This high-quality Craftsman bungalow was built for Alfred John Chrisp (1882-1944) and his wife Sarah Hannah Chrisp (née Hindmarch, 1883-1954). Starting in 1908, Alfred worked as an accountant for the CPR in New Westminster, and he and Sarah were married there in 1910. This house features a front gabled roof and gabled front porch, and is notable for its elaborate stained glass windows in the front door glazing, sidelights and the narrow transom over the front elevation window. Maintaining a very high degree of original integrity, the bungalow features lapped siding at the foundation level, a shingle clad main floor, a combination of casement and double-hung windows and square tapered porch columns.
The site for the Armstrong Avenue school was cleared in 1911. In 1955 the original structure was replaced by a new building and additions were constructed in 1962, 1964, 1967 and 1969. Armstrong Avenue was named after J.C. Armstrong, an early property owner of Burnaby who was involved in the effort to make Burnaby a municipality in 1892.
The Buena Vista neighbourhood (so named for its wonderful views) grew out of its proximity to Edmonds and New Westminster and was developed in the period 1911-1912. By the 1950s, the area had been further subdivided and in 1986, Burnaby Municipal Council adopted the Cariboo Hills Development Plan for the neighbourhood to maintain its character as a residential area of the city.
This modest, hipped roof, cottage-style bungalow is distinguished by a full width front verandah. It was built as part of the Buena Vista subdivision in about 1911 by the Leibly & Blumer Real Estate Company. It was reported in The British Columbian in 1911: “Ten houses are now being erected by the company on the property, solid substantial five or six-room buildings that appeals to the homeseeker”. Retaining a high degree of integrity, this residence displays its original double-hung windows and lapped wooden siding. Houses of this type were often constructed from a complete package of materials offered by building supply companies, and were extremely popular due to their low cost and ease of construction.
The Cariboo-Armstrong Neighbourhood was mainly subdivided in the 1950s during the major building boom in Burnaby throughout the post-war years. Considered a primarily residential area, the neighbourhood has quick and convenient access to major highways and roads as well as being bordered to the north by the George Derby Conservation area.
According to the 1911 December 26 edition of The British Columbian: Optimism is the word that applies to the whole community of East Burnaby. The many improvements carried out by the council during the past two years had been the means of making East Burnaby a thriving settlement, and hence one and all are optimistic as to its future. In the clearing and building line, many fine new homes are being erected...Real estate values have advanced with the times, and a notable feature is the number of better-class houses that are being built in this locality, which proves that East Burnaby is becoming very much alive and elevated.
The Floden House is a gambrel roofed, one and one-half storey plus basement wood-frame Dutch Colonial Revival residence, located at the head of the T-intersection of Fourth Street and Edmonds Street in a residential area of East Burnaby.
The Floden House is a gambrel roofed, one and one-half storey plus basement wood-frame Dutch Colonial Revival residence, located at the head of the T-intersection of Fourth Street and Edmonds Street in a residential area of East Burnaby.
Heritage Value
Built in 1929 for Swedish emigrant Eric Birger Floden (1896-1971) and his Norwegian wife, Carrie (1899-1943), the Floden House is a valued representation of local middle-class housing from the 1920s, at a time of increasing prosperity just prior to the onset of the Great Depression. Eric Birger Floden was the head sawyer at Shook Mills in New Westminster, and his family occupied the house until 1964.
Additionally, the Floden House is significant as an example of a residential pattern book design from the 1920s. With a reviving economy after the First World War, pattern books were widely used to expedite residential design and construction. It was built by Floden's brother in-law, Nels Olund, a talented contractor of the Fraser Valley who was experienced in building gambrel roof barns.
The Floden House is also valued as an example of the Dutch Colonial Revival style, and is typical of period revival houses built in the 1920s that reflected the modern ideals of economy and good design as well as an ongoing pride in past traditions. It was presumed at the time that a well-built house would display a traditional and readily-identifiable style as a hallmark of good taste. The use of the various Colonial Revival styles had gained new popularity during the late 1920s at the time of the American Sesquicentennial.
