Nelson Avenue School was established in 1912 to serve the Alta Vista district of Burnaby. Architects Bowman & Cullerne designed this Classical Revival style school which was built as the annex to the original school building in 1927 and was a twin structure to the original Windsor Street School building. It once featured a columned porch but has been altered with a coat of stucco over the original main floor siding and replacement windows. It still retains its distinctive hipped roof with a domed octagonal roof ventilator.
Harold Cullerne (1890-1976) joined J.H. Bowman (1864-1943) in a partnership that lasted from 1919 to 1934. The firm specialized in school design, and their project list includes Seaforth School (1922, now relocated to Burnaby Village Museum), Burnaby North High School (1923), and Windsor Street School (1924).
Photograph of a Grade 5 class at Nelson Avenue School. Patsy Speirs (later Patsy Coe) is in the 3rd row, 4th from the left. Some classmates, not identified, were Lucy Speckman, now Standen (Patsy's best friend); Bev Lewarne (sister of Mayor Bill Lewarne); and, Ruth Thomson The school is located at…
Photograph of a Grade 5 class at Nelson Avenue School. Patsy Speirs (later Patsy Coe) is in the 3rd row, 4th from the left. Some classmates, not identified, were Lucy Speckman, now Standen (Patsy's best friend); Bev Lewarne (sister of Mayor Bill Lewarne); and, Ruth Thomson The school is located at 4850 Irmin Street, at the corner of Nelson Avenue and Rumble Street.
Photograph of the Grade 1 class at Nelson Avenue School. Identified: (front row, 4th from left) Doris Armitage. Teacher: Miss Anderson. Doris Armitage (later Doris Chadsey) was the daughter of Alfred E. Armitage and Emma Jane Armitage.
Photograph of the Grade 1 class at Nelson Avenue School. Identified: (front row, 4th from left) Doris Armitage. Teacher: Miss Anderson. Doris Armitage (later Doris Chadsey) was the daughter of Alfred E. Armitage and Emma Jane Armitage.
Photograph of Nelson Avenue School, Junior class. Identified (2nd row, far right) Carlyle Le Grove (Lyle). Teacher: Miss R.I. Leavens. Lyle was the son of Ida Le Grove (nee Burlton) and Frederick Le Grove.
Photograph of Nelson Avenue School, Junior class. Identified (2nd row, far right) Carlyle Le Grove (Lyle). Teacher: Miss R.I. Leavens. Lyle was the son of Ida Le Grove (nee Burlton) and Frederick Le Grove.
Survey plan of "Nelson Avenue School Site / Burnaby Municipality" "Being the south half of Block 19, except therefrom the north 33 feet, of Lot 99, Gp. 1. New Westminster District".
Survey plan of "Nelson Avenue School Site / Burnaby Municipality" "Being the south half of Block 19, except therefrom the north 33 feet, of Lot 99, Gp. 1. New Westminster District".
Oath on plan reads: "I, D.G. McGugan..." "...and did person- ally superintend the survey..." "...completed on the 5th day of March 1915"; signed by D.J. McGugan, notarized by "R.E. Chapman", sworn "...12th day of April 1915" "Burnett and McGugan" "B.C. Land Surveyors Etc. New Westminster, B.C.."
Trophy, silver cup with handle either side, mounted on polished round wooden base; on cup front,
"BURNABY SCHOOL LEAGUE BASEBALL TROPHY" "PRESENTED FOR PERPETUAL COMPETITION BY ALFRED W. MCLEOD LTD." "NEW WESTMINSTER AND VANCOUVER, B.C." "1925";
A strip of polished metal is mounted around the circumference of the wood base. I has the names of the trophy recipients engraved on it. It is divided into five sections by engraved lines, each headed "WINNER"; centre section "1925 GILMORE AVENUE" "1926 NELSON AVENUE" "1927 NELSON AVENUE"; other sections are blank ;
The cup and strip are tarnished
Photograph: Nelson School Grade 7, Division 1 class photograph for the 1965 to 1966 school year.
