MEMBER SOCIETIES Member Societies and their Secretaries are responsible for seeing that the correct address for their society is up to date. Please send any change to both the Treasurer and the Editor at the addresses inside the back cover. The Annual Return as at October 31 should include telephone numbers for contact.

MEMBERS’ DUES for the current year were paid by the following Societies: Alberni District Historical Society Box 284, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y7M7 Arrow Lakes Historical Society Box 584, Nakusp, B.C. VOB1RO Atlin Historical Society Box 111, Atlin, B.C. VOWlAO 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. V9L3Y2 District 69 Historical Society Box 1452, Parksville, B.C. V9P 2H4 East Kootenay Historical Association RO. Box 74, Cranbrook, B.C. Vi C 4H6 Gavel Historical Society 3 - 1384 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. V6H 1J6 Gulf Islands Branch, BCHF do A. Loveridge, S.22, C.11, RR#i, Galiano. VON1P0 Hedley Heritage Society Box 218, Hedley, B.C. VOX 1KO Koksilah School Historical Society 5213 Trans Canada Highway, Koksilah, B.C. VOR2C0 Kootenay Museum & Historical Society 402 Anderson Street, Nelson, B.C. Vi L3Y3 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 Association 1541 Merlynn Crescent, North Vancouver, B.C. V7J 2X9 North Shuswap Historical Society Box 22, Celista, B.C. VOE1LO Princeton & District Museum &Archives Box 687, 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. V8L3Y3 Silvery Slocan Historical Society Box 301, New Denver, B.C. VOG150 Surrey Historical Society Box 34003 5790 - 175th Street Surrey, B.C. V3S 1C8 Trail Historical Society RO. Box 405, Trail, B.C. ViR 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 AFFILIATED GROUPS

Boundary Historical Society Box 580, Grand Forks, B.C. VOH1HO Bowen Island Historians Box 97, Bowen Island, B.C. VON1GO Fort St. James Historical Society Box 1421, Kwah Road, Fort St. James, B.C. VOJ 1P0 Fort Steele Heritage Town Fort Steele, B.C. VOB1NO Kamloops Museum Association 207 Seymour Street, Kamloops, B.C. V2C 2E7 Kootenay Lake Historical Society Box 537, Kaslo, B.C. VOG1MO Lasqueti Island Historical Society Lasqueti Island, B.C. VOR2JO Nanaimo District Museum Society 100 Cameron Road, Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2X1 Okanagan Historical Society Box 313, Vernon, B.C. V1T6M3

SUBSCRIPTIONS / BACK ISSUES Published winter, spring, summer and fall by British Columbia Historical Federation P.O. Box 5254, Station B Victoria, B.C. V8R 6N4 A Charitable Society recognized under the Income TaxAct. Institutional subscriptions .$i6peryear Individual (non-members) ...$i2peryear

Members of Member Societies • ..$iOperyear For addresses outside Canada, add .$5peryear Back issues of the British Columbia HistoricalNews 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. BRH1SII COLUMBIA Financially assisted by 75LZ BdtIAh Columbia Historical News Journal of the B.C. Historical Federation Volume 30, No. 2 Spring 1997 EDITORIAL CONTENTS DEADLINES FEATURES Registration for the 1997 B.C. Histori The Old Stone Cottage at Narvaez Bay 2 cal Federation Conference in Nelson by Phi1lripa Woodcock is April 4. See page 9 for details. Three Men On A Mountain: Dave Taylor Remembers 6 by Edna Dignan Slater To attend the workshops on Oral His Story of the West Coast Trail: From Telegraph Line to tory and I or Researching, Writing and World Renowned Recreation Destination 10 Publishing Local History on May 1st by Nick K&zssen in Nelson you must have your appli Mary Ellen Smith 17 cation in the Melva Dwyer by April 11. by Kehey McLeod See page 34 for complete informa tion. Grand Forks: Golden Heights 18

***** by Maisie G. Ferguson

Margaret Matovich has been Treas Ginger Goodwin: Union Organizer 24 Keith A. Parker urer for our magazine since 1989. In by 1994 she added the duties of Sub B.C. Historical Federation Writing Competition 28 scription Secretary. BCHF purchased “Mr. Greatheart”: Rev. Andrew Roddan 30 computer with specialized a software by Helen Borrell and she undertook the production of NEWS mailing labels. She has done the work and NOTES 36 of three people but recent changes BOOKSHELF in circumstances forced her to resign. Mr. Chensainus: a Milltown Daughter recalls We Need Help! Can we find a team Noel Frederick Lang. Jody I.ang Anderson, as told to Pattie Whitehouse 37 Review by Phyllis Reeve (2 or 3 people) anywhere in B.C. will ing to share these duties? These of Victor Odlum; as I saw him and knew him and some of his letters; a memoir 37 ficers will join the friendly “family” of Review by Phyllis Reeve BCHF Councillors. Phone the Editor Essays in the History of Canadian Law: British Columbia and at (250) 422-3594 to discuss the pos the Yukon, E.D. Hamar, Foster and John McLaren 37 sibilities. Reviews by John A. Cherrington Naomi Miller Tonto’s Due: Law, Culture and Colonization in British Columbia 37 Review by John A. Cherrin.gson The Story of the Voyages: Sea-narratives in Eighteenth Century England 38 COVER CREDIT Review by W Kaye Lamb The beautiful mansion shown on the Atlin, The Story of British Columbia’s Last Gold Rush 38 cover depicts the result of one of the Review by Gordon Elliott most extravant building projects in the In the Context of its Time: A History ofWoodlands 39 interior of British Columbia. Read the Review by Helen Shore story of its builders in “Grand Forks: Memories ofWoodlands 39 Golden Heights.” Review by Helen Shore Picture courtesy I Carried A Ke Three Years in a Mental Hospital: A Boundary Museum #986 Nurses Story 40 Review by Helen Shore 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 Kwik Print Ltd.

News 2 1997 Spring Historical B.C. -

to bearing confirm A marker. this tree,

author. the ot htscourtesy Photos

Lee

Sauce Perrins

and ken bottle buried

Saturna Coftage, Stone Old Is&znrL

bay a head the chosen; was bro the of

A in tree” “bearing made 1880s. the at

of The survey was Saturna original

Bay.

Deep in land up took Robertson Andrew

resident 1901 in and nent (1873)

was perma first Trueworthy Charles the

a on Island. presence Saturna European

reflecting first landowner, documented

1869 became bank. in Frasier the Peter

a up yards 100 about the spring from

stream running fresh and the from water

around land of fish the on deer h beach, the

the joyed offers, bay the shell shelter the

have en local would The tribes Indian

top by stump of the found on old tree it.

500 at dated years over midden been has

a shell Bay Narvaez At fishing. or ming

clam hunting, tribes while ol camp would

that but local permanent habitation,

not was there that felt is It Island. the

1939 became Foreman he when Sec of and until quarter southeast the places at Saturna on also other found been have

Road as a Harry side. dollars few on 1 west earned Section of half the bought Artifacts old. years 2000 over artifacts

opposite the on distance a at was house Georgeson (Harry) William Henry and middens at found of Harbour Lyall

out the and water 1919. oc provided porch to fresh in Crown the reverted been has Evidence land area. presence this in

to close the running bedrooms. stream A left were n the and unpaid a taxes 1792, minerals native was there in Islands, Gulf

two and stove, living wood with room none wanted the of found exploration the of some therefore and Strait Georgia

pantry, a was kitchen, shake There roof When Bay. Narvaez including land of discovering to Spaniards Prior the

cedar a with topped of form tract a insulation) company this of purchased Mullin stor)c

visible no (with out shiplap R.G. and inside oil. or coal for islands bouring in this and reminiscences their share

0 cedar lxi 2x4 of with covered frame, neigh and Saturna of surveys conducted iighere living relatives people to had who

square 800 feet The about was building Tyee 1912 company Copper the In talk to able being in been have very lucky

cottage. stone which the ae became later day. hillside. rocky I that since Saturna settlement of

the house is This for home family. the above Harry’s reaching feet 60 again, grown the witnessed has and 1921 in Georgeson

the constructed two the Next Georgeson. bay. has top tree the of head The the Harry for built was cottage ence. This

Joan and James at parents his for Bay water a fresh was there that boats in lets pres comforting yet its over awesome,

nEcho on a home law, built Ralph Arthur a travel oshow to landmark was tree less exclaimed oft have must in cottage this

at brother-in- his and Harry top May. rocks the the by fir natives: hsDouglas this dwellers The moon. full at shadows and

threw Harry child sa as that says legend of out taken was top The rgnlmark. original sunset of shades paler sunrises, colored

family Island; Mayne on together school the over was mark probably this and multi steam, of plume its with tain

to gone had The Trueworthy. Bill two 1921 into cut in tree the benchmark the moun majestic the of Baker, Mount view

of niece married a Wright, May to Victoria uncover able was surveyor the 1987 magnificent a is There winds. the from

he there in While Rupert. Prince Officer in re-surveyed was property the When isolated cottage sits stone old the land,

a Fisheries was Harry WW[. of veterans shots. survey their for point gulation Is Saturna on Bay the Narvaez of head

returning assisted which Board tlement be trian the as used to surveyors, the by alder near and maple cedar, the among

Set Soldier the by 2 tion financing a with one, chosen tree is long-lived a usually water, the above cliff a on Nestled

Woodcock Pbiiippa by

Bay Narvaez Cottage Stone At Old The lighthouse keeper at East Point for a year. the ferry dock. This was a gathering point and a resting bench under the cedar tree Because her mother had died in child on Mondays and Thursdays, Ferry days. at the base of the steepest part. In the birth, May Georgeson took the precau There would be shopping, visiting and basement there are shelves that he used tion ofgoing to “civilization” for the birth even a card game as the ferry was not al for plant pots and gardening supplies. oftheir three children. Roberta was born ways punctual. Wonderful large snowdrops still bloom in Prince Rupert in 1923, while Florence In 1949 Albert Vetterly, a retired Swiss ing in gardens around Saturna are his and Margaret were born in Vancouver in landscape gardener, became guardian of main legacy They make a fitting memo 1930 and 1933 respectively. Harry’s later the cottage. People recall that he was a rial to this wonderful man. He cultivated postings took him to Prevost Island light man who was very in tune with nature these bulbs, then would pack some in a house and Port Washington on Pender and life around him. He was a delightful suitcase, walk to the ferry (which now Island. Harry sold his property on old man who was very willing to share ran on Tuesday and Saturday) and go over Saturna in 1949. his knowledge with others and in no way to Victoria to sell them. In 1962 he made Margaret, the youngest daughter, was wanted to diminish the land around him. the decision to move to Saanich so that only seven when they left Saturna but He logged the land siowiy and respect he could be nearer his bulb market. Once she had some memories of living in the fully and always replanted. He was re he left the nurturing peace ofSaturna his cottage. They had cats, dogs, sheep, sponsible for the cottage becoming the health deteriorated rapidly; it was not chickens and a cow. They ate deer meat, stone cottage. As he cleared the meadow long before he died. fish, had a large garden and she remem oflarge rocks he would collect them then Northern Forest Products bought the bers yellow raspberries. The beach use an ancient method ofsplitting them. property and billetted loggers in the stone seemed to her to be very sandy and there This meant piling brush over each rock, cottage. There are marks of loggers’ was sand on top of the water as the tide setting fire to get the rock very hot, then caLked boots on the floor. In 1965, this came in. There was a structure made of throwing cold water over it. Behold! The property, along with much more of the large timbers to pull the boat up; and rock would split. Gradually the split rocks island, was bought by Furst Freidrich von there was a house on logs, owned by the were carted to the cottage where they Hohenzollern (through F. Williams Log Pococks, which was later used as a school. were built up as facing on the south side, ging) and was managed by Henry In 1929 there were quite a number of then the north wall of the cottage. This Rothell. His sister and her nuclear physi children on this side of the island so it tedious work was done over a period of cist husband moved in. They had “gone was decided to build a school. The site about 15 years. There are still many signs back to the land”, gardening and mak was chosen by pupils walking from of his tenure in the mature fruit trees, ing jam etc. They lived in the stone cot Narvaez Bay at one end and Breezy Bay Rocky Mountain Juniper, and tage for about two summers then moved on the other; where they met was where Hawthorns. He perfected the trail down down to the Arthur Ralph house at the the school was built - about a 3 mile walk the side of the hill with the entrance mouth of the bay.

- situated at the present grave-yard. The marked by a Japanese-style wooden arch The stone cottage began to fall into dis first teacher was Mrs. Page, followed by Mrs. Almquist and then Mrs. Narraway. When the school closed the Georgeson girls had a governess - Mrs. Kidd. When the family moved to East Point Mrs. Kidd went too and oversaw schoolwork done by correspondence. About a quarter mile east of the cot tage Jim Herrington built a dwelling. This was abandoned, as were many prop erties after W’X’1I. But when the island was humming there was a good social life. Visits between the Georgesons, Will Copeland and Frank Copeland families, Petfords and others. Transportation was by boat or foot (there was no road be tween Breezy Bay and Narvaez Bay until 1960). Memories of these gatherings in clude bonfires and wonderful singing, with Roderick McLeod as leading singer. The store, run by the Jacksons, was at Roof Timbers ofthe Stone Cottage.

3 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 STRA7 OF GEOIGIA house

urch arvaez Bay Ferry Dock ----Echo Bay School Old Stone Cottage

Breezy Bay

PLUMPER SOUND *

Saturna Island showingpkices mentioned in artick Maps courtesy of the author. repair through neglect. When Jon Guy hill did not need to be used. Jon had built Philippa Woodcock. We came over on moved in in 1978 the roof needed re a woodshed near the south door. Excel weekends to slowly integrate ourselves placing. On inspection of the underside lent water came from two wells behind into Saturna life. People would ask us of the roof he found a jumble of rafters the stone cottage. where our property was. “At Narvaez and pole beams which told tales of an Jon and Priscilla’s daughter, Jesse, was Bay” was our reply and their faces would earlier re-roofing process. So, with the nearly born there. Priscilla, however, look blank. “Near to the old stone cot $3000 F Williams allowed him he pur summoned up enough energy to climb tage,” we added and an understanding chased #3 shingles which he applied over the trail to the road, then travelling by smile would spread across their features. the existing shakes. car and missing the 6:30 am ferry Barry This indicated to us that the old stone Priscilla Ewbank joined Jon and his Crooks was working at the garage. He cottage was a much loved part of the is two daughters, Michelle and Genni, in volunteered to take them over by boat. land. Later that year we started negotia 1979. She tells of the wonderful feeling A quick decision not to disembark at tions to exchange 5.6 acres of land with that the stone cottage had. Although the Pender Island was made and Priscilla was the F. Williams Logging Co. Access to sun would be absent for two months in taken to Saanich where the new baby was Sections 11 and 12 for logging their land the winter they always felt warm, cosy born on June 16th, 1982 in the Saanich had been difficult so we exchanged some and well protected from the winter Peninsula Hospital. Jesse was the first of our land remote from the house for winds. The morning sun would stream child delivered in the new birthing room. some in Section 1. The 5.6 acres along through the bedroom window. (This Next day mother and daughter came the S. W. side of Narvaez Bay included window had to be kept closed at certain home and the cow, Arlen, was pleased to the old stone cottage. Our reason for times because a pair of swallows once be milked again under the cedar tree by obtaining this property was to start a Bed decided that the lamp in the room was Priscilla. The Guy family were the last and Breakfast so that we could live on an excellent anchor for their nest.) Be people to live there and they have left the island and not just be weekenders. side the large cedar tree outside the their mark. We know, for example, that We took a long hard look, in fact sev kitchen was an idyllic spot to milk the Genni was 4’8” on 25th July 1982 from eral looks at the cottage. Unfortunately cow and to watch the happenings in the marks on a wall. They left at Halloween there was no way it could be adapted for bay. Priscilla was delighted when she in 1982. our purpose. The stone walls were be moved there as the stone cottage had all In February 1986 part of the Chuck ginning to crack and move. The roofwas conveniences; the pantry had been con Bavis property (N.E. 1/4 Section 2) was in good condition but the interior had verted to a bathroom so the biffy up the sold to my husband and me, Derrick and been trashed. The bedrooms were col

4 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 ) )

-f

ngTree SectIon 11

L W. N E WI Bavis House - Iouse Narvaez Bay (Deep Bay) Stone Cottage I Section 2 Arthur Ralph eEh Bay Section 1

W. N

1gh Monarch Head

Sections 1 d2, Saturna Island showing various areas mentioned in this article.

lapsing as there was no foundation un more and people will be able to stop on der them. We decided to build a new the road above and gaze down over the stone house 200 feet away. The old stone meadow and the cottage to the dark green cottage is used as a storage place for hay water of Narvaez Bay and feel a sense of and feed for the animals. One bedroom history. is used if an animal is sick and the other for shearing the sheep. The old garden fence had really deteriorated so was re Anyone wishing to visit the lovely large Bedand moved. The small stream meandering Breakfast near the OldSwne Cottage canphone the Woodcocks (250) through the cherry and apple trees is at 539-2683. bordered by daffodils in spring. We en joy Mr. Vetterly’s snowdrops and cro ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS cuses, and the white and pink blooms Thanks for contributions and help from Lor on the hawthorn tree. There is a strong raine Campbell Marie Ellio4 lWscillaEwbank, Margaret Grimme, Jennifer Catcispole, Jon perfume ofwoolly mint, and a Highland Guy and Derrick Woodcock. cow and Romney sheep enhance the vista. ‘What is the future of this building that has been in the centre, then on the edge, of Saturna Island history? Hopefully it will not be allowed to deteriorate any

5 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 Three Men On A Mountain Dave Taylor Remembers by Edna Dignan Slater

Sixty five years ago, in July of 1931, local advocates. On Friday the 17th, we to listen, not to speak. three men met on Three Brothers made our main encampment at Fido “Next day he went with a volunteer Mountain, in an area later to be known Camp atop Three Brothers, altitude few of us to scout Blackwall and beyond. as Manning Park. There was Dave Taylor, about 7500 feet. Bert saddled me on a bumpy black mare the young, fast talking editor of the “We had earlier noticed a queer lone with abcessed teeth and bruised behind.

Princeton Star and Bert Thomas, a character across our trail. Grainger was me, not the mare . . . and Nemesis weather-beaten forest ranger and rancher. on the same reconnaissance mission but starved him of his precious pipe. Now The third man was Martin Grainger, typically on his own. When we arrived we know that they (Grainger and lanky, soft-spoken lumber tycoon, at Fido Camp his pup tent was already Thomas) had made a similar trip in 1916, chief forester of British Columbia, and pitched some yards aloof, and he was heritage ofwhich is the Hamilton Laing author ofthe 1908 novel, Woodsmen of already cooking his supper at his own collection of photos3.” theWest1. Dave Taylor and Bert Thomas little fire. In the evening aftermath he Later, Dave drops another hint about were old Princeton friends; Martin crept over to join our campfire confab - these photos when he writes: “It was Grainger and Bert had often during his term as Chief Forester worked together; but Dave was that he fell in love with the Hope meeting Grainger for the first Mountains and met Bert time and he was impressed to Thomas. These photos and this the point of awe. yarn are the aftermath.” Some of But it was not until thirty the photos by Hamilton Mack years later, after Bert had given Laing, the well-known Comox Dave a copy ofthe 1964 re-issue nature writer, ate housed in the of Woodsmen, that Dave sat British Columbia Archives and down to his cranky old some have been reproduced in typewriter, where the esses and Richard Mackie’s Hamilton ees were mere blobs, and dashed Mack Laing: Hunter and offhis memories ofthe Grainger Naturalist. It is tempting to hope who became his friend. that more Laing photos, along We know this because ten with more ofDave’s writings, are years later still, those papers in hiding somewhere and will came to me through my surface some day. connection with the Dignan Bert Thomas’ ranch was in the flimil? who were among Dave’s One Mile Valley, a few miles Princeton friends during the north ofPrinceton. Here Martin thirties. Here are Dave’s words Grainger kept a small cabin and as he told of that first meeting a string of horses. Whenever he on Three Brothers Mountain so could get away from his many years before: Vancouver office he would take “Early in July 1931, the Kettle Valley train to Belfort consequent on an approach by station on a bunchgrass slope the Princeton Board ofTrade to above the One Mile. To his niece, preserve the Three Brothers area Eve Gray4, he wrote: “. . . we sat from sheep grazing, a in front of the little shed and David Taylor: 1904 - 1986 Owner and Editor of the Princeton Stafl reconnaissance survey was 1929 - 193Z He went to the Far East as a journalist until the fall of looked over the beautiful rolling made, the party including Singapore. He returned to Princeton about 1947to resumeprinting and country below us with the Three publishing and continued to work as a printer until his death. provincial forestry officials and Photo in possession of George Taylor, Nanaimo. Brothers, still splotched with

6 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 snow, in the fur distance. Everything is showed with cabinet ministers as with to keep private . . .1 remain, in spite of green after the summer rains and page boys in the Legislature. . . or waiters bitter effort, a mere butcher of wood”. indescribably beautiful . . . you are in the Empress Hotel . . . a strange After the Three Brothers expedition, constantly getting little shocks from the remarkable man. Shy, humble. . . yet Dave experiences another example of beauty ofthe flowers, the contours ofthe strong and sure . . . capable of framing Grainger’s ‘distant intimacy’. “Some hills, the little creeks, the deer . . forest policy . . . yet ashamed he could weeks later Mr. Grainger was a surprise From Belfort he would walk down to not compete with the illiterate workman’s visitor to my print shop, now a well- the ranch, collect Bert and the horses, skill or quite attain to his world dressed businessman. . . but somewhat and head for the high country and chopping firewood rather than be idle mousey. He wanted to get acquainted freedom. (Ann Thomas, Bert’s widowed and refusing pay for it. . . at which the and made no bones about it. Sometime daughter-in-law, told me rather crossly muscled drunks gaped..” later the mail brought a blown-up that he also collected her young husband, In explaining his embarrassment at photograph taken by Leonard Frank. Bill, to do the hard camp chores and look being less than expert with an axe, This hasty screed leaves exasperating after the horses, while ‘the big shots got Grainger had written in Woodsmen: gaps. Leonard Frank we know as a noted the credit!’). “Then logging gentlemen, between photographer ofthe time whose pictures We Dignan sisters attended Princeton drinks, would wander up the hill to see are now of historic as well as artistic High School in those days and my sister, that extraordinary person who liked work importance. But what was this photo and Penny Dignan Thornley, reminds me and who worked for nothing. I used to where is it now? that our English teachers warned us throw my coat over a saw-cut that was “It was typical that Grainger hunted it against using the Star as a model. not straight enough for the professional up,” Dave writes cryptically, and Duncan’s June Taylor, Dave’s niece, now eye, and possibly seat myself, blushing, typically, drops the subject. retired from many years as an English over unfinished axe-work that I wished And now the memories of the public teacher, recalls: “I had to rewrite relations man take over: “We all my essays as a student launched a province-wide because I had learned my campaign to bridge the twelve- punctuation from Uncle Dave. mile gap. . . of Hope-Princeton It was all dots and dashes.” Highway which had dallied since Dave was a smallish man with 1860. We had to win support bright dark eyes and an eager, throughout the Southern part of fast-talking style which his the province and get government writing echoed. His headlong permission. Mr. Grainger always paragraphs might offend an accompanied me . . . made the

