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Member Societies and their Secretaries are responsible for seeing that the correct address for their society is up to date. Please send any change to both the Treasurer and the Editor at the addresses inside the back cover. The Annual Return as at October 3i should include telephone numbers for contact.

MEMBERS’ DUES for the current year were paid by the following Societies: Alberni District Historical Society Box 284, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 7M7 Alder Grove Heritage Society 3190 - 271 St. Aldergrove, B.C. V4W 3H7 Anderson Lake Historical Society Box 40, D’Arcy,B.C. VON1LO Arrow Lakes Historical Society RR#1, Site 1C, Comp 27, Nakusp, B.C. VOG 1RO Atlin Historical Society Box 111, Atlin, B.C. VOW lAO Boundary Historical Society Box 580, Grand Forks, B.C. VOH 1HO Bowen Island Historians Box 97, Bowen Island, B.C. VON 1GO Burnaby Historical Society 6501 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby, B.C. V5G 3T6 Chemainus Valley Historical Society Box 172, Chemainus, B.C. VOR 1KO Cowichan Historical Society P0. Box 1014, Duncan, B.C. V9L 3Y2 District 69 Historical Society Box 1452, Parksville, B.C. V9P 2H4 East Kootenay Historical Association P0. Box 74, Cranbrook, B.C. Vi C 4H6 Gulf Islands Branch, BCHF do A. Loveridge, S.22, C.i 1, RR#1, Galiano. VON 1P0 Hedley Heritage Society Box 218, Hedley, B.C. VOX1KO Kamloops Museum Association 207 Seymour Street, Kamloops, B.C. V2C 2E7 Koksilah School Historical Society 5203 Trans Canada Highway, Koksilah, B.C. VOR 2C0 Kootenay Museum & Historical Society 402 Anderson Street, Nelson, B.C. Vi L 3Y3 Lantzville Historical Society do Box 274, Lantzville, B.C. VOR2H0 Nanaimo Historical Society PC. Box 933, Station A, Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 5N2 Nicola Valley Musuem & Archives P0. Box 1262, Merritt, B.C. V1K 1B8 North Shore Historical Society 1541 Merlynn Crescent, North Vancouver, B.C. V7J 2X9 North Shuswap Historical Society Box 317, Celista, B.C. VOE 1LO Princeton & District Museum & Archives Box 281, Princeton, B.C. vox iWO Qualicum Beach Historical & Museum Society 587 Beach Road, Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 1K7 Salt Spring Island Historical Society 129 McPhillips Avenue, Salt Spring Island, B.C. V8K 2T6 Sidney & North Saanich Historical Society 10840 Innwood Rd. North Saanich, B.C. V8L 5H9 Silvery Slocan Historical Society Box 301, New Denver, B.C. VOG iSO Surrey Historical Society Box 34003 17790 #10 Hwy, Surrey, B.C. V35 8C4 Texada Island Historical Society Box 122, Van Anda, B.C. VON3KO Trail Historical Society P0. Box 405, Trail, B.C. Vi R 4L7 Vancouver Historical Society PC. Box 3071, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 3X6 Victoria Historical Society P0. Box 43035, Victoria North, Victoria, B.C. V8X 3G2 AFFILIATED GROUPS

Kootenay Lake Historical Society Box 537, Kaslo, B.C. VOG i MO Lasqueti Island Historical Society do P Forbes, Lasqueti Island, B.C. VOR 2JO Nanaimo and District Museum Society 100 Cameron Road, Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2Xi Okanagan Historical Society Box 3i3, Vernon, B.C. V1T 6M3 SUBSCRIPTIONS I BACK ISSUES Published winter, spring, summer and fall by British Columbia Historical Federation P0. Box 5254, Station B Victoria, B.C. V8R 6N4 A Charitable Society recognized under the Income TaxAct. Subscriptions $12 per year For addresses outside Canada, add $6 per year Back issues of the British Columbia Historical News are available in microform from Micromedia Limited, 20 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario M5C 2N8, phone (4i 6) 362-5211, fax (416) 362-6161, toll free 1-800-387-2689. This publication is indexed in the Canadian Index published by Micromedia. Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 1245716. Financially assisted by () Bdtith Cokiuba Flistorical News Journal of the B.C. Historical Federation Volume 32, No. 1 Winter 1998 -99 EDITORIAL CONTENTS

Dear Readers, FEATURES This issue marks the end of an era. Your editor has enjoyed ten years of processing a wide va LoweryPO’d 2 riety of writings on many aspects of local and by Ron W4’lwood provincial history. I have met, or become ‘pen pals” with citizens living in places like Fort Nel H.B. MacLean’s Method ofWriting 6 son, Atlin, Hosmer, Telkwa, Tofino, as well as by Shirley Cuthbertson established historians in major centres, plus staff and students at universities and colleges. We Walter Moberly: A Forgotten Pathfinder 11 have benefitted tremendously with an influx of by Barry Cotton student essays thanks to Anne Yandle who up graded the requirements for applications for our The Retribution of D.G.E Macdonald C.E 14 $500 scholarship by asking for an essay or term by Barry Cotton paper. The judges promise that the winner’s essay will be published; they also forward sev Lytton Alfalfa 17 eral more entries to the editor. by VC Brink Your editor and her husband have carried the Unapologetically Jewish: Unapologetically Canadian 18 responsibility of mailing this magazine - feeling somewhat pressured by the frequently chang by Carrie Schlappner ing guidelines. Canada Post announced early in 1998 that, in their opinion, we did not exist. Capilano Love Story 24 Our permit of twenty years standing, #4447, was by Patricia Koretchuk not on a computer in Vancouver or Ottawa.... because Cranbrook Post Office (a Forwarding My Dearest Harriet from Robert Burnaby 29 Centre for the whole East Kootenay) was “too Fort Victoria and H.B. Co. Doctors 30 small” to be on computer. Having said that, no one sent our re-registration forms until we con by D Joyce Clearihue tacted them a second and then a third time. Those frustrations plus other factors prompted NEWS and NOTES 35 us to seek a replacement editor. Commencing in January 1999 Fred Braches of BOOKSHELF Whonnock becomes Editor. We welcome him to Peetz A Reel for All Time 28 the roster of volunteers working to preserve his tory & heritage. See News & Notes for an intro Review by Kelsey McLeod duction of this enthusiastic gentleman. Sternwheelers and Steam Tugs 36 I will be contributing in a small way with News & Review by Kenneth Mackenzie Notes plus B.C. Historical Federation reports or From Summit to Sea 36 notices. Review by Robert Thrner Naomi Miller Beloved Dissident Eve Smith 37 Review by Linda Hale Hope and Forty Acres COVER CREDIT 37 The Forgotten Side of the Border 38 Writing lessons were a regular part of school Reviews by E.L. Affleck ing when we were children. In British Columbia MacLean method was taught, Shirley The First Nations of British Columbia 38 Cuthbertson tells us, from 1921 to 1996. The Review byjos Dyck illustrations from several of the work books ap Pioneer Legacy: Chronicles of the Lower Skeena 39 pear on the cover. The General Movement Ex ercise is from Compendium No.4 for Grades IV Mighty River: A Portrait of the Fraser 39 & V, 1921. The Position of Arms and Paper is Reviews by George Newell from the MacLean Method Teacher’s Manual, No Better Land: Diaries of Bishop Hills 40 1921. (Left handers were acknowledged later.) Review by Phyllis Reeve Manuscripts and correspondence to the editor are to be sent to Fred Braches, P0. Box 130, Whonnock, BC. V2W1V9 or Email: [email protected]. Correspondence regarding subscriptions is to be directed to the Subscription Secretary (see inside back cover).

Printed irCanada by Kootenay Kwik Print Ltd. Lowery PO’d’ by Ron Wèlwood

During Canada’s formative years postal the establishment became legendary and built by people who live in poverty and service was provided through decentral in Lowery’s Claim4 his biting sarcasm, whose children often suffrforfiod let alone ized cooperative arrangements. This ser particularly against politicians and orga education, while bishops and lesser clerical vice was later formalized with the creation nized religion, eventually lead to a series of lights live on the tenderloin steaks the of of the post office department, one of the conflicts with the postal authorities. land None of my pilgrims wear their pan first departments formed by the federal Although he had a Christian up taloons out at the knees prayingfor God to government after Confederation (the gov bringing, Colonel Bob was not a church change his program to suit their ideas or do- ernment took over postal service on 1 goer. However, he did have a humanistic sires It is a pleasant road that I have

April 1868 — a rather interesting day selec concept of religion which was graphically buil4 with others, to thatgreat territoryfrom tion). described in The Ledge (New Denver): whence no prospector has ever returned.. The mail service grew along with the ‘7 have my own ideac in regard to religion, (9August 1900) development of the railways and by 1857 but I ask no one to accept them. I believe This creed was rephrased and published there were specially equipped cars called that every mind should be free to act ac in The Ledge three years later: railway post offices. By 1863 the trial pe cording to the light within or without. I have “Our Creed In order to sati.,i5i those who riod for these travelling post offices was located a short trail over the divide to the are anxious to know our creed we give it over and an order-in-council established ,great beyond but unlike creed trails, heaven herewith: Fear and superstition is not reli standards for their use. Thus as the is along mine at every step, and it is not nec gion. Belief without proof is not religion. Canadian Pacific Railway stretched across essary to die in order to get some ofii Other Faith withoutfact is not religion. What is re Canada in the 1 880s, national mail service trails, said to lead where Peter takes the ligion? Th lovejustice, to longfor the rigit, to eventually became more reliable as well as tickets, have all kinds oftolls and restrictions. love mercy to pity the suffering, to assist the more readily available from sea to sea. Inflict some ofthem keep a man partially weak, to forget wrongs and remember bene

Railway post offices made it possible to broke all the while. fits — to love the truth, to be sincere, to utter carry mail quickly over long distances and, ‘Alldrummersfrr creed routes will tellyou honest words, to love liberty andjight slavery at the same time, to be sorted en route. In that every one is born loaded to the eyes with ofevery kind; to make a happy home, to love British Columbia the mountainous terrain sin, and bound to be damned f it is not the beauty ofart and nature, to cultivate the inhibited a vast network of intercon eradicated with creed sarsaparilla. . . The mind to be familiar with the mihty necting rail lines, so lake steamers often travellers along my trail each carry a pass thoughts expressed by genius, the noble deeds provided the best and most economical that entitles them to allprivileges at the end of all the world; to cultivate courage and links. In some instances, they were the ofthejourney None ofthem believe that the cheerfidness and make others happy to fill only links between communities. RPOs in Creator is afool or a demon. . .My trail has lf’ with the splendor ofgenerous acts, the the southeastern section of the province plenty ofthe sunshine oflove, mercy gentle warmth ofloving words; to discard env do were located on the southern route of the ness, kindness and other rays of light that stroy prejudice, to cultivate hope, to do the CPR through Crowsnest Pass and the bless and sweeten those who travel ii None best that can be done, and then to be re

Kootenays to the Okanagan as well as on ofthe pilgrims believe that God runsfrr the signed — This is the religion of reason, the the short rail runs and the connecting elect an eternal picnic of song, honey and creed ofscience, and satiifies the heart and steamers of the Kootenay, Arrow and harps on a golden floor up-stairs, while in brain. W believe in this creed even focca Okanagan Lakes.2 Thus R.T Lowery, who the basement a heaveni’y Cape Nome is in sthnally our fret stray from the trail and had sporadic altercations with both the operation, where the ice never clinks in the strike the rocks out in the brush. “(27 August Canadian Pacific Railway arid the Post glass, and everybody has teeth, while the sul 1903) Office Department, jeopardized the distri phur smokes eternal They could not believe In June 1901, Lowery launched his bution of his newspapers when he criti that God represented as being all-powerfid monthly publication, Lowery’s Claim, in cized these two very large corporations. would be so wicked as to keep untold mil New Denver. Although Number One is Robert Thornton Lowery (12 April lions in torment when a wave ofhis hand no longer available for perusal, the next

1859 - 20 May 1921), frequently referred would close up hellforever Onty man, poo issue Uu1’y) stated ‘WWERYS CLAIM my to as “Colonel” Bob3, was an eccentric weak, coward unregenerate man could latestjournalistic baby met with a warm re

Kootenay newspaper editor, publisher and ever have created such a place. Poor man! ception. . . has caused all kinds ofremarks. financier whose acid pen frequently got what a sucker he is sometimes. .A few have been cruel enough to say that him into trouble. His penchant to attack ‘A1ong my trail there are no costly churches it is not legitimate, while. . . its coming

2 B.C. EHSTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998 -99 “ OLUME X. NicI1FR ;5 X!O DINVER, B 0. jUNI 4, 1505. PIIWE ‘2.0fl YEAR,

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means the destruction ofmuch that is evil in business, or else has a short memory “March endorsed by thousands ofpeople, some of state, church and society It is growing 1902). It appeared that L.owery was delib whom are Ministers. It has been condemned rapidly and never criesfire governmentpap. erately asking for trouble by this constant by thousands who are too bigoted to appre .It has a cast-iron constitution, and expects goading’; and a piqued Bella Chadwick ciate it, too zgnorant to understand it, or too as it comes down the pike of age to fight wrote to the editor of the Nelson Daily crooked to read it without tremblin& Th many a battle with the fles of truth. if it Miner “.[t is a pity there are not enough n’ wrong thinking people its every issue has shouldfall and be buried beneath the heaty spectable women to get togethei andgive the been like senna with wormwood as a sod ofpublic opinion its papa will not weep editor of that low, paltry filthy monthi5i chaser” (29 January 1903) Lowery also but keep a-going,;” paper published latei,y a sound whipping in publicly scorned the Post-Master General, Evidently Lower)’ filly expected criti public fire his insults. (I might suggest they Sir William Mulock9, even while ap cism and opposition. This journal was de wear gloves during the process). .. the thing pealing the department’s decision. His voted to Truth and Humor5 and ‘Many that edits it... having such a mean, beastiai guments and promise to be of no further tenderfiet, both east and west, have been puny little mind “(4 August 1901) trouble were successful and Lowery’s shocked by reading the first issue of this Around December 1901 the Canadian Claim was reinstated with mailing privi journal Ifthey will take the treatment regu Pacific Railway began its boycott of leges within a matter of weeks)° larly their minds will soon befreedfrom the Lowery’s Claim by not allowing the During these trying times Lowery re cobwebs offrar and the pollywobbles of journal to be sold on its trains.7 One year ceived regional as well as international slavish customs”. Almost every page of this later the Post Office Department’s atten support; and, although victorious, only issue contained what some might have tion “. . . was called to the contents of this four more issues of Lowery’.s Claim were considered offensive articles as the fol publication 12) by e4ffrent people in British published (March - June 1 903 It then lowing sample of bylines indicates: “To Columbia, and that an examination ofthe was voluntarily suspended for a little over Kill a Woman’s Love” (a cynical view of paper made at that time showed it to contain two years. Perhaps Colonel Bob needed a marriage), “Creed Slaves”, “Sexual ariwles offending against decency and good rest from the turmoil. He made a trip to Starvation” (remember this is the era of morals, in consequence ofwhich it was, on the “cent belt” (Ontario) to visit his Victorian civility), “Protection from 13 January 1903, prohibited from trans mother and old acquaintances and, also, Priests” and “Grandma Warns Us” (a satire mission by post; ‘ Lowery’s other ventures required his atten from “Grandma Gumption” warning that Since Lowery was also publishing his tion — between 1903 and 1905, he started ‘People are bound to read the CIAJM weekly newspaper, The Ledge (New publications in Nelson, Poplar, and Thornton. The very ones who make the Denver), it was easy to use this alternative Fernie. bzgestfliss, about its vulgarity will read it vehicle to thwart the Post Office “.Lowery’ Claim has risen from the death first to gratifr their purient curiosity about Department and vent his anger: “The andfir the second time spreads its wings over the things they think are shameflhl. . . but I mailed hand has struck a blow at freedom the earth. Refreshed after a sleep of 23 warn you Thornton, you can publish a pushed Lowcrfs’ . . and . Claim sub rosa. The months. . . it willproceed to toast the evils paper like that an’ not git yoursef’ talked mission ofLoweyc Claim is targ4y with a of church, state and society in the flames of about’,’.) view to showing up the false system under satire, sarcasm and ridicule. . . It tips its hat Each issue continued to mock “creed which we live. .. .For being this kind ofa to no man merely because he wears a white promoters”, “gospel mills” and the “amen paper the mailed hand has struck it a blow cravat, hammers apupit with rhythmicpre corner” (“When a man prays he gently in like a cold blastfrom Russia. . . It is the most cision and bellows to Jesus like a Missourian sinuates that God does not know his own t’ruthfiul journal in Gmat/a, and has been calling the hired hep to supper It respects all

3 B.C. IUSTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998-99 ______

Ottawa are carried away with the mad de sire to make thepost office pay dividendsjust as though it was a grocery store or a pawn broker’s skinnery In order to do this theypay miserable wages to many of the employees; Cu\I.rl sell stamps printed on inferior and almost II rottenpaper; restrict the spread ofintelligence .‘.‘.‘‘ by a high postal rate upon literature; and in many other ways cripple an institution that

,‘ a tlrlyjoroal tiat yoo o itot meet every nay. Tit home ic to the should be operated solely in the interest ofthe c We,t, tar from the mkef e,owdtn Tierii citie, n,l I.lte hum of grisding corn people, and notJbr the making ofrecords by muree. nigh op in, tine rnou,,taiot, mr. ruurnied i.,y soc,mrv that woold iirtçe tome afrw graspingpoliticians. .J artist,, mad will, joy, it cditor ants oboe to not]ihig ((5’ htv,m and drawn iun’plrattoo from the 4s an instance ofthe tortose [sic] move cv 0*0CC * ment of the red-tapea money-in-stamps 1J8t IJi 0 Towmrs’, Ct.ait’ Ic prineipolly d0t’ e tn, Troth aunt ltemn.- It hoe tool,, ci postaladministration look at the mail service ) IJ}c.e Triemiu mo n ito II, I, Is lent ntsi lo,,’d 0 between Phoenix and Greenwood As a slow thing it has the millenium [sic] backed clear Plhd : d feats inotlong, not eveo tine shortit. It an over the dump. The distance between the tiF1 ci,,,,, or,o’bor. nnenl ai,,nrs to ti-ar the moot

. Intro coors Lining linac is evil. Ti jo the towns is scarcelyfive miles (8 km) yet it takes tinT o,oci joder,t1Cot .mrguntmre io the soorlil

• .‘ZtJ tent p.. rnlrn. ‘to — , p. ty. - .1, c.-etd, letters so long to pass between these copper ea 1 ‘Itt color, Ilogor fat anlvrrt.roo. it Imo pay tnt-c ate-nays in, ,rtgl.t. arni evrn-y olnift shows 0 cities that the stamps are mildewed by the that it is illCreocLnbg it has touched a C.et - cI,onl iu tin,, inimur, l,a.t that vibrate_v time a letter reaches its destination unless a fr at, with it, mosic o-hnrrever tie E.ngtirin bog— preservative spit is used in their attachment. ..ro,a sage bresku tireOtom, , - If mont wairt to got it, lit,,, will. it, get it. Such a snail-like method ofhandling mail. •00. early as II,, n,ien,l,atit,.’ is limitat tnt u toil lion. No oo.nnple eOpioe are Scot to anytnec, - -- could be remedied in a day fthe proper but it to fncnihed fr,, to all people .,inn 1. sIred vets,, old I’ r’3r,r fret kind ofgray matter rested within the upper to soy of tide wiettod nonrtln 1,0.4 + : , -- stope of those who think they know how to , .,.,...... , /.-._.o.o.,._..• 1 operate a post office department.

‘. . the ordinary government officials.. - *0000_SO ALL LCTTCRS - are so dense, dull-witteth incompetent and R. T. LOWERY [esoooo.e.j disobliging as a rule that nothing but conti nental prodding will wake them up to a sense ofduty andjustice. Fallen into a rut of routine, flanked on one side by red tape and upon the other by politics the public can thoroughi’y honest parsons, even though they Ottawa. Once again the Post Office roast in brimstone until they are ready be insane, but has nothing but green paint Department evaluated this journal and de people in the vicinity will kick often enough for those s4fimportant heaven brokers who clared that “Loweryc Claim, No. 35, dated the mail service. . . will eventually be reme

are in the business frr the long green and Ju 19O6 has been frund to befitted with died . . Everything comes to those who rustle chicken pie, and who exist upon the frars articles ofa low orde most ofthem being in while they wait” (Greenwood Ledge, 17 and superstitions of the human fami in decent and obscene, and therçlore it has been May 1906) stead ofmuckingfrr their ham and eggs. It debarred the privileges of the mails.” This Although this editorial was written prior is a saft bet that such theological parasites time Lowery’s appeals to the Post Office to his monthly journal being banned from have no use for this journal and their ham Department’s bureaucrats, including the postal service, a defiant Colonel Bob was mers will soon be pounding from ocean to Postmaster General of Canada, Hon. not silenced even after the post office shut ocean. “(October 1905) Rodoiphe Lemieux, fell on deaf ears. out his publication. The very next issue of Colonel Bob Lowery was back and his Ironically, Lowery had written an explo Lowery’s Claim boldly declared that “The cynical writing seemed to he bolder than sive editorial against the P0 prior to this post office department ofCanada has grown ever. Each number of Lowery’s Claim latest mail boycott. An American socialist afraid of Lowery’s Claim and strikes it a covered a variety of topics, but his obses paper, Appeal to Reason14, had been blow much the same as a sandbagger hitsyou sive, vitriolic articles against organized reli banned from the use of Canada’s mail ser with a leadpipe when you are not looking gion were beginning to become tiresome vice and this provided the opportunity for The department notified us last week that and far too spiteful. The religious faction Colonel Bob to vent his anger against ourjournal would not bepermitted to circu became impatient with his frequent pillo ‘A Postal Evil” late through the mails, owing to the objec rying and an outraged clergy petitioned “The officials behind the stamps at tionable character of the reading contained

4 B.C. HISTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998-99 therein. Oh deail... why has the Laurier or $2 and get the bunch. R. T Lowerj 5. The edimrial masthead proudly proclaimed that “LOWERYS CL4IM. . . is desvted to Truth and Hnnsor it. .. is sentfree stall pervom array it and stillfight all government undertaken to cause its editorjl Greenwood B.C “(21 July 1914) 100 yea,v ofagc is a Sham Crashes, fisarsds ma red finale. Ic costs $1 ayear in any part ofthe nodzt bsst nancial loss by denying him the privilege During the life of his monthly journal, lack ofnsailfecilisiespresentr it bring wailed ot Mary Wader and other’ o,sr-ofthe-scay placer... ifyrsri desire this jotsrnal do nor depend sspan that any little French rag has in Qiebec. R.T. Lowery, Editor and Financier, pro your ,reighbor, br,r send in your rtk,ire or’g,ren dollar befisre the r?nvsghr grnsostsrhtl’(Jaly 1901) Because we are British, live in the west and claimed that ‘. . a method willyet be dis 6. George T Muir’s Smnens ansi Saints (Victoria. BC: 1947?) refers so Lowery as hrsmosm,s rtnires, brat with a srmstp nple. He hadgood 1st- dare to speak the truth must we be hounded covered that will smelt all evil out of the mary talons and msghr hare gee somewhere erceprfrr his deep biting saasrasm against allpreachers and rebyion in general Muir felt that one by s/swish minions ofpope andparson who world and leave nothing but gold in the particular issue denouncing the Baptisrs was zlldegrndtngandssss

srstc .. iroenr ares, bsrsgho the whole ediassn and burned ir in the chance to have a say in thepost office? Is there heart of man. . . so that we can keep the ante. (l09) no freedom ofspeech or thought in Canada? press running until a process is discovered Perhaps the unmicrofilmed copies of Lawe.y’s Claim (017, Osx. 1902 - #23, April 1903) contained some of Bob Lowery’s hotter The withdrawal ofthe mailingprivileges that will jar all misery from this universe ropics sod were destmyed in a similar manner 7. Thisjoss,,ral is the mast smrbfis/ in Canada and hasm apparenep will not cause the Claim to suspendpublica and annex it to the flower gardens in the syffor occasionally The CEll has bsryooteed it. and will nor allow the 1906)15 neon agenrr to sell iron the mains.” (July 1902), “Eighrern months ago tion. “(August New Jerusalem” the CEll struck against ir being sold on the trains, and this strike is still Tough talk is cheap. Publishing can be It seems Colonel Bob on ‘(May 1903) was convinced 8. losnrr from A.B. Agleswartls. Ottawa. to ItT Lowery, Nelson, 12 come onerous particularly when subscrip— that it was his public duty (destiny?) to de November 1906, R.T Lowety fsmds. BC Archives and Records Service (BCARS) Record No. S/F/L95, tion sales and advertising decrease and flounce the duplicity ofcommercial, polit It seenss that Psglesworth (status unknown) was assigned to write a letter so Lowesp althougls it appears he was not affiliated with she bills cannot be paid’6 so cessation of this ical or religious bureaucrats and their or Post Office Department (‘I made application to the Pots office Department tsr ascertain the fracas ofeh. case. publication was inevitable. The last ganizations. This conviction and his creed Boycorred by the C.RR. and ‘Denied the ,nail Lowe,7s like T Eaton sO’ Co., uses the ex,ss,oss companies so diss,rbnee his small packages number of Lowery’s Claim, issued in of being “devoted to Truth, Humor and ofmerchandise” (Nelson Trib.me. 4 April 1903) September 1906, was delivered 2lmong Justice” was printed in each issue 9. ‘Mvlsss’k should ionic a radar ofinso’rtcsians so edisorw innocent pssilisherv of are liable to be reined at any time by nor boosting the Issue anr press censor has fist pmdec” “Lorteryl Claim is not dead ssmp(y because the Angels.. . fir the second time deposited Lowery’s Claim. Unfortunately bravado Csanadasi past ojfke officials in Ottawa are tainted with prejtsdiae and in the tomb from which it may never arise. and his almost paranoiac pillorying of bsgassy The poorfellarro cannar help it and are to be pitied” (Ledge, 5 February 1903) Thisjournal has lived too soon to be gen Christian traditions became too much for 10. Telegram sent to the New Denver posrmassec ‘Ottawa, Oat Feb. IZ 1903. Lors#ry? Claim rs’nraredfrom list ofpmhibioedpssblicasiam. erally populrn fir the class of work it con the influential bureaucrats, particularly in infrrrn pub/saber A.W Thrsro,ru Acting Sec,rrary (Ledge, 19 Feisrssary 1903) tained does not appeal to those sunk in the the Post Office. II. TheApril 1903 edition ofLowety’s Claim printed a selection slier- stagnant pond ofcreed custom, superstition After the collapse of Lowery’s Claim, tern received rhrough the snail (the style of writing appears to be sort piciosssly fasssilar): “Manchester, England-. . . it appears sIre brightest. smarreso and orson interesting reading ihatre come some and mental ossfication. . . Like some par the once feisty newspaperman’s passion ac,oss time... ‘ “Dassvort l3skon.- For the time jets teem to hone rr’tird in sons who say that they have a call to preach and involvement with a variety of pub f1srsor ofshe ortotrssl jrodgingfinsm the tmsklejest hare had with Msslock Hosasesres, lam ravish yost andssill berthatthe busrherrasill kill abe the gospel I also thought I had a call when I lishing endeavours diminished. Following skiT “Philade(ohiss, Pot- Infirnal asstrags’prsr being boycotted and badgered this sags andyors have my aysngsathjs lace nothsng abjection. turned my Claim loose to reform the world its demise he only published and edited able in jesse CWMflos the reserve.” ‘Boston, Maw- lam pleased so Theparsons say that I damned know that just hare ss,n,n anew the CLAIM Kiep ,rht on selling the will be f one newspaper, The Ledge, in mid,. Kssoreaay Lake Historical Sndety Archives I keep on; the post office has switched me Greenwood; and Colonel Bob remained onto a sidetrack, and the physicians say that a resident of that community almost to I have a flat wheel’concea/.ed within my in the end of his days. However, his legacy of ternal anatomy. . . With these few remarks descriptive prose lives on in the micro the shroud is folded over ajournal thatper filmed copies of his various publications. haps has been too intensely human. . . Au- men! Although Lowery’s Claim was no FOOTNOTES Longer published, Bob never stopped 1. Pun intended. Lower?s two dashes with the Canadian Post Office Department definitely hod bins pod (‘t World \Var II armed forces trying to distribute his own gospel slang term for being angry, profoundly annoyed, indignant or “pissed off”) through the sale of back issues. An adver The British Colnmbia Historical News has been regssrered for bulk mailing with Canada Post liar otter twenty years. Howeser, in early tisement in his Similkameen Star 1998 the editor was informed that ‘Permit Number 4447 did nor mist”; and according tn the regaiarions she Newn moot be registered (Princeton) declared: “During the 37 with the Canadian Heritage Department in order to be elrgibk for months that Lowey’ Claim was on earth it subsidized postal service, Ironically, the regsssratinn papers were mailed. but received son late so there has been a buoy of both oral did business all over the world: It was the and written communications with the post office bureaucracy to re solve this dilemma, Was the editor also pod? It seems that alrssosr most unique, independent and ,,learless every Canadian has a post nOire horror story; and this article reveals the ‘postal evil” as viewed by RT Lowery journal ever produced in Canada. Political 2. B. Thuslow Fraser, ‘Railway Post Offices’ in George H. Melvin, The Post Offices of British CnItmabia 1858-1970. Vernnrs, B.C.: and theological enemies pursued it with the Wayside Press, 1972. 181-185. venom ofa rattlesnake until government 3. For biographical infonnasion Rain Welwood, “The Wit and the Wmlom of ‘Colonel’ Bob Loony” to be published in [Boundary shut it out ofthe mails, and its editor ceased History: Report of the Boundary Historical Sociesyl (No. 14. 1999?) anther Bronson A Little, ‘Robert T I.owrrr Editor, Publisher & to publish itpartly on account ofa lazy liver Printer” British Cnhsmbia Historiral News 31.2 (Spring 1998): 18- 23. andpart.{y because it takes apile ofmoney to 4. Lanwety’s Claim. Monthly

