Real estate ventures became quite active in the Vancouver Heights and Capitol Hill areas of Burnaby by 1908. Brokerage firms and agents who bought large tracts, subdivided and sold them off in parcels and by 1909 had adopted the name "Capitol Hill" to describe Burnaby's newest neighbourhood. In his book, History of Burnaby and Vicinity," historian George Green explains that the term "Capitol Hill" was taken from ancient Rome where the civic centre was built upon the Capitoline Hill, one of the seven hills of the eternal city. In 1909, the Scott Brokerage Company advertised the sale of lots on Capitol Hill, calling it "one of Vancouver's swellest suburbs."
74 photographs : b&w glass negative ; 15.5 x 11 cm
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of photographs taken by photographer J. W. Phillips. The photographs depict members of the J.W. Phillips family, who lived in the Capitol Hill area, along with images of North Burnaby scenes and neighbourhoods.
74 photographs : b&w glass negative ; 15.5 x 11 cm
Description Level
Fonds
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
2008-18
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of photographs taken by photographer J. W. Phillips. The photographs depict members of the J.W. Phillips family, who lived in the Capitol Hill area, along with images of North Burnaby scenes and neighbourhoods.
History
Emily Brew married William James Phillips in Douglas on the Isle of Man, in 1884. Their first child, James William Phillips “Jim” was born in Douglas on the Isle of Man, on November 18, 1886. His brother, John George "George" was born July 27, 1890, and their sister Emily Brew "Amy" was born ca. 1892. The family of five arrived in the Capitol Hill area of North Burnaby in 1910, and built their first home on Ellesmere Avenue. They were the second family to move to the area.
Jim Phillips was a carpenter by trade, but was better known as an avid amateur photographer and painter, his photographs serving as an important record of early Burnaby. He and his brother both served in World War I, but only George returned. Their sister married John William "Jack" Holmes on November 25, 1914, and had two sons, Douglas and Fred in 1926. George also married and had a son, James Brew Phillips.
Emily (Brew) Phillips died January 20, 1915, at the age of 53. Her husband William James Phillips died December 2 of that same year at the age of 55.
James William "Jim" Phillips served as a Private in the Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment), and died overseas on August 15, 1917, at the age of 30. His sister, Emily Brew "Amy" (Phillips) Holmes died July 22, 1976, at the age of 84.
Photograph of an unidentified woman in a white lace dress, standing in a fern-filled forested area. This is believed to have been taken on the Field family property at Capitol Hill.
Emulsion measures 15.5 x 11 cm on the glass; entire glass plate measures 16 x 12 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
487-047
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2008-18
Scope and Content
Photograph of an unidentified woman in a white lace dress, standing in a fern-filled forested area. This is believed to have been taken on the Field family property at Capitol Hill.
Photograph of newlyweds, Emily Brew "Amy" (Phillips) and John William "Jack" Holmes moving into the Phillips' home at 200 Ellesmere Avenue, Capitol Hill.
Photograph of newlyweds, Emily Brew "Amy" (Phillips) and John William "Jack" Holmes moving into the Phillips' home at 200 Ellesmere Avenue, Capitol Hill.
Photograph of Emily Brew "Amy" Phillips (later Holmes) standing at the doorway of her house with its garden of foxgloves at 100 Ellesmere Avenue, Capitol Hill. Amy became the wife of Jack Holmes and moved into this house, which was built by her father William James Phillips and her two brothers, Ja…
Emulsion measures 15.5 x 11 cm on the glass; entire glass plate measures 16 x 12 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
487-023
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2008-18
Scope and Content
Photograph of Emily Brew "Amy" Phillips (later Holmes) standing at the doorway of her house with its garden of foxgloves at 100 Ellesmere Avenue, Capitol Hill. Amy became the wife of Jack Holmes and moved into this house, which was built by her father William James Phillips and her two brothers, James William Phillips (photographer), and George Phillips.
Photograph of an unidentified man (likely either Jack Holmes) helping to clear land near the Phillips home on Ellsemere Avenue. He is standing in front of the stump that he just blasted, resting an axe at his side. The stump is in pieces and still smoldering.
Emulsion measures 11 x 15.5 cm on the glass; entire glass plate measures 16 x 12 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
487-037
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2008-18
Scope and Content
Photograph of an unidentified man (likely either Jack Holmes) helping to clear land near the Phillips home on Ellsemere Avenue. He is standing in front of the stump that he just blasted, resting an axe at his side. The stump is in pieces and still smoldering.
Photograph of Mrs. Una Bonnett and three of her childen: (left to right) Victor, Thais and Austa, at their family home at 21 North Hythe Avenue. A large stump is visible in the background.
Photograph of Mrs. Una Bonnett and three of her childen: (left to right) Victor, Thais and Austa, at their family home at 21 North Hythe Avenue. A large stump is visible in the background.
Photograph of the Brown family. Identified: (front) Elsa "Birdie" Brown (mother of Janet Brown McLeod) and Philip Brown (father). The other woman is an unidentified aunt. The photograph was probably on taken on Capitol Hill, North Burnaby.
Photograph of the Brown family. Identified: (front) Elsa "Birdie" Brown (mother of Janet Brown McLeod) and Philip Brown (father). The other woman is an unidentified aunt. The photograph was probably on taken on Capitol Hill, North Burnaby.
