The E.W. Bateman House is a one-and-one-half storey wood-frame residence set within in a garden landscape. The house and its adjacent garage are the only historic buildings standing on their original site within the Burnaby Village Museum property.
The E.W. Bateman House is a one-and-one-half storey wood-frame residence set within in a garden landscape. The house and its adjacent garage are the only historic buildings standing on their original site within the Burnaby Village Museum property.
Heritage Value
The E.W. Bateman House was constructed in the Deer Lake Crescent subdivision, that was originally promoted in 1911 as an upper class suburban neighbourhood. It represents one of the first residential developments in the City of Burnaby that required buildings to be of a specific value, thus demonstrating the desire for exclusivity among the successful businessmen who chose to settle in the area.
The house and grounds illustrate the reduced scale of upper-class residential construction at a time of modest returning prosperity that followed the end of the First World War, and the social, cultural, lifestyle and leisure sensibilities of the owners in the Deer Lake Crescent subdivision: such values as social aspiration, racial exclusivity, demonstration of architectural taste, and importance of a landscaped garden.
The heritage value of the E.W. Bateman House is its comprehensive representation of an upper middle-class suburban residence of the early 1920s. It was built for retired CPR executive Edwin Wettenhall Bateman (1859-1957) and his wife, Mary (Dale) Bateman (1865-1935), by contractor William Dodson in 1922. The Bateman House was designed by English-born and trained architect Enoch Evans (1862-1939) of E. Evans and Son, and is an important surviving residential design by Evans, and a typical example of the eclectic Period Revival influences that were common to domestic architecture in the post-First World War era. The symmetry of the imposing front verandah, supported by exaggerated Ionic columns, gives the relatively-modest house an image of grandeur and formality. Named after Edwin Bateman’s birthplace in Cheshire, England, ‘Elworth’ also symbolizes allegiance to England and the patriotic tenor of the time.
The heritage value for this house also lies in its interpretive value within the Burnaby Village Museum. The site is an important cultural feature for the interpretation of Burnaby’s heritage to the public. The E.W. Bateman House was purchased by Burnaby in 1970 and became the focal point for the development of the Museum. Both the interior and exterior of the house have been restored and interpreted to the date of original construction, including recreated room interiors and period furnishings.
Defining Elements
The elements that define the heritage character of the E.W. Bateman House include its:
- rectangular form and massing with central entry on long side
- side gable roof with front shed dormer with cedar shingle cladding
- symmetry of front facade
- full open front verandah inset under the roofline, supported with Ionic columns
- cedar shingle siding
- multi-paned double-hung wooden-sash windows, mixture of 6-over-1 and 8-over-1
- symmetrical disposition of fenestration, with double-assembly units on the ground floor
- exterior shutters
- two flanking brick chimneys on the side elevations
- interior room layouts and original interior features such as quality millwork and original hardware
- original garage at the rear of the house
This house is one of two surviving houses built as a “Model Home” for the manager of the Barnet Lumber Company, which was the successor to the North Pacific Lumber Company. It was used as a combined home and office. It was constructed with framing lumber and millwork sawn at the mill. Typical of the Craftsman style, the house has a front gabled roof with triangular eave brackets. It has been altered with the addition of asbestos shingles over the original siding, but retains its form, scale and massing.
This house was designed by the firm of Townley & Matheson. The partnership of Fred Laughton Townley (1887-1966) and Robert Michael Matheson began in 1919, and the firm left a rich legacy of sophisticated work, including schools, commercial structures, many fine residences and the landmark Vancouver City Hall.
This house is one of two surviving houses built as a “Model Home” for one of the assistant managers of the Barnet Lumber Company, using framing lumber and millwork sawn at the mill. This house was also designed by the firm of Townley & Matheson. The house was raised and renovated in 1997, resulting in alterations such as new dormers and elongated porch piers.