New Denver. ol,June 1901 - #23, April 1903 run apaper that is outlawed There are still Vancouver. #24, May 1903 - #25, June 1903 (suspended July 20 dzffi’rent 1903-Sept. 1905) editions of this condemned Nelson. #26, Oct. 1905 - #37, Sept. 1906

Fats bibliograplsic listing nf Lsswery5 publications, 1879 - 1920, see print. journal in Send 10 cents and get one Ron Welwnad’s ‘The Wit and Vssdom of ‘Colonel’ Bob Lowery”.

6

HISTORICAL 1998-99 Winter NEWS B.C. -

maritime provinces the left to coast east an ommend American outstanding two years,and for bined the the early laid

he “and recollects, many the people from tries. was The willing committee to rec the MacLean fingers keeping com still.

were ment greater in British Co1umbi’, books from most coun English-speaking and upper hand the while swinging arm

“Wages and opportunities advance for daughter committee Jean, gathered the recommended muscles using the of the

later 1905 principal, 1909. from to the elementary to grades. his According the forearm, muscles of only others the

School, where was he and vice-principal good writing mend in manual a pupils for recommended authors some where using

MacDonald at French Consolidated to textbooks Willis, survey and recom but the of from popular century, turn the

studies, home nature and the gardening Superintendent of S.J. Education, Dr. movement “Muscular writing” was

to turned PE.I. oteach to manual training, of the chairman by appointed committee letters of and tice sentences.

MacDonald of 1919 Institute re Ontario, was H.B. he MacLean be asked to develop control with would muscle prac

rural school. After further study at among the B.C. writing In schoolchildren. based that the on tition, fine assumption

17 at age teaching a in the of who one-room the standard about of complained page. method The was training next repe

Charlottetown in College and began trance were among examinations others then the the to pupil page, went on the

He 1884. attended Prince Wales of teachers high marking years, en school top copied was times of a down number

Mount Herbert, Prince Edward in even an Island, greater interest. few Over next the style: the traditional line a writing of at the

Henry was Bovyer MacLean good

in phasized born his and writing” son took (1912-1920). in copy-books These

were 2,

glide the on could paper? MacL.ean’s “always ship. em bad father was New Method Method Writing

and your arm that so hand grammar, taught fingers your law, and school to the the penman Department MacLean prior

a on lines be slant, and to hold to careful of He Vancouver the School. Normal 1912. set by manuals The authorized of

you Did ovals, iearn loops make to and In joined 1916 MacLean Mr. h staff the 1906- Copy Slant” Books from “Natural

the in province’s books education Victoria system. Copy 1884-1901; Books Gage’s from

that lists all time the staff the text longest-serving joined in Normal the School of Gage’s British authorized Columbia -

teacher’s manual on the were its 1915 gardens. mous authorized he for In school & Clarke very cooperative. Stuart,

MacLean. compendiums student His and George of became Jay, Principal fa which the they endeavour, publisher, found

permanently by formed, not H.B. Victoria Mr. first 1910 was and the in the Fortunately success reading. of for the

1965, your was handwriting influenced, in elementary at if South taught Park and any have helped training), with proof

1908/9, Columbia 1921 between British he and came Columbia, In British to H.B., by written notes (she did hand not

attended you homes in elementary If province.” find the in new school western the all wife typing did from

be May, done Henry’s perfectly”.

Photo MacLean Family courtesy Archives. of

SchooL Jay individualplotA George

p1antin 1914.. c. Spring PrincupaJILB. MacLean. Victoria, B.C

to one each booklet every had -

the men exercises did for all

paper with the sheets two of -

surface house was in covered the

that members “every vividly flat

the job. made had Jean for re

desk double-pedestal MacLean

two at spent the summer the

assist Mackenzie him, the and to

asked Rowan brother-in-law his

1921. by MacLean September,

could do proval texts the he if -

The gave superintendent ap his

grades. the each pendium of for

teacher’s but com the manual,

a 1921) not only write to

(in MacLean changes, offered

to did not the want make

When changes the author made.

system, a but they wanted few

Cuthbertson Shirley by

of Writing Method MacLeanc B. IL the foundation for later forearm method “The whole system is one “without forcing both pupils and teachers of which you have every through a wearisome, tedious, difficult at reason to be proud. tempt to have the child develop the pen— .(It) is being received by manship methods of the adult.”3 “The so- teachers with much en called muscular motion method of hand thusiasm and it has al writing has been in use in many schools ready demonstrated in

for a number of years, . . .but was found many schools that excel wanting in many ways. There was a cer lent work can be tain stiffness and inefficiency about it, and achieved by following the it remained for a teacher in the Normal instructions given in your School ofVictoria to take to pieces the ac books. “6 cepted method and reconstruct it on more The first MacLean fluent lines.”4 Teachers’ Complete The Mclean Method of Muscular Manual was copyrighted Movement Writing drew on contempo in 1921 by Clarke & rary ideas expressed in the texts surveyed Stuart in Vancouver, and by the committee, but the original title of the last in 1966, (last the manual as well as the content soon printing 199l by WJ. began to be revised. The first edition is ex Gage Limited, Toronto. tremely detailed and includes pages 17 to In a paper prepared in 112 of the Senior Manual. This detail the early 60’s, MacLean would be somewhat redundant to the states that the cost for in teachers MacLean taught at Normal dividual compendiums School, but would be valuable to teachers for each pupil during the doing the correspondence course. first six grades is less than The teacher’s manual sets out the prin twenty cents per year. ciples of “The MacLean Method Course”: From the MacLean “...correct posture, penholding and paper home, diagnostic and re placing, and the use of a free, rhythmic, medial reports were given gliding movement at a reasonable rate of free ofcharge. .. .the only FLB. MacLean, Ca. 1921, showing the conectpositionftrgood writing. speed. The fingers will assist in the detail writing system that pro Photo courtesy of MacLean Famihj Aroflives of letter formation, but the hand should vided this service. The niques developed to fit in with contempo glide on the fingernails, while progressing Correspondence Course was available to rary methods; in fact, he revised and across the page. Although this is not an ex teachers free of charge, and a graded series edited his manual even after 1966. This, as clusive arm movement, yet cramped finger of lessons was submitted by teachers and is the case with many school textbooks, movement should be avoided. This type returned with helpful comments and sug can be disconcerting, as revisions are not ofwriting might well be called “combined gestions - free. Certificates were issued at a noted on the title page, and although the movement,” a fission of arm movement nominal charge - for the teacher’s 75 cer editions are numbered, the copyright date and relaxed finger movement.” tificate in 1921. Correspondence indicates is “1921”, until 1966. Flis expressions The name “MacLean Method” was sug that Langford Elementary school spent may have been refined and updated, but gested by Superintendent S.J. Willis, be to cover cost of writing $20.50 the certifi the principles remained consistent. cause MacLean was well known in British cates and postage in 1978. 1997 was the Revisions probably came from MacLean’s Columbia. The most commonly used first year that no teachers sent in for cer teaching experience, but he also took handwriting texts at the time usually bad tificates for pupils - some older teachers author?s Sprott’s Business Writing at Normal the name - the Palmer method, continued teaching the MacLean Method School in 1920, correspondence courses the Zaner method, etc. These were pub until 1996. After he retired from the from the American Penman, Zaner’s and lished in the United States, and used ex Normal School, he “advertised” services Palmer’s “Muscular Movement” method tensively in Canada - Palmer’s Business related to The MacLean Method - he gave (his certificate reads “for Superior Writing, the revised Canadian edition, presentations at teachers’ conferences, Ability”,) and went to a summer institute was copyrighted in Canada in 1908. went to schools on invitation. . . letters of in New York to get his teacher’s certificate Ontario authorized the use of the teachers’ thanks indicate that services were given in Palmer’s method in 1923. Ball point manual developed by Bailey; but many free. J.J. pens were introduced in 1961. MacLean Ontario teachers used MacLean’s. Dr. Comparing the first and later teacher’s suggested using a desk-top style because Willis’ approval was expressed in a letter: manuals, MacLean’s wording and tech- “it has a large base and is well-balanced”.

7 B.C. IUSTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998-99 Students in senior grades are to strive for THE MacLEAN METHOD ALPHABETS AND FIGURES. “Legibility, simplicity and beauty in stan dard and optional letter forms”. Teachers should stress “The courtesy, social and economic value of good handwriting.” J “Seniors in grade five especially may be encouraged to develop an attractive signa

ture - legible and artistic.” (35th ed.) per haps this is why so many old textbooks have their owner’s name in many places! (Teacher’s Manual, 35th ed.) and (Teacher’s Manual, 1966) “Left-handed ness” is dealt with in the chapter on “Special Problems in the Teaching of Writing”. “The problems to be considered 7P72 7O are: (1) Is left-handedness a disadvantage socially or economically? (2) If so, can the

The smaller ones are hard for younger dren to write fluently - songs, verses, even handedness of a child be changed without pupils to hold properly because “they have a metronome could be used to demon causing stammering or other disorders? (3) a small, slippery base”. They skip over strate. He recommended that children What are the best techniques to use in soiled spots (oils from hands). He stipu start by writing on the blackboard, and making the change? (4) If a child is dom

lates a “. . . free-flowing, non-smudging that the teachers make a game of it or use inantly left-handed, should he be forced to ink” to allow for “a light touch and their imagination to make it interesting. use the right hand in writing or in other freedom of movement”.7 “The teacher should want to teach manual activities? (5) What are the best MacLean was sensitive to students’ lii writing. Enthusiasm begets enthusiasm.” techniques to use in teaching left-handed ture need to have a good handwriting for Although MacLean’s manual and com pupils to write with the left hand?” success in business. J.H. Beatty, President pendiums deal with the practicalities of MacLean’s suggestions are “By means of

of the Sprott-Shaw School of Commerce, writing, they contain a great many sugges tests. . . .try to discover the native handed wrote to MacLean in 1963 that “Your tions that are simply good principles for ness of any pupil who seems to prefer to

letter and figure forms, as shown in teaching: #63 from ‘A Hundred Helpful use his left hand. . . .“ (He refers teachers MacLean Method Writing Books are sim Hints” (35th ed.) “Writing “lines” should to pages 418 to 420 of the Thirty-Fourth plified and modernized Spencerian. These never be given as a punishment. The asso Yearbook of the Society for the Study of forms are most suitable for business pur ciation of ideas discourages interest in Education, 1935 for copies of such tests.) poses.” In the 60’s MacLean described the handwriting.” #47 “Do not talk too much “If the child has developed the habit

revival in British schools of the Italic in the Writing lesson. . . .Pupils learn to .but is not dominantly left-handed, ex script, and rejected its adoption. He con write by writing, rather than by listening plain to him and to his parents the pos

cluded that the requirement for steel pens to the teacher telling them how to write.” sible disadvantages . . . Try to enlist their with a square edge may be satis&ctoly for #67 “The honest attempt of pupils, no co-operation. . . . Be patient and sympa artists but is not practical for school and matter how crude, should never be thetic. Decrease the amount of written

business writing. The script would cause ridiculed.” #74 “Instructions should be wok to be done. . . . If however, the child the loss of the “fluent, easy and effective positive, not negative: “Write careflilly” or the parent insists upon a continuance of movement” of the cursive writing style not “Don’t scribble.” lefhandedness, do not compel the change which had been developed in North MacLean’s objective was legible, rapid, but give the child the utmost assistance in America.8 fluent writing, with reasonable uniformity developing the greatest possible efficiency The MacLean’s style of writing is based “Printing” is called “manuscript” in the in the use of the left hand.” (35th ed.) He on the three s’s of writing: slant, spacing first edition, and the first compendium is repeats this general principle and offers and size. Legibility required attention to simply a printed alphabet and a few suggestions for the position of the feet, alignment as well as the formation of let simple words and sentences. In year 2, arms and hand and for placing the paper, ters. At the same time, he repeats in almost MacLean gives clear instructions on when at each compendium level. every edition: “The pupil’s enjoyment of and how to make the transition to cursive During the 33 years that MacLean his writing should not be hampered by writing. Although the primary grades em taught at Vancouver Normal School, he undue emphasis upon the mechanics.” phasize learning the “correct” formation of carried a full teaching load, organized and The exercises in the compendiums are de letters, the senior and advanced levels offer led many of the “extracurricular activities”, signed to reinforce rhythm. Teachers were alternative forms and the teacher’s manual travelled and gave lectures and presenta encouraged to use rhythm to help chil expressly allows for individual styles. tions from coast to coast, and organized

8 B.C. HISTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998.99 and maintained a family business. (His so they were easier for small children - derful job in evolving, developing, main daughter Jean says “he could get by on five “this helps prevent gripping”. Before the taining, servicing and promoting The hours sleep a night.”) As well as teaching compendiums were available to all, the MacLean System and I suppose it does British Columbia teachers, he had started company also carried lined scribblers for not have an equal in any part of the in the 30s to send out a correspondence practice. These were purchased by schools ‘World.”° course (free) to teachers in other provinces or by Parent Teacher Associations. A reporter writes quoting MacLean: “a.

who used the MacLean textbooks. MacLean’s daughter Jean married, and fringe benefit (of legible writing) . .. it’s Teachers sent pupils’ handwriting pieces to while she and her husband lived in difficult to forge a really good penman.” him each year for grading, and he (and Halifax, Jean took over the Maritimes sec MacLean had worked with the police, later Jean as well), worked on the papers, tion, sending out teacher correspondence banks, lawyers and all levels of govern wrote letters and coded the batches, while course materials to Normal schools in the ment on “questioned documents” for his wife May filled and packed each batch, four Maritime provinces, as well as stu many years, and after retirement, he made sent bills (including postage) and kept the dent materials. She sent senior and ad it his other business, with a business card records. “The Postal Service was won vanced student papers to MacLean for and a sheet listing his credentials. He men

derful - they brought the big parcels early” grading. Later, on her return to Vancouver tions teaching at all levels, grading thou (Jean) This letter from Comox Airport in 1957, she worked in his home office sands of student and teacher writing sam- Rural School District is typical of many in every day, taking over the record-keeping pies annually, as well as lecturing at the the family archives: “I feel your personal from her mother in 1960. The office fur training school for the British Columbia comments on their writing are of great nishings, materials and files which were Provincial Police. He was involved with a value and it seems that after each evalua her father’s were set up in her basement number of court cases involving wills, tion in the past 3 years I have noted a rise when he moved. anonymous letters, forgery and forensic in the quality of writing. Not only are the Between 1921 and 1964, the MacLean evidence. comments helpful, but coming from the Method of Writing was officially adopted Mr. MacLean travelled back east annu author of the course, they speak with by education departments in ally to give lectures in the teachers colleges much greater authority than any com Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New in Truro, Memorial, Fredericton and ment I can make.” Another teacher men Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown. He also lectured in tions “kindly criticisms” which “inspired English-speaking Catholic schools in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and one to fresh effort”. Quebec, Manitoba (not universal), as well Quebec. He combined instruction with When the marking load became too as British Columbia. Many years after he promotion in a presentation that won heavy teachers used the compendium retired he still held the copyright on the many young teachers - and when he gave standards to judge the lower levels, and if method, and kept revising or supervising presentations to clubs or to public audi they thought the pupils had made any changes that were introduced. When ences, won critical praise from tough jour progress, sent in for certificates. They con MacLean retired from the Normal School nalists. He was one of those teachers who tinued to send some work to him for per in 1949, a letter from Dr. Harold L. was loved by his students, both elementary sonal diagnosis and comments. Mr. Campbell (retired Deputy Minister and and college-age. As a teacher, he also had a MacLean judged the “senior” and “ad Superintendent of Education for British secret weapon - he was an accomplished vanced” students’ progress (“improve Columbia) stated: “You have done a won- magician. He “. . . .frequendy entertains ment” and “proficiency” appear on the certificates sent out.) Elementary pupils and teachers alike placed great value on these certificates - framed copies and sets of teachers’ certificates are prominent among papers saved in family collections, and donated to archives and museums. The busiest time of year in the MacLean household was “certificate time”: April, May and June, but through the year re medial work was prepared for some chil dren and ordering and payment corre spondence came and went. MacLean’s publisher, Clarke & Stuart, had straight pens made to a design which made the finger grip easier, “MacLean’s” pen nibs, and also had “MacLean’s Best Ever” pencils that were bigger and softer

9 B.C. HISTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998.99 bers of the editorial staW which ended: “Here was a man who when he died this week in Vancouver at 91

had truly left his mark - iii the handwriting of millions of Canadians who for more than half a century in Canadian schools learned penmanship the MacLean’s way. Toward the end of his life the Method fell into some disuse, criticized for being too regimented, too opposed to individualism. Perhaps. But it was the work of a man who wanted us to communicate better with This picture ofa display in the Royal B.C Museum shows a stuslentc workbook, MacLean pen with replaceable nib, an ink bottle, box ofnibs, scribbler and blotters. each other. No small ideal.”5 rule,i Pholo coartesy of S. Cuthberlson. the crippled children and also gives a show which MacLean replied (privately): “Don’t for the inmates of British Columbia you think it was perhaps a little unkind for The author was a schoolteacher who became prisons.”12 A 1955 advertisement includes you to blame your poor handwriting on a historian on staffat the Royal B.C. Museum. old time fiddling, step dancing and the the MacLean Method?.” Quoting from Shirley is a dedicated volunteer with the B.C. Historical Federation Island potato exhibition and champi the Teacher’s Manual (p. 49 in the 35th onships, at the Prince of Wales College, edition): “Legibility is the most important PE.I. MacLean is on the bill as “Henry B. characteristic of handwriting

MacLean, Magician - A short demonstra .Individuality which interferes with legi 1. (Colonist Ang. 5, 1962 Originumr of Handwritrng Traimng Makes his Home Here on Saanids Penrnsula in R,n,remenr) tion of Blackboard Writing and One bility is undesirable.” Our advice is to 2. Jean Dodsworrb (H.B. MacLean\ daughter), personal

Flour of Comedy Magic”.’3 Whether the teach simple forms in the lower grades - 3. Maclean. H.B. The MucLoao Method of Mrascs.Lse Mosemeast Weithtg, Teodsers’ complete Maurmi was on penmanship with a little forms that are easy to read and easy to talk The Clarke & Smart Co. Ltd., Vancouver 1921, p. 13. magic, or a magic presentation with a bit write. Since our pupils and teachers move 4. (Sysrem of Writiog Orig,nates in City” ...__Jnly 21. 1926, Scrapbook, MacLean Family archives) on penmanship, people were happily en from one school to another, we think that 5. MacLeads Method of’Ql4itmg Teaches’s Maorral 35th ed. Clarke & Stuart Co. Ltd., Vanconver c. 1921 (ca.l956) tertained and instructed. He was a life one form should be taught at first so that (light green cover). 6. Correspondences Willis to Maclean. (Family Archives) member of the Vancouver Magic Circle, pupils do not have to learn different forms 7. Personal correspondence, J.H. Bratty to H.B. MacLeao ca. 1944. . and a member of the International as they. .move. “Optional forms may be 8. MacLean, H.B. uspublislsed paper to. 1964, MacLean presented to advanced classes where indi Fanaily Archives. Brotherhood of Magicians. After his re 9. The MacLeast Method ofWritmg, Teadrens’ Complete tirement, he gave presentations in schools, viduality consistent with legibility will be Mam.al, 35th ed (HelpIlal Hiots #78) 10. Dc Harold L Campbell, correspondence to HO. MacLean seniors homes, as well as to service clubs developed.” (Family Archives) II, Peovrnce. Feiday. November 7 1969. (he was president ofVancouver Kiwanis in In MacLeans’ own words, from the 12. nd. Halifax paper. 13. Grmnlimr, Chasiorretosvss, PEI October 31, 1955. 1930). Jean says “he was out a lot in the Teacher’s Manual: “There is a certain 14. Chant, S.N.E; Liersch, J.E.; Walvod, R.P; Report of tIre Royal Commission on Education, Province vi British evenings”. amount of uniformity in all good writing, Cvlunsbru, 1960. appreciated MacLean’s just as there is in good spelling, language IS. The Vancs,rrvm Son, editorial Jaly 1976. qootvd in rhv issue Not everyone dedicated to Henry Boxyer MacLean of The Penmen9 Nest, method of handwriting: Mamie Maloney and arithmetic. But no two persons write Letter, International Association of Master Penmen, July 1976. columnist for The Vancouver Sun Nov. alike any more than they walk or talk OTHER SOURCES: 30, 1944, described “The method: de alike.” (35th ed.) In British Columbia, the Writing manuals and tesbooks: Historical Collecoions, Royal B.C. Museum. vised by an obviously Gestapo-minded Royal Commission headed by Dr. Chant B.C. Archives & Records Services Clippiogs, documents and m,ntu vcripts. MacLean Faosily Archives (scrapbook and documents) creature called MacLean as “. - . received criticisms of the “regimentation” regimented, clear hand with no more in of handwriting teaching. This was only dividual characteristics than a fly spot.” In one of the areas to undergo profound another column, she said that the method changes in the 1960’s because of the • was supposed to guarantee good pen Chant Report.’4 manship in the schools of my day, but, Years later, when MacLean died, The like most educational tools, was bound to Vancouver Sun editorial page carried a produce some conspicuous &iiures.” To handwritten tribute written by the mem

10 B.C. HISTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998-99 Walter Moberly: A Forgotten Pathfinder by IL Bariy Cotton

‘Moberiy was a born explorei it was in seen, found it difficult to get along with his blood’: So said contemporary Henry J. anyone with whom he disagreed. But to Cambie, aptly describing the driving force the project in hand he was always loyal, behind the man’s turbulent life. Many and as an employer was particularly con years later, Pierre Berton was to describe siderate of those who depended on him. him as ‘z better surveyor than a business British Columbia man”. Both remarks are valid, as will be This was the man who, armed with a seen. letter of introduction from Sir George Moberly, however, never did set out to Simpson, presented himself to Governor be a business man. He was one ofthe great Douglas late in the fall of 1858; he de builders, a blazer of the trails that evolved clined an offer of employment by the into the Province’s present road and rail Colonial Government, but agreed to re network; in fact, many of his explorations port on the feasibility of the Harrison were undertaken at his own expense, and Lake/Lillooet route to the golcffields. He he died comparatively poor, remembered did this early in 1859, after travelling the only by the school in Vancouver named route as far as Pavilion, and noting im after him, and a whistle-stop on the provements to be made. He also made a C.PRly., near the approach to the Howse side trip to Pitt Lake. Later at his expense, Pass, which he was convinced was the Walter Moberly he made another expedition to examine proper route for the transcontinental Photo courtesy of B.C. Centennial 71 collection. the Fraser Canyon between Yale and railway. Walter engaged in some early exploring Lytton. Early Years west of Lake Simcoe, and acquired some April 1859 had brought the main body Walter Moberly was born in Steeple 1500 sq. miles of timber limits. Howeveu of the Royal Engineers to B.C., and on Ashton, Oxfordshire, England in 1832. news from the west in 1857-8, particularly Moberly’s return to the lower mainland he His father was a captain in the Royal of Capt. Palliser’s ventures in the ap was employed by Col. RC. Moody on the Navy; who had fought in the Napoleonic proaches to the Rockies, persuaded him planning and layout of the new capital wars; his mother a lady of Polish descent. that his future lay in the still unknown city; Queensborough, which was in the He had three brothers, one of whom country that was British Columbia. He process of being carved out of the dense (Harry) became a Hudson’s Bay Co. sold his timber limits, travelled to New forest. It would soon be renamed New trader. In 1834 the family emigrated to York, then around the Horn to San Westminster by Queen Victoria (hence the Province of Quebec, and later to Francisco, and thence to Victoria, the “Royal City”). Whilst in New Barrie, Ont., where Walter went to school Vancouver Island. Westminster he had a look at Burrard and spent much of his youth. In Barrie he At age 26, Walter Moberly was a man of Inlet, and with Robert Burnaby (the went to school with a girl called Susan great physical power and stamina. Governor’s secretary) examined the re Agnes Bernard, who later became the wife Resourceful and tireless in the bush, he ported outcroppings in Coal Harbour. of John A. Macdonald, a friendship that was a superb axeman - even at 70 years of At the end of 1859, Moberly returned would be significant to Walter in later age. He is said to have killed bears with a to Victoria, where he met Capt. John years. After leaving Barrie Grammar pistol, and many were the stories told of Palliser and Dr. James Hector, who had re School, he went to Toronto where he his prowess in the wilderness. In January ported unfavorably on the possibility of a studied engineering with the firm of 1872, after falling through the ice on link between the Fraser and Columbia Cumberland and Storm, and worked on Shuswap Lake, he was able to climb out River systems. Moberly, whose compelling the Northern Railway as the former’s assis by using snowshoes on his hands as sup motivation since leaving the east had been tant. Later he worked on the Ontario, ports. He knew how to relax when in civ to find a transcontinental road/rail route, Simcoe and Union Railroad, where he be ilized society too, could dance the night was not in the least convinced. In fact he came an associate of Sandford Fleming, away, and drink whisky with the best would spend much effort (and much of another connection that would be useful when the occasion warranted. He was also his own money) over the next fw years in to him in later life. During this time egotistical and opinionated, and as will be proving them wrong.

