On the cover

The main entrance to the Provincial Archives, Victoria, is reached via a sunken courtyard that features plants and shrubs native to BritishColumbia. The original Archives was housed in the Parliament Buildings. story starts on page four

MEMBERSOCIETIES

Member societies and their secretaries are responsible for seeing that the correct addresses for their society and for its member subscribers are up-to-date. Please send changes to both the treasurer and the editor whose addresses are at the bottom of the next page. The Annual Report as at October 31 should show a telephone number for contact. Member dues for the year 1982-83 (Volume 16) were paid by the following member societies: Alberni District Historical Society, Box 284, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 7M7 Atlin Historical Society, P.O. Box 111, Atlin, B.C. VOWlAO BCHA — Gulf Islands Branch, c/o P.O. Box 35, Saturna Island, B.C. VON2Y0 BCHA — Victoria Branch, c/o Margaret Bell, 1187 Hampshire, Victoria. B.C. V8S 4T1 Burnaby Historical Society, c/o 5406 Manor St., Burnaby,B.C. V5G 1B7 Chemainus Valley Historical Society, P.O. Box 172, Chemainus, B.C. VOR1KO Cowichan Historical Society, P.O. Box 1014, Duncan, B.C. V9L3Y2 Creston & District Historical & Museum Society, P.O. Box 1123, Creston, B.C. VOB1GO District 69 Historical Society, P.O. Box 213, Parksville, B.C. VOR2S0 East Kootenay Historical Association, c/o H. Mayberry, 216 6th Avenue S., Cranbrook, B.C. V1C 2H6 Golden & District Historical Society, Box 992, Golden,B.C. VOA1HO & Hedley Heritage, Arts Crafts Society (1983), P.O. Box 218, Hedley, B.C. VOX1KO Ladysmith New Horizons Historical Society, c/o Mrs. V. Cull, R.R. #2, Ladysmith, B.C. VOR2E0 Lantzville Historical Society, c/o Susan Crayston, Box 76, Lantzville, B.C. VOR2H0 Nanaimo Historical Society, P.O. Box 933, Station “A”, Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 5N2 Nanooa Historical & Museum Society, R.R. #1, Box 5, Kinghorn Rd., Nanoose Bay, B.C. VOR2R0 Nootka Sound Historical Society, Box 748, Gold River, B.C. VOP1GO North Shore Historical Society, c/o Robert W. Brown, 2327 Kilmarnock Crescent, North Vancouver, B.C. V7J 2Z3 Princeton & District PioneerMuseum and Archives, Box 21, Princeton, B.C. VOXiWO Qualicum Beach Historical & Museum Society, c/o A.C. Killip, R.R. #1, Site 142, C-19, Qualicum Beach, B.C. VOR2T0 Saltspring Island Historical Society, c/o Mrs. Olive Clayton, R.R. #3, Comp. 4, Scott Pt. #1, Ganges, B.C. VOSlEO Sidney & North Saanich Historical Society, c/o Mrs. Ray Joy, 10719 Bayfield Road, R.R. #3, Sidney, B.C. V8L 3P6 Silvery Slocan Historical Society, P.O. Box 301, New Denver, B.C. VOG 150 Trail Historical Society, P.O. Box 405, Trail, B.C. V1R 4L7 Vancouver Historical Society, P.O. Box 3071, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 3X6 West Vancouver Historical Society, P.O. Box 91785, West Vancouver, B.C. V7V 4S1 Windermere District Historical Society, Box 784, Invermere, B.C. VOA1KO

Affiliated Groups City of White Rock Museum Archives Society, 1030 Martin St., White Rock, B.C. V4B 5E3 The Hallmark Society, 207 Government Street, Victoria, B.C. V8V 2K8 BRITISH COLUMBIA HISTORICAL NEWS

Features The Provincial Archives of British Columbia 4 by John Bovey Photographs by a German Prisoner of War, 1914 9 by Barbara Stannard A Little Girl in Trail Ninety Years Ago 11 by Elsie Turnbull The Hope or New Dewdney Trail 15 by R.C. Harris Dishwashing in Pioneer Days 19 by Naomi Miller B.C. Historical Federation Convention, Vernon 21 The Lieutenant-Governor’s Award for Historical Merit 23 Writing Competition 24 News and Notes Reports from the Branches 25 Treasurer’s Annual Report 26 Contest 27 Introducing 28 Museums and Archives 29 Research 29 Bookshelf Francis Rattenbury and British Columbia: Architecture and Challenge in the Imperial Age by Anthony A. Barrett and Rhodri Wilson Liscombe; review by Terry Reksten .. 30 Imagine Please: Early Radio Broadcasting in British Columbia by Dennis J. Duffy; review by Brian Tobin 31 Extra! When the Papers Had the Only News by Peter Stursberg; review by Brian Tobin 32 Because of Gold... by Branwen C. Patenaude; review by Emily Sutherland 32 Fur Trade and Exploration: Opening the Far Northwest, 1821-1852 by Theodore Karamanski; review by Dr. Richard Glover 33

Second-class mail registration number 4447. Station E, Published fall, winter, spring, and summer by the British Columbia Historical Federation, P.O. Box 35326, Victoria, Vancouver, B.C. V6M 4G5. Our Charitable Donations number is 0404681-52-27. Printed by Prestige Printers, B.C. Manuscripts and correspondence for the editor are to be addressed to 1745 Taylor St., Victoria, B.C. V8R3E8. Send all other correspondence, including changes of address, to the Vancouver address given above.

Subscriptions: Institutional $16.00 per year; Individual (non-members) $8.00 per year.

The B.C. Historical Federation gratefully acknowledges the financial assistance of the British Columbia Heritage Trust.

4 Page

photo- collections, ment manuscript records, Buildings Legislative the Before Gosnell. R.E.

govern with filled dome overflowing were to history, by a fascinated man librarian legislative

the around attics the top and each of other, as chose Davie Theodore Premier of government

on literally sat public almost and staff inadequate, the but records, historical for home physical

woefully become a had researchers dation for and niche offer administrative an stances

accommo because long was expansion overdue circum did only Not eprovided. be could records

shows, the a photograph streets. Government As historical for repository a library, the and, plans in

and Belleville at Court of corner the complex the included in was A library being constructed.

Heritage the of the home, components one of were Buildings Legislative present 1893 the In

present occupy to its Library Connaught the kept.” so records (2) “the are stored;” records

of out moved Archives Provincial In the 1970 which in place “the (1) “Archives”: word the

use collections. tions” rich the might of definitions dictionary the of both to be related

sec all and “scholars from to that inaugurated, seems Archives Provincial the of establishment

be to about policy” was door an “open learn that early relatively the care Columbia’s British In

to gratification Nation New his York expressed investigation. and speculation

the to a contributor 1915 1914. in published In for ripe a subject is their histories of preservation

Present, the to Times Columbia Earliest from the the indifferences—to official differences—or ed

of British F.W. Howay Judge joint the author with mark such shown have provinces Canadian ten

was 1919, in his death 1910 Archivist until from the why question The 1967. until 1784, in founded

and Librarian and 1900 Provincial 1910, to colony Loyalist the Brunswick, those New and of

Librarian from Chief Scholefield, E.O. 1906, while 1959, until Labrador and Newfoundland of that

in published example, British was Columbia, for 1964, until established not were Edward Island

of History A Library Gosnell’s the and Prince Archives. of archives but 1852, the Canada, in in tion

the of charge men seen in the of in writings the institu archival governmental first the founded

be to was twenty built years up it previous the that in boast rightly may Scotia score. Nova this on

collection the result of obvious most The Provinces 450,000. Maritime the of record the is surprising

only was of province and the population the more Much heritage. documentary preserve its

1915, in just university to was opening bia its first steps official take to slow being in unusual

Colum British by standards. contemporary small not was West the Yet founded. Alberta was

remarkably was then researching But the public. of Archives Provincial the finally, 1965, in and

by the used little were collections made, the Archivist, Provincial first appointed its Manitoba

was Library Connaught the move the into Until 1952 In 1945. Board in Archives Saskatchewan

years. fifty-five the was established obe to archives provincial next

for researchers, and as well museum, visitors as the example; Columbia’s to British follow hurry

a small collections, dated Archives’ the staff, not did certainly provinces western Other

accommo Library the top ber of The floor well. Archivist. as Gosnell Provincial

remem will News Historical the of many readers R.E. of appointment the with begins 1908 in

that home the Archives 1915 gave Provincial the institution separate a as history its ganized, while

in Library Connaught the of The completion reor being then was Library, which Legislative

the definition of word. the of scope the 1890s within laid the were in

dictionary the of both in materialize senses collection of its foundations The Great the Lakes.

to began Columbia of British of the of Province west Canada in institution oldest archival the

archives the 1898, officially February in is opened Columbia British of Archives Provincial The

Part One:

Columbia British of Archives The Provincial

Archivist Provincial

Bovey A. John contemporary colour transparencies from both government and private sources. Included are collections of important early B.C. photographers such as Frederick Daily, F.G. Claudet, Richard and Hannah Maynard, Edward Dossiter, J. Howard A. Chapman,John Savannah, “Trio”, and the complete studio files of several significant B.C. commercial photographers; the non-current photographs of government minis tries, and family collections often accumulated over many generations. Catalogued photographs numbering approxi mately 100,000 images are accessed through reference files ordered in geographic, topical and biographic series, while uncatalogued Interior view of the original Provincial Archives. collections are made available by appointment. Paintings, drawings and prints held by the graphs, framed prints and paintings, Archives are collected as much or more for period informational clothing, and even, in one unforgettable corner, content than aesthetic value a grouping of saddles and machine guns. although fortunately the latter is often a divi The dend. artifacts were all transferred to the Provincial While the work of historically significant Museum at the time of the move. professional artists is sought for its biographical application, many Although the distinction between the Legisla artists in the collection are known first as military tive Library—or the Provincial Library as it was personnel, surveyors, journalists, gold miners, long titled—and the Provincial Archives was first pioneers, or were simply amateurs sketching for drawn in 1908, the two have had a very close personal amusement. A special part relationship up to the present time. Until 1974, of the collection which predates in the popularization fact, the Provincial Archivist and the Provincial of photography in the late 1860s and 1870s Librarian were usually the same person. Dr. provides the only source of visual records for Willard Ireland was appointed Provincial Archi what later became the Province. A few vist in 1940 and Provincial Librarian in 1946. It rare 18th century views originate from was exploration and only after his retirement in 1974 that the positions early trade on the North West Coast while were permanently separated. Mr. Allan R. Turner many more images date from the expanded was appointed Provincial Archivist that year, activity seen in the colonial period. and As documentary Mr. James G. Mitchell was appointed Legislative collections, their use tends to be more in day Librarian. At the same time, statutory precision to day reference and research, replaced popular usage, for the “Provincial” often for publication, than for the assembly of exhibits Library returned to the name of Legislative of a predetermined subject as is found in an gallery Library, under which it had been formally art or museum. Access to paintings is established eighty years before. provided primarily through an artist and title index but a growing number of finding aids provide alternative access by chronological Visual Records period and topical heading. Copy prints (8x10 The Visual Records Division preserves pictorial b/w glossy) may be ordered of originals in both collections of historic photographs and docu collections, and colour transparencies can be mentary art relating to the history and culture of prepared for most paintings, drawings and prints British Columbia. The collections offer a rich originals. Persistently high volumes of photo field for research consisting of approximately graphic orders make it advisable to plan projects two and a half million photographs and six and place orders well in advance of any deadline thousand paintings, drawings and prints. requirements. The Historic Photograph collection ranges As an extension of Visual Records, the Emily from nineteenth century direct positive forms Carr Gallery, located at 1107 Wharf Street, such as Daguerreotype, Tintype and Ambrotype, Victoria, exhibits original works by Carr and through negative/positive print forms such as other historically significant artists represented in Collodian glass plate and Albumen print, to the Provincial Archives collection. Drawing from all sources in the Provincial Archives, the Emily

