Central Park Entrance Gate
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Description
- The Central Park Entrance Gate is the ceremonial entrance to Burnaby’s historic Central Park from Kingsway, and consists of two massive stone pillars, approximately 7.5 metres high and 1.8 metres square, adjacent gate posts and a low flanking stone wall that curves into the park to the east.
- Associated Dates
- 1913
- Formal Recognition
- Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Geographic Access
- Imperial Street
- Associated Dates
- 1913
- Formal Recognition
- Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register
- Enactment Type
- Bylaw No. 9807
- Enactment Date
- 23/11/1992
- Description
- The Central Park Entrance Gate is the ceremonial entrance to Burnaby’s historic Central Park from Kingsway, and consists of two massive stone pillars, approximately 7.5 metres high and 1.8 metres square, adjacent gate posts and a low flanking stone wall that curves into the park to the east.
- Heritage Value
- The Central Park Entrance Gate is significant as a ceremonial entry to a major park, for its connection with the early history of the British Columbia Electric Railway (BCER) and as an important design by an accomplished British Columbian architect.
When the original interurban line between Vancouver and New Westminster was constructed in 1891, one of the first stations was located where the tramway crossed the Vancouver-Westminster Road (now Kingsway) within the newly-created Central Park. The interurban line ran through the park on a diagonal right-of-way (the current SkyTrain line, opened in 1986, follows this original alignment). In 1912 an agreement was reached between the successor interurban company, the BCER, and the Central Park Provincial Park Board, to deed additional land for an expanded right-of-way through the Park in exchange for improvements that included the construction of an ornamental stone wall and gate with an iron arch, with an illuminated 'Central Park' sign, adjacent to the interurban station on Kingsway. This was an early and rare example of an electric sign used for a public recreation facility.
The Gate is also significant as a surviving early design by Robert Lyon (1879-1963), an Edinburgh-born and trained immigrant who was one of the most accomplished of British Columbia's early architects. After he moved to Vancouver, he was employed by the BCER from 1911 until 1918, and worked on a broad range of projects including some of the grandest and most innovative local industrial structures of the time. The arch was built by the Westminster Ironworks Company, one of the leading firms of its kind in Western Canada, operated by John Reid of New Westminster. The Gate was completed in 1914; in 1968 the decorative ironwork was removed due to corrosion and placed in storage.
- Defining Elements
- Key elements that define the heritage character of the Central Park Entrance Gate include its:
- two subtly tapered massive stone pillars, which rise in stages from a larger base to a shaft with random coursed multi-coloured granite with roughly formed grey granite quoins, to a top formed of finely finished grey granite blocks with a coved and bracketed cap
- adjacent gate posts with monolithic pyramidal granite caps
- low flanking stone wall that curves into the park to the east, constructed of random coursed multi-coloured granite with a river rock triangular cap
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Maywood Area
- Organization
- British Columbia Electric Railway
- Central Park Provincial Park Board
- Architect
- Robert Lyon
- Builder
- John Reid
- Westminster Iron Works Co.
- Function
- Primary Current--Park Fixture
- Primary Historic--Park Fixture
- Community
- Burnaby
- Cadastral Identifier
- P.I.D. No. 017-767-172
Legal Description: Block B of Lot 2 Except Firstly: Part on Plan 8669 and Secondly: Part on Plan LMP4689 District Lot 151, Group 1, New Westminster District, Plan 3443
- Boundaries
- The property (Central Park) is a municipally-owned park that lies at the western edge of Burnaby, between 49th Avenue to the south, Kingsway to the north, Boundary Road to the west and Patterson Avenue to the east.
- Area
- 853,403.82
- Contributing Resource
- Structure
- Landscape Feature
- Ownership
- Public (local)
- Names
- Lyon, Robert
- Reid, John
- Westminster Iron Works Company
- British Columbia Electric Railway Company
- Central Park Provincial Park Board
- Subjects
- Structures - Fences
- Street Address
- 3883 Imperial Street
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
Less detail
Boundary Road and Park Avenue station
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1912 (date of original), copied 1992
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 10.1 x 14.9 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Boundary Road, Park Avenue Interurban station, and the surrounding area, looking north from Kingsway. The Coburn house, built in 1906, is at the top of the hill on the right, current address 5170 Boundary Road.
Burnaby Lake Interurban
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [before 1954]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 10 x 13 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Burnaby Lake Interurban in the snow. The house in the background is 2231 Fareham Street, a short street that ran behind Elwell and the tram tracks about midway between the Cumberland Road and Hill Street Stations. This rail line route is now the route of Highway 1 through Burnaby.…
Central Park interurban interior
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1910
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 10.5 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the interior of a Central Park interurban while it is in service in Vancouver.
Central Park Interurban tram interior
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1910
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w negative ; 8.4 x 11.3 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the interior of a Central Park Interurban tram, including passengers, the majority of whom are women.
