From October 1 to 31, come meet our twin scarecrows, Vinny and Winnie, at the Steveston Tram.
These 1930s-inspired characters are on display inside the museum, beside historic Tram Car 1220, bringing childhood memories of Richmond’s tram days to life.
Growing Up in Richmond
In the early 1900s, Richmond was home to farming families, fishers, boatbuilders, cannery workers, and shopkeepers. For their children, a ride on the tram to Vancouver was a big adventure—part excitement, part nerves.
One story many visitors share is about crossing the wooden Marpole Trestle bridge. The tram swayed and rattled high above the rushing Fraser River, and with no guide rails in the middle bridge, children peering out the windows often felt both thrilled and terrified.
City of Richmond Archives Photograph 1999 4 3 1353
School Days on the Tram
As the community grew, so did the tram’s role in everyday life. In 1952, when Richmond Junior and Secondary School was relocated near Brighouse Station, the tram station’s platform was even lengthened to fit the crowds of students. One local remembers how noisy the school student trams were—so much so that adults avoided them whenever they could!
Small Adventures Along the Tracks
The stations and rail lines themselves offered their own kind of childhood fun. Some platforms were raised, and coins often slipped through the cracks as passengers hurried, digging through their pockets for change. Children like Vinny and Winnie would hunt for those lost treasures on the ground underneath the platforms.
Other children laid bottle caps on the rails, waiting for the passing tram to flatten them. And on rare occasions, a lucky penny found under a platform might be set on the tracks too. Of course, a penny was precious—enough to buy 10 candies from Mukai Confectionary in Steveston!
Photo credit: City of Richmond Archives Photograph # RCF 272.
Join the Scarecrow Crawl
Vinny and Winnie are just two of the many scarecrows you will find around Steveston Village this October. The Steveston Scarecrow Crawl runs from October 1–31, with local businesses and sites creating their own unique displays. Be sure to stop by the Steveston Tram to meet our twins and snap a photo on your scarecrow adventure!
For more information on the Steveston Scarecrow Crawl, visit their Facebook page here.