Page 5 Carr Gallery incorporates manuscripts, news colonial administrations of British Columbia and paper articles, letters, journals and historic Vancouver Island, which are not considered part photographs in regularly rotating exhibits. of the Legislative Library’s government publica Reproductions of a selection of Emily Carr tions collecting mandate. The Archives Library originals and other colonial artists works are does not, in fact, have any officially mandated obtainable at the Gallery. Films on Emily Carr and collecting responsibility, and it is not a depository tours of the current exhibit are also provided. library as is sometimes erroneously stated. Our objectives justify the collecting of a wide range of Library material, whether substantial or ephemeral, and and Maps Section early imprints of British Columbia or about this The Library and Maps Section administers two province are eagerly sought. Staff and space of the Archives’ major collections: the Library of limitations do, however, prevent us from select the Provincial Archives and the Map Collection. ing everything published in or about British Until February 1982 these two collections were Columbia. Local and general histories, bio administered separately, but a reorganization at graphies, political and economic treatises and that time brought them under the direction of most works on Native, Euro-Canadian and one section head. There is no internal adminis immigrant cultures help serve the aim of support trative division between the Library and the Map ing the study of British Columbia history. The Collection, although at present the Archivist 2 is Library now has approximately 41,000 titles in principally responsible for map work and the 59,000 volumes. Librarians for the book collection. A further important part of the Library are the The Library of the Provincial Archives, former 4200 reels of British Columbia newspapers on ly known as the Northwest Collection, has microfilm. Most of these holdings are transferred apparently existed as long as the Archives, from the Legislative Library in 1981, and they are although it may have at one time been consid currently supplemented by further transfers of ered a special collection of the Provincial (now the products of the Legislative Library’s micro- Legislative) Library. Since it was reclassified and filming program and by film received by sub recatalogued by Dr. Kaye Lamb in the 1930s, it has scription from commercial producers. been clearly identified with the Provincial The famous “Vertical File”, a magnificent Archives. The major objectives served by the resource of approximately 405,000 clippings and development and maintenance of the Library other ephemera, was created between the late are: 1)to support research in British Columbia 1940s or early 1950s and 1982. Since it was closed, history: political, economic, social and cultural; it has been the nominal responsibility of this 2)to enhance the knowledge and skills of staff Section, and we are actively investigating the through the acquisition of professional litera possibility of microfilming the file. ture; and 3)to complement other collections in The Library and Map Section’s other major the Provincial Archives. Extension of the Library’s collection is, of course, the Map Collection. It scope in recent years to include greater support major objectives are: 1) to preserve and make for the Archives staff has been the rationale for available the published maps and the carto renaming the collection; it is no longer just a graphic and architectural archives of the Provin regional “Northwest Collection”. cial Government; 2) to support research in The Archives is justly proud of its Library, history, geography and cartography by acquiring which includes extensive holdings of printed and making available maps of British Columbia, accounts of early voyages to British Columbia, as well as any other maps showing this part of the Alaska, the West Coast of the United States, as world; 3)to contribute to the study of British well as Siberia and Kamchatka. Journals of early Columbia’s architectural heritage through the overland expeditions are also prominent, as are acquisition of plans by important architects or primary and secondary works on the fur trade plans representative of building types; and 4) to from the Lakehead to the Pacific Coast. An earlier complement other collections in the Provincial interest in exploration of the Canadian and Archives. Alaskan Arctic is reflected in substantial holdings While major improvements in the areas of map of early works on this topic, but very few conservation, storage and initial administrative additions have been made in recent years. The control have been effected in the last five years, Provincial Archives has de facto responsibility for cataloguing lags far behind, and the systematic collecting and preserving the imprints of the acquisition of published and archival maps and

Page 6 plans ot the Provincial Government still is more prominent ones. We are fortunate to have relatively undeveloped. Large series of maps and the drawings from the 1850s and 1860s of three of architectural plans which are available for the first four buildings to serve as Government transfer from government offices pose problems House in Victoria, including the house con for even the best organized map archives structed too late to keep a disappointed Richard because of the very awkward nature of maps, and Blanshard at his Vancouver Island post. the inadequate storage facilities in their offices of Conservation and cataloguing of maps are two origin. The orderly scheduling of government of the most tenacious problems of this Section. records by the new Records Management Fully a third of the 12,000 catalogued maps are in Branch should allow this section to plan acquisi serious need of repair—most of this fraction lack tions more rationally, and new accessions may adequate mechanical strength to be handled. come in better order and in more convenient Resources for conservation may never be formats (e.g. microfilm) than heretofore. sufficient to undertake the needed work, so we Purchases, transfers from other departments of will look to methods within the means and range the Archives, and smaller-scale, more manage of skills of the Library and Maps Section. Simple able acquisitions from government (particularly flattening and cleaning may be followed by mylar published maps) still make up the bulk of our encapsulation if the needed intermediate step of intake. In the last two years we have reinstituted deacidification can be accomplished. Catalogu purchasing of antiquarian maps from private ing is a rather slow process, and much recatalogu map sellers. This program picks up an old and ing is necessary. 1-ortunately, national and long-standing pattern of acquiring maps intend international standards of description have been ed to show the development of geographical laid down in the last few years, and we can be knowledge of this part of the world. Valuable confident that we will produce records which early atlases and maps had been purchased should not need modification in the future. Staff earlier, some originally published in the early to do the actual cataloguing is not available at sixteenth century. Treasures such as Ptolemy and present, but a program to reduce the backlog in Ortelius atlases, now clearly beyond our budget, the Library is underway. Its successful comple were acquired when prices were nearer the tion will free at least one professional librarian to means of a Provincial Archives on the Pacific work on maps. Complete and competent cata fringes of the British Empire. loguing of the Map Collection is the key to Transfers from other collections in the Ar making this valuable collection accessible to the chives produce a never-ending supply of maps— public. manuscripts and published—most of which are new to the collection. The interchange of Sound and Moving Images Division provenance information between divisions lays down the “paper path” which ensures that The Sound and Moving Image Division ac researchers can trace a map that has, say, been quires and preserves sound recordings, films and transferred from the Manuscripts and Govern video recordings (moving images) of enduring ment Records Division to the Map Collection value to British Columbia, and makes these and, also, that the map user will be able to records available to the public for research and ascertain the documentary context in which the other uses. map was produced or filed. The division is the official repository for non Architectural plans of various government current films, sound and video recordings departments make up the bulk of our holdings in produced by and for the British Columbia this area. About 1400 originals from the files of government, its agencies and Crown corpora the old Department of Public Works were tions. The principal functions of the division are accessioned in 1978, and microfilm of the rest of to locate, select and preserve those materials the file of over 10,000 plans was acquired at the which have long term legal, administrative and same time. Various other files of plans, especially historical value, and to make them available for from regulatory offices such as the Fire Commis official and public use. The staff also extends sioner, have come to us at other times. Our advice to these government bodies regarding acquisition of the plans of private architects has retention methods for their holdings of audio been necessarily selective due to space limita visual materials. tions, but we are particularly proud of our A second major responsibility of the division is holdings of the works of F.M. Rattenbury, P.L. to preserve the sound recordings and moving James, and Peter Cotton, to name a few of the images of private organizations and individuals.

Page 7

8 Page

studies. regional

and women, recreation,

Collections.

arts,

the

administration,

public and politics Archival the of core vital the

forms

division

institutions,

and

industries Indians, Native This Division. Manuscripts

Two: Part

with

groups,

ethnic

are

presented

Subjects province. News Historical the of

issue next the

in

continue

the to

interest

cultural and

historical of subjects will Archives

Provincial the

of history

The

upon focus of recordings group large Another

communities. Columbia British many of

history

to 1979.

1967 from Manitoba

the

document

which

individuals and

museums

of

province the

for

Archivist and

Provincial 1966,

societies,

history

by local

produced tapes history

to 1962

from Territories

Northwest the of Government

oral

of

collections include These

holdings.

the

for

Archivist

the was

Bovey John Columbia,

division’s the of part

largest the

form past

British of

province the

for Archivist Provincial

their about

people with

interviews

Recorded

as September1979 in Ireland Willard replacing to Prior

History Oral

recordings. effects. sound and programs radio

poetry,

sound

published Columbia music, British preserves and popular and folk ethnology,

folklore,

collects

systematically which Columbia conferences, British speeches, interviews,

history oral

in

institution

public only of the is consists division The material Recorded

recordings.

wire

talent.

Columbia

British feature and which or studios phonodiscs tapes, reel-to-reel and

cassette

recording

recent

by more of produced recordings comprised is and Canada in largest

the of one

sound

published and (1945-1971), is Records recordings sound original of

collection The

Aragon studio, recording first

Columbia’s

British

Recordings

Sound of

Collection The of productions the include phonodiscs of tions

Acquisi province. the throughout musicians and

position. singers by

performed

items musical

recorded

support

clerical

one and

technician

visual 500 of

Collection Music

Folk

Thomas

Phil

audio an

archivists,

three ly

of five; a

staff has the and

composers,

Columbia by

British

music

current

division

The

1974. in

added been having instrumental

and songs of

Collection” Writers’

Archives,

Provincial

the to

addition

recent most Song

Columbia

“British the

holds division

The

the is Division Image Moving and Sound The

Music Columbia British Canada. in published its kind of book

only the is It history. oral using and preserving

creating,

for guide a Oral to History, Guide

1980s.

