Designed in a vernacular architectural style, the New Haven Barn is a large gambrel-roofed barn located on the Edwardian era McGregor Estate 'Glen-Lyon,' overlooking the rich farmland of the Fraser River floodplain and near a ravine and forested area adjacent to Marine Drive in South Burnaby.
Associated Dates
1939
Formal Recognition
Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register
Other Names
Home of the Friendless, New Haven Borstal Home for Boys and Youthful Offenders, New Haven Correction Centre
Designed in a vernacular architectural style, the New Haven Barn is a large gambrel-roofed barn located on the Edwardian era McGregor Estate 'Glen-Lyon,' overlooking the rich farmland of the Fraser River floodplain and near a ravine and forested area adjacent to Marine Drive in South Burnaby.
Heritage Value
The site is historically significant for its association with early social welfare and correctional reform. The estate was sold in 1926 to an inter-denominational religious organization called the Home of the Friendless, which used it as their B.C. headquarters. The organization was charged with several cases of abuse and neglect in 1937, after which a Royal Commission was formed that led to new legislation to regulate and license all private welfare institutions. 'Glen-Lyon' was sold to the provincial government, and was dedicated in 1939 by the Lt.-Gov. E.W. Hamber for use as the New Haven Borstal Home for Boys and Youthful Offenders (later renamed the New Haven Correction Centre). The Borstal movement originated in England in the late nineteenth century, as an alternative to sending young offenders and runaways to prisons by providing reformatories that focused on discipline and vocational skill. This site’s role as the first North American institution devoted to the Borstal School philosophy was historic, and influenced corrections programs across Canada. The New Haven Barn is a significant feature from its development in 1939 as the Borstal School, designed by Chief Provincial Architect Henry Whittaker of the Department of Public Works, and is the only remaining structure of its kind in Burnaby.
Defining Elements
Key elements that define the heritage character of the New Haven Barn include its:
- gambrel-roofed barn with roof vent with finial, sliding hay loft and access doors, small multi-pane windows, and lapped wooden siding
Photograph of the Roberts' house on 5118 Douglas Road, taken from across the street. Edward and Roland Roberts are seated on the lawn behind a hedge and in front of the house. To the left is the house located at 5106 Douglas Road, built by John W. Roberts and then subsequently sold.
Photograph of the Roberts' house on 5118 Douglas Road, taken from across the street. Edward and Roland Roberts are seated on the lawn behind a hedge and in front of the house. To the left is the house located at 5106 Douglas Road, built by John W. Roberts and then subsequently sold.
Photograph of Dot standing on the lawn of the R.F. Anderson house located at 3908 Deer Lake Avenue (6504 Deer Lake Avenue) in Burnaby. Mabel Hawkshaw was living in this house in 1937. The Anderson House, gardens and tall trees are visible in the background.
Photograph of Dot standing on the lawn of the R.F. Anderson house located at 3908 Deer Lake Avenue (6504 Deer Lake Avenue) in Burnaby. Mabel Hawkshaw was living in this house in 1937. The Anderson House, gardens and tall trees are visible in the background.
Photograph of a woman named Kay seated on the grass of Mabel Hawkshaw's home located at 3908 Deer Lake Avenue (R.F. Anderson house - 6504 Deer Lake Avenue). Gardens and trees are visible behind.
Photograph of a woman named Kay seated on the grass of Mabel Hawkshaw's home located at 3908 Deer Lake Avenue (R.F. Anderson house - 6504 Deer Lake Avenue). Gardens and trees are visible behind.
Photograph of Louise Irwin standing on a limb of a cherry tree in the yard of the Irwin family home on the site of the Barnet Lumber Mill. The cherry tree is in full bloom with cherry blossoms.
Photograph of Louise Irwin standing on a limb of a cherry tree in the yard of the Irwin family home on the site of the Barnet Lumber Mill. The cherry tree is in full bloom with cherry blossoms.
Photograph of Louise Irwin standing under a cherry tree that is in full bloom with cherry blossoms. The tree is in the yard of the Irwin family home on the site of the Barnet Lumber Mill.
