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One Man's Passion - Chapter 1 - Hoffmann Family History
2011
Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, Canada


Credits:
Graphic by Jennifer Chernecki

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Ladilause Hoffmann, his wife Emilie, and children Elfrieda and Hans arrived in British Columbia in 1918, having left a farm in Grandview, Manitoba to start orcharding in Aldergrove. It was in Aldergrove that Han's interest in tools began and his father built him his first wooden tool box and filled it with old broken wrenches. Eventually both Hoffmann children would board away from home at high schools further west in the lower mainland, and for Hans this was the Trapp Technical High School in New Westminster. Hans excelled at technical school and after finishing his studies he returned to Aldergrove where it quickly became apparent life on a farm or orchard was not for him and his father began to look around for a suitable business venture. They found one in Pitt Meadows in the form of the Fairfield garage and blacksmith business and eventually worked a trade with Jack Fairfield - their orchard for his shop. In 1934 the deal was completed and the Hoffmann family arrived on April 1st of that year.

With the country five years into a world wide depression, business was very slow for the Hoffmann family during their first year in Pitt Meadows. Living off small jobs the family made it through their first winter in the community. By 1935 they were building a reputation and were soon handling machinery repairs for many of the local farms and industries. Hans was also building machinery from scratch for customers whose equipment he could no longer repair. Business was successful enough that in 1936 Hans and his father constructed the new Hoffmann and Son building on their site by building the structure over the old Fairfield shop and tearing it down from inside. The 1936 building is the structure that still occupies the site today and is part of the Pitt Meadows Museum and Archives.

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The Hoffmann family - Laddie, Emilie, Frieda, and Hans.
Circa 1920
Aldergrove, British Columbia, Canada

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Family portrait of the Hoffmann family in Silver Creek.
Circa 1940
Silver Creek, British Columbia, Canada

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All four members of the Hoffmann family enjoying ice cream cones.
Circa 1940

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Laddie Hoffmann outside the Hoffmann and Son shop at 12277 Harris Road in Pitt Meadows, B.C.
Circa 1950
Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, Canada


Credits:
Photograph taken by the Hoffmann family

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The Hoffmann family home, built in 1942, still stands today on Harris Road in Pitt Meadows.
Circa 1942
Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, Canada


Credits:
Photograph taken by Hoffmann family

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The Hoffmann and Son shop sign that graced Harris Road for so many years.
Circa 1940
Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, Canada


Credits:
Photograph taken by Joanna Karczmarek