This portion of the interview pertains to Alfred Bingham's employment just as the Depression hit. Alfred tells antecdotes, both amusing and disturbing, about working at a ranch out in Coquitlam.
This portion of the interview pertains to Alfred Bingham's employment just as the Depression hit. Alfred tells antecdotes, both amusing and disturbing, about working at a ranch out in Coquitlam.
Recording is a taped interview with Alfred Bingham by SFU graduate student Bettina Bradbury June 10, 1975. Major themes discussed are: the Depression, Pioneers, and the Co-operative 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 Angus 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.
Bettina Bradbury teaches history and women's studies at York University. She is the author of Wife to Widow. Lives, Laws and Politics in Nineteenth-century Montreal. (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, June 2011), 520p; Working Families. Age, Gender and Daily Survival in Industrializing Montreal. (Toronto: Canadian Social History Series, McClelland and Stewart, 1993); (Republished Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1996) (3rd edition, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007). These interviews were undertaken after she completed her MA at Simon Fraser University in 1975 with the support of an LIP grant.
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.
1 photograph : b&w print ; 28 x 39 cm mounted on matt board 30.5 x 41 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the "21st Legislative Assembly" portraits, 1945-1948. Members are identified in the top row left to right: J. Mowat; W.T. Straith K.C.; E.E. Winch; R.H. Carson; J.J. Gillis M.D.,C.M.; T. Uphill; T. King; L.Le Bourdais; S. Guthrie; L.H. Eyres; T.A. Love; second row left to right: Hon. …
1 photograph : b&w print ; 28 x 39 cm mounted on matt board 30.5 x 41 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the "21st Legislative Assembly" portraits, 1945-1948. Members are identified in the top row left to right: J. Mowat; W.T. Straith K.C.; E.E. Winch; R.H. Carson; J.J. Gillis M.D.,C.M.; T. Uphill; T. King; L.Le Bourdais; S. Guthrie; L.H. Eyres; T.A. Love; second row left to right: Hon. E.C. Carson; Hon. F. Putnam; Hon. G.S. Pearson; Hon. r.L Maitland K.C.; Hon. H. Hart Premier; H.E. Winch Leader of the Opposition; Hon. E.T. Kenney; Hon. H. Anscomb; Hon. G.M. Weir M.A.,d.Paed.; third row left to right: G.S. Wismer K.C.; H. Gargrave; F.W. Green M.D., C.M.; W.A.C. Bennett; Mrs. N. Hodges; Hon. N.w. Whittaker K.C.; Mrs. T.J. Rolston; R.C. MacDonald; A.J. Turner; B.I. Johnson; H.J. Welch; fourth row, left to right: J.H. Corsbie; W.D. Smith; E.F.Rowland; McIntyre E.C. (Law Clerk); W.R. Webster Capt. (Sgt.at arms); R.S. Yates (Clerk of House); A.J. McDonell; D.C. Brown; A.C. Hope; bottom row left to right: C.W. Morrow; R. Harding; A.B. Ritchie; C.T. Beard; R.R. Laird M.D., C.M.; J. McInnis; W.J. Johnson; J.H. Cates; J.L. Webster; W.H. Brett.
Agreement between His Majesty the King in the Right of the Province of British Columbia and the Corporation of the District of Burnaby re Allotment Under the Better Housing Act
Item is a thirty-nine page booklet describing and illustrating British Columbia Electric Railway Company operations and development in the Lower Mainland between 1910 and 1923.
Item is a thirty-nine page booklet describing and illustrating British Columbia Electric Railway Company operations and development in the Lower Mainland between 1910 and 1923.
Photograph of a BC Electric Railway timetable for the Lulu Island Branch, Eburne, and New Westminster Line, including a Sunday schedule and freight schedule.
Photograph of a BC Electric Railway timetable for the Lulu Island Branch, Eburne, and New Westminster Line, including a Sunday schedule and freight schedule.
Photograph of two British Columbia Electric Railway Company timetables for the Central Park line, one "corrected to October 15, 1933" and the other "corrected to May 16, 1946." Also in the photograph are two tickets, one reads, "Good for one fare at 10 for $1.25 between Vancouver and Burnaby North…
Photograph of two British Columbia Electric Railway Company timetables for the Central Park line, one "corrected to October 15, 1933" and the other "corrected to May 16, 1946." Also in the photograph are two tickets, one reads, "Good for one fare at 10 for $1.25 between Vancouver and Burnaby Northwest Zone" and the other reads, "Good for one fare between Vancouver and Park Ave."
Photograph of British Columbia Parliament buildings, home of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in Victoria. A car is parked out on the street in front.
Photograph of British Columbia Parliament buildings, home of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in Victoria. A car is parked out on the street in front.
1 photograph : b&w ; 19.2 x 24.6 cm mounted on 30.4 x 35.5 cm cardboard
Scope and Content
Photograph of the British Columbia Provincial Police, Burnaby Detachment at Burnaby Municipal Hall. The caption above the photograph reads, "British Columbia Police / Vancouver District - Burnaby Detachment / Burnaby, B.C. - May 7th, 1949. The members are, front row, left to right: Cpl. R.C.B Foo…
1 photograph : b&w ; 19.2 x 24.6 cm mounted on 30.4 x 35.5 cm cardboard
Description Level
Item
Record No.
