also discusses job printing (now referred to as commercial printing).
Date Range
1850-1950
Photo Info
Burton family home, [1945]. Item no. 216-002
Length
0:09:14
Subjects
Documentary Artifacts - Newspapers
Printing Tools and Equipment
Scope and Content
Recording is of John Burton discussing the history of the weekly newspaper and of the types of printing presses that have been used in Canada, as well as exactly how their parts function. John appears to be describing printing presses that are in the room with him.
Biographical Notes
John Burton was born in 1912 in New Westminster. He went to Second Street School, then Edmonds, then Saint Anne's Convent, and St. Louis College and Connaught before graduating from Burnaby South School in 1930. While at High School, John worked at Cowan's Music Store at 716 Columbia Street in New Westminster on Saturdays and after school. John Burton's grandfather John Foley was the founder of the Orangeville Sun newspaper in Orangeville, Ontario, established in 1861. He ran the paper until his death in 1882, when his son, John Foley Jr. took over as editor and publisher at the age of sixteen. Two of his daughters were involved in the newspaper; Margaret Foley was a regular contributor to the paper, and John Burton's mother was a typesetter. When John Burton was a teenager, he went to Orangeville to learn the trade from his uncle. Unfortunately, he was only there eighteen months when his uncle died December 21, 1932. The family was unable to hold on to the business and the paper amalgamated with the Orangeville Banner newspaper in 1933.
Total Tracks
5
Total Length
0:46:18
Interviewee Name
Burton, John
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
Less detail

Photograph and case

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3219
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[between 1854 and 1870]
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : ambrotype ; 8.5 x 9.5 cm in leather case
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : ambrotype ; 8.5 x 9.5 cm in leather case
Material Details
Photograph case with convex glass front with ambrotype photograph of man in dress suit, from waist up. The subject's cheeks have been toned pink.The interior back of the case is lined with cream paper and printed with "MYRON SHEW, Dealer in Daguerreotype Materials No. 116 Chestnut Street, PHILADELPHIA". Gold matting; "CHASE" stamped into matting, lower right; exterior of frame is covered in leather; interior is red-coloured velvet; both surfaces embossed with floral motif.
Accession Code
BV000.8.11
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Date
[between 1854 and 1870]
Media Type
Photograph
Images
Less detail

James Bateman

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription3338
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1857]
Collection/Fonds
E.W. Bateman family fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 9 x 6 cm, mounted on card 10 x 6 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph is a vignetted studio portrait of James Bateman with a full beard, dressed in a three-piece suit. James Bateman is the father of Edwin Wettenhall Bateman.
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
E.W. Bateman family fonds
Series
Bateman family photographs series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : sepia ; 9 x 6 cm, mounted on card 10 x 6 cm
Material Details
Photograph is mounted on a card supplied by the photographic studio
Scope and Content
Photograph is a vignetted studio portrait of James Bateman with a full beard, dressed in a three-piece suit. James Bateman is the father of Edwin Wettenhall Bateman.
Names
Bateman, James
Accession Code
BV004.28.6
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1857]
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
09-Jun-09
Scale
100
Photographer
Brom, Barnes & Bell
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Note in blue ink on recto of photograph reads: "Father/ EWB"
On verso of the card mount is information regarding the photo studio, including locations of studio branches, services, awards, patents
Printed on verso of card mount: "Brom, Barnes & Bell / PHOTOGRAPHERS / COPYRIGHT RESERVED"
Images
Less detail

Richard Hill

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription66185
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1858]
Collection/Fonds
Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 6 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph is a formal picture of Richard Hill, the father to Bernard and Louis Hill.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1858]
Collection/Fonds
Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
Series
Kitty Hill Peers family photograph series
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 6 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
477-931
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2007-12
Scope and Content
Photograph is a formal picture of Richard Hill, the father to Bernard and Louis Hill.
Names
Hill, Richard Jr.
Media Type
Photograph
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
Less detail

