Small family fonds
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1922-2016
- Collection/Fonds
- Small family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 75 photographs : b&w & col. + 1 plan
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of photographs documenting the transformation of the Burnaby Lake area of Burnaby, B.C. from semi-rural in the 1920s to urbanized in 2016. Photographs depict the land and houses located on the corner of Douglas Road and Dominion Street as the property was rezoned and its density quad…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1922-2016
- Collection/Fonds
- Small family fonds
- Physical Description
- 75 photographs : b&w & col. + 1 plan
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Access Restriction
- Open access
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Accession Number
- 2017-01
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of photographs documenting the transformation of the Burnaby Lake area of Burnaby, B.C. from semi-rural in the 1920s to urbanized in 2016. Photographs depict the land and houses located on the corner of Douglas Road and Dominion Street as the property was rezoned and its density quadrupled. Fonds also includes photographs of the Small family house being moved to 5496 Dominion Street and the original landscape plan for 5118 Douglas Road.
- History
- In 1915, John W. Roberts and his wife Mary Allen Roberts moved from the United States to Canada along with their daughter, Lauretta. On first moving to Canada, the family lived in a rented house in Vancouver and John worked as a movie projectionist in the city. The couple had three more children, all sons: John A., Edward, and Roland.
Circa 1921, John purchased a large parcel of land at the corner of Douglas Road and Dominion Street in Burnaby. This parcel encompassed the equivalent of at least six 66-foot lots along the south side of Dominion Street and the same along the north side of Norfolk Street. On their property, a barn and small living quarters were built. The family moved in, raising goats and growing potatoes to supplement their income. They also planted cherry, apple, and pear trees; hazelnut and walnut trees; raspberries; and a large vegetable garden, the fruits of which Mary preserved for year-round use. At this time, agricultural activities were common for families in the area: the Roberts' neighbours kept chickens for personal use and for selling eggs; grew mushrooms for commercial sale; and sold manure from an old buckboard drawn by Clydesdale horses.
John built a new house in the middle of the Roberts’ lots on the southwest corner of Douglas Road and Dominion Street. The house faced Douglas Road and overlooked a large, well-landscaped front yard to the east and a full-sized, clay tennis court to the north. The family moved into this new house in 1925. When the Roberts ceased raising goats, the barn and original living quarters were reduced to a double-car garage with storage space plus a sawdust-insulated “root cellar”.
John also built a house on the northwest corner of the lot at Douglas Road and Dominion Street (3093 Douglas Road), which was purchased by the Hardy family. In 1957, part of this property (3071 Douglas Road) was sold to the Brocklebanks who built a house and lived there. In addition, John built a house at the northwest corner of Douglas Road and Norfolk Street (5106 Douglas Road). The original purchaser of this house is unknown, but in 1949, it was bought by the Meyers family. In 1952 or 1953, the Meyers sold part of this property and the Manahans built a house on it, facing Douglas Road.
Several other lots that John owned were also sold off over the years. By the 1950s, John owned only five 66-foot lots from Douglas Road west, along the south side Dominion Street. In 1954, John sold the lot furthest from Douglas Road (5486 Dominion Street) to a builder who built a “ranch-style” house and put it up for sale.
John retired from his career as a movie projectionist in the 1950s. He, Mary, and Lauretta retained their US citizenship all their lives, although they never returned to the USA except for brief visits. John A., Edward, and Roland who, as children of US citizens, also had US citizenship, eventually moved to the US, where they remained for the rest of their lives.
In 1945, Lauretta married Frederick Small. The couple lived in a rented house in Vancouver for a few years before moving in with John and Mary in Burnaby. The couple had four children: Elizabeth, Kathryn, Charles, and Martin. In 1955, Frederick purchased the rancher at 5486 Dominion Street and the family moved in.
The Small children grew up enjoying the freedom of having their grandparent’s large property in addition to their parent’s yard to play in. The back lane that ran between Dominion Street and Norfolk Street was filled with trees and bushes, creating a narrow bit of “forest” to explore.
In 1957, John died. Mary died in 1969, as did Frederick. Lauretta was executor for her mother’s and husband’s estates. After much consideration, she decided to sell the house at 5486 Dominion Street and move back into her childhood home. By doing so, she was able to settle her mother’s estate to the satisfaction of her brothers.
Elizabeth married and moved away. Over the next few years, the “Roberts” house was home to Lauretta, Kathryn, Charles, and Martin, with the three grown children moving in and out several times during the 1970s.
In 1981, Lauretta died. Her children discussed at length how to divide up the property, which consisted of four 66-foot lots, according to her will. None of her children wanted to see the old family house destroyed but the house straddled two lots. They finally decided that if one of them wanted to pay to move the house to sit on one of the lots, the “value” of the house would not enter into the settlement of the estate. Kathryn chose to do this. In 1982, the old house was moved to 5496 Dominion Street and Kathryn continued to live in it.
