This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's essay entitled Stump Rangers, a listing of early settlers that includes addresses and short descriptions, essays on Confederation Park, land clearing and on Burnaby's first Council meeting.
This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's essay entitled Stump Rangers, a listing of early settlers that includes addresses and short descriptions, essays on Confederation Park, land clearing and on Burnaby's first Council meeting.
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 one of recording of Alfred Bingham's writings
Track one of recording of Alfred Bingham's writings
Photograph of the sign welcoming the public to the Nature House and Burnaby Lake. The sign depicts a map of Burnaby Lake and points of interest, including the rowing complex, pool, ice rink, and Old Mill Site. A smaller sign shows the address of 4519 Piper and a small footbridge is in the backgroun…
Photograph of the sign welcoming the public to the Nature House and Burnaby Lake. The sign depicts a map of Burnaby Lake and points of interest, including the rowing complex, pool, ice rink, and Old Mill Site. A smaller sign shows the address of 4519 Piper and a small footbridge is in the background. The photograph is taken facing southwest.
Photograph of the hillside on the top of Burnaby Mountain Park, with a person in the foreground looking out to the view. The photograph is taken facing northwest and shows the view over the the Burrard Inlet. Capitol Hill, the North Shore Mountains, and downtown Vancouver are visible in the distanc…
Photograph of the hillside on the top of Burnaby Mountain Park, with a person in the foreground looking out to the view. The photograph is taken facing northwest and shows the view over the the Burrard Inlet. Capitol Hill, the North Shore Mountains, and downtown Vancouver are visible in the distance.
Photograph of the top of Burnaby Mountain Park and the view of Vancouver from the hillside, with a man standing in the foreground. The photograph is taken facing west of southwest. Capitol Hill, the Burrard Inlet, the North Shore Mountains, Vancouver, and Stanley Park are visible in the distance.
Photograph of the top of Burnaby Mountain Park and the view of Vancouver from the hillside, with a man standing in the foreground. The photograph is taken facing west of southwest. Capitol Hill, the Burrard Inlet, the North Shore Mountains, Vancouver, and Stanley Park are visible in the distance.
Photograph of the view from Burnaby Mountain of the Burrard Inlet, the oil refinery, and the mountains. The photograph is taken from Burnaby Mountain Park, facing north.
Photograph of the view from Burnaby Mountain of the Burrard Inlet, the oil refinery, and the mountains. The photograph is taken from Burnaby Mountain Park, facing north.
Photograph of Burnaby Mountain Park looking west towards Vancouver. The caption on the back of the postcard reads: "This view was taken from Burnaby Mountain Park, which is adjacent to Simon Fraser University. Some of the most spectacular views can be seen from this high elevation."
Photograph of Burnaby Mountain Park looking west towards Vancouver. The caption on the back of the postcard reads: "This view was taken from Burnaby Mountain Park, which is adjacent to Simon Fraser University. Some of the most spectacular views can be seen from this high elevation."
Photograph of the view of the mountains and park from a hill on Burnaby Mountain Park. The photograph is taken facing north. The photograph shows the parking lot and the Burnaby Mountain Centennial Pavilion.
Photograph of the view of the mountains and park from a hill on Burnaby Mountain Park. The photograph is taken facing north. The photograph shows the parking lot and the Burnaby Mountain Centennial Pavilion.
Photograph of the view from Burnaby Mountain Park. The photograph is taken facing west and shows the park, part of the parking lot at the Burnaby Centennial Pavilion, and Capitol Hill and the mountains in the distance.
Photograph of the view from Burnaby Mountain Park. The photograph is taken facing west and shows the park, part of the parking lot at the Burnaby Centennial Pavilion, and Capitol Hill and the mountains in the distance.
Photograph of a sign for "Cape Burnaby," posted on park grounds near Sperling Avenue, with a building in the background that appears to be the Burnaby Lake Clubhouse. The sign reads: "Cape Burnaby Launch Site of Burnaby Model Rocket Club in Cooperation with Burnaby Parks & Recreation Comm." The ph…
Photograph of a sign for "Cape Burnaby," posted on park grounds near Sperling Avenue, with a building in the background that appears to be the Burnaby Lake Clubhouse. The sign reads: "Cape Burnaby Launch Site of Burnaby Model Rocket Club in Cooperation with Burnaby Parks & Recreation Comm." The photograph is taken from the sidewalk, facing east.
Photographic postcard of the rear portion of the Centennial Pavilion along with a view of some of the landscaping at Burnaby Mountain Park. The caption on the back of the photograph reads: "This park is situated on the western portion of Burnaby Mountain. Numerous view points throughout beautiful…
Photographic postcard of the rear portion of the Centennial Pavilion along with a view of some of the landscaping at Burnaby Mountain Park. The caption on the back of the photograph reads: "This park is situated on the western portion of Burnaby Mountain. Numerous view points throughout beautifully landscaped grounds provide magnificent views of Burrard Inlet, Coast Range Mountains, City of Vancouver and surrounding Municipalities."
Photograph of tennis players playing in the tennis courts in Central Park, on Patterson Avenue. The photograph is taken from outside the fence around the courts, facing south.
Photograph of tennis players playing in the tennis courts in Central Park, on Patterson Avenue. The photograph is taken from outside the fence around the courts, facing south.
