Dennis Begin
Home Bakery, Ice Cream Parlour and Bandstand.
Story and Photos by Dennis Begin
British Columbia became Canada’s sixth province on July 20, 1871. One hundred years later, the Municipality of Burnaby decided to honour the early pioneers by building a museum to reflect its early history.
What evolved was an open-air village museum depicting the 1920s of the area. The Century Park Museum Association was established to oversee the construction and administration on October 26, 1971. At that time, the museum’s village only had 13 buildings that were located adjacent to Deer Lake Brook, which was a short distance from Deer Lake.
On November 19, 1971, Canada’s Governor-General, the Honourable Roland Michener, officially opened the museum. The following year, it was accessible to the public. The original name was Heritage Museum but in 1984, the name was changed to reflect the community of Burnaby.
Dennis Begin
Interurban Tram #1223 and The Barn.
There are only four streets on the grounds of the Burnaby Village Museum (BVM) including Finlayson Avenue, Hill Street, Brookfield Lane and Bate Avenue. When entering the village it feels like a movie set. A number of movies and TV series have been filmed here including Lucifer, Huckleberry Finn and Friends, Supernatural and Christmas in Evergreen, a Hallmark movie.
Walking Tour
An interactive tour starts with a view from the bandstand. At the far end of Hill Street is a log cabin, which is a replica of William Holmes’ home. He was Burnaby’s first settler in 1860. The current 31 buildings on the grounds are either original, replicated, or constructed to accommodate an exhibit.
For example, the Royal Bank building comes from Britannia Beach and the interior fixtures are from Nelson, BC. The Royal Oak Garage is based on a 1925 garage/gas station on Kingsway. The Burnaby Post building commemorates the weekly newspaper and demonstrates how an early printing press operates. The Burnaby Lake General Store is modelled after a business in the local community. The buildings are not just façades. They have designated working antiques and there are a total of 50,000 artifacts throughout the various buildings.
Dennis Begin
Royal Lake Garage, Gas Pump and 1924 Model T Ford Truck.
Some of the businesses also include a drug store, optometrist, bakery, general store, dry goods and a blacksmith shop. The historic interpreters or staff members dress in vintage clothing of the 1920s and more importantly, they have expert knowledge of the era.
The village also features contributions from many cultures. A Chinese herbalist, Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee & Co. is from Victoria. The Japanese contributed the Ofuro bathhouse and the Indigenous educators of the Skwxwu7mesh First Nations (Squamish) have a Learning House, which showcases their culture, language and traditions. Stride Studios on Hill Street is an exhibition gallery displaying various cultures including a Chinese exhibit called ‘Across the Pacific.’
Interurban #1223 Tram
Most people don’t realize that the Lower Mainland once had a functioning transportation system long before the SkyTrain. An electric tram, operated by the BC Electric Railroad Company (BCER), served the Lower Mainland from 1890 to 1958. There were five major lines connecting Vancouver with Steveston, Burnaby, New Westminster and Chilliwack. The Interurban contributed to the growth of industries, agriculture and tram-stop communities.
Dennis Begin
Burnaby Lake General Store.
Gasoline eventually replaced electricity and only seven electric trams remained in operation. Burnaby Village Museum obtained Tram #1223 in 1971. Beginning in 2000, it took five years for the Friends of Interurban to renovate and construct its new home called The Barn. Inside are displays, posters, and photos with a knowledgeable staff member that provides operational details to visitors. A unique feature of the trams of the era is the seats can be reversed, allowing passengers to always face forward.
Carousel
The Pacific National Exhibition (PNE) and Playland are synonymous with the C.W. Parker Carousel. Built in 1912, the carousel was manufactured in Kansas and toured Canada and the US. From 1972 to 1989, Playland was the home of the carousel before permanently moving to the Burnaby Village Museum. Riding the horses on the carousel at the museum is entertaining for children and adults who are young at heart. Each horse is beautifully carved from hardwood, painted and saddled. The carousel music plays from a 1925 Wurlitzer organ. Admission is approximately $3.00.
Two Special Houses
The location of the Burnaby Village Museum evolved into an exclusive residential area, which is home to Deer Lake, Burnaby Art Gallery, Shadbolt Centre and the Hart House. Among the grounds of the village are two impressive residential houses. The Elworth House was built on location in 1922 by Mary and Edwin Bateman, a former Canadian Pacific (CP) executive. Six generations of the Bateman family lived in the house until 1935. The name Elworth was Bateman’s birthplace in England.
Dennis Begin
Inside Seaforth School in 1922.
Another residence is the Jesse Love Farmhouse. Jesse Love and his wife Martha arrived in Burnaby in 1893 and over the years they had 11 children. In 1988 the farmhouse was relocated to the village and was decorated in a 1925 Victorian style with a wraparound verandah. The home has all the modern conveniences - from hot-running water to a radio. The farmhouse remains the oldest building in the village and guided tours are available.
Special Events
The museum comes alive with many special events from May to September. Heritage Christmas is one of the most popular events with its festive lighting. Other events take place around holidays and include a Canada Day Parade. Kids also have special days such as face painting, crafts, scavenger hunts and more.
More than 150,000 people visit the museum annually to experience the area’s insightful past. A tour will spark nostalgia while younger visitors can learn a new language with words such as ducky, cheaters, flappers, washboards as well as paws and claws (they don’t even need a password).
The nice part of a visit is that parking and admission are complimentary, courtesy of the City of Burnaby.
Take the opportunity to relive where history comes alive.
Visiting Burnaby and The Surrounding Area? Here are the Closest RV Parks:
Burnaby Cariboo RV Park and Campground
(about 10 minutes to the museum)
Burnaby, BC
Peach Arch RV Park
(about 30 minutes to the museum)
Surrey, BC
Anmore Camp RV Park
(about 30 minutes to the museum)
Anmore, BC