There's a new addition at Ladner Harbour Park and it's honouring a piece of Delta's past.
Last week, the Corporation of Delta moved the historic Nesbitt House from its location on River Road in North Delta to the waterfront park where it will be restored and used as a caretaker's residence. "Conserving and protecting Delta's heritage not only commemorates Delta's history, but reaffirms our sense of community," said Mayor Lois Jackson. "We're extremely happy that we are able to preserve this iconic building while restoring its usefulness and retaining its connection to the Fraser."
The home, which dates back to 1939, was built by the Glenrose Cannery for the company's bookkeeper, Richard Nesbitt.
It remained the property of the cannery until 1946 when Johnston Fishing and Packing, the successor of Glenrose, subdivided the land and sold the home to Nesbitt and his wife Phyllis.
According to the Corporation of Delta, the bungalow is also significant because it stands
as an example of vernacular residential architecture during the inter-war era, which was a transitional period between the popularity of the period revival styles of the 1920s and the emerging modernism of the 1930s.
The home is recognized on Delta's Heritage Register and the Canadian Register of Historic Places.
The property was acquired by the provincial government during construction of the South Fraser Perimeter Road, but could not be maintained at its original location due to conflicts with the new highway.
It was relocated in 2013 and placed on a temporary foundation.
Initially the province had committed to restoring and selling the home, however, earlier this year the government became aware that Delta was looking to replace the aging caretaker's residence at the park and offered Nesbitt House to the municipality at no cost.
The province paid to transport the house to Ladner Harbour Park and will undertake restoration of the residence at its new location.