Photograph of the tennis courts in Central Park, on Patterson Avenue. The photograph is taken from across one of the sets of courts, facing north. Tennis players are visible in the far set of courts, on the other side of a fence.
Photograph of the tennis courts in Central Park, on Patterson Avenue. The photograph is taken from across one of the sets of courts, facing north. Tennis players are visible in the far set of courts, on the other side of a fence.
1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm pasted on cardboard backing
Scope and Content
Photograph of Jessie Beattie and Burnaby Mayor Tom Constable shoveling dirt onto a tree at a tree planting ceremony at Eastburn Park. Also identified in the photograph is Susan Dunn, who can be seen standing to the far left.
1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm pasted on cardboard backing
Description Level
Item
Record No.
467-002
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
BHS2004-5
Scope and Content
Photograph of Jessie Beattie and Burnaby Mayor Tom Constable shoveling dirt onto a tree at a tree planting ceremony at Eastburn Park. Also identified in the photograph is Susan Dunn, who can be seen standing to the far left.
1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm pasted on cardboard backing.
Scope and Content
Photograph of Jessie Beattie holding the shovel during the ceremonial tree planting at Eastburn Park. Burnaby Mayor Tom Constable is standing next to her, reaching for the shovel while Burnaby Council member Gerry Ast is visible to the far right (wearing light coloured suit). Standing in the crow…
1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm pasted on cardboard backing.
Description Level
Item
Record No.
467-003
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
BHS2004-5
Scope and Content
Photograph of Jessie Beattie holding the shovel during the ceremonial tree planting at Eastburn Park. Burnaby Mayor Tom Constable is standing next to her, reaching for the shovel while Burnaby Council member Gerry Ast is visible to the far right (wearing light coloured suit). Standing in the crowd, behind Jessie and wearing a light coloured jacket is Ethel Widmen. The remainder of the people are unidentified.
1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm pasted on cardboard backing
Scope and Content
Photograph of a woman shoveling dirt onto the base of a tree during the ceremonial tree planting at Eastburn Park. To the right of the photograph (turned away from the camera) is Burnaby Mayor Tom Constable and next to him (wearing light coloured suit) is Burnaby Council member Gerry Ast. In the …
1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm pasted on cardboard backing
Description Level
Item
Record No.
467-004
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
BHS2004-5
Scope and Content
Photograph of a woman shoveling dirt onto the base of a tree during the ceremonial tree planting at Eastburn Park. To the right of the photograph (turned away from the camera) is Burnaby Mayor Tom Constable and next to him (wearing light coloured suit) is Burnaby Council member Gerry Ast. In the centre of the photograph (wearing light coloured jacket and holding a purse) is Ethel Widmen.
1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm pasted on cardboard backing
Scope and Content
Photograph of Burnaby Mayor Tom Constable handing a shovel to Robin Sanders as part of the tree planting ceremony at Eastburn Park. Standing behind them, wearing a light coloured jacket is Ethel Widmen.
1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm pasted on cardboard backing
Description Level
Item
Record No.
467-005
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
BHS2004-5
Scope and Content
Photograph of Burnaby Mayor Tom Constable handing a shovel to Robin Sanders as part of the tree planting ceremony at Eastburn Park. Standing behind them, wearing a light coloured jacket is Ethel Widmen.
1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm pasted on cardboard backing
Scope and Content
Photograph of Mayor Tom Constable holding a tree at the ceremonial tree planting at Eastburn Park. Standing in the centre of the photograph (wearing light coloured suit) is Burnaby Council member Gerry Ast.
1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm pasted on cardboard backing
Description Level
Item
Record No.
467-006
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
BHS2004-5
Scope and Content
Photograph of Mayor Tom Constable holding a tree at the ceremonial tree planting at Eastburn Park. Standing in the centre of the photograph (wearing light coloured suit) is Burnaby Council member Gerry Ast.
1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25 cm pasted on cardboard backing
Scope and Content
Photograph of a crowd gathered for a ceremonial tree planting at Eastburn Park. Burnaby Mayor Tom Constable can be seen to the far right (partially obscurred) and to the immediate left of him is Burnaby Council member Gerald Ast. The rest of the crowd is unidenitified.
1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25 cm pasted on cardboard backing
Description Level
Item
Record No.
467-009
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
BHS2004-5
Scope and Content
Photograph of a crowd gathered for a ceremonial tree planting at Eastburn Park. Burnaby Mayor Tom Constable can be seen to the far right (partially obscurred) and to the immediate left of him is Burnaby Council member Gerald Ast. The rest of the crowd is unidenitified.
1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm pasted on cardboard backing
Scope and Content
Photograph of a tree planting ceremony at Eastburn Park. Beth Chobotuck is shown holding the shovel at the centre of the picture and Burnaby Mayor Tom Constable is visible at the far right of the photograph (with his side to the camera). To the left of Mayor Constable (wearing light coloured suit…
1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25.5 cm pasted on cardboard backing
Description Level
Item
Record No.
467-010
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No restrictions
Accession Number
BHS2004-5
Scope and Content
Photograph of a tree planting ceremony at Eastburn Park. Beth Chobotuck is shown holding the shovel at the centre of the picture and Burnaby Mayor Tom Constable is visible at the far right of the photograph (with his side to the camera). To the left of Mayor Constable (wearing light coloured suit) is Burnaby Council member Gerald Ast. The rest of the people are unidentified.