English teacher, but their drive openings, paid the bills. . . and and vigour are unmistakeable. left the rest to me. His authority As he says of Grainger, after in approach was amazing, and reading Woodsmen, “The style from tough politician Nels is typical of the man —“ and Lougheed we won ultimate then the furious dots and dashes blessing. (Nels Lougheed was resume at full flood. Minister of Public Works in the “The man. . . shy, frugal... Tolmie cabinet of 1928. From ruggedly wistful . . . lonely in 1930 to 1933 he was Minister of writing and logging . . . in Lands. The Lougheed Highway another man’s world. . . fearful was named for him in 1931). that, as less skilled cheechako, Work on the Hope-Princeton he give the impression of Road, where Bert Thomas was superiority in birth, intellect employed as foreman, went on and education . . . a peculiar during the Lougheed tenure. In charm, the charm of Old Man the meantime, we find Martin Grainger. You always had the Grainger, in June of 1930, feeling . . . that he felt himself writing to F.P Burdon5, who had the inadequate intruder, totally Martin Allerd4e Grainger 1874- 1941. A notable British Columbian, be was scbola, author,framer ofearlyforestpolwy,forseveralyears Chief immediately preceded Lougheed offset by the respect. . . almost Forester ofB. C and late, a business man in the Timber industry. He was as Minister of Lands, with an an early and activepromoter ofa mountainpark anda highway between awe. . . together with a sort of eloquent plea for Hope and Princeton. the distant intimacy . . . that he Photo credit BCARS 68739. establishment of a park in the

7 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 Three Brothers country Highway.” got caught in the web of war, and “Recent trips along the route of the During their public relations foray to Grainger died in 1941, and war forced projected highway, on which work is now Victoria, Dave found himselfhaving long the grandiose completion of the busily in progress, have shown me very conversations with his previously silent Highway.” clearly the great attraction that region will friend, but tells of them in only a few It was also in 1941, four months before have for our city people as well as tourists brief paragraphs: Grainger’s death, that the mountain park from across the line. Four or five hours “Returning on the ferry, Old Man was dedicated to Ernest C. Manning, as drive from Vancouver will take people Grainger turned mellow, still shy and half Dave sadly recalls: “. . His greatest love into charming mountain surroundings. apologetic . . but with a burning was our Hope Hills. He was at Fido The Hope-Princeton route will give eagerness for expression. He loved the Camp before us on the reconnaissance access to the Skagit and the Cambie country of his adoption . . . its rugged that created a game reserve, now a luxury Roche River Valleys6 where there is open vastness and its wilderness heritage of tourist attraction. Our ‘Three Brothers country with most attractive little rivers history. . . He hated distortion . for Park’ is now Manning Park with a and wooded flats. . . I have recently made himselfself-effacement even to deception monument to a much later chiefforester, a number of trips into the Roche River but a wish to serve the truth as he killed in a plane crash nowhere near. region and have been greatly struck by knew it. It was his Klondike story he With all due respect ‘Manning Park’ is a the obvious possibilities it will have for wanted me to write. Of the rackets, the travesty.” Many years later Peter Murray7 tourists. It is a gracious, pretty region, agonies. . . the true story must be told. is to write: “. . . his contribution to backed by magnificent mountain he could afford it. I was to come down Manning Park is all but forgotten. country. There is a petition to you being (to Vancouver) and we would get Grainger Creek, and a trail bearing his prepared in Princeton urging that steps together on it. Grainger. . . who wanted name beside it, are the only reminders be taken to save this Cascade region. The a hack to tell the Klondike story. . today.” essential thing is to safeguard the wildlife From Scheider’s introduction to the People now drive to the top of

the flowers, the feed. . . the deer... 1964 Woodsmen of the West, Dave Blackwall Mountain when the flower I know the Department has many finally realized that Grainger had never meadows are spectacular and the applications for park reserves, and some reached the Klondike, but had run out marmots whistle beside the August snow have been created. But here is park ofsupplies in the Cassiar country — “So banks. Harry Allison8 used to tell of unequalled in accessibility and size, that the story was never told.” traveling those meadows through blue will be, in itself, a big justification for “Instead,” says Dave, “as fates conspire, lakes of monkshood, where the tall the expense of the Hope-Princeton I went offon a tramp ship to the Orient, blossoms brushed his stirrups as he rode. And I remember families ofSimilkameen Indians, all on horseback down to the j littlest, leading loaded packhorses to summer hunting and berry picking in the high country. Grainger called it his Arcadia. As Dave writes and re-tells every incident of Woodsmen, his admiration for its author explodes in dots and dashes of vast sincerity. At the same time, his editorial eye demands a critic’s

detachment: “. . . his book is no

masterpiece, despite its charm . . . it is doubtful ifthe thousand copies ever sold, or that the revival will have more than academic interest. His art is much like

his axemanship . . . he rather tries to sit on it.” Condescended to by teachers who knew how to punctuate, Dave now condescends to this first class writer

Herbert Heald (Bert) Thomas: He was born in 1874. the same year as &aingel and died in 1975, just whose book, he says, “. . . is short, short ofhis 100th year. He reached Princeton at the age of16 and spent a lfetime there as rancbeiforest obviously hastily written to make a few ranger and mountain guide. He married GraceAllison ofthepioneer settlerfamily. He was among thefirst to promote the completion ofthe Hope Princeton Roaa and became aforeman in its construction. bucks.” Photo credit BCARS 7339. Talk of Grainger’s book brings Dave

8 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 to talk of Bert Thomas: “This evening I and plan things for next year.” 2. William J. and Edna Dignan and their large ftmily lived in the Princeton area from 1924 to 1939. went out to see Bert Thomas. The bumpy ‘Independence that bordered on 3. See Richard Mackie, Hamilton Mack Laing Hunter black mare and the recovery of the lost eccentricity’ was a phrase many an and Naturalist, Sono Nis Press, 1985. He corrects the that 1916 date to 1919. pipe cemented another quiet friendship old Princeton hand might have applied 4. Eve Gray letter quoted in M.A. Grainger, Riding the Skyline, Peter Murray Ed., Horsdal and Schubart Pub., of the hills where men stand clear. Bert to Dave himself, as his quixotic zest for 1994. left his native Gloucestershire when a lad small town newspapering became 5. Grainger letter in the possession of Kenneth Thomas of Princeton, grandson of H.H. (Bert) Thomas. • . . He got off the train nearest to these legendary over the years. In 1977 Lorna 6. These streams form the headwaters of the Similkameen River, in the area where the Manning Park Lodge stands parts when his money ran out. . . and Dignan McCarville, visiting our old town today. later married a daughter ofpioneer settler after many years, stopped to see Dave. 7. See Peter Murray’s Afterword to Woodsmen of the John Fall Allison. When I recalled this She found him alone in his grimy, West, Horsdal and Schubart, 1994. 8. Harry Allison, Similkameen rancher, son of pioneer to a mildly appreciative grandson, Bert deteriorating old print shop, once the settler, John Fall Allison. waxed mildly indignant. His money did home of a lively and often controversial 9. Dorothy W. Browning, Grainger’s capable secretary. 10. cultus potlatch - a term borrowed from the Chinook not run out. He had $2.50. He never weekly. He spoke of the many who, he jargon, meaning gift, according to B.J. Spa1ding Dictionary of the Chinook Jargon. Bea Freeman (nee spent a day in hospital in his life. But believed, were out to do him wrong and Spa1din was Mrs. Grainger’s cousin. Grainger went in 1941. It was tonight of the few he still trusted. Because the Bert acquainted me with the revival of Dignan family were among the latter, he Grainger’s book of 1908.” gave her these pages of memory; saying As he thinks again of its author, he “It might be of interest to the family.” im writes: “Old Man Grainger’s intense Dave Taylor died in Princeton in 1986. individuality made him the reluctant As a small boy he came with his family BC{If CONFENCE nucleus for the crystallization of legend from Scotland to Vancouver Island. He in the coast camps, the economic came to Princeton in 1927 to work as a empires. His energy; idealism, generosity reporter on the Star. He sometimes told and. . . freedom from convention, the the story that he soon had an argument Nelson host committee subtitles their independence that bordered on with the owners, and was fired; he then program Silver, Settlemenh and Sites. eccentricity.. won the argument by buying the paper. Thursday, May 1st opens with workshops Princeton’s Ken Thomas, Bert’s He was both musical and athletic and and a buffet luncheon, followed by a grandson, prizes a file of Grainger often hiked the mountain trails. He and wine and cheese party in the evening. Thomas letters. Among them is a his paper eagerly supported both the Friday — Grainger letter that illustrates both his Hope-Princeton Highway and the 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. The day is generosity and his idealism. Marked, proposed mountain park. filled with a guided bus four on the loop with stops at Kaslo, Sandon and ‘Please keep this strictly confidential’, it About his war experiences he said: “. New reads in part: “You asked me one time your reporter was in the Far East as a Denver. An evening at Nelson Opera about cost of equipment, etc., and Miss working journalist in the critical period House takes the audience back to earlier Browning9 has just handed me from April 1939 to the fall of Singapore, years. expenditure statements from last successively as associate editor of the summer. The item of publicity I regard Manchuria Daily News, Reuter’s Saturday features the Annual general as ‘cultus potlatch’1° and not chargeable correspondent for Manchuria, chief Meeting, guest speakers, in town tours, to the business but as a matter of reporter, Shanghai Times, and News and the Awards Banquet sentiment and public spirit on my part editor, Singapore Herald.” to get things started in Hope country; When Margaret Stoneberg, Princeton’s On Sunday the Nelson Heritage You folks have kept alive the old Western archivist, wrote his obituary for the Preservation Society offers guided tours of love ofthe mountains, and love for horses Similkameen Spotlight, she called him a dozen restored private heritage homes. in a way that commands the respect of “One of Princeton’s most interesting All history buffs are welcome. those who, like myself love these things people.” too, and I want this little expenditure in Contact the secretary of your local society publicity to be my contribution to go for registration forms or call The author, as stated lived Shawn Lamb along with what you folks have done in many years in Princeton. She now lives on Vancouver Island at the Nelson Museum (days) at (250) the past.. . You made some deductions at Crofton B.C. 352-9813 or Ron Welwood (evenings) at on my last trip account which seemed to (250) 825-4143. punish yourself too much. . . I know it FOOTNOTES 1. M. Allerdale Grainger. Woodsmen of the West. Edwin Deadline for regisirthion is April 4, 1997. is embarrassing for you that I should be Arnold Pub. 1908. Reissued, McClelland and Stewart, unbusinesslike so we can talk things over 1964, with introduction by Rupert 5cheider. Reissued, Horsdal and Schubart, 1994, with afterword by Peter (on the weekend) just the way you want Murray.

9 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 The Story ofthe West Coast Trail: From Telegraph Line to World Renowned Recreation Destination by Nick Kiassen

Ideal for a four-day camping trip, the reation has resulted, and Robert E. Man- West Coast Trail winds through forest fling explains: and beside the ocean, where gray whales During the 1950s rapid gains in can be seen. 1 economicprosperity, ease oftranspor This reference in Time magazine in tation, leisure time, and other social 1975 demonstrated that British Colum forces conspired to produce dramatic bias West Coast Trail on the southwest and sustained increases in the use of coast of Vancouver Island had truly be outdoor recreation areas.5 come a world famous camping destina For hiking and backpacking, the ac tion. This was especially interesting tivities associated with the West Coast considering the history ofthe trail. From Trail, the increase was the greatest in the its origins as a telegraph line, to its de 1960s and 1970s. From 1960 to 1977, velopment as a Life saving Trail for ship American nationwide participation in wrecked mariners, to its present form as hiking or backpacking jumped from 6% a 70 kilometre world-class hike enjoyed to 28%.6 by thousands of adventurers each sum Nick Iflassen Canadian attitudes towards outdoor mer, the trail has seen a lot of change. Winner ofBCHF Scholarship in 1996 recreation were developing at a similar This change, while specific to the West rate to those in the U.S. Arlin Hackman Coast Trail, can serve as an indicator ofa certain sectors ofsociety have always en remarks that, in Canada, the impact of development that occurred in British joyed the physical beauty that the out- technological change on human perception Columbia society in the second half of of-doors has to offer. Even in and language in outdoor recreation, aspro the 20th century: that of outdoor rec Mesopotamia, often regarded as the ear duced by dramatic increases in personal reation becoming an extremely popular liest ofcivilizations, gardens were set aside mobility and the range ofpossible behav phenomenon. While this phenomenon for hunting, feasts, assemblies and royal iours, has a social as well as a physical di is by no means unique to British Colum gatherings. This practice continued mension — the development ofa modern bia, the following paper will argue that throughout the following centuries, but camping culture.7 one can use the history ofthe West Coast nature appreciation became prominent The story of the evolution of the West Trail to demonstrate that outdoor rec in western society in the 19th century Coast Trail is an excellent model of this reation has developed to the point where with romanticism. Romantics saw nature development. To show how much the it is “becoming a ‘cultural trademark’ of as “a strange, remote, solitary and mys area has developed, one must start by the province, a defining feature highly terious place for contemplation and es describing its original condition. valued by both resident and visitor cape from society,”4 and as a result ofthis The land around the West Coast Trail alike.”2 movement natural areas began to be pro has long been inhabited by the Nitinat, Before discussing the history of the tected. or Ditidaht, tribe ofthe Nuu-chah-nulth trail, it is important to discuss the con British Columbia felt the effects ofthis group. The Nitinat were expert whalers, cept ofoutdoor recreation. Brian Goodall movement too. In 1876 an act was passed but they were best known as fighters and defines outdoor recreation as “any type to provide for public parks, and in 1911 conquered much land along the coast. ofhuman behaviour that falls within the Strathcona Park on Vancouver Island Joshua Edgar, a long time resident of the definition of recreation and takes places became B.C.’s first provincial park. Nu area and himselfa Nitinat, explained the out of doors,” where recreation is “any merous parks have been established in the conquest by saying simply, “they liked pursuit or activity undertaken voluntar twentieth century, and especially in the war.”8 Robert Brown, a Scotsman who ily, primarily for pleasure and satisfaction second half of the century people have headed the Vancouver Island Exploring during leisure time.”3 Although concepts pursued a more active relationship with Expedition in 1864, had been made ofnatural beauty have changed over time, nature. The development ofoutdoor rec aware of the Nitinats’ infamy and wrote

10 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 remain. Maintaining the line was one ofthe most prominent profes sions in Bamfield, along with fish ing, logging, and farming. Along the trail the major white settlement was at Clo-oose. The first permanent white settlers in Clooose were David and Susan Logan who came in 1894. The Logans’ daughter Tina Chisholm describes the early years: (my father) triedfarming up the CheewhatRiverfor twoyears and then gave it up as a badjob and came down to Clo-oose and workedaround there. He took the store overfrom somebody. I think the manc name was Hornet He also worked on the telegraph line on a temporary basis until thejob became steady” In the second half of the 19th century; cheap land and a promise of a road link to Victoria attracted in his journal, Tina Chisholm says of the natives, “they some settlers and by 1910 there was a As the Nitinats bear a very bad name were good,”1° and that there was never trading post, a Methodist missionary; a Ithought it onlyprudentfor thefirst any conflict. post office, and a school. time, to use the necessary precaution ‘White settlement in the area of the 1910 was a significant year for Clo

against theft or treachery. . . They West Coast Trail began probably with the oose as a result ofthe creation ofthe West

are still great bullies — it being im arrival in 1862 of William Banfield, a Coast Development Company. The possible to take their village.9 trader and amateur ethnographer, in what company bought 1000 city size lots with That village was Whyac and was situ is now Bamfield. Over the years the pro the intention ofcreating “Canada’s Great ated near the mouth of Nitinat Lake at nunciation of the name became adulter est Pleasure Resort.”12 This development the Nitinat Narrows. There were other ated and the ‘n’ became an ‘m.’ In 1889, marked the beginnings of the area’s at small villages and fishing stations a telegraph line was constructed from tree traction as a recreation destination. There throughout the area, and the main whal to tree with way-stations along the path was to be a magnificent 300 room hotel ing and fishing centre was Kiahus, now from Victoria to Bamfield as a part ofthe with a 1000 acre park, a golf course, ten Clo-oose, to the southwest ofWhyac. In British Empire communication system nis courts, and large family houses on the 1882 most of the village sites became called the “Red Route.” The system was beach. The Carmanah River would pro Reserves. Nowadays, however, only one an undersea cable that connected Great vide the power, and a road in and a Ca family lives in Whyac, and Clo-oose is Britain to its colonies, and went from nadian National Railway spur line from uninhabited. Although members of the Bamfield underwater to India via Fiji. As Lake Cowichan were promised. The tribe often come down to the Nitinat the terminus for the trans-Pacific cable, project was designed after the English Narrows, most ofthe Nitinat people have Bamfield became an important town and resorts of the day and attracted buyers either moved to the more accessible Re its population increased. Since the cable from all over the world, many of whom serve at the head ofNitinat Lake, or sim on land went from tree to tree with the bought plots after having only seen bro ply out of the area. To the north and ceramic insulators bolted directly into the chures. south of the trail, are the Ohiats and the trunks, it was susceptible to the elements Most ofthe buyers never came to Clo Pacheenahts respectively, but their role and so was maintained by rugged linemen oose, however, as the roads in that were in the area has been overshadowed by the who had to deal with the numerous wind promised never materialized. Those who Nitinat, most likely because of the falls that knocked down the cable. To the did build on their plots formed a nucleus Nitinat’s war-like nature. For the most delight of historically inclined present- of forty to fifty in the pre-World War I part the white settlers and the natives got day hikers, there are still some parts of period and had great difficulty enduring along peacefully although they did not the trail where one can see old telegraph the hardships of life in the isolated vil mix much. Early white Clo-oose resident wire strung from those insulators which lage. Angela Newitt grew up in Clo-oose

11 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 at this time and says that her parents ing the remaining members ofthe Newitt for the Department of Fisheries to rec were not at al/preparedfir the total family, left Clo-oose. Their expectations ognize the need to prohibit fishing. The lack ofamenities, and the rough In of what a resort community should be area would have to wait until outdoor dian trails which were the only means were not met and Clo-oose’s isolation was recreation and environmentalism became ofcommunication. Like many ofthe a big reason for that. Fifty years later, its strong forces for there to be any push for newcomers, my parents had been isolation would be seen as a positive qual preventive conservation, as opposed to taken in by the companyc scheme to ity by hikers exploring the West Coast the reactionary conservation that led to develop a summer resort in this fir Trail for the first time, and the differ the closing of the Nitinat fishery bidding area.13 ence in the expectations of 1960s hikers A small sawmill also operated in the A further problem ofliving in Clo-oose and 191 Os resorters shows the develop cannery but logging did not play a ma was that there were limited employment ment ofoutdoor recreation. The war did jor role in the development of the area. opportunities. Most ofthe few jobs were cause many to leave Clo-oose, but was There were some logging camps along for linemen and government surveyors, merely the proverbial straw that broke the Lake but the logging companies be and later at the cannery on Nitinat Lake. the camel’s back. The main reason be gan folding around World War II and Clo-oose was entirely dependent on hind the exodus was that life was too hard job opportunities in that field became ships coming to drop off supplies, so in the rugged backcountry ofsouthwest non-existent. Further south near Port when there was a landing, it was a huge ern Vancouver Island. Today, the rugged Renfrew there was also some logging and event. R.E. Wells describes it as backcountry is the area’s biggest draw. today hikers can see old donkey engines

a big day — it was boat day! There The war also meant that the railway along the trail as well as the cables that would be mail, something ordered never came to fruition. Alec Chisholm were used to haul logs to the ocean. Port from town, perhaps a loved one re recalls, Renfrew marks the southern terminus of turning, and everyone turned out we moved up to the head ofNitinat the West Coast Trail and by-and-large it down on the beach where the land Lake and were going to work on the has been a logging and farming town, ing was made.”14 railroad W’ had a contract to c/ear although there was some gold and iron Not only was it a major event, but it so much rzht-ofrway on the Cana mining in the area. was made extremely difficult by the fact dian National Railway that went Along the trail, mining played even less that there was no pier or dock at Clo through there, but the war came along of a role than logging in the area’s early The cargo ship would sit offshore and everything closed down. They history Brown noted at the time of his and the villagers would approach it in even left the horses in there. They left expedition that there was a place just past canoes. As the canoes rose and fell in the everything!’6 Carmanah where “a little brook flows in swells, the freight would be passed down After the war, a cannery operated by where the Indians say there is a ‘hyou from the ship. This was of course ex Lummi Bay Packing Company was built claylstone’ (plenty coal!) a short way tremely difficult in rough weather, and in what became Cannery Bay on Nitinat up.”17 Over the years, attempts at min so cargo ships would rarely call in the Lake close to Clo-oose. This provided ing the coal proved to be unsuccessful winter. As a result the villagers had to work for locals, and over 100 Chinese for the most part, although in 1910 the stock up on non-perishable goods and were brought up from Victoria each sea Carmanah Coal Company was estab rely on the land for sustenance by hunt son. Nitinat Lake boasted one ofthe best lished to exploit coal seams along the ing, fishing, cultivating gardens, and chum salmon fisheries on the west coast, shore around Carmanah Point. The com picking wild berries. but overzealous fishermen soon put that pany lasted for a year and employed The feeling of isolation and solitude to an end and by the time the Depart about forty men, but ceased operating intensified when the cargo ships did not ment of Fisheries intervened in 1921, it because the seams were thin and getting visit for extended periods of time. was too late and the cannery had to close the coal to Victoria was an extremely ar The boat rare1y called in winter and due to a lack of fish. Various attempts to duous task. Due to the ruggedness ofthe Mother said that we didn’t know there reopen the cannery under different area’s coastline, there was nowhere to land was a war on till the first boat ar names failed, and it closed permanently ships and bad weather could make load rived in the spring of 1915. As soon in the 1930s. Nowadays, hikers waiting ing impossible. as they heard, most of the men, the to be ferried across Nitinat Narrows can The unfavourable weather that im government employees, and the fish see the stilts that remain from the can poses itself on the southwest coast of ermen, left tojoin up. Myfather was nery. The plight of the Nitinat fishery Vancouver Island, combined with the one ofthem.’5 raises an interesting point. It demon uninviting shoreline and coastal reefs, has Clo-oose, like many other small com strates that most people did not care been the downfall of many a ship over munities, contributed a disproportion about conservation at that time and so it the decades. Around 60 boats have been ate amount of men for World War I and wasn’t until 1952 that the lake was closed wrecked along the shoreline since 1854. with the loss of so many inhabitants life to commercial fishing. Furthermore, it This caused the area to be nicknamed the became even tougher and many, includ took a complete depletion of the stocks “Graveyard of the Pacific”. All along the

