History of Lulu Island by Thomas Kidd
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HISTORY OF LULU ISLAND And Occasional Poems By THOMAS KIDD WRIGLEY PRINTING COMPANY LIMITED 1927 Reprinted by RICHMOND PRINTERS LTD. 1973 Reprinted by City of Richmond Archives 2007 A Note about the 2007 Reprint of Thomas Kidd’s “History of Lulu Island and Occasional Poems” In 2007, the Friends of the Richmond Archives and the City of Richmond Archives decided to prepare a third edition of Thomas Kidd’s “History of Lulu Island and Occasional Poems,” using funds provided by the Friends of the Richmond Archives. Kidd’s book was first published in 1927 by Wrigley Printing Company, and a second edition was printed in 1973 by Richmond Printers. At the time the decision was made to prepare a third edition, the Archives had only a few copies of the first and second print editions in its possession. The first edition of “History of Lulu Island and Occasional Poems” included thirty-one poems written by Mr. Kidd, only one of which was included in the 1973 reprint. In addition to removing the majority of the poems from the book, the compilers of the 1973 reprint included a table of contents and index, and changed the title of the book to “History of Richmond Municipality.” They also added 10 photograph plates reproduced from photographs provided courtesy of the Harold L. Steves Picture Collection and depicting scenes more recent than the stories told in the text. The 2007 reprint follows the 1973 reprint. It includes only one of Mr. Kidd’s poems and reproduces the table of contents and index (the index is not included in the PDF version). Where the City of Richmond Archives holds copies of the photographs included in the 1973 reprint, these have also been included. At some point, a biographical sketch of Thomas Kidd was printed and inserted among the pages of the book; this sketch is included in the 2007 reprint with the title “A Note about the Author.” It should be noted that the 2007 edition of “History of Lulu Island and Occasional Poems” replicates exactly the content of Mr. Kidd’s original text; thus, the language used was chosen by Mr. Kidd and reflects the language of the time in which he lived and wrote. i A Note about the Author Thomas Kidd 1846 – 1930 Born in County Down, Ireland. At age 17 left home and took passage on a sailing vessel for New Zealand, where he arrived after 100 days at sea. Shortly after his arrival he enlisted in the Third Regiment of the Waikato Volunteers, which had been organized to put down an uprising of the natives. Upon his discharge in 1866 he left for California, where he engaged in farming and later logging in the Redwood Forest. He left California in 1874, and took passage for British Columbia – arriving at Victoria on February 11, 1874. A few days later he went to New Westminster, where he made the acquaintance of Mr. Brighouse and Mr. Scratchley, and with them came to Lulu Island. He began farming for himself within a short time on 160 acres of land, and subsequently acquired further tracts. There are still living on parts of the above farms members of the first, second and third generations of his family. He served in many facets of public life. The second election in Richmond (1881) put him in his first office as councillor, in which he served many years. In addition to that of councillor, he held the offices of Reeve, School Trustee in subsequent years. He was elected first M.L.A. for Richmond Riding in 1894, and held this office for eight years. In private life he was a kind and helpful neighbour, with great compassion for his fellowmen. His formal education had terminated with his departure from Ireland, but he had been endowed with an avid thirst for knowledge, and he had continued his education by his own efforts. Due to his tremendous desire for study and a great appetite for reading, he was conversant on a wide range of topics. In the days when legal consultants were not readily available his neighbours found him a willing advisor whenever the need arose. ii It might be of interest to some of the readers of this book to learn that Thomas Kidd’s eldest greatgrandchild, Gilbert J. Blair, was among those taking office as Aldermen on the 1971 Council in Richmond. Three years later he became mayor of the municipality, the incorporation of which in 1879 his greatgrandfather had played a part and to which he had given many years of service. iii History of Richmond Municipality HISTORY OF LULU ISLAND(to 1898) by THOMAS KIDD Table of Contents PART I. — EARLY MEMORIES A. Nature and Formation of the Islands, pp. 1-5 Choosing Name, 1; Geological Upheaval, 1; Soil Formation, 2; Work of Beaver, 2; Timber Growth, 2; On North Side, 3; Other Growth, 3; Sea Island Conditions, 