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Online Heritage Inventory

Brighouse Lacrosse Box

General Information
Thumbnail photograph of Brighouse Lacrosse Box
Click to see full image
Type of Resource: Artifact
Common Name: Brighouse Lacrosse Box
Address: 7800 Granville Avenue
Neighbourhood (Planning Area Name): City Centre
Construction Date: Original in the 1920’s.
Current Owner: Municipal Government
Designated: No

Statement of Significance
Description of Site
The currently existing Brighouse Lacrosse Box is a rectangular structure surrounded by a low concrete wall, a concrete floor, floodlighting and two long rows of wooden bleachers. Surrounding the Box in its setting of Brighouse are a row of mature chestnut trees and a fence, which divide the park area from a residential area, the Brighouse Park Pavilion, mature trees and formal landscaping.

 Statement of Values
The primary heritage value of the Lacrosse Box is its representation of the first lacrosse teams organized in Richmond, possibly as early as 1910. This significant community tradition was emphasized by the fact that the land, construction materials and necessary funding for the original Box were donated by various community organizations.
The sport of lacrosse has been a popular and important sport in the City of Richmond since the beginning of the twentieth century, and the City retains its role as a major centre of box lacrosse in British Columbia. Many of Richmond’s well-known early pioneers played lacrosse at the Brighouse Box.

 Character Defining Elements
Key elements that define the heritage character of the site include:
• The symbolism and associations related to the history and importance of lacrosse in Richmond as represented by the presence of a lacrosse box in Brighouse Park, where one has stood for almost a century.

 History
The currently existing Brighouse Lacrosse Box is a rectangular structure surrounded by a low concrete wall, a concrete floor, floodlighting and two long rows of wooden bleachers. Surrounding the Box in its setting of Brighouse are a row of mature chestnut trees and a fence, which divide the park area from a residential area, the Brighouse Park Pavilion, mature trees and formal landscaping.

 Architectural Significance
Architectural Style
Sports Structure.

 Design Features
The Lacrosse Box is a predominantly concrete structure topped with a high chain link fence, which is higher at either goal end. The concrete base is faced on the interior and on the top with plywood painted green. The “flooring” is also concrete and is painted with white lacrosse lines. Two team boxes are built into the west side and consist of a stepped-up concrete floor, simple wood benches and wood-faced concrete half walls.
Three very tall light standards line each of the west and east sides of the Box to allow for night games. Two sets of wide, double doors allow entry and exit to the Box for teams and equipment. These are located at the north and the south-east ends. The ground gently slopes up on the east side to accommodate the bleachers.

 Landscape Significance
(No information available)

 Integrity
Alterations
The original box was demolished and replaced with a different version of a lacrosse box. It is not an exact replication.

 Original Location
Yes

 Condition
Good condition.

 Lost
No

 Documentation
Evaluated By
Julie MacDonald (Julie MacDonald Heritage Consulting)

 Date
Tuesday, February 15, 2000

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