Construction of the Hastings Streetcar line extension
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1913
- Collection/Fonds
- J.W. Phillips fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w glass negative ; 11 x 15.5 cm
- 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 …
Crowd at Edmonds and Kingsway
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1912
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia postcard ; 8.9 x 14.0 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photographic postcard of a crowd gathered near a tram car at Edmonds and Kingsway during Prince Arthur, the Duke of Connaught's visit to Burnaby. A Union Jack is hanging from one of the windows of the triangular Edmonds Block, which is visible in the background. The Duke of Connaught was Governor G…
Crowd at Edmonds and Kingsway
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1912 (date of original), copied 1976
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a crowd gathered near a tram car at Edmonds and Kingsway during Prince Arthur, the Duke of Connaught's visit to Burnaby. A Union Jack is hanging from one of the windows of the triangular Edmonds Block, which is visible in the background. The Duke of Connaught was Governor General of C…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a crowd gathered near a tram car at Edmonds and Kingsway during Prince Arthur, the Duke of Connaught's visit to Burnaby. A Union Jack is hanging from one of the windows of the triangular Edmonds Block, which is visible in the background. The Duke of Connaught was Governor General of Canada at this time.
- Subjects
- Transportation - Electric Railroads
- Names
- British Columbia Electric Railway Company
- Geographic Access
- Edmonds Street
- Kingsway
- Accession Code
- HV976.42.2
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 1912 (date of original), copied 1976
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Richmond Park Area
- Related Material
- To see photographs from the visit of the Duke of Connaught in 1912, see HV976.152.2 - .5
For another copy of the same image that is cropped differently, see HV977.99.32
The photograph HV977.99.32, from a different source, is also a copy print.
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-06-20
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Copy print is of an original photographic postcard
Less detail
Edmonds and Kingsway
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1912 (date of original), copied [1997]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 12 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the area near the Edmonds and Kingsway intersection. A British Columbia Electric Railway Company tram is visible in the centre and the station can be seen to the left.
Edmonds Interurban station
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1912] (date of original), copied [between 1975 and 1985]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w negative ; 8.2 x 10.8 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an automobile at the Edmonds Interurban Station. A man appears to be changing the car tires, and three men are on the station platform.
First Burnaby Lake tram through Burnaby Deer Lake station
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1911]
- Collection/Fonds
- Peers Family and Hill Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 5.7 x 8 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the first Interurban tram going though the Deer Lake station in the Burnaby Lake area.
Hastings Streetcar
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1913 or 1914]
- Collection/Fonds
- J.W. Phillips fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w glass negative ; 11 x 15.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Hastings Streetcar taken at the terminus of the Hastings Streetcar line at Ellesmere Avenue in North Burnaby. Two men in uniform and a boy dressed in a suit and hat are at the head of the car, looking towards the camera. A horse-drawn cart full of cordwood is visible in the backgr…
Hastings Streetcar
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1913 or 1914]
- Collection/Fonds
- J.W. Phillips fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w glass negative ; 11 x 15.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Hastings Streetcar taken at the terminus of the Hastings Streetcar line at Ellesmere Avenue in North Burnaby. Two men in uniform are at the doorway of the car, while other men are at the platform, wearing three-piece suits and hats; one of these men is standing on the protective s…
Hastings Streetcar
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1913 or 1914]
- Collection/Fonds
- J.W. Phillips fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w glass negative ; 11 x 15.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Hastings Streetcar taken at the terminus of the Hastings Streetcar line at Ellesmere Avenue in North Burnaby. Two men in uniform are at the doorway of the car, while other men are at the platform, wearing three-piece suits and hats; one of these men is standing on the protective s…
Large crowd at Edmonds and Kingsway
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1912 (date of original), copied [1997]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 12 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a large crowd gathered near Edmonds and Kingsway to welcome the Duke of Connaught during his visit to Burnaby. Two interurban cars can be seen in the background. The Duke of Connaught was Governor General of Canada at this time.
Opening of Hastings Street Tramline Extension
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- December 23, 1913
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w glass negative ; 11 x 15.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the opening of the Hastings Street Tramline Extension, Capitol Hill. The man seen standing in the front row, near the centre of the photograph (with the light-coloured coat) and in front of the mounted police officer, has been identified as Joe Toffaletto (he headed up the BCER constr…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- December 23, 1913
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Series
- Community Archives Collection series
- Subseries
- J.W. Phillips subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w glass negative ; 11 x 15.5 cm
- Material Details
- Emulsion measures 11 x 15.5 cm on the glass; entire glass plate measures 12 x 16 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 487-003
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- BHS2007-04
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the opening of the Hastings Street Tramline Extension, Capitol Hill. The man seen standing in the front row, near the centre of the photograph (with the light-coloured coat) and in front of the mounted police officer, has been identified as Joe Toffaletto (he headed up the BCER construction team which built this line and who was also known as the anchor for the BCER tug-of-war team). Reeve McGregor is standing near the door to the tram, holding a pipe in one hand and a cane in the other (he is also the only man wearing a bow-tie) and Eber Stride is standing directly in front of the tram, wearing a three-piece suit with a white shirt and bowler hat. British Columbia Electric Railroad official R.H. Sperling and BCER general executive agent Fred R. Glover (his topcoat is open) are standing second from right and third from right respectively. The remainder of the men are unidentified although Councillors Coldicutt, MacDonald, Mayne and MacPherson, with municipal engineer MacPherson, British Columbia Electric Railroad chief engineer G.R.G. Conway and traffic agent for the city J.B. Rainey, solicitor A.E. Beck, chief inspector W. Whitenick, traffic superintendent James Hilton and Burnaby resident W.J. Holdom, Motorman C.C. Cameron and Conductor A. Sherman are said to be pictured.