12 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 West Coast Trail there are remnants of trail existed. Improvements to the trail In response to lobbying from environ- ships that have perished there. This in were costly and often ineffective. In the mentally conscious locals and the Sierra cludes boilers, overturned hulls and an following years the trail was constantly Club, the British Columbia Provincial chors along with other small, being improved upon. Parks Branch began giving serious con unrecognizable things. Probably the most Maintenance of the trail was discon sideration to creating a park in the area. famous wreck was that of the S.S. Va tinued due to fiscal constraints during To allow itselftime to make the decision, lencia which took 126 lives just north World War I and its condition became in June 1964 the Parks Branch officially of the Klanawa River in 1906 and was suitable only for pack horses. Work re placed the trail under Park Reserve sta British Columbia’s worst maritime acci commenced in 1924 when Alec tus, which meant no development per dent. Chisholm and a full-time crew began mits would be granted. This act clearly The wreck was a major disaster and rebuilding the trail. After they were fin demonstrated the shifting attitude in since it was an American ship, the U.S. ished, patrolmen were set up at Bamfield B.C. towards outdoor recreation. In the government held an inquest into the in and Pachena and Carmanah lighthouses. early part ofthe century the area had been cident. Part of its findings were that the Their responsibilities were as follows: recognized for its natural beauty value Canadian government’s maritime protec 1. Patrolling ofthe coast and assistance and it was proposed as a park, but the tion abilities were thoroughly inadequate in time of wrecks. provincial government refused to give up and that it should do something. The 2. Doing the work needed to keep the its mineral rights so the plan died on the report made a number of conclusions, Trail in good order. drawing board. By the 1 960s though, the but states: 3. Keeping side trails to the beach attitudes of British Columbians had Reserving the most important conclusion open. changed and resources were no longer for the last, the commission desires to em 4. Making more side trails as deemed more valuable that recreation phasize, as the primary andgreatest cause necessary)9 opportunities. Of course parks had been ofthe loss oflfr, the defrctive state oflzght At the same time there were linemen established in the province prior to the houses, fbg signals, lfl’-saving equzpment, maintaining the telegraph service and 1 960s, but “in the early decades, large and means ofcommunication in the vicin they cooperated in some capacity with parks were established to encourage tour ity ofthe wreck. “18 the patrolmen. ism and small parks were created to serve Since it was an American commission, With the coming of modern technol nearby communities.”20 The West Coast it did not refer to Canada specifically, but ogyin search and rescue techniques such Trail was too inaccessible to be consid because the wreck happened in Canadian as the use of radio and helicopters, the ered for tourism value, and there was not territory; it is inconceivable that the re Lifesaving Trail became obsolete. Main enough population to justify the creation port was not criticizing Canada for its tenance on the trail for the section be ofa park only to serve the regional inter lack of life-saving apparatus. Part of tween Carmanah and Port Renfrew ests. In the 1960s and more so in the Canada’s response was to install lifeboat ended in 1954, and by 1967 all but the 1 970s though, a new attitude developed stations at Bamfield and Clo-oose, and trail between Pachena Point and and environmental quality and wilder to build a lighthouse at Pachena Point to Bamfield was abandoned, and even it was ness recreation were given credibility as compliment lighthouses already in exist soon invaded by shrubbery and growth. reasons to create a park. ence at Cape Beale near Bamfield, and With the closing ofthe LifesavingTrail, In 1969 the provincial government at Carmanah Point. the area offered little to the few residents began promoting the trail as a recreation The thrust of its efforts to improve still there. The major source of employ destination by making trails and aid avail Canada’s ability to deal with shipwrecks ment was gone and no developments able for hikers. The Province also paid was to establish the “Lifesaving Trail” or emerged in other job sectors. Clo-oose four university students to repair and re “Shipwrecked Mariner’s Trail.” This in had been continually shrinking since construct the route. Despite this, the trail volved improving the old telegraph path World War I and in 1966 the Tahsis was still in an extremely dilapidated state to a walkable trail with food-stocked tel Prince, the last boat calling at Clo-oose, and those who used it did so out of a ephone cabins along the way, and for ended its run, and the post office closed. desire to experience unspoiled beauty and some stretches, it was moved closer to That year marked the official abandon accepted the severe conditions that went the shore. Sign boards and mileage posts ment of the town site and all that re along with that experience. The people were also positioned along the trail. mained were a few seasonal inhabitants. who went to the West Coast Trail in the Originally, the trail was to be made four Now that the area is a national park, no 1 960s and 1 970s were seeking something meters wide, but the rugged terrain made non-natives are allowed to live in the area, different than what those who had gone that possible only between Bamfield and and Clo-oose is a ghost town. in the first halfofthe century had sought. Pachena Point. From Pachena to Around the same time that Clo-oose The people who bought from the West Carmanah Point, the trail was one and a was becoming a thing of the past, the Coast Development Company sought half meters wide but from Carmanah to push to establish the area as a recreation recreation, but they wanted the area to Port Renfrew only the primitive telegraph destination began gaining momentum. be an extension of society, with all the

13 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 amenities that that entails. When hikers Because ofthe increasing popularity of not log the area, there was nothing to started coming, they were there to be in outdoor recreation though, governments guarantee that they never would. The the outdoors, not to reproduce the ur began to recognize that logging and min provincial and federal governments had ban environment that they were leaving ing interests were not the only constitu agreed to reimburse MacMillan Bloedel behind. encies that counted. Chrétien and B.C. Forest Products with each gov The trail was being used by growing demonstrated the influence that the new ernment paying fifty percent of the cost, numbers and the provincial and federal conservation movement had in protect but they could not agree on the bounda governments promised to include it in ing the West Coast Trail when he told ries and so the amount ofreimbursement the newly proposed West Coast National the Sierra Club and their supporters, “I could not be decided. As a result of the Park, later known as Pacific Rim National am sure that without your pressure on provincial-federal dispute, there was no Park. ‘While the outdoor recreationists me and the provincial government that authority on the West Coast Trail. Ot now had a strong voice, the facts of the agreement might not have been tawa gave responsibility to Victoria be British Columbian economy dictate that reached.”21 The agreement allowed for cause it was still officially provincial land, the logging industry will most likely al the southeastern shore of Nitinat Lake but Victoria felt that since it was going ways have tremendous influence, and around Clo-oose to be protected, but the to be a national park, Ottawa should they certainly did at the time of the crea conservationists, led by the Sierra Club maintain it. The result was that no one tion of the park. Immediately after the and area locals Jim Hamilton and Bruce maintained it. Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Scott argued for the inclusion ofthe west The lack of maintenance meant that Development Jean Chrétien signed a for ern side of the lake as well as other, the trail remained in poor shape and hik mal agreement with Provincial Recrea smaller lakes. Hamilton argued, “It is ers who attempted it often came away tion Minister Kenneth Kiernan on April annoying to see only one large lake in exhausted and injured. Inexperience was 21, 1970 reserving the coastal strip from cluded in the whole park. This is lake often to blame for accidents and hard Bamfield to Port Renfrew for public rec country! It seems that in the campaign ships, but the deficient condition of the reation, there was tremendous debate for the coastal trail, all else was forgot trail was one of the most significant fac between conservationists and logging ten.”22 tors. One hiker wrote: “But we have companies. The original boundaries of The federal government announced its marks of battle to prove that we have the park were set in a parsimonious kilo intentions ofbroadening the boundaries been on the rugged hike and on occa metre-wide strip along the shore line ex of the park to include the so-called sion have come within inches of losing cept for enlargements at Cape Beale and Nitinat triangle (the western side of our lives.”25 The poor condition of the Clo-oose. Conservationists were out Nitinat Lake as well as Tsusiat, trail did not deter prospective hikers raged at how small the park would be Squallicum, and Hobiton Lakes) but the though, and in 1971 more than 2000 and they demanded it go deeper into the two logging companies with timber people hiked the entirety ofthe trail. The interior of Vancouver Island. Naturally rights in the area, MacMillan Bloedel and federal government realized that people the logging companies objected to any B.C. Forest Products, opposed the plan were going to come to the trail in more calls for an enlargement of the park, and and were supported by the B.C. Forest substantial number, and ifit did not want this was the beginning of a twenty-year Service. Not only did the B.C. Forest to have to deal with numbers, and if it conflict. Service support the logging companies, did not want to have to deal with nu The logging companies had tremen but B.C. Parks did too. Robert Ahrens, merous injuries and even fatalities that dous leverage in the conflict because of then provincial parks director, remarked would arise from extensive use of what the way that timber rights allocation that, “A deep park would be nice but the was little better than an animal path, it practices of British Columbia had been land use does not allow it.”23 would have to improve the trail. By the established in the 1950s, when there was This was not the attitude of the fed spring of 1972 Ottawa was ready to be no consideration of future recreation or eral government though, and so aside gin trail reconstruction as the third phase preservation needs. To fund forestry from the conflict between loggers and en of Pacific Rim National Park, pending management, the provincial government vironmentalists, there was also a conflict approval from Victoria. Park superin had leased out Tree Farm Licences to log between the federal and provincial gov tendent George Trachuk explained, “We ging companies. Since it was assumed ernments. Ken Farquharson, president of are not thinking in terms of building a that the land would only be used for log the Sierra Club, observed that, “The fed trail for hardy hikers. The trail will be ging, the plan made sense, but when eral people are very strong on this Nitinat constructed so that any person can walk opinions began shifting in favour of rec Triangle and the park, but when it comes it without difficulty”26 reational land use, the Tree Farm Licences down to the final day it is the provincial In August of 1972 the provincial gov were a huge hurdle. If the government government that will say what goes in ernment finally agreed to include the wanted to create a park, it would have to there.”24 So the rights to the land tech Nitinat triangle, but the negotiations to regain the timber rights from the holder nically remained in the hands ofthe log compensate the logging industry ended of the licence. ging companies and although they could up taking almost twenty years to con-

14 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 dude. The governments simply would within the proposed boundaries had been Trail can be seen as an example of the not come up with the money that secured by the two governments. This evolution ofoutdoors recreation in B.C. McMillan Bloedel and B.C. Forest Prod was still not enough to please logging J. Douglas Wellman writes of a “shift ucts were asking for. The concern over interests, and Jack Munro, western presi from viewing wildlands as ‘worthless the fact that the negotiations were not dent of the International Woodworkers obstacles’ to seeing them as ‘national moving along swiftly became so great that of America, lobbied the government to treasures.”30 It is likely that the whites there was doubt that not only would the allow logging in the park because “there who first came to the area recognized its lakes not be protected, but also the trail is far too much mature timber in there natural beauty, but most of the hiking itself This sentiment was voiced by the that is starting to fall down and be they did was as part of their jobs as superintendent of the park in 1978, wasted.”29 Munro’s observation was ech linemen or hunters, or if they had the Frank Camp, who speculated that “in oed by MacMillian Bloedel and B.C. misfortune of being shipwrecked. The clusion of the trail is even doubtful. The Forest Products and demonstrates that area was, like most of early B.C., seen longer the delay in designating the despite the newly developed interest in for its resources and so the land use con boundaries of the trail, the higher the nature as a recreation destination, the sisted of logging, fishing, and mining. land values.”27 resource extractive mentality ofB.C. was British Columbians assumed that value Despite all the uncertainty surround still at the forefront of the debate. could come only from resource extrac ing the boundary questions, the federal Ultimately, though, in March of 1988 tion, but gradually they realized that sim government went ahead with its trail re the governments finalized the compen ply enjoying the environment for its construction plans and by 1978 all but sation package for the logging compa natural beauty was valuable. Further 15 miles of the route had been refur nies and by September an amending more, outdoor recreation is a money gen bished with boardwalk over marshy sec agreement was signed establishing the erator, and the argument has been made tions, wood and suspension bridges, and boundaries that had been agreed upon that the preservation ofwildlands makes cable cars. Since trail reconstruction had in 1972. In 1992 the West Coast Trail more economic sense than logging them. begun in 1973, to 1978, 50,000 people and Nitinat Triangle received official na The Sierra Club contends that the thou had walked or camped along the trail. tional park reserve status as part of Pa sands of hikers drawn to the West Coast This justified the fact that the govern cific Rim National Park. With the newly Trail each year ment had spent millions of dollars im held authority, the park began manda contribute heavily to the economy of proving a trail that it had no legal tory registration for all hikers so as to Port Renfrew, Port Alberni, and jurisdiction to manage. Despite all the control who and how many used the trail. Bamfiek4 among other areas, with improvements and significant number of Today, prospective hikers must pay $85 various spinoff efficts on the rest of hikers who were flocking to the trail from each and reserve a spot well in advance if southern Vancouver Island . . . it is all over the world, there continued to be they want assured access to the trail. This clear that over the long term, preser unease about the boundary issue. Many new, highly regulated system only lets vation of the forests is much more ofthose in the environmental camp were 7500 people use the trail each summer economically viable than clear-cut still expressing concern that logging com and was set up to protect the ecosystem ting.31 panies would start infringing on the ten from the damage that comes with heavy Although many British Columbians tative boundaries despite their earlier use. This is less than the peak of 10,000 would question such an extreme state promises not to. Again it was the park hikers a year in the early 1990s. It dem ment, there can be no dispute that out superintendent who spoke for the con onstrates how far the West Coast Trail door recreation is economically servationists when Mac Elder warned has come since the 1960s when it was beneficial. For this reason, it will con that the logging companies “are moving attempted only by a few adventurous lo tinue to grow in B.C. and “Outdoor rec closer to the proposed park boundary and cals and members of the Sierra Club. reation will undoubtedly become more maybe they’re hoping to get the provin More significant than the develop central to B.C.’s lifestyle and to B.C.’s cial government to move faster.”28 ments from the 1960s to the 1990s economy. “32 This all meant that a hugely popular, though, is the overall development ofthe The attempts to develop the coastal world renowned recreation destination trail from its beginnings as a telegraph stretch for recreation purposes, beginning was receiving minimal protection because line and then Life Saving Trail, to a world with the West Coast Development Com it was not officially a park and as such class, tremendously popular outdoor rec pany in 1910, demonstrate that the rec had tremendous difficulty in securing reation destination. ognition ofthe physical beauty ofnature staff and trail management. By 1982 ‘While it is true that many of the trail’s is not a new phenomenon, but the fact though, it seemed as though Parks users come from around the world, its that the plan failed shows that the con Canada was close to obtaining full au development and use has been dictated cept ofrecreation has developed dramati thority over the West Coast Trail. In that by Canadians, and more specifically Brit cally for British Columbians over the past year, 70 percent of privately owned land ish Columbians. As such, the West Coast century. The West Coast Development

15 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 Company failed because people did not Days on Southwest Coast,” (Part I) Victoria Daily l97l.p. 11. Colonist, 8 October, 1978, p. 12 magazine section (The Brown, Robert. Robert Brown and the Vancouver Island see labouring in an isolated forest as rec Islander) Exploring Expedition, ed. John Hayman. Vancouver: reation. In the 1960s and 1970s, how 12. Tony Byrne, “The West Coast Trail: A reconnaissance,” The University of British Columbia Press, 1989. p. 56. “Buffet to protect hikers from logging in park urged.” The ever, this gained wide popularity as a 13. Angela Newitt, “Some Childhood Memories of Vancouver Sun. 30 April, 1971. p.70. recreation Clo-oose,” in Raincoast Chronides Forgotten Villages Byrne, Tony. “The West Coast Trail: A Reconnaissance.” activity and people began of the B. C. Coast, ed. Howard White, (Madeira Park, (unpublished M.Sc. thesis, UBC, 1974). coming in droves to experience this rug B.C.: Harbour Publishing, 1987), p. 17. “Cut Trees in park” - Munro. The Victoria Times Colonist, Thus, 14. R.E. Wells, There’s a Landing Today, (Victoria: Sono August 25, 1985. p. Al gedness. the West Coast Trail is a Nis Press, 1988) p. 15. Davy, Humphry ‘Trail Work Awaits B.C. Word.” The perfect example of how outdoor recrea 15. Newitt, “Some Childhood Memories of Clo-oose,” Victoria’I’imes. 31 May, 1972. p. 19. p.2l. “Deletion Seen in Coast Park.” The Vancouver Sun. 17 tion in B.C. has gone from being a non 16. Scott, “Alec and Tina Chisholm Discuss Early Days on December, 1970. p,22. entity to the point where it can be argued Southwest Coast,” (Part II), p. 7. Goodall. Brian. The Facts on File Dictionary of Human 17. Brown, Robert Brown and the Vancouver Island Geography. New York: Facts on File Publications, 1987. that it is a “cultural trademark” of B.C. Exploring Expedition, P. 84. Hackman, Arlin, Leisure and the Preservation of Rare society 18. U.S. Department of Commerce and Labor, Wreck of the Environments in Industrial Society. Downsview, Steamer vaknaa, (Washington: Government Printing Ontario: York University Press, 1977. OffIce, 1906), p. 46. Hamilton, Jim. “Park with Omissions.” The Victoria Daily 19. Byrne, “The West Coast Trail: A reconnaissance,” P. 71. Colonist. 30 August, 1970, p.3 magazine section (The The author is the 1996 winner ofthe B.C. His 20. George Trachuk, “Provincial Parks in British Columbia”, Islander). toricalFederation Scbolarsl4 Kiassen attends in Parks in British Columbia: Emerging Realities, ed. 1.eadem, Timed. The West Coast Trail and Nitinat Lakes, PeterJ. Dooling, (Vancouver: Park, Recreation and 7th edition, Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1992. UBC and is beginning hisfourth year with a Tourism Resources program, Faculty of Forestry, Manning, Robert E. Studies in Outdoor Recreation. double major in history andpoliticai science. University of British Columbia, 1985), p. 17. Corvallis, Oregon: Oregon State University Press, 1986. He researched this history after hiking the trail 21. “Alec Merriman (column),” The Victoria Colonist, 6 “More Interest in Trail Urged on McCarthy.” The Victoria three times. June, 1971, p.11. Times. May 12, 1978. P. 20. 22. Jim Hamilton, “Park with Omissions, “The Victoria Newitt, Angela. “Some Childhood Memories of Clo-oose.” in Daily Colonist, 30 August, 1970, P. 3 magazine section Raincoast Chronicles: Forgotten Villages of the B.C. FOOTNOTES (The Islander) Coast, ed. Howard White. Madeira Park, B.C.: Harbour 23. “Deletion seen in Coast Park,” The Vancouver Sun, 17 Publishing, 1987. 1. “Adventure in Tranquil Places,” Time, Vol. 106 No. 7, December, 1970, Obee, Bruce. The Pacific Rim Explorer. North Vancouver: (August 18, 1975), 37. p.22 p. 24. “Buffer to protect hikers from logging in park urged,” Whitecap Books, 1986. 2. Kenneth R. Balmer, “The Future of Outdoor Recreation: The Vancouver Sun, 30 April, 1971, 70. Parks in British Columbia: Emerging Realities, ed. Peter an emerging BC ‘cultural trademark,’” in A Protected p. J. 25. John Twigg, “Hiking West Coast Trail can be a perilous Dooling. Vancouver: Park, Recreation and Tourism Areas Strategy for British Columbia: Outdoor journey,” TheVancouverSun, 12 May, l97l,p. 16. Resources program, Faculty of Forestry University of Recreation in British Columbia, Province of British 26. Humphry Dav “Trail Work Awaits B.C. Word, “The British Columbia, 1985. Columbia, (Victoria: Queen’s Printer for British Victoria Times, 31 May, 1972, 19. Province of British Columbia. A Protected Areas Strategy Columbia, 1994), 105. p. p. 27. “More Interest in Trail Urged on McCarthy,” The for British Columbia: Outdoor Recreation in British 3. Brian Goodall, The Facts on File Dictionary of Victoria ‘limes, May 12, 1978, Columbia. Victoria: Queen’s Printer for British Human Geography, (New York: Facts on File p.20. 28. “West Coast Trail waits for governments,” The Victoria Columbia, 1994. Publications, 187), p. 338 and p.396. Times - Colonist, September 26, 1980, 6. Scott, R. Bruce. “Alec and ‘lina Chisholm Discuss Early Days 4. Douglas Wellman, Wildiand Recreation Policy, (New p. 29. “Cut Trees in park “— Munro, The Victoria ‘limes on Southwest Coast,” (Part I). Victoria Daily Colonist. York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1987), 42. p. Colonist, August 25, 1985, Al 8 October, 1978. 12 magazine section (The Islander), 5. Robert E. Manning, Studies in Outdoor Recreation, p. p. 30. Wellman, Wildland Recreation Policy, p.2. Scott, R. Bruce. “Alec and Tina Chisholm Discuss Early Days Corvallis, Oregon: Oregon State University Press, 31. Tim Leadem, ed., The West Coast Trail and Nitiisat on Southwest Coast,” (Part II). Victoria Daily Colonist. 1986) 3. p. Lakes, 7th edition, (Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 15 Octobet, 1978. 6 magazine section (The Islander). 6. Ibid., 12 p. p. 1992), Terms of Reference, Management Planning Program, 7. Arlin Hackman, Leisure and the Preservation of Rare p.91. 32. Balmes, in A Protected Areas Strategy for British Pacific Rim National Park. Hull: National Parks Service, Environments in Industrial Society, (Downsview, Columbia: Outdoor Recreation in British Columbia, 1990. Ontario: York University Press, 1977) 6. p. 105. Twigg, John. “Hiking West Coast Trail can be a perilous 8. Tony Byrne, “The West Coast Trail: A Reconnaissance,” p. journey” The Vancouver Sun, 12 May, 1971. 16. (unpublished M.Sc. thesis, UBC, 1974), 49. p. p. U.S. Department of Commerce and Labor. Wreck of the Robert Brown, Robert Brown and the vancouver 9. BIBliOGRAPHY Steamer Valencia. Washington: Government Printing Island Exploring Expedition, ed. John Hayman, Office, 1906. (Vancouver: The University of British Columbia Press, “Adventure in Tranquil Places.” Time. Vol. 106 No.7. Wellman, Douglas. Wildland Recreation Policy. New 1989), 83. (August 18, 1975). 37. J. p. p. York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1987. 10. R. Bruce Scott, “Alec and Tins Chisholm Discuss Early Aitken, Wayne and Foster, David Blisters and Bliss: A Wells, RE. There’s a Landing Today. Victoria: Sono Nis Days on Southwest Coast” (Part II) Victoria Daily Trekkers Guide to the West Coast Trail. Victoria: B&B Press, 1988. Colonist, 15 October, 1978, magazine section (The Publishing, 1991. p. 6 “West Coast Trail waits for governments.’ The Victoria Islander) Alec Merriman (column).” TheVictoria Colonist. 6 June, Times-Colonist. September 26, 1980. 6. 11. R. Bruce Scott, “Alec and Tina Chisholm Discuss Early p.

... •...... ••...... ••••••...... • . .

. VOLUNIfERS ANIfD - . . . . Subscription Secretaiy to keep the subscription list up to date, . mail out invoices, and arrange for mailing labels for the quarterley . . mailing. A computer with specialized software is available for this . volunteer. . . Treasurer of the Accounts for the B.C. Historical News Magazine. This person works closely . . . . with the Subscription Secretary. Both liaise regularly with the editor. To volunteer, or find further . details, contact the Editor, Naomi Miller at (250) 422-3594.