049-001
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
BHS2007-04
Scope and Content
Photograph of the British Columbia Provincial Police, Burnaby Detachment at Burnaby Municipal Hall. The caption above the photograph reads, "British Columbia Police / Vancouver District - Burnaby Detachment / Burnaby, B.C. - May 7th, 1949. The members are, front row, left to right: Cpl. R.C.B Foote (No. 215), Cpl. A.M. Millar (No. 575), Sgt. J.A. Henry (No. 414 i/c Detach.), Insp. C. Clark (i/c District), Det./Cpl. G.J. Emsley (No. 509), Cpl. G.S. Pearson (No. 579), and Cst. C.E. Estlin (No. 914). Middle row, left to right: Cst. R.G. McKay (No. 1071), Cst. B.L. Johannson (No. 1019), Cst. N.C.B. Nelson (No. 733), Cst. H. Twist (No. 607), Cst. A.E. Gibbon (No. 947), Cst. E. Turtle (No. 959), Cst. H.E. Klick (No. 923), and Cst. J.H. Bishop (No. 1031). Back row, left to right: Cst. S. Service (No. 1152), Cst. J. McCowan (No. 1133), Cst. L. Brown (No. 1150), Cst. J.E. Clark (No. 1142), Cst. L.J. Tabbutt (No. 1053), Cst. V.H. St. Pierce (No. 1153), Cst. D.N. Brown (No. 1149), Cst. B.O. Mayne (No. 1136), and Cst. Q.W. Wenaus (Special).
Photograph of six British Columbia Provincial Police officers in uniform standing in two rows in front of the British Columbia Police building at Dawson Creek. The officers are; front row (from left): Dunc Fletcher, Jack Hall and Pat Burke. Back row (from left): Ed Fairweather, Maurice Low and Bria…
Photograph of six British Columbia Provincial Police officers in uniform standing in two rows in front of the British Columbia Police building at Dawson Creek. The officers are; front row (from left): Dunc Fletcher, Jack Hall and Pat Burke. Back row (from left): Ed Fairweather, Maurice Low and Brian Williams.
Copyright stamp on verso reads: "British Columbia Government Travel Bureau in Victoria, B.C."
Note on verso of photograph reads: "Dawson Creek- 1948-49/ Front. L-R: Dunc Fletcher. Jack Hall./ Pat Burke./ Rear: L-R: Ed Fairweather, Maurice Low/ Brian Williams"
1 photograph : sepia ; 18.5 x 27 cm laser print + 1 p.
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Prince Rupert detachment of the British Columbia Provincial Police standing in two staggered rows in uniform. Standing in the back row (from left) are; Cst. J. Cowgill, Cst. Wally Strouts, Cst. G. Brotherstone, Cst. Roger Brett and Cst. M. McLeod. In the front row are; Cst. Eric T…
1 photograph : sepia ; 18.5 x 27 cm laser print + 1 p.
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Prince Rupert detachment of the British Columbia Provincial Police standing in two staggered rows in uniform. Standing in the back row (from left) are; Cst. J. Cowgill, Cst. Wally Strouts, Cst. G. Brotherstone, Cst. Roger Brett and Cst. M. McLeod. In the front row are; Cst. Eric Turtle, Cst. Harold Johnstone, Sgt. O.L. Hall, Cpl. A.T. Lashmar, Cst. M. Stevens and Cst. Theodore Brue.
Composite photograph of students of the British Columbia School of Pharmacy and Science. Names are listed beneath each of the oval photographs (grouped in four rows). In the top row (from left) are; F. McIntosh "Mat. Med + Botany", O.P. Harrison, H.E. Falk, I.M. Wilson, E.G. McDonagh, G.H. Goodard,…
Composite photograph of students of the British Columbia School of Pharmacy and Science. Names are listed beneath each of the oval photographs (grouped in four rows). In the top row (from left) are; F. McIntosh "Mat. Med + Botany", O.P. Harrison, H.E. Falk, I.M. Wilson, E.G. McDonagh, G.H. Goodard, P.J. Bain "Principal". Second row; A. McLennan, C.C. Denny, W.G. Smith, L.P. Landry, E.J. Harrison, B.M. Adams, H.D. Hipwell, and A.W. Barr. Third row; H.L. Fee, C.D. Houghland, A.R. Bush, R.W. Smith, W. James, B.A. McKeown, W.K. Corning, S.R. Davies and G.W.H. Stearman. Bottom row; G. Baillie "Pharmacy + Physics", A.H. Blumenauer, D.J. Bailey, J.Q. Adams, G.P. Doran and S. Foulds "Chemistry".
Composite photograph of students of the British Columbia School of Pharmacy and Science. Names are listed beneath each of the oval photographs (grouped in five rows). In the top row (from left) are; C.S. Forrest, J.G. Saul, S. Smythe, W.A. Speck, G.E. Curtis, C.N. Clark, A.O. Blain, J.D. Witham and…
Composite photograph of students of the British Columbia School of Pharmacy and Science. Names are listed beneath each of the oval photographs (grouped in five rows). In the top row (from left) are; C.S. Forrest, J.G. Saul, S. Smythe, W.A. Speck, G.E. Curtis, C.N. Clark, A.O. Blain, J.D. Witham and J. Beddows. In the second row are; G.H. Kelly, R. Rennie, L.A. Pineo, D.J. Bailey, C. Hutchinson, L.A. Blain, B.A. McKeown, G.M. Harvey and A.W. Barr. In the third row are; R.V.R. Hood, J. R. Bradwell, G. Donovan and R. Cochrane. In the centre (in larger ovals) are; F. McIntosh "Mat. Med + Botany", P. J. Bain "Principal" and G. Baillie "Pharmacy + Physics." In the fourth row are; W.R. Hewitson, J.H. Sclater, L. Heyworth and L.C. Simpson. In the bottom row are; A.W. Kennedy, A.R. Bush, S.T. Chess, A. Cheeseman, W. Jude, J.B. Rountree, H.D. Robinson, L.B. Thompson and K.T. Stewart.