Photograph of Louise Irwin standing under a cherry tree that is in full bloom with cherry blossoms. The tree is in the yard of the Irwin family home on the site of the Barnet Lumber Mill.
Photograph of a stump in Central Park. Typed note at the bottom of the photograph reads, "Hollow stump in Central Park (about centre of park). Fifty feet high. At five feet from ground, fifty feet in circumference as measured by Mr. and Mrs. R.T. Wilson. Central Park, November 1936. / City Archiv…
Photograph of a stump in Central Park. Typed note at the bottom of the photograph reads, "Hollow stump in Central Park (about centre of park). Fifty feet high. At five feet from ground, fifty feet in circumference as measured by Mr. and Mrs. R.T. Wilson. Central Park, November 1936. / City Archives."
This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's continuation of reading his series of short stories. He reads; "The ICE AGE and other observations before Burnaby", "The Coming of the Great Trees in Burnaby", "AND THEN MODERN CIVILIZATION STRUCK BURNABY" each written in March of 1962.
This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's continuation of reading his series of short stories. He reads; "The ICE AGE and other observations before Burnaby", "The Coming of the Great Trees in Burnaby", "AND THEN MODERN CIVILIZATION STRUCK BURNABY" each written in March of 1962.
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 nine of recording of Alfred Bingham's writings
Track nine of recording of Alfred Bingham's writings
1 photograph : b&w postcard ; 8 x 13 cm, mounted on heavy-weight paper 17.5 x 26.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photographic postcard of five of the six members of the small party of City of Courtenay officials and their guides walking along the edge of Battleship Lake. The sixth member is the photographer who took this photograph. This was part of a trip to the Forbidden Plateau on Vancouver Island. In this…
1 photograph : b&w postcard ; 8 x 13 cm, mounted on heavy-weight paper 17.5 x 26.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
243-055
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1990-06
Scope and Content
Photographic postcard of five of the six members of the small party of City of Courtenay officials and their guides walking along the edge of Battleship Lake. The sixth member is the photographer who took this photograph. This was part of a trip to the Forbidden Plateau on Vancouver Island. In this photograph George A. Grant is leading the group.
1 photograph : b&w postcard ; 8 x 12.5 cm, mounted on heavy-weight paper 17.5 x 26.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photographic postcard of the Castle (Castlecrag Mountain) and Mount Frink taken from the meadows. A man is standing at the edge of the tree line, looking towards the mountains. This was part of a trip to the Forbidden Plateau on Vancouver Island made by a small party of City of Courtenay officials.…
1 photograph : b&w postcard ; 8 x 12.5 cm, mounted on heavy-weight paper 17.5 x 26.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
243-052
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1990-06
Scope and Content
Photographic postcard of the Castle (Castlecrag Mountain) and Mount Frink taken from the meadows. A man is standing at the edge of the tree line, looking towards the mountains. This was part of a trip to the Forbidden Plateau on Vancouver Island made by a small party of City of Courtenay officials. George A. Grant was one of the climbers in the party.
Handwritten note on on facing page reads: "A million years of the winds and the weather - / Still monarch of all I survey / Forbidden? Not to the lovers of heather / And the beauties of nature gay / So I welcome you to my lofty towers / My rock gardens, lakes and my streams / Come and walk among my beautiful flowers / And then see them always - in dreams. / And ever anon when far down below me / Loading lives of pleasure or care / Refreshing will be your most fond memory / Your Castle, way up in the air. / G.A.G."
1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 5.5 cm, mounted on heavyweight drawing paper 20 x 23.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the tree planting ceremony that took place at the Burnaby South High School to mark the Coronation of King George the 6th. One man in a suit lays down dirt, while two others stand behind him, looking on.
1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 5.5 cm, mounted on heavyweight drawing paper 20 x 23.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
214-009
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1988-15
Scope and Content
Photograph of the tree planting ceremony that took place at the Burnaby South High School to mark the Coronation of King George the 6th. One man in a suit lays down dirt, while two others stand behind him, looking on.
