The
completion of the Great Northern’s coastal line marked
the beginnings of the resort communities of White
Rock and Crescent Beach. Easy access, via the railway
to the wide expanse of beach encouraged growing numbers
of New Westminster and Vancouver residents to acquire
summer cottages in the communities. The rapid growth
of each of these centers was also dependent to some
extend on expanding local logging and milling operations.
White
Rock History marks its beginnings from the opening of
the seashore rail line, and the Dominion Government’s
designating White Rock as a port of entry for customs
and immigration purposes in 1908. In 1910 a New Westminster
syndicate took over the original townsite and began
the promotion and sale of lots. The rapid expansion
of summer cottages on small lots along the slopes
and beach frontage of Semiahmoo Bay reached a peak
in 1911.
Development was centered on the area immediately behind
the Great Northern Station which in 1910 was located
at the foot of Oxford Street, but by 1913 the present
station about one-quarter mile east of the original
one was completed.
The Fox and Hunter shingle mill began operating in
the vicinity of the present Marine Drive and High
Street. By 1911 a number of prominent Vancouver and
New Westminster people had established summer cottages
about the core. 1912 saw the opening of the fifty-room
White Rock Hotel located on the hill east of the community
core.
The communities second hotel was constructed in 1914
opposite the Great Northern Station. It was destroyed
by fire in January 1931. White Rock had its present
pier built with Federal funds and it was officially
opened on November 14, 1914. It was built to provide
a deep-water wharf facility, and extended 1,616 feet
from shore. However, its primary function was, then
as it is now, to serve as a tourist facility for pleasure
boats, for a promenade, and for fishing and swimming.
Since its construction it has acted as the focus for
White Rock’s summer tourist activities.
In 1913 the construction of the Campbell River Mill
caused another mild land boom in the east end of White
Rock in the area north and west of the mouth of the
Little Campbell River. The building boom resulted
in the creation of a second focus of community activity.
The opening of Pacific Highway brought improved road
access and in the 1920s the area between the East
and West developed areas - Balmers’ Beach (East Beach)
- developed as tourism increased. Access via the newly
cemented Pacific Highway brought many more summer
tourists and seasonal residents.
White Rock continued to grow both as a summer
resort and as a permanent residential area. The creation
of the White Rock Water Works in 1913 and the provision
of electric power in 1915 from the Campbell River
Mill greatly influenced the attraction of more year-round
residents. The development of private summer cottages
on small lots along the slopes and beach frontage
of Semiahmoo Bay characterized White Rock in the late
1920s and early 1930s. It was during this period that
the community's resort role was firmly established.
The closure of the Campbell River Mill in 1927 brought
a great change to the community. The population dwindled
to about 400 permanent residents and many homes were
left vacant as mill workers and their families moved
out. The Great Depression brought even more difficult
times to the resort community.
The 1930s saw people migrating to the west coast from
the prairie provinces, where the general depression
was made worse by drought conditions and repeated
crop failures. Many of these prairie people came to
White Rock where inexpensive and available housing
made the community an attractive haven.
By 1937 the permanent population had increased to
about 1,000. Many summer cottages had thus become
permanent homes. The number of summer homes had continued
to decline, until they now form a very small percentage
of the community’s dwellings.
The improvement of roads and the widespread adoption
of the automobile have been responsible for White
Rock’s resort role changing to a day-use or at best
a weekend summer recreation role. The community is
now only thirty to forty-five minutes from the metropolitan
core and has emerged as a residential and retirement
community. With the expected population growth of
the Lower Mainland, there will be greatly increased
demands on White Rock’s beaches and other recreation
facilities.
In the 1950’s the rapid growth of North Surrey saw
the District increase its spending in that region
to provide basic amenities. The White Rock area felt
that it was being neglected in favor of the burgeoning
north, and by special Provincial warrant the City
of White Rock was created on April 15th, 1957.
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