The uptown area of New Westminster certainly has a lot of things happening, including a major project at the public library, a large store addition in Royal City Centre and ongoing discussions surrounding a development just up the street from Sixth and Sixth.
In looking through uptown’s history we can follow many changes, watch the evolution of the overall landscape and note the developments that played prominent roles, often encouraging the influx of other endeavours.
In the 1890s, the Moody Park area had a golf course and shooting range, and sheep were allowed to graze there to keep control of the grass. In the 1920s, the automobile was becoming more important, so it was necessary to have facilities for fuel and service. Early gas stations appeared at Sixth Avenue at Eighth Street, Eighth Avenue at Sixth Street, Sixth Street at Fourth Avenue and Sixth Avenue at Second Street.
In 1921, a change took place at the Sixth and Sixth corner with the sale of property. The Britannia Grocery and Wadsworth and Deardon, butcher shop, were sold, but the latter remained and the rest of the property was considered for a drug store. This is the Waves location of today. Across Sixth Street, the corner in 1929 would be home to a Piggly Wiggly grocery store. In time it was replaced by Safeway, and today this corner holds the CIBC.
In 1930, the telephone company arrived uptown. The phone company purchased a large block and announced that, not only would they develop in the uptown area, but they would move their full operations from Clarkson Street downtown. Up Sixth Street a block or two in 1946, the new medical arts building was drawing attention. An article noting the changes uptown stated: “The successful completion of the Medical Arts Building exemplifies the progress experienced by our community in the past few years and will particularly enhance Sixth Street as a shopping centre.”
In 1959/60 this area saw a couple of fast food establishments open for business. Right next door to the new public library that opened uptown in 1958 was the Dairy Queen. A few blocks away at Sixth Street at Seventh Avenue was the Big S Drive In, a popular place for burgers.
For more, come to the New Westminster Historical Society evening on Wednesday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m. in Century House, Cedar Room, 620 Eighth St.
