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.
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.
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.
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.."