This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's continuation of reading his series of short stories. He reads; "OUR HOUSE BURNS DOWN. 1922. Sherlock and Kitchener." that he wrote in 1963. Alfred reads "The Story of the Burnaby Giants of long ago" written by Eloise Street, published in the I…
This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's continuation of reading his series of short stories. He reads; "OUR HOUSE BURNS DOWN. 1922. Sherlock and Kitchener." that he wrote in 1963. Alfred reads "The Story of the Burnaby Giants of long ago" written by Eloise Street, published in the Indian Time Magazine March, 1954.
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.
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 ten of recording of Alfred Bingham's writings
Track ten of recording of Alfred Bingham's writings
Item is a four page, typewritten personal memory of growing up in Burnaby (photocopied), specifically of the Burnaby Lake Interurban, written by Alistair Ross.
Item is a four page, typewritten personal memory of growing up in Burnaby (photocopied), specifically of the Burnaby Lake Interurban, written by Alistair Ross.
Photograph of the Allanson family clearing the land at 12 Warwick Avenue bought by Malcolm and Mabel Allanson. Left to right: William Allanson, Mabel Allanson, Malcolm Allanson, and Jessie Allanson. William and Jessie Allanson are the parents of Malcolm. Mabel and Malcolm Allanson are married.
Photograph of the Allanson family clearing the land at 12 Warwick Avenue bought by Malcolm and Mabel Allanson. Left to right: William Allanson, Mabel Allanson, Malcolm Allanson, and Jessie Allanson. William and Jessie Allanson are the parents of Malcolm. Mabel and Malcolm Allanson are married.
Photograph of the exterior of Allen Sharpe's first store on Kingsway (at Kathleen Avenue), a sign shop and store that also sold groceries and Mrs. Rose Sharpe's hand-made linens. The Sharpes bought the property in 1919.
Photograph of the exterior of Allen Sharpe's first store on Kingsway (at Kathleen Avenue), a sign shop and store that also sold groceries and Mrs. Rose Sharpe's hand-made linens. The Sharpes bought the property in 1919.
Photograph of Allen Sharpe's gas station on Kingsway (at Kathleen Avenue) with a group of men standing in front. Mr. Sharpe is on the right wearing a cap and tie. Signs on the building read, "Sharpe Service Garage / Shell Gasoline / Motor Oil / Tires."
Photograph of Allen Sharpe's gas station on Kingsway (at Kathleen Avenue) with a group of men standing in front. Mr. Sharpe is on the right wearing a cap and tie. Signs on the building read, "Sharpe Service Garage / Shell Gasoline / Motor Oil / Tires."
Photograph of the exterior of the home of the Almond family. Two women and three girls are seated on the porch stairs. The description identifies the house as 4712 Union Street, while the house number shown in the photograph is 4771. An annotation on the back of the photograph notes that the hou…
Photograph of the exterior of the home of the Almond family. Two women and three girls are seated on the porch stairs. The description identifies the house as 4712 Union Street, while the house number shown in the photograph is 4771. An annotation on the back of the photograph notes that the house was built in 1912.
Photograph of members of the Alta Vista Baptist Church Sunday school class at the Jubilee Interurban train Station, on the way to a Picnic at Second Beach. Included in the photograph are, from left; Pearl Christian, Joy [last name unknown], Phyllis Smith, Ivy Smith, Dorothy Douglas, Grace Harrison,…
Photograph of members of the Alta Vista Baptist Church Sunday school class at the Jubilee Interurban train Station, on the way to a Picnic at Second Beach. Included in the photograph are, from left; Pearl Christian, Joy [last name unknown], Phyllis Smith, Ivy Smith, Dorothy Douglas, Grace Harrison, [unidentified]. Mrs. Nellie Davis [not pictured] taught this class.
File consists of papers pertaining to the purchase of the lot and building of a house at 1869 18th Avenue in Burnaby, including the original Agreement of Sale between Mabel Carson and Alvin Burtch.
File consists of papers pertaining to the purchase of the lot and building of a house at 1869 18th Avenue in Burnaby, including the original Agreement of Sale between Mabel Carson and Alvin Burtch.
Subseries consists of textual records pertaining to Alvin Burtch's house in Burnaby, a newspaper clipping, and photograph of Burtch in his BCER uniform.
Subseries consists of textual records pertaining to Alvin Burtch's house in Burnaby, a newspaper clipping, and photograph of Burtch in his BCER uniform.
History
Alvin Burtch was a British Columbia Electric Railway conductor who drove for the BCER for 38 years, 30 of those years on the Burnaby Lake Line. He was the driver for the line's final run in 1953, his 37th year of service.
Burtch had a daughter named Hazel Cunningham, who grew up in Burnaby and married Friends of the Carousel member Harry Sumner.
Subseries consists of photographs compiled by Anne Macey depicting Hart House (also known as "Avalon"), designed by architect Frank W. Macey, and one portrait of Frake W. Macey
Subseries consists of photographs compiled by Anne Macey depicting Hart House (also known as "Avalon"), designed by architect Frank W. Macey, and one portrait of Frake W. Macey
History
Anne Elizabeth Stokes was born in Misson, BC and raised in Surrey, BC. She married Vancouver Police Department Constable Charles Boyes in 1947, and Major Rolf F. Macey in 1965. Anne and Rolf had two children: son Lane Macey and daughter Naomi Macey.
Anne worked as a psychiatric nurse at Essondale Hospital and Director of Volunteer Services at Burnaby General Hospital. She volunteered her time for various clubs, including Save the Children and Dixon House.
Anne passed away at Eagle Ridge Manor in Port Moody, BC in 2007.
Subseries consists of records collected by Anne Sievenpiper and her husband Bill pertaining to the city of Vancouver. Records include a painting, cartographic records, and papers.
Subseries consists of records collected by Anne Sievenpiper and her husband Bill pertaining to the city of Vancouver. Records include a painting, cartographic records, and papers.
History
Anne Louise Nabocik was born in Podbeil, Slovakia in 1928 to parents Stanley Honsberger Sievenpiper and Alma Rachel Morrison. She married William Stanley "Bill" Sievenpiper and the couple had two daughters: Sharoyne and Shirley. Anne died in 2017.
Photograph of Mrs. Annie Eshelby in front of a felled tree measuring six feet in diameter. She is sitting on a chair with a black and white cat lying across her lap. This photograph was taken at the lot on Fell Avenue and Dundas Street, North Burnaby, which was cleared for the Eshelby family home. …
Photograph of Mrs. Annie Eshelby in front of a felled tree measuring six feet in diameter. She is sitting on a chair with a black and white cat lying across her lap. This photograph was taken at the lot on Fell Avenue and Dundas Street, North Burnaby, which was cleared for the Eshelby family home. Annie Eshelby (nee Perrey) was married to Frank Eshelby. They settled in Burnaby after moving from England in 1922.
Photograph of two girls in dresses standing on either side of a Ford Model T Coupe, with a boy in front. Standing on the right of the car is Annie Ferguson; the other girl is identified as "ME". The boy squatting on the ground in front of the car is identified as Fred. The car is parked on a dirt r…
Photograph of two girls in dresses standing on either side of a Ford Model T Coupe, with a boy in front. Standing on the right of the car is Annie Ferguson; the other girl is identified as "ME". The boy squatting on the ground in front of the car is identified as Fred. The car is parked on a dirt road.