32 - Wednesday. May 29, 1991 ~ North Shore News & Tracking N. Shore’s heritag “AVA pack rat.” is how Bill Baker explains his lite of collecting. restor- ing and generally puttering around with the North Shore's historical artifacts. Patrick Raynard SPOTLIGHT FEATURE Baker. who retires this month as curator ot the North Shore Museunr and Archives. founded the museum in the early 1970s and established the Hose Reel Fes- tivalin L975. He has rescued the countless jocal artifacts. tram thimbies to woudworking tools to tire trucks to streetcars, that have educated a whole generation of school kids in the history of their community, and Baker has fought tooth and nail to ebtain funding and space to rescue and house the North Share’s priceless past. It was a job and a joy that con- sumed him seven days a week tor years and has turned him into a walking encyclopedia of the North Shore's heritage. Born in Calgary in 1925, Baker came to North Vancouver with his family just before the outbreak of the Second World War and began collecting old tools, toys, music boxes and one-armed handits while training as a dental lab technician. “MWe fived on East 13th Street, one house in from Lonsdale. There were nine houses there and the rest was orchards. We had 17 fruit trees and a irout stream, which has been totaily buried now. Where the police station is now there was a big slough. “Streetcars went up and down Lonsdale fram 1907 to 1947,"" Baker says wisttully, then becomes emphatic. ‘Streetcars were the best form of urban transportation in the history of the North Ameri- can continent. But the streetcars were all destroyed.’ Baker lived in North Vancouver when the anly access ta Van- couver was by ferry; the Lions Gate Bridge was not built until the late 1930s, giving “a tot of work to fellows who were still unem- ployed,’ and opened in 1939 by King George Vi and Queen Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mather) during the tirst visit to Canada of a reigning British monarch. “For 12 cents you could ride the ferry and the trams all around Vancouver all day,” Baker says. “That was five cents for the ferry and seven cents tor the streetcar. And the interurban wouid take you out to Chilliwack tor 40 cents one way,” It was in Chilliwack, coinciden- tally, that one of the jast remaining streetcars in existence wae tracked down and reported to B.C. Elec: tric. Who eventually made it avail- able tc Baker. “hh hed been a cucken coop tor 23 vears,”” Baker recalls, amazed even now. Fle says that another one was found in Nelson BC. where it bad been cut in halt ard made inte a day Keanel, One or Baker's wresatest poys is the suceesstul restotation of the No. £34 streetcar. now located andes the Mahon Park stadium Whit rae up and clown Los dale ati ats bite. “Tn the Li 19 states fave decided to wo back ta streetcars because there is no polihot and no nowe." Baker gives tall praise to Ssorth Vancouver Coty tar backer bani NEWS photos Mike Wakolield BILL BAKER, founder and longtime curator of the North Shore Museum and Archives, shows off the streetcar replica he was awarded upon his retirement this month. Baker, who also laun- ched the Hose Reel Festivai in 1975, devoted his lite to rescu- ing, restoring and publicizing the North Shore's heritage. financially afl the way, ever since the 1971 Centennial Committee decided to form a museum as well as renovate and cleanup the Mahon Park and creek area, Baker, who was already presiding over his own growing collection of artifacts and dana- tions trom dozens of citizens, searched frantically for a building. tinallv obtaining the ald PGE sta- tion at the foot of Lonsdale. He had it moved to Mahon Park and began restoring it on a budget of $6,500 a year — that figure is now approximately $300,000 annually. as the museum and archives Baker leaves behind holds more than 100,000 items. During his 21 years on the city payroll, Baker often worked for tour or five-year stretches without a holiday, spent most evenings and weekends taping old-timers’ stories, and set up school pro- grams serving up to 4.000 students a year. Many school kids bused in from all over Canada for his tours \\ ot Burrard Yarrows Shipyards (now Versatile Paciticn and the Horne Brothers shingle mill, For 16 years he spent every Sunday at the museum as this was the anly day it could be open. During the News interview Baker especially praised the par- ticipants ot the [Cth annual Hose Reel Festival, which this year do- nated $2,000 towards the building ot A NOW Museum, The group, be said, is the tirst to donate money for this much- needed project. Baker, naw 65, officially retired earher this roonth but is still main: taining a hectic schedule “just wrapping things up” and dealing with the job offers he keeps pet- ting, He still basn’t decided whether he will do some historical writing, but nas plans to develop his hobby of toy collecting into a tull-time enterprise when he and his wite Sidney retire to the Interior and a “drier climaie.” Mm it uy on rei TS Uh aa *s, & %, Ee hla MR AE IEE mala Da cm Major appliance values and a variety of cabinet designs for beautiful kitchens that reall, work: Y. FRANKS APPLIANCES LTD. 503-15th St, West Vancouver Ashort bier! northot Maange Dave Open4 jOte FO dads. except Sunday TAN EST D 1890 2 926124 Lise sour VISA OF MASTERCARD QGpenbredasy aertlé poor Reg. $395 G ASKATCHEWA ° RESTAURANT Served until 11:00 a.m. aa hs E LAN Offered untii June 12/4] wath this ad. located at the “Sundown" end of Park Royal Seuth 922-1123 F-A-S-T COLLISION REPAIRS CALL THE PROFESSIONALS AT JEYLORMOTIVE 1959 LTD. FREE RENTAL COURTESY CARS B.C.A.A. APPROVED — A.R.A. CERTIFIED 1.C.B.C. VENDOR FOR ALL MAKES QUALITY WORKMANSHIP TRUSTWORTHY SERVICE CONSULTATION 985-7455 OR APPOINTMENTS AYLORMOTIV 174 PEMBERTON AVE. NORTH VAN. 4 DAY TYEE EXPRESS SPECIAL JUNE ONLY! INFORMATION HOTLINE 873-4228 INCLUDES EVERYTHING: A Langara Lodge Experience AT $1489, THERMADOR’S COOK 'N’ VENT COOKTOP IS ONE HOT VALUE! A Special Purchase tom the Factor Oistrbuter alow Vo Franks footer vou tremendous savats! Cook ‘no Vent features boodiess cooking. lots of under counter shear space and a guddhe arli tar breaktasts & barbecue. Hidden oot seeded. the vent cases #6 abore the ocktap Neg Tace too whisk awas smoke aid oder Renmrote ventihitar Takes tan nore: cuter the kitchen tor gatet puliag power Ask Pranks Knoadedveable statt tor all (he details on thes mepathabde Rite bier sah Gochay Thermador Wren Performance Counts Stock as drmtice + a | Manutacturer’s Clearance oh bherenacer SAVE [ Como rent Gr oideds Guan bomts ai tttis tpt Wot tbtar tig aityryyeet ss canttepiats taps NMaETS COD nN seeerrer perp erton ts 35%