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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 Arrow Lakes Historical Society Box 584, Nakusp, B.C. VOG1RO AtlinHistorical Society Box 111, Atlin, B.C.VOW1AC Boundary Historical Society Box 580, Grand Forks, B.C. VOH1HO Bowen Island Historians Box 97, Bowen Island, B.C. VON1GO Burnaby Historical Society 6501 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby, B.C. V5G3T6 Chemainus Valley Historical Society Box 172, Chemainus, B.C. VOR1KO Cowichan Historical Society RO. Box 1014, Duncan, B.C. V9L 3Y2 District 69 Historical Society Box 1452, Parksville, B.C. V9P 2H4 East Kootenay Historical Association RO. Box 74, Cranbrook, B.C. Vi C 4H6 Gulf Islands Branch, BCHF do A. Loveridge, S.22, C.11, RR#1, Galiano. VON1P0 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. VOR2CC 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 RO. Box 933, Station A, Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 5N2 North Shore Historical Society 1541 Merlynn Crescent, North Vancouver, B.C. V7J 2X9 North Shuswap Historical Society Box 317, Celista, B.C. VOE1LO Okanagan Historical Society Box 313, Vernon, B.C. V1T 6M3 Princeton & District Museum &Archives Box 281, Princeton, B.C. VOXiWO 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 RO. Box 2404, Sidney, B.C. V8L 3Y3 Silvery Slocan Historical Society Box 301, New Denver, B.C. VOGiSO Surrey Historical Society Box 34003 5790 175th Street Surrey, B.C. V3S 8C4 Trail Historical Society RO. Box 405, Trail, B.C.Vi R 4L7 Vancouver Historical Society RO. Box 3071, Vancouver, B.C.V6B 3X6 Victoria Historical Society RO. Box 43035, Victoria North, Victoria, B.C. V8X 3G2

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SUBSCRIPTIONS I BACK ISSUES Published winter, spring, summer and fall by British Columbia Historical Federation RO. Box 5254, Station B Victoria, B.C. V8R 6N4 A Charitable Society recognized under the Income TaxAct. Institutional subscriptions $16 per year

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Members of Member Societies •$10 per year For addresses outside Canada, add .$5peryear Back issues of the British Columbia Historical News are available in microform from Micromedia Limited, 20 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario M5C 2N8, phone (416) 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. Publications Mail Registration Number 4447. Financially assisted by BdtLh Combi Historical News Journal of the B.C. Historical Federation Volume 31, No. 1 Winter 1997/98 EDITORIAL CONTENTS Oh, to see ourselves as others see us! FEATURES An exchange student at UBC studied the Rowell Sirois Commission of the 1930’s Harry Ades Apprenticeship 2 and compared public reaction to current by Audrey Ward opinions. His professor, Robert A.J. Harry Ades First Car 3 McDonald, enthusiastically endorsed the research done by this young man and by Audrey Ward added, “He placed third in a class of 45 Family Portraits in Research 5 despite being distracted by a constant by Carol Grant Powell flow of relatives and friends from home wanting to learn more about ‘Beautiful The Family That Sailed a Million Miles 9 British Columbia’.” by Ronald A. Ansell

“War in the Woods’ commenced as a rec Donald Waterileld - Author, Patriot, Prophet 13 ollection of life in a logging community by Ronald A. Ansell during WWH but was expanded to refer to the ongoing war-in-the-woods of today. The Ides of March: The Rowell-Sirois Commission in Victoria 15 We present a preview of the 1998 Work by R4f’Schemmann shops on Geneology to be held just prior War in the Woods — Yesterday and Today 20 to the BCHF Conference in Surrey. See by Dolly Sinclair Kennedy page 29. British Gentlewomen at Monte Creek 26 Surrey Historical Society has planned a varied program for the April 30-May 3 by Eleanor Witton Hancock weekend in 1998. See page 29. Two Cable Bridges ofVancouver 30 byThm W Parkin Thank you to all who contributed to our Some Notes on Whonnock, B.C 33 magazine in 1997. We are eagerly plan by Edward L. Affleck ning ahead for 1998 and hope that our readers will enjoy future issues. Tell your The B.C. Supreme Court Registry Scandal of 1895 34 friends about our magazine, or give a gift by Edward L. Affleck subscription at only $12 per year within Canada, $17 to an out-of-country ad NEWS and NOTES 36 dress. Our new Subscription Secretary BOOKSHELF is Joel Vinge at RR#2, S13 C 60, Cranbrook, B.C. V1C 4H3. H. R. A Biography of H.R. MacMillan 37 Naomi Miller Review by D W Kaye Lamb Great Canadian Political Cartoons, 1820 to 1914 38 Review by Robert McDonald COVER CREDIT Clayoquot Soundings, 1880 to 1980s 38 Review by Phil: Teece The pictures saved in the Ades family al Henry & Sell The Private Life of Sarah Crease, 1826 - 1922 39 bum by Audrey Ward have been used to Review by Sheryl Salloum illustrate “Dad’s First Car” referring to a Cathedral Grove (MacMillan Park) 1914 Maxwell touring carwith a 1919 re 39 placement engine. This front view ena Review by Susan Stacey bles us to see the bumper, radiator, some More Than a House 40 of the understructure, and the glengarry Review by Donna Jean MacKinnon bonnet of brother Ernest in the front seat Grizzlies & White Guys; The Stories of Clayton Mack 40 beside Mother Ades. Review by James E. Bowman

Manuscripts and correspondence to the editor are to be sent to P0. Box 105, Wasa, B.C. VOB 2K0. Correspondence regarding subscriptions is to be directed to the Subscription Secretary (see inside back cover).

Printed in Canada by Kootenay Keik Print Ltd. Harry Adec Apprenticeship by Audrey Ward

Harry Ades and his brothers grew up of their lives. pushcart. Albert Ernest Ades (Harry’s at Keefers, B.C. about halfway between The picture of the section gang near dad), section foreman, is at the left. Note Lytton and North Bend on the west side Keefers was taken in 1900 by Archibald the watch chain on his suit vest. It was ofthe Fraser River. His father (my grand Murchie. Murchie and other photogra important that the man-in-charge should father) was section foreman on the Ca phers ofthat era travelled around by train have an accurate timepiece to predict nadian Pacific Railway. With the wisdom or stagecoach, frequently accompanying when trains were expected and to record of experience he advised his sons, “Ifyou a school inspector making his twice yearly the man-hours worked by his section are going to work for the railway, you tours ofinspection. These photographers gang. Up the hill behind Tom are two had better learn about what the trains garnered a modest profit while on their other youthful workers, each with a pipe run on.” Harry, the eldest of six boys, travels and left researchers a legacy ofpic clenched in his teeth. A pipe was also turned fourteen on January 2, 1900. tures depicting vignettes ofschool classes, trademark for the pair lounging a few Granddad let him finish his year at school portraits of school trustees, or commis steps further up the bank, and the fellow before teaching him the fine principles sioned work scenes and family portraits. on the speeder posed behind the hand underlying the craft of roadbed mainte Dad (Harry) is shown in the right fore cart. Two roped together rock scalers atop nance. The day after Harry went to work ground, jacket open, hands behind his the scene are visible as well as two men with the section gang the Native worker back. Tom is a few paces away with jacket and a dog beside the track. This posed brought his son, Tom, also fourteen to open and black hat. Tom’s father (with work scene is a tribute to Murchie and work, too. The two lads formed a strong light colored braces over a turtleneck his early photographic equipment. bond offriendship which lasted for most sweater) stands with hands on the Each of the six boys served his appren

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V Canadian Pacific Railway Section Gang 1900. Taken just west ofKeeferA B.C. Picture courtesy of Audrey Ward.

2 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997/98 ______, ticeship under Granddad and, at age 15 clerk just shrugged and continued writ tive engineers. Two brothers became went up to Kamloops to apply for work. ing. “You look like a Charlie to me.. roadmasters and one a freight train con Each lied boldfacedly that he was 21 and By the way, remarkable woman your ductor. When each reached retirement made up a fictitious birthdate. When the Mother. Did you know that there is only age he had to face a lot of paperwork to second boy went to Kamloops and did four months difference between you and undo the falsification of birthdate in or so the clerk wrote down details meticu your brother Harry?” So, henceforth der to start receiving a pension cheque. lously, intoning as he wrote, “age 21 known as Charlie Ades, he commenced Harry and his brothers went through years, birthdate name Charlie working for the C.RR. further stages ofapprenticeship but those Ades,” to which the lad indignantly Granddad must have taught them well. details will have to be told by another countered, “ I said my name is Albert Harry, Charlie and a third brother railway historian. Ernest Ades just like my father !“ The worked up the ranks to become locomo Harry Adec First Car by Audrey Ward

Harry Ades became a locomotive en settled on a second hand Maxwell tour “Skittish” vehicle on the roads in Van gineer and moved to Vancouver. In 1919 ing car, 1914 model with a new 1919 couver which were very different from he decided that he could afford to drive replacement engine. The chassis had the well-groomed C,PR. roadbed with an automobile. Driving would be so curved fenders and sturdy running shining steel rails. In Vancouver steel rails much more convenient than catching the boards on each side (a definite advantage were for streetcars or the interurban; Oak Street streetcar while carrying his for a young couple with three small chil roads had different finishes, some were black metal lunch box, riding over the dren!) The spoked wheels had narrow blacktopped, macadamized or hard- Cambie Bridge to Beatty Street then rubber tires. It even had a toolbox on one topped with cement. Outlying streets walking down to the C.ER. roundhouse side. The canvas roofwas retractable with were often just dirt or gravel roadways. on Drake Street. There he would change a limited vision oval into his engineer’s overalls, jacket and rear porthole. There cap, report ON Duty and then go were also canvas side through the routine check preparing his curtains which could locomotive for whatever shift he had easily be attached in been called for an hour earlier. When he case of inclement returned to the complex he would change weather. The into his street clothes and then, carrying windshield had two his now empty lunch bucket, would horizontal glass panes catch the Oak Street streetcar home. which could be tilted He could drive a car from home to the independently. To roundhouse, leave it safely while he start the motor Dad worked, then “Book out” and drive the would insert the key in car home. An added incentive to his de the ignition and put cision was the presence of a fairly large the crank in position. two-storey frame building in the south Mother would turn west corner ofthe backyard. It had served the key and Dad the previous owner as a carriage house would turn the crank and barn with hay storage in the loft. with a forceful jerk to Besides the ordinary door to the start the motor. (He backyard, there was a large sliding door had considerable which gave access to the back lane. It strength in his arms would make a very suitable garage for his from handling his en car. gines.) Mother at the wheelofafreshlypolished car driving on the left side ofthe roatL The autbo Audrey aged 3 is in the white bonnet with her sister Jessie (9) After much discussion with fellow Dad had to practise beside ber Note the coarse grass on the boulevard and theforest oftelephone workers and visits to several dealers, he driving the smaller poles behind the ca, Photo courtesy of Audrey Ward

3 B.C. Historical News - Winter 19978 Dad persisted and gradually became ac customed to sharing the roads with other automobiles, trucks, horse-drawn vehi cles such as bread and milk deliveries, and freight drays drawn by heavy horses. He could cope with cross traffic, 90 degree

turns, STEEP hills — some paved with wooden bricks (Cambie Street from Broadway to Sixth Avenue), some paved with stones (Pender Street near the Sun Tower and the old City Hospital among others.) He even controlled his temper when passing “those gadfly bicycles and motorcycles!” The smartest thing he ever did was to teach Mother to drive. Traffic didn’t faze her. She attributed her ease ofadjustment to her girlhood years when she rode (side saddle) with groups ofexuberant friends on trails near Spences Bridge. All three accompanying illustrations show Mother in the car as Dad was the photographer. The last, with her at the wheel, shows that in 1919 cars were driven on the left side of the road. The British Columbia Government passed a law on July 1, 1919 that cars were to “Keep to the Right.” Vancouver City; however, had its own by laws and did not enforce that law until January 1, 1922. Dad was soon taking the family down

to Stanley Park for picnics - even driving all around the park, or out to New West minster to visit Uncle Jess who had three boys very close to our ages, or to Lulu Island for fresh vegetables from market gardens. Later we went to Burquitlam to pick wild berries in season. Red huckleberries, blackberries, and tall bush blue huckleberries were plentiful in the undeveloped bushland. Dad drove us out to Chilliwack to pick cherries for Mother to preserve in glass jars. The next year the Maxwell took us out to Abbotsford and south to Huntingdon where we crossed the friendly American Border to spend a day at the Sedro Woolley Fair. Another favorite destination in Dad’s first (and subsequent) car was the Vancouver Exhibition for an end-of-summer treat.

Audrey (Ades) Ward now lives in Penticton - she was a Public Health Nurse, then a School The Adesfamily in their Sunday best at Stonley Park 1919. Note the size ofthe stump!! Librarian in Nelson prior to retiring first to Photo courtesy of Audrey Ward Kamloops and later to Penticton.

4 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997/98 Family Portraits in Research by Carol Grant Powell

For the historian researching ing on her mother’s knee is pre childhood, family portrait pho sumed to be Lucy Bate Home tographs can be an invaluable (41/2). This paper will present a source of information. There micro-study of the childhood are, however, a number ofdiffi experienced by these five children culties inherent in the use of and their siblings between De these photographs as primary cember 1859 and August 1884. sources, not the least of which In addition, this paper will briefly is their ability to enthrall. The examine the impact of the 1887 researcher must consistently re Nanaimo mine disaster on the sist the temptation to make er seven Benton children, the roneous assumptions about the youngest of whom will be intro identity of, and relationships duced later. Throughout, the between, the subjects of a par experiences of both the Home ticular photo. Being human, and Benton children will serve to “(W)e tend to accept, even underscore the challenges and though we know better, the al rewards of utilizing family por bum as an accurate reflection of trait photographs as primary family life.” Yet any posed por sources when researching the his trait is at best an artificially con tory of childhood. structed family scene. No single Accurately dating a photo image can provide us with the graph is often the first hurdle character of people’s relation which must be overcome. A great ships with each other, (or) the deal of this paper’s corroborative quality of their interactions.”2 evidence was gathered while at Nevertheless, the rewards are tempting to definitively date the great for any researcher willing Home family portrait. Since the to thoroughly cross-link family Ann Elizabeth Benton andfamily, Nanaimo 188Z exact date ofa sitting is frequently portrait photographs to more Photo courtesy of Nanaimo Museum 2-272 unknown, the researcher must traditional primary documents, such as employee,5 owner proprietor of A.G. carefully deduce the most probable date newspaper articles and government Home & Son dry goods store in for any photograph under study. As pre records. Nanaimo,6 and ‘discoverer’ of Home viously stated, the youngest child in the In order to investigate the external ex Lake.7 Seated on the right is his wife, Home family portrait is reportedly Lucy perience of childhood in mid-nine Elizabeth Bate Home, sister to Nanaimo’s Bate. This photograph must therefore teenth-century Nanaimo, this paper will first mayor Mark Bate.8 Following their predate her death on February 4, 1880.15 briefly examine the Benton family por return to Nanaimo from Comox in late It was possible to obtain such a portrait trait,3 yet will focus primarily upon the 1878, the Home family resided at 149 between October 25 and December 12, Home family portrait. It was during the Wallace Street.’° Known locally as the 1879, when S.A. Spencer of Victoria annual “members’ night” ofthe Nanaimo ‘Freeman House,” this home was origi operated a photographic studio on Bas Historical Society that Mrs. Mildred nally built byA.G. Home, and currently tion Street in Nanaimo.’6 For simplici Simpson, a Home family descendant, houses three local businesses.12 ty’s sake, therefore, a probable date of first revealed her ownership and knowl Also present in this photograph are five December 1879 was chosen for the edge of this photograph.4 One cannot of the Home children.’3 Anne Elizabeth Home family portrait. Thus, the ages help but be immediately fascinated by (18) is seen standing between her par previously given for the Home children the seven somber faces staring out from ents, and to the far left is Sarah Maria are the ages they would have attained in this family portrait. As it emerged, the (13).’ The taller of the two boys is December 1879. man seated on the left is Adam Grant Herbert (101/2), and the shorter is When commencing the analysis of Home, former Hudson’s Bay Company Thomas (9 1/2). Finally, the child reclin family portrait photographs, it is impera

5 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997)98 tive that assumptions regarding familial whose death predated the photograph, 3, 1887 in the explosion and subsequent relationships be set aside. Personal expe was not present.23 A headstone located fire at the Vancouver Coal Company’s rience has shown that, particularly when in the Nanaimo Cemetery confirmed Nanaimo mine.26 perusing a number of photos, the ten that Lucy Amelia Home, born January The May 7th issue of the Nanaimo dency is to assume that any adult male 15, 1865 died one week short ofher sec Free Press stated that Edwin Benton sen and female shown together are married. ond birthday on January 8, 1867.24 Her ior was survived by his ‘wife and 6 chil In the case of Adam and Elizabeth death explains the obvious gap between dren.’27 Young Edwin was therefore born Home, an entry in the family bible con Anne and Sarah. In this pre-birth con sometime after his father’s death, and is firmed that they were indeed married in trol era, women could expect to space seen here accompanied by his mother, Nanaimo on February 22, 1859) In their children two years apart at best. Ann Elizabeth Benton, and his six sib addition, the portrait under scrutiny was Thus, children included in family por lings. Thus, the Benton family portrait compared to an earlier, well publicized traits often resemble ‘stair steps.’ Any reveals another common, nineteenth- and documented photo of the couple in obvious gap in the progression of off century childhood experience: death of order to confirm that this was indeed Mr. spring should therefore prompt the re a parent. Clearly, there are many layers and Mrs. A.G. Horne.8 Once the iden searcher to delve beneath the ofinformation that can be garnered from tity ofone or more key subjects in a fam photograph’s surface layer. a single portrait. More than a simple il ily portrait has been established, the The positioning of family members lustration, a photograph is a historical historian can methodically proceed with within a photograph can also motivate document, and as such “it is meant to be the identification of any accompanying the researcher to look beyond the obvi read, all ten thousand words of it, with person(s). Taking caution one step fur ous. Take the Benton family portrait for at least the same care and attention to ther, one cannot assume that the chil example.25 This particular photo com detail as a letter, a diary, a manuscript or dren in a given photograph are the mands attention for three reasons. First, a book - line by line and word by word.”28 offspring of any adults in the same pic the adult female is standing, an uncom As the Benton and Home family por ture. Once again, the Home family Bi mon pose for women of this era. Sec traits exemplify, the story behind miss ble was utilized to confirm the name and ondly, there is no accompanying adult ing family members often reveals as much age of each of the five Home children male. Thirdly, the youngest child is not as, if not more than, those who are represented in this family portrait.’9 only central, but is seated alone rather present. Finally, one cannot assume that all of than upon his mother’s knee. This was Finally, as with written historical the family members were present for the undoubtedly a very important baby! As sources, the researcher must consider mo sitting. For example, Mrs. Simpson be research revealed, Edwin Benton was tivation. In the case of photographs, lieves that two older boys were missing named for his father, one of one hun there are two motivations to be consid from the Home family portrait.2° The dred and forty-eight men who died May ered: the photographer’s and his subject’s. family Bible reveals, One can easily con however, that the clude that S.A. Spen Homes had only cer was financially one older son. Born motivated. A visiting in Nanaimo on De itinerant photographer cember 9, 1859, from Victoria, he had Adam Henry temporarily “taken the Home would have Photographic Gallery been twenty years of on Bastion Street age in December (sic).”29 His advertise 1879. He was liv ments ran between ing independ October 25th and De ently,2’ and would cember 13th, 1879, marry Emily and stated that “[fjor Cooper within a Short Time” he eighteen months.22 would “take Pictures in It is therefore plau the First Style of Art sible that work pre (sic).”3° Perhaps he vented his inclusion was here to provide in this photo. Mrs. Nanaimo’s citizens Simpson also re with the opportunity The Adam Grant Homefamily ofNanaimo. vealed that a girl, Photo Courtesy of Mildred Simpson. to commemorate

