The History

The History of Columbia Street*

From the start, Columbia was the heart of New Westminster. It was where the businesses and hotels were; it was where you went to meet all and sundry on the sidewalk.

And then on September 10/11, 1898 there was the Great Fire that all but wiped out Columbia Street.

The 400 Block

Before the Great Fire, the 400 block where the Heritage Grill is now located, was occupied by several buildings, some of which are still standing (the Burr Block and the Queens Hotel). In the photo, the building with the spire is the YMCA standing on the North West corner of Columbia and Church St.

On the North East corner from here are some of the Wintemute buildings (Wintemute furniture factory which was built in the ravine stretching back as far as Clarkson), the Begbie block, the Burr Block and the Queens Hotel.

The Great Fire was brought under control just as it reached the Burr Block – see the photo on the right. According to the 1885 directory, the corner store was a bakery.

From the start, Columbia was the heart of New Westminster. It was where the businesses and hotels were; it was where you went to meet all and sundry on the sidewalk.

And then on September 10/11, 1898 there was the Great Fire that all but wiped out Columbia Street.

After the fire

In the photo above right is the same 400/500 block on the morning after the fire. The burnt out building with the arched doorway was the YMCA and the road to the right is Church St. crossing Clarkson.

By 1932, 441 to 445/7 Columbia Street were occupied by the Gernaey Tire Co., Beaty Washers, Canadian Window Bakeries and Piggley Wiggley Groceries and Meats. Travelling East was the King Edward Apartment block (razed to the ground to make way for the Columbia Street Sky Train Station), the Burr Block and The Queens Hotel. Looking West across Church St. was the Bank of Montreal.

*History written by Jemma Downes; photos from the New Westminster Library archives.