John's Barber Shop

The heritage value of John's Barber Shop is associated with the continuing twentieth century development of downtown Port Moody, the historic area of commercial and institutional buildings located near the conjunction of the railway and the working waterfront. The consistent and distinctive built form of the area dates from the time when Port Moody was developing rapidly as a mill town and Clarke Street was its commercial centre. This building is an important component of the Clarke Street historic grouping and a good example of modest Port Moody vernacular architecture. Built in 1947, it reflects the returning prosperity of the post-Second World War era. The building cribs 2335 Clarke Street, sharing a party wall between the two structures, indicating the expedient way in which vernacular structures were often constructed.

Additionally, the site is valued as a representation of a humble barber shop. This site and the adjacent property to the east were originally owned by Peter Onesima Bilodeau (1851-1940), a well known New Westminster hotelier. Bilodeau built the adjacent building at 2335 Clarke Street in 1923, and subdivided this lot five years later. It was left vacant until 1947, when it was purchased by Edward Ernest Arnell (1891-1963), who built this modest structure as a barber shop with living quarters at the rear of the building. John Bédard soon took over the business, which he operated until 1999. The long-term existence of this barber shop, and the beauty salon in the adjacent building, indicate the preferred location for local services on Clarke Street even after the shift of the main business district to St. Johns Street.