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Members’ dues for the year 1987/88 were paid by the following Members Societies:
Alberni District Historical Society, Box 284, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 7M7 Atlin Historical Society, P0. Box 111, Atlin, B.C. VOWlAO BCHF - Gulf Island Branch, do Marian Worrall, Mayne Island, VON2J0 BCHF - Victoria Section, do Charlene Rees, 2 - 224 Superior Street, Victoria, B.C. V8V 1T3 Burnaby Historical Society, 5406 Manor Street, Burnaby, B.C. V5G 1B7 Chemainus Valley Historical, P0. Box 172, Chemainus, B.C. VOR 1KO Cowichan Historical Society, PC. Box 1014, Duncan, B.C. V9L 3Y2 District 69 Historical Society, PC. Box 3014, Parksville, B.C. VOR2S0 East Kootenay Historical Association, P0. Box 74, Cranbrook, B.C. Vi C 4H6 Fraser Lake Historical Society, PG. Box 57, Fraser Lake, B.C. vo iSO Galiano Historical and Cultural Society, P0. Box 10, Galiano, B.C. VONIPO Golden & District Historical Society, Box 992, Golden, B.C. VOA1HO Ladysmith Historical Society, Box 11, Ladysmith, B.C. VOR2EO Lantzville Historical Society, do Susan Crayston, Box 76, Lantzville, B.C. VOR2H0 Mission Historical Society, 33201 2nd Avenue, Mission, B.C. V2V 1J9 Nanaimo Historical Society, P0. Box 933, Station ‘A’,Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 5N2 Nanooa Historical and Museum Society, R.R.1, Box 22, Marina Way, Nanoose Bay, B.C. VOR2R0 North Shore Historical Society, 623 East 10th Street, North Vancouver, B.C. V7L2E9 Princeton & District Pioneer Museum and Archives, Box 687, Princeton, B.C. voxiWO Qualicum Beach Historical & Museum Society, do Mrs. Cora Skipsey, P0. Box 352, Qualicum Beach, B.C. VOR2TO Saltspring Island Historical Society, PC. Box 705, Ganges, B.C. VOS 1EO Sidney and North Saanich Historical Society, PC. Box 2404, Sidney, B.C. V8L 3Y3 Silvery Slocal Historical Society, PC. Box 301, New Denver, B.C. VOG iSO TrailHistorical Society, P0. Box 405, Trail, B.C. Vi R 4L7 Valemont Historic Society, PC. Box 850, Valemount, B.C. VOE 2A0 Vancouver Historical Society, P0. Box 3071, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 3X6 AffilIated Groups B.C. Museum of Mining,P0. Box 155, Britannia Beach, B.C. VON1JO City of White Rock Museum Archives Society, 1030 Martin Street, White Rock, B.C. V4B 5E3 Fort Steele Heritage Park, Fort Steele, B.C. VOB1NO The Hallmark Society Society, 207 Government Street, Victoria, B.C. V8V 2KB Nanaimo Centennial Museum Society, 100 Cameron Road, Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2X1 Lasqueti Island Historical Society, Lasqueti Island, B.C. VOR2JO
Second Class registration number 4447 Published fall, winter, spring, and summer by the British Columbia Historical Federation, PC. Box 35326, Station E, Vancouver, B.C. V6M 4G5. A Charitable Society recognized under the Income Tax Act.
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Financially assIsted by the Government of British Columbia through the British Columbia Heritage Trust. British Columbia tion with your nervous new editor. Writers and potential contribu Historical News tors of articles are urged to keep a Volume 21, No. 4 flow of items coming over the edi tor’s desk. Those of you who Fall, 1988 “almost wrote” an article on one of the previous themes should dust off Journal of the B.C. Historical Federation your notes and typewriter, finish the article and mail it in. Are you Contents looking for a challenge for future theme issues? The Spring ‘89 issue is to be on “Education”. This will in Features Page clude those memories of one room schools, big schools, university, spe Jane Klyne McDonald 1810 - 1879 by M. Nicholls 2 cial buildings, teachers, instructors or programs. Florence Baker Warren Waterman Wilson The theme for Fall 1989 is to be by Winston Shilvock 6 “Memories of the 1930’s”. Remembei however, we look for ar British Pioneer Women ticles on any aspect of in the Windermere Valley Columbia history by Winnifred Ariel Weir 7 This issue on “Pioneer Women” does give a taste for life in many Two Cowichan Valley Women parts of our province. Mrs. Nicholl’s by Else M. Kennedy “Aunt Jane Klyne,” wife of a Hudson’s Bay factor, and Win Vancouver University Women’s Club (1907...) Weir’s family who lived in a barn by Thelma Reid Lower 16 are great contrasts to Mrs. McRae who lived in the elegance of HytToft Phyllis Ross LLD, CBE, OC in Thelma Lower’s article. I was by Dolly Sinclair Kennedy 19 hoping we could have included even more contrast with the life of native Times Past women, or the Sisters who started schools and hospitals across the by Elsie G. Turnbull 20 province. Let’s have those topics in the near future! The cover photo Keeping Clean and Warm Was A Problem shows two British brides and a by Kelsey M. McLeod 21 German matron wrinkling their nos es at the stench of an unhealthy News Fmm Branches 24 bear. This look at Women in B.C. should entertain readers and in- Writing Competition 26 spire research of our history in terms of the ladies as well as our Report On Conference 1987 28 forefathers. It is my intention to use the Bookshelf compilation dates advertised for so Book Reviews 30 many years... March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1. This is your magazine. Please keep it healthy by submitting items about your local society, and encouraging Editorial potential contributors of articles to Readers take note. This is the type their stories and send them to: first issue of the British Columbia Naomi Miller Historical News produced in the East Kootenay. We thank the staff Editor - B.C. Historical News at Kootenay Kwik Print in Box 105, Cranbrook for their patient coopera Wasa, B.C. VOB 2K0 B.C. Hstorica1 News 1
2
B.C. Historical News
child travelling in Michel the and McDonald with fashion the of mony. Princess in 1824 died Raven
learn that a as Jane horseback rode trader, Hudson’s Bay Archibald Comcomiy, in a cere elaborate very
Trader From Ermatinger 1825 we September married Jane daughter of Chief Chinook
trip the down Columbia. In he 1823 married Princess Raven, Pass.
accompanied Jane him on his 1824 George an as accountant, in Here Columbia by Athabasca way of
country is It trips. that possible the to sent of Columbia post Fort Company the to ot overland route
that accompanied on him his cross at Ile-a-la-Crosse then and was Mountains on Bay the Hudson’s
many different Metis or Indian girls ary a 45 of He year. a spent winter last Rocky the support east fort of
brown”, term a Simpson of used Bay the Company as a clerk sal a with postmaster House, the Jasper at
Jane became his of one “bits In of 1820 he joined Hudson’s the he In to 1824 was promoted
Columbia. One claims author
that in 1817. company. new
time spent route en
the to
and came back with settlers more tinued this under the occupation
In
Governor 1824
Simpson
turned England to Scotland and Lasser he and con Lake Slave area
tionalities. stroyed Nor’ the by re He Westers. ed Michel the in interpreter an was
the traditions of lore and both na River Settlement de until was it Hudson’s unit Company Bay were
taught fellow’. Suzanne her girls Lord Selkirk. He Red at continued the and West North Company
says, Klyne a “Michel jolly old Charge was of 94 settlers by sponsored the Lake. Slave 1821 By when
py
Ross, a life. Alexander fur trader had 1815 come the to in River Red of Great on Dogrib the Indians
children the a had remoteness hap University of Edinburgh, in and ground traditional the Rae, hunting
spite In h hardships the of and some had medical the at training the Fort at family stationed was
Archibald Scotland, in born was In everywhere Klyne 1813 family. Michel. with
her three there young now daughters children travelled the in were a very devoted six couple.
care Suzanne North helping and Company. West to little for as ones gnof igin their marriage were they for
Athabasca casins the of the for Department She family. soon was River a love match matter no the or what
use the make and snowshoes with was Michel and voyageur a the moc family certainly believes) It was
1810. August, also Jane date underbrush. of 23rd the learned with to (This her was father. the is story
and The Canadian n Indian and fallen over trees parents. through thick travelled to the Boat Encampment
French Suzanne on and through foot of marshy LaFrance land, that ble Archie Jane met hnshe when
and of horseback, on descent, Dutch canoe by travelling Canadian employee. possi However it very is
Cline) (Klein, to Ermatinger trip accompanied Michel Klyne them Clyne, on passed girl his companion an to
born the Edmonton to Jane Athabasca On House. the one River first Jasper time was Simpson that had
yearly their of banks trip Suzanne on the Somewhere along country from If is this not it be would so
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lEAN — soon after giving birth to a son partly by horseback. The ginger father. The parents were strict, but named Ranald, who had been born bread cakes that Ranald and his the children had the run of the fort. in February dad loved were rare treats baked Archie established regular hours for So Jane began her married life for special occasions. study. His diary says he had “a as a stepmother. Several family let In 1828 McDonald left Jane to thriving school” - “the little children ters refer to this relationship and go east to the council meeting of the are quite smart” but their mother they give the impression that she Northern Department. On the re was “an excellent scholar”. Jane often favoured Ranald over her own turn journey he accompanied learned to write, read and cipher. children. In his memoirs Ranald Governor Simpson on his trip down The Bible was her main book. speaks of her with a great deal of the Fraser. McDonald kept a de McDonald held prayer meetings at affection and pride. tailed journal of this trip which be the fort which everyone was expect McDonald was given charge of came the background for Malcolm ed to attend. the Thompson River Division in McLeod’s book, Peace River - A Hundreds of Indians gathered 1825 with a salary of 100 pounds a Canoe Voyage. He again met outside the fort when the salmon year. When he left to survey his James Douglas at Fort Alexandria were running. One of the tribes was new territory in 1826 he left Jane where the party arrived with much the Nanaimos who had summer en at Fort Okanagan as she was ex ceremony accompanied by Cohn campment of their own on the riv pecting their first child. He travelled Fraser piping the arrival. From er’s edge. Most of these tribes north where he met James Douglas Alexandria, Simpson and Archie stayed close to the fort because of (later Sir James) with whom the travelled on horseback to Kamloops fear of the northern “Yukultas” family would become friends, also to find that Jane had gone to Fort (Archies’s spelling). McDonald pro Francis Annance and John Work Vancouver At Kamloops the group vided some guns to the Indians whose paths would all cross many began a canoe trip down the Fraser near the fort thinking this would times. arriving at Fort Langley in October. help protect Fort Langley against After wintering in this area Archie was to be Chief Trader here the murdering northerners. Jane Archie was getting anxious about for the next four years. does not seem to have made friends Jane so he went down the Columbia It was July 1829 before Jane with the Indians outside the fort. with the fur brigade. He found that and the boys could travel from She was aware of the kidnappings he had a 10 day old son, Angus, Vancouver to Fort Langley on the and murders among the tribes so born on the 1st of August, 1826. Cadboro. McDonald’s diary says it kept her little boys within the fort. Young Angus was less than a was five more days before they By 1830 she was busy with her month old when Jane carried him came alongside the wharf at new son Alexander who was fol on horseback on the two week trip Langley and “landed me, my little lowed eighteen months after by to her new home at Kamloops. Two family, all well”. Allan (later a rancher and gold min year old Ranald rode with his fa During the winter before Jane er in the Caribou). Archie left ther. Mrs. Annance and her little arrived Archie had kept his men Langley to establish a farm at son accompanied them as her hus busy preparing the “Big House” for Nisquilly (Tacoma). Ranald was band was to be McDonald’s clerk. his family. Jane must have been taken with him to attend John Jane would have female companion delighted with her quarters, two Ball’s small school at Fort ship at the outpost. This was fortu wainscoted, spacious rooms with Vancouver where he was unhappy. nate, for Archie was away a great fireplaces, a garret above and sever Archie was granted a furlough and deal trading and exploring the area. al storage cellars below. There was he made arrangements for the little On the return from one trip he drew a huge adjoining kitchen with a boys and Jane, or Jennie as he the first map of the interior of bake oven and a large garden to called her, to spend the winter with British Columbia. provide them with vegetables to re her parents in the Rockies. In Jane’s second child, Archibald, lieve the monotonous winter diet of February 1834 their only daughter was born at Kamloops in February dried salmon. Mary Anne was born at Rocky 1828. This time Archibald was at Jane and the children soon be Mountain House. Sometime that the fort with Jane but left six weeks came the focal point of family life at summer Jane crossed the prairies later with the fur brigade. the fort. The good-natured with her children. She was possibly Jane’s reputation as a good fru Kanakas loved the children. Some accompanied by her parents who due to to the River gal cook began at Kamloops. Her of them had “married” Indian wom were retire Red River yearly allotment of two sacks of en but they were not allowed to Settlement. At Red she and flour and a small quantity of sugar bring them into the fort. The chil the children lived with Reverend came around Cape Horn and then dren sometimes spoke French with William Cockran while Archie was travelling in Scotland and had to be shipped up from Fort their mother and the French England. The older boys began school and Vancouver partly by bateaux and Canadian voyageurs and English as well as some Gaelic with their Jane was studying the B.C. HisLorical Nem 3 Episcopalean faith. She was bap take her place as hostess at the din of 18”. In 1841 young Angus came tized by Rev. Cockran on the 2nd of ner table. home from Red River not well, and November, 1834, as were Ranald, At Kamloops and Langley they he died the next winter. Angus’s Mary Anne and the four boys. had always celebrated both death and another child, Joseph, Archie came home through New Christmas and New Year in the probably contributed to a spell of ill York and Montreal rejoining his Scottish style, the men with a tot of health for Jane. family in June, 1835. He was de rum and the women with wine. One Between 1838-40 missionaries lighted with the boys’ progress at Christmas the men who had come began to come tot he Oregon school and convinced Jane that the with the Fall Express from York Territory