Reference letter for William Holmes

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription10405
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[between 1858 and 1859]
Collection/Fonds
William Holmes fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 p. of textual records
Scope and Content
Item consists of a letter reading as a character reference for William Holmes, Toronto, December 17, 1858. The letter refers to William's character as a gentleman in good standing of Holmesville in the County of Huron where he has been actively employed in Commercial pursuits in Upper Canada and h…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
William Holmes fonds
Series
William Holmes family records series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 p. of textual records
Material Details
Letter is fragile with torn and stained sections
Scope and Content
Item consists of a letter reading as a character reference for William Holmes, Toronto, December 17, 1858. The letter refers to William's character as a gentleman in good standing of Holmesville in the County of Huron where he has been actively employed in Commercial pursuits in Upper Canada and his intention to emigrate to British Columbia. The letter is signed and certified on the verso by various officials including; "G.E. Cartier", Attourney General of Lower Canada; John A. Macdonald, Attourney General of Upper Canada; Sidney Smith, Post Master General; George Sherwood, Receiver General; John Rose, Soliciter General; Charles Alleyn, Provincial Secretary; P.M. VanKaughnet [sic], Commissioner of Crown Lands and A.T. Galt, Inspector General of Canada. The letter includes a wax Common Seal of the City of Toronto and is certified the 6th day of January 1859. Text on first page of letter reads: "The Bearer William Holmes Esq / late of Holmesville in the County of Huron has for some years been actively employed in Com- / mmercial pursuits in Upper / Canada, but now intends to emigrate to British Columbia / We have great pleasure in / certifying that Mr. Holmes is / a Gentleman of good standing / for character and capacity / and that his connectiions (are) [sic] / highly respectable; his brother / John Holmes Esq at present / holding the dignified and responsible / office of Warden (Equivalent to / Mayor) of the Municipal Council". letter continues on verso to read: "of the United Counties of Huron / and Bruce, which Counties he / also respresents in Parliament..." signatures of officials beneath. Written vertically down the left hand side of the verso is the following text "I certify that the Signature attached to / this document are the bona- / fide Signature of the parties / named & that they hold the / respective offices (within) mentioned / within. In testimony whereof I have / herunto set my hand and caused / the Common Seal of the City of Toronto / to be herunto affixed this 6th day of / January 1859" with signatures below "D.V. Mead / Mayor / A.M. Jones [sic] / Chamberlain".
History
William Holmes was the first non-Indigenous resident of Burnaby.
Subjects
Documentary Artifacts - Letters and Envelopes
Accession Code
BV997.50.1
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[between 1858 and 1859]
Media Type
Textual Record
Scan Resolution
300
Scan Date
06-May-2019
Notes
Title based on contents of item
Images
Less detail

Book reading given by Pixie McGeachie January 10, 1973 - Track 3

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/oralhistory239
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date Range
1859-1867
Length
0:09:26
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Pixie McGeachie's continued reading of "Archdeacon on Horseback" by Canon Cyril E.H. Williams and herself. This section of the reading describes early missionary experiences in Lytton, including descriptions from the diary of Bishop Hill.
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Summary
This portion of the recording pertains to Pixie McGeachie's continued reading of "Archdeacon on Horseback" by Canon Cyril E.H. Williams and herself. This section of the reading describes early missionary experiences in Lytton, including descriptions from the diary of Bishop Hill.
Date Range
1859-1867
Photo Info
Pixie McGeachie (left) and Florence Godwin, 1992. Item no. 330-003
Length
0:09:26
Interview Date
January 10, 1973
Scope and Content
Recording is of a book reading given by Pixie McGeachie on January 10, 1973 to the Burnaby Historical Society from the book "Archdeacon on Horseback" by Canon Cyril E.H. Williams (then archivist in the Vancouver School of Theology, University of British Columbia) and Pixie McGeachie.
Biographical Notes
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.
Total Tracks
6
Total Length
0:54:31
Interviewee Name
McGeachie, Doreen “Pixie”
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 three of recording of a book reading given by Pixie McGeachie

