History Helps Volume Two, Number 5, April 2002
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• Happy Spring
• British Columbia and Yukon History
• The Pheasants
• B. C. Education Websites
• Annacis Island
• An Odd Slang Term
• The Victorian Order of Nurses
• A Delta Museum and Archives Event
• Information on British Columbia
• Other Old Holdings at the B. C. Archives
• Something to Think About
• Subscription, Privacy Policy

HAPPY SPRING!

Delta having always been a significant agricultural area, references to the state of farming pervade the newspaper. And so, we find in the early 1900s, regular "crop reports," samples of which I have taken from The Delta Times. At this time of year, depending on the severity of the winter, reports would convey the beginning of a new growing season: "T. E. Ladner has already 20 acres sown to wheat, not too bad for the Delta land by the 7th April." [09 April 1904] or "Seeding is now well under way all over the Delta. Prospects indicate a good crop this year, although the season is a little late in opening." [23 April 1910]. We, of course, will have nothing as refreshing to pass on to someone researching the early years of this century.

British Columbia and Yukon History

"MOUNTED POLICE ARRIVE

Thirty Men Come From Regina to Go to the Yukon

Thirty of as fine looking specimens of Canadian production as could be found in any part of the Dominion arrived by the C.P.R. train on Sunday. They were mounted policemen heading for the Yukon and came in charge of Inspector Burnett. Major Perry, who is superintending the movements of the police in this city, met them at the station and the men are now quartered at the Metropole hotel. They will leave for the north by the steamer Cutch on Wednesday and will be distributed over certain portions of the trail in connection with the establishment of the winter posts which will be maintained every 30 miles along the route over the ice.

All the men are well-trained to work in the coldest of weather and they should form a valuable addition to the present force in the north. The very brief exercises through which they were put at the station showed that in the military line their training had not been neglected.

The men brought most of their clothing and personal outfits for the winter with them and besides their own provisions not many other supplies will be taken up with them on the steamer."

Source: The Vancouver Daily World, Monday, 14 November 1898, page six.

Where Did the Pheasants Come From?

"INTRODUCTION OF PHEASANTS

Regarding the introduction of the pheasants to the lower Mainland, W. H. Ladner said to the New Westminster Columbian that he had the honor of importing the original stock of 20 hens and five cocks, direct from China. It was during the time he represented the Delta in the local Legislature that it was decided to experiment with pheasants, and Mr. Abbott, then general superintendent of the C. P. R., kindly offered to bring the birds across the Pacific on one of the first trips of the Empresses, free of charge. This was done, and Mr. Ladner personally paid the incidental expenses for feed and care of the birds en route as well as their carriage from Vancouver to Ladner. The birds arrived safe and sound, but rather earlier in the season than was expected, so they were given lodgings in the commodious chicken house of E. Hutcherson, and, later in the season, let loose in five batches at different points in the Delta. Sportsmen owe Mr. Ladner a debt of gratitude."

Source: The Vancouver Daily World, 23 November 1898, page eight.

As it turns out, I had also made note of the report of the event when it had occurred and was reported in the same newspaper.

"PERSONS PARAGRAPHED

W. H. Ladner, ex-M.P.P., was in the city to-day. He reports the pheasants imported by himself and others to be let loose on the Delta to be doing well."

Source: The Vancouver Daily World, 04 February 1892, page one, and

"LADNER'S NOTES

... Mr. Ladner imported the pheasants from China ... The birds are being cared for until they become acclimated [sic] on Mr. McNeely's farm. [McNeely and Hutcherson were partners.]"

Source: The Vancouver Daily World, 24 February 1892, page three.

150th Anniversary of B. C. Public School System

Subscribers to British Columbia Historical News may be familiar already with the website, British Columbia's History of Education. For all other recipients, you can find the site at http://www.mala.bc.ca/homeroom/

Among the gems to be found here are the "First Annual Report of the Superintendent of Education for the Year Ending July 31st, 1872" (verbatim), and chronological and alphabetical listings of rural schools. Wonders to explore!