...... •...... ••

16 B.C. Historical News - SpriBg 1997 Mary Ellen Smith by Kelsey McLeod

belonged encompasses every one impor message I have never forgotten: (This was tant in her time: The National Council not that long after women had been given of Women in Canada, the Suffrage the vote here.) “Inform yourself on the League of Canada; she was Regent ofthe issues, listen, read, talk to the politicians. Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Then think over what you have learned, Empire, was founder of the Laurier Lib make your own decision as to who to eral Club. She was a Canadian delegate chose, and Vote. Never forget to Vote.” to the League of Nations in 1929; she Some quotes from the words of this

toured Europe on behalf of the Federal remarkable woman:”.. . there is no such Government to encourage emigration to thing as an illegitimate child; there are Canada. illegitimate parents.” From a letter to the

She was a beautiful woman, who raised Premier: “ . .. I am .. primarily inter

a family and could have spent her time ested in women and children. . as long hosting her husband’s friends. She chose as I can serve the people whom I repre

a wider sphere. sent . . .1 shall have the greatest happi

I attended a political meeting she ness that public life gives. ..

hosted in Powell River in the late Twen ***** ties, when I was a child. Such charisma! KeLceyMcLeodis an active member ofthe Van Mary Ellen Smith with berfamily c. 1919. She wears Perfectly groomed, with a marvellous couver Historical Society. a swallowtail coat offigured silk over a Lace bodice. complexion, tastefully dressed, she was BIBUOGRAPHY This was the year that skirts started being made like a being from another world. Her Forbes Wild Roses At Their Feet. shorter than ankle length. Mary Ellen Spear In Her Own Right. Photo courtesy of the Vancouver Public Library No. 49988. Mary Ellen Smith was a champion of women’s and children’s rights ofthe cali MRS. M.E. SMITH bre that could challenge any of today’s In April, 1942, resideing at 646 West feminists. Her accomplishments in the 11th. early days ofthis province are numerous. President, and one of the founders, She was the first woman elected to the of the successful “HAPPIER OLD British Columbia Legislature, the first AGE CLUB”, unique organization of woman to hold cabinet rank in any gov Vancouver, and said to be the only ernment in the British Empire, the first one in the British Empire (see that female Speaker in our Legislature. file) A photographe of Mrs. Smith She was closely associated with the leg appears in a framed group of the islation of old age pensions, minimum executive at the time of wages, the appointment of women as incorporation, 1939, in the City juvenile court judges, mothers’ allow Archives. It was presented in April ances, maintenance of deserted wives, 1942. abolition of illegitimacy, widows’ inher Mrs. Smith has been president since its institution about, approx., 1938; itance, the protection of neglected and it is hard to establish an exact date, delinquent children. as it ‘grew like Topsy, and now has Born Mary Ellen Spear in Devonshire, a membership, (1942) of about 400. England, she came to Brtish Columbia They meet, April 1942, in th with her husband in 1892. She was first auditorium of Woodwards Dept. elected to the Legislature as an Independ Stores, usually 2 p.m. in the afternoon, ent from Vancouver in 1918, re-elected and have entertainment, speeches, etc. It is - and Mrs. Smith as a Liberal in 1920, 1924 and again in is particular about this, non-political, 1930, three years before her death. and non-sectarian. The list of organizations to which she

17 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 Grand Forks: Golden Heights by Maisie G. Ferguson

A Canadian city turns 100 this year because an American doctor left his prac tice in Colville, Washington State, to at tend a Canadian pioneer. It was ironic 1 I that the American doctor and the Cana 1 L dian patient would be the genesis for re markable results when neither was personally involved. Interesting, too, that four younger brothers of the doctor, along with a rainbow-chasing dentist from Butte, Montana, would see a city quite literally spring-up in a secluded wilderness. Early in the summer of 1895 Dr. Sherry Manly was called to the almost 4 virgin Kettle Valley from his practice in Colville, Washington, USA. Horses were saddled for the doctor and his younger brother Joseph who was visiting from Great Falls, Montana. No official record remains but the two would have travelled north about twelve miles then west about ten miles. Their destination was a wil Golden Heights- QueenAnne Revivalarchitecture style, built in 1896fbrDt erMrs.AverilL It standsjust east derness valley where only four or five ofGrand Forks. Canadian pioneers were settled. prospects in the valley. Lloyd (nicknamed at Phoenix and settlers nearby who would ‘While Dr. Manly attended his patient, Al) agreed to stay working on the home flock to where employment was available. Joseph rode off to explore. What he stead until Joseph returned. It was probably no surprise to John that found was about twenty miles of virgin Thirty year old John A. Manly was a his presentation had met with favor and terrain in a beautiful setting. A dramatic well established entrepreneur and suc the smelter would be constructed where backdrop of humpy hills and mountains cessful businessman, free to give atten he had suggested. contained the northern stretch, while tion to whatever caught his fancy at the Considerable cash would be needed to three or four miles south was the east time. John envisioned far more than the secure the large acreage. Speed was ofthe ward flowing Kettle River. Closing off homestead. ‘Where the two rivers con essence — before the location of the the east end of the valley was the North verged were acres and acres of level land, smelter became public. John travelled to Fork River tumbling down from the an ideal place to develop a townsite. The Butte, Montana to locate a dentist whose mountains, backed by Rattlesnake timing was right. He knew of the rich name frequently appeared in the news. Mountain guiding it to converge with the copper find at nearby Phoenix and that Dr. G. Warren Averill practiced the new Kettle River to flow on south and join a search was on for a smelter site to be “Painless Dentistry” method. He was also the powerful Columbia River. Knowing built by Granby Consolidated of touted as the only dentist west of Chi that the Canadian government was of Spokane. He scouted the area thoroughly cago to use diamond inserts to add spar fering generous land grants to attract then hurried off to Spokane to talk to Ide to the teeth of well-to-do patients. immigrants Joseph chose a site to stake Granby officials. To this group he de But the stories that attracted John out his pre-emption. scribed the advantage of building the Manley were of successful sales of two Joseph, who had to return to Montana, smelter beside the North Fork River mining claims; A syndicate in Boston had called on his brother John to attend to about two or three miles from where the paid $70,000 for his York claim and his interests. John invited his younger rivers converged and close by his visual Guggenheim Syndicate $80,000 for his brother Lloyd to accompany him. These ized town. There would be an easy Golden Cloud claim. Here, indeed, was two were impressed by the vistas and downhill run for a rail line from the mine an ideal prospect — a man with money

18 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 that it should be named Golden Heights and that Los Angeles was the best place to find the most talented architects, builders, and decorators. Flora loved to entertain and was wholly supported by the dentist. By the time it was ready to occupy, the dental practices at Helena and Butte, Montana, could be disposed ofand they, with their small son Harold, could move in and start a new way of life. John A. Manly was now free to pro ceed with his own dream. With adequate acreage pre-empted it was time to set out perimeters for the business section, to lay out streets, plan for community build ings such as a town hall, school, hospital and churches. Key people must be found and committees set up. It was an im Dr G. WarrenAverilL dentistfrom Butte, Montana, mense undertaking. Several years later who built Golden Heights mansion and invested in when at a large public meeting, John A. F!oraAnnette (Bangbart)AverilLfun loving wflr who financing many buildings to create the City ofGrand was socially ambitions to thepoint ofruin. Forks Manly was referred to as “Father of the Photo courtesy of H. Sutherland. Photo courtesy of H. Sutherland. town.” and a penchant for speculation! As anticipated, when the word was out, 1896 described a “massive mountain of John met Averill and his young wife, the rush was on. Within a year the popu mineral standing like a sentinel ofwealth Flora. He again outlined his project with lation jumped from 32 to 430, with 70 leaning on the hyperborean bosom of

its valid potential. When the Averills children of school age. There were 200 British Columbia. .. .see an embryo city learned of the smelter they agreed that buildings at or near completion. A school the size of Grand Forks build up in less time was short, for they too could imag was ready. A hospital (a 20 by 30 foot than 18 months.” Buildings continued ine the veritable stampede that would rwo-storey building) was provided by Dr. to be raised in increasing numbers. One, result of buyers, builders, realtors and Averill for Dr. R.B. Stanley Smith. Even which in later years was converted to a speculators. They were ready to leave the eager Manly brothers, now joined by school, was a partnership venture of immediately to see this wonderful val the fourth and youngest flimily member, Manly and Averill. It was a generous sized ley. William Carson (Carse), could hardly log construction called the Mercantile ‘When they reached the site, the part have anticipated such growth. Store which offered everything from farm nership was established. The couple not Work on Golden Heights was also pro equipment to hardware, from groceries only made sizeable investments in the gressing, but with long delays. As only to stoves. Next door to an operating bar proposed townsite but also an exciting rough timbering was available locally bershop foundations were being laid for personal investment. Across North Fork everything else came from Spokane by a rather unique business. A lady, recently River, at the foot of Rattlesnake Moun wagon-freight to Marcus, some 40 miles arrived from Ohio, was planning to open tain, there was a long strip ofbenchland, south of the International Boundary. an Oyster Parlour. some thirty acres or more, overlooking Everything had to be reloaded onto Dr. Averill had two more buildings the valley. The Averills pre-empted this, horse-drawn drays for the long trip north being built; these were a law office for aware that it could be rezoned for build over rutted roads and finally for the last two lawyers and a drug store for Dr. ing lots. They would retain about two 13 miles over the recently widened Hepworth. Both would be revenue gen acres at the east end, directly across from Dewdney Trail. There were many loads erating sources. the town, and build a mansion. of finished timber and highly ornate The Grand Forks Miner newspaper Socially ambitious Flora, who was miliwork for interiors, ornate doors with enthused, “New businesses are starting twenty years younger than her husband, personalized bronze doorknobs, seven up weekly in town, and as spring appears was full of ideas. Her immediate dream stained glass windows (some of these our burg will have assumed quite pre of a mansion, to attract others to also curved and leaded to fit a rounded tur tentious dimensions. To show the neces build on that delightful spot, sounded ret) as well as other ordered luxury fit sity ofestablishing a mining record office practical. It would be a special residence tings. at Grand Forks, we will give a few fig with no concern about cost. They agreed An editorial in a local newspaper of ures that speak for themselves.” A long

19 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 claw-footed bathtub, hand basin, and high tank chain-operated toilet (report edly still functional.) In 1898 Golden Heights was finished, along with a nearby house for house keeper Liza T. Coffe from North Caro lina. The handyman had his own quarters and was in charge of grounds, ice house and stable for both work and saddle horses. Guests were soon arriving and high spirited Flora was in her element. By 1900 Grand Forks was truly boom ing. The Granby Smelter earned the un challenged title of the largest copper smelter in the British Empire with 400 or more employees. And the North Fork River was renamed the Granby River. Dr. George Warren Averill leaves no record in city politics. ‘What was recorded Bathroom with chain-operated toilet and claw-foot batb. Golden Height (1897). shows generous financial investment in Photo courtesy of H. Sutherland. buildings to speed the town’s growth. By list included such items as 758 mining occupancy Talented interior decorators 1910 he was suffering financially. Too claims, 190 miner claims, 175 certificates were still creating ceiling and wall much had been spent on the couple’s for work, 70 bills of sale and 15 traders’ etchings for the six mainfloor rooms and luxurious way of life. In addition he was licences. This was capped with the ob four bedrooms on the second floor. The paying taxes on unsold pieces of land. servation that when all were totalled “they bathroom was an extra challenge for it One ofthe most extravagant additions would sum up to about 700 mineral had a graceful swan painted over the blue, to Golden Heights was the construction claims recorded in the past summer.” of a ballroom for Flora and their wealthy Then came truly exciting news ! A stat visitors. This “Coach House” was an ute was issued by the Provincial Govern imposing 40 by 40 foot two storey build ment introduced by Attorney General ing. The ground floor housed quarters Eberts entitled, “An Act to Accelerate the for a footman, mangers for seventeen Incorporation of Towns or Cities.” horses, a carriage room, tack room, and Towns wishing to apply were requested at the rear a hay storage area. Entrance to send a petition with signatures of real to the ballroom was a covered outdoor estate owners representing more than half flight ofstairs which opened onto a cloak of the actual owners. room and facilities. A large dance floor Meetings were hastily called and were was ofhardwood and teak. This had been well attended. Some opposed the idea, ordered when Golden Heights was un foreseeing land tax increases. Others op der construction but was so long delayed posed on general principles. Despite that carpeting had been used, and when these voices, a majority voted approval. the special flooring finally arrived it was Carefully complying with all details of stored away. At either side of the ball the Municipal Act, the petition was sent. room was an exterior balcony providing On April 15,1897 the “City of Grand a place for dancers to get a fresh breath Forks” was incorporated. It was a day of of air. The bandstand stood at one end jubilation. Excitement ran high. Elec and a large view window at the other. tions in May of 1897 sawJohn A. Manly Sadly, this elaborate structure was de chosen as the first Mayor ofGrand Forks. stroyed by fire in 1932. Also elected were William Carson (Carse) When, in 1910, it was realized how low Manly and Lloyd (Al) Manly to serve on the coffers had become, Dr. Averill pro the seven man city council. Leaded Stained glass window to alcove on curve of posed an exciting adventure to his son Even Golden Heights was an impres main stairs to secondfloor ofGolden Heigbt.s 1956 Harold who was now in his twenties. He picture. sive sight, though not quite ready for Photo courtesy of H. Suthesiand. suggested that they could reap a fortune

20 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 by taking a bushwhacking trip to Alaska, well supplied with such necessities as a dental drill, foot-operated flywheel, plus a gold press and roller to provide a gold tooth or filling if desired. On the route they had chosen dentists were seldom seen. The trip proved as suc cessful as they had hoped. They were busy both going and returning. After almost three years away they returned in tri umph. Triumph was displaced by dismay when they reached Grand Forks. The year after they had gone a fire had de stroyed a large part ofthe downtown sec tion of Grand Forks, including the buildings that had provided monthly in come to Dr. Averill. He also discovered that the insurance premiums had not been paid in his absence. That was a Printedswan still beautzyslafter 60years on ceiling ofGolden Heights bathroom, with band-etched border and shocker, but nothing to compare with “ball and tube” lightfixture. what was in store at Golden Heights. Photo courtesy of H. Sutherland. Flora, lively, dance-loving Flora, was She improved, but would never dance fice set up in the conservatory offthe din permanently disabled. Just after the fire again or walk without support. ing room. As there was now another den she had suffered a severe stroke. Paralysed Stunned and grief stricken, Warren tist practising in the city most of his and bedridden, it was the devotion ofher cleared off the accumulated debts and patients were from the Doukhobor corn housekeeper Liza Coffe that saw her taxes. He released the weary Liza to re munity through. Day after day Liza massaged, turn to North Carolina with her brother. Then Harold married and moved to exercised and encouraged the unhappy, He hired a Doukhobor couple to replace Seattle. This must have been devastating stricken woman until she was finally able her and the handyman (who had already for the lonely, depressed couple. They to try walking again with the use ofcanes. gone). Horses were sold and a dental of- stayed in their mansion until 1918 when they moved to Seattle to be with family. There the aging dentist set about build ing a new practice. He found space in a building at Third and Marion Streets, hired a carpenter, electrician and plumber to construct his floor plan and install equipment. The work finished, he was ready to start his career all over again. BUT the Averill rainbow had vanished. The doors were never opened to the pub lic. He was stopped by authorities who ‘.1 found his old California licence was nor valid in Seattle. How the determined dentist would have dealt with such a blow will never be known. He fell victim to the influenza epidemic and within a short time he was dead. He was 70 years old when he died in January 1919. Crippled Flora, not yet in her fifties, bereft of practically all she held dear, stayed in Seattle until Golden &pensive restoration oftower and roof 1960k Heights was sold in 1920. She then Photo courtesy of H. Sutherland. moved to California to be near her sib-

21 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 lings. agony of losing both wife and baby to vacant houses and silent streets. Be The Manly-Averill partnership had daughter in childbirth. There is a gap of yond the valley, boom towns were be proven an outstanding success. Ironically about twenty years in his history then in coming ghost towns. A truly it was an undertaking that brought the 1880s he met a young lady named discouraging time but Grand Forks dug wealth and recognition to one, wealth Flora Annette Ranghart at Halfmoon in to survive. with tragedy to the other. According to a Bay, San Francisco. Their acquaintance More fortunate than most small cities biography written by his daughter-in developed into a romance strongly op dependent upon mining resources there law, Ivy Averill Lidsey for Boundary His posed by her parents. They eloped, first were natural advantages to make recov torical Society’s Reports 1970, George residing at Redding before becoming es ery possible. One was forestry; still a ba Warren Averill was an only child born tablished at Butte, Montana. Flora en sic industry today. Another was a fertile on a farm in Pennsylvania, who lost his joyed their growing social status and gave valley with excellent growing conditions. father when he was just four years old. birth to their only child. Perhaps such a The beleaguered population pitched in; When he was twelve his mother remar background gives credence to his devo the large Doukhobor community used ried. Family legend has it that two years tion and lifestyle. their skills; soon fruits and vegetables of later he ran away, joined the Buffalo Bill World War I ended in 1918; copper fine quality were offered at markets. De Cody Road Show, crossed the plains and prices began to tumble. The Michel coke termined citizens weathered the stressful landed in California. Perhaps the 14 year plant, supplier of coke for the Grand years and even grew with the changing old Warren did run away, perhaps disen Forks smelter, went on strike. Layoffs be circumstances. chanted with his step-father or jealous gan, followed by the unbelievable. In For forty years the slag piles at the of his infant half-brother. Or perhaps his 1919 the great smelter was shut down. Granby smelter site were unchanging leaving was a beneficial move arranged Investors in the East decided to move the landmarks. A representative from a com by his mother to better the boy’s future equipment to Anyox, B.C. to provide a pany called Pacific Abrasives came to talk by sending him to relatives in Los Ange smelter for their new mine there. Grand business. The granular material in those les. He was successful in a four year den Forks’ main source of city and family ugly black reminders of better days tal training program which earned him income was gone. Families moved away, proved ideal for use by sand blasters. Pa the title of Doctor. It has also been re business blocks closed. The hustle and cific Abrasives contracted for a long term corded that he married and suffered the bustle of a thriving community gave way option on all thirteen million tons ofslag. Another valuable development fol lowed. A scientist named Dave Spencer, working at the sand-blasting project, dis covered an additional use for slag. He perfected a technique that produced an excellent insulation fibre. Pacific Enercon was formed and gave 40 locals jobs for several years, shutting down on May 18, 1992. Grand Forks has a city population of over 4000 with 362 licenced businesses: the trading area’s population is 11,000. The Manly brothers would undoubtedly be proud. Two Manly brothers and a descendant have been Mayor. All four brothers were councillors for at least one term. All are gone now. The first to die

S. was the youngest, William Carson (Carse), a man highly respected for the

55*5555 > time and effort spent during years of 55555555555555555 struggle. His final attempt to obtain im 555 s.s555 55555 5.. V.5*5 55 . S provement for the valley was in 1919. - *5*5

S S ... . *5555555 ,4.S5 . He was returning from lobbying in Vic - . -sS-.S5--SSSS toria for an irrigation system when he became ill on the boat; he died shortly Part of Golden Heights estate, Dec. 1990, left to right, Liza T Coffee Residence, stabk mansion. Ice house after. He was sixty years of age. bandyrminc accomod5ation bidden behind trees left of Golden Heights. Photo courtesy of M. Ferguson. John A. Manly, the acknowledged “Fa

22 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 1990- anAugust early evening. This house Ifril in love with. Did much research, wrote its history, expecting itto become restoredasa historicaltreasure. Ptioto courtesy of the author.

ther of Grand Forks” was 86 when he picnic area. Golden Heights has been BIBLIOGRAPHY accorded Heritage status as befits a glo From Boundary Historical Socierg Vol. 7, 1976: - page 22 died in 1936. The Manly Story, page 25 Biography of Dr. G.W Two years later, Lloyd (Al) passed on rious old mansion. Averill, page 31 History ofGolden Heights. Truax, W. (M.D.) Pioneer Days in B.C., page 317, Heritage in his early eighties. At his own request House 1979. his ashes were scattered over the Kettle Bartee, N.L. Best of Canada West, Stagecoach Pub. Co. 1978 Granville, Jim, One Hundred Years, Grand Forks Library River. At press time we have learned that the Wilson, I & ft History of B.C. Weekly Newspapers WV. Joseph outlived all his brothers. He was Newspaper Ass’n 1971. gala opening of Golden Heihts has been Hodson, Robert, Grand Forks Heritage Survey Grand Forks 94 at the time of his death in 1944. postponed again. The Wilson family are Library Ormsby, Margaret A., History of B.C., page 317, Evergreen Golden Heights now is an Inn and Res seekingfrrther loans, but have indicated Press 1958. taurant. Mr. Hugh Sutherland com they are willing to sell if a buyer can be Robinson, J. Lewis, Bill Cody, page 280 Canadian Encydopedia, 1988. menced renovations then sold to William found Russet, Don, Lives and Legends of Bill Cody and Buffislo Varro, who in turn sold to a family de Bill, Study in Heroics, page 428 Brittanica Myctophobia Vo termined to re-establish the wonderful Croft-Cook, R. and Meadmore, W S., Legend, Man in old house and surrounding estate to some Action, page 128 Brittanica Mycrophobia Vo. Wallace, Pat, Tale of Two Houses, Vancouver Province of its former glory. Family members The author and her husbandpaused in Grand Newspaper 1977 Katherine Berg, Sonia Willson, Mark Forks when travelling alongHighway 3 in 1990. They spotted Golden Heights, made enquiries Stevens and Graeme Willson have pre INTERVIEWS were introduced to then owner Hugh Suther pared for overnight guests with luxuri taniL Considerable research followed but the Thomson, Sue - Grand Forks City Council 1990. Sutherland, Hugh - Golden Heights owner 1956 to 1992. ous sleeping units, sauna, hot tub, and manuscrtpt went unnoticed until the summer Cuff Mrs. Eva - Parents bought Golden Heights 1920 to gourmet dining. Groups may arrange of1996. W areprotat topresent this story with 1956. itsfinalparagraph updatedjustprior to press Harder, Mrs. Rosalie - Niece of Mrs. Cufl frequent visitor in weddings, concerts in an outdoor thea Heights. time. (Information courtesy the Grand Forks Golden tre, and English teas. The gardens have a Staffs of: Grand Forks Library. Chamber ofCommerce.) Staffs oft Grand Forks Museum. water garden, herb and heritage garden, Staff and Archives of Gasette Newspaper. a pond with turtles and goldfish, and a Pacific Abrasives Company.