6 B.C. Historical News - Winter 199W8 Christmas by having a family photograph 8, 1874, and David William, born March by combining birth records with a fami taken. 13, 1878 were both inexplicably absent ly’s residency record, the historian can Why then did the Home family choose from the family portrait taken circa 1879. reconstruct a revealing external frame to be photographed? Fortunately, the After David, Elizabeth Home went on to work within which children lived out sobering motivation for this portrait is have two more sons: George Grant in their childhoods. part of the family’s oral history3’ The January 1881 and Lindley Dallas in Finally, while the Home children’s expe grave illness of the child on Elizabeth March 1885.36 Thus, the children in rience of family and relocation were not Home’s knee prompted the taking of this both families grew up under the guid unusual, their photographic experience portrait. As previously stated, Mrs. ance of their biological parent(s), and was distinctive. In late nineteenth-cen Simpson believes this child to be Lucy surrounded by siblings of a wide age tury Nanaimo, only children above a Bate, who died February 4, 1880 at the range. certain socio-economic level could ex age of four years, four months. On Feb Yet as only eight of the eleven Home pect to have their photograph taken at ruary 7, she was buried in Nanaimo children survived childhood, these same some point during their childhood. That Cemetery beside her sister Lucy Amelia. children also experienced the loss of a this photo exists at all illustrates that the Lucy Bate’s death certificate reports that sibling. Births and deaths are significant Home family had attained a certain level she had been “burned in [the] fire place occasions in any family, yet one can only ofaffluence. There are few photographs (sic).”32 Perhaps her burns account for imagine the roller-coaster of emotions of miner’s families, such as the Bentons, the shawl-like garment that shrouds her experienced by Anne and Adam (aged in the Nanaimo Museum collection. as she rests against her mother. In any five and eight respectively) when nearly However, Nanaimo’s leading families are case, the somber expressions of the fam two-year-old LucyAmelia died only seven well represented by individual and group ily become immeasurably more poign days after the birth of their newest sister photographs taken to commemorate such ant in light of this information. Sarah.37 Thirteen years later, Lucy Bate significant occasions as births, marriages, Having gone out in all directions from would succumb to burns suffered from a and anniversaries. Each portrait necessi these photographs, and having gathered fall into the fireplace.38 Finally, David tated the careful consideration and ac as much corroborative information as would die of diphtheria on August 13, quisition of appropriate clothing, the possible, what is the next step in the 1884 at the age ofsixyears, five months.39 arrangement of a convenient time, and analysis? In Visual Anthropology: Pho Together, the deaths of these three chil the purchase of the finished product. tographs as a Research Method, au dren exemplify the perilousness of nine Thus, sitting for a formal portrait was thors Malcolm and John Jr. Collier sug teenth-century childhood, the reality of (and still is) a serious occasion that re gest a return to the original photo(s), the which the surviving Home children were quired a significant organizational and purpose of which “is to rise above the acutely aware. As the announcement of financial investment, well beyond the minutiae of detailed data that obscure David’s death noted, his funeral would means of the average family. the discoveries that can lead to conclu “take place from his parents’ residence.”4° In conclusion, how valuable are family sions.”33 At this point in the research Thus, the Home children also experi portrait photographs to the historian? process, the photographs “are no longer enced the elaborate social rituals sur The historian of childhood has a variety strangers which you seek to know but rounding death and mourning. of alternate sources at her/his disposal. friends whom you understand in depth.”34 Throughout their childhood, the older For example, a discussion ofcurrent ide Only at this point can one begin to draw Home children also experienced reloca ologies of childhood can be found in conclusions about the nature of child tion. As an agent for the Hudson’s Bay child-rearing advice literature. Aggre hood. Company, their father was subject to gate statistics compiled from birth and For the Benton and Home children, the transfer. Initially, the family lived in mortality rates, school attendance records, most obvious childhood experience was Nanaimo, where Adam and Anne were and the census quantify the existence of that of family. Even without knowing born. Having received a new posting, children, but provide no insights at the exact birth dates, it is easy to see that however, Adam Grant Home moved his personal level. Adults in positions of additions to both families arrived fairly young family to Fort Simpson in 1864. authority, such as parents, educators, regularly! In 1871, a Canadian woman It is here that Lucy Amelia and Sarah health care professionals, and the clergy, could expect to have 6.8 children.35 Here, were born. Less than three years later, the provide anecdotal evidence regarding the we see the reality ofthese statistics. As the growing family would move to Comox, situational experiences of groups of chil family portrait reveals, Ann Elizabeth where they operated a company store for dren within their area of responsibility. Benton already had seven closely-spaced ten years. In late 1878, the family would Finally, there are adult recollections of children in late 1887. Elizabeth Home, finally return to Nanaimo.4’ While the childhood, the primary source which is however would give birth to a total of Home’s eldest son, Adam, already lived preferred by Canada’s foremost historian eleven children over the course oftwenty- independently in Nanaimo, their two of childhood, Neil Sutherland.42 Yet all six years. Emily Maude, born February youngest sons were yet to be born! Thus, of these potential sources have one thing

7 B.C. Historical News - Winter 19978 Press, 1986. in common: they are generated by adults. Interview with author, February 13, 1997. My sincere Hiner, N. Ray. “Seen But Not Heard: Children in American thanks to Shirley for her assistance in retrieving archival Photographs.” Small Woridu Children & Adolescents Photographs, however, provide the his materials, for her timely research suggestions, and for in Anserica, 1850-1950. Elliott West and Paula Petrik, providing a congenial place in which to work while the torian with a unique Opportunity to see eds. Lawrence: University Press of Kansas, 1992. Museum was undergoing renovations! 165-202. children they were, even if it is their as 12. Field survey, February 13, 1997. Petets, Marsha and Bernard Mergen. “Doing the Rest:” The ‘Sunday best’ and posed situations. Pho 13. Mildred Simpson. Interview with author, January 9, Uses of Photographs in American Studies.” American tographs enable the researcher to literally 1997. Quarterly 39 (1977). 280-303. 14. Sarah Maria was the maternal grandmother of Mrs. Sontag, Susan. On Photography. New York: Farrar, Straus ‘put a face’ on history. In the absence of Mildred Simpson. and Giroux, 1973. writing b children, it is often the only 15. Nanaimo Cemetery, January 31, 1997. Trachtenberg, Alan. Reading American Photographas Images as History, Mathew Brady to Walker Evans. 16. Nanaimo Free Press, December 13, 1879. evidence we have of them as children. New York: Hill and Wang, 1989. But as Susan Sontag cautions, “[a] pho 17. Owen, unnumbered page. 18. E. Blanch Norcross, ed., Nanaimo Retrospective: The tograph is only a fragment, and with the First Century, (Nanaimo Historical Society, 1979) 26b. SOURCES - CANADIAN passage of time its moorings come un 19. Owen, unnumbered page. Bishop, Mary F. “Vivian Dowding: Birth Control Activist stuck. It drifts away into a soft abstract 20. Mildred Simpson. Interview with author, January 9, 1892.” Not Just Pin Money. Victoria: Camosun College, pastness, open to any kind of reading (or 1997. 1984. 327-335. 21. Owen, 4. other photographs).”43 For Davidson, J. Robert. “Turning a Blind Eye.” Special Edition matching to 22. Nanaimo FreePress, May21, 1881. of BC Studies, No. 52, (Winter 1981-82). 16-38. this very reason it is incumbent upon the 23. Mildred Simpson. Interview with author, January 9, Johnson, Patricia M. A Short History of Nanaimo. to apply accepted 1997. Nanaimo: City of Nanaimo British Columbia Centennial researcher Committee, 1958. historiographical procedures to this as to 24. Field work, January 31, 1997. Thanks to Jack for his assistance in locating this gravesite. Norcross, E. Blanche, ed. Nanaimo Retrospective: The First Century. Nanaimo: Nanaimo Historical Society, 1979. any source. For the historian willing to 25. Nanaimo District Museum Photograph Collection, 12- portrait photographs can be 272. Owen, Olga Blanche. The Adam Grant Home Family. do so, family Royston, British Columbia, 1980. so much more than simply illustrative. 26. Provincial Archives, Film No. B 13084, Registration No. 1887-09-043681. Sutherland, Neil. “When You Listen to the Winds of They can provide the historians with a Childhood, How Much Can You Believe?” Curriculum 27. Nanaimo Free Press, May 7, 1887. Inquiry 22,3 (Fall 1993). 235-256. valuable starting point, a focal point, and 28. J. Robert Davison, “Turning a Blind Eye,” in BC a primary source when researching the Studies, Number 52, Winter 198 1-82, 16. history of childhood. 29. Nanaimo Free Press, October 25, 1879...... 30. Nanaimo Free Press, December 13, 1879. . . . . 31. Mildred Simpson. Interview with author, January 9, . . 1997. . . 32. Provincial Archives, Film No. B 13084, Registration No. 1880-09-0424 16. Unfortunately, no further details are . . available as the February 4th to 14th issues of the . Carol Grant Powell has returned to univer Nanaimo Free Press are missing from the Malaspina . “Any . sity studies now that her children are in schooL University-College microfilm records. . . She grew up in Ontario, married while infirst . 33. Collier, 205. . . year at W’ifred Laurier University and now 34. Ibid, 225. . Counhy lives in Nanaimo. This essay was u’ritten for 35. Mary F. Bishop, “Vivian Dowding: Birth Control Histos’y Professor Helen Brown. Activist 1892”, Not Just Pin Money, (Victoria: Camosun College, 1984) 327. worfhy of 36. Owen, unnumbered page. 37. Ibid. . . FOOTNOTES . . 38. Provincial Archives, Film No. B 13084, Registration No. . 1880-09-042416. • a fufure 1. Joan R. Challinor, etal., “Family Photo Interpretation” : in Kin and Communities, (Washington: Smithsonian 39. Provincial Archives, Film No. B 18084, Registration No. Institution Press, 1979) 262. 1884-09-042446. 2. John Collier Jr. and Malcolm Collier, Visual 40. Nanaimo Free Press, August 16, 1884. should be Anthropologr: Photography as a Research Method 41. Owen, 3-4. . (Albuquerque: U. of New Mexico Press, 1986) 83. . 42. Neil Sutherland, “When You Listen to the Winds of . 3. Daphne Paterson, member of Nanaimo Community Childhood, How Much Can You Believe?,” Curriculum Archives Society. Interview with author, January 30, Inquiry 22,3 (Fall 1992) 236. inferesfed 1997. My sincere thanks to Daphne for her assistance in 43. Sontag, 71. retrieving this photograph. 4. Mildred Simpson. Interview with author, January 9, 1997. BIBLIOGRAPHY : in ifs past” of Nanaimo, . 5. Patricia M. Johnson, A Short History Interview with Shirley Bateman, Mildred Simpson and . . (Nanaimo: City of Nanaimo British Columbia Daphne Paterson . Centennial Committee, 1958) 14. .

6. Advertisement, Nanalino Free Press, June 24, 1885. SOURCES - AMERICAN 7. Nanaimo Free Press, August 14, 1886. : W. Kaye Lamb. : Challinor, Joan R., et.al. “Family Photo Interpretation.” Kin 8. Johnson, 28. and Communities. Allan J. Lichtman, and Joan R. . 9. Olga Blanche Owen, The Adam Grant Home Family, Challinor, eds. Washington: Smithsonian Institution . (Royston, British Columbia, 1980) 4. Press, 1979. 239-263. . . 10. Mildred Simpson. Interview with author, January 31, Collier, John Jr. and Malcolm Collier. Visual AnthropoIo . . 1997. Photography as a Research Method. Revised and . . Expanded Ed. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico 11. Shirley Bateman, Archives Assistant, Nanaimo Archives......

8 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997/98 The Family That Sailed a Million Miles by RonaldA. Ansell

In the history of steamboating in the B.C. Interior the Estabrooks name stands out both in years of service and in number of vessels on which the family members served. From 1892 to 1951, on the Arrow, Slocan, and Okanagan Lakes mostly, at least one and often two members of this outstanding family could be found on the vessels plying these waters. The story begins with George L. Estabrooks who was born in 1846 in New Brunswick, likely ofLoyalist stock. His career began on the St. John River in New Brunswick at age 15 and by age 25 he had qualified for his Master’s pa pers. He married and had a daughter, then his wife died. Remarried in 1877 he began another family. From 1871 to 1892 he worked in the Maritimes; but as time passed he became increasingly concerned about the loss of steamboat business to the railways. Finally, in 1892, he closed his home, sent his wife and children to stay with relatives, and set off by train to the West Coast where, it was said, the shipping season was twice as long and the wages twice as large as in the Maritimes. In those days, going by train across Canada meant travelling on the Cana dian Pacific Railway. This brought him to the Columbia, whose lakes and rivers he would sail for the rest of his career. The story of his “recruitment” is best told in the words of his son, Otto, as re Captain Estabrooks in the wheelbowe ofthe S.S. MINTO in 1951. ported by E.L. Affleck in his book Photo courtesy of Milton Parent, Nakusp. Sternwheelers, Sandbars and Switch- backs. anyone with a mate’s ticket on board. ber, 1892 when low water in the Colum “A representative of the Columbia and Once having admitted that he did indeed bia River tied up the boats for the sea Kootenay Steam Navigation Company, nold a master’s ticket, my father found n”1 which operated a fleet of sternwheelers himself hustled off the train, bag and Meanwhile, on Slocan Lake, the mines from Reveistoke down the Arrow Lakes baggage, on to a C.K.S.N. sternwheeler to the east of the new settlements soon and Columbia River to Northport Wash which was languishing at the Reveistoke to be known as New Denver and ington mounted the train at Revelstoke smelter wharf awaiting a crew to get Silverton had attracted a large number and strode down the aisles of the passen underway downstream. My father re of people to the area. Miners needed ger coaches calling out to see if there was mained with the C.K.S.N. until Novem supplies and clothing, and everyone

9 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997/98 Enter William to New Denver in 1893 to take up his

• . Hunter, who de duties. The population of the infant veistoke

cided, with part town was then increased by five - George, ,eS1Can,ous ners J. Fred his wife Sarah and children - Otto, then ‘-4/ Hume and Bill aged four, of whom we are to hear more McKinnon to later, Richard and Willa. ‘P start a store and From 1893 to 1897 George continued Okanaga/ \ak°°P Landin M a settlement at as captain of the Wm. Hunter, an occu ? ii MON ASHEE MOUNTAINS Lardea Four Mile pation which proved to be a busy one if ; If J U Rosebe’ Creek. The not always one with a regular pay cheque. DenVer urtor )ew store was such a His boat was a regular caller at New Kasl°1l ALHALLA /f RANGE 1ocan Cit success that Denver and the newly established Slocan Hunter quickly City at the lower end of the lake. She saw the need for was often at the upper end also where )Ienticton Nelson an increased she served the Hills Brothers’ sawmill and ofrObSOS KootenaY.\ nasng,iCuskanook supply and car the settlement at the mouth of Bonanza LAKES WHERE CAPTAIN ESTABROOKS SAILED AND THE EARLY RAIL LINES CONNECTING rying capacity. Creek. The mines behind her home port THOSE LAKES Why not, he of Silverton had proved very rich and reasoned, build business was flourishing for her owners. a BOAT? A The one problem appeared to be the boat that could sometimes shortage ofavailable cash due carry ore from to the remoteness of the area and the fre the mines, either quent fluctuation of the price of silver. up Slocan Lake However, by 1897 the trade in the Slocan to a point where was so prosperous that the C.PR. had it could be car decided to buy up all the available ship ried overland, or ping in the area in order to control the down Slocan traffic routes. TheWm. Hunter was pur Lake to the chased and was to run only one more year mouth of the under its present captain. Slocan River In 1898 the Kiondike Gold Rush where it could brought many changes, including a ca be stockpiled reer move for the Estabrooks family and later which took them out ofthe area. George shipped south. had joined the C.RR. and had contin On its return ued with theWm. Hunter as master, but trip a boat could she was soon to be laid up (taken out of carry to his set service). By 1898 the C.PR. had a seri tlement (and ous shortage of competent men because store) more of a vast increase in the service to the food, supplies goldfields. George was posted, in Octo etc. from the ber, 1898 to Okanagan Landing to be world beyond the master ofthe sternwheeler Aberdeen. Captain George Estabrooks the Silvery He remained in the Okanagan for the Slocan, shipped rest of his service and retired in Penticton needed food. The easiest way to get these from his partner’s business in Nelson. in 1915. things in 1892 was from Nelson, by Thus were created the plans for the George Estabrooks’ contribution to the poling a small boat up the Slocan River small twin screw steamboat to be called Slocan region was considerable. As mas and then rowing the boat down the lake the SS William Hunter. She was built ter of the first and, for a few years only, to the area around Carpenter Creek in 1892 on the beach near the store means of water transport to the Slocan where it was unloaded. This route, while whose nearby settlement was to take the area he helped provide a dependable way both difficult and time consuming, was name New Denver. to get supplies in and the produce of the better than overland pack train from George Estabrooks was approached to area out. While he didn’t own the Wm. Kaslo or the new settlement of Nakusp. be her captain and he moved his family Hunter Estabrooks did guide her with

10 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997198 considerable skili and efficiency to her many shoreline rendezvous with the mine owners, homesteaders and packers who needed her services. But his boat was equally at home moored to the landings at the head of pack trails and rail lines. Because he was a reliable carrier he had considerable effect on the importance and early growth of the communities along the shore of Slocan Lake. As a de pendable link in the chain of supply to the area he helped stimulate the need for the two C.R rail lines which were subse quently built into the area from the north and south. He also indirectly added much business to the fledgling port of Nakusp. S.S. Wm. HUNTER at Slocan City - 1895. In 1898, when the Estabrooks family Photo courtesy of the Silverton Museum. left New Denver for the Okanagan, it is have someone on board to make sure tiers of the area the boats were more than unlikely that any ever planned to return. there were no leaks and to do routine just a source of transport. Their pursers’ Young Otto, who was then nine years old maintenance tasks. Otto Estabrooks, offices acted as banks in some ways, and had been living in the town since the age having grown up around steamboats was the boats also served as travelling post of four. He had begun school there and an ideal choice. For the next few years offices, restaurants and even unofficial had friends among the children of the he was to combine school attendance links in the local “grapevine”. In the miners, merchants and others who were with short periods on board the York at winter, when the Rossland was laid up flocking into the bustling town with their what was to become his lifetime career. for her annual refit and servicing her families. Travelling to their father’s new In this he seems not unlike many teens place would be taken by the shallower posting must have been an interesting today who combine school with summer draft Minto. experience when compared to their first jobs and part time work. Otto returned to Okanagan Lake each trip into Slocan area some five years be In March, 1909 at age twenty Otto winter for work on various boats there, fore. passed the exam for his mate’s certificate with occasional stints back on the Arrow Their route took them on the Nakusp which meant he qualified for permanent Lakes on either the Minto or the tug & Slocan Railway from New Denver to employment on the C.PR. boats. He had Whatshan. July of 1914 saw him back the port of Nakusp where they boarded been working part time as a deckhand on the Rossland, then he was returned a sternwheeler for Arrowhead. There and watchman on both the Aberdeen to the Okanagan where he was privileged they made connections with the train to (his father’s boat) and the York As a to serve, first as mate on the Naramata’s take them to Revelstoke and the C.PR. mate, but with low seniority, he had to inaugural run, then to help his father main line. A short ride west on the train take the less desirable postings for a while. close out his distinguished career on the took them to Sicamous and the Shuswap He served as relieving mate on the Ab Sicamous. Upon the retirement of and Okanagan rail line to their new home erdeen for three months then was posted George L. Estabrooks early in 1915 Otto at Okanagan Landing, near Vernon. to Kootenay Lake, first to the Nelson returned once more to the Arrow Lakes, George Estabrooks began his appoint then to the Moyie, then returned to the this time as mate on the Minto. In May, ment as master of the sternwheeler Ab Okanagan area for the next year or so. as was usual in those times, he transferred erdeen on the tn-weekly express run In June of 1911 Otto Estabrooks re to the Rossland for the summer season. down Okanagan Lake to Penticton and turned to the Arrow Lakes for the first But in the Fall, instead of going back to the family settled into their surroundings. time since leaving the area as a child. This the Okanagan he volunteered for active Young Otto started school again, made time he was to be the mate on the service in World War I, and was not to friends and began to enjoy life in the new Rossland and he would spend the next return until April, 1919. place. summer also on the Rossland as she Kootenay Lake once again, and the Five years later, at age fourteen, Otto made her scheduled runs between sternwheeier Kokanee was to be Otto’s was to begin his career on the C.RR. Robson West, on the Columbia River, next command as they relieved the steamboats as a relief watchman on the and Arrowhead on upper Arrow Lake. Moyie for the next three months. Then steamer York When a boat was laid up At this time traffic was so heavy that the it was to the Bonnington for the sum for any length of time it was necessary to Bonnington was also used. To the set- mer and (mostly) the Minto for the win-

