Repository

City of Burnaby Archives

Summary

This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's essay entitled Stump Rangers, a listing of early settlers that includes addresses and short descriptions, essays on Confederation Park, land clearing and on Burnaby's first Council meeting.

Date Range

1865-1919

Photo Info

Alfred Bingham, April 20, 1947. Item no. 010-066

Length

0:10:18

Subjects

Geographic Features - Parks

Officials - Aldermen and Councillors

Land Clearing

Scope and Content

Recording is of Alfred Bingham's writings, as read by Alfred Bingham. Major themes discussed are: Pioneers, early days in Burnaby and the Co-op Movement. To view "Narrow By" terms for each track expand this description and see "Notes".

Biographical Notes

Alfred "Alf" Bingham was born in England in 1892 and moved to Canada in 1912. His first job in Canada was laying track for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTPR) from Edmonton to McBride in 1912. His second was in Vancouver at the Rat Portage Mill on False Creek, working on the Resaw machine. He quit after one week due to poor working conditions. After taking part in the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike as a delegate of the Retail and Mailorder Union (A.F.L.) on the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council, Alfred moved to Burnaby where he and fellow Burnaby residents Aungus McLean and Percy Little worked ten hour days to build a Shingle Mill on the edge of Burnaby Lake for Simpson & Giberson. George Green, carpenter and millwright (author of “The History of Burnaby”) also helped in the construction of the mill. Alfred built his own home from lumber cut from the mill in the Lochdale area on Sherlock Street between Curtis Street and Kitchener Street. On April 10, 1920 Alfred married Mary Jane “Ada” Reynolds. Alfred and Ada often took in foster children during their marriage. Due to her nursing experience, Ada was often called upon to deliver babies in the Burnaby area. Alfred and Ada Bingham were instrumental members of the Army of the Common Good, collecting vegetables and grains from growers in the area and even producing over 125 tons of vegetables from its own gardens to feed children and youth suffering from the lack of resources during the Depression years. The army was in operation for ten years and during that time the members organised the Credit Union movement of British Columbia and drew up the Credit Union act thorough the Vancouver Co-operative Council. They also started Co-Op stores and the Co-Op Wholesale Society. Alfred was also Secretary of the Burnaby Housing committee and in 1946 he became the Secretary of the North Burnaby Labour Progressive Party (LPP). Mary Jane “Ada” (Reynolds) Bingham died on August 9, 1969. Her husband Alfred died on April 29, 1979.

Total Tracks

12

Total Length

1:38:06

Interviewee Name

Bingham, Alfred "Alf"

Collection/Fonds

Burnaby Historical Society fonds

Series

Community Archives Collection series

Subseries

Oral history subseries

Transcript Available

MSS142-001 contains transcripts for each of the short stories

Media Type

Sound Recording

Web Notes

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.

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Repository

City of Burnaby Archives

Date

1861-1942

Collection/Fonds

William Randolph Beamish fonds

Series

William Randolph Beamish scrapbook series

Physical Description

0.5 cm. of textual records and 1 large b&w print.

Description Level

File

Record No.

66674

Access Restriction

No restrictions

Accession Number

2023-03

Scope and Content

File consists of family history records related to the Beamishes, William Randolph Beamish's adopted family, including a letter certifying the birth and baptism of William John Beamish on December 13, 1860, and June 9, 1861, respectively; a certificate for William John Beamish for the Probationers' Course of Study of the Methodist Church of Canada; sermon notes written by W.J. Beamish, as well as "his life as he wrote it”; a financial statement of Newington Circuit; his ordination picture; and obituaries for W.J. Beamish.

History

William John Beamish was born in Prescott, Ontario, on December 30, 1860. He was brought up and confirmed in the Anglican Church. While in his teens, he was attending a Methodist Church, became converted, and entered the same church as a candidate for the ministry. His probationary years were spent in the Northern Ontario lumber camps, ministering to the men on Lake Tallon Mission and Nipissing Junction. Mr. Beamish attended McGill College and after ordination at Smiths Falls, Ontario, on June 2, 1896, was appointed to Locksley circuit near Pembroke, then followed pastorates at Hammon, Mille Roches, Moulinette, Morewood, and Berwick. In 1905, while at Morewood, he married Miss Agnes Crabbe, a nurse from Ottawa, formerly Pembroke. Together, they served Wakefield, Quebec, Newington, and Easton's Corners, Ontario. Coming to British Columbia in 1911, they settled first at Kaslo, then Salmon Arm, Vancouver (Dundas), and Maple Ridge. In 1918, Mr. Beamish superannuated and bought a home in Burnaby where he resided until his death on July 26, 1942. During his period of superannuation, Mr. Beamish served for about seven years as minister of East Burnaby Methodist Church and until his death, was a valued member of this congregation, now known as East Burnaby United. He was ever a true friend of the minister and his presence in the congregation was an inspiration. While in good health, he gave his time freely to sick visitation and, in a word, "he went about doing good." Funeral services were conducted by Rev. W.R. Walkinshaw, with Rev. H.E. Horton representing Westminster Presbyterian assisting. Four retired ministers and two laymen acted as pall bearers. His reamins lie in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. He was survived by his wife; one son, Randolph; two daughters, Ethel (Mrs. Paul B. Derrick) and Ilma (Mrs. William Dunn). He was a good husband, a loving father, a dutiful son, and a faithful minister of the Gospel. -- This text was composed and written by Rev. R.W. Walkinshaw and later published in The Observer, the United Church magazine. It has been lightly edited here for grammar and punctuation.

Media Type

Textual Record

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