23 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 Ginger Goodwin: Union Organizer by Keith A. Parker

Editorc Note: Various versions ofGood unusual circumstances. His death was the winc lfi’ anddeath are told by history buffi. occasion of a massive funeral procession The fbi/owing presentation is one we can in Cumberland, followed by a general neither confirm nor deny. /V\\ strike being called in Vancouver. This Ginger Goodwin has become some latter was the first experienced in Canada. thing of a folk hero and almost a mythi fGNlE 2ØOW \ An unusual sight greets the visitor to .HorJLLY26 cal legend in the mid-island region of Ist this isolated cemetery in the mid-island. Vancouver Island over the past seventy WO.(4MS p??/(,)d A crude chiselled stone marker guards the years. His is not a familiar name to the gravesite of one whom it terms “a work student ofCanadian national history nor er’s friend.” Adorned by the likeness of is he much more than a footnote to the the Hammer and Sickle, it seems out of labor historian. He is, however, a con place in the present day commercially ori troversial character in the Island’s local ented Comox Valley. Indeed, some con history temporaries seem rather embarrassed by This writer first became aware of ref This marker in the Cumberland cemetery isan uncut reminders of the region’s radical past. erence to the existence of this colorful stone engraved byfrieniLs who respected his memory. Most ofGinger Goodwin’s life can only This sketch was prepared from a poor quality figure of the past in a strangely personal photograph. be guessed at. He was not an “important and unusual way. During the Christmas man” hence no extensive records of him holidays in 1988 I found myselfvisiting such as this was anathema to the mine exist. There are no boxes of personal pa friends on the Island. Academic thoughts owners and this development had to be pers or files of correspondence. On the were furthest from my mind. As a stock resisted at all costs. The idea that they contrary, union workers in those days ing-stuffer I was given a copy of Derek could not do exactly what they pleased were usually itinerant and secretive. Only Hanesbury’s novella based on Goodwin’s with what they considered to be their fragmentary references pop up, often in death and funeral in the coal mining own was repugnant to men of property the most unlikely places, and give some community of Cumberland. This slim in the early twentieth century Canadian substance to what has become a legen volume is a highly entertaining but im West. dary and heroic figure. Often romanti aginative recreation ofevents taking place Goaded into action, the men em cized versions of a colorful history in the Fall of 1918 by a creative writer.1 barked on a series of unsuccessful work confuses reality. The selective memories After the usual gluttonous meal, we stoppages. Perhaps the longest and best of old men participating in oral history decided to walk it off with a visit to the known ofthese involved the mines in the projects illustrate the limitations ofthese. area and the long disused coal mines that Cumberland and Nanaimo districts start Local pride often tends to inflate the give it a ghost town quality. A small dis ing in 1912. These strikes were bitterly importance or degree ofimpact that par play now commemorates what was once contested, involving the use of strike ticipants have had. Yet in spite of all of a flourishing fief in the wilderness pro breakers, violence, riots, troops and fi this, Ginger deserves to be more than a ducing some of the best coal in western nally the intervention of government on historical curiosity and justifies the at North America. In the days before oil, the side of the owners. This was seen as a tention of at least this researcher. they fueled railroads as far away as south surrender of the people’s interest to the Albert “Ginger” Goodwin first came ern California. The capitalists of the day monied class. Finally, after two years of to public attention in British Columbia were able to make fortunes from the lar hardship and bitterness, the men were in 1911. He had come from a coal min gesse of nature, the policies of govern forced to return to the pits having gained ing area of Yorkshire in England at the ment, and the unrestrained exploitation nothing.2 age of 33, and already suffered from an oflabor. Whether it was the use ofcheap Union organizers were especially the advanced case of tuberculosis caused in Oriental workers, the ignoring of safety target of the civil authority. Ginger part from an inadequate diet resulting regulations, the imposition ofintolerable Goodwin had been one ofthe more iden from his rotten teeth not being able to working and living conditions, or sim tifiable, later to be an official ofthe B.C. masticate anything but bread, tea, or ply low wages, the miners were soon Federation of Labour and later still a mashed potatoes. He was, by common driven to try unionization as a protec leader of the Trail Smelter strike. A con agreement, a dapper, well mannered man tion of their interests. Collective action junction of events led to his demise in with a charming appearance that masked

24 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 a burning concern for the well being of curred as a result ofneglected safety pro radical activity They were given room his fellow workers. cedures by the mine owners. The Rever and board but not paid for manual work He could be seen at the Tunnel Hotel end Menzies was embarking on a on roads and forests. It was claimed that in Cumberland talking about the neces personal odyssey that would have unex this provided a wholesome alternative to sity of unionization to counter the hor pected results. Not long afterwards when the dole, but not surprisingly they were rendous conditions that the local miners a long and bitter strike had highlighted interpreted by some as being a fascist sys had to put up with in the surrounding those conditions, he preached another tem of concentration camps. pits. They were run as fiefdoms, the com sermon, asking On the island, Currie had many occa pany town being run with only one ob —how can we as Christians turn a blind sions to personally encounter Ginger.

ject in mind. That was the maximization eye to injustice — whenJesus saw the money Following one tense confrontation the of profit with the least expenditure. lenders in the temple, did He walk away? offlcer suggested that everyone loses in a Wages, safety precautions, working con When He stood before the Roman guard, strike. His protagonist promptly rebuffed ditions, etc. were all subordinated to that did He turn His back on what God had him by venturing that it was not really a

end. Or he might be encountered pass destined Him for? No, He did not. And matter of win or lose — it’s more a case ing out union literature at a Sunday pic when Ginger Goodwin saw the cream of of give and take and that these men had nic at nearby Comox Lake. our country being skimmed offand killed, been taken from all oftheir lives.7 ‘When, Goodwin was, by then, well known to did he walk away? No, he did not. during a trial of pickets for illegal

the mine management and had become The good reverend — the God fear behavior, a woman led the crowded a prime menace to the tranquillity of or ing Presbyterian who believed that poli courtroom in a song disparaging the mi derly society as seen by the local estab tics were only a part ofSatan’s conspiracy litia, he again leaves us with a vivid, if lishment. to thwart what He had planned for us partisan, picture.

Even as Ispeak, evil drags its rough belly — was to become leader of the People’s When she began the chorus, a single male towardsyou. Andjust like Satan, he comes Party of British Columbia. By 1921, his voice started up behind me and I immedi to sow the seeds ofdiscontent. He will be sermons would be followed by such ately recognized the Yorkshire accent of come a voice in your ear, saying this is not hymns as #57, “Rise Up All Ye That Are Ginger Goodwin. Slowly the other specta

enough — and you deserve more. And Weary”5 tors joined in until the entire courthouse

— shouldyou listen —you shall be lost as Lieutenant Arthur W. Currie, later to resounded to the foul propaganda — A

the sheep dividedfrom theflock — hidden command the Canadian army in France short time later the government managed from the Shepherd The serpent comes in a during WWI, was then in charge of a to outlawpicketingaltogether, which made coat of many colours. Then how shall we detachment ofmilitia as strikes broke out my job much easier: Before long wefound

know him? — by his name — Arthur at several pits on the Island in 1912. Like ourselves embroiled in the war and the Goodwin. And how should we know ofhis most supporters ofthe civil establishment miners agreed to give up theirpetty demands

— evil? the beast whispered more, and at that time, he maintained that for years in favour of the goodfight — Goodwinc whereas miners once knew thejoy offruit the men had been content with steady subsequent death, no doubt, came as a great ful labour with steady work, food and jobs and living a free and decent life. relief to all those who treasure the rights

homes — now they go asfrihtened sheep Then the scourge of Bolshevism had andfreedoms we take frr granted in this among the wolves —you must be wary and spread among the people like a disease magnifIcent country we call Canada.8 content with what you have been given. imported by such as Goodwin. He felt After 1914, the industrial scene be

Rejoice in the work that you have — re that men of their talent, determination, came entwined with the European con joice in the strength ofyour body and the and bent (he compared them to a flict. For thousands of unemployed men luxury ofhard labour: Rejoice in the coal messianic cult), must be dealt with swiftly enlistment in the army became the alter the good lord has planted in His garden. and effectively before they had a chance native to the reliefrolls. Lay-offslips read the Book As Good says “He who asks all, to infect the populace. Goodwin was fi “Your King and Country need you - but shall have nothing. “Please turn to Hymn nally tracked down and shot as, Currie we don’t.” The war, however, did revive

#62, “0 Lord’ W’ are GratefuL ‘ insisted, any traitor should be.6 certain industries. This was paralleled by This was a sermon preached by the This leader would later, as Chief of a revived interest in union activity to local Presbyterian minister. Earlier he had Staff for the Department of National gether with attempts at direct political tried to convince Ginger that if he would Defence, author the plans for creating the action. Greater levels of employment only spend as much time thinking about Single Unemployed Relief Camps dur were also a mixed blessing as prices be God as he did about the union, then he ing the Depressed Thirties. These were gan to rise. would be a far happier man. Goodwin camps located in the interior and run by Inflation, which rose to 12% in 1916, responded quietly with a recitation ofthe the militarY Here single unemployed was 18% in the following year. If war 39 men who had recently been killed in men from urban areas were sent to re time mobilization affected the balance of the latest mine explosion that had oc move them from centers of potential power in Dominion/Provincial relations,

25 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 it also saw a growing split in East/West wide base of support before the wave of as to keep wages low. labor unity; Western workers were in patriotism that was sweeping the coun In all the lower grades of labour espe creasingly annoyed by the use of patri try; cially in smelter laboui it is necessary to otic rhetoric by the eastern and On the other hand, organized labour have a mixture of races which includes a international unions that tended to cloud recorded an 83% increase in member number of illiterates who are first class the real issues as they saw them. ship throughout the province that year workmen. They are the strength ofan em Ginger Goodwin was now an organ and it was particularly strong in the min ployer and the weakness ofthe union. How izer for the Mine, Mill and Smelter ing industry; Under the pressure of mili to lead offa strike ofmuckers or labourers Workers (formerly the Western Federa tary events in Europe, the Prime Minister for hzher wages without the aid ofltalian tion of Miners), a vice-president of the finally introduced conscription. At the labour I do not know” B.C. Federation of Labour, and a mem same time further orders-in-council were Since more than 600 of the 1000 ber of the Socialist Party of Canada. In issued regarding censorship and seditious smeltermen at Trail were Italian, unioni convention, the B.C. Federation meet activity; It became illegal to express opin zation of the plant was slow to develop. ing at Revelstoke in early 1917, voted ions contrary to the war effort or to By 1915, however, the idea ofa union in that the Socialist Party ofCanada was no weaken it (through strikes). the smelter was becoming more and more longer a political factor in the life ofBrit This was the backdrop for Goodwin’s attractive to the men. When Goodwin, ish Columbia. They then formed the next flirtation with notoriety in the Trail/ then an organizer for the WFM, arrived Federated Labour Party with still an es Rossland area of central southern Brit he began to make substantial progress sentially Socialist program. They went on ish Columbia. The B.C. Copper Co., the and by the winter of 1916 the majority to denounce the A.F. of L. dominated B.C. Smelting and Refining Co., and the of the workers voted to become Local Alliance ofLabour and Democracy; call Consolidated Mining and Smelting Co. 105 ofthe Mine, Mill and Smelter work ing Samuel Gompers, its leader, “the big took out untold amounts of lead, zinc ers union. In the middle of November, gest humbug of the age and the most and copper from the Hill and processed 1917, the Trail Trades and Labour Coun indecent reactionary that the world had them in typical company towns. “Tox cil called a strike over the issue of an ever known.” Further, “the labour move ins from the zinc plant sickened the en eight-hour day at the Consolidated Min ment of the east is reactionary and ser tire district — no dogs or cats were to be ing and Smelting Co. It was because so vile to the core. Its vision has never seen in burnt-over Trail — all having many different trades were involved that reached beyond the matter of work and been killed by the smoke and fumes. the Council had called the strike instead wages, the gospel and philosophy ofslav “Downwind from the smokestacks the ofthe Union. The company declared the ery;” Rather “the Federated Labour Party ethnic community suffered dreadfully. strike illegal because it supposedly had a is organized for the purpose of securing Few jobs were far removed from the blis no-strike agreement with the Union (this industrial legislation for the collective tering heat (160 degrees) of the lead fur was vehemently disputed). Several weeks ownership and democratic operation of naces. Huge 12 ton pots had to be tapped into the stoppage, with feelings running the means of production.”9 by hand and the molten ore ladled out. quite high, the international executive Behind this lay the real fears of the Numerous workers literally caught fire decided that the local council had no working class that they were being asked while performing these tasks. jurisdiction, agreed that the strike was to carry more than their fair share of the Ifsomeone got hurt, hisfriends took care unlawful, and ordered the men back to war effort. In 1916, the Federal Govern ofhim. Leadpoisoningafficted many. First- work. To have failed so abjectly with no ment had passed an order-in-council aid did not exist, the company didn have apparent gains, and to have seemingly under the War Measures Act calling for anything to do with it. A bz strongfriend been betrayed by their own leadership an inventory of the labor force. This would load the injured man on his back was so demoralizing that the Hill was not seemed to be only a prelude to conscrip and take him to the hospital. Naturally, to have an effective organization again tion. Western labor now insisted that the thefriend lost wages, fnot hisjob because until 1938.12 material wealth of Canada must be con the trip taken to the hospital was on com During the strike Goodwin lived in a scripted before manpower. pany time.’0 boarding house on Cedar Avenue where The results ofthe general election that Smeltermen worked 365 days a year. fellow residents noted his ill-health and year can’t have given much comfort to The duration of the workday varied. rotten teeth “like little pieces of rusted the labour leaders. Their candidates ran Even though B.C. had adopted the eight barbed wire, he didn’t have one decent well behind in the polls, receiving only hour day, it was not enforced and the tooth in his mouth and didn’t eat one about 8.5% of the vote. Some would men could be required to put in up to decent meal all the time he was there.”13 blame the enfranchisement of women twelve hours. Overtime pay was unheard Also during the strike conscription into with relatives on active service for the of since payment was simply by the day the armed forces was introduced. All men dismal showing, but in fact, anti regardless of the hours worked. Racism of military age were required to present conscriptionism simply did not have a was used to divide the labour force as well themselves for medical examinations. A

26 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 Dr. Morrison examined Ginger in Trail. caught in the nearby streams and lakes go and retrieve the body and he also re He remembered the gaunt rack of bones and small game that could be brought fused. After removing the rifle from the that was the reality ofthe little, slim, wiry down with the single .22 calibre rifle that position in which it had fallen — indi individual that stood undressed before they had. For some time they had been cating that the fugitive was running away him. A harsh cough tried to clear the hunted by the special police but had eas and not firing at the constable — the tubercies that blocked his right lung. He ily avoided detection in the trackless wil police proceeded to burn over the site, claimed that his ulcers were bearable if derness. On July 26, 1918 however, a thus destroying any other evidence. The he watched what he ate. A scratched cor posse went directly to the site ofthe cabin body was finally brought down by friends nea from an old mine blast ran diago — no searching was necessary. They and a funeral was held on Aug. 2nd, nally across his right eye rendering it found the other men but virtually ig 1918. practically useless. His teeth dictated a nored them and Constable Dan This was Sunday so the men wouldn’t diet of bread soaked in tea (he said he Campbell took off after Ginger who was miss a day’s work and possibly lose their could get anything down if it didn’t re out fishing. The stories now become con jobs. The Comox Valley had never seen quire a lot ofchewing) and soup. He was flicting but end up in either death or such a turnout since their soccer team registered as class D (unfit for military murder. had won the provincial championship. service) or as the doctor put it — “D is Later in court, Campbell would claim The main street was shoulder to shoul for death warmed over — he wouldn’t that he had to shoot in self defense. der with townspeople from one end to last a week in the trenches.”14 Goodwin’s apologists insisted that the the other. The cortege was a mile long. After the strike was over, many of the Constable was really in no danger from The coffin, carried by six pallbearers, was men were blacklisted by the Company. a .22 rifle and that the claim he was shot covered in red, white, and blue bunting, Dr. Morrison was prevailed upon to in the back while running away to avoid preceded by the town band playing “The claim that his reports had gotten mixed capture was at variance with the evidence. Old Rugged Cross” and “Rock ofAges.” up and that in fact Goodwin was quite In any case, Goodwin could not aim They carried him to the town cemetery fit. Most sources agree that this was done the rifle because of his sightless eye. He where the grave was later marked with by a Mr. Blaylock, the smelter manager, would have to have fired from the left the strange stone that stands today. as punishment for having led the strike. side. This led to the claim that the track A coroner’s court ruled that Campbell In any case, Goodwin was reclassified and of the bullet into a left-handed shooter had acted in self-defense and therefore ordered to report for active duty As many that purportedly ricocheted off the left his action was justifiable homicide. Socialists were, Goodwin was also a paci wrist before entering the left side of the Nonetheless an investigation was held in fist, especially in a war that for him had neck and then exiting the right side must Victoria by local Justices ofthe Peace who all the overtones of a capitalist/imperial have followed a boomerang trajectory.’4 in turn referred the case to an Assize ist conflict. This, and his obvious per This was derisively laughed off with the Court for a jury trial. Campbell was given sonal ill-health, caused him to join the wry comment that none of those Aus a complete discharge and that was the growing number of evaders from all tralian bullets were available in Canada end of any legal proceedings.’5 across the country who were hiding out at that time! Not only was this story im It was a decision that many found hard to avoid the draft. In response to this, plausible but the tremendous amount of to accept. A one day general strike was the government formed a special police blood in evidence revealed that a hollow called by the Vancouver Trades and La force to search out and apprehend fugi nose shell (one that spreads out on im bour Council — the first general strike tives. pact) had been used. This raised a fur to be called in Canada. This was honored Goodwin returned to Cumberland to ther question. Why, if the object of the by most member unions. The only dis hide out in the nearby hills. He took ref exercise was simply to apprehend the fu cernable results ofthis was a violent clash uge in an old hunting cabin on the For gitive, was such weaponry being used? with returned war veterans. While the bidden Plateau along with five other Labor felt that the conclusion was ines strikers might have considered Ginger a evaders. In the past, whenever in the capable. The authorities, wanting to rid martyr to the labor movement, others, Cumberland area, Ginger had stayed at society of what they considered to be a encouraged by the local establishment, the home of Sam Clark, an old friend cancer, had deliberately tracked Ginger saw the matter as a betrayal of Canadian and unionist. There is no proof, but sto down and murdered him. ideals and patriotism. ries persist that, in seeking revenge for Instead ofbringing the body back with But Ginger underground, whether him having impregnated their daughter, them, the police asked the local under down the pit or in his grave, simply Sam’s wife told the authorities where the taker to go up into the bush and bury would not go away. His friends in labour fugitive could be found. They existed on the corpse. Knowing that this would be kept the legend alive in folklore and in supplies smuggled up to them by local very unpopular, if not downright dan memory and his ghost remains to haunt sympathizers and supplemented these gerous, he refused. Next the Cumberland the Comox Valley. But as time passes the with the plentiful fish that were to be coroner, Mort Longwork, was asked to fire is quenched. Susan Mayse, the latest

27 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 to attempt a biography, writes that hers is more of a contextual compilation of The B.C. Historical Federation fragments rather than an extended nar rative. She adds that of the 50-odd re Writing Competition searchers that have attempted books on . Goodwin, few have survived chapter one Entries in 1996 because there is literally no more than the sketchiest details available)6 Her ex (Listed in the order received) perience speaks to the paucity and con tradictory evidentiary sources. I Carried A Key - by Agnes McKinnon The Tales Of A Pioneer JournalIst - Pub.: self published by David William Higgins Not surprisingly the controversy sur ISBN O-9680498-O-X Pub.: Heritage House Publishing Co. rounding the principal actor has also be 186 pp., pbk, $16.95 ISBN 1-895811-09-0 come something of a political issue. The 192 pp., pbk, $16.95 No Better Land - edited by Roberta L. character ofthe community has changed. Bagshaw Trails To Gold Vol. 2 - by Branwen Reminders of a socialist background are Pub.: Sono Nis Press Patenaude not necessarily acceptable to many citi ISBN 1-55039-067-8 Pub.: Heritage House Publishing Co. zens today who may be troubled by 308 pp., pbk, $21.95 ISBN 11-895811-09-0 288 pp., pbk, $18.95 Goodwin’s leftish associations. In 1989 In The Context Of It’s Time -

(Woodlands School) - by Val Adolph when a New Democratic Party domi Totem Poles and Tea - by Hughina Pub,: Gov’t of B.C. Ministry of Social Harold nated local council wanted to officially Services designate the hill overlooking Pub.: Heritage House Publishing Co. ISBN 0-7726-2913-7 ISBN 1-895811-11-2 Cumberland as Mount Goodwin, offi 149 pp., pbk, $10.00 218pp., pbk, $17.95 cials in Victoria demurred, ostensibly Memories of Woodlands - edited by Nootka Sound - by Heather Harbord because of the problems associated with Val Adolph Pub.: Heritage House Publishing Co. Pub.: as above amending official maps. They might have ISBN 1-895811-03-1 ISBN 0-7726-2914-5 added that local supporters might not 123 pp., pbk, $11.95 142 pp., pbk, $10.00 want to be reminded of the past in this Butchart Gardens - by Dave Preston Provincial Cheap Wage Labour - by Alicja way. The government at this Pub.: Highline Publishing Muszynski time was a Social Credit one. ISBN 0-9699540-0-1 Pub.: McGill-Queen’s University Press Nonetheless the objections were over 199 pp., pbk, $22.95 ISBN 0-7735-1376-0 come and a stone cairn at the summit 314 pp., hc, $44.95 A Traveler’s Guide To Aboriginal B.C. now bears a brass plaque commemorat Bright Seas, Pioneer Spirits (the - by Cheryl Coull ing where this “worker’s friend” was Pub.: Whitecap Books Ltd. Sunshine Coast) - by Betty C. Keller shot.’7 and Roselia M. Leslie ISBN 1-55110-402-4 Pub.: Horsdal & Schubart Publishers Ltd. 254 pp., pbk, $19.95 ISBN 0-920663-44-3 The author is an associate professor in the de SaIlIng Back In Time - by Maria Coffey 232 pp., pbk, $14.95 partment ofhistory at the University ofSouth Pub.: Whitecap Books Ltd.

Florida in Tampa, Florida. Raincoast ChronIcles #17 - ISBN 1-55110-487-3 edited by Howard White 158 pp., hc, $39.95 FOOTNOTES Pub.: Harbour Publishing IndIan Wars On The Old Pacific 1. Hanebury Derek, Ginger Goodwin Beyond the ISBN 1-55017-142-9 North West - by John Hopper Forbidden Plateau, Pulp Press, Vancouver, 1986. 80 pp., pbk, $12.95 2. See this writer’s unpublished paper, The Cumberland Pub.: Artarmon Publishing

Coal Strike. Ladner’s Landing of Yesteryear - ISBN 9681080-0-8 3. Hanebury, op. cit, P. 17. by Gwen Szychter 98 PP., PBK, 4. Ibid. p. 36. 5. Ibid. p. 58. Pub.: self published 6. Ibid,p.32. ISBN 0-9680951-0-0 The Pacific Province - Hugh 7. Ibid, p. 42. 68 pp., pbk, $8.95 Johnstone, General Editor 8. Ibid p. 78, 79. These seemingly are from oral history Pub.: Douglas and Mcintyre projects. British Columbia Wine Companion - ISBN 1-55054-193-5 9. Phillips, Paul, No Power Greater, Boag Foundation, by John Schreiner Vancouver, 1967. P. 69. 352 pp., pbk, $26.95 10. Solski and Smaller, Mine Mill, Steel Rail Publishing, Pub.: Orca Book Publishers Ottawa, 1985. 33. ISBN 1-55143-061-4 P. British Columbia: A Natural History - 11. Ibid, p. 34. 264 pp., pbk, $19.95 12. Ibid. p.36. by Richard Cannings and Sydney 13. Hanebury, O. Cit., p. 22. Cannings Olympics 100 - by Cleve Dheensaw 14. Ibid, p. 45. Pub.: Douglas and Mcintyre Sound Vol. ‘/11, No. 4 Pub.: Orca Book Publishers 15. “Fighting for Labour” Heritage, ISBN 1-55054-497-7 1978, Awal History’ Program, Victoria, p.25. ISBN 1055143-068-1 16. Mayse to Parker, 12 February 1990. 236 pp., pbk, $18.95 320 pp., hc, $45.00 17. Comox District Free Press. June 23, 1989.