Photograph of two young children outside. The older of the two is holding on to the back of the wooden chair that the younger one is propped up on. This photograph is believed to have been taken in the Capitol Hill area.
Emulsion measures 15.5 x 11 cm on the glass; entire glass plate measures 16 x 12 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
487-064
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2008-18
Scope and Content
Photograph of two young children outside. The older of the two is holding on to the back of the wooden chair that the younger one is propped up on. This photograph is believed to have been taken in the Capitol Hill area.
Photograph of three men clearing land (most likely) on the Phillips family property. John George "George" Phillips and his father William James Phillips appear to be standing on running boards at the base of a large felled tree. The third man, sitting at the base of the stump, is unidentified.
Emulsion measures 15.5 x 11 cm on the glass; entire glass plate measures 16 x 12 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
487-038
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2008-18
Scope and Content
Photograph of three men clearing land (most likely) on the Phillips family property. John George "George" Phillips and his father William James Phillips appear to be standing on running boards at the base of a large felled tree. The third man, sitting at the base of the stump, is unidentified.
Photograph of British Columbia Electric Railway Company labourers constructing the Hastings Streetcar line extension along Hastings Street at Holdom. The Dunsford House, home of the Holdom family is visible on the left along with a wooden plank roadway and sidewalk, with the Holdom family standing …
Emulsion measures 11 x 15.5 cm on the glass; entire glass plate measures 12 x 16 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
487-031
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2008-18
Scope and Content
Photograph of British Columbia Electric Railway Company labourers constructing the Hastings Streetcar line extension along Hastings Street at Holdom. The Dunsford House, home of the Holdom family is visible on the left along with a wooden plank roadway and sidewalk, with the Holdom family standing on their front porch. Walter Holdom built Tea Rooms (partially visible on the far left) on his property to entertain prospective real estate buyers. This photograph was taken looking east towards Burnaby Mountain.
Photograph of the cook, his wife, and Bill Hall (a childhood friend of Fred Holmes), who fed the crew installing British Columbia Electric Railway (BCER) power poles for the streetcar extension from Boundary Road to Ellesmere Avenue in 1914.
Photograph of the cook, his wife, and Bill Hall (a childhood friend of Fred Holmes), who fed the crew installing British Columbia Electric Railway (BCER) power poles for the streetcar extension from Boundary Road to Ellesmere Avenue in 1914.
Photograph of the Dunsford House, home of the Holdom family (it later burned down). A man and two women, most likely Walter and his wife Hetty Holdom with another family member, are standing outside the home. Walter Holdom built Tea Rooms on this same property to entertain prospective real estate b…
Emulsion measures 15.5 x 11 cm on the glass; entire glass plate measures 16 x 12 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
487-017
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2008-18
Scope and Content
Photograph of the Dunsford House, home of the Holdom family (it later burned down). A man and two women, most likely Walter and his wife Hetty Holdom with another family member, are standing outside the home. Walter Holdom built Tea Rooms on this same property to entertain prospective real estate buyers.
Photograph of the front steps of the Dunsford House (home of the Holdom family) and Tea Rooms that were built about 1910 on the same land as the Dunsford house. Walter Holdom built the Tea Rooms to entertain prospective real estate buyers.
Emulsion measures 11 x 15.5 cm on the glass; entire glass plate measures 12 x 16 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
487-018
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2008-18
Scope and Content
Photograph of the front steps of the Dunsford House (home of the Holdom family) and Tea Rooms that were built about 1910 on the same land as the Dunsford house. Walter Holdom built the Tea Rooms to entertain prospective real estate buyers.
Photograph of Emily (Brew) Phillips standing beside the house and garden of foxgloves at 100 Ellesmere Avenue, Capitol Hill. Emily Phillips was the wife of William James Phillips, and the house was built by William James Phillips and his two sons, James William Phillips (photographer), and George P…
Emulsion measures 11 x 15.5 cm on the glass; entire glass plate measures 12 x 16 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
487-019
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2008-18
Scope and Content
Photograph of Emily (Brew) Phillips standing beside the house and garden of foxgloves at 100 Ellesmere Avenue, Capitol Hill. Emily Phillips was the wife of William James Phillips, and the house was built by William James Phillips and his two sons, James William Phillips (photographer), and George Phillips.
Photograph of a young woman with two young children at her knee (most likely she is the mother of these two children). This photograph is believed to have been taken in the Capitol Hill area of Burnaby.
Emulsion measures 15.5 x 11 cm on the glass; entire glass plate measures 16 x 12 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
487-068
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2008-18
Scope and Content
Photograph of a young woman with two young children at her knee (most likely she is the mother of these two children). This photograph is believed to have been taken in the Capitol Hill area of Burnaby.
Photograph of a young woman sitting on a wooden chair next to two young children; one is standing to her right, leaning against her and the other is sitting in a smaller chair to her left with a doll in her lap (most likely this is a mother and her two children). Sitting in the woman's lap is a plu…
Emulsion measures 15.5 x 11 cm on the glass; entire glass plate measures 16 x 12 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
487-072
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2008-18
Scope and Content
Photograph of a young woman sitting on a wooden chair next to two young children; one is standing to her right, leaning against her and the other is sitting in a smaller chair to her left with a doll in her lap (most likely this is a mother and her two children). Sitting in the woman's lap is a plush lion with a long mane. This photograph is believed to have been taken in the Capitol Hill area of Burnaby.