Sunnyside (Surrey)
Encyclopedia
Sunnyside is a neighbourhood
of South Surrey
, which in turn is a region of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
As the forebears of the present Semiahmoo First Nation
faced raids from northern First Nations' groups, they used what came to be known as the Sunnyside area as access to a fort built in the 1830s on what is now the Ocean Park bluffs.
The Semiahmoo also used a route across the Sunnyside area of South Surrey
to cross the ridge between the Campbell River to the south and Mud Bay to the north, where the Nicomekl and Serpentine were. By 1890 this was called the Semiahmoo Trail.
The Telegraph Trail was built along this route in 1865 meant as part of a telegraph linkage from the mainland-USA through Alaska and Siberia to Europe. The line reached New Westminster from the USA in June 1865. It also provided access from the Nicomekl River a few miles north, to the Boundary Commission Camp located at the mouth of the Little Campbell River at the Canada/United States border. The Boundary Commission Camp had been established in 1858.
The Semiahmoo Wagon Road was built atop the trail in 1872-4 to connect the Fraser River to the north with Blaine, Washington, to the south. In 1878, stage service on the Semiahmoo Trail increased to twice weekly, between Brown’s Landing and the border to the south. In 1882 the Canadian Customs Department established the first near-border facility, an “out-port” customs office at Elgin north of the Sunnyside area. This was located where the Semiahmoo Trail met the Nicomekl River and operated until 1891. When the railway was relocated to Hazelmere to the east of Sunnyside, the land crossing at Douglas, B.C./Blaine, Washington, became the main customs area.
Led by then Alderman Garry Watkins, in 1977 the (then) District of Surrey proclaimed it a Designated Heritage site. South of 24th Avenue, the present trail deviates slightly from the original route, but on 148 Street there is a specially constructed "Semiahmoo Trail" pedestrian overpass keeping the trail intact.
In 1918, there was still land available for pre-emption in the Sunnyside area and John Holttum chose a site west of what became Stayte Road (160 Street), along Oliver Road (28 Avenue).
The social focus, after the early 1920s, was Hazelmere Hall, built by the volunteer labour of local residents on land donated by carpenter Ernest Hamel. Residents recall parties at the hall, dancing to the music of pianist Andy Westland and his orchestra.
In 1927 what was to become the King George Highway was built through the area. Construction Camp 205 was situated at Sunnyside Road and worked southeast to the Peace Arch
from there. A building from Camp 206 was moved to what is now 24th Avenue and 156th Street to serve as the Sunnyside Hall on land donated by George Cook. Sunnyside United Church
held its first service in 1949 in the Sunnyside Hall.
In 1958 the City of White Rock
seceded from the District of Surrey and the effect was immediately felt in the Sunnyside area. The White Rock-Sunnyside Fire Department hall #13 relocated from what is now the corner of 16th Avenue and 152nd Street (the new municipal border) up to Sunnyside Road (24th Avenue) in the 15300 block. This became known as the Sunnyside Fire Department.
In 1962 the present route of Highway #99 bisected the Sunnyside area, running from 8th Avenue in South Surrey, along the north side of Mud Bay, to the North Arm of the Fraser River. The opening of the Massey Tunnel on Highway #99 in 1962 and the Alex Fraser Bridge
in 1986 enabled access to centres north of the Fraser River
and in turn initiated suburban housing booms in the Sunnyside area which are still underway.
The Sunnyside Acres Heritage Society arranges guided tours of the many trails some of which are wheelchair accessible. At the south end are large softball diamands and a hockey rink where the Surrey Eagles junior team plays.
to the west, the city of White Rock
to the south, the historic areas of Elgin and Mud Bay to the north and the new commercial retail area of Grandview Heights to the east. King George Highway (Highway #99A) bisects the eastern part of the area from the northwest to southeast as it runs to the United States border.
region in 1886 after the Gilley borthers had opened their mill at Elgin in 1885. The brothers were the first to use horses for the tranportation of logs, sometimes using 24-horse teams. Up until then hand-logging with oxen was typical. From 1887-1889 a railway spur line for Royal City Planing Mills came into the Sunnyside area from the east, and from 1917-1920 a spur line came in from Crescent Beach. Skid roads were used to run logs down to the Serpentine, Nicomekl, and Campbell Rivers by horse team. By 1904 the best and most accessible timber was exhausted.
