North Quadra

Chester Lea Farm, later referred to as Rogers Farm, was farmed by the same family for most of the 20th century. The Rogers family has seen a great deal of living on their farm.

The Rogers' story begins when George Rogers, Sr. moved to Canada from England in 1885. Even the train trip to Vancouver was somewhat of an event, for the young George was among those who formed the passenger list of one of the very first trains to cross Canada.

George Rogers, Sr. , with a background of farming and milling, was ready to buy his own land in 1898. After a bit of looking around, he found what he wanted in Alderley Farm, previously farmed by the Vanalman Family. Alderley Farm house stood on Agnes Road, and the land - all 255 acres of it - stretched from Agnes right down to Quadra Street.

In the early days, a lot of the land on Alderley Farm was uncleared bush, and Chinese labor was brought in to cut and clear the land. The Chinese labourers who helped on Alderley Farm were men who had worked on the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway through the Rockies and the Fraser Canyon. For many years the farm known as Alderley grew and prospered. However, that same farm is known over the years as Chester Lea Farm.

In 1925, the present farmhouse was built on Rogers Avenue. Here, George lived with his children and his wife, Genevieve. Milk was produced at Alderley Dairy from 1920 until 1958, when the operation closed down.

The Rogers family has certainly left its mark on the area. Lily Avenue named after George's mother; Genevieve after his wife; Chesterlea after the farm; and, of course, Rogers Avenue after the whole family.

 

 

 

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