settling about 60 miles four boys should remain in the Red had been unable to get away be south of Fort Colville. Jane housed River schools. Ranald, Angus and cause of an early winter. Jane two of the wives, Myra Ellis and Archibald went to the Red River served roast been and plum pud Mary Walker, until proper homes Academy while Alexander stayed ding to 35 men. On an occasion were built for them. This resulted in with his Klyne grandparents and when Governor Simpson was mak a strong bond of friendship between went to day school. ing one of his 2,000 mile trips the women. Jane visited them on Before Jane and Archie left for across the countr3 Archie went out horseback taking her small children their new assignment at Fort to meet him with a meal Jane had with her. The newcomers claimed Colville they were legally married prepared -, “a roasted turkey” a Jane “a jewel of rare excellence,” by Rev. Cockran with the Hudson’s suckling pig, new bread, fresh but and that “her children bore compari Bay Council in attendance. This ter; eggs and ale”. What a feast the son to any they had known in New marriage pleased Jane, for the time men had after weeks of just pemmi England”. Mary Walker wrote in had come that marriages in the can! The party stayed some days at her diary, “Jane speaks good country fashion were being frowned Fort Colville inspecting the improve English and the deportment of her upon. ments the McDonalds had made to children is a living testimony of her Jane and Archie with Mary the farm. Simpson wrote in his jour maternal efficiency”. Anne and Allan left for the west nal, “the bread we ate was decided With other American women ar with the Fall Express knowing that ly the best in the whole country”. riving in the territory they formed it could be five years before they “Her butter; cheese, ham and bacon “The Columbia Maternal saw their children again. In would shine in any market,” her Association”. Jane was invited to Cockran’s journal he remarks on husband boasted. All acknowledged join. They had discussion groups, Jane’s “sacrifice and self denial”. Jane’s skill with food. readings and prayers, followed by After a sad farewell they travelled While at Fort Colville six more conversations and needlework. They west with James Douglas. There boys were born by Jane. John, who subscribed to many magazines and were six gentlemen, two families, died as an infant in April, 1836, fol newspapers which passed among twenty-four servants and 51 horses lowed by another, John, born on the women. Jane’s experiences were in the express. It took a little over 27th May, 1837, and in July 1839, widened beyond her wilderness two months to reach Edmonton, an the twins, Donald and James were home. By 1844 Chief Factor other month to Jasper and two born. The twins were a curiosity to McDonald decided that it was time more weeks to reach the pretty val the Indians and a joy to their par to retire and take his family east. ley of Fort Colville. ents. An Indian woman and her September 21, 1844 was departure At Colville the McDonalds ran a small child came into the household date. Jane was pregnant again, but delay huge farm. Jane now had servants to help wet-nurse the boys. To keep knew they could not past this through to help her with the work but she her supply of milk the Indian wom date if they expected to get continued to do much of the cooking an’s son was weened to cow’s milk, the mountain passes before the win herself. Archie claimed that no one a new idea to the Indians. For the ter snow. They travelled by boat to could make better Yorkshire pud rest of his life the child was called her former home at Boat waited for ding. The McDonalds entertained a “Le Lait” because he had been fed Encampment where they lot while on the farm. Hudson’s Bay cow’s milk. The twins were identical horses to take them on to Jasper began! men stopped there and were all en in every way. Archie wrote of Jane, and Edmonton. The snows thusiastic about the McDonald’s “one half her occupation now is car Jane had to travel on snowshoes hospitality. One visiting trader en ing for her two little boys - a task while five men carried her little thused, “when seated at the table that gives her great delight”. In boys. Once again they transferred with Mr. and Mrs. McDonald and September 1841 another son, to canoes and soon Jane’s labor their family, one cannot help think Samuel, was born. Two weeks later pains began, and on the 23rd of was ing himself once more at home en Archie wrote that the children were November; Benjamin born. Ice joying a “tete-a-tete in some domes all “blessed with perfect health” was beginning to form on the river tic circle”. Unlike so many other and that their mother was “now and Archie realized they couldn’t so to traders Archie insisted that Jane thank God, again as active as a girl make the Red River sent B.C. Historical News 4 Edmonton for help in transferring Jane died on the 15th of Bibliography his family there. December, 1879, leaving bequests to “Hudson’s Bay Record Society, Volume III, Minutes of Council, 1821 - 31, R. Fleming, Chief Factor John Rowand wel her brothers at Red River, her step Ed. PP 443-44. comed them in spite of the fact that son Ranald, and her three surviving “William S. Lewis & Naojiro Mura]anü the additional number of people to children Allan, Samuel and editors Ranald MacDonald: The Narrative feed would put a great strain on his Benjamin. She had adapted to life in of his early life on the Columbia under the fort’s winter food supply It was an the East and had become a respect Hudson’s Bay Rarime. Letters of Francis Ermatinger unhappy winter for the family. ed Victorian matron with great dig “Fur Trade,” 1818 - 1853. Mary Anne and Archie were both ill nity but still loving the outdoor “Jean M. Cole” Exile in the Wilderness 1790 with fevers. Scarlet fever broke out world participating in such events - 1853. and in the month of May, Archie as its spring “sugaring-off”. She “Sylvia Van Kirk, Many Tender Lies; Women and Jane buried three of their little was a woman of two civilizations. in the Fur Trade Society 1670 - 1870. boys. The twins, Donald and James Th.e author lives in Nanaimo, the mem and two year old Joseph all died ber of a family who had been in that city since 1860. She has traced the family tree back to the same week. The sad family left Upper Canada in the 17th Century. Edmonton and had a very miserable trip eastward as Jane was ill and the weather was terrible. They finally arrived in Montreal after visiting friends along the way. Burnaby They spent two years in Montreal where Jane brought the family to Historical gether again. Young Archie came Scholarship home from England where he had Society been studying and Peter Skene There were 48 voting delegates Ogden brought Alexander and Allan The first winner of the B.C. at the B.C. Historical Federation’s from the Red River. In 1846 Jane Historical Federation Scholarship Annual Meeting. There were 10 from had her thirteenth child, Angus has been chosen. He is Dan Burnaby, all paying their own way. Miehel, named in memory of her eld Marshall of Cobblehill who is attend The President, Evelyn Salisbury in est son and her father. ing the University of Victoria. making her report, introduced each In 1847 they bought a farm Details will appear in the next is sue. as follows: Helen and Don Brown, near St. Andrews East and Archie Marjorie Coe, Mary and Lloyd Donations have made this $500. officially retired from the Hudson’s Forsyth, Hazel L’Estrange, Kay scholarship possible. Further contri Bay Company. They called their Moore, Nancy Peter and Helen butions are sought to enable us to farm “Glencoe Cottage” for Archie’s Street, from a membership of 50. increase this amount as students Scottish home. Jane mixed well in Victoria and Vancouver had 7 atten face ever increasing tuition fees and the new community and became dees from a membership of 230 and expenses. Donors to the Scholarship very active in the Anglican Christ 226. Church. Fund will be acknowledged in the Archie died unexpectedly on the magazine as well as being issued a 15th of January, 1853 and Jane receipt for charitable donations for B.CJLE Research spent 26 more years on the farm tax purposes. Aistaizce Committee with Allan acting as her farm man Donations to the B.C. Historical ager. Archie named Jane “tutrix” of Federation Scholarship Fund and/or A new service offered by your Federation... his minor children saying in his the Writing Competition Prize Fund will, “in my beloved wife Jane make good “In Memoriam” gifts. If you are researching local or other Klyne, in whose maternal solicitude Your Editor/Past President would British Columbian Historical topics for my dear children I place implicit like to thank girls and Guiders of and need assistance in locating East Kootenay Girl Guides of source material, etc., send a confidence”. Jane made a trip to see envelope Canada for a donation made to the stamped, self addressed to her family at Red River in 1855. gether with $10 * research fee to: Her mother was still alive as late as Scholarship Fund as a “Thank You” 1871 for she is listed in the 1871 for her work done for Guiding. Peggy linredy Manitoba census as a woman of 80 304-2425 Brunswick years. Jane continued to be active in Vancouver, B.C. V5T 3M1 her church. She had a large stained glass window installed in memory * Any additional cost of photocopy of Archie and her deceased children. ing, postage, etc. will be billed later.
B.C. Histodeal News 5
6
B.C. Historical News
was
a that side saddle
the
wasn’t
News Publishing Committee
Office’s Post the refusal to handle
venture.” One thing
did she
learn
W Ann Johnston
issues. last Problems arising from
described
trip the
as ad “without
22 2-- no. the Spring Vancouver of 1989. has mailed the out two
been problems,
although
Florence
last March will and Margaret to continue Waddington Vol. in
tainous and trail there have must
that the subscription received was
jorjob.
miles
the over rough, narrow, moun
tion
period. Eg. Mar. 22-2 88 means
to nate
have them
on take
this ma
It
four took
days to 80 cover the
which is
covered by
that
subscrip
and mailing the News. are We fortu
rope
around tied
her
waist.
numbers
refer to the last
issue
Cranbrook now are editing, printing
three with in goats
a
picket- on tow
recent
renewal received; was the
Editor! Naomi Miller her and crew in
carrying and her on Ena
lap
and
refers to the month when
most the
Welcome, Naomi
our new
--
her horse with flapping skirt her
bel attached to News. the
The
date
Committee
she Hope left sideways sitting
on
about the coding on mailing the
la
sight startling natives the to
when
I have had a recent
enquiry
Publishing
side horse Therefore saddle. it a was
ficulty with your subscription.
of that
so lady
a always she
a road
NEWS her
know if you should have dif any
ly
Her 1879.
in upbringing
been had
promptly of changes of address. Let
Cyprus
English an to
military
fami
Report new task! of Please the advise her
Florence
had been
in born
I wish her
every success
in her
Hope-Princeton the over trail.
Phone: 437-6115
determined she mals, to bring them
Burnaby,
B.C.,
3S8 V5H the couldn’t railway ani the bring
5928 Baffin Place that it should boats have milk. Since
years was old, Mrs. Florence two decided Nancy Peter
milk in
so area the
when the child is:
writing
at Okanagan College.
born. was
There were
no
or cows
Our new Subscription
Secretary
he from retired and business now teaches
Princeton a daughter, where
Ena,
Okanagan histoiy. He studied sary. writing after
1898,
the couple resided in
B.C. Kelawna,
where
he researched
ble at the local
Office, Post
if
neces
Author Winston Shilvock a who mining lives man, was in in February
changes, using the Directory
availa
After marrying Waterman, J.
subscribers or those with address
She 1971. was
years
92 old.
Naramata. near to double check the codes of all new
ended in Osoyoos
in November,
ty displayed she she when farmed Membership Secretaries are asked
carried
her through until
her life or
her explains and of life the tenaci Branch Treasurers of
mountain trail so many years before in exemplifies 1901 the
general
ten
Mrs. to Waddington.
termination she displayed the on Valley. incident An that happened
a
huge
and job we are
most
grateful
many with vicissitudes, the but de women of tale Okanagan in
the
found
in
most branch
lists.
This
was
ond her and time life continued on guts difficult
is that to any match
in
Directory
A
number of
errors
were
Florence Wilson married sec a a
saga lengthy and determination of
scribers’ codes with Postal the
Baker
Waterman Warrent
Wilson from and is
on then
road she
astride.
postal codes led her to check sub all
complete The
of story
Florence best
to way a ride in horse
the West second class mail inaccurate with
Wilison
Warren Waterman
Florence Baker Mrs. Fredrick B. Young with George and Clement, the Mrs. Norman Marples with her elder son, Kenneth. two scnis she lost by drowning.
Pioneer Women in the Windermere Valley
Wimiifred Ariel Weir
In the years 1911 and 1912 Invermere. He hoped to have all in area designed to bring fortune and a newspapers and magazines in readiness for the arrival of his wife delightful life for new settlers among Britain carried glowing accounts of and family in April but it was not to magnificent scenery: settlement in far off valleys in be. However the barn had been The army had made Captain British Columbia. Huge posters in erected. Young a man of decision. He made railway stations depicted fruit trees After the long journey across the further enquiries but found little reli laden with luscious apples against Atlantic by liner and across Canada able information concerning the far- colorful vistas of lakes and moun by train, Mrs. Young was weary. off British Columbia Valley, an Eden tains. The life described in maga Mary Phyllis Young was the painted as an apple orchard para zine articles was tantalizing to daughter of a canon in St. Paul’s dise. In short order he made ar many Britishers and by the scores Cathedral and her girl-hood had rangements to move his family and they made enquires of land agents, been sheltered. She had been mar almost before his gentle wife had be then sold their homes and estates ried in London to an army officer in come accustomed to the idea, he had in English and Scottish cities to em the Cheshire regiment and as an of gone ahead to the land of opportuni bark on a fruit-farming venture in ficer’s wife had suffered none of the ty. the Canadian Rockies. privations of army life. When Mrs. Young stepped off Among those enticed in 1912 Until faced with his retirement, the train at Calgary: she was met were Captain Frederick B. Young Captain Young had had no thought by B.G. Hamilton, representing the and his wife, Mary: Captain Young of emigration. Then one day in a C.VI. Co. from which their land had proceeded his wife in March. He train he picked up a pamphlet de been purchased. Mr. Hamilton’s purchased a forty acre tract on The scribing the potential of the greeting had not been cheery Their Benches west of the community of Windermere Valley as a fruitful house had not been built, he said..
