Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar hosted by Burnaby Village Museum Program Education Coordinator Ashley Jones and presented by Museum Interpreter and blacksmiths, Eric Damer ad Lorne Gray. The webinar is titled "50 Years of Blacksmithing at BVM". The webinar is the sixth in …
Date of Presentation: Tuesday, September 29, 2022. 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Total Number of tracks: 1
Total Length of all tracks: 94 min., 55 sec.
Recording Device: Zoom video communication platform
Original recording of 94 min., 55 sec.was edited to 89 min., 21 sec. for viewing on Heritage Burnaby
Scope and Content
Item consists of a video recording of a live Zoom webinar hosted by Burnaby Village Museum Program Education Coordinator Ashley Jones and presented by Museum Interpreter and blacksmiths, Eric Damer ad Lorne Gray. The webinar is titled "50 Years of Blacksmithing at BVM". The webinar is the sixth in a series of six webinars presented in partnership by Burnaby Village Museum and Burnaby Public Library. The live webinar was also made available on the Burnaby Village Museum's facebook page. Community members were invited to participate by bringing questions during the interactive online sessions.
The session opens with the host Ashley Jones, providing introductions. Following the introduction, the presentation begins with Eric Damer and Lorne Gray’s slide presentation titled “50 years of Blacksmithing at Burnaby Village Museum”. The presentation is an historical exploration of the blacksmith shop through images and commentary from these two long-standing museum blacksmiths.
Eric and Lorne's presentation is organized into themes beginning with “The Age of Nostalgia” where they discuss the implementation of the original Burnaby Village Museum blacksmithing shop and live exhibit with a working blacksmith when the museum opened in November 1971. They comment on the original design of the forge and other components implemented into the design of the blacksmith shop, stereotypes of blacksmiths and various items that were forged on site in the blacksmith shop. “The Age of Accuracy” looks at changes to the Burnaby Village Museum’s programming and exhibits in the 1980s which included focusing more on the history of Burnaby and upgrading some of the components in the blacksmith shop including blowers, tools, forge design and costuming. Eric and Lorne comment on the history of Burnaby blacksmith, Frank Wagner who operated as a blacksmith in Burnaby “Wagner & Son” on Kingsway. Frank was a trained machinist, farrier and an automotive blacksmith who patented and manufactured the “Wagner Triple Spring Bumper”. With this information, the Burnaby Village Museum changed the name of the blacksmith shop to reflect the history of Burnaby blacksmith Frank Wagner. In “The Age of Diversity” Eric and Lorne talk about a shift in the 1990s when the staffing of the blacksmith shop was diversified to include women and people from diverse cultural backgrounds. These changes as well as an increased interest in artistic blacksmithing also lead to updates in Burnaby Village Museum’s blacksmith training procedures and interpretation, increased course offerings in blacksmithing and a renovated blacksmith shop which included new forges and equipment as well as an improved viewing area. Eric and Lorne talk about specifics regarding blacksmithing techniques and equipment and improvements to make this exhibit more accessible.
Their presentation is followed by a short video highlighing Burnaby Village Museum interpreters who have worked as blacksmiths at Burnaby Village Museum. Each person shares their own perspectives on their experiences working as a blacksmith and interacting with the public.
In the last part of the webinar, Eric and Lorne answer questions from attendees and further reflect and comment on their own experiences working as blacksmiths, various tools and techniques used and blacksmithing course offerings at Burnaby Village Museum.
History
Host biography:
Ashley Jones is the Burnaby Village Museum Education Programmer, responsible for the development and administration of school and public programs at BVM. She has a Master of Arts degree in History and is passionate about creating hands-on programming that promotes historical and environmental literacy.
Presenters biography:
Eric Damer is a Burnaby Village Museum Interpreter, Museum Registrar, Researcher and Blacksmith. Eric pounded hot steel for the first time in 1977 in junior high. Fifteen years later, he joined Burnaby Village Museum where he has smithed for three decades. He also provides historical research for museum exhibits and special projects. Outside the museum, Eric is a social historian with a special interest in educational history.
Lorne Gray has a BA with a major in the History of Science and Technology. He took up blacksmithing as a hobby when he was promoted to middle management and had to start hitting things. He was hired by Burnaby Village Museum as a blacksmith to fill in during the Christmas season of 2001. He has attended several blacksmithing conferences and taken classes with both an artist blacksmith and a journeyman blacksmith. On the weekends, you’ll find him teaching many of the museum’s public blacksmithing courses. He also has a steam ticket that permits him to run the museum’s steam boiler and stationery steam engines.
Photograph shows a group of eight boys, dressed in uniform, posing with rifles at an unknown location. The group has been identified as the 530th Duke of Connaught High School Cadet Corps.