A

Voices: published recently has h division The

the to 1930s broadcasts the from and cant events

documentation. tape and quality recording

signifi of of

coverage live tape radio recordings

of

standards set to and heritage, Columbia’s

and include radio

phonodiscs Other holdings

British preserving of method this in participation

public encourage to Radio aims division the shops

work these Through history. spoken to record

Orchard. by Mr. wishing produced were organizations for workshops

history oral

which

documentaries radio 170 present to is approximately division the of service special

A

are

collection this of part Forming pioneers. conditions.

copyright

its of

personalities and and voices the donor capture to subject be obtained,

may Copies

but

Columbia British in life early of request. account rich upon available are

and prepared been

a

preserve

only tapes not the have quality, broadcast recordings audio the of

of many

transcripts

the

of

Because

CBC. the for addition, In documentaries researchers. for

equipment

viewing

radio

of

a series for and recordings the made carrels listening provides Archives The ings.

broadcaster,

a Orchard, Mr. record produced. ever videotape hundred

several films, 1,500

life

pioneer

Canadian on material than of more collections recordings, sound of

hours 20,000

finest the

of one is It settlers. than of more generation comprise holdings

division’s

The

first

the to

beong whom of many Columbia, access. public

and

servation

British

of

regions all from and pre life of walks varied permanent ensure to

acquired selectively

from

persons 900 over with are interviews artifacts recorded sound other and

recordings sound

of

consists Collection Orchard unpublished Imbert The and published videotapes, Films, Barbara Stannard

Photographs by a German Prisoner of War, 1914

During World War I, German prisoners of war were housed in the Provincial Jail on Stewart Avenue in Nanaimo. These people were both political detainees and military, and supervision was very superficial— morning and evening roll call were accepted. The prisoners planted trees on the boulevards of the streets of Nanaimo. A Mr. Eckles was one of these prisoners (we are not sure which category he represented). During his time in Nanaimo, he took many photographs of the area, but after World War I he moved to Seattle. He passed away recently, and a neighbour returned to the Nanaimo Centennial Museum one of his albums containing many valuable pictures of the Nanaimo area. On these pages is a brief sample of the local history Mr. Eckles recorded while a prisoner of war.

Page 9 Salmon cannery, Newcastle Channel

Sandstone quarry, Newcastle Island. As early as 1872 the sandstone quarry on Newcastle Island was providing structural material for important buildings on the Pacific coast, such as the Mint at San Francisco.

Barbara Stannard is immediate past president of the Museum, where she is the conservator, and she is BCHF. She has been a member of the Federation for currently President of the Nanaimo Museum Society. twenty-four years. For an even longer period of time In recognition of her outstanding service to the she has played a key role in the history of the community, the City of Nanaimo honoured Barbara Nanaimo Museum Society. She helped to supervise as Citizen of The Year in June 1984. the construction and operation of the Nanaimo

Page 10 Elsie C. Turnbull

A Little Girl in Trail Ninety Years Ago

captain. When she looked back to childhood days, Anna, those are Indians,” said the boat’s appeared in a series of pictures, and She knew no different, but next day when she everything but somehow these pictures seemed unique. They looked out she saw they were not Indians eating on the belonged to her alone, just as her parents did. groups of workmen, sleeping and Her parents were Danish but she herself had stony shore. There was no other place for them been born in St. Paul, Minnesota. Then her to go. In the roughly cleared area above the boat father, who was a butcher by trade, decided to dock stood a few tents and shacks, and the one join his brother Simon F. Petersen in running a hotel other than her uncle’s. It was called the workmen’s hotel, in the newly opened Trail Trail House, run by E.S. Topping and Frank Creek Mining District where extensive deposits Hanna. The Crown Point was unfinished and yet of copper-gold ore had been discovered in the already it was full of guests. Sometimes in the Rossland Mountains. morning she and her mother had to step over British Columbia’s Simon Petersen had heard sleeping men lying on the hallway floor. in the summer of 1895 that Fritz Augustus Everything was very rough that first autumn. Heinze, a mining tycoon from Butte, Montana, Dusty roads skirted stump-covered lots; light was about to build a smelter to treat ores from came from coal-oil lamps; water was delivered at the Rossland mines, at a landing on the the door from a barrel wagon. The sound of Columbia River. Arriving at Trail Creek Landing hammering and sawing was constant as builders in July 1895, Petersen found E.S. Topping, Mr. sought to replace tents which housed barber, Humphries and S.E. Green appraising a townsite, shoemaker, laundryman and short-order cooks. which was to be put on the market in a short Across from the hotel stood a livery stable, noisy time. Making a deposit on three lots close to the with neighing horses and creaking wagons as river bank at the corner of Bay Avenue and packers and drivers unloaded freight from the Spokane Street, he boarded the steamer for sternwheelers. Nakusp to get lumber. On his return he set two By Christmas time the smelter was almost men to work on the Crown Point Hotel, building ready for its blowing-in ceremony, which would a small place at the rear of the lots for living while take place in early February. A dozen or more construction continued. By the middle of August shops lined the roadways, neat frame houses had the floor of a 40’x40’ structure was laid and, appeared in town, and a new Opera House foreseeing a busy time, Petersen sent for his opened with a Grand Ball on Christmas Night. brothers Julius and John to join him in the new The Crown Point Hotel celebrated with a dinner project. of special goodies imported from St. Paul, Early in September John Petersen arrived with Minnesota, and a four-page colored folder his wife Laura, daughter Anna, and Anna’s presented a menu featuring among the cream-colored English mastiff, Fanny. Anna was conventional duck, turkey and ham, plum nine years old that day they came down the pudding and mince pie, bluepoints on the half Columbia River on the thrashing paddlewheel shell, mock turtle soup, oranges, apples, nuts, steamer. That night, darkness swallowed the hills raisins and grapes. Anna recalled many festive on each side of the shiny water as they occasions when townspeople gathered in the approached the Landing, but myriads of little large dining room or annex of the hotel for fires could be seen along the beach. “Look, dances or card parties. Everything called for a

Page ii

12 Page

of snows crisp a the a or cutter trip horses, over in to clung resin which with sticky and homemade

by four drawn democrat Rossland an open in were benches and desks wooden whose shack

of the town to journeys Later were there one-room a rough, to steep the hill climbed

perch! her she to precarious clung she Then back. to back sitting classes and two

as was she terrified a How hillside. trackless over end each a at teacher with Block, Hanna the in

clambered the horses trees of growth while the room bare big the was there first At her mind. to

into and pushed father by blocked debris, her pictures of a series brought school of Thoughts

was path the beyond Creek. Warfield just hotel. to another

Trail beside road narrow the along followed him went Heinze and disapproved, father her when

she pony a laden heavily the back Astride of stopped that but friends lady brought he Often

supplies. up took as he rode father her she with games. and parties with noisy making hotel, it

day One Mountain. Lake flank lower on of the the into moved Heinze aides, his With curiosity.

lay which mine, Point Crown at cookhouse the in see to it flocked the children all where

ran the and uncles father Her in the Rossland. hill Point Crown the behind a to siding switched was

up mines big about the was talk there Always It City. Lake Salt in Young to belonged Brigham

more built sturdily and comfortable. had which coach a private in arriving town,

more much a to schoolhouse, she went new to came Fritz Heinze, handsome big owner,

then and the shack Fire boys destroyed for her. smelter the sometimes that remembered Anna

the big thrash to Mr. Hanna for trustee school steamboat. the from unloaded as was day freight

send to had sometimes order keep and couldn’t each times many down and up shunted Trains

teacher young was! The schoolhouse that waterfront. the to Trail of the town through spur

rude and cold How retrieve building to them. a with smelter, to the mines the Rossland from

the beneath crawl to go and outside had ore haul to built line a narrow-gauge Tramway,

then and floor, the in cracks down pencils their Creek Trail the for stock of rolling scowload

pushed The pupils world. the glimpse outside first the of appearance the saw

1896 of Spring

could one which through holes out, leaving

visitors. distinguished

falling kept the walls in Knot her holes dresses. of arrival or a holiday birthday, fun—a time of

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I

‘lFlt(1j ‘ winter. Sometimes she travelled in the little, Pacific Railway Corripany. The new owners narrow-gauge train which chugged and puffed closed the smelter temporarily, but seemed in no up the winding switch backs. Stacked cordwood hurry to re-open. Anna’s father decided there stood close to the track, ready for use in the was not enough business to keep three families, wood-burning locomotive, and on one trip they so he moved to Spokane where he set up a found a pile burning fiercely. The conductor butcher shop. Anna’s childhood days in Trail closed doors and windows tightly, the engineer were ended, but later she would marry got up a head of steam, and the train rushed storekeeper Jack Young and return to live out through the flames as fast as possible. Cinders her life in the smelter town. and sparks fell on the cars, smoke billowed Although the Petersens have long been gone through the coach, but nothing caught fire and from the Kootenays, the Crown Point Hotel still the travellers passed the hazard safely. stands in Trail at the corner of Bay Avenue and Excursions on the river boats were gala affairs. Spokane Street. It is not the original 2½ storey Chapman’s band played music all the way up the building that S.F. Petersen raised before the lakes, and the grownups danced until the boat smelter had taken form, but a four-storey, four docked at a picnic spot. Lunch was eaten on the square replacement, erected in 1929,which beach, baseball games entertained the crowd, proudly flaunts the old advertisement: “Crown and at dusk all returned aboard, to slip swiftly Point! Best Bar! Best Meals! Best Hotel! Since downriver with music floating over the water Autumn 1895!” and cool night breezes brushing against their faces. Then there was the time in the spring of 1898 when her father and uncles built a hotel—a second Crown Point—in the town of Brooklyn. Brooklyn was headquarters for construction Elsie Turnbull lived in Trail from 1928 to 1966. She crews building the Columbia & Western railway has written four books on the Trail area: from Robson, at the foot of the Arrow Lakes, to Topping’s Trail, Trail Between Two Wars, Trail Cascade and on to Midway. An instant town 1901-1961, and Church in the Kootenays (a sprang up beside the warehouses and wharf, and history of the United Church). These books are in a month’s time saloons were operating, and available from Mrs. Turnbull, Victoria, or from nearly all kinds of stores. The Crown Point was the Giftshop, Provincial Museum, Victoria. soon serving breakfast, and customers were lining up at the bar (as the local newspaper reported) “as thick as editors in Paradise!” Anna’s parents would not let her stay in the rough and ready town. Instead, she was sent to Kyle’s Hotel at Deer Park across the lake. Here she rode a mule over the pleasant hills and meadows. Often her mother rowed over for a visit, and sometimes her father came with Colonel Topping to inspect the mines they owned up in the mountains. A year later the railway crews had moved on past Brooklyn and the town closed down, stripped of doors and windows and anything else that could be carried. The Petersens returned to Trail. Nothing came of the Deer Park mines and her father sold his Back Issues of the News property. Suddenly the good times were over. Heinze, facing opposition in further railway construction plans, and competition from the new smelter Back issues of the News can be built at Northport ordered at $3.50 by the LeRoi Company, sold each plus postage from the Editor. his holdings in February 1898 to the Canadian

Page 13 t,I P4j

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puo LJo 4 ç\ 14O .oQjU>I iIVèII BdOH HL R.C. Harris The Hope or New Dewdney Trail Routes to British Columbia’s Southern Interior