In May 1890 a post office opened, with J.A. Cartheau serving as postmaster. It closed in 1891, after the New Westminster and Southern Railway commenced operation, providing direct service to a series of stations along the line.
In 1964 the Surrey Bus Service operated out of a depot at 24th and King George Highway. This included local bus service as well as into Vancouver. In 1974 the company merged with BC Transit.
Though now mainly residential, Sunnyside has a growing retail and business sector. In the late 1980s the Semiahmoo Mall was opened on the north side of North Bluff Road at Johnson Road (16th Avenue and 152nd Street) and in 1990 a shopping centre was located at Peninsula Village on 24th Avenue. First-run movie theatres are at 24th and King George Highway.
In 2008 a massive residential and commercial development took place centred at the corner of 160th Street and 24th Avenue. It is named "Grandview Corners", but is however in an area traditionally known as Sunnyside.
Neighbourhood
A neighbourhood or neighborhood is a geographically localised community within a larger city, town or suburb. Neighbourhoods are often social communities with considerable face-to-face interaction among members. "Researchers have not agreed on an exact definition...
of South Surrey
South Surrey
South Surrey is a neighborhood of Surrey, British Columbia. It borders on the city of White Rock, and at 10,535 people, South Surrey has the largest concentration of persons over the age of 60 of all Surrey's town centres...
, which in turn is a region of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.
Origin of the name
There is no historical significance to the name, other than that its location is on the sunnier, south slope of the "uplands" of Surrey, on the Semiahmoo peninsula.First Nations and the Semiahmoo Trail
As traders, the original Coast Salish peoples since the last Ice Age established communities at the mouths of the local rivers, the Nicomekl, Serpentine, and Campbell Rivers, which connected them to inland communities.As the forebears of the present Semiahmoo First Nation
Semiahmoo First Nation
Semiahmoo First Nation is the band government of the Semiahmoo people, a Coast Salish subgroup. The band's main community and offices are located on of Indian Reserved just south of White Rock, British Columbia and near the Canada-United States boundary and Peace Arch Provincial Park.-...
faced raids from northern First Nations' groups, they used what came to be known as the Sunnyside area as access to a fort built in the 1830s on what is now the Ocean Park bluffs.
The Semiahmoo also used a route across the Sunnyside area of South Surrey
South Surrey
South Surrey is a neighborhood of Surrey, British Columbia. It borders on the city of White Rock, and at 10,535 people, South Surrey has the largest concentration of persons over the age of 60 of all Surrey's town centres...
to cross the ridge between the Campbell River to the south and Mud Bay to the north, where the Nicomekl and Serpentine were. By 1890 this was called the Semiahmoo Trail.
The Telegraph Trail was built along this route in 1865 meant as part of a telegraph linkage from the mainland-USA through Alaska and Siberia to Europe. The line reached New Westminster from the USA in June 1865. It also provided access from the Nicomekl River a few miles north, to the Boundary Commission Camp located at the mouth of the Little Campbell River at the Canada/United States border. The Boundary Commission Camp had been established in 1858.
The Semiahmoo Wagon Road was built atop the trail in 1872-4 to connect the Fraser River to the north with Blaine, Washington, to the south. In 1878, stage service on the Semiahmoo Trail increased to twice weekly, between Brown’s Landing and the border to the south. In 1882 the Canadian Customs Department established the first near-border facility, an “out-port” customs office at Elgin north of the Sunnyside area. This was located where the Semiahmoo Trail met the Nicomekl River and operated until 1891. When the railway was relocated to Hazelmere to the east of Sunnyside, the land crossing at Douglas, B.C./Blaine, Washington, became the main customs area.