B.C. HisLorical News 7 Mrs. Young face fell. meat, and to make pancakes known drawn by the lure of the proclaimed “So, where do we live?” Basil to the camp crew as flap-jacks. fruit lands arrived to settle on the Hamilton smiled reassuringly. “The Then, Norman Marples, another 40 acre tract Norman had pur barn is large and airy.” Mrs. Young settler who was waiting for his wife chased in the spring. After staying was not reassured. Nurtured in an and family to join him from with Captain and Mrs. Young for a upper middle-class English family, England, lived with them that sum time, he had lived in a tent on his whose history was listed on both mei sleeping in a horse stall in the own property while their house was sides as far back as the Domes-day barn, giving a helping hand while started. Then he returned to Book, she could not envision life in a attempting to get his own land England to settle his affairs and barn. cleared and house started. bring out his wife, Constance, his and Vivian, They went on to Golden where At the end of April the first pad sons, Kenneth and Captain Young met them and the dlewheelers were able to make their three year old Mollie. trip continued in the only car in the way up river with supplies from Travelling with them was the valley, a Packard owned by Robert Golden. There were no passengers children’s Nanny. The Marples had Randolph Bruce, Chief officer of the on the first trip because the entire not intended to bring her originally CVI Co. The trip was dusty and accommodation was needed for the but she had decided the issue for twisting, difficult with the two little replenishment of supplies which herself. Looking at the fair-haired, boys, Clement, six and George, four had become ominously low. blue-eyed Mollie she had pursed her fretful from the long days of travel. With summer the boys grew lips. “I’m not having you take that she Phyllis, the baby was nine months brown and rosy but there were days child to heaven knows what”, of grizzly old. when Mrs. Young would gladly said, thinking, perhaps, red Indians “If The barn, of course, had no wa have left the dry hot valley by the bears and scalping her there, I go ter supply, Electricity was unknown first boat to return to the green you are taking go along she did, prov on the farms on the Benches. The fields of England. along.” And ing herself her weight in gold. glorious view of the mountains In November the Young’s house stretching as far as the eye could was still unfinished but they moved The Marples had crossed see was some compensation but not in anyway. Water was still brought Canada in a CPR tourist coach. It much. Water for domestic purposes in barrels. Coal-oil lamps gleamed had a small gas stove and sink at was bought in barrels which stood on the sterling silver they had one end for the use of all the pas five outside the door. brought from England, the hand sengers in that car. For days Mrs. Young was accustomed to some tea service, and fine china and they crossed the country, peering doing little more than dusting the crystal. Much of it was still in boxes out the windows at unaccustomed inter drawing room, arranging the flow but Mrs. Young’s yearning for her landscape. Wearying of the prairies, ers and giving orders to the cook in lovely belongings after living the minable miles across the sight of the England. Faced with preparing summer in a barn, had urged her to thrilling to the first skyline, ea meals for her family with the meag unpack what she could to maintain massive Rockies on the reached Golden. er resources at hand multiplied her some standard of living. ger as they finally had packed her difficulties. There was no sugar be There were disasters that first Mrs. Marples small attache case for cause the first shipment of supplies yeat The corn crop had frozen dur jewelry in a stolen on the train, for the season had not yet come up ing a late June frost. In October the safety. It was arrived in Golden the river from Golden. Supplies for big tank that was to hold the win then when they their luggage had the few settlers for the winter had ter’s water supply was filled. It had they found that misplaced somewhere along been ordered last October and by an outlet pipe for cleaning and been spring many commodities were shortly after it was filled, the cows, the line. short. A neighbor lent them some trampling around, knocked the plug When the family arrived on the sugar from her own meager store. out of the pipe and the winter’s sup last boat to come up-river in Only the kindness and neighborli ply of water drained out. A catas Octobei the interior of their house ness of other settlers made life bear trophe was averted when the neigh was far from complete, although it able for the young English woman bors arrived with teams and had been arranged that it was to be struggling against the hardships of wagons and barrels and filled the ready for occupancy with their furni the new life. tank again. ture in it. They stayed at the Hotel for two weeks wait There was a construction camp George was ill with pneumonia. Invermere their luggage to arrive. In on The Benches for men putting in The pigs got into the garden and ing for interim Mrs. Marples stayed in an irrigation system for the farms. Mrs. Young, finding them, dragged the clothes were washed, The camp cook took pity on the them out by the tails and shut them bed while her same. Clothes were young English mother and taught up in the roothouse. Nan doing the borrowed for Mollie to wear. Like her how to bake bread and cook In October the Marples family, Mrs. Young, Mrs. Marples found the B.C. Historical News 8 contract to her accustomed life style tice. a small log hospital was erect table garden. There were no close hard to accept. ed. He left in 1909 and his succes neighbors. One night Jack was at Finally they moved into their sor Dr. Hannington married a work at the mine, Margaret heard a house. They had managed to ac nurse. When she became pregnant, knock at the door. She opened it to quire basic needs of furnishings nurse Ethel Beatrice Wood was find two far from sober men.” Can while awaiting the delayed arrival hired. She was a graduate of we spend the night?” one asked. of their own. Mrs. Young lent them Kamloops Hospital. When Miss “You cannot”, she replied. a bed and they managed to find Wood arrived in Golden she as told, “We won’t bother you”, the oth enough packing boxes and orange “If you are going down the valley er man said. you are into the lion’s crates to use as tables and chairs going “No you won’t”, she retorted mouth.” while lamenting the delaying of and reaching behind the door, she their own comfortable furniture, In 1910 the hospital had been lifted the gun kept there, threaten which lay on the Golden platform moved into the old Union Hotel, no ingly. “I shot a bear last week”, she for four months as the last boat had longer used as a hostelry. told them. “Hit him right between left for the season. That boat was Downstairs there was a six bed the eyes.” They went on their way. loaded with lumber and liquor con ward and upstairs private rooms, ****** sidered a more important consign one of which was used by Dr. and ment. Mrs. Hannington and one by Nurse Until the irrigation ditches were built on the Benches, augmented by In January the furniture was Wood. flumes, water for domestic purposes transported by sled. The piano ar Miss Wood said the hospital was brought in barrels on a sleigh rived first. When they opened the equipment when she arrived in in winter and by wagon in summer. crate, the paper wrapping the in 1911 was only beds and bedpans. The winters’ supplies were ordered strument had four inches of ice on it. But the Hospital Ladies Aid, formed from Eatons in Winnipeg in October The cost of transportation had been that yeai provided many necessi to ensure their safe arrival before four cents a mile. ties, raising money by teas and ba freeze-up of the Columbia River zaars and by contributions from the The difficulties and farming dis made it impassable for the paddle- miners and prospectors. When a asters of that first year on The wheelers. The women learned to be farmer killed stock there was al Benches were nothing compared to self-sufficient. One woman described ways meat for the hospital and what happened to the Young and how she made yeast for her baking. housewives would arrive with a doz Marples families the following “I took a handful of dried hops and en eggs, or a loaf of fresh bread or a November. The two small Young boiled it in a cupful of water; put in box of vegetables. Sacks of potatoes boys, Clement and George, and a potato and boiled it again, adding would be left on the doorstep. Miss Vivian Marples went through the ice salt and some sugar. I set it aside Wood was on 24 hour duty seven while playing on the pond nearby until it was bubbly, then I put a days a week when she had patients the two farms. The older Marples cupful of the flour mixture. I was al but there were easier days. She did lad, Kenneth, saw the accident from ways careful to keep some of the all the cleaning and cooking in addi a hill. As he recounted it, George, yeast to start another batch.” five, threw a bottle on the ice and tion to her nursing. ****** went to get it. The ice broke under ****** The first Tegart came to the val his weight and Clement and Vivian, The Jack Barbours had come to ley in 1883. That was Edward and both seven, went to his aid, falling the valley in 1900 by covered wagon when he wrote to his brother “The as he had into the icy water. from Minneapolis where Margaret grass is up to the horses ‘bellies”, Kenneth, then eight, ran for Barbour had been a vegetable cook. he was joined by Walker and Arthur help to Mrs. Young, who rushed to The unaccustomed life in the valley with their families. the pond, and although three challenged every fibre of her being. months pregnant, dashed into the She had spent the first winter in a Arthur had married Mary water to try to save the boys. She tent by Toby Creek while Jack was Louise Brown in the Cariboo in got hold of one as Captain Young packing for the Paradise Mine. She 1895. Mary Louise bore her third arrived and got a rope around her helped him raw-hide the ore from son on the Alpine Ranch at and one of the boys. The three small the mine. (rawhiding was loading Windermere in the mud-thatched bodies were taken to the Young’s the ore on to horse-hides slung be shack that was home and two years hours and placed in warm water but tween poles and dragged by teams later they had their first daughter. they were beyond reviving. to the station over rough mountain Mary-Louise had to be up and ****** roads.) around a few days after the births. There were twelve cows to milk and Later they lived in a log house Concern over the lack of medical a large vegetable garden to care for. on The Benches where Margaret facilities was real in 1901 and that There was canning, washing, iron bore four sons, tended a large vegu year Dr. Robert Elliott began prac ing, sewing, cooking so there wasn’t B.C. Historical News 9 an hour of the day that she could It was the custom of the day for it.” call her own. Water for the house socially aware women to have an So began the saga of “The was brought from the creek in 45 “At Home” day each month. On Stolen Church”. With the aid of oth gallon whiskey barrels. The water that day they were at home to all er enthusiasts notably Captain was so hard that it curdled the soap callers. Frank Armstrong, the church was which made the baby’s washing an In September, 1903, Mrs. taken down board by board, and added difficulty. K.impton was busy preparing for her pew by pew, all was transported to In addition to her home chores, afternoon “At Home”. Her Chinese Windermere, coming up the lake on Mary Louise made pin-money by house-boy, Wong, had been given Armstrong’s paddle-wheeler. The supplying road camps with milk, detailed instructions for tea, to be transportation cost only $70, for it buttei cheese and eggs. The Alpine served at four o’clock. There would was an enterprise dear to the Ranch was a popular spot for travel be cucumber sandwiches made from Captain’s heart. Board by board the lers to pause at for rest and refresh bread baked the previous day in the church was erected on a hillside ment. No one ever left the ranch big McClary range in the kitchen, above the lake and Celina was back hungry and this added to Mary’s lady fingers and brandy-snaps filled at her beloved organ. daily task. Bread baking was more with whipped cream. By the time the ecclesiastical of than a weekly chore. At least twice The day before the parlour had ficials at the coast heard that the every week. She drew ten large been cleaned thoroughly. Damp church had disappeared from crusty loaves from the wood range, saw-dust sprinkled on the carpet Donald without permission, it was bread made with hops grown on held down the dust as Wong swept. a “fait accompli”. And Rufus who their own farm, and lard from their In winter snow replaced the saw was nick-named “Whistling Rufe” pigs and milk from their cows. dust. The heavy velour curtains had because of his accomplishment in Spread with home-made jam from been shaked and the furniture that ability, whistled even on his berries home grown or wild from polished and knick-knacks dusted. way down the aisle, happy at his roadside bushes, slice after slice dis By eleven o’clock she had placed wife’s contentment. appeared after each fresh baking. eight of her best cups and saucers ****** On Sundays there was a hustle on her gleaming silver tray and Braidy Williams came from and bustle to get to the church ser filled the silver sugar-bowl. Her next Scotland as a bride to the little com vice at Windermere. That meant task was to skim thick yellow munity of Wilmer. She found she that Saturday night the big wash cream from the pans in the pantry; had nothing to fear of the tales of tub was set on the kitchen floor, cream from their own Jersey cows. scalping Red Indians she had read near the stove in wintei near the Rufus and Celina Kimpton had of while in Scotland but the rough door in summer for easier emptying. lived for some years in Donald, a and ready life in the mining commu Water for the tub was ladled from CPR divisional point and lumbering nity was still alarming. They the big copper boiler on the stove community west of Golden. When stayed in the hotel while a house and cooled by creek water. Mary the CPR decided to move the divi was readied for them and Braidy Louise was diminutive, barely com sional point to Revelstoke, Donald was nervous of the noise emanating ing up to her husband’s shoulder residents were informed that the from the bar below their room. Her but she could wield the scrub brush railway would move there homes, husband had left her in their room with vigor. the school, church and store to the and as the raucous laughter grew When she told her husband that new centre. But Rufus preferred to louder she became increasingly she was pregnant again he said it go to Windermere where he had alarmed, so she pushed a heavy was time to build a larger house but business interests already. So their chair against the door. A few mo did not tell her that he had a bet home was dismantled and moved ments later the door handle turned with another pioneer that he could by rail and then by barge up the and she heard a knock and her hus produce the larger family. In time Columbia River and Lake band’s voice. “Let me in Braidie.” she bore eleven. Windermere to the lake-side com Trembling, she opened the door. munity. “Mercy me, Harry,” she wailed. Mrs. Rufus Kimpton was the Celina Kimpton mourned the “Whatever can it be? There is sucha wife of a prominent Windermere loss of the little church she and clashing of cans and noise.” merchant. His store, the only one of Rufus had been instrumental in “It’s for us, deane,” he said. note in the community, provided not having built at Donald and in which “It’s what they call a chivaree, here only food items but all other com she had played the organ. The CPR in Canada because we’re newly modities from shoe laces to harness had not yet moved St. Peter’s to wed. Come on doon”. parts. She was a leader in all com Revelstoke. Disturbed by Celina’s “No. no” she cried. “That I munity affairs, especially the church distress, Rufus said, “If you want won’t do. It sounds like a herd of and school. that church so badly, you shall have wild Indians and nothing would
KC. HisLorical Ne 10 persuade the bride to descend to the These early day pioneer women Mrs. Weir is a former newspaper ed welcoming party. told these stories on them selves, ito,; charter member of the Windermere laughing Historical Society, curator of the Later they moved to a small at their efforts to make a Windermere Museum and officer of the house. Before Harry went to work home amid difficulties, proud of B.C. Historical Association. each morning, he would build up the their achievements. Their courage fire so the house would be warm for and their stamina were a tribute her to get up. One morning as she and their descendants living in the was dressing she saw a creature valley today are proud of the efforts crawling on the floor. Terrified, she and successes of those who settled jumped on the bed. Then realizing the area. that she would be alone all day and couldn’t spend the day standing on her bed, she had to do something. Trembling, she got her broom and dust-pan and with one deft motion, scooped up the creature and threw CALL FOR PAPERS it in the stove. When her husband returned that evening, she was triumphant SIMON FRASER UNWERSITY with her bravery “Harry; you’ll not Will Host be knowing what I had in the house a Conference on Exploration and Discovery today.” on April 17 - 19, 1992 “That I would not,” he admit- To Commemorate the Arrival of Captain George ted. Vancouver “It was a crocodile, Harry, a on the Pacific Coast of North America in 1792 little crocodile, right here in our house.” “Tush me dea;” said Harry. “It The conference will provide an opportunity for the presentation wasn’t a crocodile. What did it look of new research on social, cultural, economic, scientific, technologi like.” cal, and literary aspects of exploration and discovery in the six It was greenishbrown and it teenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries, with attention to had legs. It was about so long” all parts of the world but particularly to the North Pacific. Harry laughed, “Deane, it was a Proposals for papers will be accepted up to September 15, 1989. lizard, a harmless little creature.” “Maybe, it was”, she admitted. Conference advisors include Professor Barry Gough, Wilfrid “But my how it crackled. I’ll never Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario; Dr. Alan Frost, forget it.” Department of History, La Trobe University; Australia; Professor ****** Christon Archer, University of Calgary; Professor Glydwr It was Mrs. Stewart, another Williams, Queen Mary College, London; Professor Ben Finney, settle; who wanted to surprise her University of Hawaii at Manoa; Dr. Kerry Howe, The Australian husband with fresh baked bread. National University; Professor Rudiger Joppien, West Germany; She learned the process from a Professor William Stanton, University of Pittsburgh and Dr. W. neighbor but underestimated the Kaye Lamb, Vancouver. time it took to rise. When her hus band was due for supper the bread Those interested in participating should send summaries (100 was far from ready, she was unwill - 200 words) of their prospective papers along with brief vitae to: ing to admit a failure so she hur riedly dug a shallow hole in the The Director back yard and buried her experi ment. Her husband was sitting at Vancouver Conference, the table awaiting his meal when Department of History he glanced out the window. “Glory Simon Fraser University, be” he exclaimed. “There’s queer Burnaby, British Columbia, sort of mushroom rising in our back yard.” Canada, V5A 1S6