1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 5.5 cm, mounted on heavyweight drawing paper 20 x 23.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the tree planting ceremony that took place at the Burnaby South High School to mark the Coronation of King George the 6th. A man in a suit lays down dirt. A young girl can be seen in the background waving a flag behind the fence, as another man stands watching, wearing a fedora. A thi…
1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 5.5 cm, mounted on heavyweight drawing paper 20 x 23.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
214-010
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1988-15
Scope and Content
Photograph of the tree planting ceremony that took place at the Burnaby South High School to mark the Coronation of King George the 6th. A man in a suit lays down dirt. A young girl can be seen in the background waving a flag behind the fence, as another man stands watching, wearing a fedora. A third man is standing off to the right, also watching.
1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 5.5 cm, mounted on heavyweight drawing paper 20 x 23.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of the tree planting ceremony that took place at the Burnaby South High School to mark the Coronation of King George the 6th. A man in a suit smooths out the dirt around the tree, as another man stands watching from behind a fence, wearing a fedora.
1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 5.5 cm, mounted on heavyweight drawing paper 20 x 23.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
214-011
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1988-15
Scope and Content
Photograph of the tree planting ceremony that took place at the Burnaby South High School to mark the Coronation of King George the 6th. A man in a suit smooths out the dirt around the tree, as another man stands watching from behind a fence, wearing a fedora.
1 photograph : b&w postcard ; 8 x 13 cm, mounted on heavy-weight paper 17.5 x 26.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photographic postcard of Croteau Lake and camp at 4000 feet. This was part of a trip to the Forbidden Plateau on Vancouver Island made by a small party of City of Courtenay officials. George A. Grant was one of the climbers in the party.
1 photograph : b&w postcard ; 8 x 13 cm, mounted on heavy-weight paper 17.5 x 26.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
243-050
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1990-06
Scope and Content
Photographic postcard of Croteau Lake and camp at 4000 feet. This was part of a trip to the Forbidden Plateau on Vancouver Island made by a small party of City of Courtenay officials. George A. Grant was one of the climbers in the party.
1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 13.5 cm, mounted on heavy-weight paper 17.5 x 26.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of smoke billowing from the Campbell River fire, seen from Mount Elma. This was part of a trip to the Forbidden Plateau on Vancouver Island made by a small party of City of Courtenay officials. George A. Grant was one of the climbers in the party.
1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 13.5 cm, mounted on heavy-weight paper 17.5 x 26.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
243-063
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1990-06
Scope and Content
Photograph of smoke billowing from the Campbell River fire, seen from Mount Elma. This was part of a trip to the Forbidden Plateau on Vancouver Island made by a small party of City of Courtenay officials. George A. Grant was one of the climbers in the party.
Note on verso of photograph reads: "Forest fire of July 22nd which formed by a strong North wind threatened the towns of Comox & Courtney [sic] Vancouver Island and other villages. Photo taken from Mt. Elma 4600 ft. Forbidden Plateau 12 miles from the fire. Photo by P.L. Tait. Vancouver B.C."
Handwritten note on facing page reads: "Ordered out 22nd July 1938 ~ but 'the Plateau' was happily ordained 'forbidden' to the Campbell River fire."
1 photograph : b&w ; 12.2 x 7.5 cm on page 23.5 x 17.5 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph taken looking down a tree-lined road, and is labelled "The Green Timbers". An automobile is parked along the side of the road. The Green Timbers was a famous roadway that went through Surrey and by the 1920s it was known as the only remaining stretch of virgin forest all the way from Ca…
1 photograph : b&w ; 12.2 x 7.5 cm on page 23.5 x 17.5 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
020-006
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
BHS2007-04
Scope and Content
Photograph taken looking down a tree-lined road, and is labelled "The Green Timbers". An automobile is parked along the side of the road. The Green Timbers was a famous roadway that went through Surrey and by the 1920s it was known as the only remaining stretch of virgin forest all the way from California to British Columbia. In more recent years, this area in Surrey has been declared an urban forest park.