File contains the newspaper; "The Daily Columbian" September 8, 1899 which covers topics such as the Boer War and the Dreyfus Affair along with the paper's supplement; "The Columbian Fire Anniversary Supplement" September 9, 1899 which marks the anniversary of Great Fire of New Westminster, 1898 an…
File contains the newspaper; "The Daily Columbian" September 8, 1899 which covers topics such as the Boer War and the Dreyfus Affair along with the paper's supplement; "The Columbian Fire Anniversary Supplement" September 9, 1899 which marks the anniversary of Great Fire of New Westminster, 1898 and describes the progress and rebuilding that had been accomplished over the year.
Collection consists of photographs created by or for the Columbian Newspaper and the Burnaby Today newspaper (child company to the Columbian). Photographs depict various people, organizations, and events in Burnaby that had historical interest. Many of the photographs within this collection have ne…
Collection consists of photographs created by or for the Columbian Newspaper and the Burnaby Today newspaper (child company to the Columbian). Photographs depict various people, organizations, and events in Burnaby that had historical interest. Many of the photographs within this collection have newspaper photographers identified as: Peter Battistoni, Tom Braid, Campbell, Randy Glover, Craig Hodge, B.C. Jennings, Basil King, Ken Oakes, Sheamus Smith, John Symonds, Don Trimbell and Don Whistler.
This portion of the recording includes Ada Evelyn (Lewis) Groves memories of her family life during the early days of Burnaby. She mentions the East Burnaby Fruit Farm (her family's farm) and the George Leaf General Store. She also talks about her brothers and her father, the first typesetter for t…
This portion of the recording includes Ada Evelyn (Lewis) Groves memories of her family life during the early days of Burnaby. She mentions the East Burnaby Fruit Farm (her family's farm) and the George Leaf General Store. She also talks about her brothers and her father, the first typesetter for the Columbian newspaper. Ada is being interviewed in front of an audience at Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum).
Recording is of interviews with Lillian May (Davies) Jones, Ada Evelyn (Lewis) Groves, Lillian Frederica (Lewis) Porter, and Elsie Wilson during the Pioneer Days celebration at Heritage Village (now Burnaby Village Museum) on September 22, 1971. Major themes discussed are: personal memories and occupations of interviewees family members.
Biographical Notes
Lillian May Davies was born June 28, 1891 to George and Rachel (Mills) Davies. She was one of four children.
George Davies married Rachel Mills September 12, 1888 in Winnipeg and headed west to make their home. George’s brother Richard Davies had already bought property at the corner of 16th Street and 3rd Avenue (now 12th Avenue) when Rachel and George moved in and built a house next door. George Davies went to work for Gilley Bros. Logging Co. in Burnaby.
Lillian May Davies married John Henry Jones on July 29, 1909 at the Methodist Church in Burnaby which had opened only a few weeks before (the Joneses were the first couple to be married there). Their reception was held in the Davies’ family garden.
On June 3, 1910, Lillian and John’s first child, Arnold Jones was born. In 1919 they adopted their second child, John Sheldon Jones whose birth parents had died of influenza.
John and Lillian built a home on the lot next to Lillian’s parents and lived there for forty-eight years. After her husband’s death in 1956, Lillian moved one lot over and remained living there for over twenty years.
Lillian May (Davies) Jones died in Surrey on June 24, 1981 at the age of eighty-nine for over twenty years.
Lillian May (Davies) Jones died in Surrey on June 24, 1981 at the age of eighty-nine.
Ada Evelyn Lewis was born on September 11, 1899. She was one of nine Lewis children.
Ada's father came to Victoria BC from San Francisco. He met his wife in Victoria and moved to New Westminster where he was a typesetter on the first edition of the Columbian newspaper. He continued to work for the Columbian until his retirement.
Her family owned the East Burnaby Fruit Farm at 17th Avenue between 2nd and 4th Street where they harvested apples, plums and pears. Ada attended East Burnaby School in 1905 and remembers being a pupil of Miss Draper.
