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P02047 – The Spencer Farm as it looked when purchased at the end of the 1950’s.

P02041 – The Spencer farm’s milk house in use as the Fair office in the early 1960’s.

Spencer Farm

David Spencer, founder and operator of the department store known as “Spencer’s” in Vancouver, bought land in Albion in 1919. He purchased 400 acres in all, a large amount even by that day’s standards, which extended north from River Road and east from Kanaka Creek. This land was part of the original homestead of Samuel Robertson.

David's son, Col. Victor Spencer, started a dairy farm on the property in 1920, complete with 150 Jersey cows. Some of the cows even came straight from the island of Jersey! These cows made an impact in the Lower Mainland, as reported by the Gazette in an August 1924 article: “Spencer’s Jerseys made a very fine showing at the Vancouver Fair. The most important wins were first on the bull, first on two heifers, first and junior championship and a silver cup for the best exhibitor’s herd. Cyril Dodwell, well known to Albion was very much in evidence, and acted as junior herdsmen for Spencer’s Jerseys, and is now at Victoria with the herd.”

The farm served as a drop off point for beef cattle from the Prairies. At one time, there was a slaughterhouse just south of where the Lougheed Highway now crosses Kanaka Creek.

By 1926 the business had grown so much that Spencer added a small home to the property. The Gazette noted that “rumor has it that one of the employees is to occupy the house.”

In January of 1927, the Spencer farm had an open house, and the Gazette newspaper wrote that the two hundred people in attendance were treated to a “demonstration thoroughly practical and an entire success and covered the two great aspects, production and marketing.”

In 1932, the farm was sold to the Associated Dairies who continued to use it as a dairy farm, and added hogs and turkeys as well.

Later on in 1959, the District of Maple Ridge purchased the farm and traded it to the Agricultural Association in exchange for the Aggie Grounds in the downtown core. The Agricultural Association was happy to have so much more space, including the largest single barn building available for fairs in the valley, and used it for the Agricultural Fair. The land at this point was no longer being farmed.

The barn remained in use until 1974. At that time, it was torn down and replaced with a new barn that was similar in size. The fairgrounds are still owned by the District of Maple Ridge and are used for community events and recreation services as well as the annual Fair that is more than 100 years old now.

The only original building remaining from the Spencer Farm is the milk house.

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