April16_2008

Botanical Glossary - Home - References Cited

Photos - Looking inside what is left of the Cliffhanger Rock Climbing building at 106 West 1st avenue from the eastern entrance looking west. This 1970s aircraft hanger style building is coming down slowly but surely.

Photos - Frames right and center: The second stage of the Olympic Village construction site near Quebec Street, on the eastern side of the Domtar Salt Building (center frame at left, with the Science world Dome in background) workers have finished pouring the foundations and are starting rebars and forms for the first floor above ground level.

Frame left: Three workers use vibrating compressors to pound the fill next to foundation cement walls.

The first permanent structure in Elgin was the Elgin Hotel - 1870 - It was built as a convenient stopover point for travelers between New Westminster and Blaine. Four years before the incorporation of the District Municipality of Surrey (1875) the first public Church service was held in a simple Log cabin built by John Brewer, who had settled in this area in 1870.
The first community Hall was built in 1878 by W. Brewer. Built on the banks of the Nicomekl River, it was known as "Misery Hall" because at Low tide you had to climb over a muddy Dyke in order to reach it. Elgin was also the site of the first Commercial Logging Operation in Surrey. In 1875 Alexander and William McDougall started a logging camp in the Elgin area. The Nicomekl River was an essential link in towing logs to New Westminster for sale to the Royal City Planing Mills.

Photos - Moving on to Mud Bay along Crescent Road the Elgin Community Hall located at 14250 Crescent Road. It is one of the oldest community halls in Surrey, built in 1923 in the plain homestead tradition by the Elgin Community Association with land donated by pioneer Dan Johnston.

Click here for more photos of Surrey - Elgin Heritage for this day.