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In May 2013 the New Westminster Public Library opened its first-ever branch in 148 years, in the revitalized Queensborough Community Centre. This branch will serve the needs of the community in Queensborough and provide them with convenient access to Library services alongside other great New Westminstser Parks, Culture, and Recreation facilities. The new Library also saw a dramatic increase in use, due to shifts in city demographics and the change from single family dwellings to apartments. By 1976 it again became apparent that the Library was not large enough to accommodate the number of members.
This charming home retains the original exterior wood cedar shakes, stone planters and leaded glass windows.
Queen's Park Residents' Association
A temporary Reading Room was established in half of a store building, with the other half occupied by the Fire Department, including its horses. Unfortunately, the beautiful new library building was doomed to a short existence. On the night of September 10, 1898 the building was destroyed in the Great Fire.
Consideration was given to remodeling the Carnegie building but this proved to be unfeasible. After years of extensive lobbying, a new site was decided upon, funding was obtained and construction began on a new building uptown at 6th Avenue and Ash Street. We really enjoyed working with Paul and Brandy, they listened to our ideas and added some of their owns that we hadn’t thought of and the result is our gorgeous kitchen. On budget and the attention to detail and quality finish is incredible. We really enjoy the layout & functionality and look forward to cooking in it and hosting parties.
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There are social, financial and environmental benefits to retaining heritage buildings in a community. First, heritage sites are a connection to the past and provide a sense of history and continuity. Heritage sites also tell the stories of who we are what we have experienced as a community, in addition to functioning as landmarks and having significant aesthetic value.
Also, let’s not be so Vancouver-centric and forget about the equally impressive and original New Westminster Heritage Homes Tour, conveniently held the Sunday prior . The devotion to heritage and the blood, sweat, tears and wheelbarrows full of cash that go into renos by aficionados is inspirational and neatly counters the house-as-commodity attitude out there. My only quibble with the NW tour is the volunteer burnout which caused them to cancel the tea. Rogers as we open the restored principal rooms of Shannon Estate along with the Shannon Gatehouse.
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Second, heritage buildings often retain their value with more resiliency as property markets shift through time and support tourism. Bowing to public pressure, the City Council decided to take action. The Dominion government agreed to donate the Columbia Street property where the Mint building stood, on the condition that a proper library building would be built and maintained by the City as a free public library.
That proud accomplishment now houses the kitchen, office and a deck overlooking Triangle Park, the hidden gem of the neighbourhood. On entering the home one senses the mastery with wood that is evident throughout the house from the mouldings to built-in drawers and closets. We had the honour of having the Wood Be Art show house on tour this year along with two other homes we recently did work in. The weather was super and the volunteers amazingly enthusiastic.
Check our Patreon page for stylish coffee mugs, private city tours, and more – or, make a one-time or recurring donation. NEW this year we are also offering a limited number of bus tickets! Leave the car and your parking worries at home and join a small group of heritage enthusiasts as your mini-bus driver does the navigating.
The NWHPS is a registered charity supporting the conservation of heritage stock in honour of its contribution to the City’s economy, sustainability, culture and aesthetic appeal. We do this by advocating on behalf of buildings in need of preservation, restoration or access to funding and promoting constructive conversations with our partners in the community. Sometimes you get the seriously funky Strathcona or East Van gem on the same tour as triple-A heritage Shaughnessy mansions and beautiful West End apartment buildings. There are some avid cyclists who are always present, but they obviously do not have arthritis.
They really listened to what we wanted, offered excellent suggestions, and went out of their way to ensure that what they were building was exactly what we were looking for. They REALLY care about the quality of their work and that each client is satisfied. The Peter Lik’s lithograph “Tranquility” grounds the space and the house reminding us that there is spiritual connection to all things Wood. Adjacent to the kitchen is an open area that serves as the house’s central think tank/home office. The Wood house features all the traditional fare of homes of that era including the original tiled fireplace, coved ceilings and a large front window.
The completion of the new building coincided with the 100th Birthday of the Province of British Columbia, and the library was officially opened on November 19, 1958 by His Excellency, the Honourable Vincent Massey, Governor-General of Canada. The building was completed in October 1903, but due to a shortage of books and political wrangling, between City Council and the Library Commissioners, the new Library did not open until 1905. For more information and to purchase tickets visit the Society’s website. We recognise and respect that New Westminster is on the unceded and unsurrendered land of the Halkomelem speaking peoples. We acknowledge that colonialism has made invisible their histories and connections to the land. As a City, we are learning and building relationships with the people whose lands we are on.
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