Led by then Alderman Garry Watkins, in 1977 the (then) District of Surrey proclaimed it a Designated Heritage site. South of 24th Avenue, the present trail deviates slightly from the original route, but on 148 Street there is a specially constructed "Semiahmoo Trail" pedestrian overpass keeping the trail intact.
European homesteading and road building
James Crutchley homesteaded 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) in 1894 at what is now the corner of Sunnyside Road (24th Avenue) and the Coast Meridian Road. William B. Stokes settled in 1913 near where the present 20th Avenue (Stokes Road) crosses the Semiahmoo Trail. In 1917 Apex Logging operated between Sunnyside Road and Stokes Road near the old Pacific Coast Highway.In 1918, there was still land available for pre-emption in the Sunnyside area and John Holttum chose a site west of what became Stayte Road (160 Street), along Oliver Road (28 Avenue).
The social focus, after the early 1920s, was Hazelmere Hall, built by the volunteer labour of local residents on land donated by carpenter Ernest Hamel. Residents recall parties at the hall, dancing to the music of pianist Andy Westland and his orchestra.
In 1927 what was to become the King George Highway was built through the area. Construction Camp 205 was situated at Sunnyside Road and worked southeast to the Peace Arch
Peace Arch
The Peace Arch is a monument situated on the Canada – United States border between the communities of Blaine, Washington and Surrey, British Columbia. The Peace Arch, which stands...
from there. A building from Camp 206 was moved to what is now 24th Avenue and 156th Street to serve as the Sunnyside Hall on land donated by George Cook. Sunnyside United Church
United Church of Canada
The United Church of Canada is a Protestant Christian denomination in Canada. It is the largest Protestant church and, after the Roman Catholic Church, the second-largest Christian church in Canada...
held its first service in 1949 in the Sunnyside Hall.
In 1958 the City of White Rock
White Rock, British Columbia
White Rock is a city in British Columbia, Canada, that lies within the Metro Vancouver regional district. It borders Semiahmoo Bay and is surrounded on three sides by the City of Surrey, British Columbia. To the south lies the Semiahmoo First Nation, which is within the city limits of Surrey...
seceded from the District of Surrey and the effect was immediately felt in the Sunnyside area. The White Rock-Sunnyside Fire Department hall #13 relocated from what is now the corner of 16th Avenue and 152nd Street (the new municipal border) up to Sunnyside Road (24th Avenue) in the 15300 block. This became known as the Sunnyside Fire Department.
In 1962 the present route of Highway #99 bisected the Sunnyside area, running from 8th Avenue in South Surrey, along the north side of Mud Bay, to the North Arm of the Fraser River. The opening of the Massey Tunnel on Highway #99 in 1962 and the Alex Fraser Bridge
Alex Fraser Bridge
The Alex Fraser Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge over the Fraser River and connects Richmond and New Westminster with North Delta in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia. The bridge is named for Alex Fraser, a former B.C...
in 1986 enabled access to centres north of the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
and in turn initiated suburban housing booms in the Sunnyside area which are still underway.
Sunnyside Acres Urban Forest
The Sunnyside Acres Urban Forest is a 130 acre (0.5260918 km²) second growth forest bounded on the east by 148th Street and bisected by 24th Avenue. The southern boundary is 20th Avenue and the forest's western limit is 140th street to 24th Avenue. It was created in 1988 by city by-law.The Sunnyside Acres Heritage Society arranges guided tours of the many trails some of which are wheelchair accessible. At the south end are large softball diamands and a hockey rink where the Surrey Eagles junior team plays.