Following the setting of the international 1861 Business continued brisk in the Rock boundary at the 49th parallel in 1846, an “all Creek area. Douglas ordered Dewdney’s British” trade route was established by the mule road widened to a wagon road.2 Hudson’s Bay Company from the lower Fraser Eighty-three sappers under Captain River to Kamloops. This line shifted, in stages, Grant worked east from Hope, augmen ever further to the south and east, as required to ted by fifty civilians. serve British Columbia’s southern interior. At the same time, exploring ahead, the 1848 This HBC Brigade Trail was built from Royal Engineers cut a 22 mile diversion Fort Yale to Nicola and Kamloops, going of the Dewdney Trail,3 marked A to B on northeast over the Cascades from the map. This bypassed the canyon Kequeloose, near the site of Alexandra section of the trail, and the wet stretch Bridge. north of the Snass and Skaist mountains. 1849 South of Nicola, the HBC trail was The new trail crossed the Cascade relocated. It now ran due east from Fort Divide further to the southeast, at what Hope, up Peers Creek and over Manson became the Grant, or Hope Pass. Ridge, crossing the Cascade Divide at With some further relocations in 1864, the head of Podunk Creek. At that time, this became the main route between Podunk Creek was regarded as the Hope and Princeton for the next 40 or so Similkameen or Tulameen River, since years. The trail was not abandoned until that was the way that the trail went. It is the present Hope-Princeton highway now perceived as a branch of Tulameen was completed in 1949, but as early as River. From the first crossing of the main 1906, Charles Camsell noted the trail river, the trail used Blackeye’s Trail to cut was little used. across the great bend of the Tulameen, Nor was the Dewdney Trail complete rejoining it at Campement des Femmes. ly abandoned, the softer ground and Here the trail met the main Similkameen better feed suiting it to sheep and cattle Trail, which led left up the Otter Valley drives. for Nicola and Kamloops, or right, down 1874 The passes over the Cascade Divide were the Similkameen Valley to the Okana explored and reported on by George gan, and to Fort Colville in Washington Landvoight5 of Hope, for the Lands and Territory. Works Department. Settlers were 1860 Enough gold mining developed down demanding a better cattle trail to the the Similkameen and at Rock Creek that coast. South (Allison) Pass received Governor Douglas ordered improve favourable consideration; though ments to the difficult 1849 pack trail over longer, it was lower, and could be used a Manson Ridge. The result was Dewd month sooner in the spring, and a month ney’s “Good Mule Road to Similka later in the autumn. meen”,l via the Nicolum and Sumallo 1911 Surveys for the proposed southern Rivers, up Snass Creek and over the Trans-Provincial Highway ran even Cascade Divide just west of the Punch closer to the 49th parallel, going south Bowl. The mule road then swung round from Hope, via Silverhope and Nepope to Whipsaw Creek, which led down to kum creeks, crossing the Cascade Divide Vermilion Forks (now Princeton). This at (Luke) Gibson’s Pass, and joining the trail became known as the Canyon Trail, present highway near Manning Park from the canyon at the head of Snass Lodge. This was the furthest south of any (Canyon) Creek. contemplated route to the interior.

Page 15

16 Page

was trail the of section a mile six sketches, Historical News (Spring 1981).

R.C.

Harris, “A and Good Mule to report Road Launders’ of Using 1864. spring B.C. the Similkameen”,

1

Footnotes

in report and to examine Launders J.B. surveyor

sent Department 7 and Works Lands trail. The

new the to improvements requested Company,

Bay Hudson’s the user, a 1863, as heavy As early

Trail. Dewdney the course, of Trail, or, Dewdney

Hope trails. New the including above, used from those

and intersections the Dewdney of Governor’s, apart names, several alternate had has trail The

the to this determine area in required 12-22.) 5, 4, in footnotes are few given

is field study Trail Dewdney that way. went More (A record. on also are over trail of the journeys

since the of Creek, headwaters Whipsaw descriptions and maps ground. favourable Many

built, the be was to was Creek Mile taken 47 more to relocated soon some sections were

and Mile Hope Trail the Before creeks. Whipsaw that and maintenance, 6 others, steady required

Point B junction 47 the of the on near map is all like trail, the that show records Public

west and graze Hope north Pass. of a shorter. few and miles was

up to every brought Creek Whipsaw summer, country, open more drier, led through feed, it

Pass, are Cattle Hope down Creek. Whipsaw and horse lacking and Though higher, west trail.

now, through 3, allowing travel Highway from east- main the became soon and three weeks”,

some years foot for reopened traffic or for horse over little “a in built was mile 22 diversion The

has The been Skaist trail of section River up construction. wagon road

as known Creek). Cedar the of ahead new the trail, pushed with on

unreliable recently, river the crossings (until of Grant Captain and project, the £6000 for of

at two eliminated Skagit This mile River, 27. budget a set Douglas Governor route, Whipsaw

the is 1864 the cutbank on the relocation above Skaist the James recommended Turnbull

good cribbing, of section A with rock trail, old Sapper Bowl. Punch the of and east south Divide

a to trail, new make route. continuous Cascade the explored the Royal Engineers

Parks with sections is Branch trail old joining the Hope, from road wagon the extending While

the highway trail, on the old encroached has the examined. were Alternatives

keep them Where back steep from sidehill. the mountains. Skaist and the of Snass north

to a is intended cattle, section for trail parallel traffic, freight to heavy unsuited mudholes,

east the Skagit as Bluffs Skaist Above the River. and swamps were there summer in Furthermore,

tar as able may groove Intermittently betolloweci trees. broken and by snowslides frequent

climbs

east, above unmistak the The highway. blocking to prone sides, over-steepened vastly

Hope Trail Snass Creek the bridge, From with channel, a meltwater former glacial is defile

nearby. This Creek. Snass of head the canyon at narrow

a house are Judge camp Begbie had here. the in late too lay that snow concern there was

a of gold Cariboo work the remains rush. The 1860/61, winter, Trail’s first Dewdney the After

to to diverted be was attention resumed, as never 3, 8-11) 2, (See footnotes

1861, wagon October the in ceased on here road Oct. 1861)

Work and Park. Manning well inside highway, and (Sept. Trail Hope or the Building Grant

present the (Canyon) on Snass Creek bridge

the above just head Flats, of the

Rhododendron

lanes.

four to been widened recently at Hope, 25 on map A

from Mile is the Point

have road

the of some parts wider; are Today Hope Trail The

valleys The Pass. Hope than lower feet

1500

is

Pass Allison Trail, Hope than the the cutbank north. to high

longer

miles 20

is line this Pass. Though a below crossings makes two

present highway

Allison

at

Divide Cascade the crossing the and where 27 28, Miles between

upper Skagit

alignment,

present

on its was completed tne on made

was change Another significant

Highway

Trans-Provincial

southern 1949 The built. were day,

this to remain

which

back.

turned

he and

Kamloops, zigzags, great the

side, on

this grade

reasonable

from

south

far

too

heading and a for

distance extra

get

the

To summit.

rocky, too

steep, too

as it

rejected

soon

the at

exactly old

trail the

valley, rejoining

Skaist

Anderson

1846.

May, in

guide

Indian his

upper

the

of side

drier north the

on

relocated

by way this taken was A.C. Anderson 2 6 “••• the waggon road ... by the Royal Engineers .. is “The Hope-Similkameen trail will be open by the 30th progressing most favourably. ... Capt. Grant has of this month. I have entered into a contract with received a report from a party of Sappers sent by him... [John Fall] Allison, who for £120 makes a firm foot trail that they have discovered a pass South of the the whole distance—75 [actually 65] miles—to have Punchbowl which again joins the present [Dewdney] thoroughly repaired this road would have cost a very trail about a mile and a half beyond the prairie at the considerable sum of money, for no less than five junction of ... the Governor’s trail with that of Mr. bridges were destroyed...” E.H. Sanders to WAG. Dewdney, by which a saving of about ten miles will be Young, Colonial Secretary, June 20, 1862. Colonial effected Peter O’Reilly to W.A.G. Young, August Correspondence, PABC 17, 1861. File 1280, Colonial Correspondence, Peter O’Reilly was transferred north when the main Provincial Archives of British Columbia. gold mining excitement moved north. Hope become Peter O’Reilly was gold commissioner and magistrate nearly deserted. E.H. Sanders, gold commissioner and at Hope in its busiest days. He was the colonial magistrate at Yale added the responsibilities of Hope to government in the district. W.A.G. Young was his own. Winter 1861/62 was a heavy one. Governor Douglas’ Colonial Secretary, based in James Benjamin Launders, surveyor, engraver, Victoria, Vi. draftsman, and former Royal Engineer, continued A section of this road is commemorated as the working in the Lands and Works Department when the “Engineers Road” at a stop of interest near the west Royal Engineers were disbanded in 1863. The new entrance to Manning Park. C.C.L. and W. was Joseph Trutch, for whom Launders The “Governor’s Trail” was a ridge trail running west later drew the renowned 1871 “Trutch” map of British from Princeton to intersect the 1858 Whatcom Trail Columbia. By then, Launders had a decade of surveying below what is now Paradise Valley. It will be described and mapping experience in the country involved. in a future issue of B.C. Historical News. In this letter, Launders was reporting on his I enclose Sapper Turnbull’s report to me respecting a inspection of the Hope Trail, ordered by Trutch on 26 different line from Sergeant McColl’s, from the Skagit May 1864. Launders included sketches of his proposed to the Similkameen. relocations of the Grant Trail. Should you abandon the present [McColl’s] line, I Launders found snow slides extended from mile 1½ sanction you carrying [forward] a Mule Trail at once, to mile 5½ up the Skagit Pass [upper Snass or Canyon continuing also in rear the Waggon Road. Creek]. There was too much snow to continue on The total expense may not exceed the £6000 Dewdney’s Trail beyond [Hubbard Creek] so he struck sanctioned.” southeast, across country, to Captain Grant’s trail near R.C. Moody to j. Grant, “on the Similkameen Road”, the summit [Hope or Grant Pass]; thence down 21 August 1861, New Westminster. CAB 30.71 Book 3, Whipsaw Creek to Princeton, “where the inhabitants pp. 2-3, Colonial Correspondence PABC. don’t expect the Dewdney Trail to open in 1864.” Lt. Col. R.C. Moody, RE. was Officer Commanding Lau nders’ main recommendation was to relocate the the Columbia Detachment of Royal Engineers, and also Grant trail in the headwaters of Skaist River to the the colony’s first Chief Commissioner of Lands and sunny north side of the valley—the snow there had Works, an appointment of equivalent rank to Attorney already gone. General. More work was needed above Skagit Bluffs, about Captain Jack Grant, R.E., was Moody’s construction one mile from the end of the [Engineer’s] wagon road. officer, sometimes called “the greatest roadbuilder of James B. Launders to Joseph Trutch, June 9, 1864. them all:’ In the summer of 1861, Captain Grant was F969/2 Colonial Correspondence, PABC. widening [Dewdney’s 1860] “mule road to Similka The work was done by J.F. Allison, and accepted by meen” into a wagon road, to serve the Similkameen Launders, in 1864. A.N. Birch also reported officiallyon and Rock Creek mines. Allison’s work in September 1864. Turnbull, Sapper James a surveyor and draftsman 8 Moody acknowledges instructions from Governor with the Royal Engineers, explored and laid out many Douglas to push “the new route from hence [near of the routes adopted in the early days of British Rhododendron Flats] to Shimilkomeen” and will use Columbia. “Captain Grant’s known energy...” Sergeant William McColl had recently laid out the The wagon road is “. . . approaching the Skagit river, line of Dewdney’s mule road up Snass Creek and north and the woodchoppers in advance have commenced of the Snass and Skaist mountains. opening the new line.” 4 “Princeton can be reached ... over the old Hope trail Moody asks for an additional £1000 [say $4,000], across the mountains from Hope. Hope is distant about which was grants. Moody to Douglas, Sept. 4, 1861. 65 miles, and the trail is merely a pack trail, which is not F928/12, Colonial Correspondence, PABC. being much used at the present time ... only... from “The wagon road is progressing most favourably. May to October.” Charles Camsell, “Preliminary Captain Grant has spent three days during the last week on Part Report a of the Similkameen District”, with in exploring the new pass beyond the Skagit.” O’Reilly map. Geological Survey of Canada No. 986, 1906. to Young, Sept. 14, 1861, F1280 Colonial Correspon “South Pass Exploration—Hope to Nicola,” by George dence, PABC. Landvoight; Hope, 14th September, 1873 (1874 is 10 . the wagon road has been completed to within a intended) B.C. Sessional Papers, Report of Public half a mile of Mr. Begbie’s house on the Scagit Flat, a Works, 1874, pp. 328-330; and sketch map. distance of 25 miles from Hope.