11 B.C. Historical News Winter 1997/98 tween Slocan City and Roseber It was an ideal position in which to spend the ,J. :L last few years before retirement; but it was not to be. By 1947 the number ofvessels still op erating on the Arrow Lakes was much less than before . -IS_I and, as business de •1 I .- creased, so did the number of trips. The Minto had become the summer boat; but in the winter remained in the upper lake. Business on the lower lake had been han

dled by boats such as the Columbia - a small passenger tug that could handle the reduced winter volume. Then the Co a lumbia was retired and the replacement vessel proved inadequate. The decision was made the Minto £S. YORK d’ S.S. ABERDEEN to try on a full run Photo courtesy of the Kelowna Museum. during the low water period. In order to ter of 1919-1920. However, in the spring serve out her last days towing barges till navigate such a large vessel through the of 1920 he was to be given his first ma 1931. narrows between Upper and Lower Ar jor long term appointment, as master of Captain Estabrooks, as he was known row Lakes a master with extraordinary the venerable York - the boat on which by then, remained in the Okanagan af skills was required. Accordingly, in 1947, he had first acted as watchman back ter 1931 as master of the Naramata. He Otto was appointed as master of the when he was only fourteen. Under the had married in 1924 and lived in Minto - a position he held until 1951 careful guidance of her new master the Penticton with his wife and two children. when he retired at age sixty-two. York was taken down the Okanagan In 1941 aWorid War had once again Ofhis years on the Arrow Lakes, Cap

River to Skaha Lake where she was to caused a shortage ofskilled sailors for the tain Estabrooks has stated,”. . . years have vessels of the Canadian passed since I have felt the throbbing of Pacific and Otto the Minto’s pitmans under my feet, but S.S. SICAMOUS Estabrooks was posted in my mind’s eye I see her yet, and also as master of the Co the shoreline of the Arrow Lakes, con lumbia on lower Ar stantly changing with the rise and fall of row Lake. As a captain, the water level. Who can forget the ever with thirty-two years of changing colour of the water on Lower service he likely could Arrow Lake as the shadows deepen in the have opted to remain in long summer twilight, or the chill light his more comfortable of a winter sunrise illuminating the surrounding in the snowy peak of Mount Thor? What Okanagan with his steamboat man, having read the water family. It speaks well of in the Columbia River channel above or his character and dedi below Revelstoke,. in the narrows between cation that he chose in the Arrow Lakes or in the West Arm of stead to uproot himself Kootenay Lake can ever forget the les once again to return to sons learned. A thousand and one do’s the area he knew so and don’ts make up the lore of successful well. navigation. A hundred and one memo It S.S. NARAMATA q . - In 1943 he was ap ries linger of the happy times and rough pointed master of the times working with members of C.RR. new tug Rosebery II crews.”2 on Slocan Lake. The Both these vesseli were built in 1914. Captain George Estabreoks next four years were FOOTNOTES sailed the SICAMOUS on her maiden voyage andfor severalyears thereaftei These two are spent, on the lake of his 1. Sternwheelers and Sandbars and Switchbacks, Affleck, now beached at Penticton as heritage sites. early youth, towing E.A., Nichols, c 1973, p. 105 Pictures courtesy of the Artist Randy Manuel. barges of rail cars be- 2. Ibid, p. 119.

12 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997198 Donald Waterfield— Author, Patriot, Prophet by RonaldA. Ansell

There is a saying, “a prophet is not accept the fact that the father he had last without honour save in his own land.” seen going off to war some three years This, if true, may explain why there are before would never be returning. no statues or plaques to honour Donald Fortunately for Donald there were oth Waterfield in any communities along the ers to whom he was able to turn for guid

Arrow Lakes. For this former resident ance and advice in his growing years — of Nakusp was truly a prophet with a his mother, Elspeth and his uncle, Cap clear idea of what would be involved in tain Clifton Carver. the flooding of the Arrow Lakes and Co— Nonetheless it is obvious that Donald lumbia Valley. He had stated, early in profited from his misfortune, that he the 1960’s that water would become an became a more decisive, better organized increasingly precious commodity - a re and analytical person with a strong sense source not to be wasted or too lightly of what he felt was just and right and a bargained away. He recognized the nega sympathy for those less fortunate. tive effects of the Columbia Treaty and Donald Waterfield’s teenage years were tried to persuade the governments of the marked by at least two major events. One day to cancel or amend the terms which was the accidental drowning of a relative he felt were not in Canada’s or the West Donald Waterfield (Bookjacketphoto). which once again visited the spectre of Kootenays’ best interests. The correct pleasant afternoons could sometimes be unexpected sudden death. Seventeen ness of his stand, while still in some dis spent in the company of fellow would- year old Donald was to act as a pall bearer pute, has become increasingly apparent. be orchardists and relatives at their at the funeral. Another unfortunate ac Donald Waterfield first came to the homes, also named, and but a short walk cident occurred when a team of horses area with his parents as a child of four. away— albeit an often muddy and strenu bolted and severely injured Donald’s leg. His father was from a distinguished Eng ous walk on narrow trails through the This resulted in a painful injury which lish family and had previously served as seemingly endless forest. led to surgery; eventual amputation ofthe secretary to the Governor General of Young Donald spent the next five years leg and what could have been a severe New Zealand. In 1912 the decision was with his family in this setting until there disability; Instead, his life took a new made to join the influx of English set occurred what he was later to describe as turn. Donald found a wife. tlers coming to Canada. The fither came the worst day of his life. Freda Brown was the daughter of to Nakusp, on Upper Arrow Lake, pur War had been declared by Britain in neighbours down by the lake and she and chased land in the Crescent Bay area and 1914 and this had meant that Canada Donald had many things in common. planted twenty acres ofapple trees which, was automatically at war also. Horace Both their families had come from Eng according to the popular wisdom and Waterfield, Donald’s father, along with land and were growing fruit on land in advertising of the day, would soon assure many others from the area, had joined the Crescent Bay Orchards. They shared their fortune. Then he began the build the army in 1915 to form the famous a common dislike for war and its hor ing of their house which he named “the Fighting 54th Kootenay Battalion, and rors, and a common liking ofgood books Assart,” and when it was complete, sent had gone to France to fight in World War and art as well as an appreciation of the for the family. Donald, his mother and I. Then, in 1917 came word that he had natural scenery and life in the area. They his two sisters soon arrived and corn— been killed at Passchendaele. Donald’s had both been good athletes but at the menced life and hard work on their land mother was left a widow, with three time were both on crutches — Donald in the area of the Crescent Bay Orchards young children and an orchard to run because of his leg and Freda because of development some three miles (four-five that was just beginning to come into pro polio. From this beginning there devel km.) from Nakusp. While somewhat iso duction. oped a romance which led to their mar lated, they had as neighbours others of Suddenly, at age eight, Donald became riage in 1932. similar circumstance and breeding. Thus the ‘man of the house’ and was forced to The couple built their house down the

13 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997198 hill from the Assart and began raising a a belt of rich soils which were even in of the flow of the Fraser River into the family — eventually a son and a daugh those days relatively rare. It would for Columbia, to divert more ofthe Nechako ter. Donald invested considerable time ever alter the ecosystem by destroying the River into the Kemano Completion sys and money in developing the orchard; then existing riparian zone, thus chang tem, and to dam and reverse the flow of but found that fruit farming was not a ing the climate, animal and plant life. It some rivers of the Arctic watershed. profitable venture in competition with would destroy the beauty of the valley The flooding of the Arrow Lakes and the Okanagan growers. He then he had come to call his home. Many the creation of the Arrow Reservoir did switched to mixed farming. people would be seriously affected. The eliminate the farmland strip and the By 1961 the Waterfield holdings had treaty was not as good a deal for Canada many subsistence farms and small hold increased through the purchase of some as it was made out to be. Moreover, it ings, but at present there does not seem additional land over the years and was but a part of a master plan known as to be a shortage of agricultural products Donald had formed a partnership with the North American Water and Power on area store shelves. There is, however, his son, Nigel. However the signing of Alliance, which would utilize much of a shortage oflocally produced foods, and the Columbia Treaty and the flooding of the water resources of the entire conti as a result there is almost total depend the Arrow Lakes, if such was to occur, nent. The plan would provide water for ence on outside areas for supply. Most would not materially affect their living. the American Southwest; but result in cities need the produce from somewhere A small strip of lakefront would be lost; part in the flooding of most of B.C.’s else in order to eat. But the Arrow Val but this was not being farmed and there valleys including the Okanagan, Colum ley is not a city, and having lost the abil was a chance of a just settlement. bia and upper Fraser valleys and the ity to raise at least some of its own food Donald’s sister and brother-in-law, the Rocky Mountain Trench. It would di it has become dependent on the whims Spicers, stood to lose much of their very vert most of B.C.’s northward flowing and market trends of others. In tough productive vegetable farm; but again, rivers south, and see the creation of gi economic times some may also do with there was the chance ofgetting a fair price ant dams to generate electric power to out. for it. Donald was, at the time, presi pump south the flow of several more Once there were the small farms, each dent of the Nakusp Chamber of Com northerly rivers of the Pacific watershed with a few chickens, a cow or two and a merce. He formed a Water Resources — an idea so far-fetched as to seem ri large garden. The residents produced Committee and served as its chairman. diculous in the 1960’s.’ much of their own food. It was more a The committee got outside expert help Now it is almost the beginning of the way of life than a living. But it was also and tried to alert others in the area to twenty-first century, and now when we a means for independence. Donald the impending proposed changes. But examine the objections raised those many Waterfield foresaw the demise of these why? Why stand in the way ofprogress? years ago they seem to have new impor small holdings. We are now living with Why oppose the Columbia Treaty and tance. The electric power potential of the results. all its supposed benefits to the area and the Columbia, while still present, has That the physical appearance of the to the rest of Canada? And why go to seemingly decreased in value to the U.S. land would change is inevitable. The such lengths as to write not one book, power corporations. This has resulted land is ever changing and the beauty of but two, to travel literally thousands of in a reneging on some ofthe Treaty terms. today is soon replaced, hopefully by the miles to attend meetings, hearings and Thus, as predicted, the deal was not as beauty of tomorrow. Having never seen trials, to present briefs and explain a point financially beneficial as planned. Hav the Arrow Valley with its lakes, winding of view to officials who seemed to have ing lost the control of our water level to river joining, small farms and tiny settle already made a decision anyway? In the the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers we ments, the viewer of today may instead valley, many people saw the Columbia Canadians have lost some of the sover be struck by the magnificent mountain Treaty project as a chance to sell out and eignty over our own resources. No mat and lake scenery only somewhat dimin finally be able to leave. Others saw it as ter that area beaches can vary from year ished by the sight at low water. This is a chance to find work, and some seri to year in size from a few hundred feet in not Donald’s land any more. But it is ously resented the imposition of forced width to close to a kilometre. The level what he predicted. change. has become important or rather has re The answer to Donald Waterfield’s mained important, as Donald Waterfield opposition seems to lie in the mental and said it would. And our control was Ansell is a retired teacbe, latterly of Prince emotional makeup of the man. He felt a signed away. George, who now makes his home in Nakusp responsibility to explain the bad parts to The far fetched master plan that on the Arrow Lakes. his fellow citizens. No matter that he seemed so ridiculous in the 1960’s seems would personally not suffer a loss; he felt much more relevant and ominous today FOOTNOTE the Treaty was wrong. It would destroy when we hear of proposals to divert part 1. See Appendix A, Continental Water Boy, Waterfield, 0., Clarke, Irwin and Col, c 1970, p. 241.

14 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997198 The Ides ofMarch: The Rowell-Sirois Commission in Victoria by R4fSchemmann

Federal-provincial relations seem to tion.4 As Donald E. Blake puts it:”... a tour of hearings through the provinces have been a contentious issue in British Pattullo’s problem was mainly one oftim of Canada in November, where it ac Columbia since 1871 when the province ing.”5 cepted and publicly discussed briefs and joined Confederation. The materialistic But the briefs presented to the Rowell memoranda from the governments and attitude of the Province’s political elite Sirois Commission by several political, other public and private institutions. towards Canada at that time manifested economic and social interest groups of These submissions, but not necessarily itself in statements like J.S. Helmcken’s: B.C. and the newspaper accounts of the the submitting institutions’ intentions, “The people (of B.C.) must be better off hearings in Victoria show that Pattullo’s formed the basis for the Commission’s under Confederation than alone, or they and his government’s position was al report, which was presented to the Prime will not put up with it.”1 This attitude ready fairly isolated in 1938. The nu Minister of Canada on May 3, 1940. is often seen as running through the re merous submissions reveal a wide variety The federal government used the report lations between Victoria and Ottawa ofagendas and suggest not only that there to form an agenda for a federal-provin right through the present time.2 Issues was more general acceptance of the fed cial conference which was called for Janu like the federal government’s failure to eral government than one might suspect, ary of 1941. build the promised transcontinental rail but also that diverse interest groups tried The Rowell-Sirois Commission arrived way in time, the fight for “better terms” to use the federal connection to further in Victoria, B.C. on March 15, 1938, around the turn of the century, financial their agendas by opposing or circumvent duly heralded by the provincial newspa “justice”, freight rates and high develop ing the provincial government. pers,8 and began its hearing the follow ment costs in B.C. can be construed as Therefore a detailed look at the briefs ing day. For ten days, until March 25, expressions of a fundamentally material presented to the Royal Commission the Commission sat in British Colum istic attitude of the province towards its might be helpful to draw a differentiated bia’s capital and heard and debated a va position within the Canadian state. picture of the political attitudes in B.C. riety of submissions.9 It began with the The Royal Commission on Dominion- towards federalism. The following essay presentation of the provincial govern Provincial Relations, commonly known attempts to make a beginning by look ment’s brief by premier Pattullo and his as the Rowell-Sirois Commission, was es ing at some of these submissions and the chief counsel, SenatorJ.W. de B. Farris. tablished in 1937. Its hearing in Victo corresponding reports in the provincial During the next days submissions by ria in March 1938 and the following newspapers. other institutions and organizations fol federal-provincial conference of 1941 In February 1937 Prime Minister Mac lowed: the Municipalities of B.C., the highlight the tensions that existed and kenzie King announced the formation of City ofVancouver, the B.C. School Trus still exist between the two levels of gov the Royal Commission on Dominion- tees’ Association, the B.C. Chamber of ernment. In consequence of the sur Provincial Relations. It was supposed to Agriculture, the Greater Vancouver and rounding debate and the Commission’s examine the history of Canadian feder New Westminster Youth Council, the report and recommendations B.C.’s pre alism, report on the nature of federal- Provincial Council of Women, the Na mier T.D. Pattullo walked out of the provincial relations and recommend tive Sons of B.C., the Catholic Minority 1941 conference together with the pre policies and reforms to ensure the func ofB.C., the Vancouver Young Liberal As miers ofAlberta and Ontario.3 But while tioning ofthe system for the future. Due sociation, the CCF (B.C. section), the premier Richard McBride had used the to the financial situation at all levels of B.C. Library Association, the Primary same tactic in 1906 and had experienced government after the Great Depression, Products Publishing Company Ltd., The widespread acclaim for his actions in his its focus was not surprisingly largely eco B.C. Mainland Branch of the Canadian home province, Pattullo was heavily criti nomic in nature. Revenue sources, taxa Association of Social Workers, the Cor cized for his behavior. This lack of sup tion, public expenditure, debts and poration of the City of Revelstoke and port is often attributed to the fact that Dominion subsidies and grants to the the Langley Farmers’ Institute.10

Canada was at war at the time - and at a provinces were the main issues it was Although events in Europe, like the low point of that war - and that provin concerned with.6 Anschluss of Austria to Nazi Germany cialism was simply not looked upon The Commission was finally ap or the Spanish Civil War, occasionally kindly by the majority of the popula pointed on August 14, 1937 and began overshadowed local events, the provin

15 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997/98 cial, regional and local press took a lively and his provincialist position. and other social services on the one hand, interest in the proceedings at Victoria. This attitude is seen in an editorial of whilst on the other hand [l’2zncouverc] one B.C.’s Brief the Province as an indication for con important source ofrevenue, the tax on real The government of British Columbia flicting assumptions between the provin estate has continued to decline. ‘18 presented a carefully researched and pre cial government and the Rowell-Sirois To remedy the shortage of funds — es pared document of 366 pages to the Commission over the role of the latter. sentially caused by the effects ofthe Great

Rowell-Sirois Commission.1’ It con “The Rowell Commission frels that its Depression on the city — the brief sug tained a detailed account ofthe province’s job is topropose a new basisfbr Confrdera gested among other things that the pro economic and financial situation and tion. . . . [The Pattullo government] ex vincial and federal governments should generally presented the “traditional” pects the new basis ofConfrderation tu be pay taxes on their properties within mu grievances of British Columbia towards settled by bargaining between the Domin nicipalities and that all or a substantial the federal government: the “problem” ion and the provinces. part of payments for social services ofOriental immigration, the special con While these conflicting views might should be taken over by them.’9 dition of B.C. because of high costs of not have been there in reality; they cer The municipalities’ concerns illustrate government; economic disadvantages tainly were portrayed as existent in the the effects of the Depression on the caused by tariffs protecting the eastern press, explaining part of the criticism di economy and on the financial situation manufacturing industries and unfair rected by newspapers at the government. of all levels of government. With the freight rates, the situation of the Pacific Overall B.C.’s brief seems to reflect a increased social responsibilities expendi Great Eastern Railway; the inadequacy basically materialistic attitude of the pro tures rose substantially. Consequently of federal funding in B.C.; and the issue vincial government towards Confedera the different levels began to argue about of taxation powers. tion, because it focuses so strongly on who could and should carry the costs of In effect B.C.’s brief made a list of de economic and financial issues. On the services. The Province’s political carica mands of the federal government that other hand this impression comes as no ture illustrates the result: included the takeover of several social surprise, given the nature ofthe questions The only connection to the Rowell services by the Dominion — from unem addressed by the Royal Commission. Sirois Commission’s topic — Dominion- ployment relief and insurance to old age The debates do not seem to have been Provincial Relations — was the question pensions and mother’s allowances’2 — and very different in the other provinces,’6 of who would take up the financial re a substantial increase of taxation powers suggesting that this preoccupation was a sponsibility for social services eventually, and benefits for the province. The ulti result ofthe time frame and basic agenda a question that the Vancouver brief at mate goal was the financial autonomy of of the Commission and not a singular tempted to avoid. It tried to remain neu the province regarding its responsibilities. phenomenon of B.C. The individual tral towards either party and it certainly Pattullo expressed this aim in the intro problems addressed by the brief, like the was not completely on the side of the duction to the government brieE PGE or the freight rates, were “It should be the desire of the Province specific to B.C. though. and the Dominion that in thefinal analy The Municipalities 1iIC Problem CliUdrcn sis the Provinces shall be placed in a posi The financial situation was a

pr M a. - tion that they shall be able to function major issue not only to the pro A4 aPiOrilC I•Thç within the measure of their jurisdictions, vincial government of B.C. but .0jqç, 9.C without recourse to the Dominion govern also to the municipalities of the ‘ ‘\ mentfi.rfinancial assistance, other than in province. The Municipalities of \i\ -.. \ such measures as may be agreed upon.’13 British Columbia, the City of 1e’ It could be argued that these demands Vancouver, the Okanagan Mu - were unreasonable, because it would have nicipal Association and the Cor been extremely difficult, perhaps impos poration of the City of sible, for the federal government to fi Reveistoke presented briefs to nance the scheme. It should be noted the Rowell-Sirois Commission however that Pattullo approached the addressing this issue.17 The text Commission as a pro-federal institution, of the Vancouver submission which it probably was, , might have makes the central problem clear: seen these demands as a negotiable state the situation has become ment of the province’s position. In his more serious during the last five view the final recommendation of the or six years, by reason ofthe con Commission might have been a compro tinually increasing cost ofunem mise between the government’s centralist ployment relief hospitalization (The Province, March 18, 1938.)

