We see them around us all the time. I am sure if you left your house today and did a little traveling you would see one and didn’t even give it a second glace. The one thing that helped unite Canada as one from coast to coast. Did you get it yet? The rail you silly. The driving-in of the last spike under engineer James Ross harkened national unity in Canada and allowed so many people who would go on to do amazing things that would change Canada in science, geology and our cultural heritage and so much more.

Coquitlam Heritage has the passport you need to explore our history for those that love discovering history in their own backyard.

The Fraser Mills Station was built in 1910 at the King Edward and Grade crossing, was one of five stations of the New Westminster Division of the CP Railway. The ever-growing lumber industry in British Columbia demanded lots of workers.

Mackin House built in 1909 is an Edwardian home for the second in command at the Fraser Mills Lumber Company as a company home. It is period appropriate with furniture and artifacts to give visitors a better sense of what life in Coquitlam was like for someone living in an upper middle-class community.

Discover the unique history of the home, and the changes the lumber industry brought to the local area, and Francophone culture that enriched the local area with food, and neighborhood designs that give the area that charms all its own. Mackin House, offers seasonal tours of the Fraser Mills Train Station and CP Rail 1970’s Caboose in Heritage Square. They also operate year-round as a Tourism Information centre for the City of Coquitlam.

Coquitlam Heritage began collecting items focused on life in Coquitlam from the period 1890 to 1930 to fit with the original displays at Mackin House. In the 2000s they decided to branch out into the glorious world of toys and other collectibles with the future hopes of creating a toy museum. Coquitlam Heritage aims to preserve, honour, and promote our local culture and heritage with something that will catch the attention of anyone looking at having a great time learning about our history.

Best of all for all you four legged lovers out there Coquitlam Heritage explores the history of dogs in and around Coquitlam, how great is that? Often those amazing companions don’t get the recognition they deserve for the impact they make our history.

So, whether for the history or the toys, go look and find something interesting at 1116 Brunette Avenue, Coquitlam, B.C. and be glad you did!

Brian Smith

bsmith288@my.bcit.ca