Record Newspaper Office

Description:

The Record Office is a single storey wood frame building, situated along the strip of shops on the north side of First Avenue between James and Grand Street. The building has a flat front with a flush door and two large display windows.

History:

The current Record Office building is the third to be erected for this newspaper. The first local newspaper “Mission City News’ was financed by the Board of Trade, with editor Henry Howells reporting and expressing local views beginning in 1894.

In 1908, the “Fraser Valley Record” was launched by editor John Bates. The first building was a small twelve foot by twelve-foot structure in the bush near the CPR right of way near Horne Street and Railway Avenue. The newspaper was eventually moved to a much larger site which was located on First Ave between James St. and Welton St. In 1940, on the newspaper’s 32nd birthday, the building in which it currently resides was completed and the business moved for the last time.

For the first six years in this building, the newspaper shared the space with the legal office of James A. Campbell but after he moved the business acquired the entire property. It remained unchanged until 1948 when the front was altered for the installation of new printing machines. The alterations changed the door from being inset to flush with the exterior wall and made the inside offices larger. Further space was allowed for the Fraser Valley Record in 1950 when more excavation into the hillside made way for a sixty-foot extension into the lane at the rear.

The name of the paper changed in 1996 to the Mission City Record reflecting its principle community. It has been known under its current name, the Mission Record, since April 21, 2005.

The building received smoke damage in 2007 when the adjoining Mission Bowling Alley and Syd’s Bar burned down next door.

In 2008, the Record celebrated its 100th Anniversary with a special edition of the newspaper, an open house and exhibit (which is now at the Mission Community Archives).

People Associated with the Site:

The paper has had a long list of both editors and owners, starting with John Bates. Bates was the founder and editor (1908-1924) of the first Fraser Valley Record. His outspoken views on local issues made the paper an entertaining read and may have coined the title, “Home of the Big Red Strawberry”. In 1924 R.D. Cumming became the proprietor for two decades until Lang Sands bought the paper in 1944. He was also the owner of other regional newspapers, including Abbotsford, Sumas and Matsqui News. Liverpool Daily Post & Echo (Holdings) Ltd. bought the paper from Sands in 1962, adding it to their own collection of papers that included the Chilliwack Progress and another newly acquired paper, Abbotsford, Sumas, and Matsqui News. Currently, the newspaper, as well as the site, belong to the Black Press Community News Media company.

Bates, Cumming, and Sands not only owned the paper but also worked as the editor for at least some part of their time as proprietor. L.W. Cumming also served as the editor from 1938-1944 while the paper was in the family. Lang Sands continued as managing editor for a couple of years after he sold the paper, finally being replaced by John Evans in 1964. Evans remained editor for over thirty years until 1996. Kevin Mills has been the current editor since 2015.

Some other staff included Wilf S. Kerry, a member of composing room staff for nearly thirty years and retired in 1982, and Jack Reid, who was the foreman of the back shop for six years until 1955. R.P. Wardrop and Charles Cade worked on altercations to the building in 1948.

Architectural Features:

The current building stands out as an example of early small-town architecture. It was originally 25 feet by 50 feet and built using concrete. One storey building is wood frame, finished in stucco.

Where to get further information:

The Mission Community Archives

Community Reference File 250.20.17 FVR-Business
File 653.20.1 Mission City News
File 653.20.2 Fraser Valley Record
File 653.20.3 Mission City Record
The Archives maintains a collection of old newspapers from 1908 onwards
Fraser Valley Record. October 7, 1948. “Changed Front Constructed for Record Office”
FVR. October 11, 1967. “The Record to mark 60th Anniversary”

FVR. June 21, 1978. “The Record Celebrates 70th Anniversary Sunday”

Mission City Record