11 B.C. HISTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998-99 He was “sworn-in” as a land surveyor for Ferry, and when no government certifi construction of the Cariboo Road, from B.C. in 1861, his surety being Edgar cates were issued, Moberly borrowed Fort Alexandria to Richfield, and located Dewdney another engineer from eastern money for payroll. When Lewis voted to several other roads in the vicinity of Canada. He carried out several local sur stop the work, Moberly bought out his in Quesnelmouth, Lightning Creek and veys in 1860, around English Bay and terests. Eventually, Moberly travelled to Williams Lake. Burrard Inlet for Col. Moody’s Lands & New Westminster, where he found out At the end of the year he resigned his Works Dept. In July of that year he bid on that the Imperial Government had refused position, stood for election, as the a pack-trail connecting Hope and the subsidy, whereupon Governor member for the Cariboo West Riding, Princeton, earlier explored by Lt. Palmer, Douglas had been forced to borrow and was elected. He undertook manage but he was edged out by Edgar Dewdriey $50,000 from the Bank of British ment of the Lands & Works Dept. in who got the contract, but took Moberly Columbia. With $6000 in his pocket, Trutch’s absence, but did not stay long in on as a working partner. This was the first Moberly hastened back to Lytton to pay office. He resigned his seat at the end of part of the Dewdney Trail, and working his workers (who had hardly expected him the session, and was appointed assistant on it earned Moberly money; but the back!), and continue the work. A few days Surveyor/General in March 1865. years 1862/3 were going to prove espe later he received a letter, stating that the Moberly states that as soon as Trutch re

cially expensive for him. $44,000 was to be withheld, and - in his turned to the colony, he handed over the The Cariboo Road and Further words: Lands & Works Dept. to him. However, He was, of course, one of the chief pro ‘‘As I was the one to whom the largest he held on to the job of Assistant ponents of the Cariboo Road, contending amount would have to be paid it was de Surveyor/General, which gave him his that it would be essential for the future de cided to sacrifice me and carry the other con long-wished opportunity to explore the velopment of the country. Costs of tractors through... which was a very con Gold (Monashee), Selkirk and Rocky building it, however, depended on ob venient andprofltable thingfir them, but it Mountains for a line suitable for an over taining a subsidy from the Colonial was a disgracefrl and dishonest transaction land road/railway link. Office. Douglas, feeling that such a sub on theirpart”: The Columbia River Explorations sidy would be forthcoming, granted a With debts mounting, Oppenheimer With the new gold strikes at the Big charter to Moberly, Charles Oppenheimer left for the USA, leaving Moberly to fuce Bend, and those already existing at Wild and TB. Lewis, to build by far the longest the music. In the end, Moberly signed Horse Creek in the Kootenays, there were stretch of road - from Lytton along the over all his charter rights and supplies to a lot of exploratory surveys being under Thompson River to Cook’s Ferry (today’s Capt. Grant RE., who had been ap taken at this time. George Turner’s map of Spence’s Bridge), thence to Cache Creek pointed to “deal” with him; Moberly then Jan. 5, 1865 shows the new trail from and northward. Moberly was the engi agreed to carry on with the work as an em Seymour Arm of Shuswap Lake to the neer-in-charge, Lewis the bookkeeper. ployee of the Government. The wages new diggings. Also - it is relevant to men

Oppenheimer looked after the supplies. were eventually all paid in full but - again tion a forgotten explorer of 1864, one J. They would have the right to collect tolls in Moberly’s words: Jenkins, who surveyed around the Big when finished. the country hadgained a large and Bend, making precise notes of several Political skulduggeiy was, of course, most expensive portion of the Cariboo Indian trails across the Selkirks. possible even in those pioneer days, and Wagon Road built, which cost them nothin,g In particular, Jenkins’ map shows a trail although the monumental work of con but it left me a ruined man with heazyper starting from the upper Columbia called structing that first road through the lower sonal liabilities, which took all the money I GIL-CES-CHE-SIN, and a distance of canyons of the Fraser and Thompson could make during eiht subsequentyears to ‘ibout 65 miles across the ,great bend”: He Rivers was satis&ctorily carried out, what flnali’y pay off”: notes that ‘7proposedto cross the great bend happened next can only be described as a The year 1864 would bring change. of the Columbia here with 1 Indian, in disaster for Moberly himself One can cer This was the year Governor Douglas, who tending that the other shouldgo round with tainly sympathize with him in the tale of had been governor of both colonies, re the canoe, but they objected (as well woe which follows, as told in his “History tired. J.D. Pemberton also retired. Col. they might!). The start of this trail was, in of the Cariboo Wagon Road.” R.C. Moody had already departed. The fact, the outflow of the Beaver River, and Much of Moberly’s manpower was new authority was going to be J.W. had Jenkins done what he intended, his stranded at Yale, without money, food or Trutch, currently Surveyor/General and name would definitely not now be for clothing. So before starting them to work Commissioner of Lands and Works for gotten. Moberly’s plot of the Columbia at at Lytton, he had to advance money for the Mainland Government. Walter the time shows a latitude of 51 31’ 30” for wages and subsistence before getting to Moberly, after having spent 1863 working this location. The distance of 65 miles is the start point. Many of these men would on the Cariboo Road as superintendent uncannily accurate. later desert the project when news of gold for William Hood’s contract above Most of the exploratory surveys in strikes filtered through. He established Spence’s Bridge, took on the job of engi 1865-6 were done under Moberly’s direc camps at Lytton, Nicomen and Cook’s neer under Trutch. He still continued with tion, with J. Turnbull and Ashdown

12 B.C. ifiSTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998-99 Green working between Shuswap Lake, year in which Moberly had a momentous Kamloops, Edward Mohun at Eagle Pass, Okanagan Lake and the Rockies. On disagreement with Governor Seymour. He Roderick McLennan on the North Sept. 10th Moberly reported his discovery left British Columbia, and went south. He Thompson, E.C. Gillette and Ashdown of Eagle Pass, after observing the route spent the next four years wandering in Green in the East Kootenays. Moberly taken by flying eagles in the mountains Utah, California, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon himself spent most of his time with the from Sicamous in the direction of the and Washington. He met Brigham Young latter party, where he could personally at Columbia Big Eddy; and later that same and the Mormons. He wrote a long letter tend to problems in the Rockies and year he received J. Turnbull’s estimate of to Trutch in May 1868, giving details of Selkirks. $10,950 to put through a trail from possible road or rail routes across British Moberly started in July 1871, travelling Sicamous to the Columbia at the Big Columbia, his preferred one being from by way of Kamloops in order to get his Eddy through Eagle Pass. The Big Eddy New Westminster, following the Cariboo various parties going, and thence by trail was where the City of Revelstoke now Road, then Eagle Pass, the Big Bend, to Wild Horse Creek. Gillette’s party spent stands, and this line (through the Three Howse Pass and following the North the rest of the year in cutting trail and Valley Gap) would prove to be a fateful Saskatchewan River and Carlton Trail all bringing up supplies from the Columbia link joining the east and west surveys of the way to Winnipeg. (This is the same source to the Blaeberry River, where they the Canadian Pacific Railway, and would route that had been recommended inde went into winter quarters, but not before eventually carry both railway and Trans pendently by J.W. McKay of the H.B.Co. Moberly had made a preliminasy investi Canada Highway. to the Hon. H.P Crease, Att/Gen. of B.C. gation of the Howse Pass. On Dec. 4, In the official reports of the Columbia in July 1867). Moberly also did some Moberly left for Victoria. His dia with River Exploration, both Moberly and mining in Ophir City near Salt Lake City its specimens of pressed wildflowers is still Trutch in their letters mention the neces and it was here that he received Trutch’s intact in B.C.’s Archives, and there is sity of exploring a route through the telegram that caused him to return to much to be learned from it: Selkirks, to shorten the distance around Canada. ‘Nov. 16- propose to explore the Selkirk the Big Bend of the Columbia. But it is a The Canadian Pacffic Survey Range by a valley I discovered in 1866 fact that Moberly’s journal entry for Fri, Two points are relevant when writing of when exploring fir the Govt. ofB.C. but July 13th, 1865, (an ominous date!) shows Moberly’s involvement in the C.PR. which I never had the opportunity to ex one such an investigation made, but not Surveys of 1871-3. The first is that the amine thorough This valley I then named completed: normal way for travelling across the the Valley of the Three Pyramids. . .the lot Peny returnedfvm his trz up the North-West Territories at the time was still ofthe easterl’y side ofthis valley where itjoins Efrrk ofthe Illecillewaet River He did not the time-honored Hudson’s Bay the Columbia is 51 44 There is also a reach the divide, but reported a low wide Company route from Winnipeg to valley whichjoins the Columbia River in lot valley asfar as he went. His exploration has Edmonton, and this was the route fol 51 31’ 06’ that I discovered at the same not settled thepoint whether it would bepos lowed for his proposed transcontinental time which mtht be favorablefir a pass’: sible to get through the mountains by this railway by Engineer-in-Chief Sandford Moberly proceeded to Victoria by way valley, but Ifiar not. He ought to have got Fleming. This was a painstaking, delib of the pass at 51 44’ - he had a hard time on the divide, and his failure is a great dis erate and very experienced engineer, prob of it, and wrote that he was convinced this appointment to me... ably the exact opposite of Moberly in tem pass never would answer as a line for a By this journal entry it would seem that perament. It seems logical that he would railway. As for the valley at 51 31’ 06” - Moberly admitted to not having found choose the lowest pass to enter British Jenkins’ trail - it seems that again Moberly the pass through the Selkirks - that would Columbia the Yellowhead. had missed the future Rogers’ Pass, this later be the key link for the transconti The second concerns Walter Moberly time from the easterly side; and the events nental road and railroad and indeed he himself who knew perhaps too well the that followed put any further probing of seems to have concluded that the Big area in which he was to work. One need the Selkirks out of the question. Bend offered the only practicable route. look no further than his detailed plot, What happened next to Moberly is so As will be seen later, he did have another made probably in 1866, with latitude ob well described in Pierre Berton’s book, the chance (from the easterly end), but cir servations taken every few miles. He was National Dream, that I will only set cumstances again conspired against him. convinced that the Howse Pass should down an outline. In Victoria, Moberly re It is, of course, unlikely that this pass prevail. ceived authority from the Engineer-in- would remain untrampled by human foot On his return to Canada in 1871, Chief to run a trail line over the Howse for the next fifteen years, it but would Moberly sought an audience with his old Pass, which, in view of his already rigid await official recognition by the hard- friend John A. Macdonald, and as a result opinion of its merits, he interpreted as swearing, tobacco-chewing Rogers, who found himself in charge of the Columbia sanction for arranging a detailed location duly “discovered” it in 1881. surveys in B.C. under Sandford Fleming. survey He made plans for 1872 season 1867 has been described as a year of un Moberly had several parties out - John with this in mind. In April, on the eve of precedented depression. It was also the Trutch between Burrard Inlet and his departure for the field, he received an-

13 B.C. HISTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998-99 other telegram from Sandford Fleming pointed to take over from him, and after after Moberly died. In fact with the main stating that the Yellowhead Pass had been doing some work in the Tete Jaune Cache line approaching from Calgary; it is hard chosen as the official route. area, Moberly travelled south to to see what other routes could be chosen In retrospect, there is something down Kamloops, where he handed over to (certainly not the Howse Pass). right strange about these events. What Smith. He returned to British Columbia in

Chief Engineer would wait until April - He left B.C. shortly after this, spent sev 1897. His name is mentioned in prospects after expensive and complicated arrange eral months in Ottawa, where he claimed for two B.C. railroads - the Vancouver ments would necessarily have been already that Sandford Fleming held up payment Northern & Yukon Rly, and the made for the parties in the field - to in of his accounts, then moved to Winnipeg. Vancouver and Northern Rly, neither of form his deputy of the main objective for Here he contracted and built the City’s which materialized, both ending up in the the field season? Obviously the antipathy first sewer system, and for the following Deflrnct Railways Act of 1926/7. was already there, and it had led to the few years he was involved in the engi The old explorer lived his later years in lack of communication. Moberly was neering ofvarious Manitoba railroads, and retirement in Vancouver. He was often in forced to make hurried last minute cancel for a line to Hudson’s Bay. demand as an after dinner speaker, and lations - which were expensive - and after He was, with some reason, an embit was an honorary member of the abandoning much of his accumulated tered man, and not one to suffer in si Vancouver Canadian Club. His friends stores at the Blaeberry River, started lence. His dictated biography is remark would sometimes visit him at his address moving his men up the Columbia valley; ably accurate, considering that he was 82 on Hornby Street, and play a few hands of opening up pack-trail all the way to Boat at the time of publication and though he rummy before he retired to bed with a

Encampment. By November he had stops short of actually claiming that he glass of grog; and - perhaps - he would re brought them through the Athabasca Pass, discovered the Rogers Pass, it is obvious mark wryly to his cronies how poorly it and made a depot for winter quarters near that he felt cheated in this respect. He not compared with the Hudson’s Bay rum of the site of old Henry House. only rails against the treatment he received the good old days. In September, Moberly met Sandford from Fleming, but also against the final He passed away in the Vancouver Fleming in the Yellowhead Pass, having constructed route of the C.PR. through General Hospital on May 12th 1915, the taken all season to move his men to the the Kicking Horse and Rogers Passes. In same year as his nemesis Sandford new location. It is not recorded whether those early years he had a point. The Fleming. Walter Moberly was the author the meeting was stormy; but it could grades down the Big Hill of the Kicking of “The Rocks and Rivers of British hardly have been otherwise. Both men, in Horse were a whopping 4.5% with run Columbia” - London 1885, and several later recollections, blamed each other for away trains frequent; and in 1910 succes publications pertaining to exploration in the situation. sive avalanches from both sides of the B.C. He was unmarried. When Fleming left to proceed to Rogers Pass killed 62 railway workers. SOURCES Victoria, Moberly kept his parties at work These concerns would, of course, be ad PA. B.C. Howie & Schokfreld, Vol. III 1914. till December, surveying to the Fiddle dressed by the engineering masterpiece of Ma. & Meñdiara, Vol. II - Don W Thoossoo, 1967. River, then went into winter quarters. the Spiral Tunnels, and the Connaught B.C. Chron,&s - Ak1gg, Discovery Press 1977. Pio.ree, S..rvryors m the Ftaoer Volley - WN. Draper B.C.LS.

RG.E. My to the Notti. - Bruce Ranssay. Mechell Press 1962. Shortly afterwards Marcus Smith was ap Tunnel - the latter completed the year

ft Nauonol Dream - Pierre Berton, McLelIan & Stewart 1970. Surveyor-Generals Records, Victoria. The Retribution ofD. G.E Macdonald C.E. by IL Barry Cotton

Two books about British Columbia form. It is studded with gross errors, and surveyor) by Col. Moody, in laying out were published in 1862. Macdonald’s the author did not hesitate to distort the the city blocks of Queensborough (City of British Columbia and Vancouver Island truth in his purpose to portray the future New Westminster). He was also a jour followed on the heels of Capt. Mayne’s Province in the worst possible light. The nalist, and had written several books, one

‘Four years in British Columbia’ But reader may well wonder why, especially of which - “What thefarmers may do with reading after a time-lapse of 136 years, any considering that the author spent a mere their land” - was advertised in the Victoria errors later uncovered being duly dis 12 months in the country Gazette Feb. 26, 1859, soon after his ar counted, the same is not true of Macdonald has been described as a rival in B.C., and also on July 23, 1859. Macdonald’s book. Scortish Engineer. That he was Scottish is On Feb. 28, 1859, Macdonald made This book was plainly written with an undeniable, and as an engineer he was one tender for surveying under Col. Moody, ulterior motive, rather than simply to in- of the first to be employed (as a civilian and on March 20th accepted an engage-

14 B.C. HISTORICAL NEWS - Winter 199K- 99 ment to lay out town lots in his stores on July 11th. However, his dis ment to air grievances, but it is logical to Queensborough. He spent from April 2nd pul:ations regarding pay and other finan assume that the ideas would be used in his till July 11th on this work. From a study cial matters went on for several months. forthcoming book. of Macdonald’s over twenty-five letters It is interesting to note that, regardless He also made a second application to written during this time, all couched in of the Governor’s edict, J.W. Trutch who Col. Moody for 1000 acres of land on the the quasi-polite verbiage of official was also a civilian surveyoi entered into a Fraser Rivet near the Pitt River junction. spondence, it would seem that he was a contract with the Lands & Works Dept. He was ‘eady on beha’ofone or two ofmy decidedly “prickly” employee; indeed, he on July 25th. Macdonald, however, was constituents to purchase the land’: With the soon constituted a fairly large thorn in the not rehired. application was to go an exclusive right of side of Cot. Moody. His complaints were In the summer of 1859, it so happened fishing. This application was referred by at first about small matters - accomrnoda that Lt. Richard Roche, a naval officer and Moody to Governor Douglas, who noted non, tinie-off objections to administrative member of the British Boundary that Macdonald could either pre-empt or methods; also about a lot in Commission working on the 49th par purchase land, but ‘no exceptional case can Queensborough that he purchased in June allel, was recalled to his ship. He had been be made in hisfiwour’ and turned thumbs by auction, and for which he later refused engaged in running the section between down on the fishing rights. Col. Moody payment; but his charges culminated in a Chilliwack Lake and the Skagit River. forthwith (and correctly) refused the ap long letter to Col. Moody dated July 2nd Macdonald applied for this vacancy and plication. (with copy to Governor Douglas) in was given a civilian contract to carry on On Nov. 7th, 1859, Macdonald applied which Col. Moody was bluntly accused of with the work. to have his claims heard by a third party; incompetence, using “make-shift” Several of Macdonald’s letters, written and on Nov. 15th he published his July methods, and was even further to blame from the 49th parallel are extant. One, 2nd letter to Col. Moody, word for word, for having ignored Macdonald’s own which also appeared as a public notice in in the New Westminster Times. Thus far freely given advice. the Colonist Oct. 15, 1859, solicits state he had done little to recommend himself Governor Douglas’ order of July 7, ments of facts to be used for a report on to the administration (who were the prin 1859, requiring that all civilian surveyors B.C. and Vancouver Island “for an official cipal employers of civil engineers), and his be discharged, soon put an end to quarter at home”. It is not known what contribution to the growing colonies had Macdonald’s contract, and he handed in replies he got from this obvious incite- been slight. Strangely enough, Feb. 20th,

. .._.- ... a....—. ar.,., 1t.a__j —‘—

Royal Engineers’ Plan for New Westminster

15 B.C. HISTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998 -99 1860, saw two letters - to Col. Moody and want ofa crust ofbread. . . where charity has collection of lies was never put together’ to Capt. Parsons, requesting a “letter ofrec no existence, and where the most exaggerated Page 3 of the Colonist on Nov. 29, 1862 ommendation”. It is not known whether he tales ofwretchedness and crime, fallfar short bore the headline ‘Macdonald suffi’ring obtained one; it does seem unlikely But a ofwhat the newi5i arrived colonistfrets and from the horrors’ Letters to the Colonist worse blot was about to descend on his witnesses. . and to the London Times about copybook. ‘Believe me, hopefid immirant, when I Macdonald were still being written by When Col. Hawkins, the British warn you that fyou castyoursefapenniless outraged citizens until 1866. Commissioner, returned from London, wanderer upon the wild territory ofBritish Unfortunately for the two budding England, in March 1860, he was greeted Columbia, even the sky over your head will colonies, Macdonald’s book went into with the news that the section of the line rack you with bitter winds andpitiless tem three editions, and received excellent re recently done by Macdonald was so inac pest, you will almost cease to be a man and views from leading newspapers and maga curate as to be valueless. (It would be re willfindyourseI’worse offthan the brute.. zines. In Britain, at any rate, he was rated done later by Lt. Samuel Anderson). By as an expert on the subject of British this time, it is assumed, Macdonald had ‘British Columbia is a miserable country Columbia. As late as 1878 - now as Dr. left the country And - if the probable neither adaptedJbr cattle nor suitedfrr ce D.G.E Macdonald - he was still actively opinion of the administration can only be reals .. . The unproductive qualities of writing to decry the Province. If this was guessed at - not a moment too soon! British Columbia a,gricultural are entir4y war - and it certainly was a war ofwords - beyond doubt; and he who goes thither to it was plain who was winning. pursue this art will return, he ever should It wasn’t until 1872 that British Macdonald’s book (524 pages) was pub jf return, a disappointed and ruined man... Columbia found a champion. Gilbert lished in London, England in 1862. It was Macdonald’s disdain was not simply Malcolm Sproat, the first Agent-General entitled: confined to the land. It extended to native for B.C., opened an office in London, British Columbia and people also, viz: England, in August of that year. Less than Vancouver’s Island Murder is no crime amongst theseft a month later he ran into Macdonald’s comprising rocious beings, who stab, shoot, scatp and eat baleful influence. In his letter of Sept. 3, description of these dependencies: a their enemies with the voracity oftheir com 1872 to the Provincial Secretary Sproat their physical character, climate, capabili panion wolves. ... they are revengej tle mentions Macdonald thus: ties, population, trade, natural history ge ceil and unrestrained liars; and to crown I hope my recollection is not wrong in ethnology gold-fields, and future ology all, get rid ofthe sick and aged by burning recording thatfrr some ungentlemanly con prospects, also them alive. duct he was kicked down the stairs ofa dub an account of the manners and customs As for outright “boners”, here are two of or hotel in Victoria, or it was (so) proposed “ of the native Indians. the worst: If such had been the case, it would un Author Duncan George Forbes “In thatportion (ofB. C) which lies north doubtedly have been the highlight in Macdonald C.E., was mentioned as “late ofthe 49thparalleh there is no harbour with Macdonald’s short, Pacific North-West ca ofthe Government survey staffofB. C, and the exception of Burrard’c Inlet, about 12 reer! ofthe International Boundary Line ofNorth miles up the coast from the mouth of the However, it certainly was time that the America”, and as author of three previous Fraser’ record was set straight, and with the ad books. A copy ofArrowsmith’s 1862 map “Vancouver Island has an area ofabout vent of the Agent-General’s office, men was included. Shortly afterwards (March 1670 sq. miles... such as Gilbert M. Sproat were at least 27, 1863), Macdonald delivered a lecture All of the above leads me to an un able to counteract the trash that had been at the Royal United Service Institute. He avoidable comment. It is not surprising peddled by Macdonald, and give the now sported several more letters after his that the distinction of Fellow of the Royal Province the boost which its people de name - after C.E. came F.R.G.S., Geographical Society was held in such low served. M.RS.L., and J.P esteem at the time (as was the case), when Here are some examples of Macdonald’s a man could get himself elected a Fellow Retired Land Surveyor Cotton works wit!, a combination of distorted half-truths and by publishing such inaccurate rubbish. team which is compiling biographies ofpioneer virulent prose, which so raised the hackles surveyors in British Columbia. He notes that of British Columbians: this particular study ofMacdonald is the oniy in British Columbia, where it News of publication of this com one which presented evidence ofa totally nega would be vain to attempt to describe the pendium of misinformation burst upon tive nature. hardships endured by the poo haclad the colonies by means of a leading article SOURCES PA.B.C. . . (it nearly all of page 1) in the struggling people. poor creatures; even took up Mpp.og the Frontier. G.F.G. Stanley. Macmillau.Toronro. 1970. now the scenes of misery which I have wit Colonist Nov. 6, 1862, and needless to Pioneer Surveys in the Fraser Valley. WN. Draper. B.C. Hist. Q. VoL V, #3, 1940. befi?re - say it created considerable furor. The ar nessed in that dependency rise me British Colmnbia &Mmeounet’s Inisstd. D.G.E Macdonald. Longman men, women and children famishing frr tide ended by saying: “probaby a greater Green & Co. London 1862.