28 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 — Working Dollars: The Vancity Savings The Making Of A Grey Panther - by Affieck’s Thoughts

Story - by Herschel Hardin John Munro in this world of the internet, pundits have Pub.: Douglas and Mcintyre Pub.: RonsdaIe Press been forecasting the inevitable demise ISBN 1-55054-432-2 ISBN 0-921870-44-2 496 pp., hc, $29.95 283 pp., pbk, $17.95 of the book as a medium of information. As a current panellist for

David Lam: A Biography - by Reginald The Story Of Avalon Dairy Ltd. - by the B.C. Historical Federation Writing H. Roy Jean Crowley Competition, I have yet to detect signs Pub.: Douglas and Mcintyre Pub.: self published that the days of the book are ISBN 1-55054-511-6 llZpp., $12.00 numbered. 1983, the first year of the 256 pp., hc, $35.00 Bukkyo Tozen: A History of Judo Competition, witnessed 14 entries. By 1987, the number had risen to 30. The Prophecy Of The Swan - by David V. Shinshu Buddhism in Canada 1996 competition has broken through Burley, J. Scott Hamilton, Knut P. 1905-1995 - by Terry Watada Fladmark Pub.: HpF Press the 40-entries barrier. Each increment Pub.: UBC Press ISBN 0-9699502-0-9 demands from the panellists an ISBN 0-7748-0545-5 425 pp., hc, $35.00 incremental amount of time devoted to 213 pp., pbk, $24.95 diligent reading in order that The Resettlement Of British competent judging for the Competition Vancouver Island: Letters Of Edmund Columbia - by Cole Harris may take place. A poorly written book Hope Verney - edited by Allan Pub.: UBC Press perhaps makes the most formidable Pritchard ISBN 0-7748-0589-7 demands on the reading time of a Pub.: UBC Press 336 pp., pbk, $29.95 judge. Fortunately, the poorly written, ISBN 0-7748-0554-4 indifferently 307 pp., hc, $65.00 Cathedral Grove - by Jan Peterson produced book now Pub.: Oolichan Books represents but a modest minority of the

Making Vancouver 1863-1913 - by ISBN 0-88982-160-7 books submitted; the quality of most Robert A.J. McDonald 133pp.,pbk,$19.95 entries is impressive indeed. One can Pub.: UBC Press scarcely overemphasize the truism that 0-Bon in Chimunesu: A Community ISBN 0-7748-555-2 the touchstone of the superior book Remembered - Catherine Lang 316 pp., hc, $49.95 tends to lie in rigorous editing and Pub.: Arsenal Pulp Press Okanagan History 60th Report ISBN 1-55152-036-2 imaginative formatting. Pub.: Okanagan Historical Society 280 pp., pbk, $18.95 The sheer diversity of meritorious book ISBN 0-921241 -64-X submissions presents a formidable 222 pp., pbk, $16.00 It Pays To Play: British Columbia In challenge to the Competition’s panel of Postcards 1950s-1980s - by Peter judges. Does the superlatively edited, Bowering’s B.C.: A Swashbuckling White highly informative, well written 500- History - by George Bowering Pub.: Arsenal Pulp Press page book with its series of breath Pub.: Penguin Canada ISBN 1-55152-037-0 taking colour illustrations so overwhelm ISBN 0-670-85757-2 IIZpp., pbk, $24.95 the panellist that the virtues of the 420 pp., hc, $32.00 competently edited, highly informative The Fraser River - by Alan Haig-Brown well written 200-page book produced A Wester Doctor’s Odyssey - by and Rick Blacklaws Eldon Lee Pub.: Harbour Publishing on a more modest scale for a smaller Pub.: Heritage House ISBN 1-5501 7-147-X market tend to go unrewarded? ISBN 1-89581 1-21-X 200 pp., hc, $49.95 While the number of pages within the 128pp., pbk, $11.95 covers may seem to be a somewhat

Working The Tides - edited by Peter crude means of distinguishing such a Postcards From The Past - by Fred A. Robson and Michael Skog diverse number of books with B.C. Thirkell and Bob Scullion Pub.: Harbour Publishing historical content now appearing Pub.: Heritage House ISBN 1-55017-153-4 annually, the awarding of prizes for ISBN 1-895811-23-6 216 pp., hc, $34.95 176 pp., pbk, $24.95 separate “201 +“ and “up to 200- Echoes Of Empire: Victoria And Its pages” categories would certainly

The Gallant Cause - by Mark Zuehlke Remarkable Buildings - by Robin simplil\j the task of the judges. Pub.: Whitecap Books Ltd. Ward In the meantime let us be thankful for the ISBN 0-551 10-488-1 Pub.: Harbour Publishing work which enterprising publishers are 280 pp., hc, $26.95 ISBN 1-55017-122-4 carrying out in bringing to the market 362 pp., hc, $39.95 so many worthwhile books of interest Treaty Talks in British Columbia - by to lovers of B.C. history. Such a Christopher McKee No Path But My Own - by Cliff Kopas Pub.: UBC Press with Leslie Kopas cornucopia for books may weigh ISBN 0-7748-0587-0 Pub.: Harbour Publishing heavily on the Writing Competition 126 pp., pbk, $24.95 ISBN 1-55017-151-8 judges but it should otherwise be a 223 pp., hc, $26.95 cause for rejoicing. by Edward L. Affleck

29 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997

1997

Spring News B.C. Historical 30 -

shab and longer the to forced be join day, he then otArthur; Port United, in Paul’s Years, United Church: 100 “First

one might, he that thought never worker St. at years three for he served union, of side tracks”. the “other Vancouver’s

steady 1930, average early the In church After Church. Presbyterian Street in those to submerged ministry saving

War. World ond Home Winnipeg’s of minister the was he life often their literally devoted unteers

sec a of front those home the to on then years family. nine For large a had they and vol and employees teams church of his

and economy, of years of wrecked ties May Harrison, 1913, Jennie married he and Roddan years, Andrew Rev. 18 over

casual to the first long mission, his for May, In Manitoba. southern For Niverville, Canada’s large cities. 3 of areas pressed

was well equipped Scotch minister ented of charge three-point the was de field congested, the were stated, Roddan

many-tal charismatic, The Roddan. 5 mission first His Manitoba. of versity frontiers, Andrew Board’s new Mission

Rev. wrote problems,” their with Uni the at ministry the studied for and Home works.” 2 deeds The good and

came people thousand nearly three 1929, Canada came he to 1910 In good Gibraltar. in believed who cular Christian

“During counselling. sympathetic of at stationed and Y.M.C.A. the was mus navy ish a “Dad wrote: children, seven

clinic” up “Minister’s set daily also He his Brit the with lay a missionary years six Roddan’s Andrew of one Roddan, Sam

Christian friendship. lonely for gregation, for was vocation, he his realizing sailor; a Christians. many protests the of spite

a to con wider worship Sunday Church’s became He Scotland. Hawick, in de 1882, camps, internment to and sent coast

United First broadcast Craig mond 6, July on born was Roddan Andrew B.C.’s evicted from needlessly and justly

Rich and listeners; to isolated outreach haven. un ing had been Japanese the that except

open Christian the could heavens erally, been welcom always their had same, Church the was 1945 parish the In dens”.

lit that, meant radio of invention The United First jobless. unskilled the and gambling joints saloons, bootleg beer

Downtown. Vancouver’s in rooms women, abused lonely pensioners, ity; is with pockmarked whole parish Our

dingy in cramped and children mothers disabil chronic abuse drug or and alcohol, Italians. Russians Greeks, and Poles

to

year every holiday ten-day a given has of folk” victims “marginal housed as tels peoples such separate to widely — given

Firs, Douglas centuries-old of cathedral ho ill-kept and houses rooming cheap assistance our show and records ties,

outdoor an in camp, rustic this since, Downtown’s The site. first its outgrew nationali different are thirty-one there

Ever mountains. forest-clad awesome, soon Burrard by Inlet, hamlet mill a as West and East Street. Pender around

by sheltered is Sound Howe Vancouver, 1886 in born Vancouver, district. and poorest in packed are Chinese thousand eight

West to Adjacent Howe Sound. in land and city’s the oldest the in church of door tory at back our to south and the area,

Is Gambier on Camp Fircom holiday his centennial was the 1885-1985”. This confined a in very Japanese live thousand

church’s the

founded had

Craig Rev. eight north, the to

steps,

front

our Off Sam Roddan courtesy of Photo

Door”. Open the of

depot. supply the

city. any Canadian in groups mopolitan

Church Church Gsnada, of “The United The Church.

goods

staffed

and the

donated collected cos

and populated

densely most the of

United Superintendent ofFirst Roddan, RevAndrew

who persons, handicapped of number some between wedged Church “First is

a jobs for useful also It provided clothes. words:’

and shoes wares, stoves, kitchen niture, his of In ways life.” the crowded cross

fur household with singles and families “where A church large auditorium. ously

needy provided Industries 1929. Welfare gener a had that noted He it Avenue.

to 1921 from minister Craig, mond and Gore Street corner Hastings at of the

by Rich Rev. established services social Church, United grace”, and First dignity

the inherited Roddan Andrew 1965.) own its with building practical-looking

in site same nthe on built was church “a solid, at fine, he recorded, arrived he

73 present (The years. for city inner 1929, evening in one December Late

multi-problem dirt-grey, the over ward 1948. 25, on April his until death 1929

heaven tapered spire tower the graceful December, from Church United First

plain, whose from building substantial Vancouver’s of Minister Roddan, Andrew

the 1892 as Presbyterian, First in - built Rev. described aptly favorite hymn His

Church, United First maintained has Depression. Great by spawned the evils

Board Mission 1917, Home the Since

multiple the war” to against as ing

—

to called Vancouver. was March Soldiers, Christian “Onward

Borrell Helen by

Roddan Andrew Rev. Greatheart”: ‘Mr. bier queues at the kitchens of the Salva volt that in this young country ofCanada respect. Roddan also gave him a pencil tion Army and other missions. But this situation was possible. I felt like cry and paper, and suggest that he write a Canada had no national unemployment ing out to high Heaven against this con letter to his family. insurance, and only a shameful pittance dition, and I will continue to do so until Roddan knew different classes of Men for aged indigents. “During the year Church and State recognize their mutual Without Homes. “I take my hat off to 1930-31,” Roddan wrote, “thousands of responsibility towards these thousands of the hobo,” he wrote. The Hobo was the single men engaged in public works and homeless men.”8 And he crusaded, even migratory worker, (in the 1930’s a varied projects were dismissed, and no protesting to the Federal Minister of “Knight of the Rods”), whose strong provision made for their future welfare.”6 Labor, until the Jungles were razed. muscles had been vital in pioneer days. Federal bureaucrats insisted: let Provin But immediate help was demanded Hobos always speeded to the location of cial and Municipal authorities worry from Vancouver’s United Church any advertised construction jobs. To about the local jobless. Politicians Presbytery; and Rev. Roddan and other quote Rev. Roddan:’° “As a rule they are couldn’t be blamed for years of drought ministers recruited their Ladies Aids for a good class of men, rough and uncouth which burned Prairie wheat lands into daily service in church kitchens. “I can on the outside, but, when you know deserts, and forced homeless single men still see those good church ladies stirring them, very human, generous and respon to stowaway in empty boxcars of trains, the great cauldrons full of potatoes and sive to a touch of sincere kindness enroute to Vancouver. To quote Sam turnips,” recalled Mrs. Jeannie McDuff, But their work is irregular. .. . While in Roddan: “One observer counted over director of First United’s volunteer the vigor ofmanhood the hobo can stand 250 men arriving from the East on one cooks.9 Penniless men, sometimes a thou the racket, advancing years tell on him.”1 train. In the late months of 1930 Van sand-plus in a line-up, had hot meals “There is a turning point in the lives of couver had more than 7,000 men on re every day for many months at First these homeless men when they will ei lief”7 Church, and also at St. Andrew’s Wesley ther maintain their self-respect or go These unwanted refugees camped un United in the middle class West End. down the course of least resistance.” At der the Georgia Viaduct and along the One November morning in 1930, 1,252 that moment the rootless man needed “a flats at the foot of Campbell Avenue and hungry men were guests of Rev. Roddan, real friend to stand by him and steady Prior Street. Vancouver’s “Jungles” were Jeannie McDuff and their team. They him in the He had a sincere, shanty towns made of abandoned auto showed each man that the Christian caring friend, Rev. Andrew Roddan. mobiles, furniture cartons, tar paper Church cared about him as a person. He “Mr. Greatheart”, as some called him, walls, and whatever scrap metals the men was given a pair of socks, a piece ofsoap, also befriended the Tramp — the wan could find. When he first visited them, a handkerchief and a razor; a despairing derer who dodged work if he could Rev. Roddan felt: “mental and moral re tramp or skid road drifter needed self- freeload. “After dealing with this class,” Roddan wrote, “one instinctively sums up a man by his conversation, his answers to your question, if and where he has worked, his hesitancy to register at the Government Employment Office, his clothes. However, I have found it is al ways better to give a man the benefit of the doubt.”3 The Depression’s dead hand cursed all economic classes. “The most hopeless of homeless men are the Bums, including alcoholics and drug addicts. Old and unemployable, they are wholly or partially dependent, and frequently delinquent as well.”14 Some old-style Mission preachers to the homeless and the anti-social derelicts, Roddan wrote, had no real empathy with them. The homeless came to escape the freezing winter night, and dozed through

three hours ofverbal blasts at sin - think ing only ofgetting coffee and doughnuts later. Called to “Repent and come for Distribution offood to the unemployetL First United Church, Rev. Andrew Rodelan - 1931. Photo courtesy of Vancouver Pubhc Library, No. 12749. ward for Jesus!” some were “converted”

31 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 after every sermon.’5 strikers had left. “It’s all Andrew Roddan knew the healing for yours,” the baker gladly spiritual and bodily wants: the Gospel told him; and First and example of Jesus Christ in action. United’s drivers col Roddan’s practice ofthis is shown below: lected 15,000 loaves One day a regular dead-beat, his re for the thick meat pulsive face battered from a fall on the sandwiches given to pavement, stumbled into First United hungry refugees at “the Church. Rev. Roddan “remembered the church of the open words of the Master” ‘The son of Man door.” has come to seek and save that which is Each day they lost.’ I asked myself ‘Does God love this crowded into the Wel poor wretch in front of me?’ The answer fare Department and came, ‘Yes, while He hates the sin, He sorted through the sec loves the sinner.”6 ond-hand clothes and Roddan knew Jesus as a young man blankets heaped on its full of energy who taught, loved and tables and shelves. Sad cared for humanity, especially outcasts; dest to behold were not who told dogmatic and self-righteous the shuffling, skid road folk unwelcome home truths, and who oldtimers. It was worse, scourged the money-changers and live more alarming, to see stock sellers out of the house of prayer. the young men; many “The abundant life of which Jesus were polite, well-bred, spoke,” Roddan wrote, “included not silently apologetic. In only spiritual, but social, cultural, and clothes ofgood quality; economic life as well.” ‘7.Alas, economic little worn, one might death plagued most of Canada in the have a chance of get 1930’s. ting a job. What of First United Church, Hastings Street and GoreAvenue. 1928. The wanderers’ second mother, Jeannie those who had lost Photo courtesy of Vancouver Pubhc ubrary, No. 12749. McDuff, and her life-saving soups and hope? The authorities lacked Rev. Roddan’s stews were famed in the makeshift “Not fit for animals!” was Mrs. initiative. They did little except to reit shantytowns of other cities’ Depression McDuff’s verdict on the tramps’ erate, “Prosperity is just round the cor victims. Grateful letters came from as far shantytowns. Sometimes Rev. Roddan ner.” It liked that corner; it stayed there, as Toronto, and lonely men asked for her had to deliver barrels ofwater there. Ad out of reach, for nearly ten years. Even photo. So Andrew Roddan gave her the equate shelter was imperative for the rain- people of the once secure middle class, well-earned title: Pin-Up-Girl of the drenched squatters in the Jungles, which, their job prospects gone, were forced Hungry and Homeless.’8 Roddan also in plain words, were a public health haz onto “relief” “the dole” was the more despatched the church’s trucks to Van ard. Roddan aroused the consciences of accurate British term. couver’s camps of the jobless, and, he re Vancouver citizens with his book, God To quote Sam Roddan: “In the early corded, “food was distributed to in the Jungles. To quote him: “The pro ‘30’s the head of a family on relief re thousands of them there, every day for ceeds of the thousands of copies which ceived $9.00 per month for food and seven months.” His book, Christ of the we sold were used to assist many of these $2.50 for each dependent child.”2’ De V/ire1ess Way, tells of his radio appeals men back to their feet. As the result of spite the low prices of that time, a family on behalf of his proteges. “Literally tons pressure brought to bear on the proper on the Government pittance subsisted on of meat, fish, fruit, vegetables and thou authorities, that phase ofthe problem was rations which caused deficiency diseases. sands of loaves of bread were sent in. ‘9 passed.”2° The Jungles were razed; some The First Church staff came to the res The enterprising Roddan alerted every ofthe tramps were given temporary shel cue with generously stocked food ham one who could help. One butcher vol ter in the Central City Mission and the pers. The beggarly “relief” issue of $3.75 unteered to donate all the sheep’s heads Salvation Army. Church members took per month for fuel didn’t save tenants of in his store. “Many thanks,” Roddan said, a few ofthese men into their homes. But, the East End’s broken-down, ill-fur “and send the tails; we’ll make both ends unfortunately, some put up new camps, nished suites and rooming houses from meat.” Once, hearing of an imminent or disappeared. Some died. “They were pneumonia, if winter brought a long strike at a local bakery, he asked the somebody’s boys,” Roddan said at the freeze-up or days of rain. In one winter owner about the batch of loaves that the funeral of two unidentified tramps. “cold snap”, Rev. Roddan had to baptise

32 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 a baby dying because his father couldn’t ally appealed to his radio congregation. ex-convict discharged after a long sen buy fuel. In his next Sunday broadcast, He once visited a very poor, bare home, tence, and friendless. Who would trust Roddan appealed for five hundred sacks and saw twin babies, clean and evidently him? What work could he find? Rev. of coal for destitute families. As always, cherished, sleeping in two cartons. The Roddan let him talk, gave him tempo his listeners responded wholeheartedly. mother was on relief and couldn’t buy rary help, and invited him to keep in Hester Johnson, who capably managed cribs or prams. That Sunday, Roddan touch with First Church. Their workers the busy church office for over sixteen asked on the wireless for a baby buggy, would try to find a job for him. years, and her stenographer, happily and by next weekend a dozen buggies Chronic, and often tragic, was the thanked all the donors and mailed re were lined up in the church hall. They problem of broken marriages. Roddan ceipts for gifts which totalled three thou soon had homes and lively tenants! listened to all that both man and the sand sacks of coal. “For weeks A nurse in a mission hospital once woman told him, to assess if their trou afterwards,” Roddan recalled, “many fires wrote to ask for a wheel chair. The radi bles could be solved. Roddan applied were lighted in cold, damp rooms.”22 oed request brought three wheel chairs common sense — separation was neces A Province-wide congregation was won to First Church; in time, Roddan knew, sary if the man despised help for his re to Christ and his mission to their the extra two would be needed. peated violence or drinking bouts, or the neighbors by Rev. Roddan’s Sunday Radio appeals brought radios for blind woman’s tongue was a whip and her chil evening broadcasts. To cynics battered by and shut-in folk. Listeners sent family dren were neglected. But Roddan knew poverty, to roisterers in logging camps, Bibles for mission churches. “the power of prayer and the guidance to lonely folk in Indian villages and ham And Rev. Roddan made time to write of God.” He never lectured or con lets scattered along the B.C. coast, the Christ ofthe Wireless Way, in his sched demned; but he saw the healing of cou ringing Scotch voice preached, not “high ule of weekly sermons, visits, contacts ples who realized their faults and turned falutin’ stuff” but good news of Chris with interested friends of the Welfare to Christian guidance. tians guidance that anyone could follow. Department, weddings, baptisms, and Only supportive care was possible for Thousands oflisteners, some who’d “had funerals. And his “clinic” four mornings many of the alcoholics and drug addicts no use for religion”, wrote that they’d each week — personal counselling. who staggered dazedly along the grimy received Jesus as a practical Savior; and The secretary and her assistant re streets of Vancouver’s “down under”. they were glad to send money or the re corded welfare applicants and checked They poisoned themselves with bootleg quested gifts for those cared for by the with other social services. They also re liquor, canned heat, and vanilla extract. staff of First United Church. ceived the minister’s callers, getting their Lonely sailors, loggers, miners and oth The Home Mission Board’s grant paid names, addresses and other data if nec ers on leave from hazardous jobs in B.C.’s the salaries of Rev. Roddan and the essar Anyone who’d been drowning his outposts celebrated in the East End’s church employees. Funds for First sorrows was kindly but firmly told to dingy beer parlors — and were rolled, Church’s social services were given by the sober up; he could then tell Mr. Roddan and often infected with MD. “Hard times congregation, many ofwhom shared the his troubles. Admitted, visitors were di we gotta live,” was the prostitutes’ excuse. little they had; by other, more fortunate rected to the minister’s study. Men who had drunk up their reliefal Church groups; and sometimes by From experience and intuition, Rev. lowances banged at First United’s door friends who donated legacies. But the Roddan quickly noted any caller with a and demanded food and clothes, in vain. largest group of supporters were First groundless complaint, and politely dis If they yelled or threatened to fight, United parish’s thousands of radio listen missed him or her. His sympathy and Roddan shoved them outdoors.24 His ers. sound judgment were needed by so many warm heart was always open to anyone Their donations also paid for the ra persons in genuine distress. Deserted and who sincerely tried to reform; but in the dio ministry penniless mothers of small children; pulpit and on the radio, he verbally In well-offdistricts, many parish visits women who had fled from abusive hus blasted the Devil and all his works. bring guests to the church’s friendship bands. For them, the minister sought “Roddan spoke out loud and clear on clubs. But First United’s outreach meant secure homes and financial aid. One every conceivable social problem.”25 “climbing dark, insecure stairs, groping pretty teenage girl bemoaned that her However, he denounced the Commu along evil-smelling corridors in cheap family had kicked her out; so she walked nists’ deceptive lures. Rule by the Ser rooming houses and often stumbling the streets. A church worker called on mon on the Mount, he boomed, during over trunks and broken furniture. The her parents. The girl had been difficult; his most famous fight against callous doors of the city jail, Oakalla, and also but the parents could neither love nor politicians. the penitentiary are open to our work provide for their swarm of children. The First United Church’s Golden Jubilee ers.”23 And, Roddan wrote, his church’s First United Team placed the girl in a Year, 1935, was a hungry and desperate doorstep was worn thin by daily crowds. home where she was welcome. year for Vancouver’s long-time unem

For many with immediate needs, he usu There was that unwanted man — the ployed. They rebelled against being ban-

33 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 ished to misnamed “relief camps”; they “To ensure prosperity, arm for war.” Stedman, B.A., followed by Ruby paraded and organized sit-ins at the Post During World War II men who had been Horton, B.A. Indispensable for the

