Whalley's Corner
Did you know that Whalley, now officially named Surrey City Centre, was originally named after Arthur Whalley of Whalley’s Corner?1
Before Whalley’s Corner: The Early 1920s
Arthur Whalley used to live in Cloverdale before he moved further north towards New Westminster in the early 1920s. He did so not only to take advantage of the newly paved Pacific Highway, but also to avoid the police in the area. He was a bootlegger, so by moving further away from Cloverdale, he gave himself more time to hide his goods from the police.1
The triangular plot of land he moved to was where Grosvenor and Ferguson Road met at King George Highway, which is now where King George Boulevard meets 108 Avenue. Arthur Whalley and his family spent their first winter on the land in tents amidst the bushes and wildlife. At the time, there were only a few other families in the area. After Arthur and his family moved to the area, settlement in the area grew significantly.2 A man named Tom Binnie moved into the area after Mr. Whalley and established a real estate office, ultimately contributing to much of the commercial growth in the area as well.2
The Opening of Whalley’s Corner: 1925
In 1925, Whalley opened a gas station and store at the top of Peterson Hill. At the time of Whalley opening his gas station, many other gas stations were also opening along the Pacific Highway which is now King George Highway.
Empire Junction
Near the white house, various businesses opened. Pacific Stage Lines, a stagecoach company, had a stop at the junction. The stop was called “Empire Junction.” It was one of the main ways locals travelled from Surrey to New Westminster and Vancouver. Surrey, especially the Whalley area, was a growing district. For a while, people would have to travel outside of Surrey to do their shopping or to visit family.
Whalley’s Corner Keeps Growing: 1926
In the summer of 1926, Whalley added an auto part and refreshment pavilion to his gas station, making it the perfect place for tourists coming up the Pacific Highway to visit. There was no fee to visit the park, although visitors could buy refreshments such as ice cream, soft drinks, and light lunches to enjoy at the picnic tables.4 Whalley had also planned on adding a tennis court and playground to his park.4
His business was bustling with customers. Pacific Stage Lines even added a stop near his business, which was significant as it was the main stagecoach service that took people from Surrey to New Westminster and Vancouver. The area became known as “Whalley’s Corner.” They say that if Arthur Whalley saw you, he would joyfully toot his donkey engine whistle. If one didn’t hear the welcome whistle, they would feel they had offended Arthur.5
It All Falls Down: 1932
In the summer of 1932, Whalley’s Gas Station was burnt down in a fire.5 Fortunately, they were able to rebuild it and the gas station was completed that same year in the fall.6
Whalley’s Corner Becomes a Community: 1948
In 1948, merchants around Whalley’s corner wanted a new name for the area. A contest was held to choose a name, with a cash prize of $50 to whoever picked the winning name.6 Around 1500 entries were submitted, some even coming from as far as America, giving the area a lot of publicity.7 Eventually, a group of local businessmen narrowed down the list of names, and Whalley and Walley were the two finalists.7 A woman named Naomi Chambers had submitted the name Whalley, and as we all know, the name Whalley was chosen to be the district name.7
Present Day
Residents still come together to celebrate the history of the area in the Whalley’s Corner Community Festival. The festival gives local businesses and vendors the opportunity to appreciate the past, and celebrate the present and future of the area.
Although the downtown Surrey area is now officially named “Surrey City Centre,” it is clear the Whalley name lives on in the hearts of many Surrey residents.
Footnotes
1 R. Prince, ‘Whalley Triumphant’, The Surrey Leader,> 1991, pp. 15.
2 ‘G. Fern Treleaven, The Surrey Story, 1974, Surrey Historical Society.
4‘Whalley Name Still Lives On’, The Messenger, 1978, para. 4.
5 ‘South Westminster News’, The Surrey Leader, 1932.
6‘Welcome to the Surrey Inn’, The Surrey Leader, 1974, pp. 4.
7 ‘Not Walley… Whalley’ , Opposite the City, 2014, (accessed August 12, 2012).