Photograph shows a group of eight boys, dressed in uniform, posing with rifles at an unknown location. The group has been identified as the 530th Duke of Connaught High School Cadet Corps.
Photograph shows a group of eight boys, dressed in uniform, posing with rifles. The group has been identified as the 530th Duke of Connaught High School Cadet Corps.
Photograph shows a group of eight boys, dressed in uniform, posing with rifles. The group has been identified as the 530th Duke of Connaught High School Cadet Corps.
Photograph shows a group of seven boys, dressed in uniform, posing in front of a boathouse beside a lake. The group has been identified as the 530th Duke of Connaught High School Cadet Corps.
Photograph shows a group of seven boys, dressed in uniform, posing in front of a boathouse beside a lake. The group has been identified as the 530th Duke of Connaught High School Cadet Corps.
1 photograph : b&w ; 4.4 x 3.4 cm print on contact sheet 20.6 x 26.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Spraggon family home and another house on the 3900 block of Union Street (formerly named Barnard Street). There is a child at play in the snow in the foreground.
1 photograph : b&w ; 4.4 x 3.4 cm print on contact sheet 20.6 x 26.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
370-772
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1999-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Spraggon family home and another house on the 3900 block of Union Street (formerly named Barnard Street). There is a child at play in the snow in the foreground.
Photograph of the exterior of a house located at 3955 Moscrop Street. The house was constructed in 1954. The photograph depicts the house at night, with the house's porch light on, and a car is in the driveway in front of the house.
Photograph of the exterior of a house located at 3955 Moscrop Street. The house was constructed in 1954. The photograph depicts the house at night, with the house's porch light on, and a car is in the driveway in front of the house.
Photograph of the front steps and the entrance of a three-storey apartment building located at 5130 Irving Street. The photograph depicts the building at night, with the lobby and some of the apartments' windows illuminated from inside. The building was constructed in 1971.
Photograph of the front steps and the entrance of a three-storey apartment building located at 5130 Irving Street. The photograph depicts the building at night, with the lobby and some of the apartments' windows illuminated from inside. The building was constructed in 1971.
Photograph of the entrance of an apartment building located at 5130 Irving Street. The building was constructed in 1971. The photograph depicts the entrance and the lobby from the exterior at night. The lobby is illuminated and a crest featuring an "E" is on the entrance window.
Photograph of the entrance of an apartment building located at 5130 Irving Street. The building was constructed in 1971. The photograph depicts the entrance and the lobby from the exterior at night. The lobby is illuminated and a crest featuring an "E" is on the entrance window.
Photograph of a multi-storey house located at 5990 Irmin Street. The photograph depicts of the exterior of the house at dusk; a light is on in one of the house's rooms and a vehicle is parked in the house's driveway next to a portable garage. A "For Sale" sign on the edge of the property reads: "Fu…
Photograph of a multi-storey house located at 5990 Irmin Street. The photograph depicts of the exterior of the house at dusk; a light is on in one of the house's rooms and a vehicle is parked in the house's driveway next to a portable garage. A "For Sale" sign on the edge of the property reads: "Future Development Land." Another house is visible in the background. The house was constructed in 1923 and is nearby to 7530 Buller Avenue.
Photograph of the front steps and entry to a three-storey apartment building, located at 6280 Marlborough Avenue. The photograph depicts the building at night and shows the brick building's details, including its lion statues and busts along the stair railings and the curved arches in front of the …
Photograph of the front steps and entry to a three-storey apartment building, located at 6280 Marlborough Avenue. The photograph depicts the building at night and shows the brick building's details, including its lion statues and busts along the stair railings and the curved arches in front of the front windows and door. The building was constructed in 1973.
Photograph of the exterior of a single-storey house located at 6410 Denbigh Avenue, taken from across the street at dusk. The house was constructed in 1949. Lights illuminate the front porch and the interior of one of the house's windows and there is a small amount of snow on the lawn in front of t…
Photograph of the exterior of a single-storey house located at 6410 Denbigh Avenue, taken from across the street at dusk. The house was constructed in 1949. Lights illuminate the front porch and the interior of one of the house's windows and there is a small amount of snow on the lawn in front of the house.
Photograph of the corner and side of the exterior of a concrete low-rise apartment building located at 6508 Silver Avenue. The photograph depicts the building at dusk. Some of the apartment windows are lit up from inside, and plant pots are lined up along the third-floor balcony. A chain link fence…
Photograph of the corner and side of the exterior of a concrete low-rise apartment building located at 6508 Silver Avenue. The photograph depicts the building at dusk. Some of the apartment windows are lit up from inside, and plant pots are lined up along the third-floor balcony. A chain link fence surrounds the backyard. The building was constructed in 1966.