Office — and the police drove them out Hunger Marchers in Depression years church’s all-purpose ministry were the with clubs and tear gas. Vancouver’s marched in handsome uniforms of the secretary and her assistant. They had a Mayor, the eloquent and aggressive Gerry Armed Forces. Girls who, as domestics, kind greeting for the raggedest and worst- McGeer, did nothing more constructive had worked twelve or fourteen hours a mannered derelict. Always ready and able than to read the Riot Act. day for pocket money, donned kerchiefs to fix anything and keep the church com Andrew Roddan felt challenged to and overalls and did men’s jobs, for un fortable and bright with flowers, was the Show and Tell the pressing needs of the dreamt-of wages, in Vancouver’s aircraft caretaker. jobless; and, for one evening, he invited factories and shipbuilding yards. Thence, So much ofFirst Church’s mission was Mayor McGeer to address his congrega also, thronged once-homeless men, now sustained by her volunteers. The Ladies tion. It was swelled by a crowd of angry “essential for the war effort.” War plants Aid supplied essential funds from their men, thin and ill-clad, some with band were magnets for thousands ofnewcom Bake Sales and the Christmas Bazaar. On aged heads. These, who had been clubbed ers to Vancouver; subdivisions of look- that festive day, the church hall was flow by the police, focused sullen looks on the alike small bungalows were hastily built. ery with color. There were crafts, embroi uneasy Mayor. Andrew Roddan’s Scotch burr rang as dered and knitted items for everyone’s “Onward Christian Soldiers”, which loudly as ever against Strong Drink; he Christmas gift needs; each lady’s special voiced Roddan’s mandate, was sung. attacked a new enemy, wartime recipe was on sale; cedar boughs and holly From the pulpit Rev. Roddan, fired by profiteering. He was not a suave diplo decorated the walls. After the sale, came righteous wrath, demanded justice for the mat. He harangued both the B.C. Gov the waiting until the returns were to

unemployed. B.C.’s natural wealth could ernment for increasing the number of talled. Hurrah — the Ladies Aid had abundantly supply what the men wanted: liquor stores, and bootleggers who cashed Gone Over the Top! productive work. “Not next month or in when the hours for liquor sales were Though he ministered daily to those

next year, — now! The police must fash curtailed.27 He was alert to the situation with tragic needs, Andrew Roddan al ion their clubs and night sticks into shov of teen-aged war workers, free from ways praised that innate richness with els, rakes and pitchforks!” Mum’s and Dad’s rules and dazzled by which some people are gifted: an artistic The minister and his church elders had “big money”. “It does not seem fair,” he sense of beauty wherever it appears hoped that this appeal to reason and hu wrote, “that my boys and your boys, for instance, “the jet black sheen of the manity would win the Mayor. McGeer University graduates, should have to haz blackbird’s wing, the flaming color ofthe began his speech with his usual impres ard their lives for $1.35 a day” (Armed ruby-throated humming bird, the flow sive clichés about his city’s beautiful back Services pay) “and rivet passers should ers in the garden.”29 He liked to think of drop of mountains, her people’s heritage threaten to strike for $1.00 an hour.”28 Jesus as a great lover of the out-of-doors.

from the labors of pioneers — The de For boys, First United had the leadership First United’s Camp Fircom was beside scendants of the pioneers, forced to live of “Andy” Turner, Clerk of Session from the rampart of coastal mountains, evi on handouts while the land needed &rm 1912 to 1947. He was also Sunday dently created by a cosmic sculptor. In ers, didn’t let the Mayor hold forth. The School Superintendent, and volunteer the church’s Golden Jubilee year, Rev. crowd roared and surged towards him, Boys’ Worker for over twenty-five years. Roddan built the camp’s dining and com singing “The Red Flag”. To control a riot Jennie C. Pentland, as stated on her munity hall; he had canvassed for dona

— the men risked being beaten or jailed memorial plaque, was “a faithful Moth tions. One lumber company executive,

— Roddan commanded, “In God’s ers’ Worker for thirteen years in First presented with this worthy project, gave house, keep to the Right!” Meaning the United”. Sometimes Rev. Roddan re 80,000 feet of lumber; another patron right path to their goals. Literally, the ceived a letter from that victim ofloneli equipped the dining hall. In holidays, crowd swarmed through the right-hand ness in the impersonal city: the sales clerk, children on relief rations feasted on exit and surrounded an official-looking or the office girl who mechanically typed Jeannie McDuff’s delicious meals. Cadillac, a decoy planted by the police or added and checked figures for eight Roddan commissioned three employed chief Just how the Mayor got away safely boring hours each workday. “The other artists to paint, in First United’s audito was not known; but afterwards he never girls”, her only acquaintances, asked her rium, murals of famous scenes in the life spoke to meetings of the unemployed, to join their evenings of fun in the pub of Jesus. Many people, he wrote, who nor to their champion, Andrew lic dance hall, or the local beer parlor. came from ugly streets into the sanctu

Roddan.26 But this was just as boring. She could ary - rightly named — gazed up at these The elite who manage Canada’s form true friendships in the Girls’ De murals for long, quiet moments. Andrew economy — in Ottawa, or as directors partment of First United, which was Roddan himself was a talented painter, of her largest industries — evidently blessed with capable leaders: Eveline and a friend of Emily Carr. “Our house ruled by a variable of the Roman policy: Freethy, B.H.Sc., then Marjorie always smelled of turpentine as he

34 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 worked incessantly at his easel,” Sam 26. “The wanderer’s last stop. . .“ by Sam Roddan. Vancouver Sun, Roddan recalled. The Vancouver Art Miss Borrell lived through the Dirty 30s and 27. “Resc Roddan’s Crusades caused Fireworks”, Vancouver Gallery displayed two exhibits ofAndrew remembers the helpful effirts of those people Sun, July 24, 1965. 28. The Church in the Modern City, page 25. Roddan’s paintings of sailing ships, and behind Dr. Roddan. W appreciate the consid 29. The Church in the Modern City, page 50. the unique scenery of B.C.’s coast. erable research she has done to share these docu 30. “Death Calls Dr. Roddan, Veteran City Clergyman”, mented memories with our readers. Vancouver Province, April 26, 1948. The tireless minister must have fitted REFERENCES twenty-five hours of activity into each FOOTNOTES BOOKS competed for his lec 1. The Church in Action: Story of Ten Years Active day. Service clubs The Christ of the Wireless Way, Andrew Roddan. Service in First United Church, by Rev. Andrew by 1932. Untouchables: of a tures; he served as President of the Van Roddan. Page 4. Written for the tenth anniversary of the Canadas Story the Man Without Home, by Andrew Roddan. United Church of Canada, in 1935. 1931. couver Ministerial Association, and as God in the jungles, by Andrew Roddan. 1932. 2. Letter from Sam Roddan - August 22, 1994. The Church in Action: Story of Ten Years ofActive Service chaplain of the Free Masons’ Grand 3. Preface to The Church in the Modern City; Story of in First United Church, Roddan. Three Score Years of Practical Christian Service, 1885 by Rev. Andrew Lodge. In December, 1942, he was Published in 1935. - 1945.” by Rev. Andrew Roddan. the awarded the Doctor of Divinity Degree 4. First United Church, Historical Sketch, Archives, The Church in Modern City; Story of Three Score Years of Practical Christian Service, 1885-1945, by Rev. B.C.’s Union College (now the Van Vancouver School ofTheology, 6000 lona Drive, at Vancouver, B.C. Andrew Roddan. Batter My Heart by Sam Roddan. Published by United couver School of Theology).30 5. “The Minister’s Clinic,” by Andrew Roddan. The New Church of Canada, B.C. Conference. Outlook,July9, 1930. 1975. 100 Years, - Centennial His Heavenly Lord may have decided 6. The Church in Action: Ten Years Active Service in First United Church: 1885 1985. History, published First United Church, First United Church, by Rev. Andrew Roddan. Page 8. by 320 East that Andrew Roddan would not have Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C. been content to retire. At the age of 65, 7. “The Wanderer’s last stop in the Dirty Thirties”, by Sam Roddan. Vancouver Sun, page 6. Sept. 14, 1971. NEWSPAPER ARTICLES after a brief illness, he died on April 25, 8. Canada’s Untouchables: Story of the Man Without a “The Ministe?s Clinic”, by Andrew Roddan. The New Home, by Andrew Roddan. Page 20. Outlook, July 9, 1930. 1948. Twelve hundred parishioners and 9. Quoted in Batter my Heart by Sam Roddan, page 76. “A Day in Another Man’s Shoes”, by A. R. Evans. Vancouver friends filled First United Church for the Published by: United Church of Canada, B.C. Province, October 24, 1931. Conference, 505 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver, B.C., in “Death Calls Dr. Roddan, Veteran City Clergyman”, funeral service, broadcast to his radio 1975. Vancouver Province, April 26, 1948. congregation. Outside the church an 10. Canada’s Untouchables, by Andrew Roddan. Page 27. “Beloved Pastor Laid to Rest”, Vancouver Province, April 29, 11. Canada’s Untouchables, page 27. 1948. overflow crowd waited quietly. “Onward 12. God in the Jungles, page 35. “The Wandere?s Last Stop in the Dirty Thirties”, by Sam Christian Soldiers” and “Safe in the Arms 13. Canadas Untouchables, page 29. Roddan. Page 6, Vancouver Sun, September 14, 1971. 14. Canada’s Untouchables, page 33. “Rev. Roddan’s Crusades Caused Fireworks”, Vancouver Sun, of Jesus”, Dr. Roddan’s favorite hymns, 15. God in the Jungles, page 37. july 24, 1965. 16. Canada’s Untouchables, page 31. came from everyone’s heart. They would 17. The Church in the Modern Cit by Andrew Roddan. Letters from Sam Roddan, dated August 22 and November 3, greatly miss Roddan in person, but he Page 26. 1994. 18. Batter My Heart, by Sam Roddan. Page 77. “FIRST UNITED CHURCH (INSTITUTIONAL would live on in the ministry he had 19. The Church in the Modern City, by Andrew Roddan. MISSION), VANCOUVER” - United Church Archives, built. Pager 34. Vancouver School ofTheology, 6000 lona Drive, 20. The Church in Action, by Andrew Roddan. Page 11. Vancouver, B.C. In later years, First United’s Social 21. “The wanderer’s last stop...” by Sam Roddan, Housing Society named the subsidized vancouver Sun. Warm thanks to Bob Stewart and Grant Bracewell,United 22. The Church in the Modern City, by Andrew Roddan. Church Archivists, at Vancouver School of Theologu for housing its directors built for low-income Page 38. their time and assistance. Also, thanks to Mr. Sam 23. The Church in the Modern City, by Andrew Roddan. Roddan, Rev. Roddan’s son, for his helpful information and disabled tenants after First Church’s Page 30. and reading of the manuscript. leaders: the Roddan Lodge, Jennie 24. The Church in the Modern City, page 41. 25. “Rev. Roddan’s Crusades caused Fireworks”, Vancouver Pentland Place, Bill Hennessy Place and Sun, July 24, 1965. Ledingham Place. The Church’s minis ters and workers have adapted its serv ices to the changing needs of the inner Irifing Compe{iion fund city. They accept the fact that their par Let’s make the Writing Competition even better. Those involved (see page 29) would very ish is the poorest in Vancouver. “Mar much like to enlarge the Capital Reserve - Donations are tax deductible. (BCHf is a ginal people” will always be dependent registered Charitable Society.) Readers are invited to make a contribution to this on First United Church. But idealists in increasingly important method of acknowledging and encouraging writers of British its team, frustrated by the deep-rooted Columbia history. causes ofthe Downtown’s endemic prob lems, find inspiration in the bronze wall The first prize winner of our Annual Competition receives the 1ieutenant-overnor Medal, plaque by the entrance. Under a relief plus a certificate and a modest cheque. Honorable mentions receive a certificate, carving of the rising sun is written: complimentary banquet tickets at the Conference, and a smaller cheque. “Dedicated to the Enduring Memory of We thank the volunteers who have guided the Competition through its first fourteen years. Reverend Andrew Roddan, D.D. Min It has been a most interesting experience. Please consider making a contribution. ister of this church from December 29, 1929 to April 25, 1948. ‘By reason of [Send your cheque to: The B.C. Historical federation, do Treasurer Doris May, 2943 him, many went away and believed on Shelbourne Street, Victoria, B.C. V8R 4M71. Jesus. ,,‘

35 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997

News 1997 36 Spring B.C. Historical -

Dynasties.” Manson agent, Fitzgerald. government the

as Imperial “Treasures China’s from advertised to cairn the Company Bay and Post Hudson’s

to 3000 is AD show BC This 1950. from dating the to preserve undertaken have Society

ivory and artifacts cloisonne, textile bamboo, Historical Manson the of Creek Members

jade, are lacquer, ceramic, bronze, paintings, Creek Historical Manson

show Canada. the in of Bank Included Hongkong

by the is dynamic sponsored exhibition This history. of delightful of full tidbits hsbook this

to to those all contributed who Congratulations

Chestnut Vancouver. 1100 Museum, Street,

others. Kris many and Billesberger, Foulds Val

be at displayed the Vancouver will artifacts

1-800-387-2689

Francis, June Valerie

Thompson,

Inglis,

Robin

300 than to

May more 15 1997 18, February From

(416)362.5211

Baptie,

MacKinnon, Jean Sue Kelly, Donna

Museum

M5C2N8 Ontario Toronto,

credit Brian Imredy, Given Peggy are expertise.

Street, Victoria 20

Vancouver Chinese Treasures: and assisted information who with members

BCHF our of many acknowledge They

People

accepted.

are nominations not Self Note: 1901-1910. Vancouver of area and depiction

Informaüon c Canada

LO.

1 KOL RO. Ontario, Campbellford, 419, Box its for chosen was Valley Fraser the and

Limited Association, Authors nomination your Canadian to: Vancouver Images Greater of Edwardian

Mail 1997. 31, later no March than postmarked Postcards h Past: the book from Their

Micromedia

be

1997

must award the for Nominations 1997. 17, Vancouver February the on Hotel

ta at reception Mayor by in Owen Award Phillip not Entries returned. are samples.

IA the of with Heritage Vancouver City presented submitted the of on birth of date writer the note

were Thirkell Scullion, Fred Bob and authors Please pages few a sufficient. of copies are sent;

co Touchie, Day. Heritage Rodger Publisher be not need works length Full available.) if reviews

on to House Award Heritage Heritage A

the of letter

(with work samples

writer’s and

Wins Co. Award H.H.Publishing by introductory a brief accompanied CV current

the to asked 30. writer’s are submit Nominators of

contact

be

garments

display. in will actual

age the sought are under writers for Nominations

Slides pm. 4 to am and 9 from runs program information,

Award

Canada CM Air

is the non-members $25.00; for charge The

further Fr

at

598-8418. Cathie (250) Thomas call register 874-8164

Victoria. near Avenue, To Langford Goldstream (604) (604) (Fax 874-8090 B.C. Phone or 1X4 V5T

255 House, Neighbourhood Goldstream East 511 Vancouver, Society, Broadway, Archives

at 5,

1997 Saturday, on April Spearman and Museum Japanese Sawada, Canadian Naomi

Gwen by

seminar a offering is Archives to B.C. K or 2K0 Wasa, 105, Box VOB at Editor

and Costume Museum Canadiana The fiche). or (film to the this

send please a you

member, for family or

Workshop Fashion 1880s

sew Japanese a of dressmaker memory or having microform

classes,

these about our information have readers

in available are

wife. his and to

worker

heritage this

of any If British of interior Columbia. the in camps

congratulations bridge.

sincere Brilliant old

Our

publication this of internment in years the to including and prior

to

the of money

restoration the prize

$10,000

women and girls to dressmaking given classes

volumes

Back

the & donated park.

Charters Mrs.

Mr.

heritage and researching sewing is Society the Archives

a as

Island creating Zuckerberg

and

station

& Museum Canadian National Japanese The

train Castlegar the preserving history, district

Memories Nikkei

microform

presenting been with active has Charters

in available

is

14.

on February Vancouver in Pullinger Society. Community Archives Nanaimo the

by

Jan

Minister a made was presentation News to with figure leading a is who Daphne, wife, his

The

Award.

Minister’s Heritage 1997 the out go Club. Rotary thoughts Our North Nanaimo

of winner of Charters was Castlegar A. John the and Anaethestists B.C.

Society the of president Historical

Honored Man Castlegar as served had and the Association, Medical B.C.

of a director was He Nanaimo. in then Winnipeg

Columbia

535-3041. (604) at Phone by or

(Fax) 3G6

V4A

in working first England, from came Paterson Dr.

B.C. Surrey, 2976 at Avenue, McBride

Dwyer

1996. suddenly December away passed Society in

British

Melva Contact April to prior 1997. made 11,

Historical the of

Nanaimo president jovial The

be must workshops these for Registration

1930-1996 Paterson Ian The

Lore. and Life Family your Taping

(604) To Guide 733-7529. Phone Creative A Alive; Stories Family

or 2E6 V6J B.C. Keeping Vancouver, Avenue, 12th book West a history noral on written has

1720 #110 Nina contact Rumen, tion

Vera should presenting. the doing Rosenbluth Vera -

informa further with wishing

Where” buff history or nurse Any How, and Why, History “Oral -

public. to the open is is Welfare, workshop other and Health on National moderator. as act The will

of Minister Begin, former Akrigg Monique for Honorable Helen Printers publishing. Friesen

be

record!! a

must a

miles of

bit

the

by speaker keynote 15, from Johnson address The and 1997. Writing, on Byron Lillard

.but

work..

120 do

to way

volunteer a

long

12- June Vancouver in St. Charles Hospital researching, Paul’s ae on Hale, historic Linda are ers

go

historians

often of

summer

Rural 1996. the

at

Conference of present Nursing The History International Conference program. Federation

began

in

restoration cost The

materials.

of the

Annual 10th the Historical hosting is Group B.C. the to Practice sional presented be prior will

assisted

Trust

with B.C.

from

Heritage grant

A

Profes Nursing of two workshops History 1st, May Columbia British Thursday on The Nelson In

members reside.) most society’s the of (where

Conference Nursing of Workshops History Conference Free

St. James Fort of north 120 is Creek miles

NOTES NEWS & 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

Mr. Chemainus: a Militown Daughter pers to the incinerator and sent others to the women attempting to enter and prosper in the recalls Noel Frederick Lang. Joy Lang National Archives. The book was left, to be writ legal profession. Anderson, as told to Pattie Whitehouse. ten after his death by his son Roger. Inheriting in their overview of the work, “Legal History Duncan, Fir Grove Publishing, 1995. 100 p., his father’s scruples, Roger OdIum worries about of British Columbia and the Yukon,” the editors illus. “unfairly and improperly invading” his privacy quite rightly conclude that “the struggle to de For forty-two years, from 1910 to 1952, Noel and hesitates to include “views and opinions cide what sort of diversity the law should tolerate Lang was agent of the E & N Railway station at which he himself may have been reluctant to put and what it should suppress goes on, whether Chemainus. He served the community as fire in print” the issue is Doukhobor education, legalized pros chief, hospital director, school trustee, church A loyal Liberal, Victor Odium did not allow titution, or equal access to the professions and warden, notary public and justice of the peace; himself to be quoted in criticism of Mackenzie the unionized workplace.” in this vein, it is noted and was part of a whole range of activities from King or ‘Mike’ Pearson, although it is evident that that there is no consensus yet in our society as to baseball team to choral society. both must have been instrumental in his removal whether we should have “equality of citizenship” His daughter Joy draws on her own memo from command on the eve of Dieppe. His son or “special” aboriginal rights. ries, as well as on her mother’s written account speculates that some plotting may have been The book is divided into five sections: Aborigi for details of their daily life. Guarded with her afoot: “It would seem that scheming by some nal People and the Law; Vice, Crime and Polic parents’ secrets but generous with her own, she appears to have resulted in the introduction of ing; Religion and Education; Labour and Social gives us less the biography of ‘Mr. Chemainus’ the indefensible rule about retirement of General Welfare; and the Legal Profession. Of particular than the autobiography of ‘Miss Chemainus’, a officers at age 61. .. In retiring General Odium noteworthiness are essays recounting the legal girl growing up in small town Vancouver island the Canadian Army lost one of its most able com history of British Columbia and the Yukon, the between the wars. That in itself is a story worth manders, and one who still had more energy and role of natives in the implementation of British telling. drive than most. . . I am quite sure that the law, and Joan Brockman’s essay on the History Phyllis Reeve. Dieppe job would not have happened that way of Women and Visible Minorities in the Legal had General Odium still commanded the Sec Profession in British Columbia. Victor Odium; as I saw him and knew ond Division.” As a critical work, these essays shed new light him and some of his letters; a memoir. Nevertheless, General Odium erred in think on recurring historical problems, but best of all, Roger Odium. Petrokie-Tor Publications, 825 ing himself unsuited to a diplomatic career. The highlight the social and political tensions at play Taylor Way, West Vancouver, B.C. V7T 2J9. accounts of his work in Australia during the war throughout British Columbia’s colourful and tem 1995. 196 p.’ ilius. and in China and Turkey immediately afterwards pestuous history. Perhaps in a succeeding work Victor Odium’s name appears in most histo are more candid, and provide eye-witness insights the editors might focus on three issues: firstly, how ries of Vancouver and Canada, and in accounts into the shaping of our times. equality before the law has fared in British Co of Canada’s part in the two World Wars. That it “it would certainly have been better and much lumbia and Yukon history; secondly, how more does not dominate whole chapters might be at more interesting,” writes Roger Odium, “if he had activist Courts and a Human Rights Commission tributed to his own integrity and persistent loy told his story himself. . . But he did not and his have “redeemed” historical discrimination against alty to those who outranked him, whether or not picture is fading fast” Future biographers and visible minorities. In other words, the editors they deserved such loyalty. His career “encom historians can be grateful to General Odium’s son should bring us up-to-date as to progressive anti- passed three wars in which he rose from private for preserving and sharing that picture. discriminatory legal developments in British Co to major-general, four newspapers, where he pro Phyllis Reeve. lumbia. Thirdly, how do modern Courts reflect gressed from reporter to publisher and owner, Phyllis Reeve is a resident of the will and mosaic of British Columbia and Yu and three diplomatic appointments, first as High Gabriola Island. kon society. For while one theme of the book is Commissioner to Australia and subsequently as that the majority Anglo-Saxon views and preju Canadian Ambassador to China and then to Tur Essays in the History of Canadian Law: dices consistently prevailed in judicial decision- key. At home in Vancouver he built a financial British Columbia and the Yukon, E.D. making, it is clear that the Bench of the 1990’s is and insurance business, ventured into politics, Hamar, Foster and John McLaren, The clearly out of step with majority “Anglo-Saxon” participated in numerous services, and developed Osgoode Society for Canadian Legal History, views on, for example, criminal sentencing mat Rockwoods, the West Vancouver estate which he (1995) University of Toronto Press, Toronto, ters. donated to the University of British Columbia. Ontario. 583 p. $45.00. It is always dangerous to invoke an ideological Odium filled a dozen four-drawer filing cabi The Osgoode Society for Canadian Legal His position in an academic study such as this where nets with notes and manuscripts, and talked about tory have published a series “Essays in the His the theme struck - righting and redressing his the book would write after he the War, when he tory of Canadian Law,” which is a work long torical bias and discrimination - is beginning to could write without doing harm. Ten years after overdue. Volume 6 in the series deals with Brit sound hollow in view of the exceedingly progres World War II, he had still not written his book. ish Columbia and the Yukon. Ably edited by sive reforms of the late 20th century. Having said He told his brother, “I had so much inside and Hamar, Foster and John McLaren the work ex that, certainly the hypocrisy attendant to law en secret information, as well as confidential knowl amines different phases of legal development forcement in various areas - drugs and prostitu edge of leading figures, that I have so far hesi through analysis of particular legal events and tion come to mind - is still very much with us. tated to put into print the material at my milestones in our history that reflect the interac John A. Cherrrngton command. I have been a little bit afraid of being tion between “law, legal institutions and legal ide John Chenington, a lawyer in Fort guilty of breaches of faith. This fear attaches not ology on the one hand and external social forces Langley, is the author of The only to the first World War, but to many of the and modes of thought on the other.” Fraser Valley - a History, 1992. things in which I have taken part since the time I The essays pay particular attention to the ten returned to Canada in 1919. Since I left Canada, sions of British Columbia society throughout the Tonto’s Due: Law, Culture and Coloniza in January 1940, 1 have frequently taken part in period of colonial rule to the present between tion in British Columbia. Tina Loo in Essays discussions, negotiations and actions which have aristocrats and elected representatives; between in the History of Canadian Law, 1995. (see been placed on the secret list I must not misuse the white mainstream and ethnic minorities, par previous review) the knowledge I have.” ticularly Orientais and Natives; and between the This thoughtful essay typifies the intellectual in his last years, he consigned many of his pa- legal profession itself and minorities, including tone of this Osgoode Society publication. Tina

