down memory lane MOODY VILLE was a sawmill settlement that built up around the Burrard Inlet Lumber Mills when it was bought out from John Oscar Smith in 1865 by Sewell Prescott Moody. His powertal compan established hind and his part- ners, Dietz and Neon, as che lumber barons of Burrard Inlet, with many ventures in lumber, shipping and mining, untl Moody's untimely death in 1875, Moodyville was the most Progressive of three setilements established in the new colony of British = Columbia — in the — 1860s.(Stamps Mill (Gastown) and Brighton (Hastings /Granville) across the Inlet on the south shore were the other ovo.) For 20 years, from 1865 to 1883, when the railway con- Aeeted the nation cast to west, Moodyville was) the fading fumber export. centre on the Inler. Moodyville was located east of Tom ‘Turner's farm net in Lower Lonsdale (later the city of North Vancouver) as many people believe. The settlement itself was located on about 320 acres, and stretched cast) of what is now St. David's Avenue, to below what is now Queensbury Avenue. The site of the criginal Pioneer Mill has been covered by the Lower Road and railway tracks at the eastern end of the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool cle- vator. The remains of the third and largest, Moodyville steam mill is under w ater, south of the West end of the present grain clevator structure. “Suc” Moody, as he was vicknamed, was “respected far and wide for his foresight and interest in his community of Moodyille, which started as just a clearing in the forest. It was almost in direct contrast to the settlement at Stamp’s Mil! across the inlet, where saloons outnumbered all other busi- nesses. Moody encouraged his employees to marry and raise families, discouraging con- sumption oof alohol bere bootlessed ind by Amenean sailors. Moods was able to keep Moodvalle tres from the wapact at the v-b ons tor about ten vears until Hares Hogan established the first saloon at the Terminus Hotel in S74 Moody was competing with Stamp’s Mill across the Inlet ter local business in TS867 fo owas noruntl he entered the torn tnide market, exporting lumber to counties such as Australia and South America, that he began to make a mark tor him sell In 1808, Moody built a ses ond mill B00 vards west ai the orginal mil Phe canpany’s successtul ventures allowed them to build a stcam mill with the latest machinery available. The 2000 toor long budding housed saws. oa) planing machine, a athe | splitting machine and a lathe, claiming tu produce Jumber daily. The two wharves were connected to) provide docking space for nwelve cargo vessels. Most of the sctilement’s population of | 20000 were involved either dircetly or indi- reetly with the sawmill opera- tion, Lumbermien cut timber and spars in the forests, ta be dragged down to the edge of the water by oxen. Longshoremen and stevedores loaded lumber onto the vessels at the dock, Moody established a school for the children and set up a Reading Room in the Mechanics Institute in) 1869, where Sunday services were held by preachers of various denominations. An carly Bbrary and meeting place for the set- tlement, the Mechanics Institute became the site of the first, Masonic Dodge on the north shore, Mount Hermon Ledge. Also in 1869, when a telegraph line was haid from ew Westminster to Brighton on the south shore, Moody arranged for a cable to be extended to Moodyville for public use. The toll rate was 25 cents, increased to 30 cents in 1871. Wite of logger Peabody Patterson, Susan Patterson was the first nurse in Moodyville, taking care of both whites and natives. In December, 1873, a fire destroyed Moody's second mill and damaged other uninsured buildings. He rebuilt the mill early the next year, installing a steam engine purchased from the retired FAS Sparrowhawk, to make the most powerful RY LORMOTIVE B.C.A.A., A.R.A., 1.€.8.C, APPROVED COMPUTER ALIGNMENT HUNTER CORDLESS ELECTRONIC 41% + ESTIMATES TALKING YELLGW PAGES CONSULTATION 399-9000 (71455. 985-7455 SPECIALISTS FIRST CLASS RESULTS BY PROFESSIONAL TECHNICIANS ALSO COMPLETE MECHANICAL REPAIRS Guaranteed 1 year 176 Pemberton, Korth Var. (5 Biks South of Marine Drive) N The rise ant fall 100,000) tect of north shore EIGHBORHOODS: of the mi steane mill on the dnter Te obnuned a 10,000 acres of preempted Crows land mi ISS By ISTO, ‘the populanon ot the setdement had reached about 400, with a general store, hotel and) company boarding house. Knol Pall was where the *Bie Plouse homes of the manger. schoolhouse and white tanuiltes ded Surrounding the lower trea of the ball, were the hemes et the natives nor Liven at the Indian Mission about nec mitos west ot the mul the “rook eres” ofthe Chinese, and three streets; Canary Row, Maden Pane. and Ranaka Row, where the bachelors and beach combers lived, The only road at that time was a plank road Gt comtimes tion ofthe present First Streets, running east of Knob Fill, down to the mill and along the beach. Mail was delivered twice daily from: Vancouver by two steam ferries, headquartered at Moodvville. Sunday services in the Reading room and. its library of 600 volumes supplicd leave ton ‘COQUITLAM “600-324 NORTH ROAD news lls of Moodyvi Photo North Vancouver Museum and Archives THE sawmill settlement Moodyville, as seen from the water, circa 1897. the culttiral needs of the com nity By the time Moody died suddeniv ina shipwreck in November T8753 © Mfoode’s only son, Sewell Moody fr. sut- fered the same tragic fate vears Rater. he was highly respected for his business decisions, his humour and his regard) for emplovees and friends alike, BARNET: BARNET HIGHWAY * NORTH VAN. 986-5203 kor several Veurs following, January 30th way commemo nated as Moodyville Day. Hugh Nelson, the only sur- viving member of the partner: ship, reorganized the company to become the Moodvville Sawmill Company. The mill was sold in 1897 to several English capitalists beconting part of the Loisdale iis. ‘SALE 2 Se ° ‘ “263- batates Prvorpar, ned as the Moodvarte band & Sawaull Company in S92, the compa ay operated unnl P90), when the cvenemie depression torced the mill to) close. In $902. the null was sold to fohn Hendry oof rhe Raval City Pioneer Mills, Phe abandoned nll burned down an 1910. and when the lower fovel road was construct: ed to connect te the Sccond Narrows Bridge in $927) the gldo settlement. known as Moodvaille disappeared. The City oof | North Vancouver has set aside Moodvville Park in recagnition af othe importance oof Moodvviile as the first sete: ment tor 20 vears on the nords shore of Burrard) Inter. The park is located ar the toor of Moody Avenue, along 2nd Street through a wooded trail leading east above the steep bank, coming out at Keith Road near Queensbury Avenue. Iijormation supplied bv Ray Pallant. and the North Vancouver Musenit c Areiives. WHITE ROCK VAY. 2142 W: 44 T- AVENUE 8620 PENINSULA VILEAG 300 541-2783,