3; Wild Roses Grew, 4; Good Grass Patches, 4; Beaver Dams, 4; Indian Middens, 4. B. Biographies of the First Settlers, 1862-1879, pp. 5-26 Her Name Was Lulu, 5; First Survey, 5; Hugh McRoberts, 5; First Dyke, 6; The McCleerys, 6; Henry Mole, 7; Hugh Magee, 7; Mrs. McCleery, 7; The McCleery Homestead, 8; George Garripie, 8; Rowlings, 9; Wm. McNeely, 9; Wm. Shannon, 9; The First White Family, 10; W. J. Scratchley, 10; Sam Brighouse, 11; Boyd and Kilgour, 11; Smith and Robson, 12; Howard L. DeBeck - First White Child, 13; Still in Penticton, 13; John Brough, 14; On First Council, 14; An Unusual Settler, 15; Thomas Kidd Arrives, 15; Mrs. Green's Quest, 16; A Home-Made House, 16; Woodward's, 17; Versatile Englishman, 17; Difficult Transportation, 18; A Sociable Partnership, 18; "Mud-flatters" Toast, 19; Eburne's Dramatic Arrival, 20; Eburne Post Office, 21; Miller and Ferguson, 21; The McMyns Arrive, 22; J. W. Sexsmith, 23; The Origin of Steveston, 23; First Herd of Holsteins, 24; Steveston Versus Vancouver, 25; The McDonalds, 25. C. The Township of Richmond is Incorporated — Early Works, pp. 26-35 The Genesis of Richmond, 26; W. Beckman's Good Fortune, 26; The Carscallens, 27; Other Families, 28; First Municipal Election, 28; Private Dyking, 29; Sea Island Dyked, 29; A New Enterprise, 30; Need of Water, 31; Late Judge Bole, Advisor, 31; First Municipal Hall, 32; Mrs. Boyd's Hospitality, 32; Pen Pictures of Councillors, 33; Revelry at the Hall, 35. D. The Richmond Municipal Chronicle to 1888, pp. 36-56 1. Municipal Council Work, pp. 36-52 The Second Election, 36; First Discussion of Roads, 37; Reeve-Not Warden, 38; New Settlers, 39; First School Trustees, 40; First Steamboat Service, 40; Brighouse Joins Council, 41; Chinamen on Trunk Road, 42; Pioneer Clerk Praised, 43; Aimed at Chinese, 43; Work and Materials Cheap, 45; Telephone Suggested, 46; A Humorous Election, 47; Michael Clarke, Reeve, 47; Tribute to Hugh Boyd, 48; Borrowing Suggested, 49; Question of Bridges, 51; Gum Boots Only, 52. 2. Other Developments, pp. 52-56 First Churches, 52; Protest to Bishop Sillitoe, 53; American School Trustee, 53; The First School, 55; 'The Best-Remembered', 55; Oxen the Only Teams, 56. iv PART II. — GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT E. Construction of the North Arm Bridges, pp. 57-78 To Connect With Vancouver, 57; Mayor Oppenheimer Co-operates, 57; Hon. John Robson Favorable, 58; $30,000 Loan By-Law, 59; Richmond's Rateable Value, 61; Awkward Position, 62; Vancouver's Population, 63; Interesting Comparisons, 64; Salaries — First Richmond Ballot, 64; Capt. Stewart's Services, 65; Pioneer Fruitgrowers, 65; Pioneer Liquor Control, 66; Urging the Government, 68; C.P.R. Might Build Bridges, 69; C.P.R. Disappointing, 70; Vancouver's Protest Unheeded, 71; Vancouver Condemns Richmond, 72; Ice Action Foreshadowed, 72; North Arm Bridges Completed, 73; Did Not "Care a Damn", 74; A Cautious Council, 74; The Proof of the Pudding, 76; Increased Interest of Electors, 76; New Reeve and First Contest, 77; Fortunate Ice Test, 77. F. The Gay and Fruitful Nineties, pp. 78-105 The Last White Navvies, 78; Proposed Electric Railway, 78; First Move for Drainage, 79; The "Magee Canal", 80; Direct Haul to Vancouver, 80; First Telephone and Newspaper, 81; Early River Craft, 82; Increased Land Values, 83; Booming Steveston, 84; Questioning Voter's List, 85; New Letters Patent, 86; Suit Against Council, 87; Suggested Road Round Island, 88; First Municipal Audit, 88; First Constable and Lock-up, 89; First Richmond Agricultural Show, 90; Settlers and Council, 91; Public-Spirited Settler, 94; McLean Brothers Paid at Last, 95; Thomas Kidd, Richmond's First M.P., 95; Great Damage by Freshet, 96; Artesian Boring, 97; Richmond's Gold Excitement, 98; Water Shortage, 99; Twenty-three Canneries, 100; First Fire Chief, 101; Steveston "Clubs", 102; Waiting for "High Tide", 103; Late Johnathan Miller, 104; Sailor Boy's Success, 104. v History of Lulu Island It has been suggested to the writer that he should write a history of Richmond Municipality and in responding to that suggestion he has thought it would make it more interesting and complete to preface it by a short outline of development, of the settlement before its incorporation, and begin that preface with a few remarks on the nature and formation of these islands. The outline of these islands as they appear on the map shows a close approach to the form of the Greek letter Delta. We are told that because most of the islands formed by the matter carried down by rivers and deposited at their mouths take the form of that letter, its name has been given to these formations. Choosing Name Had not the settlers on the south side of the river, at the suggestion of W.