Ada E. Lewis married and became Mrs. Ada Evelyn Groves.
Lillian Frederica “Lillie” Lewis was born in 1896 to William Henry and Emma (Smith) Lewis at the family farm at 4th Street and 18th Avenue. The family grew to nine, eldest to youngest; Albert, Lizzie, Minnie, Walter, Ernest, Lillie and Evelyn.
Lillie’s mother, Emma (Smith) had the distinction of being the first girl of European descent to be born at Fort Victoria. Lillie’s father, William Henry Lewis helped to print the very first edition of the Vancouver Province in 1898.
Lillie attended Douglas Road School and remembers being a pupil of Ellen Lister.
Lillian Frederica “Lillie” Lewis married Bertie Blaine Porter at Lulu Island on November 7, 1918. They lived in Vancouver for a short time before returning to Burnaby to raise their four children. For most of his working life Bert operated a steam roller for the municipality.
Lillian Frederica (Lewis) Porter died May 18, 1988 at the age of ninety-two.
Elsie Wilson was born August 16, 1898 to Annie and her second husband William Wilson.
Annie’s first husband Samuel W Walmsley died December 20, 1895 at the age of thirty-five, leaving Annie a widow at twenty-seven with two young children Annie age four and Samuel age six.
Annie Walmsley married her second husband William Wilson on April 17, 1897.
Elsie attended West Burnaby public school (later Kingsway West elementary) and remembers picking raspberries at various Burnaby farms for seven seasons.
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.
George S. Vickers, a compositor with The British Columbian newspaper, was a prominent Burnaby resident who became involved with real estate during the boom prior to the First World War. In December 1910, The British Columbian reported that “Mr. Vickers has commenced to build a commodious residence on Fourth Avenue between 1st and 2nd streets.” This high quality Craftsman style bungalow, completed in 1911, was originally situated on one acre of property, which contained a large kitchen garden, an orchard of 40 trees of various types and houses and runs for chickens, ducks and turkeys. In 1919, the property was advertised for $5,000 and likely sold easily because of its location (three blocks from the electric streetcar line on Sixth Street), its many amenities and property improvements. Some of its selling points included its panelled living and dining room with 3-ply veneer, beamed ceilings and an open fireplace. Craftsman-style features include battered porch piers, unusual double bargeboards, triangular eave brackets and exposed purlins. The house survives in excellent original condition, with only minor alterations.
Newspaper clipping glued to verso of photograph reads: "Two ways of spending a summer day on the water are juxtaposed in photograph by Craig Hodge, who found this moment at Barnet Marine Park."
Stamp on verso of photograph reads: "COLUMBIAN PHOTO BY CRAIG HODGE"
Newspaper clipping glued to verso of photograph reads: "Burnaby centennial pavilion, built in 1958 at which time it was proposed that it would be used as a banquet hall, restaurant and tearoom, may become simply a restaurant under plans being considered by the parks and recreation commission. The parks commission plans to begin resevations about October of this year when the present tenants have vacated."
Stamp on verso of photograph reads: "Basil King Photos"
Photograph of the Edison Road Power House, of the Westminster and Vancouver Tramway Co. Ltd., the first electric interurban street railway in North America. This power house stood between Vancouver Road (Kingsway) and the line to Vancouver. (Edison Road is now Griffiths Avenue).
Photograph of the Edison Road Power House, of the Westminster and Vancouver Tramway Co. Ltd., the first electric interurban street railway in North America. This power house stood between Vancouver Road (Kingsway) and the line to Vancouver. (Edison Road is now Griffiths Avenue).
Photograph of the Gilley Brothers logging operation. A donkey engine is visible on the right, and seven men are standing on a felled tree as it is pulled along the track by the power of the donkey engine.
Photograph of the Gilley Brothers logging operation. A donkey engine is visible on the right, and seven men are standing on a felled tree as it is pulled along the track by the power of the donkey engine.