Top 10 Best: Historical Photos

Downtown New West isn't so new

New West may be gleaming with brand new restaurants and trendy boutiques, but right below those shiny surfaces lies a rich history of the city.

We dug into the heritage archives of New West and these were 10 of our fave photos!

1) 1935 - Bank of Montreal

Building on the corner of Columbia & Church St. Construction began 1899. Fun fact: this bank is known for its famous robbery of 1911. The safe crackers took $258,000 making this the largest bank robbery in Canadian history at the time!

2) 1898 – the Great Fire on Columbia Street.

New Westminster after the fire of September 10, 1898.

3) 1943 – Giant Sturgeon

The huge sturgeon is 11 feet in length and weighs 794 pounds and is the biggest caught in the Fraser River in 10 years.

4) 1984 - Westminster Building (a not so old one)

Westminster Building on the corner of Columbia and Begbie was originally built in 1912.

5) 1924 - Ship

"Camilla Gilbert" first ore carrier. New Westminster to Belgium.

6) 1910 - Ship

7) 1905 - Lacrosse Match at Queen’s Park

8) 1946 - Aerial Shot

9) 1909 – View from the Fraser River

Left: Court House, Library, rear of Dominion Trust Block. On hill: Royal City High School, with house below. Part of Post Office and City Hall visible on Columbia beyond Brachman-Ker Milling Co. wharf.

10) 1915 - WWI Soldiers

Soldiers marching along Columbia Street. These men were probably part of the 104th Regiment of New Westminster. This regiment was part of the 47th Canadian Battalion.

Know of any fantastic historical shots of New West? Send them our way! Follow us Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

*Cover Image: 1903 – Horse Drawn Carriage on Front St. & Begbie St.