B.C. HIsLc,ical News 11 Mars now had three more depen dents and arranged to have her sis ter and her two sons, Bob and Doug Tait, move to Vancouver Island. The two women worked as a team, shar Two Cowichan Valley ing the house and farming chores, along with the care of the children. Women Marj in addition, handled the tele graph contract. She learnt morse code and line maintenance. Her de dication to keeping the line open, was greatly admired by her family and neighbors, and it was often Else M. Kennedy said that she handled the work and a horse better than most men <7> This was indeed high praise in an Mary Skinner (nee Glyde) not enough positions available in era which considered women to be 1843 - 1930 her chosen profession of teaching, so frail and weak. On Vancouver she emigrated to Canada <4> Island’s moun Mary continued with this work tainous terrain, the forests are al After arriving in Canada, Mary until she was approximately 59 most impenetrable. The straight, made her way to British Columbia, years old, when she sold the farm. evergreen tall, trees soar 200 feet or where she taught in Sooki for a <8> Mary and Martha continued to more. Cedars and firs growing side year. Mary was then hired as a live together in a smaller house, by side, as close as the hairs on teachei for the Maple Bay school, closer to the Town of Duncan, as re one’s head, their feathery branches the first public school in the spected members of the community. intertwined in a thick mat, which Cowichan Valley. <5> Here she met Mary lived until she was 87. Her prevent the sun’s rays from reach and married Ambrose Skinner, a last years were spent ‘as a dozy ing the ground. Through this forest, son of one of the first families to old lady” <9> cared for by her roam cougars, bears and wolves, settle the area. Ambrose had al daughter Minnie. She is buried in hungry and dangerous, especially ready acquired land and had begun the Skinner family plot at St. when the snow lies heavily on the farming. He and Mary moved into Peter’s Church, Quanicham, in the ground. Children going to school the small log house that Ambrose Cowichan Valley <10> during this period, carried rifles to had built. Mary enjoyed the life on defend against wolves <1> and the the farm, and was very content, es Cowichan Leader reported wolves in pecially after her daughter Minnie Loui Geeen (nee Spencer) the area in 1910. This is the wilder was born. 1873 - 1965 <11> ness. <2> Through this magnifi Four years after their marriage Louisa or “Louie” as she pre cent, yet awesomely wild, country in 1875, the telegraph line between ferred to be called, was a tall wil Mary Skinner rode alone on horse Victoria and Nanaimo was in lowy women with a cloud of dark back. A widow, she was fulfilling stalled. <6> Ambrose was awarded hair coiled neatly in a chignon. She her husband’s contract, by searching the contract to maintain and oper was near-sighted and her smiling for breaks in the telegraph line. ate the section running through brown eyes were hidden by a pince Finding one, she had to climb the their area, (approximately 50 kilom nez. Louie had always dreamed of a tree, nearest the break, to repair the eters). This extra work would help life of travel, excitement and free wire. This was far from easy. The pay for some of the many expenses dom. However born, as she was, wires, as we now know them, are that farming entails. Unfortunately, into a very sheltered Victorian fami attached to poles alongside the Ambrose died rather suddenly in ly with definite ideas on a woman’s highways. In Mary’s day, the wires 1880, leaving Mary and her daugh place in the world, ambitions like were mainly attached to the trees, ter with very little money. Mary these must have seemed to be only the branches of which were sup knew that, in order to support her fantasies. Woman of her time had posed to be stripped, but in many self and her child, she would have to little control over their lifestyles. cases this wasn’t done, and the thin run the farm and fulfill the terms of There were very few options, out wire would be hidden. <3> the telegraph contract. side of marriage, open to them, and This was certainly not the type In the meantime her twin none of these choices included ad of life that Mary Glyde had envi (Martha), who had settled in New venture or exciiement, sioned for herself when, at age 29, Westminster, lost her husband Louie, born in 1873, was one of she decided that there was no fu about the same time as did Mars eight children. Her father Michael ture for her in England. There were and Martha was left destitute. Spencer died while she was still
B.C. Historical News 12 quite young, on his small farm in ment from the assembled ladies. solve the money problem. The whole the village of Storgusey. <12> After They would sit in silence, waiting area was teeming with game (dee his death, her mother Fanny, con for the maid to scurry from the other Roosevelt elk, cougar and bear). cerned for her children’s education end of the house to do the honours. Salmon and trout were plentiful in moved the family to Taunton, “It was completely inane”, was the Cowichan lake and river. It was England. Louie went to a boarding Louie’s comment. a ideal spot for a hunting and fish school in Bradford, Yorkshire, where Louie adored Victoria and the ing camp. Louie was 44 years old she learned the proper skills for a unrestricted life her cousins led. It when she put her plan into action. gentlewoman. When she finished was so different from the inflexible Frank and her children were enthu school, she looked for something to attitude of society in Britain. Here siastic, and helped her by taking do with her life, as she did not wish was the freedom she had always over the heavier chores. They start to live within the strict confines of wanted. She could now become an ed in a small way, by renting out a her family. She reflected in later individual, responsible only to her few rooms in the main house, and years that the only exciting thing self. She was introduced to Frank setting up tents on the property As that ever happened, was being in Green through friends with whom the popularity of the camp in vited to the Vicarage for tea. She de she had travelled to Victoria. Frank creased, guest cottages were added. cided to become a governess which had taken up land in the Cowichan She did all the cooking, and would meet with her family’s ap Lake region, and he enthralled her handled all the details of proval, yet allow her some freedom with his tales of life in the wilds of “Greendales”. It was an instant and perhaps some travel. Vancouver Island. Louie was in success. Not only did the hunters She was very successful and trigued, and convinced a cousin to and fishermen come, but had several posts which allowed her accompany her to visit Frank at his “Greendales” become a popular to tour the British Isles. Louie’s homestead in Lake Cowichan. Louie summer camp for nature lovers and most interesting post was with a fell in love, not only with Frank but those who wished to get away from Russian family. <13> She spent with the area. Her own description the heat of Victoria. By 1920, it was two years with them, living in of Lake Cowichan, published in the one of the most popular camps on
Moscow and learning Russian. She Cowichan Leader - December 27, Vancouver Island, and extra help also traveled through Europe un 1951, tells how she felt about her had to be hires. <16>. chaperoned, a rare adventure for a new surroundings. In spite of her busy life, she en woman of that era. “In 1909 the road to the joyed her family. Louie and Frank Louie had to leave this comfort lake from Duncan lead were great believers in books. They able post to return home to care for through a very beautiful for used to read to their sons, and en her ailing mother. Although she had est of virgin timber. I shall couraged them to read. She also six sisters and a brother who could never forget driving with my taught them music, and although well nurse their mother they felt husband through those neither son became an accomplished that Louie should not be gallivant beautiful trees to my new musician, music is part of their ing about the country-side while her home; the road was abomin lives, Her son, Trevor, feels they mother was ill. Louie remained at able, very narrow, twisting had the best of both worlds. home until her mother died. She with deep ruts in places, but Freedom to grow up in the beauty of was, at this point, very restless and to me it was all enchant the country-side of Lake Cowichan, wanted to see more of the world. ing.” plus books and music. Louie took an Louie had cousins in British interest in the local schools, and Columbia, the David Spencer fami Here, in the wilderness her was elected to the local school board ly, <14> who had sent many invita childhood dreams of adventure could as a Trustee. tions to visit them in Victoria. Louie come true. Louie had no training for “Greendales” continued to pros decided to visit Canada as she was pioneer life. She was a complete ten per for quite some time. The profits bored to tears with her life in derfoot, but with Frank’s help she allowed Louie and Frank the free England. Life was extremely dull, learned to cook, and care for the dom to travel and provided for their and she used to tell her sons about land. <15> Although they were sons’ education. Frank passed the idiotic conventions followed in completely isolated, and human away in 1947, at the age of 87, and an upper middle-class home. One of contacts were few and far between, Louie closed the camp a few years these rules was that “ladies” didn’t Louie was never lonely. later. She continued to live at answer the door. She and her sis Louie soon discovered that “Greendales”, keeping herself busy ters would be sitting together in the homesteading, carefree as it might giving music lessons and working in drawing room close to the front be, was not a prosperous venture, her garden, which is still blooming. dooi working on various bits of sew and money was always in short She died at 93 having lived a very ing and embroidery The bell would supply. After her sons were born, full and complete life. ring, but there would be no move- Louie conceived a plan which would There are many who would say B.C. Historical News 13 that these women were exceptional Quaniichan Lake a few days ago, was Mr. & Mrs. Green still live at the oi that the traits with which they attacked by a band of wolves. The boy family home, ‘ Greendales’, and fired and wounded which fell. the had been endowed, at one, both take an active part in lo were more nina The rest of the band fell upon their cal museum, which contains many culine than feminine. But, these wounded comrade, and while they items from “Greendales.” women were not exceptional, nor did were making a meal of him the lad got <12> Mr. & Mrs. Green visited their traits have gender They were off in safety” Stogusey, and Mr. Green com ordinary women who, like most <2> The wilderness is still very much mented that they know why pigs for women, did what they had to do in in evidence on Vancouver Island. have such a bad reputation Any road going west from the odors. The village’s main occupa order to survive. Women have been Trans-Canada highway will bring tion is swine farming, and the taught through the ages that they one face to face with the forest. smell greets one, while one is still are frivolous and empty-headed; Cougars are still active in the miles from the village. creatures not capable of coping with area, and have wandered as far as <13> The family that Louie was work arid ing for was connected to the life, without the protection of a fa Saanich. Bear can still be seen deer are plentiful, almost to the Faberge family, Crown Jewellers ther or husband. This disparage point of being considered “pests” by to the Russian Court. ment of women’s talents has gone gardeners and farmers. <14> The David Spencers started and on for so long that many women be <3> Cobb Andrew “Crossed Wires” in operated a chain of department lieve that their accomplishments Horisons Canada Magazine Vol. stores in B.C. They were subse bought out by the T Eaton and contributions to the world are No. 68. quently - North Cowichan Municipal Company. not important. They just continue to Minute Books - Vol. II. December <15> The one thing Louie was never do extraordinary things in an ordi 8, 1882. It was recorded that a note able to mastei was milking cows. nary way, as if it were expected of be sent to the area telegraph of <16> The old Greendale’s guest book them, and really not worth mention fice, as some of the lines were too lists some very interesting guests including ing. Men would expect immortality low and dangerous after a storm. and campers the Poles replaced trees by 1884. Butcharts of the Butcharts Oll at the very least, a gold medal. <4> Cowichan Leader Newspaper, Gardens fame.
Women have a deep inner core of de Duncan - January 2, 1930. termination, and once this strength Obituary of Mary Glyde Skinner. Sources Consulted is recognized, they become invinci Cowichan Valley Historical de Betrand, Lugrin N. - Pioneer Women of Vancouver Island Women’s ble. Furthermore, if women ever re Society’s Archives. <5> Cowichan Leader Newspaper, Canadian Club of Victoria, B.C. (1928). alize that their strengths can be Duncan - March 1924. “How combined with those of their sisters, Schooling Began In Cowichan The Cowichan-Leader (Newspaper) - the effect would be revolutionary District.” Cowichan Valley March 3, 1924, Jan. 2, 1930, Dec. 27, This goal, though, can only be Historical Society’s Archives. 1951. Cowichan Historical Society’s - Archives, Duncan. reached through changes in the way <6> Colonist Newspaper Victoria February 18, 1879 “Island girls are socialized, and this must Telegraph.” Provincial Archives, The Daily Colonist (Newspaper) - be accomplished by changes to the Victoria, B.C. June 4, 1862, Sept. 19, 1862, Dec. 19, educational system. Women must <7> Cowichan Leader Newspaper, 1862, Dec. 8, 1871, Feb. 18, 1879, March be made aware that their special Duncan - January 2, 1930. 17, 1888. Provincial Archives, Victoria, Obituary Glyde Skinner. B.C. skills and those of their daughters of Mary Cowichan Valley Historical are desperately needed everywhere. Society’s Archives. Forbes, Elizabeth - Wild Roses At One of the ways to accomplish this <8> Mr. Jack Fleetwood, Distinguished Their Feet - Pioneer Women of is to insist that history include historian and journalist for the Vancouver Island. Evergreen Press Ltd. women, and recognize the contribu Cowichan Leader Newspaper for Vancouver, B.C. (1971) remembers tions that they have made to socie the past 60 years, when Mrs. Skinner and Mrs. Tait Gustafson, Lillian (compiler); Elliot, ty. This would finally put to rest sold the farm at what is now called Gordon (editor) Memories of the the myth, in the words of “Birkey’s Corner” (in Duncan) and Chemainus Valley: A History of Shakespeare, moved to Herd Road, where he, as People. Chemainus Valley Historical “Frailty, thy name is woman” a boy, delivered groceries to them. Society (1978). Skinner Road in Duncan, near
Marriner, Edward - Dairy Live in the
Cowichan Valley. (1863 - 1888(?)). Provincial Archives, Victoria, B.C. Thursday, May 11 Marriner, Mary Diary Life in the Royal B.C. Museum: Win & Cheese Reception Cowichan Valley. Cowichan Valley Historical Society’s Archives. Friday, May 12 Greetings from Vicotria City McMillan Bloedel Co. Ltd. Paper on Illustrated the Corporate History of Cowichan lectures on aspects of Victoria’s past Valley. Island Books, Duncan, B.C. Tours in the afternoon (1975, second edition). Dinner and Tour in Chinatown
North Cowichan Municipal Council Saturday, May 13 - Minute Books Vol I & II. (1843 - 1886). Municipal Offices, Duncan, B.C. Annual General Meeting Tours in the afternoon
Olsen, WH. - Water Over The Wheel Banquet - Story of Chemainus. Chemainus Valley Historical Society. (1968, first edition). Conference Hotel: Executive House 777 Douglas Street (604) 388-511 Pioneer Researchers of the Cowichan Across the street from the Conference Centre Alternative accommodation Valley Historical Society: - Memories information will be included in the Conferenc Never Lost - Stories of the Pioneer package to be sent out early in 1989 to all member societies. Because of Women and a brief history of the Valley. the tourist season and the new Convention Centre, we suggest you book Edited by Jan Gould. D.W Friesen & early. Sons Ltd., Altona, Manitoba. (1986).
Saywell, John F.T. - Kaatza. The Chronicles of Cowichan Lake. Cowichan Thily Ho! Lake District Centennial Committee. (1967).
Informal Interview Jack Fleetwood, Duncan, B.C. Historian and Journalist in the Valley for the past 60 years.
Trevor Green, 2nd son of Louisa Spencer Green.
Mrs. Grace Dickie, Thetis Island, B.C. -
Mrs. Audrey Ginns, Chemainus, B.C. - Chemainus Valley Historical Society and, Mr. & Mrs. Percival Rivett - Carnac, Duncan, B.C.
Mr. Jim Lamont, Manager, McMillan Bloedel Mill, Chemainus, B.C. The early history of the Water Wheel Sawmill in Chemainus. B.C.
“Tally-ho coach makes regular daily trips to the most interesting points around Victoria” From: Henderson’s Gazetteer & Directors 1905, Vol. XII RBCM Photo
B.C. Histoa1 News 15
16
B.C. Historical News
of mation a similar club in the
rights same the time a for with to the view women. for all levels and education. aspects of
Correspondence own. Evlyn an became was begun eager at greater champion of degree support for of public
a with ing constitution of aware their to similar power their society. adequate in accommodation a and
Vancouver had Island when educated formed a women club were lessly becom for high scholastic standards,
to hear the that of years graduates college the of nineteenth needs century and Mrs. worked Farris tire
(founded club 1882), Vancouver was greatly in pleased during The last the infant university many had
received enthusiasm with Association the and University first of the Women woman to sit on the Board.