Page 17 “The Engineers under the command of Captain 18 August 1883. (Sherman, General William Grant are now employed in constructing a mule trail Tecumseh; U.S. Army, U.S. National Archives, Record Group 77, from that point to Similkameen ... will [probably] AMA 275.) “A Map of the Country between Old Fort complete to Princeton this season.” Ibid., Oct. 11,1861. Colville, W.T. and the Fraser River, B.C. showing the 11 “The new [Hope or Grant] trail has been completed by Trail followed by the General of the Army.” Captain Grant to the third creek [47 Mile] from 19 1886. Trout, P.L. “Prospector’s Manual”; NW Similkameen, where it joins the old [Dewdney] trail PABC p. 971-355 T861 p. 21: “How to get there [Granite Creek]— about six miles this side of Johnston’s store. [Point B on The Hope Trail” the map.] I returned by it, and think it shorter than 20 McColl’s line, the grades are easy throughout ... but 1915. Davidson, Professor John, Provincial Botanist. feed is not as plentiful as I expected. The entire distance B.C. Sessional Papers, 1916. p. 94 to 111, and sketch from the turnoff at Scagit flat to its junction with the old map. “Botanical Exploration of the Skagit River Basin, trail will be about 38 miles [actually, about 22 miles], B.C.” which has been completed in a little over three weeks. 21 1922. Geological Survey of Canada, “Summary “The Engineers have returned to Hope and are Report”. Cairnes, C.E. p. 108. Descriptions and map in waiting the arrival of the steamer to convey them to text. The Hope Trail is called the Dewdney Trail in this [winter quarters at] Westminster.” Ibid. Oct. 31, 1861. report. 12 “1 had a small pack train sent to me at Fort Hope, and 22 R.C. Harris, “The Hope Trail”, B.C. Outdoors, (Feb. with this I commenced my journey on the 29th of June 1976). Following wagon road the [1873]. the by Nicolaume 23 and Sumallow Valleys to the River Skagit, I took the R.C. Harris, “Dewdney’s Second Contract”, B.C. Grant Trail up the valley of the latter, the slopes of Historical News (Summer 1981). which are in many places steep and rocky to the summit of the mountain which the aneroid indicated to be 5600 ft. above sea level. After a pleasant ride down the Whipsaw Valley we

arrived ... at the Nine Mile Creek...” CPR Surveys, Annual Report, 1877, p. 116. 13 “Sketch Map of portion of the New Westminster, Similkameen and Yale Mining Divisions” shows “Main Hope-Princeton Trail” up Skaist Creek. W.M. Brewer, B.C. Minister of Mines Annual Report, 1915. Down Whipsaw Creek are shown 41, 43, 45 and 47 Miles Creeks, [measured from Hope] and 9 Mile Creek, [measured from Princeton]. 14 “The party was organised at Princeton and moved up the Hope-Princeton Trail by pack train. Arriving at Hope Pass... we found... considerable... snowandno horsefeed at all. This forced us to continue down the Skaist Creek to the first feed, which we found at Strawberry Flat, about 6 miles from and 2500 feet below

[Hope Pass] ... we ... worked down the Skaist and Skagit Rivers to the junction with the Klesiikwa Rivers. COSTUMES ANYONE? “We also made two side trips, one up Cedar Creek [now the headwaters of Skagit River] as far as Allison This year, Ontario celebrates its Pass, and the other up Mount Snaas between Skaist and bicentennial. Canyon [Snass] Creeks.” Report by G.J. Jackson, BCLS, As one of its contributions, the Royal Ontario on the season’s phototopographic surveys of the Skagit Museum has prepared a series of period costume Basin 1924. Minister of Lands (published 1925), pattern diagrams. Two sets represent eighteenth Sessional Papers, British Columbia, pp. 120-122. century dresses in the Museum’s collection; a 15 March 1862. Conroy, J., Royal Engineers. A third consists of diagrams for three dresses of the lithographed map. “British Columbia, Hope to decade 1834-1843. The pattern diagrams, which Similkameen and Rock Creek....” shows the trails east include instructions on how they can adapted of Hope, but only “Capt. Grant’s Trail 1861” is named. be to fit dolls or adults of any size, may be obtained 16 1877. Landvoight, Geo. PABC F964. An informal journal for plus 10% handling charges of a 16-day round trip, Hope to Keremeos, mostly on $7.95 from the foot, in February. Publication Services of the Royal Ontario Queen’s Park, 17 1877-78. “Report of Progress”, Geological Survey of Museum, 100 Toronto, Ontario Canada. Dawson, G.M. On p. 45B to 48B, he follows the M5S 2C6. Hope Trail.

Page 18 Naomi Miller

DISHWASHING IN PIONEER DAYS

The first provision for dishwashing at an early settler’s habitation was usually a washbasin set on some improvised table or washstand. Dishes were washed in a metal or enamel bowl that likely served as a personal washbasin, too. Water carried in from the well, creek, or pump was heated in a kettle over a woodstove. Dishes were set to drain on the table, or a cookie sheet, or in a spare washbowl if one was available. Dishes were dried with tattletale grey dishtowels made from cloth flour or sugar sacks. This washing process was done outdoors as long as weather permitted. The bowl of dishwater would be carried over and dumped on the garden, if such was established, or flung among the surrounding trees. When the tiny shack was expanded into a house, a sink was built into the kitchen, with a drain exiting above ground quite close to the house. In our house we brought a cold water tap Yes, I liked Carl and I liked his dog Fritz. into the house with the advent of the kitchen Towards the end of the summer Carl sink. Water was heated in the kettle, supplemen.. insisted on doing the breakfast dishes every ted with the warm water in the big reservoir day. I’d go off to start working and he’d follow beside the stove. Dishes still had to be washed in along pretty soon afterward. One day I forgot a washbasin. We whipped up suds for my smokes, so I turned back to get them. As dishwashing using a little wire cage holding soon as I could see the cabin I saw Carl’s forlorn scraps of bath soap. Clear rinse water was dishwashing technique. He’d put the plates, allowed to drain out of the sink, but the grey, cups, and frypan on the doorstep and lolled in greasy dishwater was still carried outside to a the door while Fritz licked them clean. I was prearranged area for disposal. (That dishwater mad at first, but then I had to laugh. And you area was a rich worm farm where my brother and can be sure I washed my own dishes after that. I gathered worms to sell to tourists for fishing.) Ah yes ... pioneer dishwashing ... not My uncle, Noel Bacchus, told me of one more condoned even at Boy Scout camps anymore. way dishes were washed in pioneer days. His Public Health laws, affluence and education recounting went something like this: have changed our ways. When I came to Canada in 1919 the first job I obtained was clearing land for Colonel Naomi Miller is 1st vice president of the BCHF, and Richardson near Kaslo. He hired me and a chairman of the Lieutenant-Governor’s Award Swede named Carl Johannsen. On the block Committee. next door to Colonel Richardson’s there was a tiny log cabin, empty at the time. Carl was a “Wiggy” and the dishpan belong to Winifred good worker and we got along quite well. We Spalding, South Pender Island, who is a Iong took turns doing the cooking and cleaning up time member of the BCHF. after meals.

Page 19

20 Page

1930s.

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in week a

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Caricatures”,

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1984 3-6, May Vernon, Convention,

Annual

s Federation

Historical

Columbia British

. . . . __ Highlights of the Annual General Meeting

New president Leonard McCann with guest speaker Dr. Margaret Ormsby.

Sixty-five delegates and visitors were present (approximately eighty people had registered for the convention). Following a welcome by President Barbara Stan nard, Col. Gerry And rews, Honorary President, addressed the meeting. The Treasurer, Rhys Richardson, reported that the balance as at April 1st, including investments and reserves for special purpose funds, was $12,574.06. A grant of $4,000 had been received for one year from the Heritage Trust for publication of the B.C. Historical News Magazine. There are now two affiliated groups and twenty-seven member societies listing 1178 members. The EJection of Officers was conducted by Ruth Barnett. New officers are: President, Leonard McCann; First Vice-President, Naomi Miller; Second Vice-President, John Spittle; and Member-at-Large, Mary Orr. Friday afternoon visit to the At the invitation of Edrie Holloway and Jack O’Keefe Ranch and St. Ann’s Kendrick, who made a presentation regarding Church. the recreation of the Spanish ship Sutil, next year’s BCHF Convention will be held on Galiano Island, in the southern Gulf Islands, in May. —Margaret Stoneberg

Page 21 II !f,ç

His Honour the Honourable Robert G. Rogers and Mrs. Rogers, with Charlie

Page 22 The Lieutenant- Governor’s Award for Historical Merit His Honour the Honourable Robert G. Rogers, Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia, has kindly consented to be Honorary Patron of the British Columbia Historical Federation, and to allow the Federation’s annual award for histori cal merit to be designated the Lieutenant- Governor’s Award. This year, at the annual BCHF Convention held in Vernon, the Lieutenant-Governor’s Award was presented by Honorary President Col. Gerald S. Andrews to Mrs. Daphne Sleigh for her book on local history, Discovering Veroche: From Nicomen to Lake Errock. BCHF Secretary Don Sale delivered a copy of this book to His Honour at Government House on Saturday, May 12, 1984.

Col. Gerald S. Andrews and Daphne Sleigh

Page 23

24 Page

June 1. 3E8. and 1, V8R March B.C. 1, December 1, September

Victoria, Street, Taylor 1745 News, are issues Historical quarterly B.C. Deadlines the for available.