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North Road

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/landmark722
Repository
Burnaby Heritage Planning
Associated Dates
1859
Repository
Burnaby Heritage Planning
Associated Dates
1859
Heritage Value
When New Westminster was chosen as the first site for the capital city of British Columbia in 1859, Colonel R.C. Moody developed a plan to defend the city from American attack by building a road to connect New Westminster to the Burrard Inlet. Although an attack never came, North Road became a well-used route for citizens in the capital city who travelled the road to enjoy a picnic at the beach or to board a ferry for the city of Port Moody. The road's route over the mountain remained in use until the 1960s, when this section was closed to traffic. North Road is the oldest road in the Lower Mainland.
Planning Study Area
Burnaby Mountain Area
Images
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Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong February 7, 2020

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription12337
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[1900-2020] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 7, 2020
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (mp3) (00:43:19 min.)
Scope and Content
Recording consists of an interview with Josephine Chow (nee Hong) conducted by BVM researcher Denise Fong at the Burnaby Village Museum. Josephine describes her family history and recollects her childhood experiences in 1950s and 60s while growing with her family on their "Hop On" farm in Burnaby. …
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
Museum Oral Histories series
Subseries
Chinese Canadians in Burnaby subseries
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 sound recording (mp3) (00:43:19 min.)
Material Details
Interviewer: Denise Fong Interviewee: Josephine Chow Location of Interview: Burnaby Village Museum Interview Date: February 7, 2020 Total Number of Tracks: 1 Total Length of all Tracks: 00:43:19
Scope and Content
Recording consists of an interview with Josephine Chow (nee Hong) conducted by BVM researcher Denise Fong at the Burnaby Village Museum. Josephine describes her family history and recollects her childhood experiences in 1950s and 60s while growing with her family on their "Hop On" farm in Burnaby. The farm is situated in the Big Bend area along Marine Drive and is still in operation today. 0:00-08:45 Josephine Chow provides some historical background on the history of “Hop On Farm” and her family in British Columbia. She tells of how her grandfather Gay Tim Hong and three partners pooled money together to purchase twelve acres on Marine Drive in 1951. Prior to this, most of them farmed on the ʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nation Reserve for 20-30 years. It all began when her great grandfather Sui Wing Hong, first came to Canada from China and slowly brought over her grandfather, father and other members of the family. Her grandfather, Gay Tim Hong went back and forth between Canada and China at least four times since he and her grandmother had four children including her father, who was born in 1931. Her father came to Canada at 10 years of age to live with his father. Josephine’s great grandfather came to Vancouver from Zhongshan county in Canton Province (also known as Guangdong). 8:46- 14:20 Josephine provides the names of her siblings from the eldest to the youngest; Pauline, Josephine (herself), Catherine, Noreen, Gary, Darlene and Marlene. She describes what life was like on the farm with her parents working from sunrise to sunset. The family farmed vegetable produce taking orders from local stores in the lower mainland. Often the children helped their parents with the orders starting at eight or nine years of age. Other workers on the farm travelled by bus from Vancouver’s Chinatown. She also tells of how her father was an animal lover and raised chickens, pigeons, geese, koy, goldfish and dogs. 14: 21 – 16:56 Josephine describes what Burnaby was like during the time that she grew up in the late 1950s. She explains that Burnaby was very quiet with nothing being open on Sundays. On the farm, she and her siblings would entertain themselves by playing games like soccer, baseball and kick ball or also by catching frogs, snails, caterpillars and ladybugs. There were neighbours living on Marine Drive and almost every house had someone who we went to the same elementary school. The neighbourhood children would often come to play with them on their farm. 16:56- 26:47 Josephine describes how when they were young there were farms all around them and how on Sunday drives with her father, they would go to feed horses or look at the cows. Josephine shares that her elder sister Pauline was the only one born in China and how when she first arrived that she lived on the ʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nations Reserve with their parents before they moved to Burnaby. Josephine recollects that most of her friends were farmer’s kids from the neighbourhood but while in school, she had more Caucasian friends. Josephine and her siblings attended Glenwood Elementary on Marine Drive and later Junior Secondary at McPherson Park (grades 8-10) and Burnaby South Senior Secondary (grades 11-12. ). She shares some of her experiences while attending school. She said that there were about a dozen Asians in school with her, mostly from farming families in the “Flats”. 