Deer Lake History - Avalon Traditional Cache
Deer Lake History - Avalon
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Size: 
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"Avalon" is also known as the Hart Mansion
The Deer Lake History caches will take you on a tour of Burnaby’s most unique heritage area. The area between Deer Lake and Burnaby Lake was the first settlement in Burnaby in 1861 along the Douglas Road stagecoach road to New Westminster. In 1956 the City Hall was relocated to the area because it was the geographical centre of the city (finally ending the north/south debate). Since that time there has been an active process to acquire the lake and adjacent lands for the enjoyment of the community. All the properties in the tour are owned by the City of Burnaby. Some have public use, some are leased to organizations, one is leased as a private residence. There is fascinating history behind some of these buildings. A City of Burnaby walking tour brochure can be found HERE.
Some of the caches can be drive up and each can be found on their own, but to catch the true flavour of the Deer Lake area, I would suggest parking at Deer Lake Beach and doing the caches in the the following order, taking the roadway on the way out and returning to your car along the lakeshore trail:
Baldwin House
Eagle's Estate
Avalon
Altnadene
Fairacres
Deerholme
You may also wish to take some time to visit the Burnaby Village Museum which you will encounter on your way built on the Elworth grounds – another heritage property. It has a number of important historical buildings moved to the site as well as replica buildings of the1920's setting. It also houses two restoration projects spearheaded and completed by volunteers - the 1912 era 1223 Interurban tram car, and the beautiful 1912 C W Parker carousel formerly located at Playland at the PNE. The museum has free admission for 2012 while carousel rides are available for $2.30. The facility is open Victoria Day to Labour Day, then over the Christmas season.
About this Cache:
The original "Avalon" summer cottage in 1904 on the lakeshore 
The "Avalon" Hart House mansion shortly after completion in 1912
Kingsley & Florence Hart with friends exploring the woods on the South Side of Deer Lake 1908.
F.J. Hart was born on the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland and arrived in New Westminster in 1890. He formed his own real estate and insurance firm and was very active in Burnaby land sales. He purchased his estate “Avalon” in 1904 from the Woodward sisters who operated the post office and a private school nearby on Sperling Ave.
The Harts began using the estate as a summer retreat to escape from the hectic city life of New Westminster. Eventually they decided to make a permanent move to Deer Lake. He chose Burnaby architect Frank W. Macey to design the very large Tudor style mansion. Some features include the massive tower with mock battlements, cobblestone foundations and decorative half-timbering. Indoors features Douglas Fir paneling and there is a huge free standing sandstone fireplace.
The mansion was completed in 1912 with a reported cost of nearly $50,000. This idyllic lifestyle was not to last. In 1917 the Harts were devastated by the death of their son Kingsley in WWI who had signed up at the age of 16. They sold the mansion to Montaque and Ethel Moore who renamed it “Rosedale Gardens”. The Moores turned the grounds into a farm garden which was renowned in Canada and the US for the cultivation of irises and other bulbs as well as berry stock.
In the 1940s the estate was sold to the Baker family who renamed it “Deerfield”. The City of Burnaby acquired the 13 acre property in 1979. The building remained unoccupied being used occasionally as a film location until it was leased out as the Hart House Restaurant in 1988 which continues to operate today. The Moore’s gardens slowly disappeared as parts of the property were subdivided and sold off. Today the magnificent trees and the south field leading down to the lake remain – the latter being popular as a wedding venue.
Though renovated as an upscale restaurant, the inside of the home remains largely intact and displays many historical photographs of the property.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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