Mr Frank Allder, the school vice-principal, is standing on the far left. The unidentified teacher is standing on the far right.
Photograph: Nelson School Grade 7, Division 1 class photograph for the 1965 to 1966 school year.
Mr Frank Allder, the school vice-principal, is standing on the far left. The unidentified teacher is standing on the far right.
This portion of the interview pertains to Beverley (Lewarne) Burrell's memories of Nelson Avenue School, including enrolment boundaries during the Depression. Ethel describes making clothes and other items from flour sacks.
This portion of the interview pertains to Beverley (Lewarne) Burrell's memories of Nelson Avenue School, including enrolment boundaries during the Depression. Ethel describes making clothes and other items from flour sacks.
Date Range
1934
Photo Info
Leer family; Ethel Leer Lewarne is standing on the far right, 1911. Item no. 204-052
Recording is a taped interview with Ethel (Leer) Lewarne and Beverley (Lewarne) Burrell by SFU (Simon Fraser University) graduate student Bettina Bradbury June 24, 1975. Major theme discussed is: the Depression. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".
Biographical Notes
Ethel Cecilia Leer was born in 1899 in London, England to George Frederick and Sarah Ann Leer.
In 1908, the Leer family immigrated to Vancouver, Canada. George Frederick Leer began working for the Canadian Pacific Railway. Ethel’s younger brother George Leer was born about this time. A third child was born but unfortunately did not live past infancy.
The Leers arrived in Burnaby in 1911 and bought two lots in Alta Vista at the corner of Portland and McGregor.
George Frederick and Sarah Ann were active members of the All Saints Anglican Church on Royal Oak.
Ethel went to Dundonald school from 1911 to 1913 with Miss Bowell as her teacher, then on to Britannia High School from 1913 to 1915.
Ethel’s father, George Frederick Leer died March 23, 1919 at the age of forty-one.
Ethel Cecilia Leer married Alfred Lewarne on December 26, 1921 in Burnaby. Alfred was born February 9, 1893 in Cornwall, England. Before marriage he worked for a creamery in Vancouver. After marriage, Alfred began his own ice cream business in Burnaby.
The Lewarnes bought a lot along Nelson Avenue and built a house. Their first child Patricia "Tricia" (later McCleod) was born in 1923, their second was Beverley “Bev” (later Burrell). Their third child, William A. “Bill” Lewarne was born in 1926. Bill grew up to become one of the most popular Mayors in Burnaby’s history, serving from 1981 to 1987. He also served as a member of Council from 1973 to 1975 and 1977 to 1981.
After Alfred Lewarne’s death on May 5, 1962 at the age of sixty-nine, Ethel continued living in the family home. Ethel’s mother, Sarah Ann Leer died May 11, 1963 at the age of eighty-seven.
Bettina Bradbury teaches history and women's studies at York University. She is the author of Wife to Widow. Lives, Laws and Politics in Nineteenth-century Montreal. (Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, June 2011), 520p; Working Families. Age, Gender and Daily Survival in Industrializing Montreal. (Toronto: Canadian Social History Series, McClelland and Stewart, 1993); (Republished Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1996) (3rd edition, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2007). These interviews were undertaken after she completed her MA at Simon Fraser University in 1975 with the support of an LIP grant.
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.
Images
Audio Tracks
Track five of interview with Ethel Lewarne and Beverley Burrell
Track five of interview with Ethel Lewarne and Beverley Burrell
Photograph of Nelson Avenue School Grade 2 class. Margaret Neville is on the far left of the first row. She later married Dugald C. Patterson. The school is located at the corner of Nelson Avenue and Rumble Street.
Photograph of Nelson Avenue School Grade 2 class. Margaret Neville is on the far left of the first row. She later married Dugald C. Patterson. The school is located at the corner of Nelson Avenue and Rumble Street.
