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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.
On August 15th, 1865 the Library opened in the quarters of the former Mint where it remained until 1890. During the first two years of its existence, the Library was well funded by the government but by 1868 all government aid was withdrawn. The Library was forced to rely entirely upon subscriptions and limped along for the next 22 years. By 1890 the Mint building was in a terrible state of decay, which was particularly noticeable when compared with the many fine new buildings that were being built in New Westminster. Soon after it was completed however, the library’s space was required for civic administration and so the City began to investigate the possibility of obtaining money from the Carnegie Corporation. Andrew Carnegie was a wealthy philanthropist who, as a firm believer in the importance and value of a free public library, donated money to communities across the United States, parts of Canada and the United Kingdom, for the construction of libraries.
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The only items not burned were those books checked out and a few saved by Alderman William A. Johnson, among them the Queen’s book. The Vanity is a wood and stone sculpture anchoring the whole room – far more than I imagined and certainly the best expression of the design I started with. Without your referral to your contractor Joe, the rest of the project could easily have been a disaster. I’m both grateful and delighted with the final product and I look forward to working with you again.
Upstairs, 2 more bedrooms share a spa-like bathroom with a soaker tub and separate open concept shower & double sinks. Downstairs, a home office uses the space of the roughed in kitchen with insuite laundry, just past the 3-piece bathroom and flex space with a separate entrance. A tremendous amount of storage space rounds out the basement beyond the 2022 electric furnace and 2018 on-demand water heater. Outside an oasis back patio with a meandering stone path and water feature wraps around the 2014 built, heated double garage with water, 11’-14’ ceiling heights, power for a car charger and 2 integrated exteriors, roll up door, locking sheds. A 200 amp panel, heat pump, double and triple glazed windows, 2 piece guest bathroom off the foyer plus a second laundry, are just a few more details about this extraordinary home. Only a few blocks from the, under construction, Canada Games Pool, Queens Park & McBride Plaza.
Homes Tour Sponsors
Featured are a mid-century modern stunner, Edwardian beauty, and a Georgian Revival favourite. The Wood House was well received and tour goers were surprised and delighted at every turn with all the attention to detail and whimsical touches making our house feel like a home most anyone could comfortably embrace. The grand ol’ Queens Park houses, Mid-Century Modern renovation, the uber Modern almost art gallery house and of course our modest Victory Heights home.
The tour also includes a First Shaughnessy mansion, a Kerrisdale Craftsman and several other lovingly restored and maintained heritage and character homes. The Library has many resources to help you find information on historical figures and residents of New Westminster. Library staff are also available to help you access our resources. Library use continued to increase and by the late 1940’s it was clear that a larger space was needed to house the ever-growing and popular library.
RESEARCH GUIDE: HISTORICAL PEOPLE
Renovation and expansion of the existing Library began in 1977 and included the addition of 17,800 square feet. After only a brief closure from August 6th to September 5th, 1978, the library officially re-opened October 21st, 1978. The New Westminster Public Library is a vibrant, modern library situated in the city of New Westminster (pop. 52,000), in the Greater Vancouver area of British Columbia, Canada. However, it’s the whimsical and elegant design touches that surprise and please the eye as you enter the focal point of the house—the kitchen.
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.
A thoughtfully designed front yard and walkway leads to the tile entrance, opening to a spacious open plan living space featuring a vaulted tongue & groove ceiling, a window wall with clerestory windows and a limestone fireplace. An open kitchen with pendulum lights over the quartz capped island and sink, stainless steel appliances, an induction cooktop and a mosaic glass backsplash tie together this warm living space. Engineered hardwood floors flow through to the main floor primary bedroom with a glass enclosed ensuite shower and double sink vanity.
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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