Heritage BC is celebrating Heritage Week from Feb. 16 to 22 with a theme of Main Streets: At the Heart of the Community. In recognition of this, the Coquitlam Heritage Society will host a walking tour through the heart of our historic downtown neighbourhood: Maillardville.
This neighbourhood is undergoing revitalization. The traditional downtown feel may be lost as the area is mostly a residential zone and no longer reflects the vibrant economic centre of its past. Joining the tour gives participants the opportunity to find out what Maillardville was like during the time of the pioneers.
A bustling French-Canadian neighbourhood, Maillardville grew due to the many Quebecois workers who were recruited as labourers at Fraser Mills. The French-Canadian families immigrating to the area in 1909 and 1910 brought with them their culture and Roman Catholic faith.
They received a half acre of land payable at $5 a week for a total of $150, lumber to build their homes, plus a large piece of land along with lumber to build their place of worship: Notre Dame de Lourdes Church at Laval Square.
The neighbourhood itself owes its name to Fr. Maillard, an influential priest at the church. The area surrounding the church, Laval Square, was the core of the French-Canadian community in Maillardville.
The neighbourhood offered many amenities throughout the years, including a liquor store, general store, butcher shop, candy shop, post office, billiards room and hall. Tremblay Hall, located at the corner of Brunette and Laval, was a social gathering place for weddings, concerts, theatre, silent movies and even wrestling matches.
The junction at Brunette Avenue and Laval Street was clearly the economic hub, playing host to many of the shops of Maillardville.
Prohibition, which took place in B.C. between 1917 and '21, was a tough time for many residents, especially since prohibition never reached their home province of Quebec. Luckily, Mr. Leroux would sell a product called near beer - it was very low in alcohol, making it legal to sell and consume in B.C. during prohibition.
A general store in the community was a necessity. Although there was a company store at the Fraser Mills townsite, it didn't always have the necessary goods available and many people had to travel to buy their goods in New Westminster, an already established town. But that involved a fair bit of walking so, when the general store opened on Brunette in 1912, it was quite a welcome establishment in the community. It even included a new post office by 1913.
Readers who remember Brunette Avenue's past will recall that city hall used to be located at the corner of Brunette and Marmont Street, across from Mackin House. The city hall of 1920 was an important demarcation in the community.
Brunette Avenue is also home to the Booth House, now owned by the City of Coquitlam. The Booth Family occupied the home before French-Canadian pioneers even came to the area and it owned and operated the dairy farm. Booth Avenue, which runs off of Schoolhouse Street, was named after Booth Dairy Farms.
Your History is a column in which representatives of the Tri-Cities' heritage groups write about local history. Stefani Klaric is volunteer and programs co-ordinator with the Coquitlam Heritage Society (www.coquitlamheritage.ca).