This school was originally designed by Bowman & Cullerne as a two-storey, four-room school building in 1923, with a two-room addition completed in 1926 and another in 1927. Originally designed in the Arts and Crafts style, it has been altered, with the addition of stucco over the original siding and replacement windows, but has retained its original form and massing, as well as its roof-top ventilator and front gabled entrance with grouped columns. Bowman & Cullerne specialized in school design. After Harold Cullerne (1890-1976) returned from service during the First World War, he joined J.H. Bowman (1864-1943) in a partnership that lasted from 1919 to 1934. The firm’s other school designs included Seaforth School (1922, now relocated to Burnaby Village Museum), Burnaby North High School (1923), and Nelson Avenue School (1927).
The Douglas Road School was originally established as a two-room school in 1908 on this site, and later expanded to four classrooms. Anticipating rapid settlement of this district, the School Board purchased two acres adjoining the old building. Two of the four rooms were designed to become one large auditorium suitable for special events and public gatherings, with seating for two hundred people. The classically-influenced school has been altered with new windows and extended with additional wings, but has retained its original red-brick veneer, tan-brick quoins and bellcast octagonal roof ventilator. Designed by McCarter & Nairne, the school was built by contractor A.S. Perry. McCarter & Nairne, who also designed the Second Street School, were the Burnaby School Board architects at this time. 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 their commissions included Vancouver’s first skyscraper, the Marine Building (1928-30).
Photograph of Lord Willingdon and Civic Officials standing on the steps of Burnaby Municipal Hall. A sign above the door reads, "Burnaby / Lord Willingdon."
Photograph of Lord Willingdon and Civic Officials standing on the steps of Burnaby Municipal Hall. A sign above the door reads, "Burnaby / Lord Willingdon."
Photograph of Lord Willingdon, the Governor General of Canada shaking hands with a soldier on the steps of the Burnaby Municipal Hall as many spectators look on. A large sign above the steps to the Hall reads: "WELCOME TO BURNABY LORD WILLINGDON".
Photograph of Lord Willingdon, the Governor General of Canada shaking hands with a soldier on the steps of the Burnaby Municipal Hall as many spectators look on. A large sign above the steps to the Hall reads: "WELCOME TO BURNABY LORD WILLINGDON".
Photograph of a crowd of people gathered on the steps of Burnaby Municipal Hall as part of the welcome reception for Lord and Lady Willingdon. They visited Burnaby in 1928 while Lord Willingdon was touring Canada in his role as Governor-General. A sing hanging over the door reads: Welcome to Bur…
Photograph of a crowd of people gathered on the steps of Burnaby Municipal Hall as part of the welcome reception for Lord and Lady Willingdon. They visited Burnaby in 1928 while Lord Willingdon was touring Canada in his role as Governor-General. A sing hanging over the door reads: Welcome to Burnaby Lord Willingdon.
Photograph of the official opening of the newly paved Hastings-Barnet Road which opened on Saturday December 10, 1927. In the foreground the Provincial Minister of Public Works Dr. W.H. Sutherland is opening a wooden gate, with a large crowd gathered around. The Barnet Lumber Company Ltd. building …
Photograph of the official opening of the newly paved Hastings-Barnet Road which opened on Saturday December 10, 1927. In the foreground the Provincial Minister of Public Works Dr. W.H. Sutherland is opening a wooden gate, with a large crowd gathered around. The Barnet Lumber Company Ltd. building on Hastings Street is in the background.
1 photograph : b&w ; 21.3 x 16.1 cm mounted on cardboard 29.0 x 23.9 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Canadian Prime Minister, the Honourable Arthur Meighan, taken on the front steps of the 1912 Burnaby Municipal Hall at Edmonds. The Prime Minister stands on the far right, and his aide-de-camp is on the left. Burnaby Reeve Thomas F. Sanderson stands between them and clerk A.G. Moore…
1 photograph : b&w ; 21.3 x 16.1 cm mounted on cardboard 29.0 x 23.9 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Canadian Prime Minister, the Honourable Arthur Meighan, taken on the front steps of the 1912 Burnaby Municipal Hall at Edmonds. The Prime Minister stands on the far right, and his aide-de-camp is on the left. Burnaby Reeve Thomas F. Sanderson stands between them and clerk A.G. Moore stands higher up the Municipal Hall steps. Police officers in uniform and other men wearing suits and ties are standing at the base of the steps.