16 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997/98 provincial government, as illustrated by The brief’s demands for commissions to generally argued for stronger federal pow the fact that it mentions the province’s examine “the rising costs of civil service” ers to increase Canadian unity,26 apart record revenue of 1937.20 and that “the present wasteful method from arguing their own agenda. For in Obviously the Rowell-Sirois Commis of administering unemployment should stance the Youth Council’s brief con sion presented an opportunity for the be stopped”23 were examples of the tained a vocal argument for greater municipalities to give their financial Boards’ of Trade distrustful attitude to centralization: grievances a public hearing in front of wards the growing state bureaucracy. “Canada has existed as a political entity an important body. The issue offederal- The Prince George Board ofTrade had for seventy-one years. It is high time that provincial relations took a back seat to the same goal of economic growth in she cast off the cloak of disunity and be their own problems. The nature of the mind, when it presented its brief to the came a nation infact as wellas in name.’27 problems put them somewhat at odds Commission, but due to Prince George’s At the same time the particular inter with both higher levels of government, different geographic and demographic ests of the groups were also strongly put since financial responsibilities were at situation, the proposed way to reach this forward, with the Youth Council advo stake and therefore it is no surprise that goal was different. Immigration cating a youth employment service,28 the

Pattullo was criticized from this side namely British immigration — was por Catholic Minority arguing for separate when the 1941 conference produced no trayed as the way to unlock Canada’s un schools29 and the School Trustees immediate results. tapped wealth of resources and to clamoring for the transference of school

Economic Interest - The Boards of encourage economic development.24 funding from the municipalities to the Trade Obviously the northern business men province.30 The most unusual proposition to the had the situation of their city in mind, ‘While the general nationalistic attitude Commission during the hearing in Vic which had suffered from the drastically of the late thirties may account for the toria came from the Associated Boards reduced immigration after World War I. national sentiment in the briefs of these of Trade of British Columbia, Speaking Again the Board’s agenda was only mar groups, there is another common thread for them and several other boards of ginally connected to the issue of federal- running through them. Most of them trade, Vancouver business man H. R. provincial relations. It used the hearing seemed to be committed in one way or MacMillan advocated a plebiscite to to voice its economic concerns before the another to social reforms. For example a abolish the provincial legislatures. Al federal and provincial governments. central issue on the agenda of the Pro though he was expressively supported on The Vancouver Junior Board ofTrade’s vincial Council of Women was the this topic by the Eastern Boards ofTrade briefsummed up the central demands of “elimination of differences in the stand of B.C., it seems highly questionable the business interests of British Colum ards ofliving, labor and social legislation whether this proposition was taken seri bia: an increase in centralization at the and cultural conditions in all parts of ously by a significant number of people. expense of the provincial government, Canada,”3’ and the Youth Council ad As the chairman of the Commission, regulation of public finances, federal re vocated a “greater measure of protection ChiefJustice Newton Rowell remarked, sponsibility for social services, increased for various minority groups, especially in some issues of the brief appeared “rather immigration and most importantly the the matter of discrimination which is impractical.”2’ balancing of budgets on all levels of gov practiced against those persons ofcertain But with or without this rather pre ernment.25 races now living in Canada.”32 sumptuous proposition, the combined Social Groups Significantly these groups placed their statement of the Boards ofTrade was an A variety ofinterest groups not directly trust for enacting measures of reform in other example of a particular interest ex linked to political or economic institu the federal, not the provincial govern pressed on the occasion of the Royal tions submitted briefs to the Rowell ment. The state was seen as an impor Commission’s hearing. Although super Sirois Commission. Organizations like tant vehicle for enacting social reforms, ficially advocating radical centralization the Greater Vancouver and New West but it was the federal level which got the at the expense of the provincial govern minster Youth Council, the Provincial benefit of this growing reliance on gov ment, the briefcontained in essence nine Council of Women, the Native Sons of ernment and bureaucracy. teenth century liberal ideas of less B.C. and the Catholic Minority of B.C. It might be argued that these organi government and “free” enterprise. It could be classified as social interest zations showed the greatest influence of stated that “. . . British Columbia is over groups, while the B.C. Branch of the the international situation and the taxed and overgoverned.”22 To encour Canadian Association of Social Workers strongest emphasis on national unity. age economic growth taxation was to be and the B.C. School Trustees’ Associa But still they did not simply argue for reduced by eliminating the double in tion represented even more particular centralized government, rather they put come tax paid to federal and provincial interests. forward their own agendas and con governments, and public expenditures of Nationalism seems to have been strong nected these with the issue offederal-pro the provinces were to be cut drastically. in the arguments of these groups. They vincial relations.

17 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997198 Political Groups - The Parties right to income taxation, which the gov Pattullo saw the Commission as an Only one party and one party organi ernment briefsaw basically lying with the adversarial representative of the federal zation presented briefs to the Royal Com province, belonged to the Dominion. government and that he wanted to bar mission, the socialist Co-operative They also argued for larger concentra gain over provincial-federal powers, while Commonwealth Federation (CCF) and tion of powers in Ottawa as opposed to they themselves saw the Commission as the Vancouver Young Liberal Associa Pattullo’s wished for more provincial au a neutral party with the objective to cre tion. The absence of statements from ton o my. ate a newly balanced federal system. It is the main party organizations of Liberals It is difficult to tell whether this atti hard to tell how far this perceived clash and Conservatives might be explained by tude of the party youth organization of assumptions was shared by the gen the conflict of interests between their came from a strong connection to the eral public, but it foreshadowed the gen provincial and federal levels, but that is federal party or out of municipal con eral negative reaction towards Pattullo’s hard to tell. cerns (since it was the Vancouver organi performance at the 1941 federal-provin The CCF brief argued strongly for a zation). It shows, however, that even cial conference. strengthened central government, includ within the Liberal party no complete The Conference ing complete federal sovereignty over consensus existed on the reorganization When the federal-provincial confer income tax, social legislation and mar of the Canadian federal system. ence based on the Rowell-Sirois report keting.33 This is hardly a surprise con Press Reactions was held in Ottawa in January of 1941, sidering that the CCF still based its Aside from local or special interest World War II was in its second year and policies on socialist theories, which gen newspapers, like the Prince George Citi prospects were grim for Britain and its erally favor centralized systems of gov zen and the Federationist, the main cov allies. The situation intensified the calls ernment over federal ones. Especially erage of the Victoria hearing appeared in for national unity, making demands for obvious was this theoretical background the Province, the Vancouver Sun, the more provincial autonomy seem anach in the brief’s statements on economic is Victoria Times and the Colonist. ronistic. sues: Generally Pattullo’s proposition to the Whether the failure ofthe Conference “Provincial economies should be control Rowell-Sirois Commission did not gen to produce results must be attributed to led to confirm to national economies. In erate a positive echo in the provincial the stubborn position of the three dis dustry cannot be separated intoproduction press. While radical positions like senting premiers Aberhart, Mitchell and units, interested in local, provincial, na MacMillan’s call for the abolition of the Pattullo38 or to the questionable agenda tional and export consumption. Large scale provincial legislature did not get a very of the Mackenzie King administration,39 and socialproduction necessitates national sympathetic press either— most pa control. pers mentioned Rowell’s classifica- r Additionally the socialist movement tion of the matter as “impractical” has traditionally held an international — a sense that national unity was

view, away from regional politics. necessary and that Pattullo threat - Et tu Brute Federal legislation was seen as a means ened this unity with his position to ensure minimum standards of social permeated all accounts of the pro kL[ services in the provinces: ceedings. I we suggest that thefrderalgovern The Province was the most vo 0 ment have power to establish minimum cal critic of Pattullo, exhibiting standards ofcodes, andprovinces have con strong sympathies for the members currentpowers to establish hzgher standards of the Commission as in the fol ‘ lowing description of the chair Clearly a reorganization of provincial- man: 1”• -. federal powers was seen as a chance to “ChiefJustice Newton Rowell is a 4M,4 .i:’ Ii achieve better social legislation. mild-mannered old gentleman, soft / ‘ ... More surprising than the position of ofvoice, beautzfidlyprecise ofdiction. -;.‘. F. the CCF was the fact that the Vancouver But his questionsfrom the head ta &f - youth organization of Pattullo’s own Lib ble ofhis royal commission here are - \ :-“ erals also presented a brief arguing for as sharp as rapier thrusts. ‘‘ more federal control.36 Although it But also the Sun and the Times -- agreed with the government brief on reported generally favorably on the many ofthe issues, it contended some of briefs arguing for national unity the central demands of Pattullo’s case. and more centralized government. The Young Liberals proposed that the The newspapers assumed that (The Province, Maich 26”, 1938.)

18 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997/98 is impossible to decide in the context of less government, perhaps because 12. Ibid., pp. 35 1-354. 13. B.C. in the Canadian Confederation, p. iii. this essay. But whatever the cause, the Pattullo had attempted to address the 14. Fisher, pp. 318-3 19. public response in B.C. to Pattullo’s walk problems ofthe Depression 15. The Province, March 26, 1938, p.?. by establish 16. Report of the Royal Commission on Dominion- out was overwhelmingly negative and ing a form of social capitalism in British Provincial Relations. Digest of briefs and reports (Ottawa 1938). certainly contributed to the Liberals’ loss Columbia — his “little new deal”.4’ 17. Digest ofbriefs and reports, ex. 181, 182, 203 and 215. of the absolute majority of seats in the Together all ofthese interests produced 18. Brief of the City of Vancouver, as printed in the Vancouver Sun, March 21, 1938, p. 2. elections ofthe same year and to Partullo’s the rift between the provincial govern 19. Brief of the City of Vancouver, as printed in the subsequent replacement by John Hart. ment’s view on the future of federal-pro Vancouver Sun, March 21, 1938, p.3. 20. Brief of the City of Vancouver, as quoted in the Conclusion vincial relations and the general tenor of Vancouver Sun, March 21, 1938, p.3. The B.C. government’s attitude to the non-government proposals. Pattullo 21. The Province, March 22, 1938, pp.’ ÷2; The Victoria Times, March 22, 1938, pp. 1÷2. wards the Rowell-Sirois Commission is seemed to be bereft of public support, 22. Brief of Associated Boards of Trade of B.C., as quoted in Victoria Times, March 22, 1938, p.2. generally seen as having been in keeping with traitors on all sides as the cartoon 23. Ibid., p.l. with the province’s history ofantagonism ist of the province illustrates: (page 18) 24. The Prince George Citizen, March 24, 1938, pp. 1+4. 25. The Vancouver Sun, March 24, 1938, p.? towards the Dominion government.40 Overall the Rowell-Sirois Commission 26. Digest of briefs and reports, cx. 183, 205, 206, 207, 208 The failure of Pattullo’s policy to pay off seems to have been a forum not only for and 214. 27. Brief of Greater Vancouver and New Westminster Youth in terms of public support or provincial provincialist or nationalist views of gov Council, as quoted in the Province, March 24, 1938, votes contrasts with the success of other ernment but also for a plethora ofhopes, p.9. 28. The Province, March 24, 1938, p. 7. “fed-bashing” premiers like Richard agendas and propositions put forward by 29. The Province, March 24, 1938, p. 9. 30. The Vancouver Sun, March 22, 1938, p. 2. McBride or WA.C. Bennett, but is eas an equally diverse group of institutions 31. Brief of the Provincial Council of Women, as quoted in ily explained by the critical international and organizations. Common to all par the Province, March 24, 1938, p. 7. situation and the resulting emphasis 32. Brief of Youth Council, as quoted in the Province, on ticipants was the expectation that the March 24, 1938, p. 7. national unity and on the importance of Royal Commission on Dominion-Pro 33. Digest of briefs and reports, cx 210. 34. Brief of the CCF (B.C. section), as resumed in the the federal government. There is cer vincial Relations, its report and the fol Federationise, March 17, 1938, p.3. tainly a lot of truth to this interpretation lowing conference would address their 35. Ibid. 36. Digest of briefand reports, cx. 209. of events surrounding the Rowell-Sirois concerns. The failure of the conference 37. The Province, March 18, 1938, p.? Commission and of the reactions to it, to deliver on these expectations and 38. Robin, pp. 45-47. 39. Fisher, pp. 245-249. but it seems possible to find other themes Pattullo’s apparent responsibility for this 40. See Ruff pp. 271-304; Blake, pp. 169-183 and Robin, and additional explanations. failure PP. 38-62. logically led to the hostility and 41. Fisher, pp. 245-249. One is the financial situation of the discontent that produced the immensely time. The Great Depression left a legacy negative reaction in his home province. BIBLIOGRAPHY of increased government responsibilities Donald E. Blake, “Managing the Periphery: British Columbia and National Political Community,” in R. and public debt. It is no surprise then Kenneth Catty and W Peter Ward National Raif Schemmann wrote this while be was an (eds.), that the Royal Commission and its hear Politics and Community in Canada (Vancouver 1986). exchange student at the University ofBritish Donald E. Blake, Two Political Worlds: Parties and Voting ing became a forum for the ensuing fight Columbia. His home is in Siegen, Germany. in British Columbia (Vancouver 1985). between the federal, provincial and mu British Columbia in the Canadian Confederation: A Submission Presented to the Royal Commission on nicipal levels of government over who FOOTNOTES Dominion-Provincial Relations by the Government of the Province of British Columbia (Victoria 1938). 1. J.S. Helmcken, during the 1870 Confederation debate. was responsible for the new burdens and WA. Mackintosh, The Economic 2. See Norman RufI “British Columbia and Canadian Background of J. Dominion-Provincial Relations. Appendix Ill who would pay for them. Obviously this Federalism”, in Terence Morley er.al. (eds.), Reins of of the J. Royal Commission Report on Dominion-Provincial Power (Vancouver 1983), pp. 271-304; Donald E. Blake, created opposition to the provincial gov Relations, edited and introduced “Managing the Periphery; British Columbia and National by J.H. Dales (Toronto 1964). ernment of Pattullo on the municipal Political Community,” in R. Kenneth Catty and W. Peter Robin Fisher, Duff Pattullo of British Columbia (Toronto Ward (eds.) National Politics and Community in level, which came to a peak with the fail 1991). Canada (Vancouver 1986), pp. 169-183 and Martin Report of the Royal Commisssion on Dominion- ure ofthe 1941 conference to address the Robin, Pillars of Profits The Company Province 1934- 1972 (Toronto 1973). Provincial Relations, Book III, Documentation (Ottawa issue. 1938). 3. Robin Fisher, Duff Patrullo of British Columbia Report of the Royal Commission on Dominion-Provincial At the same time many interest (Toronto 1991), pp. 330-333. groups Relations. Digest of briefs and reports (Ottawa 1938). 4. Rufl p.296; Blake, 172. p. Martin Robin, Pillars of Profit: The saw the expanding regulatory powers of 5. Blake, 172 Company Province p. 1934-1972 (Toronto 1973). 6. Donald V. Smiley, Introduction to The RowefllSirois the government as providing chances to The RowelliSirois Report, Book I, edited Donald Report, Book I, edited by Donald ‘v Smiley (Toronto by V Smiley (Toronto 1963). further their own agendas. Perhaps due 1963), p.2. Norman 7. Ibid., p.1. J. Ruff, “British Columbia and Canadian to the nationalistic mood ofthe time they Federalism”, in Terence Motley 8. The Vancouver Sun, the Province, the Victoria Times J. er al (eds,), Reins of Power (Vancouver 1983). turned largely to the federal government and the Colonist, all March 15, 1938. David Ricardo Williams, Mayor 9. Report of the Royal Commission on Dominion- Gerry: The Remarkable to make it the vehicle for Gerald Grattan McGeer (Vancouver 1986). their intentions. Provincial Relations, Book III, Documentation (Ottawa The Ironically business interests which re 1938), p.2l1. Daily Colonist 10. Ibid., pp.21l-l2. The Federationist The Prince George Citizen sented the growing taxation and regula 11. British Columbia in the Canadian Confederation: A The Vancouver Province Submission Presented to the Royal Commission on tory powers of government attacked the The Vancouver Sun Dominion-Provincial Relations by the Government of the The Victoria Daily limes provincial level in their quest to achieve Province of British Columbia (Victoria 1938).

19 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997)98 War in the Woods — Yesterday and Today by Dolly Sinclair Kennedy

donkey and an A- frame, they were lifted from the truck and skidded into the water. The logs were then sorted by a boom man, using a pike pole, and put into a flat boom to be towed away. When war broke out in Sep tember 1939, the logging industry became im mensely impor tant to the war effort. Spruce was needed in the manufacture of

Port MeNeiti Company Limited- 1940. The Company Boat the PITCO, Captain Lome Vereken; EdMcKierakan - teacheri Dolly Kennedy; warplanes, ship Kay Shelly; Mrs. Shelly Sit; and David Kennedy, age 4years. yards were work Port McNeill, Forest Capital of Brit Port McNeill. After the initial growing ing day and night, and it was said that ish Columbia, has grown from a small pains of 1937 and 1938, Pioneer settled 80% of Canada’s lumber production was logging camp — Pioneer Timber Com down to a production of 50 million feet geared to defence work. pany Limited — to a major logging cen per year, for the dura- tre on North Vancouver Island. No tionofthewar. longer inhibited by geographic isolation, In the 1930’s and Port McNeill can be reached by highway, early 40’s, logging was water, or air. A number of major log done by a hi-lead sys ging companies have their regional head tem called skidder sky- quarters there. Named in honor of line logging. The lines Captain WH. McNeill, who brought his on the skidder went to vessel to trade in the north Island in the top of a spar tree 1852, Port NcNeill now has a popula and were called tion of nearly 3,000 with a hospital, li Northbend and brary, and all the amenities needed to Southbend. The lines make life comfortable. could go 2000 feet The logging camp at Port McNeil! into the bush and pull came into existence in 1937, when Pio the trees to the road, neer Timber Company Limited, signed to be loaded onto an agreement with Broughton Timber hard-tire logging Company and Powell River Company to trucks. The logs were log the area. Pioneer gave up its logging then driven to the operation near Sointula on Malcolm Is booming grounds, land, and moved its bunkhouses over to where by the use of a Loading a truck - 1940

20 B.C. Historical News - Winter 19978 top fll, the tree would whip ran the donkey and the hooktenders had back and forth in an arc. To to choke the logs in the pile. Then the steady himself the man would logs were fastened by the hook-tender, drive in his spurs and his axe picked up, and danced through the air and hang on. under the carriage on the skyline, into a Power skidding by overhead pile for loading. cables consisted ofa 11/4 inch Our family arrived in Port McNeill cable rigged like a clothesline before our house did. Harry McQuillan, from a head spar, a standing logging superintendent, was faced with tree, which had been trimmed the dilemma of where to put us. His and topped, 125 feet or more, problem was solved by Ed McKierahan, to a tail spar, guyed to a stump. teacher for the school which had been ‘When it came to rigging spar trees, the rigger was the supervi sor. The second time up, after topping, the high rigger carried a pass rope to rig the guy lines and the high lead Tommy Takki - High Rigger - 1941. block. In wartime high riggers were the aris Trees are felled by faller tocrats of the camps, and were highly using eight-foot longhand- paid. They had to be in excellent shape, saws and a springboard. physically and mentally and most were The faller cut a notch well careful men. High riggers used climb above the base of the tree, ing irons and a rope which they looped which was not considered around a spar tree, then tied to their thick worth the extra labour to belts to steady themselves. The most harvest. Iron tipped, five- dangerous time for a high rigger was the foot long springboards were moment he cut off with his axe, the top wedged into the cuts in the of a hundred and fifty foot tree. As the tree, and on these precari Thpping a spar hre ous perches, two men built in 1940. Ed, a bachelor, was only swung their axes until too glad to move out of his quarters be the tree began to lean. hind the school and into the bunkhouses With a stand-clear cry with the men. Here he would share the of “Tim-berrr” they camaraderie of the loggers and eat in the would fling their axes cookhouse. into the bush and dive We moved into the teacher’s quarters off the boards. and our piano was stored in the class Once the tree was room, much to the delight of the school down, two buckers children. Our evening meal in the cook- sawed a 200 foot tree house, was a real luxury in those days of into logs of 40 feet or rationing. The cook enjoyed our com more. pany and filled the pocket of my four- Engineers did the year-old son David, with an apple or an layout, roadbuilding orange. and bridge construc Our prefabricated house arrived even tion. The loggers tually by barge. On skids, the house was yarded and loaded the no problem to shift to a spot in the logs onto big trucks. woods, east of the government dock. Rigging a spar tree - 1941. The donkey puncher Beyond us, along the beach, were the

