This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's continuation of reading his series of short stories. He reads; "OUR HOUSE BURNS DOWN. 1922. Sherlock and Kitchener." that he wrote in 1963. Alfred reads "The Story of the Burnaby Giants of long ago" written by Eloise Street, published in the I…
This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's continuation of reading his series of short stories. He reads; "OUR HOUSE BURNS DOWN. 1922. Sherlock and Kitchener." that he wrote in 1963. Alfred reads "The Story of the Burnaby Giants of long ago" written by Eloise Street, published in the Indian Time Magazine March, 1954.
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 ten of recording of Alfred Bingham's writings
Track ten of recording of Alfred Bingham's writings
Photograph of Alice Victoria (Goodridge) Norman and her husband David Norman seated on the stoop outside the Goodridge grocery store in Hastings Street in Burnaby. Signage on the windows and on the front of the store identify some of the trademarks of products sold in the store including "Royal Cro…
Photograph of Alice Victoria (Goodridge) Norman and her husband David Norman seated on the stoop outside the Goodridge grocery store in Hastings Street in Burnaby. Signage on the windows and on the front of the store identify some of the trademarks of products sold in the store including "Royal Crown Soap", "Cowan's" and "Winchester cigarettes".
Photograph of Alice Victoria (Goodridge) Norman and her husband David Augustus Norman seated on the front of a Model 'T" Ford motor automobile outside of the Goodridge grocery store on located at 4835 Hastings Street in Burnaby.
Photograph of Alice Victoria (Goodridge) Norman and her husband David Augustus Norman seated on the front of a Model 'T" Ford motor automobile outside of the Goodridge grocery store on located at 4835 Hastings Street in Burnaby.
Photograph of Alice Victoria (Goodridge) Norman and her brother William "Bill" Goodridge seated on the stoop outside the Goodridge grocery store located at 4835 Hastings Street in Burnaby. Signage on the windows and on the front of the store identify some of the trademarks of products sold in the s…
Photograph of Alice Victoria (Goodridge) Norman and her brother William "Bill" Goodridge seated on the stoop outside the Goodridge grocery store located at 4835 Hastings Street in Burnaby. Signage on the windows and on the front of the store identify some of the trademarks of products sold in the store including "Royal Crown Soap", "Cowan's" and "Winchester cigarettes". Two post office boxes are visible to the right of the couple.
Photograph of bride, Kate Barker and groom, Alice Ellett. The photograph was taken at Sechelt B.C. 1927. The couple are dressed in traditional wedding costumes and standing together in a garden.
Note in pencil on verso of photograph reads: "The Bridal Pair / Sechelt, B.C. / July, 1927"
Note in blue ink on verso of photograph reads: "Kate Barker (Bride) / & Alice Ellett (Groom ?)"
Scope and Content
Photograph of bride, Kate Barker and groom, Alice Ellett. The photograph was taken at Sechelt B.C. 1927. The couple are dressed in traditional wedding costumes and standing together in a garden.
File consists of a photographic reproduction of a twenty nine page photograph album that was created by Alice Hart. Inscription inside of front cover reads "To dearest Alice from father 30th March 1906".
The album is filled with photographs of the Hart family along with friends and relations. The p…
File consists of a photographic reproduction of a twenty nine page photograph album that was created by Alice Hart. Inscription inside of front cover reads "To dearest Alice from father 30th March 1906".
The album is filled with photographs of the Hart family along with friends and relations. The photographs range between 1893 and 1923 and document time spent at residences in New Westminster, Deer Lake and Kerrisdale along with family vacations at Mayne Island, Stanely Park and Pitt Lake.
Photograph of Alice Victoria (Goodridge) Norman and her brother William "Bill" Goodridge seated on the front of a Model 'T" Ford motor automobile outside of the Goodridge grocery store located at 4835 Hastings Street in Burnaby.
Photograph of Alice Victoria (Goodridge) Norman and her brother William "Bill" Goodridge seated on the front of a Model 'T" Ford motor automobile outside of the Goodridge grocery store located at 4835 Hastings Street in Burnaby.
1 photograph : b&w ; 1.5 x 2 cm cut to size on page 24.5 x 32.5 cm (pasted in album)
Scope and Content
Photograph of a woman identified only by the initials A.M.T (Alice Travers). The photograph has been cut to shape around her outline and pasted on an album page with similar pictures collectively titled "Heads and Tales."
1 photograph : b&w ; 1.5 x 2 cm cut to size on page 24.5 x 32.5 cm (pasted in album)
Description Level
Item
Record No.
477-498
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2007-12
Scope and Content
Photograph of a woman identified only by the initials A.M.T (Alice Travers). The photograph has been cut to shape around her outline and pasted on an album page with similar pictures collectively titled "Heads and Tales."
