Helen 'The Swinging Girl' Neon Sign
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Description
- Commercial building.
- Associated Dates
- 1956
- Formal Recognition
- Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register
- Other Names
- Helen's Childrens Wear Sign
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
- Repository
- Burnaby Heritage Planning
- Other Names
- Helen's Childrens Wear Sign
- Geographic Access
- Hastings Street
- Associated Dates
- 1956
- Formal Recognition
- Heritage Designation, Community Heritage Register
- Enactment Type
- Bylaw No. 12771
- Enactment Date
- 19/04/2010
- Description
- Commercial building.
- Heritage Value
- While the building here is of some importance as the former North Burnaby municipal office, its primary importance is its delightful neon sign that has become a North Burnaby landmark. Helen Arnold opened Helen’s Childrens Wear shop in the building next door to the old Municipal offices in 1948. In 1955, when North Burnaby moved out, she moved into the vacated building. As part of the renovations, Helen enlisted the assistance of her good friend Jimmy Wallace, owner of Vancouver’s Wallace Neon Company, to create a new sign for her expanded business. One of the company’s designers, Reeve Lehman, created the swinging neon girl that was installed in 1956. Designed in two parts, one section of the sign is cloud shaped and reads ‘Helen’s’ while the other section is a moving representation of a little girl on a swing. The sign is nine feet six inches high and nine feet wide, and the lower section is animated with an internal motor and gears. It immediately became a landmark on Hastings Street, and recently the sign’s design fame has spread far and wide as one of the best surviving examples of kinetic neon art in North America.
- Locality
- Vancouver Heights
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Vancouver Heights (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Willingdon Heights Area
- Community
- Burnaby
- Names
- Helen's Childrens Wear
- Subjects
- Buildings - Commercial - Stores
- Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards
- Street Address
- 4142 Hastings Street
- Street View URL
- Google Maps Street View
Less detail
New Vista Society Project
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1954
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 19.9 x 25.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the New Vista Society housing project no. 6 at 141-149-155 11th Avenue (later renumbered the 8100 block of 11th Avenue).
Three Apartment Blocks
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1954
- Collection/Fonds
- Ernest Winch fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w postcard ; 8 x 13 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photographic postcard of the three apartment blocks at New Vista Society's Senior Citizens Housing Project no. 6 at 141-149-155 11th Avenue (later renumbered the 8100 block of 11th Avenue).
New Vista Society Project
Extension of McPherson Park School
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- September 1959
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.5 x 12.5 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the A.J. Keel house with excavation for the extension of the McPherson Park School.
Extension of McPherson Park School
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- September 1959
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.5 x 12.5 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the A.J. Keel house with a close-up of the excavation for the extension of McPherson Park School.
2924 Silver Avenue
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- June 1954 (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 2.6 x 3.9 cm print on contact sheet 20.5 x 26.4 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the construction of an addition to 2924 Silver Avenue (later renumbered 6113 Silver Avenue). Three people are on the roof of the house, and two others are on a ladder.
5987 Malvern Avenue under construction
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- April 1957 (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.1 x 4.6 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.3 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of 5987 Malvern Avenue under construction in April, 1957. A women and two girls are standing on the front steps.
5987 Malvern Avenue under construction
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- April 1957 (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.1 x 4.7 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.3 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of 5987 Malvern Avenue under construction in April, 1957. A women and two girls are standing on the front steps.
5987 Malvern Avenue under construction
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- April 1957 (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.1 x 4.7 cm print on contact sheet 20.2 x 25.3 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of 5987 Malvern Avenue under construction in April, 1957. A women and two girls are standing on the front steps.
Birth of a House
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- May 1950
- Collection/Fonds
- Yanko family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the construction of the Yanko family house at 7385 Broadway (later renumbered 7391) in Burnaby. Two unidentified men are visible at left, working to install wood beams, joists and support posts.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- May 1950
- Collection/Fonds
- Yanko family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm
- Material Details
- Secured to album page with photo corners
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 545-439
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2012-09
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the construction of the Yanko family house at 7385 Broadway (later renumbered 7391) in Burnaby. Two unidentified men are visible at left, working to install wood beams, joists and support posts.
