Burnaby goes back to the past

Photo of Burnaby Village Museum courtesy Tjflex2's

From neon signs to gates, protecting Burnaby’s history seems to be all the rage at city hall these days.

Councillor Colleen Jordan said, in addition on the community heritage commission, she has a personal reason for caring about the past.

“Having just become an official senior citizen I am more than ever occupied with making sure we preserve the legacy of previous generations,” said Jordan.

The neon sign

Council voted Monday to use gaming money to buy the iconic arrow-shaped Lost in the 50’s Drive-In sign from its original owner, Neon Sign Crafters, for $2000. Council also agreed to spend another $9000 to restore the neon sign, which sits on city owned land on Edmonds Street.

According to a planning and building report, the sign is the only neon sign left in south Burnaby and “has been a much-loved community landmark on Edmonds Street for over 50 years.”

The sign will need maintenance every month at a cost of $1,800 a year.  This amount will come from the property’s lease expense. The leaseholder of the land would also have to pay for the hydropower required to operate the sign.

Brian Tahrriha bought the drive-in last summer. He is happy the city is going to restore the sign, which points at his restaurant. He said he was inspired to purchase the iconic drive-in because it represents “a concept being lost due to the misdirection of other establishments.” He says he offers “50s style and 50s taste.”

Signs from the era of bobby socks and Elvis are one thing, but for anyone who has visited Europe, saying Burnaby and heritage in the same sentence may seem ridiculous. Burnaby city archivist, Arilea Sill, says people would be surprised how far back this city’s past goes.

“One of the first deeds of land granted to a European settler … went to William Holmes, for lot one, block 1—close to North Road and Brunette River in Burnaby. The title is dated March 5, 1860.  Holmes is considered Burnaby's first resident,” said Sill.

The gate

Council dealt with far more ancient Burnaby history Monday when it voted to send to public hearing the proposal of having the city owned W.J. Mathers estate gate and wall protected by a heritage site bylaw.

The report to council says William and Mary Mathers began construction of their estate, which was designed by Frank Macey, at Deer Lake in 1912. The estate was known as Altnadene and was a unique example of the Romanesque Revival style.

The estate was surrounded by a granite capstone wall and had an elaborate wrought iron gate, which was designed by New Westminster’s James Blair, a Scottish blacksmith. The extremely rare gate and wall were saved from their original location when road improvements threatened to destroy them. They now sit on what would have been the driveway to the original estate on Deer Lake Avenue.

Archivist Sill said the casino revenue spent for the sign and the gate are well worth it because cultural assets are beneficial to the community as a whole.  

“ If we don't capture these assets when we have the chance, they will be destroyed and we will lose a piece of our past,” she said.

2012 YouTube video featuring the drive-in.