February 2003 - Vol Three, No. 3

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! HAPPY HERITAGE WEEK!

1906 Census Records

The headline on the article in the 25th January 2003 issue of The Vancouver Sun (page A7) read "Historians, genealogists celebrate census release." This "victory over federal officials" in getting the 1906 census for Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta released to the public is certainly good news. Let us hope it bodes well for the 1911 census.

New Municipalities in British Columbia

"LOCAL BREVITIES":

"The municipality of Squamish has been duly instituted and a royal proclamation issued, which appears in another column, describing its bounds and fixing the place and date for holding the first municipal election. Agassiz and Matsqui will the next ones to be proclaimed."

Source: Vancouver Daily World, 29 October 1892, page eight.

First Peace Arch in the World

"FIRST PEACE ARCH IN WORLD DEDICATED AT THE BOUNDARY TODAY

Immense Crowd Gathers in Anticipation of Important Ceremonies ...

Final preparations for the dedication of the first peace memorial in the history of the world were completed last night ...

The speakers’ platform, the bandstand and the avenues leading to the Peace Portal have been decorated with the flags of the two nations and the surroundings have a gala appearance. Blaine City is also gaily decorated, a Labor Day celebration having been held there on Monday ...

The corner stone will be sealed by the chairman of the dedication assembly, Mr. Samuel Hill, builder of the Peace Portal. Probably for the first time in the history of the world this will be a concrete hollow block. Six hundred pounds of cement have been used in its construction by Mr. Simmonds, the foreman of construction of the Peace Arch. It will be self-sealed, the end with the opening, after a concrete plate has been placed in position and sealed, being placed against the inside of the corner opening of the Peace Arch. The outside face of the corner stone block has the legend, ‘Pacific Highway, 1920.’ Mr. Simmonds has taken great care to have a perfect specimen of concrete for this important part of the ceremony..."

The remainder of this article about the Peace Arch at the Blaine crossing into the United States can be found in The British Columbian, 06 September 1921, page one.

Life and Times in Delta 1873

The following quote is taken from the Mainland Guardian, 05 November 1873, page three. It caught my attention because it conveys a view of life in this settlement with a little more depth than the standard news reports, which tended to be fairly factual.

"SOUTH ARM

A meeting to elect Trustees for the Trenant School District, was convened for the 18th October, but owing to the low stage of the tide at the hour for which the meeting had been called, but five qualified voters were able to attend, from whom the following were chosen: W. Kent, W. Ladner, James Arthur.

At a subsequent meeting of Trustees to select a site for a School house, no decision could be arrived at, consequently it was decided to call a general meeting of settlers to their assistance, when a vacant piece of land between the farms of T. Ladner and R. Woodhouse was fixed upon.

Mr. C. Green has kindly offered the use of half of his commodious dwelling for Church purposes, subject to certain conditions of a mere nominal character. There Mr. Russ has of late been administering to the spiritual welfare of the settlement at large.

The surveyors are making rapid strides on behalf of the Government, but not one step toward marking off the claims, which neglect, is retarding in no small degree the settlement of this magnificent district."

Victoria City Archives

Several extremely useful searchable databases for anyone researching Victoria families or history can be found at the City of Victoria Archives site at http://web.city.victoria.bc.ca/archives/

There are the Ross Bay Cemetery Records, 1872-1980; the Death Notices Index, 1901-1939; and the Marriage Notices Index, 1901-1939. These listings allow you to get started, in the case of Marriages and Deaths, on finding the newspaper report. From there, you can check several libraries for the actual newspapers on microfilm.

Ancient Order of United Workmen

Are you familiar with benevolent societies, mostly from the 19th and early 20th centuries? They can be a good source for genealogists and family historians who are trying to locate family members, males at least. The following is an example of one, the Ancient Order of United Workmen:

"A. O. U. W. Progress

The progress made by the Ancient Order of United Workmen, in this Province, since the beginning of the present year, has been remarkable. When the task of organizing a sufficient number of lodges to entitle British Columbia to a Grand Lodge of her own was undertaken, the promoters felt confident of forming the requisite number, but did not expect much more within this year. At the beginning of the year only five A. O. U. W. lodges were in existence in the Province. During the months of April and May eight new lodges were formed, making a total of thirteen, with a membership of 950. The newly organized lodges are as follows: Victoria (2), Westminster (2), Vancouver, Chilliwack, Delta and Comox.

During the present month the following new lodges will be organized by Grand Master Leiser, assisted by officers and members of the subordinate lodges: Cloverdale, Aug. 15th; Langley, Aug. 17th; Aldergrove, Aug. 19th; Maple Ridge, about Aug. 23rd. A lodge will also be formed at Big Prairie, Chilliwack, within a few weeks, but no date has been fixed yet."

Source: The Daily Columbian, 05 August 1892, page one.

I believe the B. C. Archives in Victoria has in its collection many of the records of this organization for various lodges.

Old Names of Occupations

Need to know the definitions of old occupations? Or just curious? Here’s an interesting source from the Global Gazette of January 11, 2003. But watch out for a few inaccuracies, such as wharfinger.

http://globalgazette.net/gazrr/gazrr88.htm

Postal History

"NORTH ARM MAIL SERVICE

Tired of waiting for the Dominion Government to move in the matter, the North Arm settlers have joined together in a private weekly mail service, at their own expense. Mr. H. Elburne [sic], who keeps a store about the centre of the settlement, undertakes the double duties of mail carrier and postmaster. The arrangement is much more creditable to the settlers than to the Postoffice [sic] Department."

Source: Dominion Pacific Herald, 19 November 1881, page three.

Self-Promotion

Just a tiny one this time. I’ve updated my home page on my website, so it now has a somewhat colourful antique postcard reproduction adorning it. Have a look at http://www.ladnerslanding.com/home.html

By the way, I’m always in the market for postcards of Ladner or Delta, so if you happen to come across some while you’re browsing in an antique shop or something similar, please let me know.

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Gwen Szychter, M.A.

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