.png)
1983 - 1985
The AHHS aquiring the Agassiz Pacific Railway Station:
​
February 1983 - Michall Ernst- addresses Yaletown Vancouver, architect and designer, and he is interested in station.
​
Results from correspondence to Mr. McCauley, Superintendent of CPRail in Vancouver regarding the station as a museum.
​
August 3, 1983 - Dorothy Aspelund and Helen Vaughn quite by chance met with Mr. Speideland he suggested a meeting as soon as possible with members.
​
August 16, 1983 - 12 members (names on record), also reporter from the Advance newspaper and Mr. Wes Johnson as advisor, met with Mr. Speidal (Ass't superintendent of CPRail) The tour showed that the Agassiz station is in better condition than the former Port Moody station was when it was moved in 1975. Also unique to Agassiz station is the fish scale shingles displayed in the outer gables of the station. Mr. Speidal was impressed with the station and also with the enthusiasm of the members of the society. He suggested the station be moved with a quarter turn onto the property of Pioneer Park south of the station's present location if possible. If this was able to be done then the CPRail would lay a short length of track and also suggested that we make a bid for a caboose to be put on the newly laid track, as cabooses will be obsolete in five years. They would try to get signal arms and any other memorabilia to do with railroading.
We put a letter into the municipal office for Mayor Mike Dunn (that we had received from CPRail- Mr. McCauley) - and no response.
​
August 18, 1983 - Six members of the society toured Port Moody station and now the enthusiasm for preserving the Agassiz station really glowed.
​
August 19, 1983 - Three members met with Mr. Conlin, the District of Kent Municipal clerk and District of Kent building inspector and Mr. Malcolm McGregor. This meeting was arranged to ask questions.
1.) If it was possible to acquire a small portion of Pioneer Park for this worthy community project?
2.) Would the Heritage committee be activated to study and declare this station as a Heritage building?
3.) What would the parking regulations be?
4.) What status would this project be regarded re yearly taxes?
5.) Money raising for this project?
6.) Would we have the sanction of the District of Kent council to proceed with this community project and what support would we receive?
​
Mr. Conlin was most gracious to us but as meetings of council were in camera he could not and would not divulge any information and we respected his position so the meeting was unsatisfactory as to our questions.
​
September 9, 1983 - Members again met at the station with a student architect and we commissioned her to do an architectural drawing of the station. A dual purpose if we proceed with the project we wanted done a drawing and also if the station was demolished there would be a drawing of this landmark.
September 30, 1983 - Five members (names on record) met with Mr. George Kerr of Heritage C conservation Dept. of the BC government. He was also pleased with the sturdy condition of the station and again Wes Johnson on our request accompanied the tour. Mr. Kerr suggested that if the building was declared by the Heritage Committee of the District of Kent to be a heritage building he was sure that we would be in line for a grant. He would also try to have an architectural team to do a feasibility study of the project.
October 18, 1983 - We, members of the society, met with Mr. Murray Nickel of Nickel Bros movers- they have done many historical building moves- as to the feasibility of moving the station and he said that the entire building could be moved- he has sent in an estimate. Again Wes acted as advisor.
October 24, 1983 - Mr. George Kerr phoned at 5:30pm to report that he has a chap, Mr. Justice, who will do a feasibility study.
October 25, 1983 - A call from Mr. Parenteau requesting an opportunity to view the station with presenting an estimate re moving but we were not too impressed with his credentials.
The day we met with Mr. Parenteau we were speaking with one of the CPRail employees and he drew our attention to one of the CPRail buildings next to Burgess Feed had been demolished and this was one of the buildings that we had hoped would come our way for the use of the lumber in refurbishing the station but that has gone and so for how long will the station be in tact - if we cannot give CPRail an answer soon will the station be next?
November 14, 1983 - 4:30 pm a phone call from Mr. Barry Downes of Downes and Archambeault architects have been commissioned to make a feasibility study and report to Heritage Trust and Heritage Conservation officer Mr. Kerr. If the council agrees to support this project we are to meet with Mr. Downes on Wednesday November 23d at 11am at the station. Mr. Downes phone 685-6312.