16 B.C. ifiSTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998-99 Lytton A(fa(fa by VC. Brink

In the 1920’s for a few years the little town of Lytton, B.C. was famous in North American

agriculture - famous for its alfalfa seed and famous for a contro versy the seed engendered. It may be hard to realize today but in the early 1920’s alfalfa was not the important crop it is today over most of our continent and over the world. In much of Canada today we see it in fields, seeding naturally on roadsides and natural grasslands. In the first decade of this cen tury; alfalfa cultivation was al most entirely confined to the Southwestern States and Mexico. There non winter-hardy narrow- crowned Spanish type alfalfa was On Terraces such as this above the Fraser and Thompson rivers near Lytton, B. C, Spanish type 4f4fa were seeded to meet grown. in a very few places and the needs ofbeasts ofburden during the Cariboo Gold Rush, 1858-1865. Subsequently in the 192O seedfrom these afafa ssrains was on very limited acreages in widely used in the Middle Western States and Esstern Canada. Ontario, New York and Virginia some same time shiploads of dusty; weed and of B.C. hybridized winter hardy plants what more winter-hardy strains mainly of disease laden plants of alfalfa came to West from the Don Valley of Russia with German origin had been established. Coast ports from Asia. In the last century Ontario Variegated German type plants; Then in the years immediately before and individual plants would live for decades, winter hardy “Rhizom’ type plants pro during the 1914-18 war, the virtues of some perhaps for 50 years until the intro duced by G.G. Moe & others associated German type alfal& - its perenniality; its duction in the 1940’s of diseases such as with this program became widely used by high yields and nitrogen - fixing capabili bacterial and verticillium wilt. other breeding programs in many parts of ties were recognized and extolled by men Unfortunately, much of the seed the world. such as Lyman in Minnesota (sponsoring ported from Lyrton and elsewhere pro New disease-resistant winter-hardy al Grimm type alfalfa) and Zavitz at the duced plants which were not usually able falfa varieties steadily replace the old but in Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph to survive the winters of the Central States the Dry Interior of B.C. one can still see (sponsoring the Ontario Variegated and Ontario. Lytton seed was roundly some plants in the alfal&s of roadside, strain). The demand for seed rose rapidly. condemned by agronomists such as grassland and field with characteristics of The rising demand and high prices for “Alfalfa” Graber of Wisconsin and de form, flower, colour and seed which made alfalfa seed drew the attention of alfalfa mand for it dropped. the Spanish type al&lfa of Lytton in the growers in and around Lytton and in the There was a good result nonetheless. 1920’s and 1930’s quite flmous. Nicola Valley where Spanish type alfalfas Legislation was passed in Canada and in had been grown for most of a century; the USA to certifi seeds as to country of Men coming from the California gold origin and breeding programs were started Dr VC. Brink was a profrssor of Plant Science at the University ofBritish rush of 1849-1855 to the Cariboo gold to develop winter hardy strains. Hardy Columbia. in his youth he wo,*ed with G.G. Moe and did rush of 1859-1865 had seeded alfalfa of strains came from areas such as Ladak in some research in the Lytton area with anthro California origin to feed horses, camels the Himalayas of Northern India and pologist Wayne SuttIec and other domesticated animals on the from species of al&lfa native to Russia and terraces of the Fraser, Thompson and Siberia. One breeding program initiated EDITORS NOTh Since reading this article Nicola rivers. Lytton alfalfa seed sold by L.S. Klinck, Dean of Agriculture, and we have observed scattered se’fseeded a(f4z readily in the middle western states. At the later President of the youthful University with blooms ofdeep pusple, lightpurpk yellow and white here in the East Kootenay.

17 B.C. HISTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998 -99

18

1998 Winter NEWS -99 B.C. HISTORICAL -

930s, the beginning Jews to By those 1

quick claimed which wanted: process it it 1941-1951, Prairie Between provinces. 6

drug and stores.’ 9

the doing so in and impeded ciety further aaaand Canada from Jews ation Central the

offices doctors’ groceries, confectioneries,

so integration for into gionists Canadian with third along arrived and second gener

shops, butcher House, kosher schools,

1952 rely to Jews forced co-reli their on Europe over survivors Holocaust all from

Neighborhood Torah hail, Zionist Hall,

1945- the policy during years critical ship nificant immigration of when wave

Talmud cluding publications, Jewish

and immigration citizen comprehensive another War, experienced sig Vancouver

in community catered Jewish the to

a develop to Canadian the government 1930s 5 . by the the Second World After

in neighbourhood Strathcona the vices

of 3 immigrants) of reluctance bers “The hundred which six to grew families then

ser new Other the in Tzedeck.’ Schara

to large num accommodate regulations to Vancouver hundred two rose families,

room a to 514 a Heatley at house Avenue,

rejected they ample, the of adjustment the 1910, population By Jewish in

from moved Torah) oped Talmud the into

ex Holocaust cluding For survivors). and

J9J44

devel (which children for school Hebrew

actual displaced of (in situation persons between Jews, province the in 1886 settled

the time, this At afternoon congregation.

little of showed ment understanding the of part posed fir East most the European

a to 1921 in built larger accommodate

the War, World govern Second Canadian rioch second com 1858-1871. wave, The

was which (Gates Righteousness), re of

that the comments Gerber Jean after gold-rush British the during pe Columbia

Tzedeck Schara gogue renamed were

support. orzin, European to came W’st and German

and syna Orthodox the congregation

of and community bination self-initiative largeiy wave, The composed of ofJews first

1917 In held premises’ 7 . rented in services

took com a place life through American teenth twentieth-centuries: early and

congregation Reform the and Avenue,

integration into North Their cult. late British the during nine Columbia

and Heatley h corner the Street Pender of

to Vancouver diffi the society adjustment immigration major Jewish of to waves

on Isreal), of of (Sons tion Yedudah B’nai

East European found Jews barriers, nomic identifies two Wisenthal Christine

by 1911-1912 in congrega Orthodox the

language, eco and overcome to cultural IMMIGRKI]ON

was built synagogue day A “Chinatown”.’ 6

Having encouraged all migration.’ 2 ways,

Community

present- of and part Streets, Prior Cordova

to rail the by opened West,” settlement

History of Jewish Vancouver’s

and and between Gore Avenues R2ymur up the to fill lands policy of ment’s empty

district, Strathcona between East the End the and govern Canadian growth, nomic Vancouver).

250 ie in lived families of Jewish community to eco contributed “Pucky” Vancouver’s Coast in (both Pelman raised and born

Vancouver’s of 920s, half than more I the to railway Pacific transcontinental couple, and experiences Minnie one of

to nineteenth-century late the From the the East of Europeans,’° completion the examining by so does life It balance.

Avenue.’ 5 immigration recruited actively maintained Canadian and developed nity this has

Heatley and Street at Synagogue Fender escape to persecution, homes violent Jewish their Vancouver’s how commu vestigate

of and Streets the Water and CordDva on many The forced abandon to Jews to is paper pogroms 9 this of purpose in group.

shops their of town, distance walking within the Canada: to Russian migration of dass cohesive a as serving identity its unique

of End the in East houses.. working-class . changed events and direction the time ciding same the at pre while society nant

simple in lived people Jewish 1’zncouver 1 the By society 8 coin several 880s, the into Saxon domi balance blending between

of century ofthis decades most the earI’y In Anglo- of affluence and relative life of a achieved has the community 3 , Jewish

INSTITUTIONS AND RESIDENCES way been the into integrated already had case group, of ethnic small one Vancouver

OF LOCATION GEOGRAPHICAL people and these English spoke Empire, the In culture new surroundings. their in

occurred. have not might and British States United the from largely less distinctive their be maintain to likely

Canada of rest the as well as in Vancouver with society Originating ease. dominant and readily more groups assimilate would

population Jewish the of growth nificant the into blend to able were Columbia small that oassume to would logical seem

sig the period, post-war the throughout to British Jewish most migrants time It community resident the from pressure

the displaced rescue Jewish to 1858. community this until Up since Victoria in living or choice by through nant either society”2,

Canadian the and (“survivors”) survivors already Jews with began many Vancouver “domi the with degrees assimilation’ of

of Holocaust been for efforts to persistent the immigration Jewish of wave first The civdvarying achieved has group ethnic Each

not Had identity”.’ 4 om“Canadian” form it 4,029. groups. ethnic of a diversity by inhabited

some to uni to immigrants of assimilation 2,812 from grew population Jewish the a is city Columbia, British Vancouver,

Schlappner Carrie by

Canadian Unapologetically

Jewish: Unapologetically ascend the economic and social ladders New services continued to concentrate in the end of World War One they had be were establishing residences south of False these areas: a revitalized Jewish come the predominant influence in the Creek, beginning with roughly thirty Community Centre was built on 41st Jewish community ofVancouver.28 upper middle class families (established Avenue and Oak Street in 1962, while the This group brought with them several merchants and landowners), who lived in Reform Congregation, Temple Shalom, characteristics nurtured in the ghettos of the affluent West End neighbourhoods of was relocated in the late 1980s to 57th Europe: Orthodox Hebrew relzgion and cus Mount Pleasant, Fairview and Avenue and Oak Street. Unlike suburban toins; Jewish nationalism (as manfest in Shaughnessy2° Soon after the residential trends in most North American cities, the Zionism); a penchantJr democracy; a pas community began its trek westward, the majority of the Jewish population of sion fir education; a clannishness offamily first Jewish Community Centre was built Vancouver sett]ed in the central city rather and community lf’; an aggressiveness of at Oak and 11th Streets in the district of than migrate to the suburbs. acumen in trasle conditionedfrom genera Fairview. In the 1 940s, Jewish institutions “Nevertheless, rapid growth of adjoining tions of “hand-to-mouth” living; and the and services followed the geographical nrnnicipalities has resulted in the estab izedaka - the practice ofcharity andjustice. shift of people into their new neighbour- lishment of sizable Jewish populations in These members ofthe community never re hoods. A new Orthodox Congregation Richmond-Delta, the North Shore and garded their citizenshz in Canada as anti called Beth Hamidrosh B’nai Jacob was Burquest, who have organized their own thetical to their Jewish religion, culture or founded in 1943 at Heather Street and Jewish community life”.27 support ofJewish nationalism.29 16th Avenue.2’ In 1946, the Louis Brier The 1991 census indicates a concentra For these East European refugees life Home and Extended-Care Hospital for tion ofJewish residences along the “Jewish was hard. Canadian ways were alien to the aged was established at 41st Avenue main street”, as well as a continuing trend them, including the English language. and Oak Street.22 1948 saw the opening of of movement westward. Approximately Many were destitute, having been forced the Conservative congregation, Beth Israel 41% of Jewish population lived between to leave everything they owned behind in (House of Israel), at Oak Street and 27th Main Street and Granville Street, and order to escape persecution in Europe and Avenue, the Talmud Torah opened a day- 45% of the Jewish population lived West Russia. This group became one of the school in a separate building across the of Granville Street. With the average per leading forces behind Vancouve?s orga street, while the Schara Tzedeck relocated centage of the Jewish population to the nized Jewish community forming groups to Fairview at 19th Avenue and Oak overall population of Vancouver being to assist new immigrants and the existing Street! The kosher food markets moved 1.45%, Jewish concentrations of 4% or population (discussed below). into the area around Broadway and Oak more in some neighbourhoocls is signifi Some authors such as Christine Streets.24 cant. Concentrations of the Jewish popu Wisenthal3° and Freda Wa1house empha By the end of World War Two, the lation are still found in the traditional size the divisions that existed in the early Jewish community had completely de Fairview, Shaughnessy, Kerrisdale, twentieth-century between the German- serted the East End. Vancouver’s Jewish Oakridge, and South Cambie areas, but Jewish merchants, who were largely re community established a distinct residen there are now high concentrations of the form and assimilationist, and the Eastern tial pattern in Fairview, Shaughnessy and Jewish population scattered further West. Europeans who arrived later and were Mount Pleasant. Rather than recapitu Thus we can see a trend of movement into largely orthodox. Walhouse comments lating the residential experience of earlier a variety of affluent areas, with only minor that the Jewish community’s influence on Jewish settlement on the East Side, where representation in the lower-income areas Vancouver as a whole was diminished “be rents were cheap and other immigrant of the East side (7%) of Vancouver. cause of a major split dividing the com populations continued to enter, the SHARED CULTURAL VALUES AND munity on religious grounds”.32 However, Holocaust survivors moved quickly into COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS despite any initial tensions within Jewish proximity to the host community25 The No ethnic group is completely homoge society, between 1910-1930 the Jewish host community assisted with this trend neous. Within the Jewish community community was firmly established and by providing financial assistance and em there are a variety of religious affiliations had founded most of the basic organiza ployment opportunities to the new ar including orthodox, conservative, reform, tions that form the core of the community rivals. With increasing affluence and the and secular. Country oforigin prior to im to this day opening of new residential districts in the migration can influence the cultural traits Among [the organizations] were: B’nai 1960s and 1970s, the population con of individuals, as can economic back B’rith (1910), Hebrew Aid and tinued its shift southward and westward, ground, education, and life experiences. Immigrant Society (1910), Zionist and into the additional districts of Oakridge, However, some cultural traits are held in Social Society (1913), Hebrew Free Loan Kerrisdale and South Carnbie. However, common by a preponderant number who Association (1915), Hadassah (1920), the concentration of people and institu are not linked to religious affiliation alone. Council ofJewish Women (1924), Jewish tions remained at Oak Street between In the early twentieth-century, the Community Chest (1924), Hebrew 15th and 57th Avenues, making it what number of East European immigrants Athletic Club (1925), B’nai B’rith Leonoff calls the “Jewish main street”.26 grew within a short period of time, and by Women (1927), Jewish Administrative

19 B.C. HISTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998-99 the State of Israel since its establishment in 1948.° Thus Zionism has been another source of collective identity in addition to the myth of settlement of newcomers. While there has been an increasing trend towards the secularization of Jewish life in the late twentieth-century; and reli gious motivations are no longer a prime factor in dictating residential preferences, residential concentrations, as mentioned above, continue to characterize urban Jewish lif and may become the principal bond that holds the community to gether.41 “Residence has continued to have a major impact on other frctors such as so cial affiliations and information networks

Minnie (nee ken) and Solomon (“Pucky’) Pelman - Engagement photo c. 193Z of friends, business acquaintances, chil Photo courtesy of the Pemans. dren and family?’42. Council (1932), Jewish Congress (1934), strong work ethic and determination to OCCUPATIONS Jewish Family Service Agency (1936). In succeed are both legacies of their experi From the 1880s on, Jewish immigrants 1926 the Council of Jewish Women ences and have become ingrained in their were mainly poor, working-class or lower opened a Neighbourhood House in culture. middle-class from Russia and Poland who Strathcona, wbich was superseded in 1928 This tradition of “taking care of their started out in business with a horse and by a Jewish community Centre in own” continued after the Second World wagon as junk pedlars. Others became Fairview33 War when community associations were second-hand storekeepers or artisans such Many of these associations were a direct active in the rescue and settlement of as tailors and shoemakers, located along reflection of the Jewish culture and its pri Holocaust survivors in Vancouver. The the main business streets of Vancouver’s orities. For instance, the Hebrew Aid and leadership of these groups mobilized be early days: Water, Cordova, and Immigrant Society is a reflection of the hind the effort to integrate the survivor Westminster (Main) Streets, within principle of tzedaka, or “taking care of immigrants, while the host community walking distance of their homes and syna their own”. As Cyril Ieonoff describes. provided occupational opportunities, spe gogue.43 Eventually with hard work and This society was one ofthe earliest institu cial educational programs, residential areas through mutual assistance, members of tions in Vancouve, assisting the needy im accessible and desirable to the new the Jewish community graduated to better mzgrants passing through the port or ar comers, and institutions which accommo livelihoods.44 In the 1920s and 1930s, riving to stay in the community with monej dated them. By using the existing facili many became small-store owners, special Joa clothes, and shelter It also providedser ties to integrate into society; by choosing izing in retail merchandise establishments vices to local homes, ol.dfiilks’ homes, hospi residential areas where concentrations of along Hastings Street, then on Granville talc, ophanages, and to inmates ofasylums Jews already lived, and by entering occu Street, which became the primary retail andpenitentiaries. The wef’are work ofthis pations which placed them on economic streets in Vancouver.45 The Jewish com society eventua4’y amalgamated with later parity with the host community the sur munity included some prominent busi organizations, such as theJewish community vivors contributed to the maintenance ofa nessrnen in the first days of Vancouver, Chest and theJewish Wf’are Bureau.34 homogeneous group identity in most importantly David Oppenheimer The Jewish Community Chest is also Vancouver.x In this way, “conffict between and his &mily of grocery wholesalers. an example ofhow the Jewish community the two groups was minimized and Oppenheimer was the second mayor of contributed to and influenced the domi chances for the receiving community to Vancouver (1888-91), and during that nant society: as the first central ftind learn about the unique survivor experience time he helped organize some of the city’s raising body for the Jewish community es was maximized”.37 In fact, the well-per infrastructure, including the water supply tablished in 1924, it became a model for formed settlement of the newcomers en and sidewalks, and was active in the pro the city-wide Vancouver Community tered into the mythology of the commu curement of Stanley Park from the federal Chest when it was established in 1931. nity,38 and contributed to its cohesive na government. The tradition of active The community as a whole knew that ture. While there had been fttndraising ac community involvement continued in the they could depend on each other for assis tivities in support of Zionism and the late twentieth-century; with Dave Barrett, tance and work opportunities, and they population of Palestine since the 1 920s,39 leader ofthe New Democratic Party; being supported Jewish businesses and stores some sectors of the Jewish community the first Jew to hold the office of Premier with ardor. The Jewish community’s have rallied around organizing support for in British Columbia from 1972-1975.

20 B.C. HISTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998 -99 Historically, the Jewish community has many trends that thread through the his End, their network of friends was pre been concentrated not only in residential tory of Vancouver’s Jewish community dominantly Jewish, which expanded to in areas, but also in certain sectors of the Both Pucky?s parents, Harry and Sarah clude a variety of ethnic groups once they economy. Occupational concentrations Rose (née Rothstein) Pelman, and reached high school. As adults, they met have ranged from the junk pedlars and Minnie’s parents, William and Mary (née non-Jews and maintained close friend shopkeepers ofthe late nineteenth-century Fisher) Izen, moved to Vancouver in ships with them for many years. Yet it to the wholesale and retail trades in the search of better opportunities. The seems that their strongest relationships 1930s (47.2% in 1931). By the time of Pelmans were married in their hometown have been with people from the Jewish the 1951 census, it was evident that the of Minsk, Russia, and went to New York community As Minnie said, “the people Jewish population was concentrated in to escape the pogroms. They proceeded to we grew up with were our friends for white collar occupations in British Vancouver in 1911 to join some of Sarah’s life”. Pucky continued, Columbia such as the categories of propri relatives, including her brothers. Minnie’s It an amazing thing, actuallj since you etors I managers (40.4%), commercial I parents came from different parts of mention that. Two other couples grew up sales (14.1%), professionals (12.9%), and Eastern Europe: Mary Fisher immigrated down in the East End there, got married clerical jobs (10.8%). Furthermore, the to Vancouver from Lithuania in 1915 to within a yeai the three of us, three couples, community’s fundraising structure re join her aunt, while ‘William Izen left we celebrated our anniversariesfrrfi?rtyyears flected its occupational configuration, Warsaw, Poland, with his brother and and thefte still alive, and we fiust] cele with prominent businessmen and profes sister, arriving in British Columbia in brated our sixtieth. . sionals dominating the leadership of 1911. As teens, Minnie and Pucky partici major Jewish organizations.49 This concen In their early years as Vancouver resi pated in youth organizations and spOrts tration in professional and white collar oc dents, Minnie’s family lived on East within the Jewish community Pucky be cupations can be attributed in part to the Georgia Street and Pucky’s family lived on longed to the Young Judaeans, Young priority placed on higher education. As Keefer Street, which were located across Men’s Hebrew Association (YlvlI-Lk), and Leonoff describes, the lane from each other in Vancouver’s he played sports with the Young Judaea Regardless of their financial situation Downtown East Side, or as Pucky calls it, Softball Team. Minnie was a member of .JewishJiimilies retained the characteristic re “the ghetto”.5 This “ghetto” consisted of the women’s branch of the Young spectfbrfrnnal education. .. The parents several new immigrant groups, which Judaeans and, as she jokes, ‘we spent the and older children labored to make a good tended to be segregated along ethnic lines. time watching the boys play baseball then education possible frr the younger children. As Minnie explains, going and leaving with dates.”59 In typical Jewish fashion, every famit,’y On Union Street the next block ove, there In 1933, the Izens and Pelmans moved dreamed of having at least one doctor or were the Italians, [South ofus]. On our side, out of the East end to the new districts lauyer5° we had two blocks, Id say of the Jewish opening in south-west Vancouver. The By the late 1920s-1930s, Jewish chil people. Thwards the False Creek, about three Izens settled at 14th Avenue and Oak, dren were enrolling in universities and en blocks ove, then the Chinese started and while the Pelmans were located at 10th tering the professions, eventually be they went all the way to Carrall Street, and Avenue and Columbia, both areas con coming the new leaders of the Jewish to the Creek) taining high concentrations of Jews. community51 In fact, by the 1970s, “occu The Izens and Pelmans were family When asked if a conscious decision was pations have become more diversified, in friends, and as children Minnie and Pucky volving participation in virtually all attended the local Orthodox synagogue, fields”.52Holocaust survivors reinforced Schara Tzedeck, as well as Seymour this trend by quickly achieving economic Elementary School and Talmud Torah parity with the resident Jewish commu Hebrew school. Being a year younger, nity through moving from low-skilled jobs Minnie often spent more time with into entrepreneurial or skilled occupations Pucky’s brother, Norman. Until she was with assistance from the host community twelve, that is. As Minnie recounts, and their own initiative. One do3 I was twelve years oW and his younger brother was visiting me, and he A CASE STUDY - THE PELMANS Minnie Pelman(née Izen) and Solomon [Pucky] comes over and he says to Norman. (“Pucky?’) Pelman have been married for ..“You can go home now, Im here’ and over sixty years. Both have lived in that was it, from the time we were twelve. Vancouver since they were born, in 1916 And so this was the beginning of and 1915 respectively. Theirs is a unique Minnie and Pucky’s life together, at story of a lifetime commitment to each tending Templeton Junior High, then Britannia High School, and spending At their 60th WèddingAnniversai Minnie e other and to the Jewish community in Solomon (“Pucky’9 Pelman, 199Z Vancouver. Their story also reflects the time with friends. While living in the East Photo courtesy of C. Schlappner.

21 B.C. HISTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998-99 made to live near other Jews, Minnie com junk pedlars, riding their horse-drawn used profits from his business to sponsor mented that after moving out of the wagons around the East End district. It five bowling teams (he played on one), all ghetto, “then we [the Jewish community] was a difficult life at first, but before long, of which had players from outside the spread out according to what each person both men graduated into store-front busi Jewish Community. Close friendships could afford. [The background of people nesses. Minnie remembers, were formed with these gentile team in their new neighbourhood was] all He started out in a horse and wagon, mates and employees, some of which mixed.”6° This remark reflects the strong went around the lanes, you know, calling out lasted a lifetime.6 In 1972, they sold Sam’s correlation in the Jewish community be for anyone that had anything to sel you Shirt Shop and Pucky went to work for tween occupational concentration, degree knou rags to sell... when he had enough, the Jewish-owned Finn’s Clothing store on

affluence . of and residential geographic lo he opened a store on Keefer andMain.. . a West Broadway near MacDonald

cation (discussed earlier). Similarities in second-hand store. . . and he bought three Avenue.68 Pucky is still working hard for economic status reinforced the tendency little stores. One was his and the others he the Finn brothers, with no sign of slowing of people in the Jewish community to re rented out. He used to rent the corner store down. When asked if he had tried to ob main geographically concentrated. out to the gypsies, whenever thefri come to tain jobs outside of the Jewish commu Once married in 1937, Minnie and town!’ nity, Pucky remarked, “I didn’t even try, I Pucky moved several times, yet always re Harry Pelman had a more varied work knew these people.”6 mained close to the “Jewish main street”, history, Pucky recounts, Minnie also worked before she and described above.6 Minnie and Pucky be My Dad also started going out peddling Pucky married. Her first job was at a

came members of the Beth Israel conserv Then. . . from there he and a friend ofhis Jewish-owned “five and ten cent store” ative synagogue on Oak Street at 27th opened up a pawn shop, BC collatera4 downtown at Davie and Granville, called

Avenue, attending with their children which is still in existence. . . They sold out Blank’s. After that she went to a business every Friday night before the family’s and my Dad used to make a living any school and got a job as a secretary at City

Sabbath dinner (until the kids reached which way One ofthe things he did. . . he Hall. Since it was widely considered unac their teens and became “too busy”62). was a rum-runner.., my uncle used to pick ceptable for married women to work Their children, Neil, Barbara, Gayle, and up liquor here and run it down to Los during the Great Depression, Minnie left

Stephen,6 all attended Hebrew school at Angeles in their old Cadillac. . . the hairy City Hall in 1937. Once her children Beth Israel three times a week. The syna stories he told us about running awayfrom were grown, she worked as a volunteer at

gogue has been and remains a central fea the police, gosh. . . My mother. . . I was Vancouver General Hospital, Centennial ture in Minnie and Pucky’s lives. In fact, told she used to sell liquor here during the Hospital and the Louis Breir Home. Pucky was a committed member of the prohibition. She wouldget a call at eleven o’ When asked if she suffered discrimination choir and became the conductor in 1973, clock at nrhtfor a bottlefrom one ofher cus in the workplace, Minnie commented. a position which he held until this year. tomers, put me in the buggy I was maybe When I applied at City Hall I was taken

His sense of obligation was so strong that two years old or so at the time, . . . and go on my merits. There was only one other

he sacrificed attending events in his chil and deliver it. . .just to make a living.65 Jewish girl there. But we knew it was hard dren’s lives in order to Fulfill his duty to the Pucky started contributing to the family for a Jewish person to get in any place else, choir. Pucky solemnly observed, income at age twelve, selling bags of outside ofaJewishplace.... TheJewish boys Now Istart thinking about the times that peanuts at the Ballpark at the Powell Street couldnget ajob except somebody they knew

I told the children, when they were having Grounds in the early evening. Minnie that.. . .already had a business.° school plays or graduations on a Friday often helped him put peanuts in the bags This comment brings up an interesting night, when the choir sang, and I didn’t go after school. Pucky remembers, point about Minnie and Pucky’s experi to any ofthem, I went to the choir and they W’ had a nice little business going What ences: they repeatedly assert that they had didn say anything... fin sure they wished Igotfir doing all ofthat was on Saturday I “no problems” growing up, and while they

that I was there, but I wzn would getfifteen cents to buy. . . a milk acknowledge subtle forms of anti- The children have all distanced them shake and a donut. That was my ay”. Semitism like the one mentioned above, selves from strong religious affiliation, and the rest went to thefamily66 they express very little bitterness about it: both daughters have married gentiles (one Through his adult life, Pucky worked they seem to accept, “that’s just the way it in a second marriage). While religion has for a variety of Jewish-owned businesses, was”. One other story that highlights the been an important touchstone for Minnie such as Alberta Meats, Silver’s Menswear insidious discrimination experienced by and Pucky, they are supportive of their (which his brother-in-law owned), and Jews in Vancouver. It involves the daughters’ choice of partners. It is clear Mother Hubbard Bakery. In 1942, Gleneagles Golf and Country Club,7’ that their children’s happiness is their pri Minnie and Pucky used the money they which Pucky describes this way: ority, were saving to buy a house to purchase Most ofus used to go’f’at Langara. And it The fathers of both Pucky and Minnie, Sam’s Shirt Shop from his cousin, located was like bribery to get a [tee-off’] time. This Harry Pelman and William Izen, had ini Downtown at 62 1/2 West Hastings Street, flow [afriend ofPuckyc] who made up the tially made their livings in Vancouver as kitty-corner from Woodwards. Pucky times used to slto him [the Langara em-