- Subjects
- Construction
- Buildings - Residential - Houses
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Transcribed title (from album page)
- Note written on album page reads: "'Birth of a House' / Started May 1950 / Moved in April 6, 1951"
- Note in black ink on verso of photograph reads: "#1 House May 1950" and "up to that line; is all our land 84' x 86' / 26'6" 34' 23' [diagram] - House / I'll send you the plan"
- Street Address
- 7391 Broadway
- Planning Study Area
- Sperling-Broadway Area
Less detail
Birth of a House
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- May 1950
- Collection/Fonds
- Yanko family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified man who appears to be hammering wooden support posts into a concrete foundation during the construction of the Yanko family house at 7385 Broadway (later renumbered 7391) in Burnaby.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- May 1950
- Collection/Fonds
- Yanko family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm
- Material Details
- Secured to album page with photo corners
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 545-441
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2012-09
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified man who appears to be hammering wooden support posts into a concrete foundation during the construction of the Yanko family house at 7385 Broadway (later renumbered 7391) in Burnaby.
- Subjects
- Construction
- Buildings - Residential - Houses
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Transcribed title (from album page)
- Note written on album page reads: "'Birth of a House' / Started May 1950 / Moved in April 6, 1951"
- Note in black ink on verso of photograph reads: "House # 4" and "May 1950"
- Street Address
- 7391 Broadway
- Planning Study Area
- Sperling-Broadway Area
Less detail
Pouring cement at 6650 Winch Street
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 8 May 1950
- Collection/Fonds
- Elmer Wilson Martin fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 7 x 11.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of men pouring the cement foundation of duplex to be built at 6650 Winch Street in Burnaby.
Yanko family house
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1950 or 1951]
- Collection/Fonds
- Yanko family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Yanko family house at 7385 Broadway (later renumbered 7391) in Burnaby with construction almost complete.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1950 or 1951]
- Collection/Fonds
- Yanko family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm
- Material Details
- Secured to album page with photo corners
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 545-468
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2012-09
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Yanko family house at 7385 Broadway (later renumbered 7391) in Burnaby with construction almost complete.
- Subjects
- Construction
- Buildings - Residential - Houses
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Transcribed title (from album page)
- Note written on album page reads: "'Our House' / May 1950 to April 5, 1951"
- Note in black ink on verso of photograph reads: "#19 House May 1950"
- Street Address
- 7391 Broadway
- Planning Study Area
- Sperling-Broadway Area
Less detail
Yanko family house
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1950 or 1951]
- Collection/Fonds
- Yanko family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Yanko family house at 7385 Broadway (later renumbered 7391) in Burnaby with construction almost complete.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1950 or 1951]
- Collection/Fonds
- Yanko family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm
- Material Details
- Secured to album page with photo corners
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 545-469
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2012-09
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Yanko family house at 7385 Broadway (later renumbered 7391) in Burnaby with construction almost complete.
- Subjects
- Construction
- Buildings - Residential - Houses
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Transcribed title (from album page)
- Note written on album page reads: "'Our House' / May 1950 to April 5, 1951"
- Note in black ink on verso of photograph reads: "#17 May 1950 House"
- Street Address
- 7391 Broadway
- Planning Study Area
- Sperling-Broadway Area
Less detail
Yanko family house under construction
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- May 1950
- Collection/Fonds
- Yanko family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified man working on the construction of the Yanko family house at 7385 Broadway (later renumbered 7391) in Burnaby. John Ivan Yanko is standing to the side of the construction site, in a suit and tie.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- May 1950
- Collection/Fonds
- Yanko family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm
- Material Details
- Secured to album page with photo corners
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 545-442
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2012-09
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of an unidentified man working on the construction of the Yanko family house at 7385 Broadway (later renumbered 7391) in Burnaby. John Ivan Yanko is standing to the side of the construction site, in a suit and tie.