Editor, the to manuscripts all if send by photographs Please accompanied and 1984. possible,

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to 2,000 more be no than should length Written

B.C. 3E8 Victoria, V8R

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Historical B.C. the in published

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Box 105,

Miller c/o Naomi Mrs.

Federation Historical Columbia British

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address, name, your your with Submit book

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Competition Writing News ana (Votes ......

Reports from the Branches

Nanaimo The Field Trip in June explored the museums and countryside around Duncan. —Daphne The Society continues to play an active part in Paterson both the past and present life of the city. The two books published by the Society, Company on the Coast in 1982, and Nanaimo Cowichan Retrospective in 1979, have been reprinted this This is the tenth anniversary of our society year. Nanaimo Retrospective has been revised, being re-formed after a long dormant period. and now contains the names of Mayors and We have a lot to show for the work put in by our Freemen of the city, with a full index. members over these years: our museum, our We shall miss Elizabeth Norcross who edited collection of artifacts in storage, the counters the books, as she is now living in Duncan. She and fittings that we have stored for the day when recently received the first City of Nanaimo we have our own building, funds in the bank, Heritage Advisory Committee Service Award for and a good and active membership. The her contribution to the preservation of the city’s intangibles must not be forgotten—our museum heritage. has fostered interest in the history of the The Ethel Barraclough Memorial Fund book Cowichan Valley, help has been given to those awards were presented to Grade IX and X seeking information on the history of the Valley, students for essays on topics related to B.C. and each year we become better known. History. Participating Secondary Schools in While our major activity of the past year has School District 68 were given books for their been the operation of the museum, we also put libraries. on a tour of some historical points in Cowichan Two new projects remain in the planning for twenty members of the Nanaimo Historical stage: A plaque will be installed in the old Society in June, 1983. Our major event was the cemetery on Comox Road, inscribed with the staging of an historic fashion show and tea on names of pioneers interred there since 1853, March 24th this year that attracted an audience including a victim of the battle of Petropavlosk of over two hundred. Representatives of on the Amchatka Peninsula during the Crimean historical groups at Shawnigan Lake, Chemainus, War. A Miners’ Memorial is also proposed. Crofton, Cowichan Lake, and Saltspring Island The Society’s annual commemoration of the were invited to attend and exhibit items from arrival of the families who travelled from their localities, and we received a good Staffordshire in 1854 on the Princess Royal was response. We hope to have annual affairs of this held on November 27th. B.C.H.F. President nature to build up communication and Barbara Stannard recalled the trials of the voyage cooperation among groups interested in the from her own family’s history and the ship’s Log. preservation of history. It is encouraging to see so many descendants —J.W.A. Green, attending. President

Page 25

26 Page

that shows invoice office post The magazines. end the before form Return” “Annual an Society

1,064

of

total

a for 97 institutions, and duals Member each of Treasurer the to to send er

indivi

60 Societies, Member of members 907 Treasur Federation the instructs 38 Bylaw under

include News B.C. Historical to the 7 Subscribers Regulation Year. Financial own its establishes

Groups. 2 Affiliated and members, paying Society Member each that acknowledging

Dues 1178

with Societies 27 of Member consists whilst 31, October of date reporting common

Federation that the show records the Treasurer’s a set Council ago, years some end, To this ber.

Statement,

Financial up the to leading Now, Septem in year program-and-publication the

meeting. that of date after the soon notified of start the after possible as soon as

Societies ber

be

Society a Member of Office-bearers the in Mem from Subscriptions and Dues Member’s

made are

that any changes that requested 31, is it receive to desirable is it News, Historical

October

before shortly held is Society Member Columbia British The of

the production is it with

a

of A.C.M.

the Unless the information. received as involved purposes, Federation’s the (3) For

have

Treasurer) the Manager (through tion A.C.M. succeeding of its time the from Society

Subscrip

and Treasurer the until start tion can particular a for effective becomes scriptions

subscrip no that mind in Keep sent in. be should Dues/Sub Federation in change succeeding)

addresses) and

names (with and bers) monies any (and above the Meeting, General

Annual

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information the made, are subscriptions its and dues its sets Society a Member Since

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members additional as the year, desired. is magazine

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In Box. P.O. to the Federeition sent to subscription a $4.00 if another plus

Society)

be

should monies, es), and corresponding any Member the by defined is term that (however

address

and (names and subscribers (numbers) member individual per $1.00 at set were dues

membership resultant the and News, Historical

members

the

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1983 that At

Federation.

.“ ..

B.C. to the subscriptions and members for the to

pay

dues shall

Society Member

...

“drive”

own its had have will Society Member a local of members “all that stipulates Federation

each

months

12 that During months. 12 previous the of 2(1)(e) Bylaw sees fit. it as purposes

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course the in has occurred receipts its for dues own its sets Society Member A

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entries of oversight no that to ensure helps re-interpreted: or repeated are Office-bearers

Return”

“Annual completed ber 31. fully This Society Member to sent been have that letters

Decem

following the before number Box P.O. various of parts 1983, in Meeting General Annual

Federation

to the and sent be completed should Federation’s the since arisen have that standings

forms

such all that expect to is It reasonable 31.” misunder

some up clear to to try an effort In

October at as

Return “Annual for the prepare to

REPORT ANNUAL

TREASURER’S

time Societies Member gives This of September.

Holt —B.G.

in 1983. bers

mem ninety-three had Our clerk. society city

former Harrison, by Rupert collected our pictures, 36 members.

of one of home the 700 in over and file entertainment, catalogue to to aides and dinner three hire

a with party a enjoy we Program Christmas, Recovery At we used the 1983 museum. Community

a usually significance, of spring a the historical In a of as tour area. work School Johnson and

picnic noon a outing, an Pauline the features in a classroom the allotting meeting June society

The Burnaby. Village, and place, Heritage a meeting Parlour, by providing us assisted Cream

Ice the at March in has is Board School Meeting General West The Club. Annual Vancouver

The year. the of months seven Rotary for Vancouver Centre, West the the assistance Cowan of with

James “3’ Studio 8 p.m., 1982, 25, Wednesday, February second on was Our formed society

each meets Society Historical l3urnaby The West Vancouver Burnaby 1,248 copies of the magazine were mailed on Apri’ 1. There is too big a difference between these figures—,248 copies mailed, 1,064 paid for! The Subscription Manager is now showing the expiry issue in the top right hand corner of the address label, and will be removing a subscriber’s name if there is significant delay in eontebt making the renewal payment. Conversely, an early payment will extend the subscription by 4 issu es. in the Financial Statement a major change in format is the separate presentation, as far as possible, of The British Columbia Historical News monies from those of the Federation’s Other Activities. There is no change in banking practices as all monies are passed through our Community Service Account at the Bank of British Columbia. Now, the Financial Statement in summary: we began the Financial Year on April 1, 1983 with a Bank Balance of $7,768.32. During the year, revenue allocated to the B.C. Historical News was $5,532.74, whilst the actual cost of produc tion and distribution was $11,858.49. The B.C. Heritage Trust sent $3,333.00 being the last third of its original grant, so that the net cost of the magazine was $2,992.77 more than we received. For the other activities of the Federation the receipts from dues, interest and certain small amounts totalled $2,748.54; working expenses As this issue of the Historical News was being were $1,238.29 and an advance from the Publica prepared, the media was speculating on John tions Assistance Fund of $2,000.00 was also made, Turner’s choice of constituency. Some com so that there was an excess disbursement of mentators have suggested that he may choose to $489.75. The excess of the disbursements for the run in British Columbia. if so, he could become magazine and for the other activities reduce the only the second prime minister to sit for a British bank balance ($7,768.32 - 2,992.77 - 489.75) to Columbia constituency. Our question is: who $4,285.80 as on March 31, 1984. was the first prime minister to represent a British The Statement of Assets shows that we finished Columbia riding? the financial year with no change in investments, The prize is an appropriate one for summer. It whilst, as shown above, the working bank is a package of three volumes published by balance was reduced. Also reduced were two Douglas & Mcintyre, namely: Exploring the Special Purpose Funds: Council travel by $100.00 Southern Selkirks by John Carter and Doug and publications assistance by $2,000.00. The Leighton, Easy HikingAround Vancouver by Jean formulation of Regulation 9(3) under Bylaw 38 Cousins and Heather Robinson, and The West means that the two recipients in receipt of Coast Trail by the Sierra Club of British Columbia. advances must now be shown in the Statement While these volumes are designed to serve as of Assets as having received the advance from practical guides, they are well illustrated with the publications assistance fund (one was not photographs and maps, and should appeal both reported in last year’s financial report). Including to outdoorsmen and armchair travellers. the advances iust mentioned the Special Purpose Send your answer to the editor before Sep Funds amount to $7,072.69, and that leaves funds tember 1, 1984. available for genera purposes at $12,574.08.

—J. Rhys Richardson

Page 27

28 Page

Code

Postal City

Street

ADDRESS

NAME: —

I

$16.00 for issues Four Institutional

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Historical

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Memoriam In

Stoneberg Margaret Secretary, Recording

Denver New Society, Historical Slocan Silvery

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WELCOME INTRODUCING MUSEUMS AND ARCHIVES

British Columbia Sports Yukon Hall of Fame & Museum Archives The Yukon Archives is located beside the Have you ever wondered who invented ice Whitehorse [ibrary on Second Avenue at rinks, what “Baggataway” was, or just exactly Hawkins Street in Whitehorse, and its public when and how rugby evolved into football? Well reading room is open to researchers from 9:00 you wouldn’t wonder anymore after paying a a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The visit to the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame and Archives house Government Records dating Museum! back to 1896, a collection of more than 15,000 Although located in the B.C. Pavilion on the photographs, corporate records, private manu P.N.E. Grounds in Vancouver, the museum scripts, films, sound recordings, a library of 6500 encompasses the sporting history of the entire volumes, 2,000 maps and plans, and 65 individual province. Originally opened in 1966, the Hall of newspapers. For those people who are unable to Fame recognizes the achievements of this visit in person, the Archives can provide some province’s outstanding athletes, coaches, and reference assistance through correspondence. builders. The institution has also begun to Write to: The Yukon Archives & Records Ser document the fascinating history of sport in vices, 2nd Avenue and Hawkins Street, White- British Columbia and is rapidly building a sports horse, Yukon Territory Y1A2C6 archives that includes newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, films, and photographs—all which document a facet of social history that until recently has to a large degree been ignored. The displays reflect the changes in equipment and facilities that have occurred in over 75sports RESEARCH during British Columbia’s development, and provide the background upon which the accomplishments of the athletes can be related. On the Trail of ‘98 A popular education program, “Neglected Are you tracing someone who went to the Heritage”, attracts school and community Klondike during the gold rush? If so, there are groups of all ages year round and includes several sources of information available at the informal lectures, films, and graded question Yukon Archives that may help you. These are: naires which allow students to discover for Mining recorders’ records, Polk Directories, themselves how rich our sporting heritage is. Index to Miners’ names in the 1902 Dawson This year, a new display entitled “B.C. at the newspaper, and the Dawson City Funeral re Olympics”, traces the accomplishments and cords. (See address for Yukon Archives in contributions made by B.C. athletes from as early Archives column.) as 1912 through to the modern games. Hours of operation are from 9:15 to 4:45 If you have the time and patience, you may Monday to Friday. Guided tours and the use of also find your quarry listed in a ship’s passenger the library and archives can all be arranged list, published in newspapers for Victoria and through the office (604) 253-2311/local 233 or Vancouver. Relevant Vancouver and Victoria 238, or write to Box 69020, Station K, Vancouver, newspapers are available on microfilm at the B.C. V5K 4W3. three B.C. universities and in many public —Patricia Farrow libraries. Assistant Curator