21 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997/98 once-weekly visit, all friendly Chinese, Dong Chong from the single men would whom we bought fresh food stuff and a board the ship to variety of goods. If the ladies were short travel to Vancouver, ofcash, Dong Chong was always willing and spend their hard- to extend credit. earned money. We la On a few occasions in a summer, Lone dies waved them off Vireken, Captain of the Pitco. could be and turned back to a persuaded to take us over to Sointula for strangely empty camp. their dance. Sointula means harmony, The men left behind and it was the name given to the little to look after the safety settlement on Malcolm Island, by the of the place were al Finns, who came at the beginning ofthis ways invited by us for century, dreaming of a utopian society Christmas dinner. where the colony could live and work Pioneer Timber had together in peace and harmony. The a forty foot boat, the colony failed in a collectivised form, but Pitco, used for ferry many stayed on, built their own homes, ing people between and are there today. The women ran the Port McNeill, Alert dances and did a very good job of it. A spill -1941. Bay and Sointula. Entertainment in a logging camp is Once a week the Pitco organized by the people themselves. We quarters of a Japanese logging camp. would take the ladies shopping to Alert had a community hall large enough to Before Pioneer’s move to Port McNeill, Bay, which had its roots in the fishing have dances, whenever we could get an orchestra from Alert Bay. On Saturday nights we had a movie, with Reg Shelly running the projector. Reg Shelly’s father, WC. Shelly, came often to visit our camp. Mr. Shelly was a propri etor of the Fourex Bakery, and had been involved in building the Grouse Mountain Highway and Chalet in Van couver. In 1928 he had served as Minis ter of Finance in the Tolmie government. W.C. Shelly’s The crummy returning with the crew. Pioneer dock and log dump. The government dock in the distance. hobby was magic. a Japanese firm had bought a large block industry. As you walked along the shore His performance of magical tricks in our of Crown-granted lands in the name of line, you would pass St. Michael’s Resi community hall thrilled not only the N.S. McNeil! Trading Company Lim dential School, the B.C. Packers cannery; children, but all those tough independ ited, or Nipon Soda of Port McNeil!. store, and wharves; the Nimpkish Ho ent loggers. And we had a good friend, There were no cars, no pleasure boats, tel, an Indian graveyard with its totems, Aurel Chanady, who was adept in the art nor telephones, freezers, dishwashers, nor and St. George’s Hospital. of fencing and offered to teach a few of electric clothes dryers for the use of Most of us sent a mail-order to us, if we were so inclined. Accordingly, women living in camp. At Christmas, Woodwards for our canned goods. But we sent to Vancouver for masks and foils. when the Union Steamship made its our favourite place to shop was with a When Japan entered the war by attack-

22 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997198 summer, stu underbrush, and in truth there was no dents came to place for them to go. the camp dur The Pacific had now become an active ing their theatre of war. The armed forces under school holiday. Pacific Command took necessary defen When he was sive measures; and units of the army, sixteen, and navy; and airforce, were deployed at stra going to col tegic locations. lege, my E.A. Harris in his article, “Ranger Re brother Rob membrance”, stated that “because Brit Sinclair came ish Columbia’s coastline is long, irregular, to camp to act and sparsely settled, a volunteer home

as whistle guard composed of residents. . . could punk for a with their knowledge oflocal conditions, skidder crew. render a valuable auxiliary service. Thus He pulled a in March 1942, the Pacific Coast Mili

Logs l/iedfrom truck by use ofA-frame and donkey and skidded into the booming line which tia — the PCMR — came into being”. ground - 1941. rang a signal ing Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the whistle on the skidder, exactly as he was threat of a surprise attack on Canada’s ordered. It could cause an accident or west coast became real. Approximately death of a logger if the whistles were 22,000 Japanese Canadians were wrong. Six blasts on the whistle meant branded as enemy aliens by the Federal there had been an accident. Government. The Japanese fishing fleet Logging was dangerous, hard and was docked, the shipyard at Alert Bay was lonely but satisfying to most of the log closed, my truck gardener, who rowed ging crew. over from the Hyde Creek area, with milk The Japanese invasion of the Aleutian and vegetables came no more. And I Islands in 1942, threatened Alaska and awoke one morning to find that the Japa B.C. In Victoria, people were convinced nese men who lived near me were gone. that they were going to be bombed at Never again would I hear the sound of any moment. On June 20th 1942, a their gong calling them for dinner. Japanese submarine, 1-26, was sighted off During the war, all the key men such Estevan. Plans were made to evacuate as the donkey punchers, hookers, high Prince Rupert, and checkpoints were set riggers, head loaders, were frozen to their up along the coast to monitor small boat jobs. With so many men gone offto war, traffic. logging crews were short staffed. In the Reg Shelly was sent into the woods to discover if there was any John Field 1943, making a boom with apikepole place the Meetings of the Militia were held in the women and community hall. children could Ironically, on a Sunday afternoon, we be evacuated if would walk beyond the former Japanese it became nec camp, have a picnic on the beach, fol essary. Reg lowed by target practice. came back The women in camp took up First Aid, three days and practiced their skill at bandaging on later to report their children, who served as models. there was no Sometimes the results were hilarious. way women To fill in a gap in my day, I decided to and children take an Extension Course from the Uni could walk versity of British Columbia. ‘What an through the exciting day when a large parcel ofbooks

George Smith - a record load ofceS 17000 B.E tough would arrive from their library; I could

23 B.C. Historical News - Winter 19978 ______

TargetpracticeatformerJapanese camp site -1942. Dr. McNeilLAureL Ken, DolL Alex & DavitL Photo courtesy of Ken Huddart hospitals at Alert Bay, Rock we to continue to follow a system of un Bay, Vananda, and Pender restrained and unregulated forest exploi Harbour. His ship, the Co tation.. or were we to continue to move lumbia, visited 84 small to a system based on the concept of sus communities. St. George’s tained yield, wherein the forest Ken Huddàrt and the Pacijic Coast Militia Ranger PCMR - meet was to in the community ball ofPioneer Lumber Company Limited - Hospital in Alert Bay was of be considered as a perpetually renewable 1943. great importance to the safety asset. . . these lands once logged need to never have planned it so well, but my of the loggers at our camp and to the be treated as permanent tree-farms pro daughter, Robin, was born in April, families as well. John set up a small hos ducing continuous crops.” 1944, just in time for me to rise from pital on his ship which allowed him to In November 1993, Greenpeace my bed at the Vancouver General Hos deliver social, religious and medical help brought global attention to forestry prac pital and travel out to the University to to isolated communities. The Reverend tice in B.C. The issue was the logging of write my exam. This was necessary if I Alan Greene was master of the Colum old forest timber in Clayoquot Sound. wished the course to count on my de bia when it came time to have my daugh Greenpeace made the news read like dis gree. ter Robin baptized. A cheerful and patches from Dieppe. John Antle, a Newfoundlander, a good obliging man, he came ashore for the In March of 1994, afraid of lost jobs, seaman, a pragmatic man, set up loggers’ baptism. We had tea and cake and Aurel forest-industry workers organized a rally Chanady acted as godfa to be held outside the legislative build ther. This was probably ing in Victoria. About 300 vehicles set the first baptism in Port out from Port McNeill with ANTI- McNeill. CORE banners. The convoy grew as it War in the woods con passed through each logging community: tinues today, though not Woss, Campbell River, Courtenay, against Germany and Ja Nanaimo, Duncan. The rally was peace pan. Loggers today feel ful and passed without incident. At the that their livelihood and rally, Port McNeill Mayor, Gerry Furney their communities are in was quoted as saying, “I’ve had it with danger for other reasons. anybody threatening to spike a tree or

The environmentalists blockade a worker going to work.. . log

believe that the destruc gers, farmers, miners. . carry this coun tion of forest land will try on their backs.” ruin life as we now enjoy The Forest Practices Code of British

itinB.C. Columbia Act—CORE — was introduced The Royal Commis in the B.C. Legislature on May 16, 1994. sion on the Forest Re The intention was to make better forest

sources began sittings in practices the law — backed up by tough 1945 under ChiefJustice enforcement and heavy penalties. Gordon Sloan. The ba Saturday, December 14, 1996, Gordon fimmy Wilson - engineer on the skidder -1942. sic question was: “Were Hamilton reported in the Sun, “B,C.’s

24 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997198 cost burdened forest industry will find 1996 losing money, and there’s little pros pect 1997 will be any better. The new president of TWA Canada hails from Port Alberni, and he believes that the envi ronmentalists are set to shut logging down in B.C. He promises active oppo sition to the endless regulations that have resulted in the continual erosion of our members’ jobs.” I like to quote from Green Timber, “Them Blommin Trees! they are causing a scandal in the woods!”

The author has described her years in Port McNeilL She returned to the community with her son Davi4 for a visit in 1996: She now makes her home in Vancouver. Dolly Kennedy holding daughter Robinfirst baptism in Port NcNeill, 1943.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Garner, Joe. Never Chop Your Rope Cinnibar Press, Nanaimo, British Columbia, 1988. Healey, Elizabeth and Oswell A.E., History ofMert Bay and District. Booklet printed first in 1958, later in 1971 by the Alert Bay Museum. MacKay, Donald. Empire ofWood Douglas and McIntyre, Vancouver, 1982. Whirr, Howard, and Spilsbury. Spilsbury’s Coast Harbour Publishing, 1945.

Photos courtesy of the author.

....

The autho Dolly Kennedy is shown here standing infront ofherfbrmer home on Shelly Crescenti PortMcNeil on her visit in 1996: This house is now a child-care centre. Photo courtesy of David Kennedy.

History, although sometimes made up of the few acts of the great, is more often shaped by the many acts of the small.

Mark Yost - in the Will Street Journal

25 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997/98

26

B.C. Historical News Winter 1997/98 -

ing he travelled when possible by train, her little was grave the in first cern- the family riding party, dashing across the

Yale-Cariboo riding. When campaign monia shortly before her first birthday; Kamloops. Perhaps a visitors the joined

as federal Liberal candidate the for vast seventh child Jessie Septima ofpneu died eral of Earl Athlone) was occupied in

the Province newspaper. In 1896 he and ran Ruth, 1910. her youngest in The Alice while her husband (Governor-Gen

pany, printing a business and founded 1901, Hugh 1903, Norman 1905 Jessie days). One day entertained she Princess

Hewitt a Bostock started lumber com lowed by Jean 1894, in 1896, in Nan (a Byng personal of Lizzie’s friend school

townsite. Alex was the eldest, Marian next, fol nor-General Viscount Byng and Lady

small church, St. Peter’s Anglican, their in each with the a of assistance midwife. William Lyon King, Mackenzie Gover

nearby. 1926, In Bostocks the a built Lizzie Bostock eight bore children, come such notables as Prime Minister

Monte Creek could heard be trickling family to a maintain residence Ottawa. in Over years Mrs. the Bostock would wel

Even the in blistering heat of summer to appointed the Senate permitting his the for day, clergymen and old friends.

gardens, a fruit trees and tennis court. stand again. 1904 in However, was he Vancouver from up on coming the train

an the centre of lawns oasis of flower and served as four but years MP declined to the to introduction Senator, politicians

a front and back verandah. It

formed and was victorious election day. on He summer in Englishmen with of letters —

high ceilings for in coolness summer, and access voters to from Fernie Soda Creek many There to were visitors the ranch

1906. ranch in This designed was with used He a terland. ream and to wagon Huxley. Thomas

new, A larger house was built at the holding meetings stops at across a the hin prestigious school girls for run Mrs. by

River.

Godalming Surrey, in England,

courtesy H. of Photo Fallis.

Bostock Lizzie

paralleled the South Thompson Priorsfield School at

Canadian as Pacific Railway it and Jean, example, for went to

through the property did as the courage independence. Marian

Vernon wagon road passed their British heritage to and en

schoolhouse. The Kamloops children their with relatives, —

1893, after and a one-room she wished also to acquaint the

fice, residences for ranch hands, best; British were the schools

the for a post owner, store, a of Lizzie Bostock believed that

from Kamloops a had house big Ottawa then and in England.

The ranch, located miles 18 private in schools Victoria or

Monte Creek. however, subsequently attended

their time between Victoria and with their brothers. girls, The

their older children, dividing attended Creek Monte School

ited Monte the Creek ranch with Marian, Nan and Ruth Jean,

Government House. vis They The Bostock daughters,

where they built home a near Kamloops to play poio.

and Lizzie arrived Victoria in sometimes travelled to

from 1893. Britain Hewitt until hands of and two sons her

However did he not immigrate was also played with ranch the

3380 Duck. acres from Jacob enjoyment of music. Cricket

Bostock purchased ranch a of sketching, handiwork and the

ling around the world, Hewitt moted leisure activities such as

1888, In while a student travel Among children her pro she

story be their lives of told. can tennis, and reading riding.

left sufficient the record that at Creek times Monte included

of time their near Kamloops and a prolific was letter writer. Pas

spent pioneers were much who widely, the piano played and

Bostock Lizzie family her and etery the at ranch. Lizzie read

by Eleanor Witton Hancock

British Gendewomen at Monte Creek Monte Creek Townsite, c 1919. Photo cortesy of R. Faths. grasslands with Alex on his favorite horse before the law. Also in 1912, a labour Sorbonne. In 1922, Jean, twenty-eight, “Pepper” in the lead. English saddles convention in Kamloops drew up a reso entered Reading University in England, were used and, until ‘WWI, the girls rode lution demanding women’s suffrage, a graduating in 1924 with a degree in hor side-saddle in skirts. Lizzie was horri resolution endorsed by the British Co ticultural science. fied when her daughter wished to ride lumbia Federation of Labour. Dr. Marian Bostock, with eighteen let astride. She continued to ride side-sad Ironically, it would take a world war ters after her name, representing five de dle for the rest of her life. Clearly some to clinch the vote for women. But home grees went to India in 1922, with the of the English social proprieties were dif from Ottawa in 1912, holidaying and Zenana Bible and Medical Society. ficult to sustain at Monte Creek. tenting at Duck Meadow during hay Marian was the tenth woman in the Brit In Ottawa, where the Senator was ob making, war for Lizzie Bostock and her ish Empire to receive her FRCS (Eng.) ligated to maintain a second residence, family seemed almost an impossibility. In Patna, she was one of only two sur there was always one daughter “Lady-in Marian was going to be a doctor. Alex geons at the Duchess of Teck Hospital, waiting” to assist Lizzie as hostess. The was to take over management of the an institution for women in purdah (that daughters participated in many social ranch. is, women who wore face veils). activities with other Ottawa young peo The war, however, would change many In 1924, Ruth, at age fourteen, was ple while Lizzie was, for several years, plans. Jean, who had been in the habit sent to Godolphin School in Salisbury president of the Mothers’ Union, an of returning to Monte Creek each spring for three years. In 1925 she joined her Anglican Church organization. Lizzie’s with Nan, worked in Ottawa as a volun parents on a trip to Geneva, where the extensive reading kept her abreast ofcur teer to the armed services. Then, in Eng senator was a delegate to the Assembly rent literature as well as pursuing her land she joined the Women’s Auxiliary of the League of Nations. (Senator studies of classical books. She also Corps as a chauffeur for army officers. Bostock had become Speaker ofthe Sen learned wood carving and created fender (She was already a good driver from ate in 1922, a position he would hold stools, tables and lettered altar panels for chauffeuring her father about; Hewitt until his death in 1930.) Lizzie, in Ge their Anglican church at Monte Creek. Bostock disliked driving.) Part of Jean’s neva, acted as hostess for the Canadian In a family where daughters were en training in England included a course in representative, Senator Raoul couraged to believe that anything sons mechanics. During the war, Alex was Dandurand, who was elected president could do they could do better, the killed in France. Killed also were a of the ten-day assembly and who was a “Womens’ Movement” was regarded at number of their friends; others died in widower. first with indifference. In the second the influenza epidemic which followed. Marian, in 1928, under the auspices decade of the century British suifragists It became obvious that Nan and Jean of the Canadian Club, gave a lecture in began visiting Canada. Helena would remain unmarried. Nan contin Kamloops, describing her work in India. Gutteridge arrived in 1911 and helped ued to garden each summer at the ranch She illustrated her talk with lantern slides. to organize laundry and garment work and to work in the apple orchards. She She was married that year in Ottawa to ers in Vancouver. Gutteridge cam began raising bees in 1921, pursuing this Victor Sherman, manager of the Impe paigned for a minimum wage for women, for the rest of her life. The gentle Nan rial Bank of India in Patna. Sherman and for pensions for mothers who were was gifted both musically and artistically. was a widower with a daughter. Marian without support. In 1912 Canadian She sang, played the piano and drew and was thirty-six. She did not practice medi born Helen MacGill brought out a book painted. In 1920, at the age of twenty- cine after her marriage, nor did she have let describing the inequities women faced four, she went to Paris to study art at the children of her own.

27 B.C. Historical News - Winter 19978 families. their fellow ranchers. Jean is remembered Liz z ie fGr spearheading an attempt to control Bostock’s the spread ofdiffuse knapweed. She and generosity Nan and the children of Monte Creek reached her pulled knapweed ceaselessly. They edu tenant cated others about the threat of families in knapweed and they petitioned for gov a number ernment intervention. One of their suc of other cesses was obtaining better terms from ways as B.C. Hydro for rights-of-way across vari well. ous ranch lands. During Jean continued her interest in horti the Depres culture, experimenting at the ranch un sion, the til her death in 1960. She was a School ranch was Trustee for many years. In 1936 she ac the scene of companied a group of children from Red Cross England to a Fairbridge Farm in Aus garden par tralia. The previous year she had helped Ruth Sherman andJean Bostock at the ranch c 1930. ties. In to establish the Fairbridge Farm School Courtesy R. Lindsay 1935 some at Duncan for underprivileged British Life changed dramatically for Lizzie, 300 people attended from Kamloops and children. Jean Bostock also spent many Jean and Nan after the crash of the stock the rural area. In winter, sleigh rides were volunteer hours despatching Sunday- market in October 1929 and the death often held. The three women contin School-by-Post lessons to rural children of the senator, six months later. The ued to holiday at Duck Meadow during in the Anglican Diocese of the Cariboo. women assumed management of the hay making; Nan and Lizzie would drive Nan, too, was busy as a community ranch. They were guided by foreman E.P to the meadow in the 1918 Dodge, car leader. She was associated with the Ca Coles, and later by Fred Nichol. Women top down and Lizzie’s parasol up, and nadian Red Cross, the SPCA, Girl ranchers were almost unheard of, the Jean would ride her horse. They would Guides, Canadian Club, the B.C. Beef consensus being that they would neces stay for ten days at the “Red Cottage”. Cattle Growers Association and the Live sarily fail by virtue of being female. Nan, Ruth alternately studied and travelled. stock Cooperative. She sold the ranch after a course in accountancy, became She studied at the University of bookiceeper. The sisters began to assist British Columbia, the University with jobs such as mending fences and ofToronto, and in England and be tarring flumes. Jean’s war-time training came an occupational therapist. in automobile mechanics was put to good Her marriage in 1938 to Dr. use when the ranch vehicles needed re Murray Fallis, a parasitologist, took pair. place at St. Peter’s Anglican At the onset of the Great Depression, Church which had been built on Bostock livestock amounted to 150 head the ranch in 1926 by her father. of commercial cattle and 500 ewes. In The couple then settled in To summer the ranch staffnumbered twelve, ronto. Ruth did not work after her including two cooks; wages for the men marriage. She had three children. were one dollar per day. By 1931, dry Summer holidays sometimes cows and female stock were fetching found her bringing her offspring about two and a halfcents a pound, steers to Monte Creek. were three and a half to four cents. Hay Lizzie Bostock died in Victoria sold for $12 per ton. The cattle were in 1942 at the age of seventy-four. gradually culled, a herd of 500 Herefords Jean and Nan arranged for her built up, and horse-breeding was begun. body to be returned to Monte With a large orchard, the Bostocks Creek and interred in their cem were able to give away fruit during the etery then devoted their energy to Depression. They drove about the coun ranch and community projects. try-side in the 1928 Chev pickup truck Their prime concern was the well Nan dJean Bostock, 1956 “Flippety”, distributing fruit to needy being ofthe livestock industry and Photo courtesy of R. Lindsay.

