Photograph of an unidentified man standing beside a small John Deere bulldozer described as the "supply machine" at the Willingdon Heights subdivision site. Piles of lumber can be seen in the background.
Photograph of an unidentified man standing beside a small John Deere bulldozer described as the "supply machine" at the Willingdon Heights subdivision site. Piles of lumber can be seen in the background.
Photograph of Charles Street where a man is using machine to dig a ditch; the side of the truck reads, "Alfred Horie Construction Co. Ltd." Houses under construction can be seen in the background. This is part of the Willingdon Heights subdivision site.
Photograph of Charles Street where a man is using machine to dig a ditch; the side of the truck reads, "Alfred Horie Construction Co. Ltd." Houses under construction can be seen in the background. This is part of the Willingdon Heights subdivision site.
Photograph of the construction of the Westminster Rollerway at 660 Edmonds Street (renumbered 7850 Edmonds Street). A "Commercial Truck Co. Ltd." construction crane is in the foreground.
Photograph of the construction of the Westminster Rollerway at 660 Edmonds Street (renumbered 7850 Edmonds Street). A "Commercial Truck Co. Ltd." construction crane is in the foreground.
Photograph of Gilmore Avenue and Douglas Road with a car parked at the side of the road and two men with surveying equipment. This is part of the Willingdon Heights subdivision site.
Photograph of Gilmore Avenue and Douglas Road with a car parked at the side of the road and two men with surveying equipment. This is part of the Willingdon Heights subdivision site.
Photograph of the 4200 blocks of Kitchener Street and Charles Street with a bulldozer on cleared land. This is part of the Willingdon Heights subdivision site.
Photograph of the 4200 blocks of Kitchener Street and Charles Street with a bulldozer on cleared land. This is part of the Willingdon Heights subdivision site.
Photograph of land clearing machines at 4124 Napier Street. Partially constructed houses and lumber are visible, and a sign on the side of a bulldozer reads "Holmes and Wilson Trucking." This is part of the Willingdon Heights subdivision site.
Photograph of land clearing machines at 4124 Napier Street. Partially constructed houses and lumber are visible, and a sign on the side of a bulldozer reads "Holmes and Wilson Trucking." This is part of the Willingdon Heights subdivision site.
Photograph of Gilmore Avenue and Douglas Road including a London mixer and contractors invovled in house construction. The man standing in the center has been identified as Mr. Marcowitz. This is part of the Willingdon Heights subdivision site.
Photograph of Gilmore Avenue and Douglas Road including a London mixer and contractors invovled in house construction. The man standing in the center has been identified as Mr. Marcowitz. This is part of the Willingdon Heights subdivision site.
Photograph of the 4200 block of Kitchener Street at Madison Avenue with cleared land and brush in foreground, and a bulldozer, lumber and houses under construction in background. This is part of the Willingdon Heights subdivision site.
Photograph of the 4200 block of Kitchener Street at Madison Avenue with cleared land and brush in foreground, and a bulldozer, lumber and houses under construction in background. This is part of the Willingdon Heights subdivision site.
1 photograph : b&w ; 3.2 x 4.7 cm print on contact sheet 20.7 x 26.2 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of a group of men digging at a property on Deer Lake Drive. Left to right: William A. "Dinty" Moore, Dave Ogilbie, Peter Sievenpiper, Chand Pauling, Doug Mackie, Bill Salter, Dr. Stanley Sievenpiper, Glen Rockwall, and Bill Sievenpiper.
1 photograph : b&w ; 3.2 x 4.7 cm print on contact sheet 20.7 x 26.2 cm
Description Level
Item
Record No.
370-576
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1999-03
Scope and Content
Photograph of a group of men digging at a property on Deer Lake Drive. Left to right: William A. "Dinty" Moore, Dave Ogilbie, Peter Sievenpiper, Chand Pauling, Doug Mackie, Bill Salter, Dr. Stanley Sievenpiper, Glen Rockwall, and Bill Sievenpiper.
Photograph of Napier Street and Willingdon Avenue with lumber scattered on a cleared area and houses in the background. There are vehicles on the road, including a truck whose side reads "Mother Hubbard Bread" and machinery reading "G.W. Ledingham, Contractors." This is part of the Willingdon Hei…
Photograph of Napier Street and Willingdon Avenue with lumber scattered on a cleared area and houses in the background. There are vehicles on the road, including a truck whose side reads "Mother Hubbard Bread" and machinery reading "G.W. Ledingham, Contractors." This is part of the Willingdon Heights subdivision site.
Photograph of Rosser Avenue and William Street with pipes being laid beside the road. Cleared land, houses and house construction are visible in the background. This is part of the Willingdon Heights subdivision site.
Photograph of Rosser Avenue and William Street with pipes being laid beside the road. Cleared land, houses and house construction are visible in the background. This is part of the Willingdon Heights subdivision site.
Photograph of a man standing beside a bulldozer on a flatbed truck at Madison and Kitchener. A sign on the truck reads, "Holmes and Wilson Trucking Co."
Photograph of a man standing beside a bulldozer on a flatbed truck at Madison and Kitchener. A sign on the truck reads, "Holmes and Wilson Trucking Co."
Photograph of William Street and Carleton Avenue with a man inside a bulldozer-like machine clearing land. This is part of the Willingdon Heights subdivision site.
Photograph of William Street and Carleton Avenue with a man inside a bulldozer-like machine clearing land. This is part of the Willingdon Heights subdivision site.
Photograph of a man operating a bulldozer clearing a forested hill. There appears to be a backhoe on the other side of the hill of fallen and upturned trees. This may be the site of the Willingdon Heights subdivision. Stamped on back of photograph: "342X."
Photograph of a man operating a bulldozer clearing a forested hill. There appears to be a backhoe on the other side of the hill of fallen and upturned trees. This may be the site of the Willingdon Heights subdivision. Stamped on back of photograph: "342X."
Photograph of an unidentified man operating a bulldozer and clearing the lot. This may be the site of the Willingdon Heights subdivision. Stamped on back of photograph: "345L."
Photograph of an unidentified man operating a bulldozer and clearing the lot. This may be the site of the Willingdon Heights subdivision. Stamped on back of photograph: "345L."
This portion of the recording pertains to Ron Smitherman's memories of his early years in construction. Ron discusses what it was like to be in construction during the postwar era. He also discusses his father's work as a carpenter and the changes that occurred with the introduction of electric car…
This portion of the recording pertains to Ron Smitherman's memories of his early years in construction. Ron discusses what it was like to be in construction during the postwar era. He also discusses his father's work as a carpenter and the changes that occurred with the introduction of electric carpentry tools.
Recording is an interview with Ron Smitherman conducted by Burnaby Village Museum employee Eric Damer, November 15, 2012. Major theme discussed: building construction and development in Burnaby.
Biographical Notes
Born in 1933 and raised in Vancouver, Ron Smitherman learned the construction trade from his father, upgrading his knowledge and skills as techniques and materials changed and improved. Ron built houses and commercial buildings in Burnaby and elsewhere during the nineteen-forties, fifties and sixties.
In 1969 Ron and his family settled in Burnaby where he shifted his business to real estate.
Eric Damer is a lifelong British Columbian born in Victoria, raised in Kamloops, and currently residing in Burnaby. After studying philosophy at the University of Victoria, he became interested in the educational forces that had shaped his own life. He completed master’s and doctoral degrees in educational studies at the University of British Columbia with a particular interest in the history of adult and higher education in the province. In 2012, Eric worked for the City of Burnaby as a field researcher and writer, conducting interviews for the City Archives and Museum Oral History Program.