Page 29

30 Page

in of 1978. Victoria

the City by St., Clarence published buildings V8V2J1 Victoria heritage residential

of inventory the in residential commissions” 602-139 at to her sent be for books should review

successful of as more Rattenbury’s “one identified Copies of is Editor. Roy Patricia Book Review the

and Rattenbury to attributed a long building

Victoria, in Rockland 1737 at to ‘Chalet’ the mention,

neglected they why missed, or they how understand

to hard example, for is, It otherwise merit.

might they than attention more attract omissions

that study this is apparently So comprehensive

text. in described

the

Rattenbury biography,

(1978).

painstakingly are of many designs,

which Rattenbury

Terry of author the

award-winning the is Reksten

111 lists pages, to fifteen runs appendix, which

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make to as so biography, architecture and illustrations, sketches include buildings, many which

combine

“to state, authors the decided,” “We 200 is The publisher on verging understatement.

a biography”. “professional the In

book describing illustrated”, “richly as the

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Barrett and Liscombe architecture? the of terminology is much to required process

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Archives.) to City the Victoria presented is academic readable. work, in that, And

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whose professor a classics Barrett, Anthony and Fisgard Segger contradicts so, If Street? this

1978, in Then an monograph”. “architectural on no standing to Does school this the refer more.

producing of the intention with career Rattenbury’s say they then But Victoria. Benevolent in Association

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the

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PP. $29.95

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the apparent changes exterior before-and-after in

British of University Vancouver: Liscombe.

for to confined account do not they the But interior.”

Windsor and Rhodri A. Barrett Anthony

been

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which Some they the supply, information of Bookshelf • ... •.••••• •,. •.. . • • •.••

...... _ ._ ._ . .. - ..

Imagine Please; Early Radio Broadcasting in Those were days when a dollar was worth more British Columbia. Dennis J. Duffy. Victoria: than today, but tales of actors who participated in Provincial Archives of British Columbia, 1983. Pp. radio plays for their share of a $5.00 fee, spread over iv, 92, illus., $4.50. (Sound Heritage Series, no. 38). the whole cast, apparently were common. Most programs used willing, stage-struck volunteers, Some readers will remember those days back in school choirs, musicians eager to be paid in publicity, the early ‘20s when schoolboys assembled radio sets and other no-cost talent. One hilarious account by by buying a piece of equipment each week from Don Laws, who spent 30 years with CJOR in Woolworth’s. Spools of fine wire, cardboard tubes Vancouver, tells us: “We had Laddy Watkis, who was for vario-couplers, galena crystals with cat’s our accountant at CJOR. She was Laddy Watkis and whiskers—slowly we amassed the components of a sang as a contralto; she was Margaret May and wondrous machine that we didn’t fully understand played the piano. If she played and sang both, she but which, with the aid of borrowed headphones, was Margaret May and Laddy Watkis.” produced most satisfying Morse code in a rapid-fire Organ music, at the cost of a ten-second plug for stutter, and, wonder of wonders, tiny sounds of the movie theatre, amateur bands, live broadcasts music and the human voice. from hotels and dance halls, and news read from the It is incredible now, at this late date, to learn that latest newspaper edition, all helped to fill in the time. the unseen, mystic transmitting stations which One small-town station read the entire weekly paper caused our tableful of bits and pieces to emit soul- on the air minutes after it appeared on the street, stirring sounds were not much more sophisticated despite the vociferous protests of the publisher. And than the receivers. There were “breadboard” increasingly, as they became more readily available, transmitters, with knobs and dials mounted on a there were recordings, recordings, recordings. piece of wooden plank, and a cascade of tangled A studio floor was often crowded with on-the-spot wires falling to the floor. There were homemade sound effects—tubs of water, metal sheets, bells, parts, haywire contrivances, bits of electrical saws, whistles, and and grandfather clock to provide equipment borrowed from automobiles, telephones chimes. A reasonable sound of horses’ hooves could and household machinery. It was a triumph of junk be provided by the narrator beating himself on the calling unto junk—and it was wonderful! chest. The fantastic story of that era is detailed in the Many a mainland broadcast station got its start in book here reviewed. The title “Imagine Please” is the back room of a hardware or electrical appliance borrowed from the name of a series of radio plays store. The storekeeper had radio sets to sell, but the aired by producer Fletcher Markle over CKWX in public had little Jpportunity to tune in a broadcast. 1940-41. The phrase recalls a fundamental difference The answer was to improvise a transmitter, get a between radio and television, in that the radio licence and go on the air for one or several hours a listener must depend on his imagination for day to build a market for receiving sets. everything but the words he hears, whereas in TV the Some of these stations were short-lived, or camera and the director’s own ideas deprive the frequently changed owners. Transmitter locations audience of that pleasurable exercise. It is a theme and call letters were switched around as required. which frequently recurs as radio men get together to Often several “stations” shared one outlet: a 1932 discuss the world and their position in it. program lists a 730 kilocycle transmitter that Dennis j. Duffy has assembled a volume of alternated as CKMO and CKWX during the day, and fascinating quotes from twenty-nine men and two in the evening became CKCD and CHLS. But in 1933 women who were prominent in the boisterous years the granting of so-called “phantom licenses” was of the 1920s and ‘30s. The tapes were obtained from discontinued. numerous sources, including some from the The problem of interference from the signals of Provincial Archives of British Columbia. other stations was common and could sometimes be It is interesting to note the scarcity of women in the solved by illegally shifting your frequency slightly or infancy of radio. Only later, when the TV screen boosting your power. It was all part of the radio found it profitable to lure us with blonde curls and game. attractive faces, did female announcers and It took a long time before advertisers with real interviewers come into their own. money could be lured into radio. But when they The desperate efforts of early broadcasters to keep were, better equipment could be bought, record their low-powered, mostly homemade transmitters libraries assembled, power increased and staffs could on the air, the stratagems used to evade trouble with be adequately paid. The industry set out to become a government inspectors, curious about valid licences, major entity in our lives. power output and live scheduling, and above all, the Dennis Duffy has brought this fascinating epoch frantic need for money—these were all part of the alive again with his compendium of reminiscences early story. by many of the figures who were directly involved.

Page 31

32 Page

a

non-

of

view of

the

point

(from only omission out dig than

news the to it interpret easier find

who

Her

Quesnel. for

a

feel” get to

“real the reader help

“reporters” newspaper

of creative

evolution the

and text

the of

appeal

to the

add certainly vignettes reporting,

of television

the

shortcomings terminal,

the of

each

of

illustrations

own Patenaude’s Miss computer by the on invasion Comments latter. of the

Mondays? disparagement o

the

days”

“now”—often with old

holiday on

closed

and

Fridays

to

3 pm Mondays “the

compare news figures in various the last,

which

to am

corresponded—b

hours

banking and bathtub is book

in the

chapter

significant most the Perhaps

if wonder I

customers.

for its times

bathing schedule

discipline. spatial of a

recognition merely book,

to had

bank the

that

so

popular became tub the

the of

no criticism names is of alternative

absence

(p. fact 38) In

tub.”

iron heavy

the to

use

allowed be and

recollections, up could

dredge But everyone

to

privilege a social

became

it and

bank employees on. so

and

McKelvie Pinky Scott, Forbes, Bessie Jack

the

otherthan

residents

by

discovered soon was bath Graves,

Sandy

mention:

honorable for candidates

hot a of

luxury “The

be clean. at least,

would, staff possible

other

of

memories stirs

inevitably

the

that

so branch the

in a

bathtub to incorporate course, of This,

others. and

Archie Art

Wills Stott,

decided

bank the

Hence

facilities.

plumbing minimal Slattery, Pat

MacKay, Cliff Keate, Stuart Hutchison,

with

accommodation

in rented

lived bank the Bruce

Forst, Bill

Caldwell, Boggs,

Evelyn Maloney

of

staff of the

Most

Quesnel.

a in branch new built Mamie

Anderson,

scores colleagues—Torchy of

Bank

Royal

the 1928 In

to me.

appealed particularly from chosen been

has of individuals A handful

Bathtub” Bank

“Royal The story. favourite

speech.

impromptu

a to find

sure is

text

this reads who Everyone of awkwardness the

through identity

their

Quesnel. to

guide

a valuable

make illustrations, lose and tape,

of recording medium the through

careful

her

with

coupled buildings, and people presented here are

years, the over output printed

these of

descriptions

Her

Bank. Royal of the branch their through readers to style many in

familiar

Quesnel and

the

Bridge,

River Fraser Old The House, writers, some of words the

that a ironic trifle It is

Bohanon of history the

traces also Patenaude Miss

drawer.

Family.

Sing

the

and

a Pioneer”, and Lady Susag—”A desk the in a bottle by to

and have friends their

Lily

Johnston,

as Alvin

characters local colourful tie, and jacket a wear

by to

employers their

expected

such meet We

up

Quesnel.

make that places the were

a newspapermen when

at scene

time of part the

and

people

the both

us

about

tells Patenaude Miss genuine a and workers, able all were they types, but

history.

Hollywood-movie

a hard-drinking, few describing

Quesnel’s

of

vignettes

of

collection a delightful to

given

space

the

question may readers Some

is result The a book. into tales her to

compile

decided

industry. news daily

this province’s

Patenaude

Miss

that

so successful

was

program

of

history

the in

period

ruthless chaotic, sometimes

The air. the

on

read

tale had

each

station radio

The a

vigorous, of

picture a is

realistic net result years. The

past.

Quesnel’s

about

recollections

of historic

series

those

of

characters newspaper dozen

outstanding

a write to

Patenaude

Branwen

asked station radio by two

reminiscences and

of anthology comments

local a

event

the

commemorate To

incorporation. an

rather,

is, volume

small The of this

century. wars

of years

fifty

celebrated

Quesnel 1978

In

great two the between newspaperdom Columbia

of British history a definitive to present attempt any

pp. 88. disclaims illus. News Only wisely the Had the Papers When

1981. Extra! Publisher, C. Patenaude Stursberg’s to Peter Branwen preface The Quesnel: editorial

C. Patenaude, Because of Gold... Branwen

35). no. Series, (Sound Heritage

Times. $4.50. illus., 94, Pp ii, 1982. British Columbia,

Victoria the of

editor retired

the is

Tobin

Brian of Archives Provincial Victoria. Stursberg. Peter

business.

newspaper

that’s But

... News.