- Subjects
- Construction
- Buildings - Residential - Houses
- Names
- Yanko, John Ivan
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Transcribed title (from album page)
- Note written on album page reads: "May 1950 to April 5, 1951 Moved in April 6, 1951"
- Note in black ink on verso of photograph reads: "May 1950 House # 3"
- Street Address
- 7391 Broadway
- Planning Study Area
- Sperling-Broadway Area
Less detail
Yanko family house under construction
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- May 1950
- Collection/Fonds
- Yanko family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the construction of the Yanko family house at 7385 Broadway (later renumbered 7391) in Burnaby. Two unidentified men are visible at left, working to install wood beams, joists and support posts.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- May 1950
- Collection/Fonds
- Yanko family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm
- Material Details
- Secured to album page with photo corners
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 545-443
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2012-09
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the construction of the Yanko family house at 7385 Broadway (later renumbered 7391) in Burnaby. Two unidentified men are visible at left, working to install wood beams, joists and support posts.
- Subjects
- Construction
- Buildings - Residential - Houses
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Transcribed title (from album page)
- Note written on album page reads: "May 1950 to April 5, 1951 Moved in April 6, 1951"
- Note in black ink on verso of photograph reads: "#12 May 1950 House"
- Street Address
- 7391 Broadway
- Planning Study Area
- Sperling-Broadway Area
Less detail
Yanko family house under construction
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- May 1950
- Collection/Fonds
- Yanko family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the construction of the Yanko family house at 7385 Broadway (later renumbered 7391) in Burnaby. Two unidentified men are visible at left.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- May 1950
- Collection/Fonds
- Yanko family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm
- Material Details
- Secured to album page with photo corners
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 545-444
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2012-09
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the construction of the Yanko family house at 7385 Broadway (later renumbered 7391) in Burnaby. Two unidentified men are visible at left.
- Subjects
- Construction
- Buildings - Residential - Houses
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Transcribed title (from album page)
- Note written on album page reads: "May 1950 to April 5, 1951 Moved in April 6, 1951"
- Note in black ink on verso of photograph reads: "#11 House May 1950"
- Street Address
- 7391 Broadway
- Planning Study Area
- Sperling-Broadway Area
Less detail
Yanko family house under construction
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- May 1950
- Collection/Fonds
- Yanko family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 5.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Yanko family house at 7385 Broadway (later renumbered 7391) in Burnaby midway through its construction.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- May 1950
- Collection/Fonds
- Yanko family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 5.5 cm
- Material Details
- Secured to album page with photo corners
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 545-445
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2012-09
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Yanko family house at 7385 Broadway (later renumbered 7391) in Burnaby midway through its construction.
- Subjects
- Construction
- Buildings - Residential - Houses
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Transcribed title (from album page)
- Note written on album page reads: "May 1950 to April 5, 1951 Moved in April 6, 1951"
- Note in black ink on verso of photograph reads: "#10 May 1950 House"
- Street Address
- 7391 Broadway
- Planning Study Area
- Sperling-Broadway Area
Less detail
Yanko family house under construction
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- May 1950
- Collection/Fonds
- Yanko family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 5.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Yanko family house at 7385 Broadway (later renumbered 7391) in Burnaby midway through its construction.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- May 1950
- Collection/Fonds
- Yanko family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8 x 5.5 cm
- Material Details
- Secured to album page with photo corners
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 545-446
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2012-09
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Yanko family house at 7385 Broadway (later renumbered 7391) in Burnaby midway through its construction.
- Subjects
- Construction
- Buildings - Residential - Houses
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Transcribed title (from album page)
- Note written on album page reads: "May 1950 to April 5, 1951 Moved in April 6, 1951"
- Note in black ink on verso of photograph reads: "May 1950 #5"
- Street Address
- 7391 Broadway
- Planning Study Area
- Sperling-Broadway Area
Less detail