Photograph of the entrance, including the front steps and ramp, to a low-rise apartment building located at 6615 Telford Avenue. The building was constructed in 1964. The photograph depicts the building at night, and trees and bushes partially obscure the entrance. The building's lobby is illuminat…
Photograph of the entrance, including the front steps and ramp, to a low-rise apartment building located at 6615 Telford Avenue. The building was constructed in 1964. The photograph depicts the building at night, and trees and bushes partially obscure the entrance. The building's lobby is illuminated and the apartments' mailboxes are visible through the window.
Photograph of the exterior of a two-storey apartment building located at 6692 Dow Avenue. The photograph depicts the building from across the street at night; the lobby and some of the apartment windows are lit up, with a bunch of balloons in one window, and a car is parked on the street in front o…
Photograph of the exterior of a two-storey apartment building located at 6692 Dow Avenue. The photograph depicts the building from across the street at night; the lobby and some of the apartment windows are lit up, with a bunch of balloons in one window, and a car is parked on the street in front of the building. The building was constructed in 1959.
Photograph of the entrance to an apartment building located at 6700 Dow Avenue. The photograph depicts the building at night; the lobby and stairs are illuminated by exterior and interior lights. The building was constructed in 1968.
Photograph of the entrance to an apartment building located at 6700 Dow Avenue. The photograph depicts the building at night; the lobby and stairs are illuminated by exterior and interior lights. The building was constructed in 1968.
Photograph of the exterior of a two-storey house located at 7530 Buller Avenue. The photograph depicts the house at dusk; the house stands behind a wooden fence and is surrounded by trees. The house was constructed in 1924 and was formerly known as "Ryverbrae," the William & Esther Burdick Residenc…
Photograph of the exterior of a two-storey house located at 7530 Buller Avenue. The photograph depicts the house at dusk; the house stands behind a wooden fence and is surrounded by trees. The house was constructed in 1924 and was formerly known as "Ryverbrae," the William & Esther Burdick Residence.
Photograph shows a young man sitting on stone in front of a few fallen trees and brush. A label accompanying the photograph reads: ADB - Top of Burnaby Mtn. - 1914.
Photograph shows a young man sitting on stone in front of a few fallen trees and brush. A label accompanying the photograph reads: ADB - Top of Burnaby Mtn. - 1914.
Item consists of a recording of part one in a series of three “Back to the Roots” podcasts about the history of Chinese-Canadian farming in Burnaby and the lower mainland. Part one is titled “A Family Farm”. The podcasts were created by students Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong from the Faculty of Land an…
Podcasts hosts: Rose Wu; Wei Yan Yeong
Persons from recorded extracts: Denise Fong; Josephine Chow
Music: prod. riddiman
Podcast Date: October 2020
Total Number of tracks: 1
Total Length of all tracks: 00:13:57 min
Photograph info: Store front of Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co in Victoria, B.C., 1975. BV017.7.191
Scope and Content
Item consists of a recording of part one in a series of three “Back to the Roots” podcasts about the history of Chinese-Canadian farming in Burnaby and the lower mainland. Part one is titled “A Family Farm”. The podcasts were created by students Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong from the Faculty of Land and Food Systems at the University of British Columbia Faculty and while student interns at Burnaby Village Museum. In this series the students connect their knowledge of food systems to their shared Chinese heritage in order to discover how Chinese Canadian history is rooted in their local food systems.
00:00-02:21
The podcast opens with Wei Yan Yeong and Rose Wu introducing themselves and their topic- the Chinese Canadian experience in Burnaby and the people who have made important contributions to the city’s development. “A Family Farm” talks about Chinese-owned businesses which are family run.
“The family-oriented nature of Chinese-owned businesses also extend to many of the early (and current) Chinese-owned farms in the Burnaby Big Bend area. When Chinese men first began farming in BC in the 1860s, a lot of them worked as labourers because they weren’t allowed to own land. After World War II many of these farmers were allowed to purchase lots, thanks to the Veterans Land Grant. These grants allowed returning veterans to purchase small parcels of land with government loans. Eventually, these men would start families on the farm, and many Chinese-owned farms became family-operated businesses where every member, male, female, child, and extended relatives were enlisted to work the grounds. And it was hard work, often from dawn to dusk, 6-7 days a week.”
02:23 – 07:50
This portion includes excerpts from Oral History interview with Josephine Chow (nee Hong) of Hop On Farms in the Burnaby Big Bend area. The interview was conducted by Burnaby Village Museum researcher Denise Fong. Josephine recalls growing up on the family farm with her six siblings. She tells of how the family pulled together money to purchase twelve acres along Marine Drive in 1951, her family’s background, daily life on the farm , responsibilities on the farm for her and her siblings and of how her mother had to balance working on the farm and providing for a family of ten to twelve people.