28 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997/98 ...... in 1962, but with Fred Nichol Contin . ued to raise cattle on land near the mouth • . • • of Monte Creek. She also continued to • 5urrey 73CJf7 . draw • . and paint. A watercolour of the • . ranch stable won a prize at the Vancou . ver Art Gallery (This stable still stands &orAslop & Conference 1.9 at Monte Creek today.) Nan died in 1970 . at the age of seventy-four. . • • Marian Bostock Sherman and her hus • The British Columbia Historical Federation will be . retired • band early to Victoria. Marian, a • sponsoring a one day free workshop on GENEALOGY profound thinker, was involved with the • on April 30, 1998. This is one day prior to the annual . • • Anglican Church in the 1940s, but left • conference. This year the workshop will have two the church to become a humanist. She • . • venues: The Surrey Inn and the Cloverdale Public . lectured extensively in western Canada. • . • Library. One topic will be Genealogy on the Internet In 1975, at a ceremony in Ottawa, she • presented by Ron Taylor, Mission, B.C. The other session was named Canadian Humanist of the • . • will concentrate on Year. She passed away shortly after that • several Genealogical topics with • other speakers. Full details about the program and . ceremony and is buried beside her par • . ents and her sisters in the cemetery at • registration will be available in the early spring from . • . Monte Creek. • Melva J. Dwyer and your local society. • . The records left by Lizzie Bostock and • . her daughters are more complete than • Conference Headquarters will • be the Surrey Inn, . most references available to a student of • 9850 King George Highway in Surrey (This is opposite a • • womens’ history These ladies exemplifv • Sky Train Station.) The general conference starts on the the lives of the affluent with “connec • • Thursday evening with a Wine and Cheese party. At that . tions” and social stature. The experience • . • time greetings from the Mayor of Surrey will be extended of the “average woman” in Kamloops or . • and Irish Dancers will perform. . elsewhere is scantily recorded and poorly • . • The theme of the conference is “Transportation.” . preserved. Local historians who have • . • Speakers Jackie Gresko, on the Fraser River, Victoria • access to a detailed recounting ofthe role • • ofwomen in their community are fortu • Sharmen on the Inter-Urban, and Jim Folkes on the • . nate indeed. We gratefully acknowledge • Telegraph Trail appear in Friday’s program. Saturday . the • . cooperation of Ruth Bostock Fallis, • visitors are offered a ride on a paddlewheeler or a . her children and Fred Nichol. • conducted bus tour. More details • next issue., but mark . • these days on those • • 1998 calendars. We hope to see you Eleanor Witton Hancock is a Kamloops teacbe, • there. education director of the Kamloops Wildlife Park Sode andfirnner editor oftheKamloops Museum newslettei This article first appeared in KAMLOOPS: ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF COMMUNITY 1893-1993. Sonoteck Publishing LtsL and is reprinted here withpermission by thepublisbei

SOURCES

Kamloops Museum and Archives: Bostock Files and Newspaper files Private interview and correspondence with Ruth Bostock Fallis and Fred Nichol. Other contributors of information: Murray Fallis, Hugh Fallis, Violet Nichol, Phyllis Flatt Churchill, Audrey Earl, Ruth Lindsay, Dr. Andrew Yarmie, Efizabeth Duckworth and Wayne Norton.

ES. Brother Norman Bostock ranched at Pritchard. Hugh Bostock was a senior ge ologist with the Geological Survey ofCanada. Hugh wrote a book on his years ofsurveying Our 1997 BCHF - Scholarship Winner Carol Grant Powell with herfamily - left to rig/iL Daughter HeatbeB entitled - PACK HORSE TRACKS. husbandJames, Carol and son Matthew PowelL

29 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997j8

30

B.C. Historical News Winter 1997/98 -

ings of

even greater height; rocky, bridge by an overwhelming replacement.

oltL Lions 60 Gate, now is nearly scheduled now years trees for been ing supplanted have build by 1933, in citizens a endorsed

which bears captain’s the name. Tower The competitors merged and,

edge a of now forest stands where the the city nor proposal, away. went

Inlet. Burrard They anchored the idea. the on need, But neither the

first were the vessels European to scite enter by citizens the defeated

der the command Capt. Vancouver, of ace 1927 A navigation. plebi

H.M.S. Chatham and Discovery, un thought the men span might

Two hundred fifty and ago, years ecrated, and shipping interests

Lions Gate Bridge Stanley would Park des be

cable enced the designs. ture lovers protested that

tal impact other and concerns also influ a bridge at First Narrows. Na

of space below, aesthetics, environmen were seeking build to franchises

a by separated water crossing. Matters 1926, By two companies

pressure grew for easier access by those rows sufficed.

ceded each, construction of public and small at bridge Nar Second

Burrard Inlet. Land development pre at service First and Narrows a

the current proposed third crossing of unready such dreams. for Ferry

and of mobility as population, is for then only four years it and old,

to The impetus both was build growth 1890. posed in was Vancouver

in and the design thread of history harbour was city’s first pro

linked common by purpose, similarities narrowing of the what became

their construction, they are nevertheless The bridging idea of first the

by and location a nearly half century in traffic.

Alex Bridges. Fraser Though separated by Coast busy Salish marine

by two either the of spans; Gate or Lions seaport; ern the canoes of

the who City enter of so do Vancouver jetties wharves a of and mod

majority the Probably of commuters shelving by beaches piers,

to diverted reduce risk flooding of

Bridge. Lions Gate from

deck suspended

is Entire cables. overhead two The mouth the of Capilano River was

chorages cables for also the poured. were

the of precipice. Massive concrete an

through ing small a edge the tunnel near

by up taken conveyor cliff the belt, pass

age and abutment sea. came was by It

concrete for the Prospect Point anchor

to were the delivered by site barge. Even

steel the let. work were materials Most

January; ago, 60 In contracts years for

Properties were the Ltd. financiers.

Shore land British developers Pacific

by maintained enterprise. private North

Empire, was British be to and built and it

be the largest bridge suspended in the

472m. cal span a metres It of to and was

gave 61 of clearance navigational verti

H.

satisfied a by design suspension which

concerns majority were All subsequently

W by Tom Parkin

Cable Bridges Two of Vancouver footings of the viaduct ‘legs’, or bents. They, and the north anchor pier, are se cured in the river’s former delta. The re vised river channel continues to support a salmon run. Erection of the North Shore viaduct was accomplished in less than a year. Erecting the superstructure of the bridge itself began February 1938. Three months later, the main towers were up. Catwalks were suspended between them and drawn tight to the approaches on either side. Across them, workers pulled 61 strands of wire rope each side, at tached the ends, and lifted them into sad dles on top of the towers. This idea of putting long pre-stressed cables on ‘whole’ was fairly new. Previous practice was to ‘spin’ cables in place, wire by wire. Alex Fraser Bridge - located within spectacular scenery and heart ofindustrial corridor. Vertical suspender cables, trusses and land, a mid-river island about seven kilo- earthquake. Its piers had to be capable deck assembly were quickly hung. The metres downstream from New Westmin ofwithstanding the impact ofan out-of- pouring of concrete to fill the steel deck ster. Along with Richmond, Surrey and control freighter which might hit at a grid was comparatively simple, done si Delta, this region was experiencing a speed of 12 knots. Plus the bridge multaneously from either end ofthe span population explosion, becoming not only couldn’t interfere with migrating salmon. so unequal stress was not placed on the commuter communities for greater Van In this regard, the most comprehen towers or cables. After that, the main couver, but centres in their own right. sive environmental study ever done for a cables were given protective wrappings Since 1964, traffic had more and everything was given several coats of than doubled in the region. It paint — 5,000 gallons of it. was predicted that 50% of the The structure opened to two lanes of growth in households in the toll traffic on 12 November 1938. The 1990s would be south of the : Provincial Government purchased it in river, with many people work 1955. Toll gates were removed in 1963. ing on the opposite side. Today, 80% of the West Vancouver la The Ministry ofTransporta bour force commutes across this bridge tion and Highways requested each day. But this beautiful bridge is bridge designs in both steel and scheduled for replacement as it is now concrete. Based on cost, a de nearly 60 years old. sign in steel was the winner. Alex Fraser Bridge CBA Engineering Ltd., with Alex Fraser Bridge spans B.C.’s long Buckland and Taylor Ltd. of est river, the Fraser, but the similarity of Vancouver, proposed what, at name is coincidental. The Fraser is the the time, would be the world’s province’s most important river, eco longest cable-stayed span —465 nomically. Its upper reaches are critical m between twin 50-storey tow spawning grounds for salmon; its lower ers, with an overall length of length is a navigable corridor into B.C.’s 930 m! The multiple splay of industrialized heart. It was named for cables and the 56-rn clearance Simon Fraser, who descended the stream above the river combined in 1808. Alex Fraser was a Socred high beauty of form with futuristic ways minister whose riding spanned the appearance. - >-:-. river in the Cariboo. He opened the None of this would be bridge on 23 September 1986. achieved easily. The structure B.C. Government committed to con had to withstand heavy loads, Alex Fraser Bridge - cable rather than suspension desig struct a bridge in 1980, at Annacis Is- high winds and a possible Ati Phos courtesy of the author.

31 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997)98 B.C. bridge took three years to complete. strain go beyond acceptable limits. This symbolize the resources, enterprise and This research resulted in addition of ability to instantaneously see effect was transportation systems which are pro breakwaters to force the current away a significant advance in such erections. tected, sustained or supported by them. from the shore, creating quiet water To the uninitiated, the design looks like Vancouver’s cable bridges have a goodly where salmon can rest. As well, a new a suspension bridge, but close compari heritage. fish-rearing area built on Annacis Island son with Lions Gate Bridge shows the ensures no loss of habitat. Alex Fraser does not hang in suspension; In September 1995, Canada Post Cor

In 1983, preparations began on the its deck is stayed directly by the cables — poration commemorated the World Road foundations. The towers were in place hence the name. This is the only cable- Congress, held in Montreal that month. by mid-1985. They are hollow, con stayed highway bridge in B.C., and for a Four stamps were issued, depicting eras of structed from concrete using a slipform while, it was the longest in the world. bridge building in Canada; one was of which was walked up, section by section, Today the record is held by the Nor B. C c Alex Fraser Bridge. as the concrete hardened. The deck was mandy Bridge near Le Havre, France cantilevered out from each tower, alter (opened January 1995). nating sections on each side to balance Still, both of our structures have in the strain. Each was ‘tied’ in place by spired and continue to inspire British The author workedfor manyyears as an Infor separately tensioned. Com Columbians and their visitors. Even mation Officerfor the Ministry ofTransporta steel cables, tion and Highways. He enjoys writing and has puters monitored the load as sections within a spectacular landscape, they contributed articles to this magazine several were added, allowing the contractors to themselves have become symbols of the times in the past. react immediately with changes should province’s beauty They have come to

Thelma Lower is shoum here presenting a new awariL to Douglas Sheilar€L for Triathalon Racquets Champions. This trophy was donated by the Lower

family in memory ofj Authur Lower - Nov. ‘9Z See the VLTB article in the News, Summer 1997 p. 20-23. Photo courtesy of Stuart Lower. Rio Car licence plate.

Red Rio car with driversplus Ron and Frances Wèlwood. L to RJohn Nico4 Wilwoo4 Lassie Fine/lay and Rio at Kootenay Bay (waitingfor the Kootenay ferry) ‘1?io RidesAgain” seepage 36

32 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997/98 Some Notes on Whonnock, B. C. by Edward L. Affleck

In 1985 the Whonnock Community Byrnes’ automobile repair service was a Passenger, express and freight rates on the Association received a grant which ena landmark on the Lougheed Highway for C.P.R. were relatively expensive. My bled two students to be hired for the sum decades. I spent an afternoon this past family might purchase a rail excursion mer to work on a compilation of August with Mr. Byrnes, who is now 82. ticket to the New Westminster agricul historical material about the Fraser Val Our discussion centred on the transpor tural exhibition once a year, but I was a ley settlement of Whonnock. When the tation changes wrought in Whonnock teenager before I first saw the circus at grant ran out, the project came to a halt, over the past seventy-five years: Mission City, a few miles upstream. Our leaving a vast miscellany of tapes, notes E.L.A.: “How did your parents come isolation was mitigated, however, by the etc. to be stored, transcribed and com to settle in Whonnock?” availability of electric power from the piled. For a decade the materials rested B.B.: “My father came west from Stave Falls project, and a public magneto- in seclusion, then in 1995 interest in a Ontario early in this century to work in powered telephone was located at the possible historical publication was re the mines around Sandon. He met my nearby post-office should some exigency vived and the materials were turned over mother, who was teaching in New arise.” to Whonnock pioneer Brian Byrnes for Denver, and they were married in 1906. “Around 1902, a start had been made a review. The financial panic of 1907 caused many on the Dewdney Trunk Road. A strip In November, 1995 Fred Braches, who mines to close, so my father took up was constructed from the railway junc with his wife Helmie had sought refuge farming on part of the old H.B.C. farm tion at Coquitlam to a ferry landing on in Whonnock from life in the big city a site on Glover Road in Langley Prairie. the Pitt River. The first Pitt River ferry decade before, retired from a career in When my father went overseas in World was a primitive man-powered affair, i.e. international travel. Fred already had a War I the family moved to New West one or more men pulled on a rope which plethora of projects on his retirement minster, but on his return he acquired a was secured to each shore and attached agenda, but when he learned of the chicken ranch on what is now 269th to the ferry. Various ferry improvements wealth of uncatalogued historical mate Street in Whonnock.” were effected before the first Pitt River rial on Whonnock crying for some ten E.L.A.: “Given the massive changes bridge was opened on March 2, 1915.” der loving care, he immediately which have converted much of Maple “East of the Pitt River ferry landing, designated action on the history project Ridge to the west and Mission to the east the Dewdney Trunk Road was built in as his agenda item 1. As Brian Byrnes into bedroom suburbs for the Greater meandering bits and pieces as far as proceeded to cast an editorial eye over Vancouver area, how is it that relatively Webster’s Corners. Closer to the Fraser the material, Braches embarked on the little change has taken place on the River, more bits and pieces were gradu monumental task of transcribing, com Whonnock riverfront?” ally joined up to form what was called piling and indexing the Association’s B.B.: “Much of the eastern and west the “River Road.” As late as 1919, how material. Many hours spent at his word ern frontage of Whonnock lies within ever, relatively few passenger or delivery processor over the spring of 1996 ena Indian Reserves. Furthermore, the po vehicles ventured on these roads. When bled him to publish a massive source table water supply here is skimpy, shal the frost went out in the spring, the book entitled Wlaonnock Community low wells being the chief source. Until a unimproved surface was a mass oftreach

Association - Historical Project Sum massive monetary outlay is made to se erous mud holes and for the rest of the mer, 1985. Copies of this source book cure large-scale water and sewer service, year these roads continued to challenge have been donated to the archives in ‘Whonnock is likely to retain much of its the axles, springs and tires of the hapless Mission and Maple Ridge as well as to rural aspect.” vehicles driven over them. We had a other appropriate depositories. Any one E.L.A.: “Despite its bucolic aspect, I neighbour in Whonnock, a fervent Con wishing to acquire a copy at cost + post suspect that life in Whonnock in 1996 servative, who actually owned a car. He age $27.50, may do so by contacting differs considerably from what you en would frequently pick up his children at Mr. Fred Braches, P.O. Box 130 countered in 1919.” the elementary school which was located Whonnock, B.C. VOM iSO (604) 426- B.B.: “I cannot emphasize enough the then as now about a mile north on 272nd 8942. degree of isolation which existed in Street, but no ride was ever offered to As indicated, Braches received much Whonnock and other north side Fraser one of the Byrnes kids, so my childhood editorial support from Brian Byrnes, who Valley settlements seventy-five years ago. experience with the internal combustion has resided in Whonnock since 1919. Settlers did not use the railway casually. vehicle was strictly limited.”

33 B.C. Historical News - Winter 19978 E.L.A.: “Was transportation then Whonnock Wharfwith a lard-pail ofher end ofWhonnock by a massive landslide. chiefly a horse and buggy situation?” buttermilk, for which Capt. Seymour Local help was mustered to clear off the B.B.: “No, our lifeline was mostly the had an insatiable craving. I would be part of the old River Road which had steamboat. Long after the completion dispatched up to the wheelhouse with my also been blocked by the slide and for of the C.PR. through the Fraser Valley, cargo, then sent to the galley to receive a many months a detour was made via the the riverside settlements continued to large slice of the cook’s succulent pie.” River Road until funds were forthcom depend on the steamboat. Each settle “I suspect that Capt. Seymour, who ing to rehabilitate the Lougheed. Some ment had its wharf, eventually funded was a generous, good-natured soul, barely time before the beginning ofWorld War by the Federal Government, and close to made expenses on the Skeena, and cer II the Lougheed was blacktopped and it the wharfone would encounter the gen tainly after he died in 1925 no one clam was then that the rubber-tired army of eral store, storage shed etc. The steam oured to take over the trade. We were buses, delivery vans etc. fanning out of boats carried passengers but it was the then left to the vagaries of the highway the Greater Vancouver metropolitan area provision of less-than-carload freighting system, and the cry soon arose for a began to multiply.” that was so important. Hay, livestock, straight-line expressway which would run E.L.A.: “I expect the days of small shipments from New Westminster from the Pitt River bridge east to steamboating will never return.” wholesalers and retailers were vital ele Dewdney. Such a highway, named after B.B.: “Steamboating has never quite ments for the welfare of riverside settlers. M.L.A. Nelson Lougheed, Minister of died out. The Swan, a 103-year old tug By 1919, one sole sternwheeler, the Public Works in Doc. Tolmie’s Conserva formerly powered by steam now diesel- Skeena, was still providing this type of tive regime, was built during 1928-30, powered still calls in occasionally at the way service, making two round trips affording much local employment, par Whonnock Wharf, which is kept in re weekly between New Westminster and ticularly for those favoured by the local pair chiefly to serve fish boats. I wouldn’t up-river points.” political bagman. The Lougheed High predict what the next transportation de “The Skeena was a modest way opened in 1930-31, but motoring velopment will be. When the C.PR. cut sternwheeler which had been built in still did not offer smooth sailing, as the its express trains some years ago, who 1908 for service during the construction round gravel surface ofthe road presented would have predicted that the Pacific ofthe Grand Trunk Pacific Railway along a grim challenge to windshields and Express commuter trains to Vancouver the Skeena River. She lay idle for a few headlights. By this time I was attending would be offering rail competition to the years, but was purchased in 1914 by my high school in Haney, courtesy of a re clogged Loughheed Highway. Perhaps mother’s distant relative, Capt. Charles tired milk truck which had been fur some form of express riverboat service E. Seymour, who worked her on the nished with wooden benches and dubbed will be the next development. Ifso, some Lower Fraser after the C.BR. pulled its a school bus. The driver played his adequate replacement for the old steam- steamboat offthe run. Meals were served mouth organ continuously, thus drown powered snagboat Samson V will have on the Skeena as I well know, since fre ing out yelps from pupils bruised by the to be found, as the Fraser remains a re quently on hearing the steamer’s depart rough trip.” lentlessly snag-prone river.” ing whistle at Albion, my mother would “Shortly after the Lougheed Highway E.L.A.: “Mr. Byrnes, many thanks for send me scurrying down to the was completed, it was blocked at the west a most interesting afternoon.” The B. C. Supreme Court Registry Scandal of1895 The judicial system in British Colum Supreme Court Registrars, each carrying tices published in B.C. newspapers. Be bia still retains vestiges of the days when out a highly responsible administrative ginning with the August 28, 1895 issue the Province existed as the two separate and fiduciary function. Had there been of the Victoria Colonist, however, B.C.’s Crown Colonies ofVancouver Island and but one headquarters and one Registrar two Supreme Court Registrars suddenly British Columbia. A century ago, one in 1895, the events which comprised the became front page news. “J.C. such vestige involved the existence oftwo great Supreme Court Registry scandal of PREVOST, REGISTRAR OF THE Supreme Court administrative centres, that year would not likely have seemed SUPREME COURT IS MISSING” was one located in Victoria having jurisdic so compelling to newspaper publishers the first headline of a sleuthing adven tion over Vancouver Island, Kootenay and subscribers of that day. ture which became a ten-day wonder for and Cassiar, and one in New Westmin Prior to August, 1895, references to the the populace of B.C. ster having jurisdiction over the remain “Registrar of the Supreme Court” could James Charles Prevost, born in Eng der ofthe Province. There were thus two generally be found in the dry legal no- land in 1845, was one of Victoria’s fa