Geography
Sunnyside is located centrally on the uplands and mainly towards the plateau and south slope of the Semiahmoo Peninsula. Sunnyside borders the neighbourhoods of Crescent Beach and Ocean ParkOcean Park (Surrey)
-Pre-colonial:Ocean Park was part of the territory of the Semiahmoo people, one of a group of tribes called the Straits Salish, a division of the Coast Salish....
to the west, the city of White Rock
White Rock, British Columbia
White Rock is a city in British Columbia, Canada, that lies within the Metro Vancouver regional district. It borders Semiahmoo Bay and is surrounded on three sides by the City of Surrey, British Columbia. To the south lies the Semiahmoo First Nation, which is within the city limits of Surrey...
to the south, the historic areas of Elgin and Mud Bay to the north and the new commercial retail area of Grandview Heights to the east. King George Highway (Highway #99A) bisects the eastern part of the area from the northwest to southeast as it runs to the United States border.
Economy
Logging came to the South SurreySouth Surrey
South Surrey is a neighborhood of Surrey, British Columbia. It borders on the city of White Rock, and at 10,535 people, South Surrey has the largest concentration of persons over the age of 60 of all Surrey's town centres...
region in 1886 after the Gilley borthers had opened their mill at Elgin in 1885. The brothers were the first to use horses for the tranportation of logs, sometimes using 24-horse teams. Up until then hand-logging with oxen was typical. From 1887-1889 a railway spur line for Royal City Planing Mills came into the Sunnyside area from the east, and from 1917-1920 a spur line came in from Crescent Beach. Skid roads were used to run logs down to the Serpentine, Nicomekl, and Campbell Rivers by horse team. By 1904 the best and most accessible timber was exhausted.
In May 1890 a post office opened, with J.A. Cartheau serving as postmaster. It closed in 1891, after the New Westminster and Southern Railway commenced operation, providing direct service to a series of stations along the line.
In 1964 the Surrey Bus Service operated out of a depot at 24th and King George Highway. This included local bus service as well as into Vancouver. In 1974 the company merged with BC Transit.
Though now mainly residential, Sunnyside has a growing retail and business sector. In the late 1980s the Semiahmoo Mall was opened on the north side of North Bluff Road at Johnson Road (16th Avenue and 152nd Street) and in 1990 a shopping centre was located at Peninsula Village on 24th Avenue. First-run movie theatres are at 24th and King George Highway.
In 2008 a massive residential and commercial development took place centred at the corner of 160th Street and 24th Avenue. It is named "Grandview Corners", but is however in an area traditionally known as Sunnyside.
Cemeteries
The City of Surrey owns and operates the Sunnyside Lawn Cemetery at 28th Avenue at the 14800 block.Churches / Worship
- Peace Portal Alliance Church
- Sunnyside United Church
- Life Church / White Rock Christian Fellowship
- Mt. Olive Lutheran Church
- Jehovah's Witness Kingdom Hall
- Gracepoint Community Church
- Star of the Sea Catholic Church
- St. Mark's Anglican Church
- Unity of the Valley (of White Rock)
- White Rock / South Surrey Jewish Community Centre
Schools
The first school was Elgin School located from 1921-1984 at 3530 144th Street. Sunnyside Elementary opened in 1949 at the corner of Johnson Road (152nd Street) and Oliver (near King George Highway). Jessie Lee Elementary opened in 1974.Present day schools
- Elgin Park High (1993)
- Semiahmoo High (1940)
- Earl Marriott High (1973)
- Southridge (private)
- White Rock Christian Academy
- Sunnyside Elementary (1949)
- Semiahmoo Trail Elementary (1996)
- Jessie Lee Elementary (1974)
- Chantrell Creek Elementary (1992)
Links
- South SurreySouth SurreySouth Surrey is a neighborhood of Surrey, British Columbia. It borders on the city of White Rock, and at 10,535 people, South Surrey has the largest concentration of persons over the age of 60 of all Surrey's town centres...
- Ocean ParkOcean Park (Surrey)-Pre-colonial:Ocean Park was part of the territory of the Semiahmoo people, one of a group of tribes called the Straits Salish, a division of the Coast Salish....
- SurreySurrey, British ColumbiaSurrey is a city in the province of British Columbia, Canada. It is a member municipality of Metro Vancouver, the governing body of the Greater Vancouver Regional District...