Martin died in 1982. Elizabeth and Charles each inherited one lot and the last lot, which would have gone to Martin, was sold, the funds divided equally between Elizabeth, Kathryn, and Charles.
The three lots between 5496 Dominion Street and Douglas Road were subdivided into 33-foot lots and six new houses were built. In 1993, the Meyers property and the Manahan property were subdivided into 33-foot lots facing Norfolk Street and the old houses were torn down and four new houses were built.
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Technical Drawing
- Creator
- Small family
Less detail
Society correspondence and ephemera
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1957-1989
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 cm of textual records, 2 technical drawings, and 3 photographs : b&w ; 14.5 cm x 9 cm
- Scope and Content
- File contains Burnaby Historical Society correspondence and ephemera, including flyers, invitations, logo designs, and copies of BC Historical Association newsletters. File also includes correspondence and two technical drawings related to the Society's Burnaby Lake interurban tram project and pho…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1957-1989
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Series
- Administration series
- Physical Description
- 1 cm of textual records, 2 technical drawings, and 3 photographs : b&w ; 14.5 cm x 9 cm
- Description Level
- File
- Record No.
- MSS205-068
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2020-06
- Scope and Content
- File contains Burnaby Historical Society correspondence and ephemera, including flyers, invitations, logo designs, and copies of BC Historical Association newsletters. File also includes correspondence and two technical drawings related to the Society's Burnaby Lake interurban tram project and photographs of Mrs. George Westover, Mrs. Barry Mather, and Miss Bessie Choate picnicking in Fort Langley.
- Names
- Choate, Bessie Perley
- Media Type
- Textual Record
- Technical Drawing
- Photograph
- Notes
- Title based on contents of file
- Original file folder titled: "General Meeting Sept 10/08"
- Photographs assigned item no. 633-002-1:633-002-3. Photographs in original location within folder.
Less detail
South Burnaby Horticultural Institute - Proposed Horticultural Hall
South Burnaby Horticultural Institute - Proposed Horticultural Hall
Structures Inc. circular building models
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1973
- Collection/Fonds
- Elmer Wilson Martin fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 architectural drawing : blueline print ; 76 x 108 cm
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of architectural plan of "Structures Inc. Circular Building Models" for Model No. 35 (100 sq. ft); Model No. 30 (730 sq. ft.); Model No. 25 (520 sq. ft); Model No. 20 (320 sq. ft.). These models were manufactured and sold under patents held by E.W. Martin of Burnaby who designed the p…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Elmer Wilson Martin fonds
- Series
- Paneloc Marketing Ltd. business records series
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 architectural drawing : blueline print ; 76 x 108 cm
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of architectural plan of "Structures Inc. Circular Building Models" for Model No. 35 (100 sq. ft); Model No. 30 (730 sq. ft.); Model No. 25 (520 sq. ft); Model No. 20 (320 sq. ft.). These models were manufactured and sold under patents held by E.W. Martin of Burnaby who designed the paneloc building.
- Creator
- Structures Incorporated
- Names
- Paneloc Marketing Limited
- Martin, Elmer Wilson
- Responsibility
- Paneloc Marketing Limited
- Accession Code
- BV019.40.13
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 1973
- Media Type
- Architectural Drawing
- Notes
- Title based on contents of drawing
- Stamp in black ink reads: "Proprietary Notice / This is an unpublished manuscript which is revealed / in confidence. This drawing and information contained / herein is the trade secret of Structures Inc. / The possession of this material/drawing confers no / license or right to produce the product or to re- /produce, transmit or reveal in oral or written form / what is depicted therein without written permission / of Structures Inc."
- Printed note on plan reads; "Manufactured and sold under one or more of the following patents held by E.W. Martin 7231 Sutliff St. N. Burnaby / B.C. Canada. Canada No. 571061 638,698_680,686 / 701,531 U.S.A._3,119,153 and 3,277,620. Other patents / pending. Also patents in Israel, Syria, Turkey, Egypt, / Japan, Paraguay, Argentina, Venezuela, Costa Rica, / Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Guatemala, Uraguay, bolivia, / Peru, Ecuador, Columbia, El Salvador, Mexico, Jamaica, / United Kingdom, France, Italy, Belgium, Greece, Spain, / Portugal, India, Ceylon, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, / South Africa, Philippines. Other patents pending."
