Request for Endorsement of Resolution re Sales Tax Requesting the Dominion Government to Exempt Municipal Gravel Pits and Rock Crushing Plants from the Provisions of the Act
The Drs. Blythe and Violet Eagles Estate is a one hectare property located within Deer Lake Park in Burnaby. The property encompasses a carefully conceived garden of local, non-conventional, and exotic plantings. Conceived as a series of rockeries and terraces, the garden cascades from the house do…
The Drs. Blythe and Violet Eagles Estate is a one hectare property located within Deer Lake Park in Burnaby. The property encompasses a carefully conceived garden of local, non-conventional, and exotic plantings. Conceived as a series of rockeries and terraces, the garden cascades from the house down towards the waterfront, divided by paths and strips of plantings.
Heritage Value
The Eagles Estate is significant because of its unique character within Burnaby’s Deer Lake Park heritage precinct, and the people who were its creators and residents. The garden is a unique expression of the talents and tastes of both the Eagles and Frank Ebenezer Buck (1875-1970). Buck served as the Assistant Dominion Horticulturist in charge of landscape horticulture and floriculture in Ottawa from 1912. In 1920, he was head of the Horticultural Department and the Campus Landscape Architect at the University of British Columbia. He established the plan for the Eagles garden while Dr. Blythe Alfred Eagles (1902-1990), the long-time Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at UBC, selected many of the plantings. The Eagles themselves designed the house as a romantic cottage inspired by the British Arts and Crafts style. Trained in enzyme chemistry, Dr. Violet Evelyn (Dunbar) Eagles (1899-1994) was an enthusiastic amateur gardener, and was perhaps the driving force behind the maintenance and continued development of the garden.
The Eagles were also well known in Burnaby for their active volunteerism in the local community as well as at UBC. When Simon Fraser University opened in Burnaby as the Greater Vancouver’s second university, the Eagles, in particular Violet, became well-known for entertaining dignitaries and special guests of the university in their lavish garden. Drs. Blythe and Violet Eagles were recognized for their good citizenship and the ongoing use of their garden for charitable Burnaby-based functions and celebrations.
Defining Elements
Due to the extensive and varied nature of the garden, the character-defining elements of the Eagles Estate are many and complex. The elements that encompass the character of the site include its:
- British Arts and Crafts-inspired house with original exterior features such as a picturesque roofline, stucco cladding and six- and eight-paned steel-frame casement windows, and original interior features such as the central fireplace, wood floors and kitchen cabinetry
- formal staircase leading to the north (formal entry) side of the house
- carefully planned yet informal garden design, with 'garden rooms' used to create intimacy
- terraced landscape cascading from the house down to the garden
- incorporation of local, exotic, flowering and non-flowering plants.
- contrast of manicured versus freely growing landscape elements
- use of wood lattice fencing gates, arbors and trellis
The original Barnet mill burned down in 1909 after a dramatic explosion in the boiler house. The company rebuilt a new plant, considered a model of mill construction. The company's timber was towed down the Pacific in huge rafts containing about 400,000 to 500,000 board feet. Mill capacity during a 10-hour day was 150,000 board feet with an amazing annual output of 50 million feet.
Development in the Broadview area slowed during World War Two, but after the war, the area became home to a number of industrial sites. The first major plant to be built here was the Dominion Bridge Company which opened in 1930.
In 1925, William Kask Sr. and his family purchased land along the Barnet Road and built what became known as Kask's Camp, where cabins were rented out to families working at the Barnet Mill. The family - William Kask Jr., Dave and Jack - went on to expand their business into a lumber and concrete supply company and in 1936, the company was named the Kask Brothers Building Supply Company. A lumber office was established on Curtis Street and the concrete plant was built at the former site of the cabin camp. To a large degree, the camp catered to Immigrants from Nordic countries who were active in the lumber trade. Many Finns felt at home in the camp, as the Kasks spoke Finnish and there were steam baths available.
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.
Photograph of Burnaby's Agricultural Exhibit at New Westminster. Vegetables, fruit, plants, flowers, and trees are on display inside a building. There is electric lighting. A sign on the right is shaped like an arch and reads, "Welcome to Burnaby." A mural showing Burnaby Lake is behind the dis…
Photograph of Burnaby's Agricultural Exhibit at New Westminster. Vegetables, fruit, plants, flowers, and trees are on display inside a building. There is electric lighting. A sign on the right is shaped like an arch and reads, "Welcome to Burnaby." A mural showing Burnaby Lake is behind the display.
Photograph of Burnaby's Agricultural Exhibit at New Westminster. Vegetables, fruit, preserves, flowers, and plants are on display inside a building. There is electric lighting. A sign above the display reads, "Burnaby." A sign above a container on the lower left reads, "Ginseng / Grown in Lozel…
Photograph of Burnaby's Agricultural Exhibit at New Westminster. Vegetables, fruit, preserves, flowers, and plants are on display inside a building. There is electric lighting. A sign above the display reads, "Burnaby." A sign above a container on the lower left reads, "Ginseng / Grown in Lozells District by Mr. Romer."