The of proposal Mrs. Farris there While was American she joined the Five years later Mrs. Farris became
at history high in school the Boston. University’s Board of Governors. 1988.
1905 the in States United the teaching appointment of a the formation women to of the B.C. Council in -
professor; the spent years she 1899 Vancouver Club began lobbying for belatedly a goal achieved with the
Kirstead E.M. was clergyman and a Within three college week the of women the whole province”
Acadia University father her where at a “aims which federation of the held in Victoria 21 August 1912.
in ours German Philosophy at and purpose of mary the Vancouver Club and attended first the convocation
had taken
M.A. her hon with degree of object in interesting them the pri appointed to the University Senate
1878) (21
Scotia Nova August and number college of women the with Mrs. M. R. Both Watt. women were
Although had Evlyn born been in Victoria where she interviewed a Farris and to a Victoria candidate
Farris Mrs. paid ing a university to visit a club. women’s Club their gave endorsation Mrs. to
Vancouver; purpose initiat the for of University Senate. The ly Vancouver regards in to education.
her ates home to 1776 St., at
in Davie nominating
candidates
for public the in operate service particular --
gradu women young eight invited members and asking for instruction university among women and co
(Mrs. Farris) Wallace Beque John de attorney-general enclosing promote a friendly of list understanding
1907 Fenwick Evlyn Farris Kirstead sent from the Vancouver Club stimulate the intellectual tions; to activity;
Saturday afternoon On 11 May In December a 1911 study letter and social to was economic condi
members agreed to meet regularly Toronto. Vancouver Island.
Mrs. and Farris the first charter the club such west formed er of at than the capital city on
Vancouver Club, Women’s for University its location on the mainland first rath the president
be held of home at the Hycroft, the cial university. She argued forcefully Evlyn Acadia. Farris was as chosen
organization ing of should the new permanent a location the for Boston; provin Madeline Miss Shampier,
first the was that fitting It member meet a of committee in of search Perkins, Dalhousie; Mrs. HG. King,
In 1910 Mrs. Farris became Mary a McKenzie, Miss Toronto; Ella Canadian society.
Maude Miss Toronto; Hunt, of fluence Miss university women club.” in
Mrs. Queen’s; Fuller; A.T. Acadia; 1988 expanding it in the marked a “sort godchild of of the Vancouver
Club Miss were Elizabeth Cameron, on meeting gural April Saturday of 30 the legislature in it 1908 became
a University members of Women’s of held University Columbia its Women inau was established act by an
persuade Evlyn become to charter Canadian of Council Federation the When the University of British
The graduates young whom British Columbia the When Okanagan Valley.
Lower Thelma Reid
---) Women ‘s Club (1907
Vancouver University The Vancouver Club’s move into as decided to co-operate in acquiring 1943 it was called “the loveliest civic work came in its first two a building to be used by all. A spe military annex or the North years. A campaign was mounted to cial “Women’s Edition” of the American continent”. urge consumers to shop well before Vancouver Sun was published on 19 When the new wing was built at Christmas, thus relieving last- March 1913 as a twenty-page sup Shaughnessy Hospital Hycroft was • minute pressure on harassed shop plement to the regular newspaper. closed and the property put into the clerks. The members distributed cir This impressive undertaking raised hands of Crown Assets Disposal culars, displayed signs, gained the $2485 for the Women’s Building. Corporation. In the fall of 1960 the co-operation of newspapers, the four Honorary president of the new property was put up for sale. largest department stores and a building was Mrs. A.D. McRae a The Vancouver University company which made crepe paper. “devoted equestrienne and chate Women’s Club had long had a One firm offered to donate bill lame of Hycroft”. Mrs. McRae was dream of owning their own club boards, but the club had to refuse closely identified with the house. They had established a since it was on record as “opposed Vancouver Horse Show. She rode building fund very early and had to the disfigurement of Vancouver and drove in all classes. considered several real estate ven by billboards”. The campaign re During the First World War tures on the Sunshine Coast. When sumed annually during the First Mrs. McRae was active in England Crown Assets signified willingness World War years. for four years running convalescent to accept their offer for the purchase The significance of the cam homes for Canadian soldiers. In of Hycroft they signed an agree paign was marked in several ways. September 1942, three months be- ment of sale on 4 June 1962, and It was an early instance of one fore she died of a long illaess, the an act was proclaimed in force by group of women using influence for McRae’s gave Hycroft, free of all n the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council the benefit of another group which cumbrances to the Federal on 15 January 1963. At last the was predominantly female. It gave Government to be used as a home University Women’s Club was in the Club experience in public rela for veterans. Hycroft became an an residence at Hycroft, 1489 McRae tions, the use of the press, and in nex to Shaughnessy Hospital. At Avenue, Vancouver V6H 1V1. Club bringing pressure to bear on large the dedication ceremony 9 August members rolled up their sleeves to oiganizations and commercial insti tutions. While some women choose to be more active in public affairs than others, the Vancouver University Women’s Club has never been a tool to be manipulated for partisan pur poses. When political involvement became inevitable in the women’s
suffrage campaign the chair intro . 4.• duced discussion regarding “the right of individual members in voic ing themselves on questions of pub lic interest... It was felt that the lib erty of individuals could not be curtailed and that the club gained by encouraging its strong members to express themselves”. Vancouver women were active on many fronts. The University Women’s Club maintained its place
among a number of organizations -- the Council of Women’s Press Club, Women’s Forum, Women’s Canadian Club, Women’s Educational Club and the Parliamentary Association. Political parties had women’s associations even before women had the right to Mrs. McRae in her sulky in front of Hycroft.. vote. UPPER LEFTh Hycroft 1927. These women of varying purpos B.C. Historical News 17 sleeves to tackle the problems of res toration. The movement towards preser vation of historic buildings grew rapidly in the next two decades. On 8 February 1977 the first Vancouver City Plaque for a Heritage House was awarded to the club for their restoration of Hycroft. The plaque can be seen mounted outside, just west of the main entrance door. The Vancouver Historical Society presented its first Award of Merit for Building Preservation to the University Women’s Club on the Evlyn Fenwick Farris at occasion of the Historical Society’s University of B.C. Incorporation Day Dinner (in Convocation 1955. Slanley Park Pavilion) 6 April Photo Poter Hdbcme (1974). This illuminated scroll can Courtesy Archives, UBC Library be seen in the foyer beside the por trait gallery of 43 presidents 1907 - 1988. The networking of University women continues. The Canadian Federation, founded in 1919, is a national organization with head of fice in Ottawa. CFUW comprises more than 12,000 members grouped in 120 clubs from British Columbia to Newfoundland. The International Federation which held its first conference in REFERENCES London, England, in 1920 now com Minutes, Annual reports and prises 230,000 women from 51 na other records in the Archives of the tions with headquarters in Geneva, CORRECTION University Women’s Club of Switzerland. In the summer 1989 Vancouver. the 1}’UW conference will be held in In Vol. 20 No. 3 page 22 a Helsinki, Finland. Reeve, Phyllis. 75th list of presidents of the Anniversary. History of the The B.C. Council British Columbia president is University Women’s Club of Miss Mavis Boyd, #610-3105 Historical Association! Vancouver 1907 - 1982. S.Main St. Penticton, V2A - 7H1. Federation showed a Kennedy, Dolly. Reflections: break in the tenure of Hycroft University Women’s Club of Thelma Reid Lower is an active member Donald New. Mr. New is Vancouver - 1985. of the University Women’s Club. She was a the only president in our delegate at the Canadian Federation of Federation’s history to University Women Conference August 16 - 26 1988. have served four consecu tive years. The by-law li miting a president to three years maximum came in at the 1966 Annual General Meeting.
KC. Historical News 18 London, a journalist for (Punch). She bore him three children, one of whom died. PHYLLIS ROSS. L.L.D., On her husband’s death in 1932, she returned to Canada with C.B.E., O.C. her two children. It is said that Phyllis had devel oped a charming personality. Her manner was well reasoned and une Dolly Sinclair Kennedy motional, yet seasoned with a ready and well-pointed wit. Her ex ceptional ability was recognized. In 1934-36 Phyllis became Research Assistant with the Canadian Tariff Board. In 1936-37, Research Economist with the Board. In 1937-39 she was the Chief Research Economist. The outbreak of War made her the Economic Adviser to the War-Time Prices and Phyllis Turner Ross, was born in Phyllis graduated with her B.A., Trade Board, and as mentioned ear Rossland, British Columbia, eighty- First-Class Honours in Economics liei in 1940 Technical Advisor to five years ago. She attended pri and Political Science, in 1925. Her the Oils Administrator, and from mary and secondary schools there. musical talent had not suffered 194 1-45 Administrator of Oils and Fats. Phyllis became a pioneer for along the way, and that year she women in two extraordinary ways: also received her A.TC.M. from the While living in Ottawa, Phyllis She was the first and the only wom Toronto Conservatory of Music. became in 1934 one of the founders en to serve as Economic Advisor to In 1925 she won the Susan B. of Carleton University; and a mem the Wartime Prices and Trade Anthony Fellowship to Bryn Mawr ber of its first Board of Governors. Board. From 1941-45 as The years 1925-27 were spent there Her publications between 1934- Administrator of Oils and Fats, she in the field of Economics and 39 were numerous reports that she had jurisdiction over animal, vegeta Political Science. In 1927 she re wrote from research for the Tariff ble and fish oils, soap industry, ceived her M.A., her Thesis being: Board, and these were tabled in the printing inks, starches; glues; dex “Communistic Sects in Canada”. House of Commons. trins; and waxes. She controlled the In 1927 she won the Canadian Phyllis found time to become flow of oils from Canada to England Federation of University Women President of the University and the British West Indies. Travelling fellowship; and as well, Women’s Club of Ottawa in 1942- Her next great achievement was an European Travel Fellowship from 43. to be elected in 1961 as Chancellor Bryn Mawr. In 1945 Phyllis married Mr. of the University of British In the years 1927 - 28, Phyllis Frank MacKenzie Ross, a Columbia, the first woman in the studied at the London School of Vancouver industrialist, and moved British Commonwealth to hold an of Economics. She took Seminars in to Vancouver. fice of this kind. She was also Economic History and International In 1951-54 she became a mem Chairman of the Board of Governors. Relations. She did Research at the ber of the University of British She went on to serve a second term British Museum Library, and the Columbia Senate. As well, in 1954 from 1963-66. Quaker Library; for the history of she was given the Great Trekker Phyllis’ life was one of great the Douhobors and Mennonites. In Award for her Outstanding distinction and personal achieve 1928 she spent three months at the Contribution to the University of ment, but touched as well with sor University of Marburg, to study the British Columbia. Hutterite Sect, and one month at the row. In the years 1955-60, Phyllis School of International Studies in College days began in 1921 became the gracious Chatelaine of Geneva. when she attended the University of Government House, Victoria, during British Columbia. There she won Phyllis then returned to Bryn Mr. Ross’s term as Lieutenant.. public speaking contests, took part Mawr to complete written and oral Governor of B.C. exams for her Doctorate. in debates, was president of various In 1961, Phyllis became student societies, and topped it off In June of 1928 Phyllis married Chancellor of the University of by being a tennis champion. Mr. John Turner of Kenilworth and British Columbia, and served in B.C. Historical News 19 that capacity until 1966. In 1966, “Don’t be alarmed,” said my her son, the Honorable John Turnei husband. “It’s only a yard engine a former Rhodes Scholar represent Times Past bringing freight and supplies down ed a Montreal constituency as a the hill from Tadanac. Tracks are Minister without Portfolio, in the just outside the Douglas Hotel.” Dominion Government. He was lat Elsie G. Turnbull Morning showed how right he er to become Prime Minister of was. A few feet from the building Canada for a short period, and is the rail line cut across the town, now the Leader of the Opposition It was September of 1928 when slicing diagonally over the streets, for the Liberal Party. I set off across the continent to mar clattering over the rails and block In 1964, Dr. Ross was made an ry a metallurgical engineer working ing traffic on Pine Avenue. Daylight honorary member of the University in a smelter at Trail, B.C. As I also revealed tiers of houses on the Women’s Club of Vancouver. She waved good-bye to family in Ontario hillsides, seemingly built of packing took a personal interest in the club my father-in-law called a farewell boxes or anything else that was and purchased many of the beauti message: “I’m glad it’s you who is handy. It was not quite the fairy ful brass fittings for the fireplaces. going to Trail and not me!” Travel land of the previous evening but nei The Honorable Frank Ross, gave a through forested land in Northern ther was it the dreary place I had and considerable sum of money to the Ontario with its myriad lakes expected. The streets were full of rocky outcrops brought an occasional club in his wife’s honor which sum people while up on the hill the great settlements was used to buy some of the club’s glimpse of lonely smelter throbbed day and night wide beautiful silver tea and coffee urns. huddled in a clearing while without a pause. It was not a town At the summer garden parts Mrs. open prairies spreading to the hori of beauty but time would show it Ross always sent along a large zon made me wonder about the un was something better a town of vi cooked ham to be raffled off. known goal of my journey. However brant life and intense vitality, much we married in Medicine Hat, honey The Honorable Frank of it engendered by the trains. mooned in Banff, Revelstoke and Editor Note: Elsie Turnbull lived in MacKenzie Ross died in 1971. His Kaslo, finding mountains, lakes and Trail for many years where she became wife carried on with her volunteer scenery superb and then set off in known as “Trail’s Unofficial Historian”. Her in the 7aiZ Daily work. Among her many awards our brand-new Erskine car to motor name appeared frequently received Times.One item appeam’d in the October 12, which she in recognition for over winding washboard roads to her contribution to society were: 1962 Times stating, “Mrs. A.D. (Elsie) the so-called drab little town of Turnbull received special recognition for com of Commander the Order of the Trail. Darkness fell as we inched piling the Trail Diamond Jubilee Society his British Empire; Dame of the Most around the face of China Creek hill torical booklet in conjunction with the City’s year.. Paying tribute to Venerable Order of the Hospital of on a ledge one hundred feet above celebrations last John Mrs. Turnbull, Mayor Palyga stated, “Any St. of Jerusalem; Dame of the Columbia River. Suddenly we Magistral Grace of the Sovereign time anyone wants to know something of rounded the turn at the top of Trail’s history I send him to Mrs. Turnbull.” and Military Order of Malta; Life Smelter hill and before us appeared A later issue (May 29, 1963) published Member of the National Council of a spectacle of lights. A network of the following which tells the stoly of the re downtown Trail. Women of Canada; Cardinal val moval of the train tracks in colored lights glistening in the No longer would downtown visitors be awak Newman Award, Life Member of the ley along the dark gleam of river National Council of Girl Guides of en by a train, as was the new Mrs. Turnbull spread up the steep slopes of in 1928. Canada; National Award of the Lookout Mountain. To our left the Canadian Cancer Society; Human smelter stacks stood out against the iTEM REPRODUCED* Relations Award, Canadian Council sky and as we watched a pot of mol of Christians and Jews. ten slag spilled from its crane, IIISTORJAN RECALLS We said Good bye in April of shooting smoke and red flame into 1988, to a great Canadian. PUT IN the night. My spirits rose - it was a WHEN TRACKS scene for which I was completely un By ELSIE G. TURNBULL The author is a member of the Vancouver prepared. With lightened hearts we The mayor has lifted the first spike.