- Identifier in bottom left portion of drawing reads: "S022-5/1/73"
- Scales not recorded
Less detail
Tram Shelter - Edmonds & Kingsway, Burnaby
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- Dec. 19, 1962
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee collection
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 2 architectural drawings : blueline prints ; 56 x 87 cm
- Scope and Content
- File consists of architectural plans for a Tram Shelter at Edmonds and Kingsway in Burnaby including "Plan and Details" and "Elevations and Details".
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Centennial '71 Committee collection
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 2 architectural drawings : blueline prints ; 56 x 87 cm
- Material Details
- Scales as noted
- Scope and Content
- File consists of architectural plans for a Tram Shelter at Edmonds and Kingsway in Burnaby including "Plan and Details" and "Elevations and Details".
- Names
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Accession Code
- BV019.52.111
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- Dec. 19, 1962
- Media Type
- Architectural Drawing
- Notes
- Title based on contents of drawing
Less detail
Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1908-1975
- Collection/Fonds
- Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 3 folders of textual records + 180 photographs + ephemera + 1 map + 1 architectural drawing
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records acquired from the Chinese Herbalist shop “Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co” operating in Victoria from 1905 until 1968.
Textual records include a few pieces of correspondence, receipts and ephemera addressed to "Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co.", Lim You and Lim Yau (Yew Long Lum) wh…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 3 folders of textual records + 180 photographs + ephemera + 1 map + 1 architectural drawing
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of records acquired from the Chinese Herbalist shop “Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co” operating in Victoria from 1905 until 1968.
Textual records include a few pieces of correspondence, receipts and ephemera addressed to "Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co.", Lim You and Lim Yau (Yew Long Lum) while the shop was in operation at 1620 Government Street in the 1940s. Some of the records are written in English while a portion are written in Cantonese and haven't been translated. Most of the photographs document the content of the original shop at the time of aquistion in 1975. Some photographs of unidentified people may be related to the owner or proprietor of the shop. A collection of other photographs document various Chinese Canadian organizations that were in operation in Victoria.
Records are arranged into the following series:
1) Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. photographs series
2) Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. documents series
- History
- The Chinese Herbalist shop "Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co" operated in Victoria, BC from about 1905 until [1968]. The meaning of "Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co" can be translated as "Collection, Life, Source, Alive, Shop" although many interpretations can be taken since each Chinese character can have several meanings. Contents of the shop were purchased by the Burnaby Village Museum in 1975 and reassembled as a permanent display in the Burnaby Village Museum.
The shop’s original owner was Ng Chee Fong who opened the shop ca.1905. In 1921, Ng returned to Hong Kong and sold the business to Lam Yuen and Wong Ying who were from Vancouver. Lam Yuen and Wong Ying employed Lum Chuck Yue to operate the shop. Lum Chuck Yue had formerly operated a small herbal counter in a Chinese apothecary store on the south side of Fisgard Street, Victoria.
In 1924 Lam Yuen and Wong Ying purchased Wah Sun & Co. from Lee S. Yew and Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. moved into the Wah Sun premises at 1620 Government Street in the Lee Block . The furnishings and fixtures of both stores were combined, with the more elaborate fixtures from WSYWK remaining as part of the public part of the shop and the plainer fixtures of Wah Sun moved into the workroom and basement. In the 1930s Lum Chuck Yue took over the business and became the proprietor. In about 1934, Tan Yi Tang purchased the business and the shop reopened as Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. following renovations with Lum Yew Jong as the shop's proprietor. Lum Yew Jong continued to operate the shop until his death in 1967 at the age of 68 years.
Following Lum’s death, the property and contents of the shop were purchased by Mr. J. Watson Marles, a local owner operator of an antique store at 1714 Government Street. The shop and contents went through a few more private owners including Rodney Pain before it was purchased by the Heritage Village Museum in 1975 with funds made available by the Vancouver Foundation and the Province of British Columbia. Contents of the original shop were reasembled in a reconstructed building as a permanent display on site at the Burnaby Village Museum.
- Creator
- Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Company
- Accession Code
- HV975.5
- BV985.5331
- BV017.7
- Access Restriction
- Restricted access
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- 1908-1975
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Textual Record
- Cartographic Material
- Architectural Drawing
- Related Material
- See also Artifacts under Accessions HV975.5; BV985.5331 and BV017.7
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
Less detail
Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. documents series
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1910-1970
- Collection/Fonds
- Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. fonds
- Description Level
- Series
- Physical Description
- textual records + 1 map + 1 architectural drawing
- Scope and Content
- Series consists of small collection of business records and newspapers that were part of the contents of the Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. at 1620 Government Street, Victoria in 1975.
West Burnaby sewerage correspondence
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1926-1928
- Collection/Fonds
- City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- Textual records and architectural drawings
- Scope and Content
- File includes an ink on white linen table titled "West Burnaby Sewers, Tabulation of Bids", and a blueprint of the same. Also included is an ink on white linen plan with some notations in pencil (1927)