Springer, Benjamin

  • 1841 – 1898
  • •Was born in London, Ontario in 1841, studied civil engineering and went to California and the Cariboo looking for gold. 
  • •Eventually went to the small town of Granville (future Vancouver) in 1872 and by 1874 he was the bookkeeper for the Moodyville (future North Vancouver) sawmill. 
  • •He became the mill manager in 1882 until he resigned in 1887 to attend to his own business interests in Vancouver. While he was the mill manager, he got to live in The Big House, a British colonial style home with a widow’s walk on top. 
  • His business interests included a partnership Captain James Van Bramer in his steamship business, and as well as the Vancouver buildings they developed. One of the buildings they developed in 1888 was the Springer-Van Bramer block on West Cordova. Still standing today.
  • Great Grandson of United Empire Loyalist listed in Loyalist Directory: https://uelac.ca/loyalist-directory/detail/?wpda_search_column_id=7969
  • Find a GRAVE: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26267821/benjamin-springer