Only The

Had

Papers The Extra!

When

readers. proof the by caught not errors additional

of a number captions—plus

photo

in errors and

Tobin

—Brian

type misplaced noting errata of list the is

annoyance

go to you

it.” back can think

minor A nostalgia.

shots—rouse

newsroom

I don’t

and era, a different was It room.

living your

cluttered and

portraits

photographs—mainly The

of centre the was and it

room living the sets in big

there!

was he

these

had

you

know,

You to

radio.

listened People

all, After era. of the feel and spirit

the caught

nicely

glamorous.

was Laws

“Radio again: Don quote

and job a wide-ranging

has done Peter Stursberg

To

minds.

some in a sadness

is there But little still

future. to the gift most interesting book’s

today.

it enjoys position prominent

the be to prove probably will and

chewing

for meat

the inherit to

fail

not could television radio provided,

journalistic good make all

publishers—these stained

as

will-to-live

a surging of

background such with

ink- dedicated the replaced

have who

industrialists

And

thrive. to

fail not could

radio its attended birth

and financiers the down,

them write and

facts

who midwives of teams the With vigorous .

Quesneller) is a map showing the points of interest credulity. (Moose are strong swimmers. How many that she discusses. As a ready reference the map single canoeists can overtake one? Or make an would not only give the readers a sense of where overarm downward dagger thrust across their some of the events took place in relation to others, canoe’s gunwale without upsetting?) but also enable us to follow the growth of the town. It is natural that Dr. Karamanski should be weakest Miss Patenaude is to be commended for her efforts on broader aspects of his subject less immediately in this book. She has managed to compile an tied to his special period. Thus his statement (p. 135) interesting and informative series of tales which must that Simpson “sponsored the adoption” of York appeal not only to local residents but also to those of boats, instead of canoes, is true only of the country us who have not yet been to Quesnel. Anyone beyond the eleven-mile long barrier of the Methy planning a trip to central British Columbia this portage. Elsewhere these capacious and economical summer would do well to take Because of Gold... in craft had long been in general use by the Hudson’s his suitcase. Bay Company. It also hurts to read that “geography” Emily Sutherland is a recent graduate of the finally “brought the Nor’Westers down.” (p. 3) That University of British Columbia in History and French. corny old chestnut is such an unsatisfactory half- truth! It so blandly ignores the striking advantages Fur Trade and Exploration: Opening the Far which Hudson Bay lacked but the Nor’Westers Northwest, 1821-1852. Theodore Karamanskj. enjoyed in the St. Lawrence Valley: professional Vancouver: University of British Columbia Press, firms to provide freighting canoes; abundant 1983. Pp. xxii, 330, illus., $27.95. birchbark of which to build them; a growing population from whom to recruit voyageurs; According to his brief curriculum vitae on the dust freedom from competition for men with British cover, the young and handsome author of this book armed forces in wartime—and for Britons “wartime” got his bachelor’s, masters’ and doctoral degrees meant most years between 1774 and 1821; also, from Loyola University in Chicago, where he now Montreal’s opportunities for communicating with teaches. This means we have western Canadian inland posts were immeasurably superior to history written from a United States’ point of view. London’s route through the sub-arctic Hudson Strait. That does not mean the history is badly written, but it Lastly, this half-truth obscures what was surely the explains why the author, when considering persons Nor’Westers’ gravest weakness, extravagance so who had crossed the continent, should think first of reckless as finally to leave them, after all their his fellow Americans, Lewis and Clark, who did not prosperous years, without reserves needed to face a travel until 1803-6, and, second only, of the Scot, rainy day. Alexander Mackenzie, who had reached the Pacific But, as noted, Dr. Karamanski is young; and the ten years before Lewis and Clark started. Likewise, younger one is, the less have been one’s his American angle doubtless explains his choice of opportunities to broaden one’s knowledge. It would subject, since the borderlands between British North be unfair, therefore, to overstress errors that belong America and the Russian Empire, which the traders to the general background of his topic rather than to explored, have become borderlands between his special period. Within that period his research Canada and the United States of America. And, while struck me as sound and his interesting book as full of discussing personal facts about the author, we promise. should add that “he had himself canoed and Dr. Richard Glover, a Victoria resident, taught backpacked” along the traders’ routes—an enviable history at Carleton University for many years. One of qualification for a fur trade historian. his special interests is the exploration of western Dr. Karamanski has studied his period conscien Canada. Among his publications is the Champlain tiously. Among the men with whom he deals are Society edition of David Thompson’s Narrative. Samuel Black, Robert Campbell, John Bell, John McLeod, Murdock McPherson and, of course, George Simpson of whom he interestingly observes, that Simpson “wanted expansion, but not its risks or costs.” (p. 214) Thinking of Publishing? His illustrations include some of his own photographs, four of the photos taken by C.W. Mathers before 1904, and pictures which Frederick A seminar publishing local history, given by Philip Remington painted for Caspar Whitney’s On and Helen Akrigg, may be arranged for your Snowshoes to the Barren Grounds. These are good, historical society. Please contact Leonard G. but examples from Frederick Whymper’s 1868 book McCann, #2, 1430 Maple Street, Vancouver, V6J on Alaska are less fortunate—one entitled “Moose 3R9. Hunting in the Yukon River” especially strains

Page 33 BOOKS SUBMI1T[D FOR THE 1983 B.C. HISTORICAL Floodland & Forest—Memories of the Chilli wack Valley FEDERATION’S WRITING Sound Heritage Series #37 COMPETITION Author - Imbert Orchard, 92 pages, $4.50 Order from: Sound & Moving Image Division First Prize: Provincial Archives Discovering Deroche: From Nicomen to Lake Parliament Buildings Errock Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X4

Author - Daphne Sleigh, 103 pages, $9.95 Order from: Mrs. Daphne Sleigh, Trevor Goodall’s Memories of the Alberni Valley Box 29, Deroche, B.C., VOM 1GO Author - Trevor Goodall, 153 pages, $11.00 from: A very complete history of this area, 1800 to present. Order Nootka House Books Port Alberni, B.C. Second Prize: 9th Report of the Boundary Historical Society British Columbia Post Offices Editor - William Topping, 72 pages, $8.00 Editor - J.B. Glanville, 132 pages, $6.00 plus .75 postage Order from: William Topping Order from: Boundary Historical Society 7430 Angus Drive Box 746 Vancouver, B.C. V6P 5K2 Grand Forks, B.C. VOH 1HO An index of all post offices in B.C. past & present. An anthology As Far As I Know Honorable Mention: Author - Peter S. Webster, 76 pages, $5.95 Historic Guide to Ross Bay Cemetery Order from: Campbell River Museum 1235 Island Highway Author - John Adams, 40 pages, $4.95 Order from: Sono Nis Press Campbell River, B.C. V9W 2C7 1745 Blanshard Street Memories of an Ahousat Elder, including some Victoria, B.C. legends of those people. Other Pioneer Jewish Merchants of Vancouver Island Entries and British Columbia

‘Til We See the Light of Hope Author - Cyril Edel Leonoff, 24 pages, $5.00 Editor - Ed Ouchi, 152 p. English, 156 p. Japanese, Order from: The Jewish Historical Society of B.C. $25.00 950 West 41st Avenue Order from: Japanese Senior Citizens Association Vancouver, B.C. V5Z 2N7 307 - 24th Street Adventures in Arrowsmith Country Vernon, B.C. V1T 7M2 Author - David R. Elliott, 36 pages, $6.00 A history of the Japanese people in the Vernon area. Order from: D.R. Elliott

Nanaimo - The Story of a City Box 26, Pacific Shores Editors - T.D. Sale & Devina Smith, 68 pages, $9.95 R.R. #1, Nanoose Bay, B.C. VOR 2R0 Order from: Nanaimo & District Museum Society A tour guide with a few historical facts mixed with 100 Cameron Road current information. Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2X1 Tall Tales of British Columbia A presentation of pictures not commonly seen, plus Sound Heritage Series #39, 100 pages, $4.50 some written commentary. Order from: Sound & Moving Image Div. Imagine Please—Early Radio Broadcasting in Provincial Archives British Columbia Parliament Buildings Sound Heritage Series #38, 92 pages, $4.50 Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X4 Author - Dennis J. Duffy Short stories of B.C. history as told by local Order from: Sound & Moving Images Division exaggerators. Provincial Archives Parliament Prince Rupert—A Gateway to Alaska & the Buildings Pacific Vol. 2 Victoria, B.C. V8V 1X4 Author: Dr. R.G. Large, 121 pages Three Towns: A History of Kitimat Order from: Dr. R.G. Large Author - Janice Beck, 67 pages, $4.95, $2.05 postage Box 759 Order from: Kitimat Centennial Museum Prince Rupert, B.C. V8J 3S1 293 City Centre A large glossy hardcovered book with many Kitimat, B.C. V8C 1T6 illustrations and a wide coverage of sites & people.

Page 34 THE BRITISH COLUMBIA HISTORICAL FEDERATION

Honorary Patron: His Honour, the Honourable Robert G. Rogers, Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia Honorary President: Col. G.S. Andrews, 116 Wellington, Victoria V8V 4H7 382-7202 (res.)

Officers President: Leonard G. McCann, #2-1430 Maple St., Vancouver V6J 3R9 736-4431 (bus.) 1st Vice President: Naomi Miller, Box 105, Wasa VOB2K0 422-3594 (res.) 2nd Vice President: John D. Spittle, 1241 Mount Crown Rd., North Vancouver V7R 1R9 988-4565 (res.) Secretary: T. Don Sale, 262 Juniper St., Nanaimo V9S 1X4 753-2067 (res.) Recording Secretary: Margaret Stoneberg, P.O. Box 687, Princeton VOXiWO 295-3362 (res.) Treasurer: J. Rhys Richardson, 2875 W. 29th, Vancouver V6L 1Y2 733-1897 (res.) Members-at-Large: Myrtle Haslam, 1875 Wessex Road, Cowichan Bay VOR1NO 748-8397 (res.) Mary C. Orr, R.R. #1, Butler St., Summerland VOH 1ZO Past-President: Barbara Stannard, #211-450 Stewart Ave., Nanaimo V95 5E9 754-6195 (res.) Marie Elliott, Editor, B.C. Historical News, 1745 Taylor St., Victoria V8R 3E8

Chairmen of Committees: Seminars: Leonard C. McCann Historic Trails: John D. Spittle B.C. Historical News Ruth Barnett, 680 Pinecrest Rd., Campbell River V9W 3P3 Policy Committee: 287-8097 (res.) Lieutenant-Governor’s Award Committee: Naomi Miller Publications Assistance Helen Akrigg, 4633 W. 8th Ave., Vancouver V6R 2A6 Committee (not involved 228-8606 (res.) with B.C. Historical News): Loans are available for publication. Please submit manuscripts to Helen Akrigg. Yandle,

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