37 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 BOOKSHELF

Loo illuminates the role of natives in facilitating University Press, 1994. x, 244 p., illus. $60.00. greater length: “However important the voyage, European hegemony in British Columbia. “For It was a century in which narratives of voyages the history of it, written laboriously by Vancou all their dash, we need to shift our attention... were “immensely popular across a very wide so ver himself in the two years before he died, was away from the Lone Rangers of westem legal cial range.” Edwards suggests that “perhaps two described by Robert Barrie, one of his midship history - the heroic European figures - and give thousand works would be a reasonable estimate” men in the Discovery, as ‘one of the most tedi Tonto his due, for Tonto-like individuals were very of voyage-narratives published in the hundred ous books I ever read.’ It is hard not to agree; important in establishing European dominion in years. The reason is not far to seek: “During the Vancouver’s style is stilted, pompous, periphras the west Just as they were crucial to and impli entire century British ships were all over the globe, tic, ponderous, and above all humourless. It is cated in the European fur trade, some native creating, developing and maintaining an overseas not always the case that the seaman is best left to peoples also brokered the extension of European empire... At home the reading public could not tell his own tale.” state power in the form of law well into the twen get enough in the way of accounts of all the mari Part III of the book gathers together the stories tieth century.” Loo contends that by facilitating time activity involved.” As a result, publishing of a variety of individuals who travelled under the imposition of British law the native brokers voyage-narratives became highly profitable. The widely different circumstances. It begins with the contributed to the ease with which the native long procession of titles began with Dampier’s slave trade. “The slavers had little motive for writ peoples were subdued and dominated. New Voyage Round the World, first issued in ing, the slaves had no means,” but Edwards has One of the most visible ways in which natives 1697, which had run through five editions by ferreted out narratives by individuals who came assisted legal enforcement was the institution of 1705, and ended with Vancouver’s Voyage of in contact with the trade, some as crew members native police on reserves who were extremely Discovery, published in 1798. and others as passengers. They include the jour loyal to the authorities and the volunteering by Edwards makes it clear that his purpose is “not nal of one slave ship captain, John Newton, who many natives to help track down and arrest na to retell the story of their voyages, but to exam later took holy orders and ended his career as tive fugitives from justice. Finally, key natives on ine writings about their voyages.” Two problems vicar of a London parish. reserves acted as agents of the Roman Catholic appear immediately - those of authorship and Narratives by passengers are grouped in an Church in whipping recalcitrant or backsliding authenticity. Who actually wrote the book, and other section. They include a journal kept by natives into line regarding moral issues. how authentic were the data upon which it was Henry Fielding, the novelist, on his voyage to This is a valuable exposition as to the role of based? These texts are first applied in detail to Lisbon in 1754. It was a trying experience; ow key natives in carrying out the often shared Dampier’s New Voyage, and sufficient contem ing to the vagaries of wind and weather it lasted agenda of both church and state, Loo contends porary notes and journals have survived to make 47 days, and Fielding - a very sick man - only that like many Catholic nations today in the Span the research revealing. Questions arose in survived it by two months. But, true to the prac ish tradition, natives readily accepted the unity of Dampier’s own time, and in a “fighting preface” tice of his day, he had kept a journal, which was purpose between church and state and did not to the 1703 edition of the New Voyage he de published the year following his death. share the British and American obsession with fended his authorship vigorously. He did not deny This is a difficult book to review because it church and state separation. that he had been assisted when writing the book, consists of comments upon a large number of As to why so many natives assisted in the fa but in view of his limited education he saw no narratives differing greatly in competence and cilitation of implementation of the British legal “diminution” in having “what I wrote Revised and character (the excellent bibliography extends to system, Loo discounts coercion as a principal fac Corrected by Friends.” nine closely printed pages). But it is much more tor. She agrees that natives “used the law strate The second and largest part of the book is de than a sampler, even though it may be very use gically and instrumentally as a means of furthering voted to the Pacific voyages. Its centrepiece is an ful as such. Edward’s comments are enlighten their own material interests and that of the com excellent retelling of the famous rewriting of ing and discerning, and the extent of the research munities in which they lived.” But this self-inter Cook’s journal of his first voyage by Dr. John its preparation must have involved is evident One est extended beyond mere financial rewards. Hawkesworth, a frequent contributor to the Gen gathers that he may well have examined person Upholding the Queen’s law, she writes, allowed tleman’s Magazine. Hawkesworth not only re ally a majority of the two thousand travel-narra natives to “rid their communities of people they wrote the text freely, but added to it data from tives that he estimates were published in the considered toublemakers.” other sources, notably the journal of Joseph century. Just as Judge Begbie had once used Ameri Banks, who had accompanied Cook on his voy W. Kaye Lamb can legal texts and terminology to relate to Yan age. As a crowning indignity he published the Dr. Kaye Lamb is a former Honorary kee miners, so he and his successor judges result in a three-volume set that included similar President of the B.C. Historical Federation. encouraged native principles of sentencing to versions of the journals of three earlier Pacific apply in appropriate cases, so as to gain the con explorers, Byron, Wallis and Carteret Cook never Atlin, The Story of British Columbia’s fidence of native leaders in the legal process. saw Hawkesworth’s version of his journal until Last Gold Rush. Christine Frances Dickinson “Native law-ways were both recognized and taken he called at the Cape of Good Hope when home and Diane Solie Smith. Atlin, B.C., Atlin into account by at least some of British Colum ward bound from his second great voyage. Historical Society, 1995. 379 p., illus. $25.00. bia’s trial judges in determining whether a homi Hawkesworth had received the unprecedented Christine Dickinson and Diane Smith have

- cide was provoked by the actions of the victim sum of £6000 for his butchery, but Cook may produced a history of Atlin that is charming - a whether that victim was native or white.” have felt some satisfaction from the fact that the word seldom used by reviewers of local histories

In conclusion, Loo therefore cautions that it is outcry that greeted its appearance was so great - but in addition to its charm it has substance. too simplistic an analysis to merely observe the that it shattered Hawkesworth’s health; he died The organization and the fast-paced language hegemonic advancement of European law over only five months after it was published. Incred produce the charm; the amount and density of the natives in oppressive terms. If the law became ibly, Edwards notes, it was “never withdrawn or the material covered reveal the substance, and oppressive to natives and their culture, then it replaced. For over a hundred years his launder allusions both forward and backward help knit was actively facilitated by native leaders and other ing of the remorseless advance into the Pacific, the whole together. What is more, the authors key reserve members who gained their own per was all that was available.” keep to history as much as possible, generally sonal hegemony and benefits from the prevail Edwards has a very low opinion of Vancou sticking to a time between 1898 and 1947, and ing system. ver’s Voyage of Discovery, based not only upon seldom wandering into the field of current events. John Chemngton its authorship or authenticity, both of which are The two-page introduction locates the town beyond dispute, but on its pedestrian style. In an as sitting “in solitary stubborness a few miles south The Story of the Voyage: Sea-narratives early reference he dismisses Vancouver “whose of the Yukon border on a lake of haunting in Eighteenth Century England. Philip narrative could not have been intended to enter beauty.” These two pages also inform the reader Edwards. Port Chester, N.Y., Cambridge tain anyone” and later returns to the point at that the reasons for writing are to present the

38 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 BOOKSH ELF

important stories of the past hundred years, and the Atlin Operatic Society. But filled with such a PHI and the new construction in Coquitlam to prevent “such exciting tales” from vanishing. diversity of information this chapter possibly can named Essondale in his honour. Gradually, And the authors wisely do not demand that read not be so unified as some of the others. Nor is, Woodlands became the centre for mentally handi ers believe all the tales and legends included. Did sad to say, the chapter on Women in Atlin. Inter capped children in the province. Murphy’s wandering sheep unearth the nuggets esting women they were too, those who came to Adolph writes an interesting narrative of the which led to the msh? And did the man-and- teach or nurse, or those like Amelia Greenslate evolution of psychiatric services for both the men moose story on Tagish Lake with the S.S. Nora who, with her husband, came to escape the no tally ill and the mentally retarded. A short bibli really happen? torious Soapy Smith, and Janet Owen whose ography is included. Ample documentation from The book develops that idea of “solitary stub husband the Police Chief shackled prisoners to government publications and newspaper reports bornness”, of pioneers over the years adapting her kitchen floor when the cell big enough for gives a historical flavour and shows the mood of to the realities of life. The first chapter, “Before one person had to accommodate two. True Pio the times. We learn how the original focus on Gold” lays the social background of the native neers indeed these women were and added much custodial care has changed to an active involve

peoples - Tlingits - and indicates that they had to Atlin but the chapter somehow becomes a list ment of mentally handicapped children in regu already met the Russian Orthodox Church at of women and their occupations which though lar childhood activities as well as necessary Juneau; and it thereby suggests an already started united with the earlier material fails to excite be life-learning skills. The influence of medical and conneclion with an outside world, though a world cause it has no internal unity. nursing administrators, teachers, staff and volun itself far, far from civilization. The next chapters AiIm is an example of how well local history teers is shown through diary entries, reminis “Discovery on Pine Creek” and “The Trails to can be written. A few more maps would have cences and photographs. The last part of the book Atlin Lake” follow a natural progression to Chap been a help, and the rejection of the current punc depicts the changing philosophy of care of the ter four, “1899: The Boom Year”. The town be tuation fad which omits commas where they mentally challenged that now calls for the closing gins that year, and every chapter following, subject should not be omitted would perhaps have added of residential care at Woodlands and the integra by subject, grows as naturally out of chapter four bliss to the charm and substance. But one must tion of former residents into the community. Thus, as the 1899 chapter has grown out of the earlier constantly thank the authors for their smooth this book makes an important contribution to the ones. writing, for their glossary of mining terms, and history of British Columbia. It tells the story of a The settlement itself begins with the “ubiqui for numbering their footnotes consecutively from whole era in psychiatric services showing how tous tent”, and readers quickly catch the building ito 1376: the latter innovation removes the usual society has cared for its mentally ill and challenged need for engrossed fever as the wooden settlement develops rapidly readers to keep a finger in - from a time when there were no institutions to after the arrival of sawmills, and just as rapidly the section called “Notes”. the present time when institutions have turned becomes a community of amenities: saloons, Gordon Elliott into family and group homes. dance halls, schools; hotels and newspapers and Gordon Elliot is author of Quesnel; Helen Shore billiard parlours; a carpenter, a barber, and a Commercial Centre of Helen Shore is Associate Professor mattress factory; theatres and churches and skat the Cariboo Gold Rush, 1958. Emerita, Faculty of Nursing, U.B.C. ing rinks. By 1902, in spite of government bun gling, Atlin was taking on all the characteristics of In the Context of its Time: A History of Memories of Woodlands. Collected and a permanent British Columbia community, in Woodlands. Val Adolph, Victoria, The edited by Val Adolph. Victoria, The Govern cluding the anti-Oriental attitudes found in the Government of British Columbia Ministry of ment of British Columbia Ministry of Social Fraser Valley. Social Services, 1996. 149 p., illus., paper. Services, 1996. 149 p. $10.00 One of the best examples of the knitting of $10.00 Val Adolph has compiled a companion book diversified subjects is in the chapter on “Three This book documents the early story of psy to In the Context of Its Time: A History of Men of God and Their Churches” who worked chiatric services in the province of British Colum Woodlands that provides personal staff reminis in their respective fields of religion but worked bia. It is remarkable to realize that in 150 years cences of their work at Woodlands. Her purposes together on every other need of the community: we have seen the opening and now the closure were twofold: “to create a book that would re John Pringle, a Presbyterian with help from East of an institution like Woodlands that has been mind staff of their time at Woodlands and sec ern Canada, in spite of unbelievable hardships both a psychiatric institution and a centre of care ond, to give others (the general public) a glimpse worked to bring his message to anyone who cared for children with mental handicaps. behind the scenes (literally behind the fence)” of to listen whether on the creeks, in the saloons In 1850, little distinction was made between this important aspect of British Columbia history. and, finally, in his tent church; Frederick L. mental illness and what used to be called mental Adolph reminds her readers of changes in the Stephenson, an Anglican with retardation. Settlers afflicted with mental illness support from The name of Woodlands - from the Public Hospital Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, really were sent home to their mother countries. Just for the Insane (PHI for short), The Woodlands built the first church which Bishop Bompas him as welL The local jails or lock-ups would be the School, and Number Nine which was the tel self dedicated; and Father Joseph Allard, a French natural depository for “lunatics” whose irrational ephone number at one time as well as the street Roman Catholic whose attention centred on the behaviour could not be managed within the im address. native population, was interested in educating the migrant society. The willingness and special ability of Wood native people. Institutional care for psychiatric patients in Brit lands to care for the mentally ill, the elderly, and A few chapters are somewhat less successful. ish Columbia began when the mentally ill from children once called “feeble minded”, as well as Though necessary and though fitting into the the Victoria jail were moved to new quarters in a other physically or mentally handicapped peo general theme but not into the general style, the renovated quarantine hospital located on the In ple made it the place “where people were sent long chapter on the placer creeks is broken up dian reserve across the harbour from Victoria in because there was nowhere else to go.” Now, by subheadings that act as barriers to reading. 1872. On the lower mainland, the Public Hospi staff reminiscences show the special caring, the The one on Gold Camp Society shows the early tal for the Insane (PHI) opened in 1878 in love and the advocacy this committed staff period to be a world for rough and ready young Sapperton, New Westminster. The site chosen showed to British Columbia’s most vulnerable men taking their entertainment in such manly originally had been a cricket pitch cleared by one citizens. The stories are funny, sad, heart warm activities as wrestling, boxing, shooting and hundred Royal Engineers and subsequently used ing and in the end make today’s reader aware of horseracing, but with the arrival of women on for May Day celebrations organized by the Hyack the unsung contributions made by the men and the creeks the toughness waned and gave way Fire Brigade. It was here that the history of Wood women who nursed, taught, doctored and vol to Sunday Schools, dances, grand balls, footraces, lands begins. In 1906, Dr. Henry Esson Young unteered, cleaned and ran the place that was baseball, tug of war, basketball competitions and became Provincial Secretary responsible for both Woodlands. They made themselves into an ex

39 B.C. Historical News . Spring 1997 BOOKSH ELF

...... tended family for the children in this facility and for each other. The stories are drawn from a pe riod from the 30s to the present day. Photographs help illustrate the stories. I think Adolph has won . Moving?? derfully achieved her goal of preserving a record Please let our Subscription Secretary know. Send your of staff’s day-to-day experiences for their own . change of address to: trips down memory lane, in addition, she has given those of us “outside the fence” a privileged . glimpse into the hospital lives of staff and resi . The B.C. Historical News, . dents alike. . Subscription Secretary: Margaret Matovich, Helen Shore . 6985 Canada Way, Burnaby, BC V5E 3R6 I Carried a Key. Three Years in a Mental Hospital: A Nurse’s Story. Agnes • ...... ••. •...... • MacKinnon. 1996. 186 p. $16.95 This book is a fictional account of the author’s experiences while training as a psychiatric nurse BRITISH COLUMBIA HISTORICAL FEDERATION at the British Columbia Provincial Mental Hospi QUARTERLY COUNCIL MEETING tal at Essondale, now known as Riverview Hos pital. Vancouver Maritime Museum, Sunday 16th February, 1997 Agnes MacKinnon entered training as a 16 year old on April 8, 1933. Knowing that she was too REPORT OF HISTORIC TRAILS AND MARKERS COMMITtEE young to be accepted from among the 200 other applicants, she added two years to her actual age. I have three items to bring to your attention today Agnes Lehman had been raised on a farm in the I. THE BABINE TRAIL — Shortly before Christmas I received a telephone call from Ken Fraser Valley and unable to go to university be Rabnett at Suskwa River (North cause of the economic times, she chose psychi of Hazelton) requesting the support of the BCHF in atric nursing. The book outlines her friendships an application made by the Suskwa Community Association for funding under the with other young women who were her class Forest Recreation Program to upgrade the 70 km historic trail between Ha.zelton mates and her ward experiences. Certain medi and Fort Babine. Since I am only familiar with the Collins Overland Telegraph route cal and senior nursing staff are mentioned using in this part of the province I asked him to sent me more details. Last month I their real names. Glimpses of other departments received from him a copy of the very well presented proposal which I have in the hospital, eg. laundry, are given. circulated. It is an ambitious project which I feel is worthy of our support and which Active treatment of the mentally ill began after I will be following with interest. I therefore make a motion: - Agnes Lehman had given up her work as psychi “That the British Columbia Historical Federation at the Council Meeting on 16th atric nurse so the book accounts for an earlier February, 1997 unanimously supports the Suskwa Community Association in its lime of primarily custodial care in a large psychi proposed project to upgrade the historical trail between Hazelton and Fort Babine.” atric institution. For anyone interested in know ing what those days were like, this book presents 2. “MYSTERY” INDIAN VILLAGE ON THE LOWER FRASER RIVER — Ms. Barbara a first-hand account Rogers of Vancouver has been seeking some assistance in identi(ying the site of a Helen Shore “mystery” Indian Village described by Simon Fraser in his journal -- ... a huge

plank house 640 ft. long. . . several tombs. . . the people painted themselves

white and had a distinctive dance. . .“ - possibly in the vicinity of Langley, Matsqui ALSO NOTED: or Haney. She felt that John Stuart’s astronomical observations would enable me to locate it. Unfortunately, Stuart The Geology of Southern Vancouver was only able to observe for Latitude. Above Hope have Island; a Field Guide. C.J. Yorath & H.W. this might been adequate. When the Fraser flows due East-West such Nasmith. Victoria, Orca, 1995. $14.95 observations are of no help. Does anyone have any knowledge of the village to which she is referring? Cactus in Your Shorts. George Matheson. 3. ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN THE SQUAMISH FOREST DISTRICT — Millenium Kettle Valley Publishing, RR2, Site 2. Comp. Research of Victoria has been contracted to assemble an inventory of archaeological 19, Lumby, BC VOE 2G0 1996. $22.00 sites in the Squamish Forest District. Ms. Tanya Hoffman recently visited me (Stories of Osoyoos and its residents - cattle kings, one legged cowboys, rum-runners, seeking information on trails in the area. Much of this area is mountainous and sodbusters, fruit-leggers, gold feverists and fairly inhospitable. Most settlement seems to have been on Howe Sound and along mischievious missionaries.) Squamish & Lillooet rivers and their tributaries. I suggested she study the journals of 19th century explorers such as Mayne, Downey and McKay, each of whom relied heavily on Indian guides, and documented. Charles Hou/or myself will gladly take her over the route.

Respectfully submitted,

John Spittle, Chairman, Historic Trails & Markers Committee

40 B.C. Historical News - Spring 1997 THE BRITISH COLUMBIA HISTORICAL FEDERATION - Organized October 31, 1922

HONORARY PATRON

His Honour, the Honorable Garde B. Gardom Q.C.

HONORARY PRESIDENT

J. Len Nicholls #103- 550 Blue GirlWay, Nanaimo, B.C. V9S 5T6

OFFICERS

President Alice Glanville Box 746, Grand Forks, B.C. VOH1HO (250) 442-3865 Fax (250) 442-3265 [email protected]

First Vice President Ron Weiwood RR #1, S22 Cl, Nelson, B.C. Vi L 5P4 (250) 825-4743 [email protected]

Second Vice President Marjorie Leffler 516 WillowSt, Parksville, B.C. V9P 1A4 (250) 248-3431

Secretary T. Don Sale 262 Juniper St, Nanaimo, B.C. V9S 1X4 (250) 753-2067

Recording Secretary R. George Thomson #19, 141 East 5th Ave., Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K1N5 (250) 752-8861

Treasurer Doris J. May 2943 Shelbourne St, Victoria, B.C. V8R 4M7 (250) 595-0236

Members at Large Wayne Desrochers #2 -6712 Baker Road, Delta, B.C. V4E 2V3 (604) 599-4206 Melva Dwyer 2976 McBride SI, Surrey, B.C. V4A 3G6 (604) 535-3041

Past President Myrtle Haslam Box 20, 1875 Wessex Rd., Cowichan Bay, B.C. VOR1NO (250) 748-8397

COMMITfEE OFFICERS

Archivist Margaret Stoneberg Box 687, Princeton, B.C. VOXiWO (250) 295-3362

B.C. Historical News Publishing Committee Tony Farr 125 Castle Cross Rd, Salt Spring Island, B.C. V8K2G1 (250) 537-1123

Book Review Editor Anne Yandle 3450 West 20th Aye, Vancouver, B.C. V65 1E4 (604) 733-6484 [email protected]

Editor Naomi Miller Box 105, Wasa, B.C. VOB2K0 (250) 422-3594 FX (250) 422-3244 Membership Secretary Nancy Peter #7 - 5400 Patterson Avenue, Burnaby, B.C. V5H 2M5 (604) 437-6115

Subscription Secretary Margaret Matovich 6985 Canada Way, Burnaby, B.C. V5E 3R6 (604) 522-5049

Historical Trails and Markers John Spittle 1241 Mount Crown Rd, North Vancouver, B.C. V7R 1R9 (604) 988-4565

Publications Assistance Nancy Stuart-Stubbs 2651 YorkAvenue, Vancouver, B.C. V6K1E6 (604)738-5132 (not involved with Contact Nancy for advice and details to apply for a loan toward the cost of publishing. B.C. Historical News)

Scholarship Commthee Frances Gundry 255 Niagara Street, Victoria, B.C. V8V 1G4 (250) 385-6353

Writing Competition (Lieutenant Governor’s Award) Pixie McGeachie 7953 Rosewood St, Burnaby, B.C. V5E 2H4 (604) 522-2062

(NOTE: Area code prefixes are effective from October 19, 1996 onward). The British Columbia Historical News Publications Mail P.O.Box 5254, Sm. B Registration No. 4447 Victoria, B.C. V8R 6N4 - ADDRESS LABEL HERE

::

BC HISTORICAL FEDERATION WRITING COMPETITION

The British Columbia Historical Federation invites submissions of books for the fifteenth annual Compe tition for Writers of B.C. History. Any book presenting any facet of B.C. history,published in 1997, 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 Surrey in May 1998. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: All books must have been published in 1997 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, Bumaby, B.C. V5E 2H4 DEADLINE: December 31, 1997.

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, P.O. Box 105, Wasa, B.C. VOB2K0