Significant to note: 2002 is the 150th anniversary of the establishment of public schools in B.C. The Ministry of Education for B.C. is marking that milestone on its website at http://www.gov.bc.ca/bced/. Look for the link labelled "Innovation and Imagination." Be sure to have a look at "IRPs from the 1890s" (Integrated Resource Packages = Lesson Plans).

Annacis Island, in the Fraser River

This bit of information I came across in The Vancouver Daily World, Saturday, 14 August 1897, page five:

"ROMANCE OF ANACIS [sic] ISLAND

Coming down the Fraser the other day John A. Webster, of New Westminster called a World reporter's attention to Anacis island, and related an interesting incident in relation thereto. It appears that a gentleman then resident in New Westminster, some years ago conceived the idea that Anacis island would be a good spot for the growth of sugar beets. He formed a syndicate, who put up money to buy the island and sent to Germany for seed. The seed arrived and on the ground that had been prepared the beets grew and flourished. The man who had started the plan, and who was getting a big salary as manager of the company on account of his alleged expert knowledge, got some of the beets, put them through a process and produced some syrup which was granulated into good looking sugar. The syndicate members were in high glee. The expert's salary was raised and arrangements were made to go extensively into the propagation of sugar beets. Among those who got samples of the sugar was the late Chief Justice, Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie. He sent some of it to a brother in England in the sugar trade and asked his opinion of it. The reply was that it was a very fair sample of cane sugar. The syndicate went out of business forthwith."

Where Did This Slang Term Come From?

I have come across many references like this one, from The Delta News, 30 July 1904, but have yet to find an explanation.

"John F__ was up before the beak on Wednesday, on the charge of assault and fined $5 and costs."

Why did they call the judge or magistrate the "beak"? Can anyone tell me?

The Victorian Order of Nurses

"THE NURSES ARRIVE

By this afternoon's Pacific express Miss Haggart and Miss Ford arrived from Ottawa. They were recently appointed to the Vancouver station of the Victorian Order of Nurses and are the first nurses who have come this far west. They were met at the train by Mrs. McLagan and Mrs. Newton. Arrangements will be made within a few days as to the opening of the work here. The ladies are both nurses of experience, and there is no doubt that under the favorable auspices of the order, their work will meet with great success. Lady Minto is now the President of the society."

Source: The Vancouver Daily World, Wednesday, 11 January 1899, page five.

A Plug for the Delta Museum and Archives

I'll be hosting a fund-raiser for the Delta Museum and Archives in Ladner on Saturday, April 6th from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. The location is 5122 - 44th Avenue, just off Arthur Drive as you head south to Tsawwassen or to the Ferry for Victoria.

Our event is called a "Garage Sale of Treasures" with a fairly broad interpretation of "treasures." Who knows what gems you might discover amongst the many donated items?

Looking for Information on British Columbia?

Canada's Digital Collections is a site worth exploring -- but be prepared for a slew of unrelated sites when you search under "British Columbia."
http://collections.ic.gc.ca/index.html

For scenes, etc., of Canada from the National Library collection, try:
http://www.imagescanada.ca/index-e.html

Other Old Holdings at the B. C. Archives

This is a partial list of other items held at the B. C. Archives at Victoria, B.C., which are included in the category of "Old Manuscript" and, therefore, do not appear in their on-line listings:

I AA C55 Clark, Rice Owen. Report on British Columbia coast farming and agricultural lands. 10 p. map. Typescript.

G C83 EV1.9 Bee’s of early days [subject]. Evans, John Newell. Bee’s of early days. 1940. Original.

W A C81K Boundary Bay [subject]. Klett, Norah J. 1970. Corbould of New Westminster, B.C.

I L B66 Boundary Bay Oil Company Ltd. Papers relating to Share Certificate.

A A 30 M69 Mitchell, Bruce. Exploration and settlement in Southwestern British Columbia before 1900. Vancouver 1966. 1681. Bibliography. Maps. Typescript. (Xerox copy).

Q HP B77.1 British Columbia Pioneer Society Reports 1887 - 1906.

K LS D38 Delta Survey, Papers relating to.

O D So9 Emigrant Soldiers’ Gazette [heading]. Souvenir letters; Emigrant Soldiers Gazette. 1907. Originals.