22 B.C. HiSTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998-99 ployee] a couple ofextra bucks in order to get FOOTNOTES 39. Walhouse, Op Cit., 1961, p. 161-162. The Hadassals was I. To assimilate is to absorb into rise cultural tradition of a uiganized by Jewisls women in Vaucouver in 1920 lout this on the course. And finally it came to the population or group. (Welratet’n 7th New ColLegiate purpose 40. Ibid., 162. Dictiommy, (Springfield: G. & C. Merriam Co., 1976), p. 53). p. point where. . . he was really taking advan The success achieved by Vancouver’s Jewish Community in 41. Gerber, Op Cit., 1989, p. 54, Source: Calvin Goldscheider and economic and occnpatiooal mobility and participation in Alan Zuckeruian, The Traoskrinarion of the Jews, (Cbicago: tage. So thej72 started to look around to get a business, political/public life ate considered hete as major University of Chicago Press, 1984) pp. 224-227. course oftheir own. Thatc when they bought indicators of assimilation. 42. Ibid., p. 54., Source: Francis Kobtin and Calvin Goldscheidet, 2. Being a society char teceives a high degree of immigration from Ethnic Factors in Family Stracunste and Mobility the test of Canada and the test of the woeld. one could argue (Cambridge, Mast.: Balhinger Press, 1978). Gleneagles. I remember. .. W’ could buy the that the definition of Vancouver’s ‘dominant society’ has 43. Ibid., p. 85. courseJbr $65,000. So what we needed was changed over rime. lu this paper, the definition of the 44. Gerber, Op Cit., 1989, p. 85. “doinioant society” refers to the British Europeais cusrouss and 45. Ibid., P. 85. just enough people to pledge so all I had to values and English language that have shaped rise laws and 46. Ibid., p. 85. government institutions of Vancouver and Canada, and 47. Ibid., p. 44. put down was $50, but I had to pledge to consequently the society as a whole. 48. Ibid., p.45. Source: Canada Dominion Bureau of Statistics, 3. The ethnic nature of Vancoovet’s Jewish community is best 1951 Census, Vol. IV, Labour Force: Occupatiuiss and pay off And it was $500 a person and they described in terms of this definition: [an ethnic group isj a Industries. got it and they formed their own Gleneagles collectivity within a sls,ger society having real orprsoarive 49. Ibid., p. 45. common ancestry memories ofa shared historicalpast anda 50. Ibid., p. 85. Go’f Club. (Minnie interjected, referring crslsuralfiscs,s on one or more symbolic etemenst definedas the 51. Ibid., p. 85. epitome oftheir peaplehood Evamples ofsuch symbolic 52. Leonoft Op Cit., 1986, p. 19. 53. Pehioan, Minnie and Pocky, Personal Interview. to the L.angara Golf Course) - }‘bu know elomeno are: kinship pasterns, pisysical cosrsogfsity (as in localism or sectionalism), rel(gios,s affiliation, or any combination March 18, 1998. what time? The boys would have to get up at ofthese. A necessary accompaniment is some consciousness ofkind 54. Ibid. among members ofthe group. (RA. Schetmethorn, as qooted in 55. Ibid. five in the morning to get there in order to Jean Gerber, “lmmigtaiion and Integration in Post-War 56. Ibid.. Pocky Graduated in 1932 and Minisie graduated in 1933. Canada: A Case Study of Holocauss Survivots in Vaocouvet 57. Ibid. get them on... That was sort ofsubtle anti- 1947-1 970”, nupssblished MA Thesis, University of British 58. Ibid. Semitism.73 Columbia, 1989, p. 5-6.) These strucriisal lisceors also apply: 59. Ibid. Ethnicity defined in terms offlequentpastmro ofassociasion and 60. Ibid. CONCLUSION identification icith common orrgino, is crysoallsoed isnder conditions 61. Ibid. Their first apartment was on 19th Ave. and Oak Sc, and ofresidensialsrabilisy on segregation; common occropational other houses consisted of 3832 Willow Street at 16th Ave. and The life experiences of Minnie and position, arid dependence on local inssissstions and sern’icen which the house which became their family home for 25 years at reinforce the maintenance ofkinship andflie,sdihst siec (William 419 20th Ave. at Yukon Sr. Today they live in Arburas Village. Pucky Pelman echo several themes present Yancey, Eugene Erickson, and Richard Jul mi,) as quoted in Jean 62. Ibid.

63. Ibid. TIse children were bum am follows: Neil - August Getbet, Ibid., P. 8-9.) 13, 1939, in the history of Vancouver’s Jewish corn 4. Christine Boos Wisouthal, ‘Insiders and Outsiders: Two Waves Bsrbara -October 14, 1943, Gayle - Mards 15, 1948. Siephen - munity; of Jewish Settlement in British Colombia, 1858-1914”. May 5,1951. Their parents immigrated to unpublished MA Thesis, University of British Columbia, 64. Ibid. 65. ibid. Vancouver from Russia and Eastern Apeil, 1987, p. ii. 5. Cyril Edel Leonoffi Pioneers, Pedlarn and Prayer Shawir 66. Ibid. Europe at a time when they were The Jewish Commrmitien us British Colnmbka and the 67. Ibid. TIse Pelusans mention that one ensployee in particular, under Guy, was vety close to them. He would caine over en their Yahoo., (Victoria: Soon His Press, 1978). p. 86. persecution in their homelands and they 6. Cytil Edel Leonoffi “Centennial of Vancouver Jewish Life: house for Hanukkah and they would visit him at Cheistuusas. 18861986’, (Vancouvee Jewish Western Brafletiat. August 14, 68. There is another Finn’s store located io Keteisolale. were being welcomed into Canada. The and October 2, 1986), p. 18. 69. Ielman, Personal Inrerview, Op. Cii., 1998. 7. FreEs Wolhoose, “The Infloence of Miniotity Ethnic Gtoups on 70. Ibid. Pelmans have lived in areas where the the Cultural Geography of Vancouser’, unpublished MA 71. Gleneagles was opened in 1952 ard was sold in July 1958 to Tlsesis, University of British Columbia, Sepsembet 1961. become a muisicipal golf course. Leonoft Op Cit.. 1978, Jewish population is concentrated and 193. 8. Ibid., p. 83. p. have been active members oforganizations 9. The Rsassiao government sanctioised the massacre of Jews 72. “Tlsey” would refer to the committee of Cedaectest who located datiisg else pogroms (1881-1882). Deborah H. Geriser. One the property near the osouth of Howe Sound and organized Land, Two Peopless The Conflict Over Palestine. (Boulder: ftuiidraisiog to buy and develop rise hand. Ibid., p. 193. Westview Pious Inc., 1994), p. 12. 73. Pelmaus, Persunal Interview, Op Cit., 1998. Clifford SOlon, Canada’s niiussister of rhe Iiiterioe in Lanriet’s 74. administration, iissplemented an immigrariois policy which BIBLIOGRAPHY ptoinoted d5t arrival of East Europeans between 1896-1905: 58,000 immigrants from Ausrtia-Huogaty, 32,000 fans Rsissia Edmund, Gordon M.. Political and Legal Aspects of Jewish History in and 8,000 from Italy Granatstein, J.L eral., Nations Canada Canada, (Montreal. 1959). Sinco Confederation, Third Edisiou, (Tomnto: McGraw-Hill Gerber, Jean,’lmnssigmeion and Integration in Post-War Canada: A Case Ryersou Ltd., 1990). P. 105, 107. Study of Holocaust Survivors its Vancouver, 1947-1970”, uiupub. II. This was also pars of SOlon’s immigration policy. Ibid., 106, lished MATlsesis, University of Britisls Columbia, 1989. 12. Leonoff Op Cii., 1978, p. 84. Gemer, Deborah. H., One Land, Two Peoples: The Conflict (Seer 13. Jean Gerber, “Immigration and Integration in Post-War Caisada: P.almtiase, (Boulder: Wesuview Press Inc., 1994). A Case Study of Holocaust Sorvivors in Vancouver 1947-1970”, Grunastemn, J.L et al., Nations Canada Since Confederation, Third uopublislsed MA Thesis, University on British Columbia. Ediuioim, (Toronto: McGraw-Hilll Ryerson Ltd., 1990). 1989, p. 21. Hier, Marlene, F, “Ethnicity and residential location”, anpubhisised MA 14. Ibid., p.2I. Thesis, UuoversityofBritisls Colunibia, 1973.

15. Leoisof5 Op. Cit., 1978, p. 123. Kenr, Rosanne Feldnian, Edocating½ncoruvet’s Jewish Children - The 16. Ibid.. p. 85. Vancouver ‘Ililmad Torah, 19 13-1959 and Beyood, (Vanconoet: 17. Leonolt Op. Cit., 1986, p. 10. Dacher Printing Ltd., 1995). 18. Leonoff Op. Cit., 1978, p. 150. Loouoht Cyril Edel, Pioneers, Pedlaon anal Prayer Slsawlss The Jewish 19. Leonoff Op. Cii., 1986, p. II. Commraniutn to British Colombia and the Yrilson, (Victoria: 20. Ibid., p. 10-Il, 17. Sumso Nis Press, 1978). 21. Leonoft Op. Cii., 1978, p. 142. Leonoft Cyril Edel, Centennial ofVaocorrrer Jewish Life 1886-1986, 22. Loonnlt Op. Cii., 1986, p. 13. (Vanconvems The Jewish Historical Society of BC and the Jewish 23. Fteda Walhouse, “The Iuflueisce of Minority Groups on the Western Bulletin, 1986).

Calmeal Geography of Vancouver”, unpublished MA Thetis, Portet, Riclsatd Philip Robinson, “Vancouver - role of Ethnic Origins University of British Columbia, Septenibet, 1961, p. 160. Population Distribution’, unpublished MA Thesis. University of 24. Gerber, Op Cii., 1989, P. British Columbia, 1965. 25. “Host community” refers to tise essabhislsed Jewish community Rhinewine, Abralsani, Looking Bards A Cents.rys Ott the Ceotennial of in Vancouver prior to rise survivors’ arrival. Ibid., p. 52. Jewish Political Equality in Canada. (Toronto: The Kraft Pioss, 26. Leonoff, Op Cit.. 1978, p. 19. 1932). 27. Leonoff Op Cit.. 1986, p. 22. Sack, E.G. (translated by Ralph Novek), History of the Jews in Canada, 28. Ibid., p. 85. (Montreal: Harvest House, 1965). 29. Ibid.. p. 85. Tulchinsky, Gerald, Taking Roots The Origins of the Canadian Jewish 30. Wisenthal. Op Cii.., 1987. Commusity, (Toromuro: Lesrer Publishing, 1992). 31. Walboase, Op Cit., 1961, p. 162. Walhouso, Freda, “Influence of Mimnority Ethnic Groups on the Cultural 32. Ibid., p. 162. Geography ofVancouver”, unpublished MA Thesis, Uisioetsity of 33. Leonoff Op Cii., 1986, p. 12. Bririsis Columbia, 1961. 34. Ibid.. p. 99. Weinihld, M., W Shaffir, and I. CoIrer, The Canadian Jewish Mosaic, 35. Gerber, Op Cit., 1989. p. 49. (Toronto: John Wiley & Sons, 1981). 36. Ibid.. p. 52. Wusenthal, Chrustome Boar, “Insiders auud Outsiders: Two Waves ofJewisls 37. Ibid.. p. 52. Settlement in Brhtisls Columbia, 1858-1914)”, unpublished MA 38. Ibid., p. 49. Gerber explains that “itt evety subsequent Thetis. Umsiversity of British Colunubia. 1987. community accooiur of post-war activities, tesettleioent of ilse 1991 Census, Ceuisuis Profiles CD-Ro:ms, Statistics Canada, Otrawa. survivors was cited as being of paransoune imporraisce. both fir use survivors’ well_being aisd as an insdicasiou of the stmisgrh and cohesiveness of Vancouver’s Jewish networks aiud iitstitations”.

24

1998-99 NEWS Winter B.C. HISTORICAL -

father done. had her the “a became Spanish He Armada.’ ‘round heads’.” whizzed bullets our

as world” the “seeing of her tured dream a the of of sailors descendant shipwrecked the as floor, the on bellies our on lie arid

nur secretly she while, the All cessories. irises, and black almost possibly with eyes a of streetcar, passing archway open the

ac fireplace knobs, door place,

in carpet curly black, black

with hair Irishman,”

to”.. had through jump friend her and .

holding rods stair trims brass many the a as father She her “brave described she way but safe, across - part was said it

polishing too, home at hard worked She sea.” the to return to longing a man The bridge. cross to safe was if it

dreadful.” conditions was and hard work forth, and the back forth, and back floor, man a a with asking walking friend, small,

where

factory; “a began linen in work paced he many of

as watching times

of Belflist, of being told the she city Of . . “.

Margaret fourteen At training. nurses told She father ashore. living happy wasn’t blood.”

through way part quit who sister had career. sailing his of end the Her signalled our in is Wanderlust him. like world,

an on older money wasted had he felt he 1902 15th, October birth her lieved

the always

travel to wanted “I because, - -

because angry was He that denied option. she family, large a of be child middle the Vancouver to alone travelled She brave.

father her but a be She nurse, to wanted South Born Southern the America. of tip be could Margaret father, her Like

seek to elsewhere. solace Cape Horn,” to around sailed he’d others them.” challenge dare didn’t you and

Margaret causing love, than rather udice

ear which eat; gold left his in ring signalled

they mean, said be”.. could She ranks.” .

prej taught church This is sion Bible!” the said, a wore three “He she was old, years who their break to tried anyone through

divi paper but that them, between sion until then.) home return to she Unable “run to their use to swords prepared

paper a divi tell only you there’s them was Canal Francisco. no Panama (There were included) father (her Orangemen

church.

Catholic Roman the and church to San cargo sailing

transported that ship the where

parades Boyne” the

of

. . .

Anglican the between the difference a mate first a been on had father Her Battle the in Billy’s “King victory ebrating

“What’s asks, was ever anyone “If told: she others. cel parades in marched father her Lodge,

Church Anglican Irish the In occurred. for admiration filled humour and with Orange the of members many Like

never comfort religion’s Margaret, For but adventures, as told there. were stories Her by iceberg. an felled liner

help, to supposed also is Religion hope. life her of scars personal the her within luxury ‘unsinkable’ the Titanic, the built

and humour and work with did, Margaret as 1920 buried she filled now, is in who people one it the of certainly almost

as survive people wars within Yet, fear as a Belfast, city left Margaret When and Shipyard,” Wolff Harland in foreman

today. is as then violent and it friends. old and tives

confusing as was war Civil ments.

rela

with conversations from sift

Canada. leavingfbr bejbre taken otd Thompson years 18 Kelly Margaret

invest British and Protestants tect slowly details missing Fascinating

to pro British the by sent posedly my as matures. understanding own

sup enforcers, were Tan and Black meaningful ories more becoming

the though Tan, 3 ” and the “Black As mem my find I daughter, her

and priests robed black of farful life. her

equally was Margaret Young death. shaped that violence of ration the

to father her his luring of hope du and extent the of were unaware

with bait as the used kidnapped, her to closest those Capilano. Even

was shepherd German champion to moved she when nineteen

father’s Her blood.” a of pool only probably was She vulnerable.

in sidewalk on the him there lying and Vancouver, in she when arrived

left then him, over sack a threw eighteen young, was speech. She

bullets, with him riddled ‘they’ her colouring dearing lilt Irish

light, street a where under corner en was an There first. noticed were

the to house his of “out taken was laughter slender ready and figure

a Catholic, friend, brother’s Her hair, auburn wavy eyes, brown

dangerous.” most the were hoods large Thompson’s Kelly Margaret

neighbour- “Mixed there. lived being. her of core the at ness

and Catholics Protestants both sad and pain easy masked laughter

meaning neighbourhood,” “mixed and beauty her her realise didn’t

a in lived her family said She knew who most For many years,

Koretchuk Patricia by

ilano Story Love Cap A Of Margaret’s mother - my grand used to coach her family for school. As a earlier military training in the 42nd Black

mother - I know only, “She favoured the waitress she felt her hard work was appre Watch Regiment, in Montreal. Also, boys. They never had to do any work ciated, perhaps for the first time in her Stan’s brother Albert provided back up, around the house.” She served “Champ’ life. living nearby. Stan could be gentle,

(potatoes mashed with chopped green Then, she met ... him. He was a ative, and he knew how to “hesitate” and onions cooked in the milk used for smooth talking, debonair Scot who “do the dip” when they waltzed. He had mashing), and scones “with a big pat worked in North Vancouver’s Burrard no money, no car, no house, but he was o’butter slathered on.” Other than this, Drydock Shipyard and drove a big, green good looking, another man with dark, Margaret rarely spoke of her. Wiliys car. He was the man who brought thick wavy hair. It was Margaret’s irascible grandmother, her to Lower Capilano, to a house in a Together, Margaret and Stan hiked, who came alive in the stories. She chased beautiful location that she loved. A ship picked blueberries, and laughed with

and beat a teacher with a broom, for yard worker... .like her father. . .hand friends on Grouse Mountain, building

caning Margaret’s brother’s hands because some, with black, curly hair. .. .like her fa strength from the natural environment. he was late for school. She helped as ther, also unhappy and meaner than her Mischievous bears stole their buckets of Margaret sewed ballroom gowns secretly father. freshly picked blueberries. Salmon filled by hand, to escape the ire of her censuring Recently, her neighbour from Capilano the Capilano river, “so thick you could al

father. Margaret wore them when she - Tom Meglaughlin - revealed how much most cross the water on their backs.” slipped out at night to formal ballroom this Scot physically abused Margaret. Tom They ate venison taken from the moun

dances - “on floors that would spring as we told of her black eyes and tears being tain, along with honey and vegetables danced.” wearing white gloves, carrying a soothed many times in his mother’s from my uncle and aunt’s garden. Both dainty beaded purse. kitchen. loved the clean outdoor air, the golden She had many beaux, but deeply loved Tom remembers his family’s puzzle sunsets. Respectful, but unafraid of no one. When her family began pres ment. “They couldn’t understand how cougars or other wild animals, they used suring her to accept a proposal of mar this attractive and nice woman could be “bugs” to light their way after dark. (A riage, she bought a ticket for Canada. with this thoroughly nasty character.” bug was a candle in a can.) When they In some desperation, her family When I checked this statement with hiked, Margaret was a prankster. arranged for her to stay temporarily with my now 93 year old Uncle, Albert Blaney She once substituted malt vinegar for an Uncle who lived in Vancouver. They (who also lived near Margaret), his voice the whiskey in the shot glass of a German must not have realised he was a lecherous hardened as he said, “That Scotchman friend named “Helwick.” He “downed it

old drunkard who “chased” her around was a mean bugger.” in one gulp” - as was his habit - then he the house when others were out. Margaret lost two babies while living gasped, went red in the face and chased She escaped her peril, as many Irish girls with this man. One was the victim oftox her. Stan, Helwick’s wife and other friends did in the 1920’s, by hiring into private emia, aborted at seven months. The other

service “. . . with a family that had two died within a few hours of being born, very spoiled children, who wouldn’t even “because of a ‘film’ on the baby’s lungs.”4 empty their own pee pots.” Then she Margaret was devastated. nursed a woman who was dying of cancer. Somewhere in this pain filled period,

.“ Very hush, hush. Nobody spoke of it. religion again entered her life. She at Nobody even told me what it was. I found tended a Pentecostal Church for a time, out because of the blood on the pads and learning about being “possessed of devils” the bandages.” Frightened, she left and and of “tarrying for tongues.” She learned found a job waitressing in Vancouver. to think of herself as a “sinner,” increasing In contrast, she loved the waitressing the weight of guilt carried by her already job. She was popular because she remem troubled soul. bered customer’s names and how they For years I assumed her lost babies were liked their food prepared. Years later, she my father’s children. Much later, during a would cut toast, or serve tossed salad and severe illness, she let it slip that theie had say, “This is the way we served it when I been another man. But never once did she was waitressing.” She was flattered by the tell about the beatings, and neither did tips and sometimes by the gifts (one was a my father. pearl necklace) given her by the lonely I’m not certain how Stanley Eric Blaney men visiting Vancouver from the logging became her protector. He was an camps. She was very proud ofher memory Englishman just 5’8” tall, but tough, wiry, of orders and her ability to add the bills in strong from manual labour and from On the left Stanley Eric Blaney with brother Albert Janies Blaney, when serving in the 42nd Black her head, a facility with math she later training as an amateur boxer, and from Watch Highianders, in Montreal in the 192O

25 B.C. ifiSTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998 -99 joined the laughter. and tended their farm. Yet, in spite of her soloist, choir participant and staunch The “Great Depression” was in fill own desperate situation, she invited member of the United Church. She force, so Stan and Margaret’s first home Margaret and Stan inside and baked them couldn’t risk the loss of support that was a converted chicken coop at the back cornmeal “Johnny cake.” would follow having her help interpreted of Albert’s property on Edgebaston Road. They slept under the stars or in hay by the church as ‘ondoning” Margaret

Though they must have wished it other barns on rainy nights, and loved it.. .but and Stan “living in sin” ... not with her wise - social censure heaped disgrace on they didn’t love the grasshoppers or the own family barely eking an existence. Bess those who “lived together” - they post dust. mellowed and became a loving aunt in poned a marriage ceremony until 1940. They told of watching trains slow and later years, but her actions were harsh in During these hard times, many young stop, wheels spinning uselessly on tracks Toronto in the 1930’s. couples could not afford to marry;5 My made slippery by millions of dead insects.7 Stan and Margaret survived through mother and father were no exception. They spoke of grasshoppers flying so the kindness of others and because Stan In 1933, in Capilano they had plenty of thick the sky was black, devouring any worked at anything available. He told me food, but no way to earn any money and growth ofgrass or grain in the fields. They the Jewish families paid the best for odd become independent. By this time, told of choking dust storms, relentlessly jobs. Margaret was thirty-one years old, Stan filtering into any shelter they could find. Eventually, they had to take weWare, was twenty-nine, so becoming indepen And all the while hunger stalked them, commonly called “the pogey;” They had dent was important. They heard Toronto and waited. to work for three days, then they were had jobs available, so - though Albert dis Back on a freight train nearing Toronto, paid with a bag of food and vouchers, no couraged them - they decided to seek word was passed around, “there was money; The pogey also paid the first work there. Their decision was a mistake, trouble coming up.” The railroad police month’s rent, nothing more. This was the but they didn’t know that yet. were not kind to the unemployed, and reason they acquired a used English Their most challenging question was, my father heard there were some escaped wicker Pram, as did many others “on re “How do we get to Toronto when we have criminals on board. He had hidden my lief” They used the pram each month as no money?” The answer required bravery; mother behind him, in a corner of the their makeshift “moving van,” trans daring, and a dash of foolhaidiness. They box car for most of this part of the trip. porting their meagre belongings from one decided to “hop the freights” and use Wisely, as the train slowed, they jumped address to the next, wherever the pogey

“shank’s mare” . . . for 3000 miles across and rolled, landing safely at the side of the would again pay the first month’s rent. the snowy mountains and arid Prairies of tracks. Gunshots were heard and they Margaret said, ‘All over Toronto at the Canada. It seems impossible today, but it later discovered many of the people in the end of the month you’d see people is common knowledge that many men box car had been killed. A lucky escape?. pushing their prams. They kept nothing travelled this way during the Great yes. A good omen for life in Toronto? more than could be moved this way.” Depression.6 However, it was unusual for Not really. Margaret told of giving birth to me “in a woman. . . but then my mother was an This was 1933, in the depth of the a pogey hospital,” attended by a doctor unusual woman. Great Depression. As it was in Capilano, she had never seen, until he was called by

For safety she dressed as a man, but - at “hoped for” work was non existent. But her frantic nurse, just before midnight.