- Workmen are busily removing the Historical society Research was done at the drove down the steeply curving hill archives of the Canadian Federation of tracks of the Canadian Pacific Railway University Women. to spend the night at the Douglas spur-line to down town Trail. Hotel, a seeming refuge for weary Dignitaries have said farewell to travellers. Sleep came. Then sudden the past and have hailed a future when ly at 3 am. I was awakened by re traffic on Trail streets will not be imped diesel engines and boxcars. verberating whistles, a grinding ed by To us this seems “a great step on the chatter of wheels and squeaking way to progress,” but 67 years ago the brakes -- it could be nothing but a driving of that first spike and the laying train coming right through the mid of the first ties and rails signalled the dle of the house! (Continued on page 32) BC. Ilistorical Ne 20 135 ffAeTNGS STREET WEST KEEPING CLEAN VANCOUVER, S.C. (!uarantrr “5 J-_v AND WARM WAS The Management agrees that in consideration of $ that if the client’s hair does not take a wave, that the hair, or such A PROBLEM portion of the hair as may be necessary, ‘will be rewaved free of charge within 30 days from the date of the first work. We do not agree that our waves will not be affected by climatic conditions or the natural growth of the hair. Kelsey M. MeLeod Date..a-./-1t
LOS ANGELES Manager or BEAUTY SHOP SS,eel4isor. PHONE: SEY. 5332
in an outside shed.) The tubs had already been filled with cold water neighbors did their best with each Early in the century, most for this rubbing and rinsing cycle. other’s hair, or did their own. homes in British Columbia, with the The wash board and muscles took Women learned that rain water was exception of those in townsites, did over; working on the still-soiled best for shampoos. And, during the not have piped-in water, and most spots, the stains. Hand wringing once-yearly trip to the “bright lights’ didn’t boast a sink. Central heating, was the order of the day, though of Vancouver; the ladies went all-out also, lay far in the future. In spite of some women did have a hand- for the hairdressers. the drawbacks, and the work in operated wringer mounted between volved, people did keep clean and Yet, keeping the body clean and two tubs. (A tub for the rubbing, a warm. But it wasn’t easy. groomed was far less labour; and tub for the rinsing.) much less In most families and galvanized involved, than keeping The shaking and the shunting the family clothing linen tub used for washing clothes doubled and clean. around in the rinse water came What a back-breaking business as a bath tub. -- Baths in the kitch next, then another wringing out. en, in front of the roaring wood stove “Wash day” was! Once a week it Finally into the last rinse when the that was heating the bath water; had to be faced. It took all day to do bluing. Another wringing out. (Often the actual washing, and if the hands softened were pleasant affairs. -- Once one be skin came off the by came adept at getting one’s tender weather was wet, a number of days long immersion in the water with parts removed from harm’s way till everything was dried. All water this last wringing out.) when the kettle added more hot wa hand-carried, stove-top heated. Most Finally, the making of the ter to the tub. And, allowing for the of the women started the task and starch for the tablecloths and pillow necessary vigilance in making sure night before, putting the dirtiest ar clips, shirts, dresses, blouses. Some that while drying oneself, one didn’t ticles to soak overnight in a tub, rub people even starched handkerchiefs, bend over too close to the red-hot bing the worst soiled parts with Fels which was hard on the nose. nickel adornments that encrusted Naptha, or other strong soap. (Kleenex had not yet come into its the range. Come morning, once breakfast own) At long last, basin or basket was over and the dishes washed, (One local girl was famous -- or loads of the hea’.y wet wash were the copper wash boiler was placed infamous -- for having “Canada’s lugged out and pegged to the Pride”, the brand name of the fami on top of the stove, half-filled with clothes line. Hopefully, the day ly’s stove, indelibly and deeply water; and towels and pillow slips, would stay fine till the clothes were branded across her buttock when she other white articles such as men’s dry. bent over; after a bath, too close to dress shirts, were put in the brought Starched items were sprinkled the crackling range.) She wasn’t par to a boil, being poked and stirred fre with water and rolled, ready for ticularly unique in this; many an quently with a round, smooth stick. ironing, which was usually done aged posterior today bears a like When it was judged that the next day. The ironing was done by brand, dimmed by time. boiling had accomo1ished all it could, sad iron. The dictiona’ meaning of The grooming of the hair wasn’t the round stick fished items out and sad iron is simply ‘solid flat iron’, a problem as easily solved. There into a basin, which was carried to but heaven knew that the necessity were no barbers or hairdressers the wash tubs set up (if one was of smoothing wrinkles out of the available in most communities. lucky), nearby. (Often the tubs were ‘natural fabrics of the day by means B.C. Historical Ne 21 natural fabrics’ of the day by means stantial, larger, either round or How handy to be able to pull a of one of those heavy, top-of-the- square or oblong heaters, made of simmering pot to the back of the stove-heated, wrist-breaking mon cast iron. Slower heating, longer- stove, waiting for the table. How sters was a sad occupation. Too hot, lasting as to wood consuming, less comforting to hear the kettle sing the fabric was scorched, too cool, the hysterical than the air-tights. ing softly to itself while ‘bulled to wrinkles remained, staring up at Reassuring. It was possible to seat the side’, waiting its turn to useful the worker with sadistic persis yourself in a room with one of these, ness. How flavoursome the soup or tence. and say, read, getting up occasion stew that had bubbled gently all it is far bettei today, to simply ally and wandering over to it, lifting day ‘to the back’ twirl and whirl knobs, and refuse to the lid and looking inside. But -- what a traumatic day it think back; to view with proper re Languidly using the poker, to re was when that stove had to be spect wash-and-wear fabrics. arrange the burning sticks inside, cleaned, the soot removed, the then adding a chunk or two of fresh black-leading done! wood the woodbox be HEATING from sitting It must needs be done in the tween wall and heater. If luck was morning, before the day’s activities with you, and the wood being used took over. If Mother was really go There was, of course, no such not too green or wet, the smoke and ing for broke, she removed kitchen thing as ‘central’ heating in any cinders from this operation were curtains first. (Curtains in a home home, unless you were to call a generally minimal, and burns not that burns wood need washing with heater in the centre of the house as too frequent. shocking frequency.) She covered such, which would be stretching a Some housewives had the heat open shelves and furniture with point much too far. ers removed from the living rooms newspaper to keep them free of the The Kitchen range, chewing up during the summer months, for soot that would float and settle on wood at a horrendous rate, and there is nothing aesthetic about a everything, regardless of care tak spitting out vast quantities of heat, heatei warmth or no. en. She would wrap her head in a particularly in warm weather when Heaters notwithstanding, the protective cloth, spread newspaper it wasn’t needed, was what heated most important object in the home all around the stove, and begin. the homes for most of the year. was the kitchen stove. It was, in ef Ashes first. Of course, these In winter, most houses had a fect, the heart of the operation. Ours were disposed of daily, in any case, heater in the living room to supple was a huge, black, nickel-encrusted being dumped on the garden ash ment the range. The bedrooms took monster that had been a logging- pile. Then the utensil, a long rod their chances, and tended to be as camp stove. On one side it had a with a rectangle of metal small frigid as the Arctic, and considera gleaming copper tank that heated enough to get into the apertures bly damper. A few had portable water, and the oven could have and crannies of the range, was coal-oil heaters for the bedrooms, roasted a sheep. brought into play. The soot was and they did help, as well as mak Wood burning ranges had one raked out, cupfuls of it. One began ing lovely patterns of dark and advantage over the automatic to wonder if perhaps the cast-iron shadow on the bedroom ceilings. stoves of today: They did not take was disintegrating. Pints and The air-tight heaters were fa careful daily care and attention to quarts of soot, incredibly dirty, in vourites, for they heated up so keep them clean. No aluminium credibly light, rising and floating quickly. A round cylinder of rather discs to catch drips and spills. No about, in spite of how carefully it thin metal, with an opening on top grease-encrusted racks had to be was treated. that was covered by a round lid sprayed and left to soak. If some The newspapers -. and Mother -- with a gleaming metal handle, and thing spilled you wiped it up as became soot-streaked. The lower a small, round opening low down a best you could, and continued with chimney was tapped with a firm the front, covered with a plate that the movement, as the stove kept hand to dislodge any loose soot; the was held in place with a long screw spewing forth heat, which tended to stove lids were carried outside and that allowed the opening to be pulverize the spill. Once the stove the undersides scraped. made larger or smaller. They had was cool, if anything still was left, If this was the ultimate in an alarming tendency to huff and you used a knife or other scrapei cleanings, of course the stove pipes puff, and vibrate mightily when and pried it off, then rubbed the would come down too, and be taken they were ‘closed down’ too soon, or stove lids over with wax paper or into the yard, thumped free of their too tightly. Somebody was always the wax plug from a finished jar of encrustations, then re-assembled. leaping up and down, adjusting the jam. The ovens went the same Once the range was free of soot, draughts in an air-tight, and feed route: First a sizzle, then a smell came the black-leading. Such gor ing it wood usually meant scorched and a smoking, then burnt offer a geous dirt was that black lead, all hair on arms and hands. ing that tended to turn to dust and encompassing, greasy and cosmetic, Then there were the more sub- could be swept out. B.C. Historical News 22 it range look new and beautiful for a brief time. finally the buffing of the nickel with emery paper. After all this effort, and the pleasing results, it seemed a shame to light the range. But it had to be done, and quickly, to heat the water necessary to clean up the soot- infested kitchen, and the sooty stove-cleaner herself. The odour of heated black lead filled the house, and the shininess swiftly vanished from the stove’s hottest spots. If stove and pipes were cleaned regularly, there was little chance of a chimney fire, that most frighten j9” ing of experiences, the one which caused so many lost homes. - - A dull roar begins in the region of the chimney, and gains in strength as the extra heat generated there Writing Competition draws the flames in the firebox higher. Once it starts, little can be The British Columbia Historical Federation invites submissions for its done, except hoping for the best: sixth annual Competition for Writers of B.C. History That is, that the heat will not ignite Any book, published in 1988, with historical content is eligible. The the shingles, walls. work may be a community history biography, record of a project, industry It was all over very quickly, or organization, or personal recollection giving glimpses of the past. Names, dates, and places turn a story into “history’. whatever the outcome; it only The judges are looking for first presentations of historical information seemed a long-drawn-out affair. with appropriate illustrations, careful proof reading, an adequate index, With luck, the flames died out, the table of contents and bibliography. Monetary prizes are offered in the fol sparks and soot ceased to erupt, the lowing categories: roar died to a grumble, and finally 1) Best History Book by an individual author (This is eligible for the to a mutter. Silence... With good for Lieutenant - Governor’s Medal). tune, the end result was a hard-won 2) Best Anthologr knowledge that the chimney was, 3) Special Award - for the author or editor of an outstanding book. for the moment at least, clean and All books receive considerable publicity. Those submitting books free of soot, in spite of the danger should include name, address, telephone number, cost of book, and an ad dress from where the book may be ordered if the reader has to shop by ous way it was achieved. -- Hardly mail. Books should be mailed as soon as possible after publication to: worth the neglect of a necessary British Columbia Historical Federation chore. do Mrs. Naomi Miller The author grew up on the Malaspina Box 105 Penninsula and now lives in Vancouve, Wasa, B.C. VOB 2K0 Deadline for 1988 books is January 31, 1989.
