This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's memories of constructing a mill for Simpson & Giberson and of working on homes for himself, Angus McLean and Percy Little in the Lochdale area. He discusses the strike at Barnet mill and reads an essay written by Grace E. Carpenter. Land clear…
This portion of the recording includes Alfred Bingham's memories of constructing a mill for Simpson & Giberson and of working on homes for himself, Angus McLean and Percy Little in the Lochdale area. He discusses the strike at Barnet mill and reads an essay written by Grace E. Carpenter. Land clearing is described in detail. Alfred also relates a story from 1920 involving early settlers E. Powell and J. Amos.
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 two of recording of Alfred Bingham's writings
Track two of recording of Alfred Bingham's writings
Photograph of Wilbert "Bert" Martin standing next to a car outside of his house at 6656 Winch Street in Burnaby. Two cars are parked in the driveway outside of the house.
Photograph of Wilbert "Bert" Martin standing next to a car outside of his house at 6656 Winch Street in Burnaby. Two cars are parked in the driveway outside of the house.
Photograph of Canada Post letter carrier Bob Dahling sitting inside his relay box, taking a break from the heat and sorting the mail he is about to deliver.
Photograph of Canada Post letter carrier Bob Dahling sitting inside his relay box, taking a break from the heat and sorting the mail he is about to deliver.
Newspaper clipping attached to verso of photograph reads: "Bob Dahling at Sperling + Curtis"
Newspaper clipping attached to verso of photograph reads: "BEATING THE HEAT BEAT...North Burnaby letter carrier Bob Dahling pauses for a breather on a muggy afternoon while picking up his workload at the intersection of Curtis and Sperling."
Photograph of a man bulldozing the property at 6650 Winch Street to make way for the building of a duplex. Other houses are visible in the background and a white shed is visible in the foreground of the photograph.
Photograph of a man bulldozing the property at 6650 Winch Street to make way for the building of a duplex. Other houses are visible in the background and a white shed is visible in the foreground of the photograph.
Candle holder for Christmas tree; metal, with spring clip; "DRP" on clip; clip has shell-shaped clamping end; candle holding part has fluted drip catcher
Object History
The donors immigrated to Burnaby from England and Sweden in the 1920s. One donor's parents bought three acres of land on Douglas Road, near the west end of Burnaby Lake. In 1927, they moved to a stump ranch on Springer and Union on the south side of Capitol Hill.
Candle holder for Christmas tree; metal, with spring clip; "DRP" on clip; clip has shell-shaped clamping end; candle holding part has fluted drip catcher
Object History
The donors immigrated to Burnaby from England and Sweden in the 1920s. One donor's parents bought three acres of land on Douglas Road, near the west end of Burnaby Lake. In 1927, they moved to a stump ranch on Springer and Union on the south side of Capitol Hill.
1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16 cm mounted on cardboard
Scope and Content
Photograph shows an old shed which had collapsed at 6934 Kitchener Street. By December the shed was gone and a new duplex under construction on the site.
1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16 cm mounted on cardboard
Description Level
Item
Record No.
556-068
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
2013-13
Scope and Content
Photograph shows an old shed which had collapsed at 6934 Kitchener Street. By December the shed was gone and a new duplex under construction on the site.
Photograph of Elmer Wilson Martin (right) standing with an unidentified man outside of Martin's Auto Villa which is under construction at 6604 Hastings Street, Burnaby (after 1950 - 6574 Hastings Street).
Photograph of Elmer Wilson Martin (right) standing with an unidentified man outside of Martin's Auto Villa which is under construction at 6604 Hastings Street, Burnaby (after 1950 - 6574 Hastings Street).
1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16 cm mounted on cardboard
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a sign on the corner of Duthie Avenue and Hewitt Street advertising new homes for sale in the Duthie Place by Chivers Realty and Villa Realty, with a view of the homes in the background.
1 photograph : b&w ; 11 x 16 cm mounted on cardboard
Description Level
Item
Record No.
556-021
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
Reproduce for fair dealing purposes only
Accession Number
2013-13
Scope and Content
Photograph shows a sign on the corner of Duthie Avenue and Hewitt Street advertising new homes for sale in the Duthie Place by Chivers Realty and Villa Realty, with a view of the homes in the background.