5’2” - she probably looked more like a unlike Capilano, in this big city there was This same nurse had slapped Margaret boy. She cut her hair very short, wore a no forest to provide food. To their horror whenever she cried out during her long vest and long pants, with a woolen jacket. they discovered people starving to death labour. Stan wasn’t there to stop her be She donned heavy leather work boots and on the streets. cause husbands weren’t allowed. pulled a peaked cap low, over her eye At first Stan’s sister Elizabeth and her The doctor was very angry with the brows. With some dried food, a blanket, a husband Harry Welch took them in... nurse for waiting so long to call him. He ground sheet, and each other, Margaret but they were having problems of their said, “There’s no way this baby could ar and Stan set off own. They had three small children, Joan, rive without help!” They must have gotten through BC and Lewis, and Eileen to feed. Harry had a At a few minutes past midnight on the Rockies without incident, at least none weak heart. Bess was forced to work, April 23rd, 1934, he used forceps to ex worth mentioning. But then they hit the cleaning banks and houses to make ends tract me - a healthy ten pound two ounce heat and the hunger of the prairies. meet - that is, when she could find work. baby girl - from Margaret’s tiny body. Fortunately, there were kindly people who By this time Margaret was pregnant... Margaret sighed with relief when she saw helped them on their way. with me. (Perhaps I was conceived in a the nurse holding me and chanting, ‘A My mother said she would never forget box car?) When Aunt Bess discovered the George’s baby, a George’s baby,” because it the young girl, perhaps only twelve, whose pregnancy and somehow learned Stan was Saint George’s Day. Bess wanted me own mother had died. She had to raise her and Margaret weren’t married, she threw named “Georgina”. . .but Margaret set younger brothers and sisters basically them both out on the street. ded on “Patricia.” alone, while her father searched for work I don’t judge her to be cruel. Bess was a I have only two brief memories of

26 B.C. HISTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998-99 places in Toronto where the three of us of her first partner, of the loss of lived before I was four. In one I see my f her babies, and the violent stress ther and a friend, carrying a red velvet of years of poverty now took its Victorian sofa up to our apartment, lifting toll. Not wanting to burden Stan it through a squeaky trap door. I’m de or her family with her sadness, lighted when my father says, “squeaky firn she kept it to herself; turning it fun poy joy java lapoyka,” mocking the into self-blame. She thought of squeaks. He said this whenever anything herself as “a sinner” and returned squeaked. to the practices of the Pentecostal The acquisition of the red sofa must Church, rolling on the kitchen have been an important event, consid floor, asking God to remove the ering how little furniture we had. My “demons” from her body. But second memory is of a landlady, a Mrs. God must have been busy else Brownlee, handing me her walking cane where. as I stood on her stairs. Then Margaret A letter telling Margaret of my nudging me into singing a song for her, Irish grandmother’s death deep called “Hand Me Down My Walking ened her depression, long before Cane.” psychology knew how to help. At Margaret and Stan made Toronto their times she was paranoid, losing 1976 Stutn and Margaret in their own backyard at 221 West home for eleven years. They progressed touch with reality In 1949, in 28th Streei in North Vancouve, From here, tleyfrequently re turned to wa& the trails of Gpilano Gsnyon. from unemployment, monthly moving desperation Stan quit his job as a Photo courtesy of the author. and literal starvation, to having steady “boom man” MacMillan in the dreaded long term &cility; Essondale. employment and a relatively comfortable Bloedel plywood plant, sold their posses With my mother clearly delusional, and rental home with a vegetable garden and sions and returned to North Vancouver, no way to disprove the landlady’s allega an “outhouse” for a toilet. To help with fi where he knew Margaret wanted to be. tion, Stan signed. Then, for a long time nances, a boarder was “taken in” for sev He hoped returning would work the after the intruders left. . . he cried. I com eral years. needed miracle, but this was not to be. forted him, but at fifteen years old, I was In the sometimes forty degree below and they were still moving. afraid. I had never before seen my father zero winters, Margaret and Stan often told They moved six more times on the cry fanily and friends of their longing for the North Shore, upgrading from staying For the next five months, Stan either bounteous outdoors of Capilano. Grouse with family, then with friends, to renting rode his bicycle or took me with him on Mountain’s ruggedness was revealed in a partitioned room hot with plate, to an the bus to visit Margaret every weekend. bedtime stories told to myself; my foster attic “flat,” to a rented house - that’s six .all the way from Lynn Valley to Crease brother Harold Porter and my foster times not counting the police assisted Clinic and back - a long trip, before free sister; Jane. move Margaret made to what was then ways cut time and distance. Margaret’s ill In 1945, at the end of World War II, the “mental hospital,” Crease Clinic in ness was diagnosed as “depression related Margaret and Stan returned to British Coquitlam.9 to menopause” .. . such a trivial and in Columbia, reluctantly leaving my two In response to a complaint filed by our adequate description of her suffering. foster siblings with their parents. landlady (on Church Road), who said After “thirty electroshock therapy treat The need for work and the proffered Margaret had “threatened her with a ments”bo she was released. Stan brought help of former Capilano friends Frank knife,” two huge policemen and Dr. her home to a rental arrangement - two and Emily Johnson, took us first to Graham (a well known local doctor who bedrooms with shared bathroom and Bainbridge, then to Port Alberni for four didn’t know us) suddenly climbed kitchen - in a house on Dempsey Road in years. A young neighbour from Toronto, through the trap door covering the stairs Lynn Valley Muriel Sheridan, had travelled with us leading to our attic “flat.” They nodded at It was not surprising, her memory had and lived in our first BC rental house on me, but told me nothing. I stared dumb been seriously damaged by the violence of Upper Crescent until she married. Once founded at the uniformed backs screening the intrusive and extensive “therapy” She again, with humour and hard work, my mother and father from me, crowded could no longer remember orders or add Margaret and Stan slowly collected a few under the sloped ceiling of our tiny bills reliably in the restaurant at Lynn material possessions. At Margaret’s insis kitchen. Valley Centre, where she tried to work. tence, they moved to another house on Voices explained, Stan had the choice of She lost her job, but by now Stan had 3rd Avenue, because rent was cheaper. either signing the committal papers to the steady work with the City of North Another boarder was “taken in”, to help newly established Crease Clinic, or giving Vancouver. (At his age, he felt lucky and with finances. up all rights and having my mother com glad to work outdoors.) But the cumulative violence of Ireland, mitted by court order, possibly to the

27 B.C. HISTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998.99 Then Stan rented a whole house on house with its comforting view of Grouse Spain by sailing northward around the British Isles. Heavy winds wrecked many of Use ships off the coast of Ireland, and only 67 Underwood Road, where Margaret siowiy Mountain. reached Spain. Condensed front WnrldbookEocyelnpedia. 1978 ed.. Worldbook-Clsildcraft International, Inc., V0l. I A678. and determinedly healed herself and took Though increasing land values meant 2. The Blank and Tam.. ,a British aasiliary police force of mostly jobless flvrn,er soldiers. They engaged in fierce reprisals, ndudtng care of us. The house was old and had they could no longer afford to live in “Bloody Sunday,” afternoon when 12 Dublin football match spec rarorn were killed and 60 wounded in resenge for a morning attack been rented many times, but we cleaned, Capilano, in the 1960’s and early 70’s they by the IRA which killed II British. Condensed from the papered, painted, and created another Ennynlopetlia Bot.ooica, Inc. 15th ed. Helen Hemingway Benron frequently returned to walk the Capilano Publisher. Chicago, U.S.A. Vol 2:252 lb. home for ourselves. My parents repeated Canyon trails. Eventually they took their 3. Willys -an American car produced in the 1920’s and 30’s by John North Wlllys. owner of the WilIys.Ovesland Company Coodenoed the phrases that helped us cope: “It isn’t grandchildren with them as they cared for from World Book Eucyclopnalia. 1978 ed., Vol.22 W265. 4. “film or, the baby’s lnwga”t according to the ‘thisite Rods’s Peace the house that makes the home, it’s the them, helping me to become a teacher, Ands Hospital osarernisy ward, one of several possible conditiarss included in rIse term “respiratory syndrome.” people that live there” and “money doesn’t after my divorce in 1965. At bedtimes, 5. maeriage delay “The national marriage rate decreased annually in

the early years of the Depression - from 77,000 in 1929 to 62,000 buy happiness.” Margaret and Stan again told their stories irr 1932. Marrying was a har,ardoos business k,r those with no Ce In 1950, no public health nurse called of mischievous bears who stole blueber sosrrccs Berron, Pierre. The Great Depression 1929-1939. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Inc., 1990. p. 183. to check on Margaret, or offer assistance. ries, of the cougars, the salmon, and the 6. hopping the freights in 19305: “Between seventy thousand and one lswsdred thousand men, almost all young and sIngle, welt Mental health support groups didn’t exist. friends they shared in Capilano, long ago riding. . , the railway. .. . Alrlsoogh it was technically illegal to ride the freights. Use railway conspanies rook a lenient tiew until Margaret and Stan had neither trust nor in the 1920’s and ‘30’s. rhe summer of 1932... RCMP began to block hareenr workers... [bid, p. 149. money for psychiatrists. There was no Then, on August 5, 1977, after an eight 7. Geasshoppeess The grasshoppers hatched sonrenimes in Mayor medical follow-up at all, in spite of the month illness, Margaret early June. In 1933,”.. . they had destroyed all the coarse grain in died of cancer. Saskardsewan. , .csecuring twenty-foot jumps on their springboard severity of her depression. Yet she Ten legs... There were a, many grasslsoppecs there was nor room sur months later, Stan’s heart suddenly enough for all of them on the ground at the same time, And they vived. Eventually, she recovered most of stopped beating. His grandchildren be ale r’r!e,’yshing. Tiseir mandibles were strong enoagh to strip nbc bark from trees.” Ibid. p. 245. her memory loss. Except for occasional lieve his grief broke it. 8. Squenlay Eon float poy jay juno I poylssss according to nsy 92 year old Uncle Albert Blanry, my fadser learned this habit at Rock Bay, bouts of withdrawal and paranoia, for the Today the ashes of these two Capilano in the 19205. It was osy dad’s version of a phrase said in jesn by Norwegtao loggers. most part she became a supportive mother lovers lie nestled at the base of a true on 9. The Crease Clir Ic’. opened Nov. 16, 1949 to cure people before they became chronic and to play a vied role in redocing the and wife, teaching me to “Charleston” in top of Grouse Mountain. Their descen nsnsbcr of patients in the nsain provincial lsospiral. Essandale. our kitchen, giving me vitamins, encour Condensed from norm stored in the Provincial Archives, Victoria. dants are reminded of Stan’s gentle teasing 10. Electroshock Theeapy, a.k.a. elecrroconstslsion ,trarnsenr (or aging me to graduate from North and Margaret’s easy laughter whenever ECI) ‘A farm of somatic rreanment ftsr certain psychiarrtc condi tions in wisich electrical c,aererrr is applied to the brain through two Vancouver High School, then enter the they ski, climb the “Grouse Grind,” or elecrrodes placed on the temporal areas of the skull. Complications are rare, the most flequersr one bci,tg butte fractures

Miss North Vancouver contest, giving me raise their eyes to this mountain of due to muscular contraction. littravesrom ooj.scle selaoaltrs, . . ate frequently used no prevent this complication. Respiratory and car a white wedding on June 20, 1953. strength. diovascular complications may occur., The probability of fatal in In the late 50’s, Stan and Margaret fi cidents does non evsceed 0.06% of cases. ECI is indicated in The author is a recently retired teacher living depressions. EC’l’ gives an 80 to 100% remission rate. . . in agi nally purchased their little in W1’ite Rock. rated depressions, but it does not waed off episodic recu,nencm. own home at All types of depression react favourably no ECT after some fisur ses FOO1NOTE5 221 West 28th Avenue, in North sions... The paranoid type of involunional psyclsosis usaally rev Spoasish Aamadas .. 130 ships the Spanish (leer that tried on quilts 20 ,msionn. . . .psychotlserapy, in addition ro somatic Vancouver. Life became calmer in this successfully no irrvade England in 1588. In the English Clsannel, dserapy, is usually indicated in order to bring more lasting benefit. after a series of battles wids Easter, more heavily armed British ships: Summarised from: Campbell, RoberrJ. Psychiamrtc Dictionary. The crippled Arosada fled to the Nor,h Sea, It thers returned to 5th ed. Osforsl Unionrsiry Press, New York, Onforsj. 1981, p. 648.

Bookshelf Coast early in the century, but most of its ad inventive. - For instance, he invented the sliding

herents were visitors, Growing up on the upper lead weight which he patented in 1947. - Peetz; a Reel for All Time. Douglas EW. Sunshine coast I can vouch for this. Even well Twenty-ton deliveries of pig lead from the Trail Pollard. Surrey, Heritage House, 1997. 127 p.’ into the 30s we did not sports fish; we fished for smelter were delivered regularly. illus., paperback. $11.95 food. Our tackle was not fancy rods and reels — The amount of detail in this volume is well- This book is mainly the story of the devel it was a board wound round with line, and likely nigh incredible; every aspect of manufacture is opment of the Peetz fishing reel for sports fish the spoons and sinkers were home-made. given exhaustive attention. ermen, but contains many interesting sidelights. We never played a fish, it struck, we hauled Peetz died in 1954, and his business was It can be read on several levels: That of a gifted it in hand-over-hand as swiftly as possible, lifted first taken over by his family, and finally sold in immigrant’s success story; information on the it in an arc to land with a thud on the planks of evolution of West Coast angling gear; a chron the rowboat, reached for the hefty chunk of icle of same coast’s recreational fishing; an driftwood chosen for the purpose and ended its overall study of same from an international as struggle quickly. pect; sadly, an epic that records the gradual de However, the Campbell River Tyee Club pletion of our fish stocks to today’s sorry state. was founded in 1924, and the Victoria-Saanich Born in Russia, Boris Cecil Peetz arrived in Inlet Anglers’ Assoc. was established in 1932. Victoria in 1911. A trained silversmith, he The latter issued trophy buttons made by Birks turned his craftmanship to jewelery repair, and Jewelers, and the individual who played to within a Couple of years he had established his death the largest fish of the year had a diamond own business in jewelery repair and manufac in his button. ture, While the Peetz reels were widely used in A friend introduced him to sports fishing in the Victoria area, they never caught on to a Saanich Inlet, and the idea of the Peetz reel was great extent elsewhere, a fact that makes for cu born, the first being made in 1923. riosity as to the writing of this book. Sports fishing as such began on the West There is no doubt that Peetz was amazingly _____?

My Dearest Harriet.. . from Robert February 28, 1860

This is the second of the recently discovered and previously unpublished letters written from Victoria, B.C. by Robert Burnaby, 1859-61. The first letter was published in the Spring 1998 issue of the B.C. Historical News. The other two letters will appear in future issues. My Dearest Harriet which means “How dyr do” - as a token of edge. I owe you one in answer to your last their gratitude. You will wonder to hear what our long letter and must rub and scrub up all The Hook and Ladder Co: is a volun prospects here are and may be. We are the odds and ends of news that I can teer Fire Brigade: a custom borrowed from jogging on, and always hoping for better muster in order to make up a budget from our neighbours in the States. In San times - it is always so in gold country; - this fag end of the Earth. Francisco the city was several times utterly Where, there is more or less of the gam After the first novelty is over however, consumed, and people prosperous before bling spirit constantly at work. I am living we subside into a chronic state of rocks, were ruined in an hour. So they combined as comfortably as man could wish and cer pine trees and natives, and anything but a & formed these Fire Companies: Have tainly, so far, not losing money; and wooden street with plank sidewalks, and handsome houses for their Engines ie, having a Iir chance in view of making it - vast seas of mud beyond, a population reading rooms and so forth; and every But though plenty of the precious stuff is with Yankee cut and Hebrew phiz, and member is bound to attend, or be fined, to be found, & will be taken out of the restless mass of Miners always talking and whenever the Bell of the Engine house country, things do not progress as they thinking about diggings and nuggets, warns him. might. Fancy my paying a boy to come rockers and sluices, would now appear to The Hook is for pulling down houses to and clean my boots, make my bed, sweep us quite beside the order of things. prevent the Fire from spreading: & the out the office (occupies him one hour We had a small excitement the other Ladder for mounting: the uniform of the every morning) at the rate of £50 per ann. night though; just in middle the of a Co: Black pants. a leathern belt - red shirt and cannot get a clerk for mere office rubber we heard a row amongst the & Blue cap -; along the hook are running work under about £200 - . We have no Indians, & on going out found their vil rings for ropes and when the foreman coin here less than 6d and are nor likely lage (on the other side of the Harbour) in hooks hold of a beam the whole force try tohave yet a while. I am now “doing busi flames. Across the Bridge we went to be & tug at the rope till the piece comes ness”: sit at home & sell Blankets and sure, and you cannot fancy a stranger down and so on to another. We have not other matters day after day: It is not so sight: these houses are all cedar wood: an Engine yet: but the Company, as it is, pleasant as roaming about & prospecting thoroughly dry from having constant fires is very useful in a tinder-box like this, the country, and variety is out of the ques and no chimney; they are mere uprights where we might all be combusted before tion. But it promises to pay in the end, with boards against them thus (here we could wink twice. and will. I do not at all regret the change, Burnaby penned a small illustration) - and We had a fire in my chimney not long and as to health and so forth never was of course once in flames impossible to put since and the H&L Co. turned out in better: only now and then come longing out: to see the poor wretches streaming style - but it was soon quenched with a thoughts of Home and all there which it is out with their Blankets, pots & pans and dose of cold water down its back. impossible to repress. Our Gov’t is any other property and crawling about the Capt. Palliser the explorer of the Rocky thing but popular. Old Douglas is a roof of the next Lodge ready to give the Mountains is here and will shortly leave selfish, scheming fellow, who has not even alarm the on least symptom of danger: for home, he is Irish and will be much in the polish and external show of a gen others pouring pans of water down the Dublin. He will call on you: and tell you tleman to hide his true character. sides which were smoking with the heat, all about this and more. You will find him Consequently amidst a Yankee popula talking and chattering to themselves all the one of the kindest hearted eccentric, but tion, who have no respect for dignities his while: and looking with amazement when most perfect “ladies’ man” you could position carries no weight & he himself the Hook and Ladder Company (of meet. A good musician & capital story quite the reverse, and so we lose the ad which more anon) came up, and cut off teller - It is so strange to see him devoted vantage of a head. - Talking of Yankee re the communication by at once demol to “the sex” so gallantly, after the rough spect for dignities did I ever send you the ishing the next Lodge. The old women, time he has had for the last three years. story of an English Noble in a train in the such bags all wrinkles and dirt, stood by Collingwood (Harriets husband) will like States: and a genuine Yankee asking him wringing their hands and constantly re him very much and will find him a man several rude questions - At last “Do you peating “clar how yer” - “clar how yer”.” of great attainments and practical knowl know fellow that I’m Lord “It’s

29 B.C. HISTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998-99 nothing to me stranger if you’re Lord G may have time for a line in reply to letters 1998 issue of the B.C. Historical News, D” was the reply. It is impossible to crowd I hope to get-. Isn’t Aleck growing a big reference was made to “Elwyn” (page 35, into a small space dear Harry all I want to and fine fellow. Give him my very best second column, second line from the say and tell. You will gather that I am well, love - & kiss Godson for me. and Believe bottom of the page). and contented, hoping for good times and me, my ever dear sister. That name should be changed to not yet down on my luck. You must not Your fondly aWn Bro “Hugo”. Robert’s brother, Hugo held a only take your full share of Love but ex R. Burnaby. commission in the Royal Navy tend it to the whole family and to the good folks at South’ton, New Forest and Erratum: In Robert Burnaby’s February Letter transcribed by Meg Kennedy Shaw and Pixie McGeacbie “elsewhere”-. When the Mail comes in I 28, 1859 letter, published in the Spring

Fort Victoria 6’ ILB. Co. Doctors by D Joyce Clearibue

I wish to salute the Hudson’s Bay Vancouver (Columbia River, 1825), Northwest Company trader, Alexander Company who created the city ofVictoria Nisqually (Puget Sound, 1833), Langley McKay.” You may remember that in 1843 and I also salute the Hudson’s Bay (Fraser River, 1827), Fort Victoria in Alexander McKay had been killed by Company doctors who played important 1843, Fort Hope and Fort Yale, both in Indians at Nootka eight years previously roles in planning and witnessing the birth 1849, Fort Rupert (Vancouver Island, during the “Tonquin” Massacre. They had of Fort Victoria, nurtured her growth and May 11, 1849), Fort McLoughlin (Bella four children, John Junior, Eliza, Eloise, health and shaped her future. The Bella, 1833), Fort Simpson (Nass River, and David. “Sons David and John were Hudson’s Bay Fur Trading Company, 1831), Fort Stikine (1839) and Fort Taku sent to Montreal and later to Paris to join formed in 1670, held from the British (Alaska, 1840). Earlier, interior fur brigade their Uncle David.” Son David, an engi Crown, “complete lordship, legislative, ju forts had been established by the neer with the British Army Engineers, re dicial and executive power, as well as com “Northwesters” at Fort St. James (1806), turned to Columbia at his father’s request mercial monopoly over all the country Fort George (Prince George, 1807), Fort and was “posted to Fort Victoria as an ap whose rivers and tributaries drained into Fraser (1806) and Fort Alexandria (1821), prentice clerk to learn the fur trade under the Hudson Bay” By 1821 the Hudson’s as well as other sites. James Douglas,” but later established Bay Company had also “absorbed the Dr. John McLoughlin was in command “McLoughlin’s Ferry” on the Kootenay Northwest Fur Company based in as a “benign despot”, well regarded as the Flats. Eliza married a Mr. Rae who in Montreal.” The HBC Governor George “Father of Oregon” who administered 1845 committed suicide at HBC Yerba Simpson sent the Canadian surgeon, Dr. “sound justice, wise and humane treat Buena. To add to the doctor’s sorrow in John McLoughlin in 1824 to Astoria on ment”. The “Great White Eagle” was an April, 1842 his son, John McLoughlin Jr. the Columbia River, to administer as imposing and big-framed figure of 6’3” who was reputed to have qualified as a Chief Factor for over twenty years, the with a sudden growth of a white plume of physician, was murdered while left in District of Columbia consisting of hair following a near drowning in Canada. charge of Fort Stikine. “He was a reckless Oregon, Washington and British He was born on October 22, 1784 of and unreliable young man who had fallen Columbia. With his family, trading staff Sottish-Irish immigrant parents at Rivière in a drunken fray, by the hand of one of and the new fort physician and surgeon, de Loup, downstream from Quebec City his own men”, said Governor Simpson Dr. Forbes Barclay, he travelled the long He and his brother, David, both took who “apprehended the suspected mur fur brigade trail from Lake-of-the-Woods medical studies at Edinburgh with David derer and turned him over to the Russian in Ontario to Astoria. By March 19, establishing a practice as a physician in authorities” with his verdict of “justifiable 1825, Dr. McLoughlin had moved the Paris and “Dr. John casting his lot with his homicide”. “Dr. McLoughlin never for Hudson’s Bay Company headquarters 90 maternal uncle, Malcolm Fraser, one of gave Simpson his callousness and reconcil miles upriver on the Columbia River to the founders ofthe Northwest Company” iation was impossible.” That same year, establish Fort Vancouver. Soon a network Dr. John “rose in charge of all company 1842, was when Governor Simpson or of HBC fur trading posts had been built business in Rupert’s Land with headquar dered Dr. McLoughlin to “take steps” to from California to Alaska including Yerba ters at Fort William.” Here he married form and establish an HBC depot at the Buena (San Francisco, 1840), Fort George “his second wife, Marguerite Wadin south end ofVancouver Island when it be in 1813, at Astoria (Columbia River), Fort McKay, half blood Chippewan widow of came apparent that there might be a divi

30 B.C. HISTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998-99 sion between the U.S.A. and Canada at stretched along Wharf Street with a cen near the Fort in case ofsickness in emzgrants the 49th parallel (established June 15, tral west gate, up through present Bastion per the Tory or any frrther shz Jiom 1846, but signed into law by the Oregon Square to the corner of View and England”. This was seven years before the Treaty of 1860). Government Streets where the northwest ill Mr. Braithwaite was left on a mattress Already in 1837, Captain WH. bastion was constructed later (and it was inside Reverend Cridge’s parsonage gate, McNeill had reported favourably on once used as a jail). The palisades extended forcing the use (rent free) of the first cot Victoria’s harbour and Dr. McLoughlin in along present day Government Street with tage hospital rented from Mr. Blinkhorn, 1839 and Simpson in 1840 briefly in a back east gate looking up Fort Street, and this was situated at the corner of spected the area as well. In the summer of and finally down Broughton Street to Broad and Yates in 1858. 1842, Chief Factor, James Douglas (Dr. Wharf and the southwest bastion. Four On the other side of the smelly James McLoughlin’s assistant) landed and chose years later, in 1847, the “stockade was ex Bay mud flats (now filled in with the the Port ofCamosack for the new post - “a tended north by 135 feet, two new store Empress Hotel) and on the site of the pre perfect Eden”. Then, on March 1, 1843, houses were completed, and a warehouse, sent Royal B.C. Museum, Governor and James Douglas again left Fort Vancouver a 100 feet long was erected on the stone Mrs. James Douglas’ home, and son-in- on the HBC Beaver, a barque converted piles on the harbour.” By then, outside the law, Dr. J.S. and Mrs. Cecelia Helmcken’s to the first steamship on the coast, and he stockade, further buildings had gradually homes were built beside the House of arrived off Clover Point on March 13, been built to include the Governor’s Assembly, called the Bird Cages, which was 1843 to select the precise site for Fort (Blanshard’s) official residence, bakery; built in 1859. Members of the House of Victoria, first called Fort Camosun. Fort dairy; further men’s quarters, stables, and Assembly included the Hudson’s Bay Victoria was the official name selected a workmen’s house on the cultivated HBC Company Doctors Tolmie, Kennedy and few weeks later. gardens, and one of the free settlers’ Helmcken. Construction of the Fort started imme homes, Captain Cooper’s. The other free Life inside Fort Victoria is well de diately under 26 year old Roderick settler, was Captain Grant at that time. scribed in the HBC “Fort Victoria’ letters Fin layson’s direction. By October 1843, “Four deep wells dug at Fort Victoria and diaries. Looking toward the harbour workers had enclosed a quadrangle 300 failed to provide an adequate supply of and facing the central front west gate on feet long and 330 feet wide to accommo water and another well had to be dug at Fort and Wharf Street from the inside of date eight buildings of hewn logs, posts some distance.” The old graveyard was the Fort were clockwise on the right, Mr. and sills, each sixty feet long. The Songhee near the southwest corner of Douglas and Roderick Finlayson’s residence (Chief Indians were paid with one 2 1/2 point Johnson Streets and was later removed to Trader, 1850, Chief Factor 1859 and HBC blanket for every forty cedar pickets the Quadra Street Cemetery in 1859 by Mayor of Victoria, 1878), the general cut to make an encircling 18 foot high the prison chain gang. Of interest in the HBC store with the powder magazine be palisade. The southwest bastion was situ Fort Victoria letters of 1851, was the re hind it, and two warehouses plus 3 em ated at present day Wharf and Broughton port that the Hudson’s Bay Company ser ployees’ houses. The Mess Hall included Streets and perimeters of the Fort vants had built a ‘mall hospital building ChiefFactor James Douglas’ residence and quarters for junior clerks, and then the back east gate (on Government Street), and the bachelors’ quarters, which also in cluded the doctor’s combined bedroom and surgery; plus the Reverend and Mrs. Staine’s quarters and their school room, as well as school dormitories on the second floor. Then on the side of the Bachelors’ quarters, there was another warehouse, the men’s quarters, the blacksmith’s and on the left side of the west gate, a small two-room cottage which was a colonial post office until 1859 and afterwards it was the regis trar’s office, (which was often used as a courthouse), and finally it was used as Dr. J.S. Helmcken’s medical office. Eighty Fort residents included HBC indentured English officers and their wives, clerks, labourers, French Canadians, Kanakas (Hawaiians) and one or two Iroquois. Life Ear model ofFort Victoria. BCARS HP1129photo. was regimented and colourful. With vis

31 B.C. HISTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998-99 James Douglas’ Residence 3 employee houses Bachelors Hall— Doctor’s surgery ft I Rev. Staines quarters & School GOVERNMENT STREE East (sate [ 2 warehouses for arehouse used as barracks 0 - cI) I Belfry - for new arriv31s z v 0