There is also an award for Best Article each year submitted and pub lished in the British Columbia Historical News. Articles of up to 2500 words, substantiated with footnotes if possible, and accompanied by photo graphs and maps if available, are welcomed. (Photographs will be re turned). Deadlines for submission are welcomed. September 1, December 1, March 1, and June 1. Articles should be typed, double spaced and mailed. to: The Editor B.C. Historical News Box 105 Wasa, BC. VOB 2K0 Winners in all categories will be invited to the annual conference in Victoria in May 1989. ********
B.C. Historical News 23 News From Branches
their lives, gave a detailed informa North Shore at such a time, nobody except Historical Society Shipyard executives, are usually al tive account of the disastrous day. lowed inside the buildings. Mrs. Bowen also read excerpts from -- “$3.00 -- 1988 has been a good year thus Photographs include the “hull-loft”, her new book Dream” far for the north Shore Historical a huge structure in which plans and covering the period 1848-1900. The Society. Membership has increased measurements of ships’ hulls could title of the book pertaining to the from less than 60 in 1987 to over 70 be laid out on the floor, as used to be amount of pay the miners received at the present date. We have contin done in the past. per day. Mr. John Haslam whose family has lived in the Nanaimo ued to hold monthly meetings with We have written letters to all a speaker or a film, followed by plen area for 100 years was interviewed three North Shore municipalities, ex by the President, Ed. Barraclough re ty of audience participation and dis pressing our concern for achieving cussion, and refreshments. farming and farm life covering the the maximum efficiency in catalo period 1860 to the present day. In April, the speaker was Mr. guing all buildings built earlier than Miss H. Stewart - author of the Barry Downs, architect and the au 1930. “Adventures and Sufferings of John thor of Sacred Places: British Our President has conducted five R. Jewitt, Captive of Maquinna” Columbia’s Early Churches. Mr. Sunday afternoon “heritage walks” was a fascinating storyteller as she Downs spoke on Religious Art and since last Octobei mostly focusing related the tale that took place Architecture in British Columbia, on the North Lonsdale area. Many 1803-1805. Miss Shelly Harding, and because his firm, Downs, of the public have attended, as well Education and Volunteer Program Archambault, had designed the as our Society’s membership. Our lo Co-Ordinator of the Nanaimo present North Vancouver City Hall, cal Community TV Shaw Cable 4, Museum was speaker at two of our we received permission to hold our has been running a program called meetings, in May - she explained meeting in the City Council “Pioneers and Neighbours”; Mr. how artifacts are catalogued and the Chamber - a historic occasion. In Pallant has appeared several times many details to be taken care of be May, our Society President, Roy on this program, talking about the fore displays are set up in the Pallant, gave the first of two talks history of North Vancouver and on Museum, and in February, spoke on on the life and career of George S. these occasions his host-interviewer the preservation of treasures of the Hanes, who became Engineer of the has been Olga Ruskin, who is her Past so that the articles are safe for City of North Vancouver in 1909, self a long-time member of the North the future. Ed. Barraclough gave an and was Mayor from 1913 to 1916, Shore Historical Society. interesting talk on the adventures of and Liberal Member in the British E. Grubbe a group of young men, one of them Columbia Legislature from 1916. July 5, 1988 being John MacGregor from Mr. Hanes is credited with introduc Nanaimo who made a six hundred ing in 1907 the first reinforced con mile journey of the Klondike to crete road construction in Canada, Skagway by canoe and dog team and indeed, in North America, and around the turn of the century becoming, therefore, the “Father of concrete roads in North America”, at Field trips included a trip to the the tender age of 25 years. Cumberland Museum and Newcastle Nanaimo Historical Island Provincial Park. In March, acting on behalf of the Society North Shore Historical Society, Roy A meeting of our society was Pallant contacted the President of Annual Report 1987 - 1988 held in the local Museum and after Versatile Pacific Shipyards, formerly the business meeting, a tour of the Burrard Drydock, formerly Wallaces The attendance at the meetings Museum proved interesting. Guests Shipyard, and now facing probable has increased and name tags have at this meeting included the Elder re-sale. Because some of the heri been instituted for those attending Hostel Group from the Malaspina tage landmark buildings are likely the meetings. College, Nanaimo. to be demolished, permission was Speakers include Mrs. Lynne Two valued members passed obtained to photograph them, both Bowen, who in recognition of the away, Mrs. Helen Timmins and Don inside and out, The North Shore 100th Anniversary, May 3rd, 1887 Grieve, books in their memory will Museum and Archives sent their of the Number One-Coal Mine be presented to the Museum, also a photographer to do this, although, Disastei in which 148 miners lost book has been presented to the B.C. Historical News 24 Museum in memory of our late 1987 - 1988 EXECUTIVE grammetry at Oxford and President, Dr. Seiriol Williams, also President WE. Barraclough Dresden. He then returned to a book has been presented to the 1st Vice President Mrs. Daphne the B.C. Forest Service, and be Kinsmen Child Development Centre Paterson gan a long-term effort to devel in memory of the late Reg. 2nd Vice President Frank Thompson op a provincial air survey pro Dickinson. Treasurer TD. Sale gram. Corresponding All Secondary Schools in the Secretary Mrs. M. Nicholls During the Second World War Nanaimo District have been contact Recording Secretary Miss Dorthy ed and are enthusiastic about books McCourt as a member of the Royal presented by our Society re histori Canadian Engineers, he was cal essays. responsible for the mapping of underwater and surface condi The Nanaimo Tourist Bureau tions of coasts and beaches for contacted the Historical Society - re GertyAndrews Honored operation overlord. The questing a summary of the history Normandy Invasion, For their of Nanaimo (1000 words) and the Former B.C.H.F. President service he was made a fellow of Executive Committee compiled a Gerry Andrews was honoured by the Royal Geographical Society good report. the University of Victoria on May of the UK, and was also 26th, when he received the title and awarded an OBE (member, mil The project of identifying and degree of Honorary Doctor of itary division) by his Majesty recording all plaques in the City is Engineering. George VI. still being carried on. Our members will join us in congratulating Gerry on this Princess Royal Day was cele great honour. Following is the text From 1951, Mr. Andrews held brated on November 27th, when the of the address by the President of the positions of Surveyor Bastion Bell is rung at 11:00 A.M., the University of Victoria on the oc General of British Columbia to signify when the pioneers set foot casion. and Director of Surveys and on land in Nanaimo, 1854. Mr. Chancellor: Mapping. He retired from Government Service in 1968; “Show I have the honour to present and Tell” is a popular one interesting although inade feature Gerald Smedley Andrews. held in January the mem quate measure of his contribu bers bring item and give a five min tion is that, during his service Mr. Andrews attended the nor ute talk on their history with the B.C. Government, mal school of Vancouvei gradu their stock of air photographs Dr. J. Mar has been working dil ating in 1922, and established grew from zero to 523,000 igently re the recognition of the bi the first school in the Metis items. centennial of Chinese immigrants Community of Kelly Lake in who came to the West Coast of 1923. He learned the Cree lan Vancouver Island, Nootka-1788-- guage and travelled extensive In honouring Gerry Andrews and to commemorate the 100th an ly through the Peace River dis today, the university pays trib niversary -- the naming of the trict, making friends and ute to the very best of the spirit mountain peak on Vancouver Island gaining a feel for the country and skill of B.C.’s Pioneering West Coast. Plans are almost final With a change in interests, he Professional Engineers, his con ized and the naming of the peak of then entered the University of tributions to the mapping of ficially will probably take place, Toronto, from which he received the wilderness of British May 12th, 1988, in Victoria by a B.SC. in Forestry in 1930. Columbia have contributed in Premier Bill Vander Zalm. estimably to the present state of development of our province. Major John Howard delighted He was a pioneer in the im his audience with his talk entitled mense effort of surveying and “The Capture of Pegasus Bridge” mapping the territory of British Mr. Chancellor, I now ask, on (near Caen, France) on D Day (June Columbia; he led the first sur behalf of the senate of the 6, 1944). veys of the flathead, shuswap University, that you confer and tranquille districts. The upon Gerald Smedley Andrews hardships and difficulties of the title and degree of honorary conducting field surveys led Doctor of Engineering. him to his interest in the use of photography from aircraft for surveying and mapping, which in turn led him to study photo- B.C. Historical News 25 **************************** * * * Writing Competiton 1987 * * * The following books were submitted for the 5th annual Competition for Writers of B.C. History * Each is available at local bookstores or may be ordered from the address listed below and title. * * * FIRST PRWE & LIEUTENANTGOVERNOR’S MEDAL Three Dollar Dreams 408 pages Hard Cover * Lynne Bowen $29.95 * * Oolichan Books A fascinating history of coal mines in the P0. Box 10 Naaimo ara. * Lantzville, B.C. VOR 1HO * * CERTWICATE OF MERiT * * Sappers 182 pages Soft Cover * Beth Hill $9.95 * Horsdai & Schubart Publishers Ltd. A friendly look at the Royal Engineers and * P0. Box 1 their role in the Colony & Province of British Ganges, B.C. VOS lEO Columbia. k * * * CERWICATE OF MERiT - BEST BIOGRAPHY * Spilthurs Coast 190 pages Hard Cover * Jim Spilsbury & Howard White $24.95 * A.J. Spilsbury The story of life in remote coastal sites and * 6691 Madrona Crescent the coming of radio. Pioneers in the Wet * * West Vancouver B.C. V7W 2J9 West. 442 Squadron History 144 pages Hard Cover Capts. TA. Strocel & G. MacDonald $20.00 * Captain Terry Strocel The story of a west coast squadron from k * 442 Transport & Rescue Squadron inception to present day. Canadian Forces Base, Lazo, B.C. * VOR 2K0 * * Caesars of the Wilderness 450 pages Hard Cover Peter C. Newman $25.00 * Penguin Books Canada Ltd. A superb book. The history of the Hudson’s * 2801 John Street Bay Company in western Canada. Scant * * Markham, Ontario, L3R 1B4 B.C. content precludes it from a B.C. prize. * * The Nootka 216 pages Hard Cover * Edited by Charles Lillard $18.95 * Sono Nis Press Annotated reprint of the diary of Gilbert Malcom * * Victoria, B.C. V8W 2J8 Sproat. * Succession 201 pages Hard Cover * David Mitchell $24.95 k Douglas & McIntyre Ltd. A well written record of the Social Credit party in * 1615 Venables Street B.C. * Vancouver, B.C. V5L 2H1 * * A Town Called Chase 383 pages Soft Cover k * Joyce Dunn $15.95 Chase Chamber of Commerce The history of Chase, the town on Little Shuswap Box 592 Lake. * Chase, B.C. VOE 1MO * * * * * * * **************************** B.C. Historical News 26 **************************** * You’re All Grown Up Vancouver! 96 pages 8 112x11” Paperback * Margaret Evans $9.95 * Hancock House Publishers Ltd. A child’s eye view of Vancouver history * 19313 Zero Avenue fliustrations by Barb Wood. * Surrey, B.C. V3S 5J9 * * * Early Ristory of Port Moody 180 pages Soft Cover * D.M. Norton $12.95 * Hancock House Publishers The human story of one town’s grit and
* 19313 Zero Avenue determination 1700 - 1914. * * Surrey, B.C. V3S 5J9 * Grand Forks - The First 100 Years 188 pages Soft Cover * J.B. & Alice Glanville $13.50 * * J.G. Glanville The Boundary Country celebrates the 100th * Box 746 anniversary of the arrival of its earliest settlers. * Grand Forks, B.C. VOH 1HO * * Our First Century 84 pages Soft Cover * Les Cummings $9.50 * First Baptist Church A record of activities of Baptist congregations in * 969 Burrard Street the changing community of Vancouver. * Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 1Y1 * * * West of the Great Divide 336 pages Hard Cover * Robert Turner $39.95 * Sono Nis Press A detailed history of the Canadian Pacific Railway * 1745 Blanshard Street in B.C. Well illustrated. * * Victoria, B.C. V8W 2J8 * Adventures and Sufferings of John R. Jewitt 189 pages Hard Cover * Hilary Stewart $29.95 * * Douglas & McIntyre The presentation ofjournal kept by a prisoner of * 1615 Venables Street Maquinna 1803-1805 and explanatory history of * Vancouver, B.C. V5L 2H1 that era. * * First Water Tigers 234 pages Hard Cover * Dave Parker $34.95 * Sono Nis Press The story of Victoria’s fire fighters and fire * 1745 Blanshard Street engines through the years. * Victoria, B.C. V8W 2J8 * * * Steaming Through Northern Waters 80 pages Soft Cover * Phylis Bowman $5.95 * P Bowman An illustrated history of shipping on the North * 688 Skeena Drive Coast. * * Port Edward, B.C. VOV 1GO * Second World War Memories 84 pages Soft Cover * Phylis Bowman $5.95 * * 688 Skeena Drive An illustrated history of Prince Rupert in WV1II Port Edward, B.C. VOV * * 1GO * Land of Plenty 464 pages Hard Cover * D.E. Isenor, WN. Mclnnes, E.G. Stephens $39.95 * & D.E. Watson 125 years of European presence in the Comox * D. Isenor Courtenay-Cumberland area. * Office H. 830 Cliffe Street * Courtena, B.C. V9N 2J7 * * * Pioneer Pipers of B.C. 286 pages Hard Cover * Carl Ian Walker $35.00 * C.I. Walker A directory of B.C. residents who have performed Box381 on bagpipes. * Squamish, B.C. VON 3G0 * **************************** B.C. Histodeal Ne 27 Following the lunch break the delegates and visitors from both Societies assembled in Room 300 of Report On The B..-Alberta Donald Cameron Hall to hear Maryalice Harvey Stewart speak on Historical Conference “Park Wardens in Rocky Mountain Parks.” Her talk traced the trails Banif Alberta 1988 and tribulations of the park war dens over the past century with spe cial mention of the earlier ones. Several humorous incidents were re counted. The development of fire fighting techniques, warden schools, and methods of travel were includ The Historical Society of Alberta of letters received and sent by ed. After coffee break John Adams of and the British Columbia Historical Corresponding Secretary Don Sale; Victoria spoke on “Heritage Federation held a joint conference at President’s Report from Naomi Cemeteries: Finding History in a the Banff Centre from Thursday Miller. Graveyard.” This well documented May to Sunday, 8, May 1988. - Invitations to hold the 1989 slide presentation included various Delegates and visitors were wel A.G.M. in Victoria, the 1990 A.G.M. methods of marking graves and bu comed and registered by Dr. Fred in Grand Forks, 1991 in Cowichan, rial areas as practised by ethnic Holberton of Calgary who handled and 1992 in Burnaby groups in many parts of the prov the pre-registration and facilities co 5) New Business: ince. Two tours of the Walter ordination for the conference. Agreement in principle to send a Phillips Art Gallery concluded the Commencing at 7:30 p.m. on delegate to the Annual Conference of afternoon. Displays here are ever Thursday a welcoming reception Heritage Canada in September 1988 changing and the current exhibit was held in a penthouse lounge in Charlottetown, PE.I. featured items used by handicapped overlooking the Bow Valley. individuals. President Naomi Miller brought Syd Feuz of Golden gave a slide greetings declaring Introduction of Associate that the B.C. show with commentary on “Alpine Historical Federation was (Individual) Memberships. This new now 65 Guiding; The Swiss Guides and years old. President category of membership is designed Elise Cobet ex Others”. Feuz’s grandfather, father tended a welcome on of to allow individuals who cannot affil behalf the and two uncles had been mountai now 82 year old Historical iate with a branch society to be more Society of neering guides for the C.PR. from Alberta. Eight large groups then fully informed on Council activities, 1897 - 1930. Syd is a practicing participated in a and to receive an invitation to at get acquainted heli-ski guide. The views shown cov “Buzz session” at the of tend the annual conference. The end which ered climbers from 1900 to modern the appointed leaders price of this membership will be the or scribes daredevils climbing icefalls and gave a varied and interesting cost of an individual subscription report steep cliffs. of the input of each group from a list plus a nominal membership fee. of suggested historical concerns. This year that will be $8.00 plus Friday evening concluded with a Current individual subscri panel discussion of “Umbrella B.C. Historical Federation mem $2.00. bers to the British Columbia Groups; Their Role in Heritage bers met Friday morning in Room Historical News will be informed of Preservation.” chaired by Terry 300 for their Annual General this option when their next renewal Chapman of Medicine Hat College. Meeting, while the Historical Society notice is sent out to them. Panelists were Ross Keith from of Alberta met in Room for their 307 Regina, Saskatchewan Myrtle annual meeting. Basic Current fees to remain the same highlights of Haslam of Duncan, B.C., and Morris the B.C.H. F as set in 1987. Meeting included the Flewelling of Red Deer Alberta. All following: 6) Reports from Branches - these agreed that specific will be published in the NEWS. participants Greetings from the Honorary projects of historical worth must be President Dr. W. Kaye Lamb deliv undertaken, sources of funds must ered by Anne Yandle. 