When the Barnet Mill began operations in 1899, the mill authorities opened a small school to accommodate the children of employees. The school was located in a remodelled harness-room beside the mill and Miss Phoebe Spragge was the first teacher at a salary of $40.00 per month. By 1907, the school had been moved to a purpose-built building where it remained in operation until the early 1950s.
In 1905 the Nichols Chemical Company, acid manufacturers based in Montreal, established their plant on a large point of land just east of the North Pacific Lumber Company. This company was later amalgamated and acquired by General Chemical and remains in operation on the original waterfront site.
Located on the shore of Burrard Inlet, these poured concrete piers of the smokestack burner and the former boiler and plant of the North Pacific Lumber Company are among the only remains of the once-thriving industrial site located on the waterfront on the south shore of Burrard Inlet. The sawmill and the Village of Barnet were initiated by David MacLaren, a wealthy lumberman from Buckingham, Quebec, who had previously established the Fraser Mills in Coquitlam in 1889. McLaren gambled that a sawmill on the main line of the C.P.R near Vancouver would serve the Canadian domestic market and be a profitable venture. The North Pacific Lumber Company established itself on this peninsula on Burrard Inlet and was fully operational in 1900. In 1909, the mill was completely burned out by a fire starting in the boiler room. Immediately the plant was rebuilt, modern in every respect and absolutely fireproof, as the entire power plant and boiler room was built of reinforced concrete and steel, of which these ruins are the last remains. The plant closed during the First World War and reopened as the Barnet Lumber Company in 1925 only to close forever in 1931 after a strike during the Great Depression.
Photograph of the Aliceville Hotel at Burrard Inlet which was built in 1892. On the back of the photograph, a map showing the hotel's location in relation to Hastings Street and North Road has been sketched in pencil.
Photograph of the Aliceville Hotel at Burrard Inlet which was built in 1892. On the back of the photograph, a map showing the hotel's location in relation to Hastings Street and North Road has been sketched in pencil.
Photograph of the front garden and exterior of the North Pacific Lumber Co. (NPLC) Manager's house at Barnet. The caption on the card reads: "A Pretty Dwelling, Barnet B.C."
Photograph of the front garden and exterior of the North Pacific Lumber Co. (NPLC) Manager's house at Barnet. The caption on the card reads: "A Pretty Dwelling, Barnet B.C."
Photograph of Barnet Road at North Road. Street signs on the left side of the photograph read, "North Ave" and "Barnet Road." A person on a motorbike or bicycle can be seen on the road in the distance. Utility poles are along the road.
Photograph of Barnet Road at North Road. Street signs on the left side of the photograph read, "North Ave" and "Barnet Road." A person on a motorbike or bicycle can be seen on the road in the distance. Utility poles are along the road.
Photograph of Robert Woolsey carrying his daughter, Margaret, piggy-back along Barnet Road. Note the planked surface. Margaret was two years old at the time. In the upper right corner of the photograph is the Barnet School caretaker's cottage, located beside Barnet School at 7820 Barnet Road.
Photograph of Robert Woolsey carrying his daughter, Margaret, piggy-back along Barnet Road. Note the planked surface. Margaret was two years old at the time. In the upper right corner of the photograph is the Barnet School caretaker's cottage, located beside Barnet School at 7820 Barnet Road.
Photograph of Barnet Road covered with November snows. The road was always treacherous in winter with snow and rock slides. In the upper right corner of the photograph is Barnet School and caretaker's cottage. Barnet School was located at 7820 Barnet Road.
Photograph of Barnet Road covered with November snows. The road was always treacherous in winter with snow and rock slides. In the upper right corner of the photograph is Barnet School and caretaker's cottage. Barnet School was located at 7820 Barnet Road.
1 photograph : b&w glass negative ; 16.0 x 20.9 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Barnet Road, a dirt road at the time of the photograph, from North Road. There is a sign post in the foreground to the left that indicates the crossing is "NORTH AVE" and "BARNET RD". On the sign post a provincial notice is tacked on. There are electric posts along one side of Barnet …
1 photograph : b&w glass negative ; 16.0 x 20.9 cm
Scope and Content
Photograph of Barnet Road, a dirt road at the time of the photograph, from North Road. There is a sign post in the foreground to the left that indicates the crossing is "NORTH AVE" and "BARNET RD". On the sign post a provincial notice is tacked on. There are electric posts along one side of Barnet Road, and further down the road is an unidentified man riding a motorcycle or a bicycle. According to an earlier catalogue record from 1988, the view is looking East, and the mountain rising in the background is Burnaby Mountain. The record also dates the negative ca. 1914
Photograph of 7820 Barnet Road including the Barnet School and adjoining teacher's residence. Dr. Carl Eaton once taught there (this photograph was taken by him). Burnaby Mountain is visible in the background.
Photograph of 7820 Barnet Road including the Barnet School and adjoining teacher's residence. Dr. Carl Eaton once taught there (this photograph was taken by him). Burnaby Mountain is visible in the background.
Photograph of a Barnet School teacher and her class sitting and standing in rows outside the school. Annotation on back of photograph reads, "Barnet School, Barnet BC, 1928", however later information suggests that it is more likely 1930 or 1931.
Photograph of a Barnet School teacher and her class sitting and standing in rows outside the school. Annotation on back of photograph reads, "Barnet School, Barnet BC, 1928", however later information suggests that it is more likely 1930 or 1931.
handwritten on back "Burnaby Schools" "23R" twice, "1783"
Oath on plan reads: "I, D.J. McGugan...and did personally superintend the survey..." "completed on the 27th day of May 1915"; signed by D.J. McGugan, notarized by "Walter Edmonds" "sworn "...29th day of May 1915" "Burnett and McGugan" "B.C. Land Surveyors Etc. New Westminster, B.C.";
Photograph of workers' houses in Barnet Village. Some 700 people were employed by the North Pacific Lumber Co. mill at its peak. The roof of the Canadian Pacific Railway station is visible.
Photograph of workers' houses in Barnet Village. Some 700 people were employed by the North Pacific Lumber Co. mill at its peak. The roof of the Canadian Pacific Railway station is visible.