07:51 – 08:10
In this portion, hosts comment and reflect on their own experiences. “While it’s likely that a lot of this was done out of necessity and not being able to afford additional paid labourers, having grown up in Chinese households ourselves, we can definitely understand the rationale for these family-operated businesses and how it connects back to the Chinese understanding of family and kinship.”
08:11 – 09:06
In this portion, Rose and Wei provide information on the roots of the Chinese character for family “jia” in mandarin or “gah” in Cantonese. They explain that the term family is composed of two parts: the upper element is like a roof, symbolizing shelter, and the bottom part represents a pig which symbolizes food, whereby the Chinese character for family represents that of a farm.
They provide a quote from the writings of Francois de Martin-Donos “In ancient China, the farm is an enterprise, a shelter that insures one food and work. The farm is a place to rely on, but in return, needs to be maintained, including a set of responsibilities. In other words, “family” is the insurance of a stable life.”
09:07 – 10:27
In this portion, the hosts speak about how traditional Chinese thought is heavily influenced by the teachings of Confucius and Confucius philosophy. They explain how Confucius emphasized five sets of human relationships that form the basis for society: ruler and minister, husband and wife, parents and child, sibling and sibling, friend and friend. Of these five, three are familial relationships also known as Filial piety – the respect and care for one’s familial superiors (such as parents, elders, and ancestors). They speak of how this is one of Confucianism’s main teachings and in this respect caring for family members is seen as a moral obligation. In China housing arrangements are in the form of siheyuan”s — a type of residence that featured a courtyard surrounded on all four sides with buildings. These traditionally housed one large extended family if they were wealthy enough.
10:28 – 13:08
In this portion, hosts provide further information on Josephine Chow’s family experience working and living on the “Hop On” family farm through the decades. An excerpt from the interview with Josephine Chow conducted by Denise Fong is included. In this excerpt, Josephine reflects on her past experiences on the farm and her present day experiences of her siblings running the farm.
13:09 -13:56
Final summary, credits and acknowledgements.
History
Podcast hosts, Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong are University of British Columbia students in the Faculty of Land and Food Systems and student interns at Burnaby Village Museum.
See also Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong February 7, 2020 - BV020.6.1
Compilation of Research Resources used by authors Rose Wu and Wei Yan Yeong include:
Why is family important in China?
https://medium.com/@francois_dmd/why-is-family-so-important-in-china-1617b13a67
Burnaby Village Museum - Interview with Josephine Chow by Denise Fong Feb. 7, 2020. BV020.6.1
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/permalink/museumsoundrecording12337
Covered Roots: The History of Vancouver's Chinese Farms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4WHS2Uf3JU
Burnaby Village Museum Shares Chinese-Canadian Farming History This Summer https://westcoastfood.ca/burnaby-village-museum-shares-chinese-canadian-farming-history-this-summer/
Chinese Market Gardeners in the City of Burnaby BC Continue to Practice Urban Agriculture https://cityfarmer.info/chinese-market-gardeners-in-the-city-of-burnaby-bc-continue-to-practice-urban-agriculture/
Chinese Market Gardening in BC https://www.bcfoodhistory.ca/chinese-market-gardening-bc/
Item consists of articles of agreement of sale between Siegfred A. Young, Arthur B. Young, Caroline Ogilvie, Stanley P. young, Wilma C. Young and Robert Love for Parcel six (6) of subdivision of Blocks thirty-one (31) and thirty-two (32), in the middle portion of block thirty-two of District Lot tw…
Item consists of articles of agreement of sale between Siegfred A. Young, Arthur B. Young, Caroline Ogilvie, Stanley P. young, Wilma C. Young and Robert Love for Parcel six (6) of subdivision of Blocks thirty-one (31) and thirty-two (32), in the middle portion of block thirty-two of District Lot twenty-eight (28), Group One of New Westminster District.
document dated June 17, 1912; "ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT", between Siegfred A. Young and Arthur B. Young of Hamburg, Arizona, Caroline C. Ogilvie of Vancouver, Stanley P. Young of Vancouver, and Wilma C. Young of Eugene, Oregon, all heirs of Benjamin Young, deceased, and Robert Love; for land, Parcel 6 of a subdivision of Blocks 31 and 32, being a strip of land 38 6/10 feet wide and 143 3/10 feet deep, in the middle portion of Block 32, District Lot 28 North, Group One, New Westminster District; for $650, to be paid in four instalments with interest at 7%; six buff legal-sized pages, typewritten, purple carbon copy; in grey cardboard cover fastened with two asterisk-shaped brads; last page has signatures of Robert Love and five signatures of W.P. Ogilvie, the attorney-in-fact of the sellers (Caroline's husband), also Laura E. Munro, witness, and Geo. S. Vickers, witness; six red seals; folded twice; when folded, cover shows handwritten "June 17 - 1912" "Siegfred A. Young et al to Robert Love" "Agreement for Sale";