Storehouse 1847 i...— Powder Hagaz,1

41BCo Men’s quarters Flagpo

>. —Storehouse (Fish Oil) L_i HBC Trading Store — — r Blacksmith Shop [ 1 West A -•i WHARF STREET - Southwest Bastion Gate I- Clif Trader- Cottagboloniai Post Office -R. Findlayson Residence Later Dr. Helmcken?s Office Nt INNER HARBOUR MODEL OF FORT VICTORIA BCARS Photo A—00509 iting ships there was an exchange of fired large open fireplace at one end.” Further conducted by the cranky and unpopular rockets and nine pound cannons, and furniture included a “dock on the wall, a Reverend Robert John Staines. He mar ships’ officers would be invited and sum long table in the middle covered with ried Cecelia Douglas and Dr. J.S. moned to wine and dine in the Mess Hall. spotless linen, the knives and forks clean, Helmcken in the Fort’s Mess Hall on In the middle of the courtyard, the belfry decanters bright and containing wine and December 27, 1852. Another man of the stood and “its bell tolled for meals, for so forth.” More than twenty people could cloth and teacher, the Oblate priest, Father deaths, for weddings, for church service, sit at the wooden Windsor chairs. Then lempfrit, boarded with the HBC and es for fires and sometimes for warnings. At the dinner would be served to include: tablished a priest’s school for the wives and mealtime it was assisted by a chorus of soup, salmon, meats (venison and duck), children of the Company/s servants, as curs. These curs assembled under the bell and then “pies and so forth.” Afterwards well as ministering to the Indians. at every meal and looking up at it howled, all the men would be entertained in the The main reason for establishing Fort the howling being taken up by some dogs Bachelors’ Hall and sometimes inter Victoria was, of course, to trade furs using in the Indian opposite village.” The court rupted by the commissioned officers’ the “new fur trade route via the Fraser yard was muddy and the sidewalk to the boarding school children pouring water River to the New Caledonia country as a whitewashed and Spanish-brown painted down through the ceiling cracks from substitute for the Columbia River.” stores consisted of two or three slippery their dormitories above. On holidays and Beaver, marten, land and sea otter all were poles. “The Mess Room served every pur Sundays, the HBC flag would be hoisted hung in the storehouses. As the fur trade pose — church services, baptisms, mar on the 75 foot central flagpole and in the declined, the HBC found markets for riages, funerals, councils, dances, theatrical Mess Room the young women (without agricultural produce, salmon, whaling, and other amusements.” It “was more musical accompaniment) would lead the timber, spars and shingles, and in 1852, than 30 feet long by 20 feet long with a hymns for church services, which were the Queen Charlotte’s gold and

32 B.C. hISTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998-99 Nanaimo’s coal. Again, the Indians were Fort Victoria, his college chum at Guys Helmcken had been shipped off on the paid one 2 1/2 point HBC blanket for Hospital, Dr. John Sebastian Helmcken, HBC steamer, Beaver to Fort Rupert on every two tons of coal collected. sailed into Victoria first on March 24, the northern end of Vancouver Island as Outside the Fort many Indians were 1850, and again from Fort Rupert in the physician-magistrate. However, he camped and in general were peaceful, ex December 1850, to be Fort Victoria’s found the job very distasteful, while trying cept for one occasion when they peppered second medical officer and in his own to apprehend three seamen who had de the palisade with musket balls and an words, ‘he leading physician from San serted their ship and later, the Indians, other, when a fire threatened the Fort. At Francisco to the North Pole, andfrom Asia who had murdered the seamen in self-de this point they were persuaded to move to the Red River’: The HBC doctor, fence. He was glad to be returned, in across the harbour to the present Songhees George Johnston, sailed in the Tory to December 1850, to Victoria, in haste, in site. These scenes were captured by the vis Victoria in May 1851 to replace Dr. an Indian canoe to attend to Governor iting artist, Paul Kane in 1847. Two thirds Helmcken at Fort Rupert. Blanshard’s painflil ‘ic dououreux’ Later of the Fort inhabitants fell ill during the Dr. John Sebastian Helmcken was born he turned the little cottage in the Fort into measles epidemic of 1848 and, unfortu June 25, 1825 in L.ondon and was ap his medical offices, and he was allowed to nately, the epidemic spread north killing prenticed to Dr. Robert Graves of thyroid have a private practice. Not until April 28, 250 of the 2,500 Fort Simpson Indians fame, where he learned to make up pills, 1852 did James Douglas open the first ses and others. Equally devastating were and gained a licence from the sion of the Legislative Council in the smallpox epidemics which first hit the Apothecaries Society By March, 1848 he Bachelors’ Hall and the Fort served as the west coast in the 1770’s and, over a 100 had graduated in medicine from Guys site of the future government. This year span, smallpox wiped out about 80% Hospital where he also saw ether given for council was replaced in 1856 by an elected of North America’s indigenous popula the first time by Dr. Gull. He had exten assembly which included Doctors J.S. tion. The 1862 smallpox epidemic in sive shipboard experience sailing on the Helmcken (speaker) and Dr. J.E Kennedy Victoria reduced the native population in HBC ship, Prince Rupert to Hudson Bay among its six members, and, by 1859, B.C. from 60,000 to 40,000. and return, when Dr. John Rae of Sir John they had moved to the House of Due to emigrant ships being compelled Franldin’s fame, was a passenger. Later he Assembly, called the ‘Bird Cages’ At this by Act of Parliament to carry surgeons, sailed on the Malacca to Bombay, China, date, Dr. James Trimble, a naval surgeon HBC appointed Alfred Robson Benson, Singapore and Ceylon, etc., and then on a in Victoria, was elected, as well as the surgeon and clerk, for five years and he five month trip from England to Fort HBC Doctor WE Tolmie who was was the fIrst medical officer at Fort Victoria arriving on the HBC ship, elected to two terms on March 1, 1859. Victoria in 1849. Graduating at Guys Norman Morison on March 24, 1850. These two other HBC doctors, Dr. WE Hospital he had also received a complete Here the ship was quarantined for three Tolmie and Dr. Kennedy played impor nautical education. A very casual dresser, weeks as he had had to treat six cases of tant roles in nurturing the growth, health Dr. Benson was also described as “a great smallpox at sea. The one unvaccinated and future of early Victoria. character, never seen without a pipe in his man died at sea. For this hazardous and Dr. William Fraser Tolmie, born in mouth and his rooms in Bachelors’ Hall adventurous life, Dr. John Helmcken had Inverness, February 3, 1812 and a medical crowded with Indian curiosities, bird to sign on with the HBC for five years in graduate of Glasgow University in 1832, skins, geological specimens, books and to 1849 as a surgeon and clerk at a salary of arrived at Fort Vancouver in 1833 via bacco in the most inextricable confusion.” £100 sterling per annum. This incuded Cape Horn and an eight month passage. In addition to Dr. Benson having to at board and room, instruments, and a free He served at Fort Nisqually on Puget tend to inquests and to coroner’s duties, passage home. Later James Douglas was Sound and Fort McLoughlin (now Bella Dr. Helmcken remembers him reducing a able to give him a further £100 sterling Bella in B.C.) and, due to Russian opposi two year old recurrent dislocation of the per annum from the Puget Sound tion, assisted in moving Fort Simpson on humerus with pulleys, and treating lead Agricultural Company. The ship’s seamen the Nass River to Port Simpson. He was poisoning in a Kanakan who had mis got only £4 sterling per month. And what also a botanist, a naturalist, ethnologist taken a ball of putty for a ball of dough a sad little room the doctor was assigned and “an authority on Indian affalrs and which he had eaten. Benson was trans to in Fort Victoria — off the main their dialects and languages.” A “trader, an ferred to Fort Vancouver and then to Bachelors’ Hall — to also serve as his agriculturalist and a legislator”, this dour Nanaimo where he later became a colliery surgery. “It contained a gun case and a few and deeply religious Scot was “one of the surgeon from 1857 to 1861. The doctor shelves with drugs in bottles or in paper in first resident doctors to practice in B.C. by often had to work without pay and in every direction. The tin lining of a reason of his time at Fort McLoughlin” 1862 in his filed letter, he declined to act trncking case” served for a counter. There (now Bella Bella). He noted in his diary as coroner without remuneration. On was a cot slung to the ceiling” for Dr. after arriving December 28, 1833, that he December 19, 1860, Dr. Benson married Helmcken’s personal use. It was here that prescribed for two children in the Fort Miss Ellen Philips, who was Mrs. Dr. Benson welcomed Dr. Helmcken. McLoughlin and saw “several of the men Langford’s sister. Before Dr. Benson left Within two months, in May 1850, Dr. who were ill, and ‘dressed the wounded

33 B.C. HISTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998-99 arms oftwo Indians — the wounds are on the Métis, was born in 1805, the eldest son of (on September 13, 1897) Dr. Helmcken’s dorsal aspect offttrearms — are several square Chief Factor, Alexander Kennedy. son, was to have the honour to escort Lord inches in extent, and have been produced by Following his medical degree from Lister when he visited Victoria. the bite ofthe chiefto whom the men are at Edinburgh, this “careful and attentive” By 1858 the &ce of Victoria, and its tached and who does them thefavour ofre man was paid only £60 sterling per Fort were changing forever when over moving a few inches of cutis and cellular annum by HBC, to serve as a surgeon, 20,000 gold seekers flooded into substance from the arm, when requested” trader, storekeeper and accountant. Vancouver Island on their way to the The HBC “medical men attended the Appointed Chief Trader in 1847 he was Lower Fraser River gold fields. Miner’s health ofIndian tribesmen with reluctance over twenty years in the HBC also serving grey cotton tents surrounded the Fort, or not at all, if there appeared to be danger at Fort Nisqually, Fort Rupert, and finally four Catholic sisters arrived and the small through retaliation through superstition.” as Nanaimo’s member of the first House cottage hospital at Broad and Yates Streets The doctors were instructed to treat HBC ofAssembly in Victoria along with Dr. J.S. preceded the 1859 Royal Hospital on the servants which included the “Métis, Helmcken. Being a Métis and marrying Songhees. The colony of B.C. was also traders, clerks, artisans and their native ‘Fanny”, the daughter of a Tsimpsean formed in 1858. My grandfather, Joseph born womenfolk.” Illness to be treated in chief; he “knew the Indian customs and Clearihue, a goidseeker, arrived in Victoria cluded “contagious fevers, bones to be set, jargons” and had their confidence as an in on the S.S. Forwood on June 18, 1859 scurvy; wounds to be dressed, infections terpreter for making treaties, and while and he would have seen the old Fort countered, carbuncles lanced, aching teeth hunting for the reported gold discovery at Victoria buildings and the Fort’s wooden to be drawn and men to be bled for a pre Mitchell Harbour, Queen Charlotte palisades before the last picket was torn sumed oversupply of blood distressing the Islands in 1852. There again in 1853 he down in 1861. venous system.” By our present medical was an Indian advisor on HMS Virago By the Union Act of 1866, Vancouver standards the treatments and medicines whose ship surgeon was Dr. Henry Island was “annexed” to B.C. and by available in those days were woefully inad Trevan. Retiring in 1856 he was in 1867, legally all the HBC exclusive privi equate. However, the diaries of Dr. Tolmie Victoria and still working while he helped leges on Vancouver Island, first granted and Dr. Helmcken suggest that they had Dr. Helmcken pick gunshot from “a but January 13, 1849, had reverted to the highly qualified medical and pharmaceu tocks that looked like a plum pudding”. Crown. B.C. joined Confederation in tical training and undertook detailed pa Like Dr. McLoughlin, Dr. Kennedy also 1871, and as the last of the old Fort build tients’ histories and examinations. After lost a son-in-law, J.D.B. Ogilvy; who was ings crumbled in the early 1880’s, Fort his years as ChiefTrader at Fort Nisqually murdered by a prisoner. Dr. Kennedy died Victoria and the legacy left by the where he was a director of the Puget in 1859. Hudson’s Bay Company doctors became Sound Agricultural arm of the HBC, Dr. Diaries and informative articles about but a memory; Tolmie was transferred to Victoria in 1859 these HBC doctors, and in particular Dr. during the Fraser River Gold Rush and Helmcken’s casebooks, make interesting Dr Joyce Clearihueprepared this asa t4kfor here he continued as their agent in man reading in the provincial archives. Dr. the Victoria Medical Society. She recently re tiredfrom practice (dermatology) and has de aging the Fort Victoria HBC farms. At the Heal-My-Skin, as Dr. Helmcken was voted considerable volunteer time to heritage same time in Victoria he served as a known as, had to mix and match powders, matters and the Royal B.C. Museum. member of the local legislature for two tinctures, leaves, seeds, plasters, acids, oils, Note: Recently the perimeters ofFort Victoria terms, member of the board of education, roots, extracts, wines, aloes with myrrh, were traced and marked with colored bricks in member of the medical profession to a few burgundy pitch, senna, sassafras shavings downtown Victoria. former U.S.A. patients who visited and even creosote. These had to be rolled BIBLIOGRAPHY Victoria, as a stock breeder on his 1,100 into pills and offered to the unwary and to Akn/gg G.PV & Helen B. Akrigg. “British Colmobia! 1778-1849 Chronicle “Adventnres by Sen nnd Land”. Discovery Press 1975. acre farm called “Cloverdale”, and as the distant HBC forts, as Dr. Helmcken “wit “HMS Viugo m the Pacific 1851-1855 To The Qrreen Chaslottes md Beyond Sono Nis Pros,, Victoria, 1992. head of his large family consisting of his tedt5i referred to as, ‘co manypurges, so many Bowsfield, H. esi., Fort Victoria Letters 1846-1851 .. With as Introduction by M. A. Ormsby. Winnipeg, Hudson’s Bay Record wife Jane Work Tolmie, five daughters and dozen pukes and so many dozen ofquinine Society. 1979. Gregaon, Harry. A History of Victoria 1842-1970. The Victoria seven sons, one of whom was Dr. Simon and caiomeh etc’” Observer Pnblislsing Co. Ltd. 1970. indeed, man of Lord Lister’s Helo,cken, John Sebastian. BCARS add. MSS5O5 Family Papers Vol. 1 Fraser Tolmie, a veterinaly surgeon and He was a folder 2 (Benson); folder 17 (Tolnsie). Vol. 2 P27 Vol. 3 Dug and B.C. premier from 1928 to 1933. In time, for Lister had graduated in medicine Medical Supplies Accorarsr Books 1857-I 860; Case Book l876—1879 - Microfilm A810. Volnsse 4-JSH Medical Notebooks. 5ept. 24, 1845. 1870, the physician Tolmie, retired to his at the University of London in 1852, only Jones. Carlo. “TIse David McLoogblin Story” B.C. Historical Newa, Vol. 28, No. I, 1994-95. fifteen room house of stone and California four years after Helmcken graduated. In Munro, Dr. A.S. “TIse Medical History Story of B.C. Series Vol. 25, 1931: Vol. 26/1932 CMAJ. redwood called “Cloverakie”. He died on 1865, Lister announced the antiseptic Nrsbitt, J.K. “John Frederick Kennedy’ The Daily Colnnist BCARS Reel 74 Frame 0079. December 8, 1886 at the age of 74. treatment of wounds and Dr. Helmcken Ornssby. M.A. “British Colombia, o History” The MacMillans in Canada 1958. Another early B.C. and HBC surgeon already had access to carbolic acid and cre Fntlsick, Derek. “Victoeias The Fort” Mitchell Press Ltd., Vancouver was our own J.E Kennedy first stationed osote. Pasteur had not yet demonstrated 1968 Rnggles, Riclsard I. “A Country Sn Interesting. Tise HBC and Two at Fort Simpson on the Nass River in that septic properties depended on the Centuries of Mapping 1670-1870, Rsaperts’ Land Record Society Series” McGill-Qsaerrss U. Press 1991. 1832. Dr. John Frederick Kennedy, a presence of minute organisms. Much later Smith, D. Blakey, ed.,”The Reminiscences of Doctor John Sebastian Helmcken”. University of B.C. Press 1975.

34 B.C. HISTORiCAL NEWS . Winter 1998-99 NEWS & NOTES Introducing our New Editor The Art of Storytelling in Procter stealing from the rich and aiding the poor. In his declining years he sought help to contact Fred Braches of Whonnock comes to us well Hall (he was illiterate) his sister who lived in Detroit, recommended. He and his wife Helmi are ac Procter sits on the point where the West Arm of and paid her fare to travel to Kaslo to visit him. tive members of the Archaeological Society of the Kootenay Lake begins. It had orchards, and British Columbia. In 1995 Fred retired from a McLeod died at 82 in the Nelson Hospital and wharves for lake steamers very early in the set career in international shipping which brought was buried in Kaslo on August 23, 1948 in an tlement years. When the railway finally went him from Holland to Latin America, the Far unmarked grave. This summer (1998) Dorothy through in the 1930s its importance as a East, and 25 years ago, to British Columbia. Sawczuk and two friends raised sufficient funds transfer point for freight and passengers van Throughout his career he travelled extensively. to pay for a tombstone. This marker is red ished. But it had no road access until the He is no stranger to publication. Prior to his re sandstone, carved by a current resident of TaTa Harrop Ferry was put into service. tirement he published, with Professor Richard Creek, and it was set in place fifty years after Shutler of Simon Fraser University a series of How does a tiny community save its heritage his death. articles on the Pleistocene fauna of his native community hall? Their major fundraiser was a News Sought Indonesia. Fred has become deeply interested Storytelling Festival held on October 5. Please keep sending items of interest, notices, in the past of our province with a special in History Through Storytelling is a theme which society newsletters and obituaries to Naomi terest in the history of his home community of delighted the audience and will be tried again Miller, Box 105, Wasa, B.C. VOB 2K0. Naomi Whonnock. Since his retirement he has added next year on July 3rd & 4th. Anyone wishing will be compiling News & Notes and Federation to an assembly of documentation and informa further details can contact Barry Gray at RR#3 reports to assist the incoming editor. tion under the patronage of the Whonnock S20 C 45, Nelson, B.C. Vi L 5P6 or Community Association. (See BCH NEWS Vol. Phone (250) 229-4671. 31 No. 1, “Some Notes on Whonriock” by E.L. LABELS: Expiration Date Merritt Conference 1999 Affleck.) His efforts to retrace the past have Your address label should have a made him aware of the value and fragility of number/number in the upper right corner. The theme of the BCHF Conference personal recollection and records. Fred is pro Compare this with the notation on the top left 1999 is “Exploring the Nicola Valley” On ducer, editor and publisher of a series of occa corner of the front cover. This issue is Vol. 32 the evening of Thursday, April 29, a wine sional papers, WHONNOCK NOTES, No. 1. So, if your address label says 32/i this and cheese social at the Senior Citizens DEALING WITH SELECTED TOPICS OF could be your last issue UNLESS YOU Centre gives delegates the opportunity to Whonnock’s past. RENEW. If you have been subscribing through greet old friends and meet new ones. The Fred also produces and distributes The your local Historical Society, please pay your Nicola Valley Museum & Archives shares MIDDEN (of which he is Assistant Editor) the renewal to your Treasurer. Otherwise mail your this building at 2202 Jackson Avenue, so quarterly newsletter of the Archaeological renewal cheque to: The Subscription Secretary, visitors can browse through the display Society. To contact Fred, see address on the in Joel Vinge, RR#2 S13 C60, Cranbrook, B.C. area. side back cover. V1C 4H3. Friday the Conference moves to the BCMA 42nd Annual Conference Commencing in January 1999 the annual sub Merrill Convention & Civic Centre. After lunch a bus tour will take participants to Our British Columbia Historical Association / scription is $12 for everyone. This is to comply the Highland Valley Copper Mine, one of Federation was created in 1922 to preserve, with guidelines from Canada Heritage in con the largest open pit mines in North mark, or record anything of value to the her junction with Canada Post. America. There will be varied entertain itage our province. When collections of of arti Titanic’s Final Supper ment in the evening. facts were being amassed and displayed in The Royal Vancouver Yacht Club recreated the On Saturday another bus tour is planned communities other than Vancouver and seven course dinner, with accompanying wines, to historic Nicola Ranch (located just a Victoria, the Historical Association decided that of the last dinner on the Titanic. Guests ap few country miles outside of Merrill.) The groups sponsoring museums and individual cu peared in luxurious period costume, some bus then continues on to Quilchena rators would be better served by an organiza replications, but Doris Winterbottom wore an where there are authentic examples of tion of their own. The SCHA sponsored the for heirloom black lace dress from 1911. James what ranching and life in the Nicola Valley mation of the B.C. Museums Association in Delgado of the Maritime Museum became was 100 years ago. 1956. Captain of the ship for the evening. Leonard Special guest, Wendy Wickwire, will In the early years the provincial government of McCann was a special guest for the evening, speak on Saturday evening on the Native fered the services of a Provincial Museums wearing a white tie and tails. Profits from this history of the area. A pancake breakfast Advisor. The good gentleman in that office dis gala event on June 29th were donated to the Sunday morning, May 2, 1999 will close tributed information, gave practical advice and Vancouver Maritime Museum. the Conference. great dollops of encouragement (but no money.) “Red” McLeod Remembered About 1982 the Museums Association allowed Norman McLeod was a young, impetuous cit Winston A. Shilvock Art Galleries to become members. Cranbrook izen of Fort Steele in the late 1880’s. Because hosted delegates from the B.C. Museums of his flaming red hair he was constantly called 1918-1998 Association from October 1st to 4th, 1998. The “Red a name that he hated. One day, in a bar, This gentleman from Kelowna introduced Canadian Museum of Rail Travel, Fort Steele he broke a bottle over a tormentor’s head, left himself to novice editor Naomi in 1988, Heritage Town and the St. Eugene Mission & him lying prostrate, then saddled his horse and volunteering to advise and assist with the Tribal Centre gave tours described as ‘Work headed out of town. The local policeman was B.C. Historical News. He prepared the shops on the Mov&’ Guest Speakers dealt with sent after McLeod, who was found cooking Spring 1990 issue (Vol. 23/2) with many Educational Perceptions, Tourism, Public supper beside a creek. McLeod brashly invited stories on the Okanagan. During his ca Sector Services, Internet Marketing, and the constable to join him for a plate of beans. reer in business he published many arti Community Partnerships. When the pursuer relaxed, McLeod grabbed cles on economics and salesmanship. The Can’dian Council for Rail Heritage held its his gun, his horse then left waving, “Ta Ta”. The Then when he retired he devoted himself to business meeting concurrently with the Annual Creek, and community, thereafter was known history, calculating recently that 254 of his articles have General Meeting of the BCMA. President of the as TaTa Creek. appeared in print. He passed away in BCMA is Kirsten Clausen of the Langley McLeod spent a short time south of the 49th, September, shortly be fore his 90th birthday. Centennial Museum and National Exhibition then settled in Argenta. There he lived a life of Centre.

35 B.C. HISTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998-99 ___

Bookshelf Books for review and book reviews should be sent directly to the Book Review Editor: Anny Yandle, 3450 West 20th Avenue, Cancouver, B.C. V6S 1 E4

Robert D. Turner, Sternwheelers and tion “Addenda”) they depict all aspects of the cluding increased competition from trucking Steam Tugs: An Illustrated History of the trade. The photographs and their accompa and airlines, dieselization and the elimination Canadian Pacific Railway’s British Columbia nying captions alone are worth the cost of the of most passenger travel by train. The cut off Lake and River Service, Sono Nis Press, book When one thinks of Canada’s marine of 1939 also represents about the mid-point of 1998. Photos, maps, routes, timetables & heritage one all too often forgets these short- the history of railways in British Columbia and drawings, 302 p. softcover, $39.95 lived vessels. In doing so one misses a large Alberta. ISBN 1-55039-089-9 part of our national efforts to move passengers The book covers a wide range of topics My son and his family recently dropped and freight over water. that are all part of the complex story of railway off at our place en route to their home after a If there was one unexpected aspect to this development and expansion in Western vacation in B.C. ‘s interior. When he walked in fascinating book to myself, steeped in the lore Canada which is the theme of the volume. As the door he spied my review copy of Bob of ocean shipping, it is the apparent ease with the author points out very correctly, it was Turner’s book Sternwheelers and Steam which shipyards sprang up to build these in people who imagined, built, operated and

Tugs - and promptly asked to borrow it when credible ships. Nothing in the book is more used the railways, and people feature impor I was finished. He wanted to read it. As this is evocative of this than the photograph on page tantly throughout the book From Summit to a person who has so far made it his life’s en 168, showing Sicamous just before she was Sea begins with the construction of the deavour to read as few books as possible, I launched. There are a couple of houses in the Canadian Pacific Railway in the 1880s, opera was momentarily struck dumb. When I had picture, some people milling about, a railway tions and improvements to the railway, the recovered and asked why, I was struck by his spur line to the side of the ship, and a series of development of the CPR’s tourism and hotel answer. He and his family had visited the re timber skids leading her way to the water. It all business, the Grand Trunk Pacific’s expansion stored Moyie, and they had been enormously looks so easy, compared to the way ocean across northern Alberta through the struck by the vessel on which so many people ships were built! Likewise, Turner’s skill with Yellowhead Pass to Prince Rupert, the had spent so many hours to bring back to her his text gives an impression of easiness, an im Canadian Northern’s often parallel construc original state. To heap further coals on my ig pression not allayed until one realises just how tion through the Yellowhead and westward to nominy he had also brought me some reading much information he imparts with such skill. the Pacific at Port Mann on the Fraser River, material about the ship, for he knew I had not It was a Canadian National Railways pres improvements to the CPR including major en much knowledge of this part of Canada’s sea ident who most cogently explained the phrase gineering works and expanded hotels and re faring heritage. He in turn wanted to read the ‘interdependence of wheel and keel’, re sorts, smaller railways such as the Alberta more. ferring to the way in which the two modes Central, the Alberta & Great Waterways, the Well, he could do no better than to read worked together. Traditionally, however, it Edmonton, Dunvegan and British Columbia,