A local landmark, the house originally stood at 7997 18th Avenue and was moved two blocks to its current location by the City of Burnaby when it purchased and rehabilitated the house to save it from demolition, indicating the City's commitment to heritage conservation.
Defining Elements
Key elements that define the heritage character of the Floden House include its:
- residential form, scale and massing as expressed by its one and one-half storey plus basement height, rectangular plan and distinctive roof form
- Dutch Colonial Revival style details such as its side gambrel roof, front and rear shed dormers, attic fanlights, decorative shutters and regular fenestration
- roof configuration, with overhanging eaves on the front facade with returns on the side facades, and clipped eaves on the side facades
- asymmetrical front entry with small entry porch with lattice surrounds
- front projecting bay window
- wide lapped horizontal cedar siding
- irregular fenestration, with original double-hung 6-over-1 wooden-sash windows
- secondary side entry with balcony over
- internal red brick chimney with concrete chimney caps
George S. Vickers, a compositor with The British Columbian newspaper, was a prominent Burnaby resident who became involved with real estate during the boom prior to the First World War. In December 1910, The British Columbian reported that “Mr. Vickers has commenced to build a commodious residence on Fourth Avenue between 1st and 2nd streets.” This high quality Craftsman style bungalow, completed in 1911, was originally situated on one acre of property, which contained a large kitchen garden, an orchard of 40 trees of various types and houses and runs for chickens, ducks and turkeys. In 1919, the property was advertised for $5,000 and likely sold easily because of its location (three blocks from the electric streetcar line on Sixth Street), its many amenities and property improvements. Some of its selling points included its panelled living and dining room with 3-ply veneer, beamed ceilings and an open fireplace. Craftsman-style features include battered porch piers, unusual double bargeboards, triangular eave brackets and exposed purlins. The house survives in excellent original condition, with only minor alterations.
Second Street had its origins in the 1910-1920 era and the Second Street Elementary School was built in 1928. Substantial new housing was built in the late 1940s and 1950s and infilling occurred during the 1960s and 1970s. By the 1980s, the neighbourhood was primarily a single family area with a small number of multi-family buildings.
The Second Street School was originally established at this location as a two-room schoolhouse in 1913 to relieve the overcrowding of Edmonds School during the pre-First World War building boom. The old school was converted into an auditorium when this handsome school building was constructed in 1928. The new school, built by local contractors Ward-Leverington Ltd., included four classrooms, a library, a room for the principal, and a room for the teachers. The original brick façade has been retained although it has been painted; other intact original features include the bellcast octagonal roof ventilator and the protruding front entrance. The Burnaby School Board architect at this time was the talented firm of McCarter & Nairne, who also designed the Douglas Road School. John Y. McCarter (1886-1981) and George Nairne (1884-1953) formed their partnership in 1921 after serving overseas during the First World War. The partners began designing houses and small apartment buildings, and larger commissions soon followed, including Vancouver’s first skyscraper, the Marine Building (1928-30).
This house was built by Thomas Davis Coldicutt (1879-1970) and Margaret Jane Coldicutt, pre-eminent local citizens. Thomas Coldicutt was born in Birmingham and arrived in Canada in 1900, finding success in the steamboat industry. In 1902, he married Margaret Jane Styler who had been born in Redditch, Worcester, England, and in 1908 they settled in East Burnaby–some of the first pioneers to the area–and established a fruit farm. Thomas had a successful real estate, insurance and brokerage business, and was elected as a councillor for East Burnaby in 1909. He was also active in civic, political and social circles in Burnaby and became president of the Burnaby Board of Trade. "East Burnaby is booming and the signs of prosperity that may be seen on every hand. Most of these are substantial dwellings, such as effect a permanent improvement to the countryside. Among those whose homes have been completed, or on the point of completion may be mentioned. Councillor Coldicutt, who has built himself a habitation on Second Avenue at a cost of $4,000. (The British Columbian, 1911). In 1913, Coldicutt sold his original farm described as “the show place of Burnaby” to the Burnaby School Board for the development of Second Street School and this house was moved from Second Street and Sixteenth Avenue to this site. It has been extensively altered, but retains its original form, scale and massing.
