This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's continuation of reading his series of short stories. He reads; "The ICE AGE and other observations before Burnaby", "The Coming of the Great Trees in Burnaby", "AND THEN MODERN CIVILIZATION STRUCK BURNABY" each written in March of 1962.
This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's continuation of reading his series of short stories. He reads; "The ICE AGE and other observations before Burnaby", "The Coming of the Great Trees in Burnaby", "AND THEN MODERN CIVILIZATION STRUCK BURNABY" each written in March of 1962.
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.
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 nine of recording of Alfred Bingham's writings
Track nine of recording of Alfred Bingham's writings
Photograph of Annie (Love) Whiting with children and Esther Love gathered in a garden. Annie is holding a baby on her lap and is seated on a bench next to her younger sister Esther Love. They are sitting beneath some trees with two young boys sitting on cushions at their feet and a young girl stand…
Photograph of Annie (Love) Whiting with children and Esther Love gathered in a garden. Annie is holding a baby on her lap and is seated on a bench next to her younger sister Esther Love. They are sitting beneath some trees with two young boys sitting on cushions at their feet and a young girl standing next to Annie.
History
Annie Love was the eldest daughter of Jesse and Martha Love. Annie Whiting and Wallace Whiting were married in 1902. The couple had seven children between 1903 and [1917], Edith Annie, John Lenard, Henry Wallace, George Alfred, James Richard, Jessie Martha and Rose.
Photographic postcard of men sawing down a tree at the Armstrong Avenue School site at 8757 Armstrong Avenue. The accompanying description refers to it as the "bee tree."
Photographic postcard of men sawing down a tree at the Armstrong Avenue School site at 8757 Armstrong Avenue. The accompanying description refers to it as the "bee tree."
Photograph of members of the Brown family standing in front of a large tree. Identified are Ed Brown (next to horse) with his wife Jennie and one of their children (in a baby carriage).The man to the left is unknown.
Photograph of members of the Brown family standing in front of a large tree. Identified are Ed Brown (next to horse) with his wife Jennie and one of their children (in a baby carriage).The man to the left is unknown.
1 photograph : b&w ; 10.5 x 15 cm on page 21.5 x 28 cm (pasted in album)
Scope and Content
Photograph of Louis Claude Hill standing by a ladder placed in a ditch. The ladder is leaning against a giant tree upturned by the roots. The ditch appears to be created from uprooting the tree. There is a pile of firewood visible to the right, and a barn to the left in the distance.
1 photograph : b&w ; 10.5 x 15 cm on page 21.5 x 28 cm (pasted in album)
Description Level
Item
Record No.
477-836
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
2007-12
Scope and Content
Photograph of Louis Claude Hill standing by a ladder placed in a ditch. The ladder is leaning against a giant tree upturned by the roots. The ditch appears to be created from uprooting the tree. There is a pile of firewood visible to the right, and a barn to the left in the distance.
Photograph of the cleared land which appears to be the Sprott family property. There are stumps and felled trees on the lot. Across a small dirt road and behind a wooden fence, the Haszard house is visible to the extreme right of the photograph.
Photograph of the cleared land which appears to be the Sprott family property. There are stumps and felled trees on the lot. Across a small dirt road and behind a wooden fence, the Haszard house is visible to the extreme right of the photograph.
Photographs copied from various photograph albums including; Albert Paker, George Love, Gordon Love and Esther (Love) Stanley. Content includes: Love family in front of the piano inside parlour; Love family members with musical instruments inside parlour; Ben Brandrith and Robert Love in uniforms; …
Photographs copied from various photograph albums including; Albert Paker, George Love, Gordon Love and Esther (Love) Stanley. Content includes: Love family in front of the piano inside parlour; Love family members with musical instruments inside parlour; Ben Brandrith and Robert Love in uniforms; unidentified Asian man in field with hoe and young trees behind him; wedding cake from Frank Charles Stanley and Esther Love's wedding; land clearing for Love farmhouse; Jesse Love feeding chickens; Jesse and Hannah (Girlie) Love in hats outside on Love farm; large picnic on grass; four generations of Love family members; gatherings of Love family members outside; Love family posed in a car inside a studio (Will, Sarah, George, Phoebe and Martha); Leonard Love dressed as a boy scout; Martha (Dot) with children; Love family members celebrate centennial; Jesse Love and Martha (Dot) Love outside Love farmhouse; Love farmhouse with porch and garden; swing at Love farmhouse; Parker family in living room and view of the Love farmhouse from the front.
1 photograph : sepia ; 11 x 16.5 cm on 17.8 x 22.5 cm backing
Scope and Content
Photograph of Edward Nicholson standing with a team of horses inside the hollowed stump of a tree. Five other men and a dog are seated on planks on top of the stump and another man and two women are sitting to the left on the exposed roots of the tree. The man on seated to the right is identified …
1 photograph : sepia ; 11 x 16.5 cm on 17.8 x 22.5 cm backing
Description Level
Item
Record No.
375-028
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
No known restrictions
Accession Number
BHS1986-42
Scope and Content
Photograph of Edward Nicholson standing with a team of horses inside the hollowed stump of a tree. Five other men and a dog are seated on planks on top of the stump and another man and two women are sitting to the left on the exposed roots of the tree. The man on seated to the right is identified as Duncan MacInnes.
A note on the back of the photograph reads: "E.W. Nicholson first resident of Broadview District of Burnaby - 1900 May 23rd. Picture taken 1909. Edward W. Nicholson, with team of horses inside stump (Cedar). Stump 36 feet in diameter. Duncan MacInnes sitting extreme right. Horses were turned around inside stump."
Photograph of Esther (Love) Stanley standing in front oa cherry tree in full blossom on the property of the Love family farm. A barn or storage shed and wagon are visible behind.
Photograph of Esther (Love) Stanley standing in front oa cherry tree in full blossom on the property of the Love family farm. A barn or storage shed and wagon are visible behind.