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Steveston Telephone Exchange

12004 No. 1 Road, Richmond, British Columbia, V7E, Canada

Formally Recognized: 1990/06/11

Exterior view of the Steveston Telephone Exchange,  2000; Julie MacDonald Heritage Consulting
front elevation
No Image
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Other Name(s)

n/a

Links and documents

Construction Date(s)

1914/01/01

Listed on the Canadian Register: 2005/03/01

Statement of Significance

Description of Historic Place

The Steveston Telephone Exchange is a simple, one storey, hip-roofed structure with a corner porch. Located on No. 1 Road in the Steveston area of Richmond, it sits slightly below road grade. The historic place is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The heritage value of the Steveston Telephone Exchange lies in its historical use as the first telephone exchange and office for the Steveston area of Richmond. In 1891, the New Westminster and Burrard Telephone Company installed telephone service to Steveston via Eburne and Marpole with several early subscribers, while a comprehensive telephone system for the entire Municipality of Richmond was planned in 1905. The Steveston exchange, owned by the B.C. Telephone Company which purchased the original line in 1904, operated in this location from 1914 to 1954. The arrival of the telephone represented another means of communication which could easily link the still-distant communities around Lulu Island during Richmond's initial period of municipal growth and industrialization.

Likely constructed earlier than its occupation by the Telephone Exchange, the small building has design features more residential than commercial, and may have been selected for its prominent Steveston location.

Source: City of Richmond Clerk's Department File #4200-02

Character-Defining Elements

Character defining elements of the Steveston Telephone Exchange include:
- Its location at a prominent intersection in Steveston and its relationship to No. 1 Road
- Its residential character which contrasts with its technological use
- The hipped roof with a central hipped gable window and a hipped porch extension on the south side
- Exterior design details, including a front dormer window, square columns supporting the porch roof, lapped wooden siding, double hung wooden sash windows, and exposed rafter ends

Recognition

Jurisdiction

British Columbia

Recognition Authority

Local Governments (BC)

Recognition Statute

Local Government Act, s.967

Recognition Type

Heritage Designation

Recognition Date

1990/06/11

Historical Information

Significant Date(s)

n/a

Theme - Category and Type

Developing Economies
Communications and Transportation

Function - Category and Type

Current

Community
Social, Benevolent or Fraternal Club

Historic

Industry
Communications Facility

Architect / Designer

n/a

Builder

n/a

Additional Information

Location of Supporting Documentation

City of Richmond Clerk's Department File #4200-02. See also: City of Richmond Archives.

Cross-Reference to Collection

Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier

DgRt-19

Status

Published

Related Places

n/a

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