26:48- 30:45 Josephine describes what life was like for her and her siblings after school. They often helped on the farm when they got home, usually taking care of orders for green onions. Her mother made dinner and did all of the cooking for family and workers on the farm as well as working in the fields. Her father did all of the grocery shopping in Vancouver’s Chinatown two or three times per week where he purchased meat and fish. She says that her grandfather, often travelled by bus every Saturday or Sunday to meet up with friends in Chinatown. Extracurricular activities for her and her siblings included volley ball and soccer as long as it didn’t interfere with their work schedule on the farm. 30:46- 37:03 Josephine describes what occurred while living at home, the food they ate, shopping and attending Chinese school. Her mother cooked only Chinese food, she didn’t know how to cook “Western food”. For school lunches, the kids made their own sandwiches. She tells of a Chinese language school arranged by Mrs. Joe [sic] who lived on Gilley Road and was Canadian born Chinese. Mrs. Joe [sic] also arranged an English class for farmer’s wives on Tuesday nights in which her mother attended. Josephine recollects learning Mandarin from Mrs. Joe [sic] a few days a week after her regular school. Chinese school took place at Riverway School on Meadow Avenue in Burnaby. Mrs. Joe also taught them a lot about Chinese culture including Kung Fu, Chinese Dance and Chinese brush painting. 37:04- 39:39 Josephine describes Medical Care for her and her family in the 1950s and 1960s. She tells of a female Chinese doctor in Vancouver, Dr. Madeline Chung. Dr. Chung was responsible for delivering a lot of Chinese babies including Josephine. The family also visited herbalists in Vancouver Chinatown. They would often buy herbs for colds etc. Josephine also tells of how her parents stayed in touch with family in China by writing letters. Her mother’s family, including her parents and siblings were still in China while most of her father’s family were here in Canada. 39:40- 43:19 – In closing, Josephine shares how life is much busier now and of how she misses the quietness of her days growing up. She briefly describes her life on the family farm now and how different it is from when her parents worked the farm. She explains how farming methods have changed and how they don’t have to work as hard as her parents did.
History
Interviewee biography: Josephine Chow (nee Hong) is the second eldest child of Chan Kow Hong and Sui Ha Hong. In 1925, Josephine's grandfather, Gay Tim Hong immigrated to Canada from Zhongshan county in Canton Province (also known as Guangdong). In 1952, her father, Chan Kow Hong joined his father, Gay Tim Hong and by 1953, he established "Hop On Farms" in the Big Bend area of Burnaby near Marine Drive. Josephine grew up on the farm with her parents and six siblings; Pauline, Catherine, Norine, Gary, Darlene and Marlene. In 1969, Josephine's elder sister Pauline and her husband Jack Chan took over the family farm and in 1972 their father and grandfather moved to Kamloops to open a restaurant. As an adult, Josephine worked in several different areas including owning and running her own Aesthetics business. Josephine eventually retired and returned to the farm to assist her siblings. The farm is still in operation. Interviewer biography: Denise Fong is a historical researcher at Burnaby Village Museum. She has degrees in Anthropology (BA) and Archaeology (MA), and is completing her doctoral degree at UBC in Interdisciplinary Studies. Her primary research interests are in Chinese Canadian history and critical heritage studies. She is the co-curator of BVM’s “Across the Pacific” exhibition, and the Museum of Vancouver’s “A Seat at the Table – Chinese Immigration and British Columbia”.
Creator
Burnaby Village Museum
Subjects
Persons - Chinese Canadians
Agriculture - Farms
Education
Buildings - Schools
First Nations reserves - British Columbia
Names
Chow, Josephine
Glenwood Elementary School
McPherson Park Junior Secondary School
ʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam)
Responsibility
Fong, Denise
Geographic Access
Byrne Road
Accession Code
BV020.6.1
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[1900-2020] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 7, 2020
Media Type
Sound Recording
Historic Neighbourhood
Fraser Arm (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Big Bend Area
Related Material
See also BV017.36*
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
12/3/2017
Scale
100
Notes
Title based on contents of interview
Photograph info: Gary Hong and Chan Kow Hong harvesting celery at Hop-On Farms [1969]. BV017.36.4
Images
Audio Tracks

Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong February 7, 2020, [1900-2020] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 7, 2020

Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong February 7, 2020, [1900-2020] (interview content), interviewed Feb. 7, 2020

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Sound_Recordings/Oral_Histories/2020_0006_0001_001.mp3
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Historic photo of Cariboo Road

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription13516
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[190-] date of original, copied [198_]
Collection/Fonds
Century Park Museum Association fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w print ; 8.7 x 12.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of a historic photograph of an unidentified man standing on a boardwalk on the corner of Cariboo Road in Burnaby. Historic photograph includes a label in the top corner that reads: "Cariboo Rd / Burnaby". The road is made of dirt and a two story house is visible across the road from the …
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Century Park Museum Association fonds
Series
Century Park Museum Association photograph collection series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w print ; 8.7 x 12.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of a historic photograph of an unidentified man standing on a boardwalk on the corner of Cariboo Road in Burnaby. Historic photograph includes a label in the top corner that reads: "Cariboo Rd / Burnaby". The road is made of dirt and a two story house is visible across the road from the man.
Subjects
Construction - Road Construction
Names
Burnaby Village Museum
Geographic Access
Cariboo Road
Accession Code
BV020.5.860
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Date
[190-] date of original, copied [198_]
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
25-Aug-2020
Scale
100
Photographer
Brown, Cice Chandler
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Images
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High Sheriff Botsford

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription18974
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[190-] (date of original), copied [2001]
Collection/Fonds
Waplington family fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photocopy
Scope and Content
Photocopy of portrait of High Sheriff Botsford (Sarah Waplington's grandfather) Moncton, New Brunswick. Label adhered to front of photocopy reads "SARAH WAPLINGTON GRANDFATHER / HIGH SHERIFF BOTSFORD / MONCTON, NB"
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Waplington family fonds
Series
Waplington and Fleming families album series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photocopy
Scope and Content
Photocopy of portrait of High Sheriff Botsford (Sarah Waplington's grandfather) Moncton, New Brunswick. Label adhered to front of photocopy reads "SARAH WAPLINGTON GRANDFATHER / HIGH SHERIFF BOTSFORD / MONCTON, NB"
Accession Code
BV016.46.133
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[190-] (date of original), copied [2001]
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
2023-01-06
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Photocopy is part of Photograph album BV016.46.52
Images
Less detail

Sarah Botsford

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription18975
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[190-] (date of original), copied [2001]
Collection/Fonds
Waplington family fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photocopy
Scope and Content
Photocopy of portrait of Sarah Botsford (Sarah Waplington's grandmother) Moncton, New Brunswick. Label adhered to front of photocopy reads "SARAH WAPLINGTON GRANDMOTHER / SARAH BOTSFORD / 1849-1918_MONCTON, NB"
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Waplington family fonds
Series
Waplington and Fleming families album series
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 photocopy
Scope and Content
Photocopy of portrait of Sarah Botsford (Sarah Waplington's grandmother) Moncton, New Brunswick. Label adhered to front of photocopy reads "SARAH WAPLINGTON GRANDMOTHER / SARAH BOTSFORD / 1849-1918_MONCTON, NB"
Accession Code
BV016.46.134
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Date
[190-] (date of original), copied [2001]
Media Type
Photograph
Scan Resolution
600
Scan Date
2023-01-06
Notes
Title based on contents of photograph
Photocopy is part of Photograph album BV016.46.52
Images
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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…
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
Audio Tracks

Track three of recording of interview with Lillian and Murdock McMurray

Less detail

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.
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

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3524 records – page 1 of 177.