7) Elections on slate presented be sought and cooperation between Roll Call of Societies - 14 by nominations Chairman Anne parallel organizations intensified. Branches were represented. Yandle. Provincial umbrella groups could in Reading of 1987 A.G.M. Minutes clude such groups as archaeologists, by retiring Recording - Secretary, 8) Adjournment following numer architects, gemologists, historical, Margaret Stoneberg; Treasurer’s ous well deserved votes of thanks. museum and other heritage organi Report by George Newell; Summary zations interested in preservation, B.C. Historical Ne 28 pride, and mutual support. Certificate of Merit to Mr. Jim On Saturday morning, May 7, Spilsbury author of Spilsbury’s Best Article participants could choose from three Coast. He then presented the workshops held at 9 a.m. and one Lieutenant-Governor’s Medal and a Winner 1987 from three topics offered at 10:45 Certificate of Merit to Mrs. Lynne a.m. A popular choice was “Helpful Bowen, author of the 1987 winning Hints to Would be Writers” by Dr. historical book Three Dollar Ron Hawker received a G.PV. Akrigg and Helen Akrigg. Dreams Certificate of Merit for his article Items covered by these speakers The after dinner speaker was “Chateau Prince Rupert: A started with the gathering of work Mr. Jon Whyte, Curator of the Forgotten Dream.” Hawker was at ing tools, choosing a topic, use of in Whyte Museum. He gave a brief tending the University of Victoria at dex cards, maps, pictures, through background of Banff which celebrat the time, where he earned a assessing the written product, ap ed its centenary recently. Pointing Masters degree in History in Art. proaching a publishei and advice re out the importance of geography (M.A.) His thesis topic was marketing. “Preservation of Old and mytholog he went on to refer “Gravestones Among TsimShan Books” was demonstrated by to great epics such as Chaucer’s Indians”. He presented a paper at Charles Brandt of Black Creek, Canterbury Tales, Shakespeare’s the B.C. Historical Federation sec B.C., while Donald J. Bourdon of works, Dicken’s Tale of Two Cities ond Symposium on Heritage the Whyte gallery in Banff illustrat and Berton’s National Dream. He Cemeteries. ed his talk on “Care and Handling then regaled his audience with sam Following graduation from the of Archival Collections for Small ples of local poetry rich in allitera University of Victoria, Hawker and Institutions and Collectors.” Choices tion, imitative harmony, metaphors his wife moved to Japan. Both are for the later session included further and similes, expertly narrated with teaching English at a private con instruction on Book Binding by expression. Naomi Miller, retiring versation school in Matsuyama. Charles Brandt; “Tracing Your president of the B.C.H.F. suitably Look for another article by this Family Tree” by Genealogist Enid thanked the speaker. A memorable author in the coming issue. Fitzsimmons of Edmonton; and a joint conference was brought to a slide presentation on “Medicinal close with a “Thank You” to and Nutritional Wild Plants and Leonard McCann for initiating the Herbs” by Donna Coulter of Fort idea, and with an invitation to McLeod with “Pioneer Foods and Albertans to join us in Burnaby in Recipes in Alberta and B.C.” by 1992. Bunny Barss. Submitted by T.D. Sale After lunch participants either Secretary B.C.H. Federation toured the Whyte Museum, or the Nanaimo, B.C. Cave and Basin, or went on a con ducted hike up Tunnel Mountain. Half the hikers were with a guide from Parks Canada while the others were escorted by Harvey Locke, a lawyer from Calgary The weather was perfect for enjoying the Rockies at their best. COMING Approximately 140 members SOON and guests assembled for the ban Packtrains in the Cassiar, Curio quet of roast beef, Yorkshire pud Dealers in Victoria, a ding and the trimmings. Margaret Settlement Scheme for Stoneberg was presented with a cor Galiano, and Excerpt from sage in recognition of her eleven Edgar Dewdney’s Journal will years as Recording Secretary, be in Volume 22 No. 1. B.C.H.F. Honorable Greg Stevens, Theme for Spring 1989 issue is M.L.A. for Banff-Cochrane and to be “Education”. This can be Minister of Culture and on formal or informal education. Multiculturalism presented the Deadline for these articles is Historical Society of Alberta Award March 1, 1989. of Mr. Bill Peters. Mr. Don Sale, The Fall 1989 issue will be Chairman of the B.C.H.F. Writing “Memories of the 1930’s”. Elise Corbett Awards Committee presented a B.C. Histoiical News 29 Bookshelf
Whalers No More, A History of ing.> Other passages give insights whalers, Flying the Chase Flag, it Whaling on the West Coast into how the whalers learned their is a valuable contribution to British 1, WA. Hagelund, Madeira Park, trade aboard ship. Columbia’s maritime history as well B.C., Harbour Publishing Company The book is excellent in describ as being thoroughly enjoyable to Ltd., 1987 ing the technology and social history read. 211 Pages $24.95 of the modern Pacific steam whal Duncan Stacey This book is a pleasant switch ing, both at sea and ashore. Of par Duncan Stacey is a fishing historian from the currently popular apologet ticular use is the inclusion of dia based in Vancouve, and currently doing work for the National Museum of Canada. ic school of writing on the history of grams of vessels and whaling Canada’s whaling industry. It is stations at Naden and Coal written by a former whaler who pro Harbour. While the author relies pri vides a first hand account of the rea marily on his own experiences for his sons men went whaling, their exper material he also records the early iences at seas, and their lives history of Pacific whaling and the Three Dollar Dreams ashore. There are no mind-numbing men who made the industry -- the by Lynne Bowne. Lantzville, statistics presented nor impassioned gunners, pilots, and entrepreneurs. B.C. Ooliehan Books, 1987. PP 373; arguments for either side of the Another reason this work is illustrated, bibliography, glossary whaling controversy. There is rather available is that it recognizes that and index $29.95 a vivid social history of the nearly the romance of whaling persisted up fortten whaling life. to the twentieth century and the ad Three Dollar Dreams is Lynne When asked how he could kill a vent of the modern whaling vessel Bowen’s second book about the coal whale the author presented the ar which had steam powered ships. miners of Vancouver Island. Her first gument that whaling provided socie After reading the book, however few work. Boss Whistle, describes the ty with many essential products readers will conclude that steam Island’s mines in the words of the and that it was traditionally the whaling does not have a romanti men and women who lived the story pursuit of the very poor the very cism of its own. This is touchingly during the twentieth century Three hungry, and very desperate men. pointed out in the author’s reason Dollar Dreams traces the origins The pointed out that the industry for writing the book: <... because an and development of the mining com brought out the best and the worst old man held determinedly to a munities during the previous centu of the men who laboured there: <... dream long enough for [the authorl ry Bowen begins with the efforts of courage, tenacity and feats of sea to realize that when he and his the Hudson’s Bay Company to im manship were virtues.., but they dream went we would have lost an port miners and produce coal at Fort were also guilty of greed and important touchstone with our coun Rupert in 1848. The subsequent waste.> try’s historic past... his dream was emergency of the mature industry to refit the old steam whaler His personal horror at the killing Green forms the backdrop for her narrative. to go to It was an of his first whale is evidence that sea again. impos The book focuses on the lives of the sible dream for almost twenty years whalers are not wanton killers but men who worked the mines, their he nursed it, and it became his vital rather the professional hunters of families, the dangers associated spark of life.> the sea: work of history -- in so far as its when she draws upon the reports Waters sources do not set it apart -- and, as and inquests following explosions by Phyllis Bowman. Port such, it is dependent upon the writ and fires in the mines. The tales of Edward, B.C., 1987. 80 p. illus. er, not the historical actoi for its the survivors offer a grim testimony $5.95. form, substance and direction. to the dangers inherent in earning a living digging coal. The result is an episodic narra Steaming through Northern tive, frequently rich in detail, and If anything, Bowen has at Waters is the latest in Phyllis occasionally tinged with nostalgia. tempted to tell too much too quick Bowman’s series of photo essays on Two shop-worn themes run through ly. One topic flows rapidly into an north coast subjects. In the 80 pag the book: “it is about a time when a other; the result is sometimes es of the book there are many photo young boy could start in the mine confusion, sometimes an engrossing graphs of old river boats and coastal as the lowest of workers and could story Three Dollar Dreams is based vessels, with extensive captions become through a lot of hard work on solid research which is evident which make up most of the text. and a little luck, a boss or even a from the extensive bibliography. The Some of the material has appeared millionaire.” It is also “about a time glossary is also quite useful for elsewhere, and a few of the photo when many, no matter how hard those who are not familiar with coal graphs suffer from poor reproduc working, did not achieve their mining terminology But the effort tion. The book is available from the dream and settled for a lot less.” to provide a wealth of detail on all author at 688 Skeena Drive, Port The Horatio Alger myth embodied topics sometimes does a disservice Edward, B.C. VOV 1GO. in the rise of the Dunsmuirs and a to the reader as it disrupts the nar few others is presented in counter rative. A higher degree of selectivity point with the all too stark realities in her use of the evidence available John Kendrick of life for most miners and their to her could have produced a more families. It is this second theme tightly organized book. John Kendrick’s, a member of which informs the bulk of the books. Unfortunately, to have done so the Vancouver Historical Society has Both themes are presented rather would have been at the expense of recently had his second local history uncritically and are used as orga the stories of individual lives that published - People of the Snow - the nizing frameworks for the narrative. give the book much of its strength history of Kitimat. Bowen presents a wide range of and one of its primary reasons for subjects to the reader with a strong having been written. Shuswap Chronicles, Vol. 1, emphasis on the details of individu Taken together, Three Dollar 1988. Published by the North al lives. The early histories of the Dreams and Boss Whistle, provide Shuswap Historical Society. 32 p. coal mines and the communities the general reader with a good in This is the first annual publica that grew up beside them -- troduction to the coal mines of tion of the North Shuswap Nanaimo, Wellington, Cumberland Vancouver Island. They also rescue Historical Society whose goal is to and others are described in consider- the lives of many of the less-than- “combine accurate historical analy B.C. Historical News 31 sis with entertaining anecdotes from Creek Tramway. our pioneers”. This issue has a va It was he who had conceived the I Roseland the varying idea of smelting ores at riety of articles, from steamboat landing on the Columbia “George Mercer Dawson, Shuswap River and accordingly had erected a cop explorer” to “Cooking for the Crew”. per smelter on a bench above the river. It is available from North Shuswap At first ore was hauled downhill Historical Society General De1iver from the mines to the smelter yard by wagons Heinze con Celista, VOE 1LO. horse-drawn but B.C. structed the narrow-gauge to replace the horses. Not content with this, he organized the Columbia & Western Railway Company and obtained a charter to build a railroad from Trail to Midway. Main offices were established in a birth of the City of Trail. big frame building up the bill at Smelter Winter snow still covered the ground Junction - that same building was demo when in January 1896 construction of a lished but a few weeks ago. 1c narrow-gauge tramway to the Rossland Late in 1896 the Columbia & mines was begun. Western absorbed the Trail Creek Despite the weather grading went Tramway and the following year built a ahead while on the water-front at the rail line along the Columbia River from steamboat landing tracks were laid and a Trail to Robson. small depot built. In 1898 the CPR bought Heinze’s :V Early in April a scowload of rolling property in British Columbia and be stock was towed downriver from came owners of his smelter and rail Arrowhead and an engine and four ore roads. cars which had been used on the The little narrow-gauge line to Dunmore & Lethbridge Railway in Rossland was widened to standard width Alberta were unloaded. and in 1903 the depot was moved from In a short time No. 2, an eight-wheel the waterfront to its present location on engine, was running up and down the Cedar Ave. track under the Big Bridge on Bay Ave. The advent of the railway made After one or two trails over greasy sternwheelers on the river obsolete and rails, the end of track was reached and for many years the railway brought sup then the job of forwarding ties and rails plies to Trail and carried passengers to was begun by all hands. distant points. Laying one-quarter to one-half mile Now that era has passed and the a day, the work crew made rapid tracks have been taken up to make way progress and by June the first trains ran for motor transport on a modern high from Trail into Rossland, winding up the way. steep hillside in a series of switchbacks. Two daily trains and a night train were needed to handle all the freight and passengers. More rolling stock was ac quired in Salt Lake City from the Utah Northern Railroad. Eleven flatcars, six boxcars, an en gine, a first-class coach and a private care which had belonged to the president of the Mormon railway, John W Young, a son of Brigham Young, were brought to Northport and then upriver to Trail by barge. The former private coach was re modelled, one-half being fitted as a drawing room and was used by Heinze on his frequent visits to Trail. The passenger coaches were well pa tronized and a visitor reports that occu pants were packed in like sardines in a can, while on gala days people even clung to cowcatcher and tops of cars. Trail was now, as the masthead of the Trail Creek News proclaimed, “a Rail and Steamboat Headquarters.” F Augustus Heinze, the highflying buccaneer capitalist from Butte, John Mmnc John Spittle Montana, was the builder of the Trail 32 THE BRITISH COLUMBIA HISTORICAL FEDERATION Honorary Patron: His Honour, the Honourable Robert G. Rogers, Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia Honorary President: Dr. W. Kaye Lamb Officers President John D. Spittle, 1241 Mount Crown Road. North Vancouver. B.C. V7R 1R9 988-4565 (residence) 1St Vice President Myrtle Haslam, 1975 Wessex Road, Cowichan Bay, B.C. VOR 1NO 748-8397 (residence) 2nd Vice President Dorothy Crosby, 33662 Northcote Crescent, Mission, B.C. V2V 5V2 826-8808 Secretary I Don Sale, 262 Juniper Street, Nanaimo, B.C. V9S 1X4 753-2067 (residence) Recording Secretary Shirley Cuthbertson, 306 - 225 Belleville Street, Victoria, B.C. V8V 4Y9 387-2407 (business), 382-0288 (residence) Treasurer George R. Newell, 27 Seagirt Road, R.R. 1, Sooke, B.C. VOS 1NO 642-5072 (residence) Members-at-Large Margaret Stoneberg, PC. Box 687, Princeton, B.C. vox iWO 295-3362 (residence) Alice Glanville, PC. Box 746, Grand Forks, B.C. VOH 1HO 442-3865 Past President Naomi Miller,Box 105, Wasa, B.C. VOB2K0 422-3594 (residence) Editor Naomi Miller,Box 105, Wasa, B.C. VOB2K0 422-3594 (residence) Chairmen of Committees Historic Trails and Markers John D. Spittle B.C. Historical News Ann W. Johnston, R,R. 1, Mayne Island, B.C. VON2JO Publishing Committee 539-2888 (Residence) Lieutenant- Governor’s Award Committee Naomi Miller Publications Assistance Helen Akrigg, 8-2572 Tolmie Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6R 4M1 Committee 228-8606 (not involved with Loans are available for publication. Please contact Helen Akrigg prior to submitting manu B.C. Historical News) script Heritage Cemeteries John D. Adams, 628 Battery Street, Victoria, B.C. V8V 1E5 Committee 342-2895 Subscription Secretary Nancy Peter, 5928, Baffin Place, Burnaby, B.C. V5H 3S8 437-6 115 (residence) The British ColumbiaHistoricalNews SecondClass Mail P0. Box35326Stn. E. Registration No. 4447 Vancouver,B.C. V6M4G5 ADDRESSLABELHERE JOIN Why not join the British Columbia Historical Federation and receive the British Columbia Historical News regularly? The BCHF is composed of member societies in all parts of the province. By joining your local society you receive not only a subscription to British Columbia Historical News, but the opportunity to participate in a program of talks and field trips, and to meet others interested in British Columbia’s history and the BCHF’s annual convention. For information, contact your local society (address on the inside front cover)... No local society in your area? 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