This house was built by East Burnaby pioneers William Karman (1866-1948) and Rachael Karman (1865-1933), both born in Scotland. The Karmans originally farmed a “fruit ranch” on Cumberland Road in the 1890s but retired to this home after selling their former farm for a residential subdivision. Rachel died in 1933, and William was remarried to Mary Selkirk (1904-1981). In pristine condition, this Edwardian-era home has a front gabled roof, with symmetrical saddlebag dormers and a gabled front porch. Cedar shingle cladding is used at the foundation level and in the gable ends, and lapped wooden siding on the main level.
Photograph of the 14th Avenue neighbourhood friends. Back row, left to right: Pearl Scott, Frances Bryson, Alice Salt, and Dorothy Hutchins (holding baby). Middle row, left to right: Hazel Butler, Doris Bamber, Frances Salt, and Jessica Scott. Front row, left to right: Evelyn Salt, Gladys Butler, a…
Photograph of the 14th Avenue neighbourhood friends. Back row, left to right: Pearl Scott, Frances Bryson, Alice Salt, and Dorothy Hutchins (holding baby). Middle row, left to right: Hazel Butler, Doris Bamber, Frances Salt, and Jessica Scott. Front row, left to right: Evelyn Salt, Gladys Butler, and Isabel Scott.
1 photograph : b&w ; 11.2 x 15.8 cm mounted on cardboard 19.9 x 25.1 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of school children with their teacher, who is standing to the right of the picture. An annotation on the back and an earlier catalogue record from 1971 indicates that the donor identified the photograph as the first class at Armstrong Avenue School, 1913, with Miss L. Crake as the teache…
1 photograph : b&w ; 11.2 x 15.8 cm mounted on cardboard 19.9 x 25.1 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of school children with their teacher, who is standing to the right of the picture. An annotation on the back and an earlier catalogue record from 1971 indicates that the donor identified the photograph as the first class at Armstrong Avenue School, 1913, with Miss L. Crake as the teacher. However, the first two-room Armstrong Avenue School was built in 1911 with Miss Lilly Mackenzie as the teacher. The present Armstrong school was built in 1955 with eleven classrooms. Later additions to the school occurred in 1962 (two classrooms), 1964 (four classrooms), 1967 (four classrooms), and 1969 (four classrooms). Annotation in blue ballpoint pen on back of photographs reads, "1st class of Armstrong Ave School. 1913 / Miss L Crake teacher."
History
The first Armstrong Avenue School was built in 1911 and it consisted of two rooms. The present school was built in 1955 with 11 classrooms. Additions: 1962 - two classrooms, 1964 - four classrooms, 1967 - four classrooms.
Photographic postcard of men sawing down a tree at the Armstrong Avenue School site at 8757 Armstrong Avenue. The accompanying description refers to it as the "bee tree."
Photographic postcard of men sawing down a tree at the Armstrong Avenue School site at 8757 Armstrong Avenue. The accompanying description refers to it as the "bee tree."
Survey plan of "Armstrong Street School Site / Burnaby Municipality" "Being a 2 acre portion of Lot 13 Group 1, & according to map 1722 which shows this as Lot E. Block 2 of subdivision of a portion, of Lot 13, Group 1, New Westminster District".
Survey plan of "Armstrong Street School Site / Burnaby Municipality" "Being a 2 acre portion of Lot 13 Group 1, & according to map 1722 which shows this as Lot E. Block 2 of subdivision of a portion, of Lot 13, Group 1, New Westminster District".
Oath on plan reads: "I, Geoffrey K. Burnett...and did personally superintend the survey represented..." "Completed on the 18th day of March 1915"; signed by Geoffrey K. Burnett and notarized by "K.A. Eastman", sworn "...19th day of April 1915"; "Burnett and McGugan., B.C. Land Surveyors. Etc.. New Westminster, B.C.."
Photograph of a woman with short dark hair wearing a white blouse, sitting on the steps of a house. According to the accession register, the location of the house is at Buena Vista, Burnaby, between 1912 and 1925.
Photograph of a woman with short dark hair wearing a white blouse, sitting on the steps of a house. According to the accession register, the location of the house is at Buena Vista, Burnaby, between 1912 and 1925.