- Subjects
- Events - Openings
- Officials - Alderman and Councillors
- Officials - Mayors and Reeves
- Transportation - Electric Railroads
- Names
- British Columbia Electric Railway Company
- Toffaletto, Joe
- McGregor, Duncan C. (1853-1929)
- Stride, Eber
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Phillips, James William "Jim"
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Geographic Access
- Hastings Street
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Capitol Hill (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Capitol Hill Area
Less detail
Opening of Hastings Street Tramline Extension
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 23 Dec. 1913
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the opening of the Hastings Street Tramline Extension, Capitol Hill. The man in the centre of the photograph (with the light-coloured coat) and in front of the mounted police officer, has been identified as Joe Toffaletto (he headed up the BCER construction team which built this line …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w
- Material Details
- printed on the photograph, recto, u.l. "Reeve MacGregor + Councillors of Burnaby/ with Officials of the B.C.E.R. at the/ Opening of Burnaby's New Tram Extension/ on Hastings St. East. Dec 23. 1913./ Photograph by J. Phillips/ Capitol Hill P.O."
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the opening of the Hastings Street Tramline Extension, Capitol Hill. The man in the centre of the photograph (with the light-coloured coat) and in front of the mounted police officer, has been identified as Joe Toffaletto (he headed up the BCER construction team which built this line and who was also known as the anchor for the BCER tug-of-war team). Reeve McGregor is standing near the door to the tram, holding a pipe in one hand and a cane in the other (he is also the only man wearing a bow-tie) and Eber Stride is standing directly in front of the tram, wearing a three-piece suit with a white shirt and bowler hat. British Columbia Electric Railroad official R.H. Sperling and BCER general executive agent Fred R. Glover (his topcoat is open) are standing second from right and third from right respectively. The remainder of the men are unidentified although, Councillors Coldicutt, MacDonald, Mayne and MacPherson, with municipal engineer MacPherson, British Columbia Electric Railroad chief engineer G.R.G. Conway and traffic agent for the city J.B. Rainey, solicitor A.E. Beck, chief inspector W. Whitenick, traffic superintendent James Hilton and Burnaby resident W.J. Holdom, Motorman C.C. Cameron and Conductor A. Sherman are said to be pictured.
- Subjects
- Transportation - Electric Railroads
- Names
- British Columbia Electric Railway Company
- Toffaletto, Joe
- McGregor, Duncan C., 1853-1929
- Stride, Eber
- Geographic Access
- Hastings Street
- Accession Code
- BV985.5398.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- 23 Dec. 1913
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Capitol Hill (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Capitol Hill Area
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2024-01-23
- Photographer
- Phillips, James William "Jim"
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Less detail
Patterson Avenue Station
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1915]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 6.1 x 10.7 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Patterson Avenue Interurban station (the two shelters in the centre of the photograph). There are fences in foreground and Central Park can be seen in the background. There is snow. An annotation on the back of the photograph reads, "Patterson Interurban Station / B.C. Electric."
St. Andrew's YPSCE
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- August 2, 1910
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 9.6 x 22.9 cm, mounted on cardboard on 17.9 x 31.8
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of British Columbia Electric Railway observation car no. 124, full of people who are seated or standing. A conductor is at the front of the car, and there are stations and/or houses behind the observation car. Inscribed on the negative and printed on the photograph, front lower right: …
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 9.6 x 22.9 cm, mounted on cardboard on 17.9 x 31.8
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of British Columbia Electric Railway observation car no. 124, full of people who are seated or standing. A conductor is at the front of the car, and there are stations and/or houses behind the observation car. Inscribed on the negative and printed on the photograph, front lower right: "St. Andrew's Y.P.S.C.E. Aug. 2. '10." YPSCE might stand for Young People's Society of Christian Endeavour.
- Subjects
- Transportation - Electric Railroads
- Names
- British Columbia Electric Railway Company
- Accession Code
- HV973.26.143
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- August 2, 1910
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Related Material
- For another photograph of BCER car # 124, but from a different year, see photograph hv972.142.1
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-05-09
- Scale
- 100
- Notes
- Title based on caption of photograph
Less detail
Streetcar work camp
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1913
- Collection/Fonds
- J.W. Phillips fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w glass negative ; 11 x 15.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of labourers at a British Columbia Electric Railway Company streetcar work camp standing in a long single file row in front of three large tents at Hastings Street. This photograph was taken during construction of the Hastings Streetcar line extension.