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
Alfred Hickman
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [195-] (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.5 x 11 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of two men standing outside Hickman's Grocery on Patterson Avenue near the railroad tracks. One of the men is Alfred Hickman, the store's owner. Signs on the store read, "Hickmans / Groceries / Produce" and "Groceries / Hickmans / Meats." Signs in the window advertise wieners and "Mea…
A. Matheson and Sons Market
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1957
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.9 x 9.0 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the A. Matheson & Sons store building located at 3576 Kingsway (later renumbered 4920 Kingsway) and Nelson Avenue. Signs on the store read, "A. Matheson & Sons Market / Fresh Meats - Groceries / Quality and Service / Dexter 1372, 1373 / Free Delivery." Additional signs and billboard…
Astor Hotel
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1958
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25.6 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Astor Hotel at 4561 Kingsway and McKay Avenue. A hotel sign reads, "Welcome HRH Princess Margaret to Burnaby." The Astor Coffee Shop is to the right of the hotel.
Burnaby Chamber of Commerce
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1959]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 18.1 x 21.9 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the "Yesterday and Today" display, Burnaby Chamber of Commerce. Signs on either side of the display read, "Burnaby has ten miles of Fraser River frontage" and "Burnaby has ten miles of deepsea frontage." In the centre is a display of photographs. Signs on both sides of the display …
Cornerstone for New Municipal Hall
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1955
- Collection/Fonds
- Charles MacSorley fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 9 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the commemorative cornerstone laid for the new Municipal Hall building. The stone reads: "This stone was laid by His Worship Reeve Charles W. MacSorley / September 23rd 1955."
Dow, Fraser and Company Limited
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1915]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 16.5 x 21.5 cm photogravure
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Mr. Eric Warrington Howard Bennett standing on the doorway to a store with large signs for a branch of Dow, Fraser & Co. Limited for real estate, loans, and fire insurance. The trust company is advertised on the sign as having been established in 1900. There is another store in the bu…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : sepia ; 16.5 x 21.5 cm photogravure
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Mr. Eric Warrington Howard Bennett standing on the doorway to a store with large signs for a branch of Dow, Fraser & Co. Limited for real estate, loans, and fire insurance. The trust company is advertised on the sign as having been established in 1900. There is another store in the building that is unidentified. Eric Warrington Howard Bennett was the branch manager of the Dow, Fraser company which started in Burnaby circa 1915. The store was located on the corner of McKay Avenue and the BC Electric Railway tracks. Later, a top storey was added to the building. An annotation on the back of the photograph reads: "Burnaby Branch Office. / E.W.H. Bennett / Manager."
- Subjects
- Buildings - Commercial
- Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards
- Names
- Bennett, Eric Warrington Howard
- Dow, Fraser and Company Limited
- Geographic Access
- McKay Avenue
- Accession Code
- HV977.77.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [1915]
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Maywood Area
- Scan Resolution
- 600
- Scan Date
- 2023-07-11
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
Less detail
Exhibition Park
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1958
- Collection/Fonds
- Harold H. Johnston fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph (jpeg) : b&w
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of a crowd of people gathered near the entrance to the exhibition park at the Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) in Vancouver, BC. A banner at the top of the entrance reads "B.C. Centennial Year 1858-1958" and the marquis below the "Exhibition Park" sign reads "Water Follies of 58 / Shri…
Gordon Presbyterian Church Refreshment Building
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1918] (date of original), copied 1987
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.8 x 12.5 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the exterior of the Gordon Presbyterian Church refreshment building at the Central Park Agricultural Exhibition. Signs on the building read, "Gordon Presby Church," "Continuous Performance," "This is the Best," "Home Cooking / [illegible] just like Mother's / [Smells?] Good! Tastes B…
Gordon Presbyterian Church Refreshment Tent
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1912] (date of original), copied 1987
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.8 x 12.5 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the exterior of the Gordon Presbyterian Church refreshment tent at the Central Park Agricultural Exhibition. Banners above the door of the tent read, "Gordon Presby Church Refreshments" and "Hot Meals." Other banners and penants read, "God Save the King" and "Canada." Nine women an…
Gordon Presbyterian Church Refreshment Tent
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1912] (date of original), copied 1987
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.7 x 12.4 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the exterior of the Gordon Presbyterian Church refreshment tent at the Central Park Agricultural Exhibition. A sign above the door of the tent reads, "Gordon Presby Church Refreshments." Eight women and two men are standing outside the tent. The women are wearing aprons. Pennants …
Granville Street, Vancouver
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1910]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 7.4 x 9.8 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Granville Street, looking north. Signs for "Fletchers Pianos" and the "Colonial Theatre" can be seen. The north shore is faintly visible across Burrard Inlet.