E C Sm 5.3 Farm Life - Van. Is. [heading]. Smith, Agnes (Morley), 1839 - 1924 ? Cobble Hill; farm wife. Diary. 1885 - 1901. Original. 1/2 inch.

E D M19 Folk medicine [heading]. v.16 Recipes. Original. 1/2 inch. In McKelvie Collection (see finding aid no. 13).

E E J23 Food [heading]. Jameson, Mrs. Fanny Makepeace. What did western Canadian pioneers eat? 1951.

E B L57 Fraser valley district - Description & travel. Leggatt, G. Diary while in search of a cattle ranch on the lower Fraser. October 12 - November 3, 1869.

G F86 H22 Fraser valley district - History. Harbord, V. H. From beaver dam and forest to harvest field and meadow. 1939.

G C16 G65 Gordon, Robert William Canada as a field of emigration for agriculturists. 1880. typescript.

J G T97 Green, Charles Frederick & Arthur Robert, Tynemouth (ship). Misc. papers relating to Passenger’s contract ticket 1862.

E C H872 Hughes, Ed. Travels in British Columbia. Undated. Typescript.

E C K63 Kirkland, John. Correspondence outward. Typescripts, originals microfilmed. 3 letters, 1876, 1880, 1881. For microfilm see roll 187A (2).

H D L12 Ladner, Charles. Autobiography. 1936. Typescript.

H D R57 L121 Ladner, William Henry. Correspondence (In Ebenezer Robson collection). Originals. 2 letters, 1892, 1900.

E B L12 Ladner, William Henry. Correspondence outward. 1 letter 1852. Xerox.

A E C86 C86 L12 Ladner, William Henry. Crease, Sir Henry Pering Pellew, 1823 - 1905. (In Crease Collection). Correspondence inward. 4 letters 1868, 1871, 1872, 1882.

E C L44 Lawson, Joseph. A Diary and four letters written during a visit to B. C. 1883. Transcript.

O D L69 List of Royal Engineers. Undated.

A E Or3 M73 Lorne Estate [heading]. Mohun, Edward, 1838 - 1927. Papers relating to Lorne estate. (In O’Reilly collection). 1886.

C B 30.1 1 Marriage Licenses [heading]. British Columbia - Colonial Secretary. Marriage licenses. March 23, 1864 - June 14, 1867.

C AA 30.1 1 Marriage Licenses [heading]. Vancouver Island - Colonial Secretary. Marriage Licenses. June 1, 1859 - Jan. 22, 1867. Original. For transcript see MS. C-AA-30.1A-1.

J J M49 Melvin, George H. The post offices of British Columbia Undated. Mimeographed.

C B 30.22 1 Postal service [heading]. British Columbia - Post Office. Correspondence & memos etc. re postal service. Various dates.

Roll 95A Royal Columbian hospital, New Westminster. Patient’s Register - Microfilm. 1862 - 1901.

C AB 30.7M 5 Royal Engineers in B. C. [heading]. British Columbia - Lands & Works Dept. Schedule of Crown grants issued to Royal Engineers who served in the Colony of B. C. under Colonel Moody.

O D W83 Royal Engineers in B. C. [heading]. Wolfenden, Richard. A brief history of the Royal Engineers in B. C., 1858 - 1863. Undated. Typescript.

K H L93 All Hallows School Yale [heading]. Louisa, Mother. All hallows school, Yale. Typewritten. 1938.

C C 30.7 C81 Wadhams, Edmund Abraham. B. C. - Land and Works Dept. Cormorant Is., papers relating to 1870 - 1884.

I A L14 Laing, Frederick William. Index of agricultural items taken from early B. C. newspapers and other sources. Undated.

I A L14 Laing, F. W. Early agriculture in British Columbia. 1925.

*** There is a separate catalogue of “Main Manuscripts and Government Records” and of “Published Works.”

Something to Think About

This is a relatively modern item, borrowed from The Delta Optimist, 28 April 1976:
"Few fools are born -- most are self-made."

Reminder

These newsletters are all dated. Consequently, some of the websites recorded therein may no longer be operating at the stated web address.

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