November 14, 1983 - Joyce McRae, Carol Law, Helen Vaughn met with Kent Council - not discouraged with results. Mayor Dunn said "no way" could we have the corner opposite Buckerfield- suggested property directly north of station.
November 23, 1983 - Mayor Dunn, Councilmen, Dr. Freeman, newly elected John Baumfield, Gunther Schwichtenberg, John Green, Wes Johnson, Peter Gains, Ruth Broughall, Joyce McRae, Joyce Probert, Ella pretty, Carol Law, Mr. Speidel of CPRail, Dorothy Aspelund, Helen Vaughn, met with Barry Downes and Mr. Doug Giles of Downes and Archambault of Vancouver at the station at 11am. After lunch we met with Mr. Downes, Mr. Giles in the centennial room at 1:15pm. Discussed museum name, object and aims of the museum. Discussed possible locations - i.e. Ag grounds, research station grounds. Mr. Downes would like another meeting in December 1983 and January 1984.
November 25, 1983 - Call from Capt Brady of the armed forces and he is a troop commander of construction and building. If the move was to research station grounds or Ag grounds they do not have the equipment to do the job. If onto the park, they could handle it but it would have to be in two pieces- i.e. freight shed and station proper.
December 20, 1983 - Lunch with Barry Downes and Beans Justice to discuss what's happened since our last meeting. General meeting for historical society was called for 1pm today in Centennial hall. There were 19 members and guests present. (See minutes). After meeting, Carol Law and Barry Downs discussed what would be necessary for this project. It was decided that a number of committees should be started such as finance, membership and display. A survey of local residents and businesses should also be undertaken to see what kind of support we have or can get. Beans Justice met with Bob Smales (building inspector) to get some information. Our information was given to B. Downes along with a copy of the revitalization plan for Agassiz and two pictures. One (small) belonging to D. Aspelund and our picture of the station in 1899. Next meeting towards end of month. Experimental farm is now a good possibility if Pioneer Park site falls through.Meeting with Dr. Miltimore is needed, just for general information.
January 10, 1984 - Telephone call from Barry Downs. It seems he had a talk to Mayor Dunn about Pioneer Park site and it looks all but hopeless that we would ever get that as a site. Site 2 across the tracks does not seem too appropriate either. The Research Station would be a very good possibility and we should maybe pursue it. The Mayor also seemed to think that we would not be too welcome at the Agricultural grounds so that may also have to be scraped. Conclusion: The Research Station site looks the best at this time. More information of the Agricultural grounds site will be necessary also. He made an appointment to see Ron Hagen, the Economic Development Officer for the Fraser Cheam Regional District, for Friday.
January 13, 1984 - Telephone call from Barry Downs after his meeting with Ron Hagen. He seemed to think that there would be lots of money in the system for us. Our next phase would be to:
1. Re Agricultural Grounds- contact Agricultural Society and find out their thoughts first hand. Ask them or find out,
a.)Who owns the site?
b.)What would it cost us?
c.)What location on the grounds could we possibly have - near the tracks?
d.)Is there a chance of us getting this site without causing problems/hard feelings on their part?
e.)What are the future plans for the grounds, if any?
2. Re Research Station- Have a meeting with Dr. Miltimore for more information. If he concurs, we would get letters of support for our project. They should be from:
a.)Regional Board - Ella Pretty.
b.)Economic Development officer- Ron Hagen.
c.)Heritage Trust- George Kerr, Barry will look after this one.
These letters would accompany his report to Ottawa. Our letters should include: historical reasons for wanting the site there. The tourist industry should be strongly stressed, our joint heritage and the role we could play in the economic development of the area. Etc. etc. etc.
February 29, 1984 - A black Wednesday as the report from the newspaper of our rejection by Kent Council for a part of the Pioneer Park for a future Agassiz Station Museum - no correspondence to the society from Kent Council as yet.
March 1, 1984 - 11am called Dr. Miltimore's office for an appointment to now contact Federal Government re a parcel of land to place the Agassiz Station Museum. We hope that the CPRail will grant us the time to investigate this possibility before they have to demolish the station.