Photograph of Burnaby's Agricultural Exhibit at New Westminster. Tables with fruit, vegetables and flowers are displayed. Greenery and photographs (mainly of people) are on the walls, including a portrait of former Reeve Nicolai C. Schou (second portrait from right). A sign in the corner reads, …
Photograph of Burnaby's Agricultural Exhibit at New Westminster. Tables with fruit, vegetables and flowers are displayed. Greenery and photographs (mainly of people) are on the walls, including a portrait of former Reeve Nicolai C. Schou (second portrait from right). A sign in the corner reads, "Burnaby's Exhibit," and a mural hangs on the walls above the exhibit. A woman and man are standing behind a table at the back left.
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 the Allanson family clearing the land at 12 Warwick Avenue bought by Malcolm and Mabel Allanson. Left to right: William Allanson, Mabel Allanson, Malcolm Allanson, and Jessie Allanson. William and Jessie Allanson are the parents of Malcolm. Mabel and Malcolm Allanson are married.
Photograph of the Allanson family clearing the land at 12 Warwick Avenue bought by Malcolm and Mabel Allanson. Left to right: William Allanson, Mabel Allanson, Malcolm Allanson, and Jessie Allanson. William and Jessie Allanson are the parents of Malcolm. Mabel and Malcolm Allanson are married.
Photograph of Mrs. Annie Eshelby in front of a felled tree measuring six feet in diameter. She is sitting on a chair with a black and white cat lying across her lap. This photograph was taken at the lot on Fell Avenue and Dundas Street, North Burnaby, which was cleared for the Eshelby family home. …
Photograph of Mrs. Annie Eshelby in front of a felled tree measuring six feet in diameter. She is sitting on a chair with a black and white cat lying across her lap. This photograph was taken at the lot on Fell Avenue and Dundas Street, North Burnaby, which was cleared for the Eshelby family home. Annie Eshelby (nee Perrey) was married to Frank Eshelby. They settled in Burnaby after moving from England in 1922.
Photograph of three of the daughters of William "Bill" and Lavinia Bearn in their mother's flower garden. Mrs. Bearn sold the flowers in her flower shop. Two of the girls are holding cats. There were seven daughters: Ruth, Gladys, Doris, Helen, Jean, Audrey, and Shirley.
Photograph of three of the daughters of William "Bill" and Lavinia Bearn in their mother's flower garden. Mrs. Bearn sold the flowers in her flower shop. Two of the girls are holding cats. There were seven daughters: Ruth, Gladys, Doris, Helen, Jean, Audrey, and Shirley.
Photograph of members of the Brown-John family sitting and standing on the blasting stump. This stump was located near the corner of Gilmore Avenue and Napier Street.
Photograph of members of the Brown-John family sitting and standing on the blasting stump. This stump was located near the corner of Gilmore Avenue and Napier Street.
Photograph of Burnaby's Agricultural Exhibit at New Westminster. Fruits, vegetables and flowers are displayed on tables. Greenery and photographs (mainly of people) are on the walls, including a portrait of former Reeve Nicolai C. Schou (second portrait from right). A sign in the corner reads, "…
Photograph of Burnaby's Agricultural Exhibit at New Westminster. Fruits, vegetables and flowers are displayed on tables. Greenery and photographs (mainly of people) are on the walls, including a portrait of former Reeve Nicolai C. Schou (second portrait from right). A sign in the corner reads, "Burnaby's Exhibit," and a mural hangs on the walls above the exhibit. Two men are standing behind a table in the centre.
Photograph of twin sisters, Kay and Evelyn Rorison, cutting down a Christmas tree. Kay and Evelyn were the daughters of William and Alma Rorison of 3907 River Road (later becoming 4593 Marine Drive at Strathern Avenue).
Photograph of twin sisters, Kay and Evelyn Rorison, cutting down a Christmas tree. Kay and Evelyn were the daughters of William and Alma Rorison of 3907 River Road (later becoming 4593 Marine Drive at Strathern Avenue).
Photograph of Ernie Carpenter clearing a lot at 3336 Beresford Street (later renumbered 5268 Beresford Street) near Royal Oak Avenue. Mr. Carpenter built a house here, and then cultivated an English garden and prize-winning onions and flowers.
Photograph of Ernie Carpenter clearing a lot at 3336 Beresford Street (later renumbered 5268 Beresford Street) near Royal Oak Avenue. Mr. Carpenter built a house here, and then cultivated an English garden and prize-winning onions and flowers.
Photograph of members of an unidentified family comprised of a youth, a woman and a small boy dressed in swimsuits. The youth is wearing a cap and has one arm over the woman's shoulders and a towel draped over the other arm. They are standing in a field with tall wild flowers, and there appears t…
Photograph of members of an unidentified family comprised of a youth, a woman and a small boy dressed in swimsuits. The youth is wearing a cap and has one arm over the woman's shoulders and a towel draped over the other arm. They are standing in a field with tall wild flowers, and there appears to be a lake on the centre left of the photograph.