Photograph of Nelson Avenue Public School, Grade four class. From top, left to right; Teacher, Mrs. McGuffin, John Reid, George Goddard, Eddie Hitchens, Jackie Norman, Roy Franklin, [first name unknown] Flemming, [first name unknown] Flemming, Bobby [Davis]. Third row; [unidentified], Joey Davis, M…
Photograph of Nelson Avenue Public School, Grade four class. From top, left to right; Teacher, Mrs. McGuffin, John Reid, George Goddard, Eddie Hitchens, Jackie Norman, Roy Franklin, [first name unknown] Flemming, [first name unknown] Flemming, Bobby [Davis]. Third row; [unidentified], Joey Davis, Mirrim Harper, Ernie Carpenter, [unidentified], [unidentified], Joy [Wynn], Dagmar Anderson, [unidentified], [unidentified], Betty Smith. Second row; Pearl Hutton, "twin" Phyllis [last name unknown], Betty Porter, [unidentified], Ina Dearing, Mary Beech, Muriel Davis (later Jean Skelhorne), Dot Lockwood, [unidentified "twin"], Kay Bates, Vera Keig, Marg Herd. Front row; [unidentified], Sam Hughes, Clarence Wesley, George Robertson, Art Butchart, Sandy Stewart, [unidentified], [unidentified], [first name unknown] Harrison, Harvey Smith.
1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16 cm mounted on cardboard
Scope and Content
Photograph shows Nelson Elementary School at 4850 Irmin Street near Nelson and Rumble. The central portion of the building was constructed in 1925. In 1976 when the photograph was taken, the enrollment was 325 pupils, from kindergarten to Grade 7.
1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16 cm mounted on cardboard
Description Level
Item
Record No.
556-356
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
2013-13
Scope and Content
Photograph shows Nelson Elementary School at 4850 Irmin Street near Nelson and Rumble. The central portion of the building was constructed in 1925. In 1976 when the photograph was taken, the enrollment was 325 pupils, from kindergarten to Grade 7.
Photograph of thirty-five students in the grade 5 class from Nelson Avenue School, outside the school building. A note with the photograph indicates that the teacher was Marion E. Lawrence (not in photograph).
Photograph of thirty-five students in the grade 5 class from Nelson Avenue School, outside the school building. A note with the photograph indicates that the teacher was Marion E. Lawrence (not in photograph).
Names of the students written in pencil in the back: "Standing: Elsie Impett, Donald Gough, Hector ___, ____ McLean, Johnny Robertson, ____, ____ Sigurdson, Mr. Whitten, Chrstina Goodwin, Sitting: Vera Dibb, Bessie Wrigley, Dorothy Willaims, ____, Hilda Wright, Alice Young, ___, Vera Lund, Katy Robertson" / 1913 - 1914 / Nelson Ave School / Grade VIII;
Scope and Content
Postcard of a class photo of the 1913-1914 Grade 8 class at Nelson Ave. School.
report card; Front and back view of the school report card for Elsie Impett. Front page shows "Register No. _____. / Nelson Ave. (handwritten) / Public School / Province of British Columbia / Pupil's Monthly Record Card." Back page shows "Parent's Signatures" and A. Impett has signed it three times. Inside view of the school report card for Elsie Impett issued by Nelson Ave. Public School on June 30, 1915. She is listed as a "senior". Report card lists the months of January to June with columns for No. of Sessions, Times Late, General Conduct, Special Demerits, Reading, Writing, Arithmetic & Bookkeeping, Drawing, Composition, Nature Studies, Geography, British & Canadian History, Algebra, English Grammer, Literature and Spelling. Teacher J.G. Whiten has handwritten Elsie's grades and wrote a comment "Elsie has done excellent work.".
Object History
Elsie Impett (later MacDonald) was born in 1902 in England. Her family setted at Fenwick Avenue, Burnaby. She worked as a clerk and married James MacDonald in 1923 in New Westminster.