Hotel Burnaby
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1958]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.3 x 25.2 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Hotel Burnaby at 1385 Kingsway (later renumbered 7610 Kingsway). An electric "Hotel Burnaby / Vacancy / Parking" sign can be seen on the right. A diner can be seen on the left side of the building with signs reading, "Dining Room," "Diner," "Soda Fountain," "Breakfasts, Lunches, Din…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1958]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Series
- Community Archives Collection series
- Subseries
- Photographs subseries
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.3 x 25.2 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 105-001
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
- Accession Number
- BHS2007-04
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Hotel Burnaby at 1385 Kingsway (later renumbered 7610 Kingsway). An electric "Hotel Burnaby / Vacancy / Parking" sign can be seen on the right. A diner can be seen on the left side of the building with signs reading, "Dining Room," "Diner," "Soda Fountain," "Breakfasts, Lunches, Dinners," "Coffee Bar," and "Licensed Premises." Coca-Cola advertisements are also visible. There are entrances to the building with signs above them readings, "Lobby," "Men," and "Ladies and Escorts."
- Subjects
- Advertising Medium - Signs and Signboards
- Buildings - Commercial - Hotels and Motels
- Buildings - Commercial - Restaurants
- Names
- Hotel Burnaby Limited
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Croton Studio Limited
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Stamp on back of photograph reads, "Croton Studio / New Westminster BC"
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Street Address
- 7610 Kingsway
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Edmonds (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Edmonds Area
Less detail
Hotel Burnaby
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1953]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w postcard ; 8.7 x 13.1 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photographic postcard advertising the Hotel Burnaby at 1385 Kingsway (old street numbering). A caption on the reverse of the postcard reads: Hotel Burnaby / :Located between new Simpsons-Sears and new Woodwards shopping centres / You will remember Hotel Burnaby for the REST of your life."
Hotel Burnaby Ltd.
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1955]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : col. postcard ; 9 x 14 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photographic postcard of Burnaby Hotel located at 1385 Kingsway (old street numbering system). Printed at the bottom of the postcard is the following: Hotel Burnaby Ltd. / 1385 Kingsway at 14th Avenue / Burnaby 3, New Westminster, B.C., Telephone LA 1-8891. On the reverse is written: "Hotel Burna…
Jubilee Drug Store
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1918]
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 8.8 x 12.6 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the exterior of Jubilee Drug Store, Jubilee Avenue and Imperial Street (later the location of Bonsor Park, 6550 Bonsor Avenue). Signs on the front of the store read, "Jubilee Drug Store / Drugs / Prescriptions / Lending Library / The Rexall Store." Signs on the side of the building …
L.C. Smith Typewriter
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1910 (date of original), copied 1986
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12.7 x 17.8 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of George L. Donovan demonstrating the new L.C. Smith (later Smith-Corona) typewriter at the Vancouver Exhibition (later Pacific National Exhibition, PNE). He owned Vancouver Typewriters at 334 Seymour Street in Vancouver.
Lindsay Johnson and L.B. Johnson
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1956] (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.0 x 3.0 cm print on contact sheet 20.4 x 26.9 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Lindsay Johnson and her grandfather, L.B. Johnson, at the Lougheed Drive-In Theatre on the 4200 block of Lougheed Highway at Gilmore Avenue. They are standing in front of a sign for the snack bar and restrooms.
Lougheed Drive-In Theatre Marquee
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1956] (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 20.1 x 26.7 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the Lougheed Drive-In Theatre marquee stating that the theatre is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and listing the movies playing. A car is parked beside the ticket booth. The theatre was located on the 4200 block of Lougheed Highway at Gilmore Avenue.
Lougheed Drive-In Theatre neon sign
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1958] (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.0 x 3.0 cm print on contact sheet 20.1 x 26.7 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the new neon tower at the Lougheed Drive-In Theatre on the 4200 block of Lougheed Highway at Gilmore Avenue.