The BC Museum of Mining is actively ensuring the preservation of some local history. The last remaining house (referred to as house #122) that pre-dates the catastrophic flood 1921 was moved to make way for a modern road.
Throughout the early part of the 20th century, Britannia Beach flourished as a company town. In the early years, fewer than 100 families lived at Britannia Beach in houses exactly the same to the one that was moved. The 'Company' kept their town small so that it could maintain autonomy from nearby Squamish.
Historic images in the Museum's archive show the distinctive houses before the 1921 flood, which took 37 lives and destroyed 50 homes. Until this week, despite years of change in Britannia Beach, this last remaining house from this era remained in its original location
House #122 is being moved to accommodate the new roadway being constructed by Britannia Bay Properties. While it is already desirable to keep the historic location, it is not always possible. The house now sits beside the last standing Mt. Sheer home, known as the Malm house, which was previously moved to save it from destruction.
Together these two modest miner's homes provide our visitors with an overview of life in this mining town. They are part of the 22 historic building that the Museum cares for. In the last five years the Museum has invested more than $200,000 of its own funds in the maintenance of these buildings.
Thanks are in order to Britannia Bay Properties for providing the means to move the House and Nickel Bros. for their expertise and care in moving a historic building. Together we have protected a piece of Sea to Sky history.