March 8, 1984 - Letter for perusal sent into Dr. Miltimore's office, 12:00 Monday. Feasibility study and letter from Mr. George Kerr.
April 1984 - Letter from Eugene Whalen re research station.
June 7, 1984 - Call from George Kerr. Meeting with him June 13 at 10 am and meeting with Dr. Miltimore eleven
June 11, 1984 - Agricultural Research station- Dr. Miltimore, George Kerr, Ralph Gillett, Don Beaton, Donna, Dorothy Aspelund, Joyce McRae, Carol Law, Helen Vaughn.
June 19, 1984 - Senior Citizens to meet with Tolliday re grant. Need 10 seniors of historical society.
July 1984 - Wes Johnson, Bert Ledoux and Phil Drysdale accepted invitation to Board of Trustees.
Called a meeting with Board of Trustees and Dr. Miltimore, Donna and Don Beaton. Those present besides research people - Phil Drysdale, Wes Johnson, Joyce Probert, Carol Law and Helen Vaughn. Absent, Bert Ledoux. Wes only stayed 10 minutes.
August 1984 - Dr. Miltimore drew up a contract between the Research Station and the Harrison Lake Historical Society. Taken to Fred Rowell, lawyer, September 17, 1984 and to give it back for the October 2d meeting.
September 1984 - Don Beaton posed the stakes outlining the area that the research station would allow us.Present- Dr. Miltimore, Joyce Probert, Wes Johnson,Joyce McRae, Dorothy Aspelund, Carol Law andHelen Vaughn. Wes is definite on "no" basement but a crawl space. He also suggests now is the time to get architect. At executive meeting Sept 25/84 discussed a name change and notification must be sent by mail to all members for extraordinary meeting. Several names or combination of names presented- Agassiz Harrison Lake Historical Archival and Museum Society will definitely be presented. Hope this can be called for November 21st meeting.
October 2, 1984 - Meeting with Mr. Beans Justice, Laurie Therness (government), Bert Ledoux, Phil Drysdale, Wes Johnson, Dorothy Aspelund, Joyce Probert, Joyce McRae, Carol Law, and Helen Vaughn.1:30 pm in municipal office then proceeding to research station and Dr. Miltimore at 2 pm.
Carol Law, and Helen Vaughan met with Fred Rowell at 11:30 am to discuss the contract with the Research Station and HLH Society, a few changes were noted.
1:30 pm- Carol Law and Helen Vaughan met with Mr. Justice and assistant Walter, and Mr. Laurie Thorness, representing Mr. Harry Schroeder, MLA for this district. Dorothy Aspelund, Joyce McRae, Joyce Probert, Carol Law and Helen Vaughan.
2:00 pm - We reconvened with Dr. Miltimore and discussed the probable location of station on Research Station grounds. Mr. Justice and assistant will help us by bringing forth a "site plan". Mr. Laurie Thorness expressed genuine interest (maybe he will get help). At the 2 pm meeting Phil Drysdale and Bert Ledoux attended- Wes Johnson was absent. After this meeting, Carol Law, Dorothy Aspelund, Joyce McRae, Joyce Probert, Bert Ledoux, Phil Drysdale, and Helen Vaughan met again with Dr. Miltimore and discussed the contract.
October 4, 1984 - Joyce McRae and Helen Vaughan had an appointment at 10 am with Don Lawley, banker of Bank of Montreal and discussed the most advantageous approach to depositing the $12,000.00 grant from "New Horizons" and decided to take out a term deposit to come due November 30, 1984 rate of 10%.Giving the society another $200.00 interest to be deposited in the museum fund, which has also started on its own, by Mrs. Floyd's generous donation at the society's September 19/84 meeting and the cheque from Westcoast Transmission. Co-signers for both accounts will be Joyce McRae, Phil Drysdale and Helen Vaughan.
Helen Vaughan donated an oil furnace in good working order to the Society hoping it will be of some use when the museum is started. Otherwise it will be disposed of.
November 21, 1984 - Extra ordinary meeting re change of name of the society.