34 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997198 voured residents. The son of Sir James Homer, eldest daughter of Joshua in Rossland first as accountant for P Prevost, Admiral of the British Navy at Reynolds Homer, a man prominent in Burns & Co., then as comptroller for the Esquimalt during B.C.’s colonial days, the public life ofNew Westminster since Le Roi mine. Later he established a pub Prevost’s birthright naturally included colonial days. lic accounting practice in Rossland and entry into the B.C. Establishment. Af The simultaneous disappearance of in 1921 secured membership in the In ter naval service as a midshipman he both Registrars stoked the fires of con stitute ofChartered Accountants ofB.C. married Anna Jane Fry, daughter of jecture on both sides ofthe GulfofGeor when the Chartered Accountants Act Henry Fry Sr., a respected pioneer of the gia. A detailed examination of the was amended to admit certain public Cowichan District, and later secured a boarding list for the Warrimoo estab accountants on the basis of their long- coveted appointment as Registrar of the lished that Prevost was not Australia term practical experience. For several Supreme Court in Victoria. An inveter bound. There were reports, however, that years Falding served as auditor for the ate sailor, Prevost was a familiar figure he had been sighted on the Puget Sound City of Rossland. In 1931 he died, leav on the coastline between Esquimalt and steamer City of Kingston. At the same ing a creditable record of public service. Maple Bay. His sudden disappearance time it was rumoured that Falding had His was a happy story of rehabilitation. over the August 25, 1895 weekend, how been seen in St. Paul, Minnesota. Both James C. Prevost pled guilty to three ever, marked the culmination of a grow newspapers carried breathless daily ac charges of embezzlement aggregating ing dissatisfaction in the community over counts of the manhunts for the two fu about $5,400 when his trial came up on the way he had been dealing with trust gitives. November 15. It appeared that he had monies as a court receiver. The climax On September 3, 1895 the recently lost considerable money in had come in the week ofAugust 19, when Columbian was able to report that speculative ventures. After he was sen an irate Mr. Justice Drake, on failing to Falding had been nabbed on a westbound tenced to four years imprisonment in the receive from Prevost an accounting of Northern Pacific Railroad train when it Provincial Penitentiary his wife and their monies held for a disputed estate, ordered stopped at Spokane. Apparently Falding five children moved to a farm in the Prevost’s accounting records to be sent had sobered up at the home of a relative Cowichan area. The two boys secured to Provincial Auditor WJ. Goepel for in St. Paul and was on the way back to employment in the Mt. Sicker mining examination. the Pacific Coast to face the music. Pro works. On his release from prison, J.C. As Prevost had not been seen since the vincial Constable W. Bullock-Webster Prevost worked in the office of one of morning of Friday August 23, the ru was dispatched to Spokane to pick up the remoter sawmills in the Cowichan mour quickly spread that he must have Falding, who waived extradition and ar District. In time the Prevost family be boarded the S.S. Warrimoo, of the Ca rived back in New Westminster in Bul came well respected members of the nadian Australasian Line which had left lock-Webster’s custody on September 7. Cowichan community, the eldest son, H. Victoria at 4 p.m. on Friday bound for The Colonist in turn was able to re Fairfax Prevost serving for some years as Honolulu, T.H. and Sydney, Australia. port on September 6 that Prevost had mayor of Duncan. In those days before wireless telegraphy, been captured the previous day in Roche The newspapers accounts of the time there was little hope of intercepting Harbour on San Juan Island. It tran made much of the simultaneous disap Prevost on board the vessel. spired that he had borrowed a small sloop pearance of the two Supreme Court reg At the same time as the Prevost affair from a friend and had been dodging istrars. The parallels were intriguing. captured the front page of the Victoria about the entrance to Puget Sound. Both fugitives were family men of irre Colonist, wide-eyed subscribers to the Prevost also waived sanctuary in the proachable British descent who held high New Westminster Columbian were U.S.A. and crossed the next day to Vic office in the Province. A calm retrospec reading that a warrant had been issued toria. tive view a century later, however, finds for the arrest on a charge of embezzle On October 23, Falding pled guilty in the coincidence much less remarkable. ment of William Henry Falding, Regis Supreme Court to misappropriation of It is highly doubtful that any conspiracy trar of the Supreme Court in New funds and was sentenced to 18 months existed between Falding and Prevost, but Westminster. Falding had left New West in gaol, cognizance being taken of a it is quite plausible that when Falding minster on August 23, bound for Victo drinking problem which had besmirched heard that an audit of Prevost’s accounts ria, but had not turned up in the Capital a hitherto spotless record. He did not had been ordered, he panicked and Cit)6 serve the full sentence, however for by elected to disappear before a similar au Falding, like Prevost, was a favoured 1896 he, his wife and their three young dit might be ordered ofhis own accounts. member of the B.C. Establishment. children were already starting a new life Born in England in 1858 to the wife of in the burgeoning mining town of E.L. “Ted”Affleck is a very active senior living the Rector of Rotherham, he had emi Rossland, where Mrs. Falding’s brother- in Vancouve, Besides researching and writing grated to New Westminster in 1878 and in-law was conducting a thriving legal history be plays in a Seniors’ Orchestra, volun teers at Brock House, and has been in 1880 had married Georgina Charlotte practice. Falding ajudgefor secured employment the B.C. Historical Federation Writing Com petition.

35 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997j98 NEWS & NOTES Harbour Details Sought these will be Links to other historical socie the 1920’s. Since the service began in is Gordon Miller has been commissioned to ties, museums, archives and similarly related September the list of researchers growing numbers for create paintings depicting the early years organizations. Please send John Spittle and so are the of requests (1850-1920 in the harbours at Victoria and ([email protected]) your URL of you wish to be assistance. included and feel free to reciprocate by using Vancouver. He seeks pictures, accounts of Authors Excitement on these ours. events happening waterfronts or On November 3 a truck bearing boxes and or buildings. written descriptions of wharves Theatre History boxes from Wayside Press unloaded at the contact If you can help in any way please Jim Hoffman, an instructor in theatre at the Nelson Museum. Author Art Joyce and West Third Gordon at 2636 Avenue, Vancou University College of the Cariboo, recently Curator Shawn Lamb did a little war dance. ver, B.C. V6K 1M3 or phone (604) 731- did extensive research in England. He Your editor was allowed a peek at the fresh 8492. discovered that a play “Nootka Sound” was off-the-press book A Perfect Childhood: Pixie M. Seeks a Successor performed at Covent Garden several times 100 Years of Heritage Homes in Nelson. 15th The Chair of the B.C. Historical Federation between 1790 and 1796. There is also the Booklaunch was November and sales Writing Competition has thoroughly enjoyed possibility that the song Rule Bntannia was start at $23.95. written to be performed with that show. her role which entailed receiving new books, Reo Rides Again dispensing them to the judges, convening a Freeman of the City of Nanaimo In 1912, Thomas W. Wilby and Chauffeur! announcing judges’ meeting and the prize Former BCHF secretary, Don Sale, was mechanic, Fonce Val (Jack) Haney crossed winners. Do you wish to volunteer for this honored by the mayor of Nanaimo on Canada from Atlantic to Pacific in a Reo 5 1st, 1998. position? Duties to start May October 1st, when in a private ceremony at passenger touring car on what was dubbed Please talk to Pixie McGeachie at (604) 522- Dover House, a medal declaring Don is now the “All Red Route”. The Kootenay leg of this Miller (250) 2062 or Naomi at 422-3594. a freeman of the city, was presented. intriguing journey was recorded in two Women’s History Network articles which appeared in the British Historical Researchers Available Columbia Historical News (Fall 1987), This group held a conference in Mission on The Vancouver Historical Society has Winter 1990 and combined for a current web September 26 and 27. The weekend inaugurated a new service designed to site: http:!/www.netidea.com/—observer/ featured good meals, a visit to Hatzic Rock connect researchers and clients seeking features!heritage!redroute.htm) (Xa:ytem Longhouse), and guest speakers assistance with historical research. This has been re-enacted eighty- Gordon Mohs, Valerie Billesberger, and John service meets a long-felt need among This historic trip Lorne Findlay, followed in Lutz. Organizers were Suzanne Matheson, members of the historical community. The five years later by a his wife, Irene, and son, Peter. Cyndie Bartos and Lynda Maeve Orr. general public has not always known how to motorhome by The daily events of the 1997 trip appear on a Readers wishing more information on this find historical researchers. Even historians organization can write to WHN/BC at #1 09- may not know who is available to do re web page: http:/!stargate.vsb.bc.calautotour/ Nicol, author of 1755 Salton Road, Abbotsford, B.C. V2S search. Too often, librarians, archivists and newsdays.htm) John a short Orr monograph about this epic trip (Jack Haney, 7C5 or contact Lunda Maeve do the others have met with a plaintive cry “where her 1989), is going along for the ride in order to Burnaby Village Museum or home (604) can I find someone to help me?” Sometimes first-hand experience for a lengthier 584-4887. they are able to make a recommendation, but gain book comparing the 1912 and 1997 motoring St. Ann’s Academy Restored often they have had to reply, “I don’t know:’ with the establishment of the Historical tours. A beautiful old building has been restored Now Service, HRRS for short, a client BCHF President, Ron Welwood, was and reopened to the public. Four Sisters of Referral merely has to get in touch with the Vancouver fortunate to be able to ride in the front seat of St. Ann arrived in Victoria in 1858 to serve as Historical Society via the web-site at httpll this “air conditionecf’ automobile from Balfour teachers for the children of newly arrived www.vcn.bc.calvhs or at the Vancouver to Nelson, B.C. (35 km); and Past President, settlers. The first Academy was a mere Informational line at 878-9140 and make a Alice Glanville, had the opportunity to cabin, followed by larger space on View detailed request. Or a letter can be sent to entertain the modern day Reoists in Grand Street. The building of the present complex Box 3071, Vancouver, V6B 3X6. The home Forks. began in 1871, with expansion in 1886 and phone of committee chair, H. Shore, is (604) again in 1910. The B.C. Building Corporation 731-9588. Hedley Success has been using part of the complex for office space, and will continue this area of manage A list of researchers with their areas of This winter the Museum, Gift Shop and Tea ment while the Provincial Capital Commis expertise and references is kept by the Room will be open five days a week 10am -5 sion will control the chapel and interpretive Vancouver Historical Society enabling a quick pm (closed Monday & Tuesday) Chuck centre. The Academy Gardens will be response to someone looking for expert Schmidt pays rent for the Wild Goat Gift upgraded and opened as a public green assistance in researching historical topics. Shop.

space - effectively extending Beacon Hill Park Once the client and the researcher are This helps pay for upkeep of the building - and connecting it with downtown. The official connected they make their own arrange like the new roof recently applied. This is the reopening was conducted on July 12, 1997. ments as to terms and conditions of work. first time for a winter program. Vancouver Historical Society Requests may come from an individual outside of the lower mainland looking for Web Site - http://www.vcn.bc.ca/vhs someone to do a search on her ancestors in The VHS Home Page is now being updated Vancouver, or from someone outside the on a regular basis and new features will be province looking for background information added during the coming months. Among on roads linking Montreal and Vancouver in

36 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997198 BOOKSH ELF Books for review and book reviews should be sent directly to the Book Review Editor: Anne Yandle, 3450 West 20th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. V6S 1 E4

HR. A Biography of H.R. MacMillan. Ken him to head their forestry schools; one invitation new board of directors, whose first task was to Drushka. Madeira Park, B.C., Harbour came from Bernard Femow, who had become avoid bankruptcy. MacMillan was new to the in Publishing, 1995. 416 p., illus. $39.95, hard Dean of the school at Toronto, and wanted dustry, but Drushka remarks upon his “capacity cover. MacMillan to succeed him. But H.R. decided to for taking on a diverse variety of tasks, without This biography is an illuminating chronicle of enter business instead and became assistant man losing track of the details in any one of them.” an extraordinary life. It may surprise many to ager of a lumber company based at Chemainus. The fishing industry intrigued him; he visited can find that it is a rags to riches story. Harvey His experience there was not happy, and only neries strung along the West Coast to become Reginald MacMillan was “born and raised in ob a year later he moved to a new and much more familiar with details. In 1933 he became Presi scure poverty on a small farm north of Toronto.” exciting assignment British airplane losses in the dent of B.C. Packers; three years later, despite His father died when he was two and he and his war were mounting; one of the vital needs for the depression, it returned a small dividend; and, mother were forced to live apart with relatives. building replacements was Sitka spruce, the larg within a few years, through the Export Company, Deliverance came at the age of 15; he was hoe est available supply of which was in British Co he had gained control of it ing potatoes one day when a man driving by lumbia, much of it in the Queen Charlottes. The In 1958 MacMillan decided to resign as Chair stopped and told him that scholarships were avail British Imperial Munitions Board set up a subsidi man of MacMillan & Bloedel, as his company had able at the Ontario Agricultural College (now the ary in Vancouver to tackle the spruce supply prob become. As a successor he chose J.V. Clyne, a University of Guelph). MacMillan hated agricul lem, and late in 1917 MacMillan became its justice of the Supreme Court of British Colum ture, but the scholarship took him off the land, assistant director. His task was to secure vast bia. Drushka remarks that why he did so “is one and summer jobs kept him safely away from it quantities of airplane quality spruce as quickly as of the great mysteries of Canadian business” as It was at Guelph that he first encountered for possible, and to do this he had to “organize from Clyne had had no business experience. Certainly estry, and in particular the ideas brought to North scratch” what Drushka describes as “the biggest the consequences were not what MacMillan had America some years before by Bernard Femow, logging show anyone ever attempted to put to anticipated. He had always endeavoured to raise a German forester. The objective was a perma gether.” A tentative objective of three million capital within Canada; Clyne looked to other nent industry based on sustained yield, instead of board feet per month was reached in July 1918, markets, notably the United States. MacMillan the smash-and-grab tactics that brought quick and this had been tripled by the end of the war. had kept the operations of his companies largely profits but left the forests devastated. A Forestry MacMillan was to perform a comparable feat confined to Canada; under Clyne they became Branch had been established in Ottawa, and in the Second World War. He had been called to involved in operations in such diverse locations MacMillan secured summer employment with the Ottawa by the redoubtable C.D. Howe to serve as the Netherlands, Alabama and Australia. All survey parties it sent to the West as Timber Controller, but within months the heavy this was accompanied by a steady effort to push After graduating from OAC, MacMillian decided toll being taken by U-boats made it clear that an MacMillan into the background. to pursue graduate studies at Yale’s forestry school. emergency shipbuilding programme to produce Drushka throws considerable light on It was a two-year course and in the intervening replacement ships was essential. Late in March MacMillan’s philanthropic activities. He gave summer MacMillan joined a party that was to tim 1941 MacMillan became head of a new agency, many millions to causes that interested him, with ber cruise in British Columbia - his first introduc Wartime Merchant Shipping, with headquarters UBC at the top of the list The Vancouver Foun tion to the province that was to make his name in Montreal. He tackled the assignment with his dation, the Vancouver Aquarium and the and fortune. When he graduated in 1908, all usual speed and efficiency. By early April he had MacMillan Planetarium were all supported liber seemed set fair for a successful career, but disas placed orders for a hundred standard cargo ships ally. In 1965 he gave the UBC Library ter struck in the form of advanced tuberculosis - with Canadian yards; the first of them was $3,000,000 for the purchase of books - the larg the disease that had killed his father. launched in October and went to sea on her first est grant of the kind ever given to a Canadian

To many it would have been a mortal blow, voyage on December 7 -- Pearl Harbor Day. As library. Conditions were often attached to his gifts; but H.R. faced it with the determination charac Eastern yards were heavily engaged in repairing in this instance he specified that the money was teristic of him. The battle lasted thirty months, damaged ships, the bulk of the orders were placed to be spent on books and on books only - UBC but he emerged cured and ready to resume his with western yards, with the Burrard yard in North was to meet the very substantial cost of catalogu career. The Forestry Branch was again his em Vancouver at the top of the list ing them. Every gift or grant was followed ployer until 1912, when the organization of a for MacMillan had vastly increased his activities in promptly by a letter or telegram confirming the est service in British Columbia offered a new the inter-war years. He had acquired sawmills gift and recalling any conditions that had been opportunity. In May 1912 he was appointed its and had become one of the major lumber pro attached to it first Chief Forester. ducers in the province. He had experienced first The book is rich in detail, but one wishes that a MacMillan assembled a staff (no small task as hand the difficulties of securing orders for lumber little more had been said about MacMillan’s close trained foresters were still few in number) and from distant customers and of securing space in associates, notably WJ. VanDusen. Fernow in launched a forestry management programme. All cargo ships to fill them. In 1919, in association troduced him to MacMillan at a meeting in Mon seemed set fair until 1914 and the outbreak of with Montague Meyer of London, who had been treal as early as 1908 and H.R. recruited him for war. The impact on the British Columbia lum British timber controller during the war, he or the B.C. Forest Service in 1913. A decade later bering industry was severe, It had depended ganized the H.R. MacMillan Export Company: he persuaded him to leave the Service and join heavily on American brokers for orders and on Meyer would secure orders in Europe; MacMillan the Export Company. They were close associ sea transport; the war diverted the interests of one would fill them. Except for the odd lean year, the ates thereafter, and he prospered with the com and disrupted the other. The B.C. Government Export Company expanded rapidly. Securing pany. As a philanthropist he rivalled MacMillan; decided that some first-hand knowledge of world space in cargo ships continued to be a problem, he was virtual founder of the Vancouver Founda markets was essential and sent MacMillan on a and in 1921 MacMillan founded the Canadian tion; and to it and the related Van Dusen Founda tour that took him to Britain, South Africa, India Transport Company to solve it At times it had as tion he gave in all more than a hundred million and Australia. many as forty or fifty ships on long-term charters. dollars. Home again, H.R. was restless. He felt that In 1930 he had become involved in another the B.C. Forest Service was “in for some lean industry - fisheries. B.C. Packers, “the largest fish W. Kaye Lamb, years” and he had no lack of opportunities for processing company on the West Coast” was in Dr. Lamb is former Dominion Archivist and alternative employment Four universities wanted financial difficulties. H.R. was invited to join a Librarian, and jbrmer Honorary President of