Photograph of the Allanson family clearing the land at 12 Warwick Avenue bought by Malcolm and Mabel Allanson. Left to right: William Allanson, Mabel Allanson, Malcolm Allanson, and Jessie Allanson. William and Jessie Allanson are the parents of Malcolm. Mabel and Malcolm Allanson are married.
Photograph of the Allanson family clearing the land at 12 Warwick Avenue bought by Malcolm and Mabel Allanson. Left to right: William Allanson, Mabel Allanson, Malcolm Allanson, and Jessie Allanson. William and Jessie Allanson are the parents of Malcolm. Mabel and Malcolm Allanson are married.
Photograph of the exterior of Allen Sharpe's first store on Kingsway (at Kathleen Avenue), a sign shop and store that also sold groceries and Mrs. Rose Sharpe's hand-made linens. The Sharpes bought the property in 1919.
Photograph of the exterior of Allen Sharpe's first store on Kingsway (at Kathleen Avenue), a sign shop and store that also sold groceries and Mrs. Rose Sharpe's hand-made linens. The Sharpes bought the property in 1919.
Photograph of Allen Sharpe's gas station on Kingsway (at Kathleen Avenue) with a group of men standing in front. Mr. Sharpe is on the right wearing a cap and tie. Signs on the building read, "Sharpe Service Garage / Shell Gasoline / Motor Oil / Tires."
Photograph of Allen Sharpe's gas station on Kingsway (at Kathleen Avenue) with a group of men standing in front. Mr. Sharpe is on the right wearing a cap and tie. Signs on the building read, "Sharpe Service Garage / Shell Gasoline / Motor Oil / Tires."
Photograph of the exterior of the home of the Almond family. Two women and three girls are seated on the porch stairs. The description identifies the house as 4712 Union Street, while the house number shown in the photograph is 4771. An annotation on the back of the photograph notes that the hou…
Photograph of the exterior of the home of the Almond family. Two women and three girls are seated on the porch stairs. The description identifies the house as 4712 Union Street, while the house number shown in the photograph is 4771. An annotation on the back of the photograph notes that the house was built in 1912.
1 photograph : b&w ; 6 x 10.5 cm on page 24.5 x 32.5 cm (pasted in album)
Scope and Content
Photograph of three men standing along the road, next to a wooden fence eating baked goods. Bob Peers is in the middle (holding the bakery box) and the man on the right is Francis Peers. The other man is unknown. A caption to the photograph reads: "The Malahat Summit '22."
1 photograph : b&w ; 6 x 10.5 cm on page 24.5 x 32.5 cm (pasted in album)
Description Level
Item
Record No.
477-668
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2007-12
Scope and Content
Photograph of three men standing along the road, next to a wooden fence eating baked goods. Bob Peers is in the middle (holding the bakery box) and the man on the right is Francis Peers. The other man is unknown. A caption to the photograph reads: "The Malahat Summit '22."
1 photograph : sepia, mounted on cardboard ; 12.5 x 17 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph is a portrait of men, women, and children on the beach of Alouette Lake. The fourth woman from the left is identified as Charlotte Hill. The man to the right of her is identified as Minard Hill.
1 photograph : sepia, mounted on cardboard ; 12.5 x 17 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
550-175
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2013-03
Scope and Content
Photograph is a portrait of men, women, and children on the beach of Alouette Lake. The fourth woman from the left is identified as Charlotte Hill. The man to the right of her is identified as Minard Hill.
Photograph of members of the Alta Vista Baptist Church Sunday school class at the Jubilee Interurban train Station, on the way to a Picnic at Second Beach. Included in the photograph are, from left; Pearl Christian, Joy [last name unknown], Phyllis Smith, Ivy Smith, Dorothy Douglas, Grace Harrison,…
Photograph of members of the Alta Vista Baptist Church Sunday school class at the Jubilee Interurban train Station, on the way to a Picnic at Second Beach. Included in the photograph are, from left; Pearl Christian, Joy [last name unknown], Phyllis Smith, Ivy Smith, Dorothy Douglas, Grace Harrison, [unidentified]. Mrs. Nellie Davis [not pictured] taught this class.
Photograph of an unidentified man sitting on a wooden beam with a woman who appears to be Rhoda Mae Jeffers seated on his lap. The man is holding a thermos bottle and the woman has a cigarette in her mouth. Behind them is an open lunch box and more thermoses and food. They are looking at each other…
Photograph of an unidentified man sitting on a wooden beam with a woman who appears to be Rhoda Mae Jeffers seated on his lap. The man is holding a thermos bottle and the woman has a cigarette in her mouth. Behind them is an open lunch box and more thermoses and food. They are looking at each other. Behind them is a wooden fence and some woods. She has a short bobbed hair cut and is wearing glasses.