1 photograph : sepia ; 15 x 10 cm , mounted to grey card 16 x 11 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Ernest E. (Ernie) Winch in a three-piece suit. He was a long-time Co-operative Commonwealth Federation Member of Parliament and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Burnaby.
1 photograph : sepia ; 15 x 10 cm , mounted to grey card 16 x 11 cm
Material Details
Photograph is mounted to grey card with grey photo corners
Description Level
Item
Record No.
514-018
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2010-06
Scope and Content
Photograph of Ernest E. (Ernie) Winch in a three-piece suit. He was a long-time Co-operative Commonwealth Federation Member of Parliament and Member of the Legislative Assembly for Burnaby.
This portion of the interview is about the equipment used by the fire department over the years, in particular about the pump and ladder trucks, and about Chief Waddell's wise choice of locations for the fire halls.
This portion of the interview is about the equipment used by the fire department over the years, in particular about the pump and ladder trucks, and about Chief Waddell's wise choice of locations for the fire halls.
Recording is of an interview with Al Nixon, conducted by Rod Fowler. Al Nixon was one of eleven participants interviewed as part of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's oral history series titled, "Voices of Burnaby". The interview is mainly about the history and operations of the Burnaby Fire Department from its beginning in 1911 to 1990, and Al Nixon’s stories about the various ways photographs, records and artifacts about the department were collected and saved. The interview takes place while looking at photographs, but the information is clear nonetheless (His photographs have been deposited in the Burnaby Archives). Al Nixon also talks about his father's career as a firefighter, and about his Douglas grandparents and their home “The Gables” [Seven Gables] and neighbourhood in Burquitlam. To view “Narrow By” terms for each track expand this description and see “Notes”.
Biographical Notes
Al Nixon was born in New Westminster Feb. 8, 1936, the son of Provincial Fire Marshal Basil Nixon (1904-1975) and Agnes Douglas (1909-?). His mother’s family immigrated to Canada from Scotland in 1922 and lived in a large ca. 1900 home in Burquitlam at 9957 Sullivan Road called “Seven Gables” (recently demolished). His grandfather Thomas Douglas, a Coquitlam Councillor and Socialist, was murdered in 1934 in his North Road service station. Al Nixon began his career as a firefighter with the Burnaby Fire Department in 1957, eventually becoming Deputy Fire Chief Operations in 1987 and Fire Chief in 1991, before retiring in 1993. In the mid 1980's Al Nixon became interested in the department’s history after finding a photograph scrapbook at one of the firehalls. It was in very bad condition but he recognized its value and began a project to collect and save photographs, artifacts and stories about the Burnaby Fire Department, a 6 month project that turned into years. The photographs and information gathered by Al Nixon became part of Douglas Penn’s book “Follow that Fire: the history of the Burnaby Fire Department”.
Rod Fowler returned to university as a mature student in the 1980s after working about twenty years in the field of economics and computerization in business in England, Europe and Western Canada. He graduated with a BA from SFU in both History and Sociology in 1987, his MA degree in Geography in 1989, and his PhD in Cultural Geography at SFU. He taught courses in Geography, Sociology, History and Canadian Studies at several Lower Mainland colleges, before becoming a full time member of the Geography Department at Kwantlen University College.
Interviews were digitized in 2015 allowing them to be accessible on Heritage Burnaby. The digitization project was initiated by the Community Heritage Commission with support from City of Burnaby Council.
Photograph of McKay Market at 2624 McKay Avenue (later renumbered 6555 McKay Avenue). Identified: (back) Ed Morash, driver of delivery truck (brother of Murial Morash Crosby); (in doorway) William Tate Wilson, store owner and later Reeve of Burnaby, 1943-44.
Photograph of McKay Market at 2624 McKay Avenue (later renumbered 6555 McKay Avenue). Identified: (back) Ed Morash, driver of delivery truck (brother of Murial Morash Crosby); (in doorway) William Tate Wilson, store owner and later Reeve of Burnaby, 1943-44.