37 B.C. Historical News - Winter 1997198 BOOKSH ELF

the B. C. Historical Association. day, rather than its parallel. $16.95, paperback ISBN: 0-9697703-1-1-6 Great Canadian Political Cartoons, 1820 I found particularly fascinating the visual com The authors of community histories vary con to 1914. Charles and Cynthia Hou. Vancouver: mentaries on social and cultural aspects of Cana siderably in their qualifications as historians. Walter Moody’s Lookout Press, 1997. 232 p. $39.95, da’s political culture. The image of Macdonald Guppy lays claim to credentials as good as most paperback telling Native people to “get civilized or else” is an “Somebody had to write a history of Clayoquot Consider, for a moment, the following image. obvious example, but there are many others Sound... (and) I have lived here for the better It shows a stem looking Sir John A. Macdonald, throughout the book. Prostitution, the growing part of three-quarters of a century.” dressed as a police officer, facing outward from a tension between capital and labour, the power of Beginning with the arrival of the first European precipice high above the Pacific Ocean at the the Roman Catholic Church, anxiety among the missionary in 1875, and progressing through the Western edge of Canada. Behind him stand a country’s dominant French and English-speaking coming of “the hippie element” about a century throng of European men and women, shovels and groups over the ethnically diverse character of later, Clayoquot Soundings presents a strong suitcases in hand. They have just disembarked immigrants in the early 1900s, and the place of theme that underlies the region’s history: the from a railway train, above which floats the word women in society are commented on, sometimes movement of Clayoquot and Tofino from the era “civilization.” On the horizon the glow of a set in ways that appear to be quite outrageous and of simple focus on primary industries to its present ting sun shouts “Westward Ho!”, as if enticing controversial. Take, for example, the cartoon period of conflict and change. settlers to a land of dreams. But not all is sunny published by Bob Edwards of The Eye Opener Guppy lays heavy emphasis on economic and in this visual story, for in front of the Prime Minis in Calgary on the occasion of a visit to Canada in industrial events in the region’s history; a large ter, cowering against the continent’s edge, hud 1910 by British feminist Emmeline Pankhurst. portion of the book’s sectional titles describe log dle four First Nations people, apprehensive, Entitled “Mrs. Pankhurst, at Toronto: the day will ging, fishing and mining developments, or make scared, and clearly on the defensive. The police come when women will sit in your Canadian Par reference to specific industrial companies. Per officer, his baton hovering menacingly above liament,” it portrays women MPs in what by to haps indicative of trends to come is the story of a them, barks out a stern and authoritative warn day’s standards would be considered a blatantly legendary early pioneer, Frederick Tibbs, who ing: “Here you copper colored gentlemen, no loaf sexist manner. One woman asks a male col occupied Tibbs Island and immediately “removed ing allowed, you must either work or jump.” What league, “Is my hat on straight,” while another sug all the timber from the island, leaving only one tall European concepts like “loafing” could have gests, “Let’s have a cup of tea.” A third woman tree.. meant to Native people who were after all, just MP is sitting on the knee of MP Frederick Borden. The author presents a highly significant list of “living” here, much as they had done for centu What are we to make of this? Is the cartoonist Clayoquot-Tofino residents from the 1918 Brit ries, is open to speculation. But what is clear is satirizing the cause of suffrage for women, or is ish Columbia Directory. The fifty-three residents that the cartoon, published on 20 June 1885 in he intending to be ironic, and critical of male atti were all male, and virtually all were connected the Toronto Evening News, offers a classic state tudes? with logging, fishing or mining. Commenting on ment of the “conquest” that lies at the heart of The cartoons can be read at two levels, as a the absence of female listings in the directory nation-building in nineteenth-century Canada. straight-up presentation of contrasting views of Guppy says, “by 1913 there were some second- Native peoples had two choices, according to the Canadian life, which Charles and Cynthia Hou generation sons of settlers, so there obviously had Prime Minister: either join “civilization” or face have done much to emphasize by choosing car to be women here.” extinction. toons that offer conflicting points of view; or as Also present were a large Native population and This cartoon is one of 336 carefully selected visual metaphors that can be “read” for “mean an important Japanese population. It is a credit and sharply reproduced by Charles and Cynthia ing.” The visual presentation of countries as able feature of this history that it gives reasonable Hou in their privately-published volume, Great women, of French Canadians as happy farmers acknowledgement of their roles in the commu Canadian Political Cartoons. The images re named “Baptiste”, or of businessmen as bloated nity. flect widely on Canadian political life from the plutocrats comes to mind. At whatever level, the Early in the twentieth century the centre of ac 1840s to the First World War, with one lone car book is fun to read. It will appeal to both a gen tivity moved from the settlement at Clayoquot on toon dating from an earlier period, in 1820. The eral audience and to history teachers, for whom Stubbs Island to the growing new village of Tofino. visual commentary that emerges is as diverse as the cartoon images offer an exciting way to illus Nevertheless, “Clayoquot (retained) the only beer the complex history of Canada itself. Politicians trate Canadian attitudes from times past The parlour up-coast from Port Alberni.” such as Sir John A. Macdonald, Sir Wilfrid Launer, House have chosen to present the cartoons with Early logging in Clayoquot, driven by a demand and Henri Bourassa figure prominently, as do out analytical comment, yet an interpretive essay for cedar in the eastern United States, was limited such predictable themes as Confederation, the Na on cartoons as a communication form might have by the necessity of shipping the product around tional Policy, anxiety about the power and influ added usefully to our appreciation of their politi Cape Horn. Much of the Clayoquot’s history cen ence of our southern neighbour, the naval cal function. The credits, set off in a separate sec tres on the evolution of improved contact with question, Canada’s ties to Britain, and French- tion at the end of the book, are also rather the rest of the world. Guppy identifies the critical English relations. But even for those of us who inaccessible. That said, the book is beautifully moment in this development: in the 1950s B.C. teach Canadian history the cartoons constantly produced, and the cartoons selected original and Forest Products promised the residents of Tofino delight the reader with new insights on familiar provocative. Great Canadian Political Cartoons and Ucluelet that, in exchange for public support topics. One of my favourites is a simple sketch belongs in every Canadian history classroom in of the company’s timber operations, the forest showing three images of a civil servant “at work”; the country. It will have a prominent place in company would construct a road into the region published in Quebec City journal called “La Scie” mine. from Port Alberni. In October 1964, when this in April 1866, the portrayal of the man named road was opened to the public, Tofino and Pacot lounging, snoozing, and yawning while on Robert McDonald, Clayoquot region entered the present era of tour the job was clearly controversial, and resulted in Department of History - University ism and residential development The region also the arrest of the cartoonist Two caricatures of of British Columbia. became the theatre of land use conflict that it tends the Senate as a home for aged politicians have to be nowadays. contemporary relevance, as does a striking im Although Clayoquot Soundings is a fine in age from 1882 asking if Macdonald intends to dustrial history of the district, it lacks a dimension abolish provincial autonomy by centralizing power Clayoquot Soundings: A History of that has given some recent community histories in Ottawa. Unlike the Senate cartoons, however, Clayoquot Sound, 1880s - 1980s. Guppy, (a good example is Time and Tide, Pat Wastell the latter stands out for its contrast to the present Walter. Tofino, Grassroots Publication, 1997. Norris’ 1995 history of Telegraph Cove) their spe

38 B.C Historical News - Winter 19978 BOOKSHELF

cial depth. In Walter Guppy’s narrative, individual proposition of Vancouvers’ Island was a little star natives that was common until modem times.” persons emerge only as names that - pop up briefly tling at first from its great distance away - but I The topics and contents of Sarah’s letters are in the text When the author mentions the names am quite ready dearest to consider that as our sometimes repetitious, a reflection of the quiet of persons who were the “characters” of the early future home if it pleases God to direct our steps cyde of her life in England and the frequency with Clayoquot region, the reader wishes for a few thither.” Bridge’s attention to archival detail, as which she wrote. What is compelling are the anecdotal paragraphs that might bring these per demonstrated in reporting the contents of the insights gained about her relationship with Henry. sonalities to life. seven boxes Sarah packed for her new life in She becomes more and more candid about “very Among the best features of the history is its Canada, provides additional insights into Sarah’s boldly” expressing her love. At the same time impressive album of Photographs of Clayoquot character. The boxes contained such necessities she is always deferential, emphasizing that while people, landscapes, boats and settlement from as featherbeds, house linens, wash tubs, a brown Henry is “as constant to me as my own shadow. about 1900 to the present day. Browsing through teapot, sketch books, and “1 doz. old Port - 5 you do not follow, but are always before me. this excellent collection of photos, one gains an bot Champagne - 2 bot Gin.” She explains to Both Henry & Self and Sarah Lindley’s Fam intimate feeling for the homesteads, classrooms, Henry that “If we can start with these comforts I ily Letters to Henry Crease provide readers with fishermen and school-children that . . have com shall be very thankful. . I will do my best to an intimate peek at life in an earlier era. prised the Clayoquot communities. extract all the good I can out of them.” A very thorough index makes Clayoquot From the time of her arrival, Sarah’s letters, Sheryl Salloum, Soundings useful as a reference source. sketches and paintings provide intriguing details Sheryl Salloum is the author of of colonial life. According to Bridge, Sarah’s Malcolm Lowry: Vancouver Days (Harbor Phillip Teece, sketches “document human aspects of the colony Publishing, 1987) and Underlying Vibrations: Greater Victoria Public Library the previous regime of the Hudson’s Bay The Photography and Life of John Company. .. objective information about the size, Vanderpant (Horsdal & Schubert, 1995). situation, and composition of the aboriginal set

tlement, . . . and subjectively reveal clues as to Henry & Self: The Private life of Sarah the attitudes and perspectives of the artist” Crease 1826-1922. Kathryn Bridge. Victoria, BC The book concludes with Sarah’s 1880 jour Cathedral Grove (MacMillan Park). Sono Nis Press, 1996. 2l6.p., illus. $21.95 nal of a three month trip she took to the Cariboo Jan Peterson. Lantzville, Oolichan Books, Kathryn Bridge used the diaries, letters, and Kamloops with Henry as he travelled on the 1996. 133 p.’ thus., $19.95, paperback. sketches, photographs and other records of the assize court circuit as a puisne judge. Bridge also Cathedral Grove is a place where many peo Crease Family Collection housed in the B.C. Ar includes the letters Sarah wrote to and received ple first experience the coastal forest as it was chives to portray the world of a Victorian woman from her children during the trip. Bridge’s de before European settlement This tiny tract of gi who was raised in England and emigrated to Brit tailed annotations bring these documents to life, ant cedars and Douglas firs, also known as ish Columbia in 1859. The eldest daughter of illustrating their richness as a historical resource. MacMillan Park, inspires awe (hence its name), a John Lindley, a noted botanist and horticulturist; Relying heavily on Sarah’s own voice and those fair bit of poetry, and enough photography to keep Sarah’s life was framed by relationships with her of her female relatives, Bridge provides readers Kodak stocks healthy. Unlike many of the huge family, friends, and the social activities of the day. with an intriguing biography that interweaves his nature preserves being created today, Cathedral Her documented impressions provides portrait a torical record with a female perspective. The re grove, situated on Vancouver Island near Port of a charming and complex individual; and, as sult is a story that has multiple levels and which, Alberni, is easily accessible; nearly a quarter of a Bridge points out, Sarah’s “contemporary obser in Bridge’s words, gives “flesh, face, and person million tourists visit it each year. But as Jan vations about people and circumstances provide ality” to facts and statistics. Peterson points out in Cathedral Grove a unique insight into B.C. history, and in particu (MacMillan Park) it is noteworthy not only for its lar a long-needed female perspective. We can Sarah Lindley’s Family Letters to Henry mystical magnificence but also for being learn the focus much about nineteenth century perspectives Crease - Part One 1949; Part Two - 1850-1851; of British Columbia’s first fight for the preselva on class and race through Sarah’s comments.” Part Three - 1852-1855. Robert M. Hamilton. lion of old-growth forest In 1849 Sarah was engaged to Henry Crease, 9211 Beckwith Road, Richmond, B.C. V6X 1V7 This well-researched book provides a compact whose family was involved in the mining indus (604) 278-2566. history of the coastal logging and tourist indus try. The financial difficulties that he experienced Anyone wanting to read more of Sarah Lindley tries, of the evolution of the movement to save in England during their engagement and early Crease’s letters will be thankful to Robert M. Ham the Grove, and of the development of the pro years of their marriage caused Sarah and Henry ilton who has “gathered, transcribed, indexed and vincial park as government and industry finally to suffer lengthy separations. Sarah’s frequent issued provisionally in photocopy” (1996; 1997) negotiated the land transfers and park titles nec letters to Henry reveal much about her character, three collections (Part Four is forthcoming). Each essary to protect the forest It also gives an ac the details of every day life, and the mores of the included a brief introduction, a list of sketches, count of the continuing campaigns to keep period. Bridge notes that “Sarah learned patience and an index. While interesting and informative, Cathedral Grove viable as both a forest and a tour of a sort which many others could never master. the selected sketches and illustrations are not al ist attraction. Over the many decades it took to The long painful wait before marriage taught her ways as clear as one would like due to the photo create the park, numerous individuals and groups that nothing in life comes easily and once copying process. played a part in having the forest preserved; achieved, should never be taken for granted.” The correspondence is one-sided as there are Peterson includes biographies of the good, the Financially ruined in 1857, Henry travelled to only a few extant letters to Sarah from Henry. bad, and the bureaucratic. These vignettes make Canada in the hopes of making enough money Part Two contains an account of a 100 mile boat some of the most interesting reading as they cast to pay off his debts. Sarah and their children were race Henry participated in on Lake Superior in many of the familiar characters of B.C. logging left behind not knowing what their futures held. the summer of 1850. He described the race as history in conservationist roles that might surprise Bridge notes that returning “to live with her par one “in which the pure Red man was pitted against some readers. There is also a section on the trees ents marks a remarkable yet typical situation for representatives of several of the great families of and plants to be found in MacMillan Park, women at this time.” and a the White man.” Henry’s lively account sheds selection of the poetry and other writing inspired After beginning work as a barrister in Fort Vic some light on his personality. As Hamilton points by this 31-acre refuge. The footnotes, bibliogra toria, Henry writes Sarah that she and the chil out, Henry’s account also reflects “a slight degree phy, and index are thorough and useful spring dren should emigrate. She replies, “Your of romantic or adversary racism regarding the boards to more information should the reader 39 B.c. Historical News - Winter 1997,8 BOOKSHELF desire it By 1974, growing interest in heritage issues had Donna Jean Mackinnon, It is a shame that the budget couldn’t run to precipitated the City to formulate the Heritage Donna Jean MacKinnon is President of the color illustrations, but what the graphics lack in Advisory Committee. It came out with a list of 22 Vancouver Historical Society glitt they make up for in generosity. There are Vancouver buildings earmarked for preservation, over 45 pages of historical and present-day pho but Roedde House was not among them. The tos, editorial cartoons, and maps, informatively house did, however, make it on to the Advisory captioned. Committee’s “B” listing the following year, much Grizzlies & White Guys; The Stories of All this background is packed into approxi to the chagrin of the Roedde House advocates. Clayton Mack. Madeira Park, B.C., Harbour mately 65 pages of reader-friendly text It can be Under the “B” designation, the house was vul Publishing, 1993. 239 p., illus. $17.95, paper used as a textbook for successful park develop nerable to non-heritage renovations, demolition, back ment Or, if read before visiting the forest, it can or to moving. After much pressuring, Roedde Clayton Mack was born in 1910 at Nieumianus serve as a resource that will help the reader ap House was rightfully placed on the “A” listing, Creek near Bella Coola, a member of the Nuxalk preciate what both nature and a community of ensuring it full heritage protection. (Bella Coola) Nation. He died at Bella Coola in dedicated and patient conservationists can Heritage architect Peter Cotton from Victoria 1993. In his final years, he enjoyed telling stories achieve. and architectural historian and planner Jacques of his life, and some of them were recorded by Susan Stacey, Dalibard from Heritage Canada gave the preser his physician, Harvey Thommasen. Susan Stacey, a Richmond writer is the co vationists detailed assessments on the condition Like many of his generation of First Nations author of Salmonopolis, the of the house and ideas for use of the site. It was, people, Clayton Mack never received much for Steveston Story. in fact, Dalibard’s vision that led to the creation of mal education. His career followed whatever the Heritage Live-in Park that Roedde House opportunities presented themselves, and he had eventually became. The group lobbied for full experience as a cannery worker, agricultural la authentic restoration of the house and its sur bourer, fisher, rancher, trapper, logging company More Than a House. Janet Bingham. Van rounding grounds, with the goal of making it Van owner, rodeo cowboy, and movie actor. But he couver, Roedde House Preservation Society, couver’s first house museum. achieved greatness as a guide for wealthy grizzly 1996. 109 p., illus. $14.95, paperback. Then began a series of consultations, reports, bear hunters. This book is a recollection of the life of Roedde and presentations that spanned nearly ten years. Intelligent and cool-headed, and intimately fa

House - from start to finish, beginning with the In the process of garnering public support, the miliar with the Central Coast bear habitat, for over inspiration to preserve the West End house and Roedde House Preservation Society was formed, fifty years Mack attracted a steady clientele of proceeding to tell about the original Owners and a body through which the preservationists could wealthy patrons willing to pay big money to kill their special place in Vancouver’s early cultural organize, lobby, and gain publicity. It found itself record size grizzly bears. He rarely disappointed landscape. It culminates with a first hand recol in an interesting situation vis-a-vis the then City them. lection of the strategies used by an early preser Council, with the left-leaning aldermen being op Though he was invited to hobnob with the elite vation society to raise public support and funds posed to the eviction of the low-rent tenants and of Los Angeles, including California Governor and carry out the work of renovating what had the right-leaning aldermen opposed to spending Brown, Mack found the experience bewildering, become a decrepit old house. to renovate old houses. As public support for the and returned to his home as soon as he could. Architectural historian and heritage activist, project grew, however, it soon became apparent As a guide, he was paid to suffer fools gladly. He Janet Bingham’s prose flows logically and natu that it was merely a matter of time before the site had admiration for some of his clients, but dis rally from one section of the book to the next - no would be granted special status and given a dain for others who wasted wildlife resources, doubt a recollection of her close interest and in chance to regain its former glory. failed to listen to instructions, or were inattentive volvement with the preservation process of the Rounding out the historical, biographical, and to the dangers of the wilderness. He also had house up to its current status as a living museum. political components of the Roedde House story criticism for the actions of archaeologists and Fish The personal approach is seamlessly supple is the nitty-gritty of the preservation process, what and Wildlife officers. mented by information acquired through inter renovations to do first and why, and when to hire He had much greater respect for sasquatches, views, newspaper articles, books, and archival professionals or rely on the group’s joint judge which he encountered three times, and for grizzly documents. ment and experience. Bingham talks about the bears, whose behaviour and habits he understood The story begins with the history of the Roedde moments of impasse when paint colours had to thoroughly. family, their early business. Built in 1893, the so- be determined, and decisions made about the Editor Harvey Thommasen is to be called Roedde House is attributed to the notori spending of precious renovation funds. And the commended for not editing out Clayton Mack’s ous architect Francis Mawson Rattenbury, who reader learns about installing modern plumbing economical but grammatically imperfect English left Vancouver soon afterward to launch his ca and heating and about the attainment of work usage. Grizzlies and White Guys offers a rare and reer in Victoria. This, along with its reputation as project grants to do some of the time-consuming delightful glimpse into the life of an exceptional an outstanding example of the Queen Anne re and repetitive work like scraping off old wallpa British Columbian. vival style of architecture, and the pioneer book per and removing cedar panellings and mould A sequel, More Stories from Clayton Mack has binding family who originally lived there made ings Four years after the exterior renovations also been published by Harbour Publishing. for a strong foundation upon which to build Van began, the interior restoration work got underway. couver’s young heritage movement In May 1990, the Roedde House Museum was James E. Bowman. In the 1960’s, the City of Vancouver did not officially opened by then Mayor Gordon Jim Bowman is a Calgary archivist have a policy regarding the demolition or preser Campbell. It is now a house museum and also vation of old houses in the city. However, a few plays host to a number of special events through years later, under the auspices of the Community out the year. Arts Council of Vancouver, a group of interested Anyone curious about the process of lobbying historians, architects, and others began to lobby for heritage projects, renovation of old structures, local politicians to preserve some of the old, and or the history of Vancouver and its first prestig at onetime, prestigious houses in the rapidly grow ious neighbourhood, the West End, will enjoy the ing West End. At that time, owned by the City of multi-faceted picture presented in this book by Vancouver, it served as low-cost rental housing. Janet Binghasm.

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BC HISTORICAL FEDERATION WRITING COMPETITION

The British Columbia Historical Federation invites submissions of books for the sixteenth annual Com petition for Writers of B.C. History. Any book presenting any facet of B.C. history, published in 1998, is eligible. 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.” The judges 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 Merritt in May 1999. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: All books must have been published in 1998 and 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 P. McGeachie 7953 Rosewood Street, Burnaby, B.C. V5E 2H4 DEADLINE: December 31, 1998.

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 3,000 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 applicable, and a brief caption. Photos will be returned to the writer.) Please send articles directly to: The Editor, B.C. Historical News, RO. Box 105,Wasa, B.C. VOB2K0