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The years in the Carnegie Library saw the development of the first consistent modern community services, accompanied by increased expectations of New Westminster residents. For the first time, professionally trained librarians were hired, the book stacks were opened to the public , and both Children’s and Reference Rooms were created. The first Library and Reading Room was established in 1865 through financial support from the colonial government and membership fees charged to the public.
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.
Harvey Street, New Westminster
We would recommend them for your kitchen project and built-in cabinetry. The Library keeps copies of the New Westminster City Directories dating back to 1860. These directories list New Westminster resident’s names and sometimes addresses and occupations. The City Directories are a great resource to track the movement of people around the city. Listings will often include names or initials of all members of a household.
The Carnegie Corporation donated $15,000 for the library building on condition that the City of New Westminster would provide the site and a minimum of $1,500 per year to support it. This was readily agreed to and the cornerstone of the Library was laid on October 1st, 1902 in a ceremony attended by many New Westminster citizens. This situation existed from 1899 until 1901 when it was finally decided that the Library’s former Columbia Street site should be used for a new civic building. The City Hall and Police Department were to be housed on the main floor with the Library to be on the second floor. Only one month after the Great Fire, New Westminster residents were lobbying to open a new library.
Queensborough Branch
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.
After opening over 200 homes over the past 15 years we are excited to honour this milestone anniversary with a wonderful collection of pre-1940s homes. Photo reproductions must be requested through the New Westminster Museum and Archives. Please refer to the Archive’s Reproduction Request Form for proper photo attribution or to request photos. Click HERE to see the table of fees for reproduction services.
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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.
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.
LOCAL HISTORY
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.
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.
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.
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.
The old Mint building was demolished and following an architectural competition, work began on Architect G.W. Grant’s winning plan for a three-storey stone and brick building. Books were ordered from England and the new Library opened in 1892. The Library holds the distinction of being the first public library in the province of British Columbia. In 1865, New Westminster was the capital of the mainland colony of British Columbia, recently carved from the forest on the banks of the Fraser River by the Royal Engineers. When the Regiment disbanded, it donated its collection of books brought from England to create a public library for the City. At the same time, Queen Victoria offered a copy of her late husband Prince Albert’s speeches “to the public libraries of her more important colonies”.
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