Tucked into a sloping site in a zone that is now transitional between light industrial and residential uses, the Masonic Cemetery is a beautifully landscaped oasis. Two outstanding features of this cemetery are the Woodward mausoleum, constructed in 1924, and the 1930s entrance gates. These substantial gates are constructed of random-coursed granite, and mark the cemetery’s main entrance off Douglas Road. An elaborate granite mausoleum, built for the prominent Woodward family, is located on axis with the main entry, at the brow of the slope. The Egyptian Revival style of the mausoleum was inspired by the opening of Tutankamun’s tomb just two years earlier, a discovery that sparked world-wide Egyptomania. The Woodward’s department store dynasty was founded by Charles Woodward (1852-1937), who visited Vancouver in 1891 and bought two lots for a store. Woodward’s drug department opened in 1895. In 1901, he took an option on a lot at the corner of Hastings and Abbott Streets and incorporated as Woodward’s Department Stores, which opened in November 1903. The family continued to run the business until 1993, when it went bankrupt and was sold to the Hudson’s Bay Company. A number of the Woodward family are interred here.
Photograph of three men standing together and holding a rug inside the Simpsons-Sears store on opening day, May 3, 1954. J. Waddington, Advertising Manager is identified standing in the centre of the group, the other two men are unidentified.
Photograph of three men standing together and holding a rug inside the Simpsons-Sears store on opening day, May 3, 1954. J. Waddington, Advertising Manager is identified standing in the centre of the group, the other two men are unidentified.
Photograph of A. G. Moore, Assistant Manager of Simpsons-Sears, Burnaby (right) standing with two unidentified members of Simpsons-Sears staff and a young boy inside the Simpsons-Sears store on opening day.
Photograph of A. G. Moore, Assistant Manager of Simpsons-Sears, Burnaby (right) standing with two unidentified members of Simpsons-Sears staff and a young boy inside the Simpsons-Sears store on opening day.
Photograph of a display of appliances set up in the parking lot of the Simpsons-Sears store located at 3660 Kingsway (after 1959, 4750 Kingsway) during Simpsons-Sears Days. A tarp is covering the appliance display to protect it from the rain. An unidentified man and child are standing under the tar…
Photograph of a display of appliances set up in the parking lot of the Simpsons-Sears store located at 3660 Kingsway (after 1959, 4750 Kingsway) during Simpsons-Sears Days. A tarp is covering the appliance display to protect it from the rain. An unidentified man and child are standing under the tarp. The pavement is wet from the rain.
Photograph of (left to right) T. Boyd Haskell, Manager of Simpsons-Sears store; Charles Luther Burton, Chairman of Board of Simpsons-Sears and Mr. C.W. Jaggs, Mail Order manager of Simpsons-Sears. The group are standing together inside of the Simpsons-Sears store in Burnaby during the opening on Ma…
Photograph of (left to right) T. Boyd Haskell, Manager of Simpsons-Sears store; Charles Luther Burton, Chairman of Board of Simpsons-Sears and Mr. C.W. Jaggs, Mail Order manager of Simpsons-Sears. The group are standing together inside of the Simpsons-Sears store in Burnaby during the opening on May 5, 1954. A rack of women's clothing is visible in the background.
Photograph of Burnaby Reeve, Charles W. MacSorley delivering a speech from a stage set up in the parking lot of the Simpsons-Sears store in Burnaby during the opening on May 3, 1954. Store Manager, T. Boyd Haskell is visible to the right of the Reeve.
Photograph of Burnaby Reeve, Charles W. MacSorley delivering a speech from a stage set up in the parking lot of the Simpsons-Sears store in Burnaby during the opening on May 3, 1954. Store Manager, T. Boyd Haskell is visible to the right of the Reeve.
Photograph of an unidentified child lying on a display pile of "Loop Cotton Rugs" inside of the Simpsons-Sears store on opening day. Signage on stand for "Loop Cotton Rugs" is visible next to the child and a group of people are visible behind.
Photograph of an unidentified child lying on a display pile of "Loop Cotton Rugs" inside of the Simpsons-Sears store on opening day. Signage on stand for "Loop Cotton Rugs" is visible next to the child and a group of people are visible behind.
Photograph of Charles Luther Burton, chairman of the board of Simpsons-Sears standing with a group of unidentified Simpsons-Sears managers or executive members inside Simpsons-Sears, Burnaby on opening day, May 5, 1954.
Photograph of Charles Luther Burton, chairman of the board of Simpsons-Sears standing with a group of unidentified Simpsons-Sears managers or executive members inside Simpsons-Sears, Burnaby on opening day, May 5, 1954.
Photograph of a clown with an unidentified child inside the Simpsons-Sears store on opening day. The clown is holding a bunch of balloons printed with "Simpsons-Sears".
Photograph of a clown with an unidentified child inside the Simpsons-Sears store on opening day. The clown is holding a bunch of balloons printed with "Simpsons-Sears".
Item consists of a congratulations card from T. Eaton Co. Limited on the occasion of the grand opening of the Simpsons-Sears store in Burnaby on May 4, 1954. Card may have been sent with flowers to the management of Simpsons-Sears, Burnaby.
Item consists of a congratulations card from T. Eaton Co. Limited on the occasion of the grand opening of the Simpsons-Sears store in Burnaby on May 4, 1954. Card may have been sent with flowers to the management of Simpsons-Sears, Burnaby.
Photograph of a crowd of shoppers gathered outside of the front doors to the new Simpsons-Sears store on opening day, May 5, 1954. Two security guards are standing inside of the store.
Photograph of a crowd of shoppers gathered outside of the front doors to the new Simpsons-Sears store on opening day, May 5, 1954. Two security guards are standing inside of the store.
Photograph of a crowd of shoppers gathered inside the Simpsons-Sears store in Burnaby, possibly as part of the first anniversary celebration. The crowd is gathered outside of a booth for Canadian Pacific Airlines. A woman dressed in an airline uniform and wearing a Hawaiian lei is standing inside …
Photograph of a crowd of shoppers gathered inside the Simpsons-Sears store in Burnaby, possibly as part of the first anniversary celebration. The crowd is gathered outside of a booth for Canadian Pacific Airlines. A woman dressed in an airline uniform and wearing a Hawaiian lei is standing inside the booth while another woman also dressed in an airline uniform is standing outside of the booth. Sears manager, Al Moore is visible in the middle foreground of the photograph.