Robert James Banford was born in Chilliwack, May 15, 1875. "Bob" worked, in semi-retirement, until five years prior to his death at the age of 80, January 9, 1956. For nine years, during the early 1900s, he and his partner, Mr. William Barritt, ran a butcher shop. During his 20 years in the meat business Bob Banford also operated the City Meat Market for Pat Burns. In 1924, Banford became involved in the feed business and his first location was at the corner of Cheam Avenue and Young Street. An ad in the Chilliwack Progress in March 1924, announced the new location. "We are in a position now to supply you with feed of all kinds at lowest cash prices. Custom grinding done at $2.00 per ton. The store is located in the old evaporator building."
At the Banford feed store a full line of Vernon & Buckerfield's goods were handled and included that company's Diamond Brand Feeds. These feeds included chick starter, chick scratch, growing mash, pullet mash, laying meal, egg maker and other poultry necessities. The firm also carried seed grains, grass seeds, and fertilizers as well as dairy supplies. The firm advertised in the Chilliwack Progress March 29, 1928, P.9 that the same supplies could also be obtained at J. A. Burgess' Store in East Chilliwack.
In May 1928, Mr. Banford sold his business to Buckerfield's Ltd. Banford remained in the feed business and opened another flour and feed store in Sardis that he operated until the 1930s. On January 21, 1932, a fire completely destroyed the Banford feed mill and warehouse. Other adjoining buildings like the Community Hall and the Sardis B. C. Electric Railway Station had a narrow escape. The fire originated from a short circuit in the grinding machine that had been running steadily that day. The loss was estimated at $6200.00.
Although, Buckerfield's bought Banford's business the new company leased the property. E. Buckerfield and Fred Vernon founded the Buckerfield's organization in 1919. In 1926, Buckerfield bought out Vernon and incorporated Buckerfield's Ltd. The company was well known among Fraser Valley farmers. Prior to Buckerfields' move to Chilliwack the Vancouver company built a modern mill purely for the production of its Diamond Brand Feeds.
Suggestions for a new Buckerfield's building were made in August 1945. The Todd Construction Co. was the contractor for the $40,000.00 building. The building included a modern air-conditioned office and showroom measuring 80' by 200', and a warehouse that measured 32' x 42' and 65 feet high. Included with the building were fifteen bins with a total capacity of 700 tons of bulk grain. The B. C. Electric Railway brought shipment straight to the bins via the railway spur that had been put in when the Chilliwack Cannery was still in operation. Special devices were constructed for elevating the supplies into the bins. At first, the plan had been to use local lumber for the building but due to forest fires in the region, the lumber had to be brought in from Vancouver. Local men did all the construction of the building that was completed by mid-October 1945.
Buckerfield's remained in Chilliwack until April 30, 1998 when the business was destroyed by fire. The company did not wish to rebuild. Instead, privately owned local companies continue to sell Buckerfield's brand feed.
Buckerfields as it appeared at the corner of Cheam and Young. P6903