BEKINS

Bekins Moving and Storage was the first company to specialize in moving household goods. In 1903, it was also the first to introduce covered moving vans and motor trucks to the west coast. The original fleet consisted of two trucks powered by two-cylinder, air-cooled engines. By the end of WWI, Bekins had disposed of its last horse drawn van. Bekins also built the first reinforced steel and concrete warehouse, for the fireproof storing household goods and acknowledging the importance they took in protecting clients belongings... Also in 1903, Daniel Bekins, the youngest of the Sjoerd Bekius clan, expanded the family operation to Seattle, establishing Bekins Northwest. Daniel went on to establish, in 1924, the first Canadian Bekins in Vancouver, BC. He purchased what was later to be known as "The Sun Building", at Pender and Beatty. It was an impressive structure, as well as the tallest building in the British Commonwealth when it was built in 1913. By the early 1930's, Daniel had..