Turner’s book A reprint of the first edition that was the CPR that put action to words - hence the Pacific Great Eastern, the Canadian appeared in 1984, this soft-covered version the main concentration of this book on the Pacific’s Kettle Valley and some others. The has the added inducement of a new section CPR’s B.C. Lake and River Service. A few final major section called “The Battle of the high-lighting the restoration of the Moyie, and pages creep in about the CN competition, to Giants,” which brings the story up to 1939, another sternwheeler, S.S. Sicamous. wards the end of the main period under dis discusses the railways through Depression and As the fly-leaf to the book states, the cussion, but otherwise this is a CPR story from the competition between the government building of these increasingly more marvellous beginning to end. I cannot wait to hear what owned Canadian National and the privately ‘inland canoes’ was necessitated by the con my son thinks of it, when he has finished such owned but government subsidized Canadian torted topography of inland British Columbia. a readable book. Pacific. With numerous long and narrow lakes, and Nearly 150 black and white photos are re Kenneth S. Mackenzie many rivers to conquer, unless one was willing produced in the book along with four maps Transportation Historian, Salt Spring to be diverted periodically north or south to showing the extent of the railway system Island, BC skirt these obstacles, the only solution to the during different periods. The photos are well area’s early settlers was to build shallow chosen, evocative and diverse, showing a draught, manoeuverable craft to cut off these range of people, equipment, places, buildings, From Summit to Sea; Illustrated History large meanders. Turner details their proceed bridges and trestles and landscapes. Some are of Railroads in British Columbia and ings, both people and ships, with loving care. familiar but most will be new to the majority of Alberta. George H. Buck Calgary, Fifth The ships were destined for relatively short readers. Reproduction of the photographs is House Ltd., 1997. 202 p. Hard cover. lives - and not just because of the hazards of excellent. The book is nicely printed in good $29.95. Available from Fifth House Ltd., #9 - navigation, which they faced with great quality coated book stock and it has a sturdy 6125 11th St S.E., Calgary, AB T2H 2L6 aplomb. As the numbers of settlers established binding. From Summit to Sea is a well illustrated on the land increased, so did the feasibility of The book also includes a lengthy ap survey of the development of British building railways and doing away with the wa pendix of railway charters which indicates Columbia’s and Alberta’s railway systems tercraft. In fact, Turner’s subjects had a heyday whether the charters were dominion or from the 1880s to 1939. This covers the that lasted only about forty years, from the provincial and where the lines were to be major periods of railway construction and 1890s until the 1930s, when the fateful hand built. Most of course, were never built and consolidation in both provinces. By 1939 of railway progress rendered them obsolete. were “paper railroads” chartered in specula nearly all of the major railways, with the ex Turner covers this exciting period in B.C. ‘s tive efforts to occupy the legal ground in case ception of the Pacific Great Eastern (later the history with informative text, maps and highly- there ever was a good reason to build the British Columbia Railway) had been ex evocative photographs. Three hundred and routes outlined in the charters. Charters could panded to their maximum extent. After the twenty in all, and all in glorious black and become valuable assets if major companies War, vast changes were on the horizon in- white (except for a few colour in the 2nd edi

36 B.C. HISTORICAL NEWS . Winter 1998 .99 became interested in the routes. Curator Emeritus, Islands and on Vancouver Island. Eve fits the Seven pages of end notes provide cita Royal B.C. Museums pattern well with aristocratic and prominent tions and further information including many political connections through her father, Ralph references to trade journals and other early ar Grey. Ralph’s branch of the family produced Beloved Dissident Eve Smith, 1904-1988. ticles and papers. Five pages of bibliography the famous British prime minister whose gov Cathers, Arthur. Blyth, Ont., Drumadravy provide readers with additional published ernment introduced the First Reform Bill of Books, 1997. ISBN 0-920390-05-6. works that may be helpful for more reading or 1832 (Eve’s great grandfather), a Canadian Paperback, illus., $22.95. Available from research. The book concludes with a thorough Governor-General and the British foreign sec Drumadravy Books, Blyth, Ont. NOM 1HO index that will make the text and illustrations retary during World War I. On the distaff side, For people familiar with Eve Smith, or readily accessible. her aunt was married to Eve’s beloved “Uncle sympathetic to any of the numerous causes I was particularly pleased to see that the Monnie”, Martin Allerdale Grainger, lum she championed in her long life of social ac book provides a good balance between the berman, author of Woodsmen of the West, tivism, this biography will be of interest. story of the Canadian Pacific, which has dom and Chief Forester of British Columbia. Cathers’ style is a very approachable one. He inated the railway network of southern British This biography is a celebration of the life of quickly pulls his reader into the narrative by Columbia and Alberta, and the less well the author’s friend, political colleague and co building effective word pictures of her family’s known story of the Canadian National worker. Cather’s approach is essentially narra pioneer experiences and Eve’s childhood in Railways and its predecessors, in particular the tive, a type of gossipy romp rather than schol the Gulf Islands. town life in Esquimalt, Canadian Northern and Grand Trunk Pacific arly. The choice fits both author and subject. railways. Canadian National has had a very schooling and adventures with her sister Linda significant impact on both provinces and its in Constance. Cathers’ tone is always upbeat. L. Hale Department teresting and important story is full of dreams, Even the honors of tuberculosis and Eve’s of Histon), Political Science personal and financial difficulties, engineering quarantine at Tranquille for several years in and Latin Langara College early adulthood successes and the uneasy balance of being a her are treated with a light government owned enterprise. Its major touch. Cathers offers a very sympathetic por routes, which converge in Yellowhead Pass trait of a high spirited and vivacious woman Hope and Forty Acres. Kamloops, Plateau west of Edmonton, form a giant V shape who was devoted to the well-being of her birth Press, 1997. 72 p. illus. paperback. $12.95 across British Columbia with one leg ex family and ultimately to a much wider com The first decade of the 20th century was tending to Prince Rupert and the other to munity through her involvement in the the decade of the orchard development boom Vancouver. In Alberta, the CNR dominated Cooperative Commonwealth Federation and around Kootenay Lake, as settlers were lured the railways of the northern prairies. environmental groups. in from Britain and Eastern Canada to tame Edmonton has been to the CNR what Calgary It is in the political chapters of the book the wild wooded slopes. Willow Point, the or has been to the Canadian Pacific. that Cathers really finds his stride and chard settlement closest to the distribution The book focuses on common carrier pas broadens his audience to include political centre of Nelson, B.C., harboured a full com senger and freight railways and does not in buffs. Eve’s life was closely intertwined with plement of these plucky and idiosyncratic set clude logging and mining railways or other in the CCF In fact, at times the biography reads tlers who participated in a losing battle to wrest dustrial operations, the electric street railways like a Who’s Who of early British Columbia a good living from growing tree fruits. in the major urban centres or the British social democrats, with the names of promi Prominent among these settlers was the Columbia Electric’s interurban system. The nent participants scattered throughout. Dawson family. Following a 1904 lecture tour BCE’s interurbans, in particular, would have Through her activities in the party Eve met her in the U.S.A., William James Dawson in mid been a useful addition because the Fraser husband, learned to handle a public platform, life gave up his pastorate of a large Valley lines operated as a passenger and and to write on political issues. At the request Congregational Church in London and freight railway that connected with the steam of Ernie Winch, Eve wrote political articles, moved his entire family of wife and six chil railways and was very important to the region. commentaries and book reviews for The dren to the U.S.A. where he became pastor of The book includes only passing references to Federationist, the party voice. Cathers han First Presbyterian Church in Newark, N.J. the extensive coastal steamship services oper dles Eve’s stormy relationship with some Dawson’s eldest son Coningsby, a writer and ated by both the Canadian Pacific and members of the national CCF hierarchy from itinerant lecturer, embarked in 1906 on a tour Canadian National in conjunction with their her insider’s view (and his) and reveals the of the west Con fell in love with the Kootenay railways. Similarly, the CPR’s B.C. Lake and tensions which racked it. Walter Young’s well- District and persuaded his youthful younger River Service, which really was an integral part known characterization of the CCF as a polit brother Reginald to abandon his studies at the of the railway system in the southern interior, ical organization torn between the move Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph in is not included. More information on the Great ment/ideology faction and the political order to amass a quick fortune by taking up Northern’s important connections out of party/pragmatic faction was well reflected in “orchard development” land on Kootenay Vancouver to Seattle also would have been the Smith household. Eve belonged to the first Lake. After Reg had devoted several years to valuable because of its importance as an inter camp, her husband Don, to the second. Don, vigorous rustication, William J. Dawson saw fit national connection. 1930s political candidate, editor of The to build a comfortable house near his son’s This book is well written and has a non Federationist and sports reporter for the lakeside property and each summer thereafter Vancouver technical tone that will make it very useful as a Sun argued for political expedi escaped with members of his family from the general reference. This is a broad topic to ency as the road to office and change. Eve heat and humidity of the Atlantic Seaboard to cover in a fairly small volume and the author and brother-in-law John favoured ideology his Willow Point retreat. has done an admirable job of condensing a over electoral success. Eventually Eve also Members of the Dawson family possessed politically and technologically complex topic preferred John over Don. the gift of eloquence. WJ. and Con Dawson into a very readable and informative presenta For students of British Columbia history, were both prolific writers of fiction and non tion. I hope it will be widely available in school the book inadvertently offers evidence of the fiction. After World War I, WJ. Dawson wrote and regional libraries. This is a good book and interconnectedness of elements of British a novel entitled War Eagle which was a thinly a valuable reference on an important part of Columbia society in the opening decades of disguised portrayal of a number of Willow our history. this century. Particularly, the British segment Point’s idiosyncratic residents. During the de Robert D. Turner of British Columbia society centred in the Gulf pression-ridden days of the 1930s, one well-

37 B.C. HISTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998-99 thumbed copy of this novel passed up and low-level access to the Alberta side of the up, would greatly assist the reader, partic down the cash-strapped settlement. In Hope Rockies. The country in this southeastern ularly in identifying vanished settlements and Forty Acres, Reginald Dawson displays pocket has a rugged beauty, at least in in the Elk Valley and that part of the similar writing skill in his engrossing retrospect those spots relatively untouched by the Upper Kootenay Valley now of his rank greenhorn struggles to tame his drowned in forty Willow Point acres. hand of man. In winter, the snowfall is Lake Koocanusa. One final regret in Reg. Dawson’s memoirs, written in later fairly heavy and the days tend to be short volves the absence of an article on the life and left unpublished for forty years until as the sun disappears in midaftemoon valley of the North Fork of the Flathead brought to light by the diligent editorial work over the mountains hemming in the River, surely the true terra incognita of of Julie Dawson, a relative, unfortunately narrow canyons. In addition to the lure of Southern British Columbia. I’ll look for make up a decidedly slim volume. It is to be the Wilds, the region to-day attracts ski such an article in a realization of Volume regretted that Reg did not during his lifetime enthusiasts and even golfers. ‘p encounter a sympathetic editor who might Coal mining has been the dominant Edward L. Affleck have persuaded him to expand his hu industry in this area. Few of the compa Ted Affieck is the author mourous and insightful accounts of his earlier of engaged life. For example, a more detailed sketch of the nies in the industry served as Stemwheelers, Sandbars and gentlemanly Willow Point storekeeper and model employers. The economics ups Switchbacks (1973). postmaster Charles W. West, reputed to have and downs of the mining industry tend to been driven to insolvency by his wife’s make for turbulent times in mining settle propensity in serving tea and cake to all who ments under the best of circumstances, The First Nations of British called in for the mail would have enhanced and such circumstances seldom obtained Columbia: an Anthropological Survey. the interest. Readers whose forebears partici in the Elk Valley settlements. Particularly Robert J. Muckle. Vancouver, University pated in the pre-World War I boom in orchard distressing were the number of development will find Hope and Forty Acres of B.C. Press, 1998. 146 p., illus., map. heartrending mining disasters which oc highly engrossing, while the quality of the curred. $19.99 prose may also engage the attention of the The First Nations of British Twenty-three writers, subscribing to more casual reader. Columbia is a pedagogical presentation the view that to date the published history The lay-out of Hope and Forty Acres is of knowledge generated by anthropolo generally attractive. However, the c. 1925 pic of this pocket of B.C. remains relatively gists about B.C. native people. Written in ture of the gargantuan C.PR. sternwheeler meagre, have produced a variety of ret lean and accessible language, this book Nasookin calling in at the imposing Willow rospects on the area. We are greatly in was intended by the author to convey Point wharf is eye-filling but misleading. The debted to this group and to their editors general knowledge about the characteris ‘West’s Landing” of Reg. Dawson’s earlier for this compilation. The quality of the Willow Point days, devoid of vehicles and tics of native cultures, as well as the writing is generally good so that the highways, did not boast such a Federal manner and milieu in which such knowl reader can bank on some lively and in Government wharf capable of handling vehic edge has been collected. Muckle’s narra formative browsing. At least two of the ar ular traffic. The modest little shallow-draft tive is a fairly elementary introduction to ticles are indeed outstanding. One fin sternwheelers of the early days simply nudged the subject, but those who are well ac a prow on to a stretch of friendly undeveloped ishes the volume with a respect for the quainted with native issues may find shore in order to make a landing. plucky, polyglot settlers who wrestled for some of the appendices, particularly the Edward L. Affleck. a living in the Elk Valley’s coal mining in lists of B.C. First Nations and major dustry earlier in the 20th century. One ethnic groups, to be handy reference fervently seconds the desire of the writers tools. The book is well organized, begin The Forgotten Side of the Border. that the book will heighten the awareness ning with a discussion of what constitutes Wayne Norton & Naomi Miller, eds. of the part which the Elk Valley has a First Nation, followed by reviews of the Kamloops, Plateau Press, 1997. 238 p., played in the development of the techniques and findings of archaeology map, illus., index, paperback. $19.95 Province. Perhaps we shall be fortunate (study of prehistoric cultures) and Available from Plateau Press, Box 283, enough to have the editors press on with ethology (study of native cultures in his Kamloops, B.C. V2C 5K6 a second informative volume. toric times), including a discussion of cul The extreme southeast corner of The format of the book is utilitarian, in tural change among First Nations since British Columbia, encompassing the keeping with the modest selling price. the time of initial contact with Europeans. southwestern slopes of the Rocky Given that the volume is in the nature of To supplement his explanations, Muckle Mountains, is drained by two river sys an anthology, adhering neither to a time uses a helpful array of maps and pho tems: (a) the Elk, which rises in the crest nor geographical sequence, one regrets tographs. of the Rockies and flows south and west the absence of an introductory Muckle’s discussion of what consti to join the man-made Lake Koocanusa, chronology summarizing the major tutes a First Nation sheds light on the de and expansion of the Upper Kootenay events in the area since the arrival of the finition of various terms. As many are River, southwest of Elko, and (b) the white man. The one map provided does aware, the term “Indian” is a misnomer north fork of the Flathead River, which not provide much assistance in “placing” based on Christopher Columbus’s mis flows east and south to link up in the various mining communities. Two taken initial belief that he had arrived in Montana with the south fork and de maps, one illustrating the features of the India. Less well known are the meanings bouch into Montana’s Flathead Lake. area prior to World War I, when the rail of some other terms. As Muckle reveals, Crows Nest Pass, in the upper reaches of ways provided the dominant links, and “First Nation” has been used to refer to the Elk River system, provides relatively the other illustrating the present-day set

38 B.C. IUSTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998.99 Indian bands, groups of bands, commu very little discussion of work by ethnolo sources for the material included are listed nities or other groupings. His description gists/anthropologists regarding cultural in an appendix, and this will be of value of “status” Indians as those people listed change. Although this would have been to those wishing to pursue any particular in a register maintained by the Federal the section to discuss the impacts of subject. Government is accurate, but some dis racism and the Indian Act on native cul The book’s contents are arranged into cussion of the Indian Act and Natives’ tures, Muckle gives both subjects short a number of major divisions. These in past legal status as “wards of the Crown” shrift. However, he does provide a solid clude one of the “lower” Skeena, that would have provided a more complete overview of the impacts of residential stretch from Hazelton (the “Forks”), context for explaining their distinct legal schools as well as native peoples’ asser where the Bulkley joins the main river, to and constitutional status. tion of aboriginal rights over the years. its mouth about 180 miles away; several The section concerning native prehis In conclusion, Muckle’s book pro on the “Transportation” eras, when ca tory begins with the interesting juxtaposi vides a fairly engaging review of the his noes and sternwheelers provided the tion of native peoples’ creation myths and tory of the practices and findings of ar principal means of travel; and others for archaeological investigation. As Muckle chaeology and early ethnology in B.C. in the various settlements which were estab notes, these myths generally indicate that relation to native peoples. The first sec lished during the nineteenth century and natives have been in their respective ter tions are stronger than the final section continued into the twentieth. These were ritories since “time immemorial” and which attempts to analyse cultural change at Port Simpson, Port Essington, Kitselas, were placed there and given relatively im among natives. In it, Muckle leaves the and Hazelton. While some distance from mutable values, customs and languages impression that little work has been done the river’s mouth, Port Simpson, as the by a supernatural creator. Archaeologists, to study cultural change and native life- major Hudson’s Bay Company’s distribu on the other hand, believe that the native ways in recent times, and I suspect that tion center on the north Pacific Coast, people of North, South and Central this is probably not the case. Overall, this was for some years the terminal for trans America are the descendants of ancient book is a handy reference for those inter portation to and from the Skeena. Few hunters who migrated from Asia across ested in general information about the articles are devoted to Hazelton because, the Beringia land bridge some time be study of natives in prehistoric and early as Bennett points out, that village has tween 20,000 and 12,000 years ago. I historic times. been written up in several other publica found that Muckle’s descriptions of signif Jos Dyck, tions. It is one of the positives of this book icant sites in B.C. were a helpful and in Treasurer, Vancouver that Port Essington and Kitselas have teresting way to demonstrate variety and Historical Society. been allotted large sections. These were change among prehistoric cultures. important communities, and both faded In the ethnology section, Muckle re when the completion of the Grand Trunk views the history of ethnology in B.C., in Pioneer Legacy: Chronicles of the Pacific Railway through the valley dicating how prominent early ethnologists Lower Skeena: Vol. 1; Compiled by changed the transportation situation. collected information by examining na Norma V. Bennett. Terrace, B.C., Dr. There is a surprising continuity to tives’ oral histories and music, as well as R.E.M. Lee Hospital Foundation, 1997. Pioneer Legacy despite the diversity in Europeans’ paintings and photographs. 240 p., illus. hard cover, $30.00. form in the writings included. This may In discussing this work, Muckle pays par Available from the be in part due to the unity provided by ticular attention to the significant contri Dr. R.E.M. Lee Hospital Foundation, the river itself since the Skeena remains butions of Franz Boas. Following this is a 4720 Haugland Ave., Terrace, central at all times. The index is uncom general overview of the ethnological clas B.C. V8G 2W7 monly complete and includes not only sifications of native cultural groups, and Pioneer Legacy is a compilation of ar places, people, and river boats, but also a ethnological findings regarding linguistic ticles and reminiscences, both first-hand number of subject headings. This adds diversity, seasonal migration and diet, and secondary, brought together from an considerably to the usefulness of the and social organization and cultural prac extensive collection which Ms. Bennett book. There are four maps. Of these the tices relating to spirituality, health, art cer accumulated over a long number of most helpful are the frontispiece - of the emony, trade and warfare. years. For this book, Bennett notes, “I area covered by the book - and one Muckle uses the term “traditional life- tried to select what might be of local in showing the locations of the various fish ways” frequently in the ethnology sec terest and to arrange it in a somewhat canneries. The photographs (more than tion. I could not find a definition for the chronological order so that it would not 80) give a good sense of the geography term in the book and was left to assume seem so much a disjointed collection as a of the river’s lower stretches, and of the that it refers to baseline cultural practices continuous record of development.” No settlements and their residents. developed by natives prior to the arrival attempt is made, however, to be all-em of Europeans. bracing; there are, for example, no arti George Newell In his final section, Muckle attempts to cles devoted to the religious settlement at Victoria examine the impact of European fur Meanskinisht, and that community is traders, gold seekers, religious orders, set mentioned only in passing. Theitems are Mighty River: A Portrait of the Fraser. tlers, and government on native peoples. of uneven lengths, and while many were Richard C. Bocking. Vancouver / Much of this section appears to rely upon written by participants in the early non- Toronto, Douglas & McIntyre, 1997. theories developed by prominent B.C. native exploration and settlement of the 294 p., maps, hard cover. $35.00 historians and political scientists. There is river, some are of recent vintage. The Mighty River is an ambitious book.

39 B.C. HISTORICAL NEWS - Winter 1998-99 The subject is grand, and the challenges Despite the defeats, and the imperma frankly with first nations people, con for both the author and the publisher cor nence of the victories, Bocking sees versed easily with people of various resondingly demanding. hope. The epigraphs for the final two creeds and cultures, and forbade racial In his “Preface”, the author writes, “It chapters give a good indication of where discrimination in his churches. On March seemed time for a new book that would he wants the book to point, and history to 25 “a respectable coloured person, Mrs. celebrate the natural history of the Fraser go. That for Chapter 11 reads, “By be Washington” called on him; and the fol and portray the extraordinary human coming the first urban region in the world lowing day he was visited “by Mr. Gibbs drama along its spectacular journey from to combine economic vitality with the and Mr. Francis, two coloured gen the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific highest standards of livability and envi tlemen.” On both occasions, he engaged Ocean.” Mighty River, he suggests, “is a ronmental quality, Greater Vancouver his guests in earnest analysis of the preju journey through centuries as well as kilo can represent in history what Athens is to dice they suffered. meters, through astonishing landscapes democracy or Vienna is to music.” And, Any study of Bishop Hills reminds me and a rich tapestry of life. Following the for Chapter 12, “The ‘realists’ have had of former Anglican archivist Cyril Williams Fraser River is also a search for the their time, and we see the fruits of their and his years of perusing and annotating human spirit, because much of the drama work. It is time now for visionaries.” the Bishop’s papers. His enthusiasm for that has characterized British Columbia’s Bocking thanks his editor, Nancy his own subject carried over into enthusi story has been concentrated on the banks Pollak, by noting that her “contribution to astic assistance for other researchers. In of this river.” the structure as well as the detail of the the end, his work on Hills gave way be The form taken in this drama has manuscript was invaluable.” I suspect this fore the announcements of more ‘schol been, and is, in Bocking’s opinion, war. is not overstatement. There are excellent arly’ approaches to the topic, and his “When Europeans settlement began in maps. The listing of sources is divided by name does not appear in Bagshaw’s

the mid-1800s. .. a war with the river chapter and will be of great help to Acknowledgements or notes. began that has endured for more than a anyone pursuing any particular area of in This book is not yet the scholarly work century.” It is a war brought on because terest. There is a well-compiled index. Hills merits, but it is a significant preview. “The Europeans who replaced Native With good reason the book has received When Bagshaw prepares, as I hope she people on the land brought with them the several prizes, It is capably conceived, the will, a more complete edition of the di ideals of the Industrial Revolution, and writing is clear, direct, controlled. aries, she should provide detailed maps they set about changing the landscape to Altogether a solid piece of work. to accompant the Bishop’s journeys, and

.. fuller explanatory notes. And she should accommodate their values. The George Newell make the extra scholarly effort to recog system changed from consumption at Victoria levels well below nature’s productivity to nize, for example, that the ‘wide awake’ consumption with no real limits.” This on page 184 is most likely a noun, de continued with the fortunes of noting a type of hat, and not an adjective. war has No Better Land; the 1860 Diaries of there vic But, for the time being, we can grate war: there are defeats and are the Anglican Colonial Bishop George victories tend to be isolated, fully savour such moments as this from tories. The Hills, edited by Roberta L. Bagshaw. and are not necessarily permanent. Here, June 13: Victoria: Sono Nis Press, 1996. 307 p., example, is his view of the situation at I walked today with Mr. Crickmer in for indexed, bibliography, illus. $21.95 search of a burial ground. We selected a Tete Jaune Cache: “Fortunately for the On February 28, 1860, George Hills, spot westward near two streams. Our flora and fauna of the region, the dreams first Anglican bishop in British Columbia, ramble was pleasant amidst beautiful of the boomers collapsed soon after came upon two shirt-sleeved men chop construction moved on. The rich, scenery and flowers in wondrous profu railway ping wood. He recorded the incident in sion. We gathered strawberries. biological mother lode at Tete Jaune his journal under the title “Limbs of the Islands could not have survived Cache Law”: “On approaching I found they Phyllis Reeve development on any appreciable urban were Chief Justice Begbie and Captain Phyllis Reeve is an avid reader of scale. The townsite of railroad construc Brew, Judge of Small Debts Court They other people’s diaries. Fraser tion days was washed away by were procuring firewood for themselves. floodwaters, and the settlement River They live in one room and have no ser moved to higher ground. Today only a vant. I took the axe from the Chief Justice A five year Index of the survive. general store and a few houses and cut a log in two. It was harder work delta prospers. With B.C. Historical News will be But natural life in the than I thought” different habitats compressed so many These diaries, one year from Hills’ printed in January. small the level of bio-diver into a space, thirty-three- year private record, abound Readers wishing to order sity here is four times greater than that of with such incidents, humanizing a man this Index please send a surrounding areas.” Unfortunately this often perceived as austere, and who not without its drawbacks. happy state is judged his own performance as “sadly cheque for $5.00 to the concentration of wildlife.., is not “This cold and unimpressive”. They also go far B.C. Historical News nature. It is also a death only a miracle of towards redressing the neglect and mis animals with no defence against do Box 130 Whonnock, B.C. trap for representation accorded the place of greatest predator: person with a their a church and clergy in British Columbia his V2W 1V9 gun.” tory. This “colonial bishop” consulted

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BC HISTORICAL FEDERATION WRITING COMPETITION The British Columbia Historical Federation invites submissions of books for the seventeenth annual Competition for Writers of B.C. History. Any book presenting any facet of B.C. history, published in 1999, iseligible. This may be a community history, biography, record of a project or an organization, or personal recollections giving a glimpse of the past. Names, dates and places, with relevant maps or pictures, turn a story into “history.” Thejudges are looking for quality presentations, especially if fresh material is included, with appropriate illustrations, careful proofreading, an adequate index, table of contents and bibliography, from first-time writ ers as well as established authors. NOTE: Reprints or revisions of books are not eligible. The Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Historical Writing will be awarded to an individual writer whose book contributes significantly to the recorded history of British Columbia. Other awards will be made as recommended by the judges to valuable books prepared by groups or individuals. All entries receive considerable publicity. Winners will receive a Certificate of Merit, a monetary award and an invitation to the BCHF annual conference to be held in Port Albemi in May 2000. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: All books must have been published in 1999and should be submit ted as soon as possible after publication. Two copies of each book should be submitted. Books entered be come property of the B.C. Historical Federation. Please state name, address and telephone number of sender, the selling price of all editions of the book, and the address from which it may be purchased, if the reader has to shop by mail. If by mail, please include shipping and handling costs if applicable. SEND TO: B.C. Historical Writing Competition do Shirley Cuthbertson #306 - 225 Belleville Street, Victoria, B.C. V8V 4T9 DEADLINE: December 31, 1999.

There is also an award for the Best Article published each year in the B.C. Historical News magazine. This is directed to amateur historians or students. Articles should be no more than 3,500 words, typed double spaced, accompanied by photographs if available, and substantiated with footnotes where applicable. (Pho tographs should be accompanied with information re: the source, permission to publish, archival number if available, and a brief caption. Photos will be returned to the writer.) Manuscripts and correspondence should be sent directly to the Editor. Submissions may be made by email to [email protected] or by mail with a diskettem, PC or Mac formatted in any format used by the author. Mail to: Fred Braches, P.O. Box 130, Whonnock, B.C. V2W 1V9. •. . ••- -.•.‘