Newsletter

June 2003
Volume 3, Number 7

History Helps, Volume Three, Number 7, June 2003
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The Month of June

Locally, the month of June is the time when we have occasion to worry, and not without good reason, as the past has shown, about the possible flooding caused by the Fraser River. The most serious in recent memory occurred in 1948, but the threat is an annual concern.

"The Fraser Freshet

The recent heavy warm rains which appear to have extended beyond the east range, seem to have combined with the melting snows of Cariboo, the result being a considerable rise in the Fraser. Already some of the lower lying sections along the lower Fraser valley have been inundated, one farmer being reported as having fifty acres of wheat under water. In such portions of the District, no doubt considerable damage has already been done but it is so much later than high water generally that hopes are entertained that the high point has been reached. The highest tides are due this week and the overflow hereabouts is largely due to the river water backing up from these tides.

Owing to the freshet, probably, there was a washout on Westham Island, yesterday, and Mr. George London in consequence lost about an acre and a half of such of his land as lay outside the new dyke."

Source: The Daily Columbian, 25 January 1900, page four.

The Canadian Mint

"EDITORIAL NOTES

There are several proposals anent [sic] the fit marking by Canada of the Diamond Jubilee of Her Gracious Majesty. To add the word ‘Canada’ to the Queen’s title is one; to print a special postage stamp (a thing by the way, which has its bad consequences) is another. Would it not be a good thing to establish a Canadian mint? Canada is rushing towards the front rank as a gold and silver producing country; yet she has her silver coins minted abroad, and she has no gold coinage. It is a reproach to such a country to be without a mint; and, besides, there is money in the business. Senator McInnes, it may be remembered, urged the establishment of a Canadian mint upon the late Conservative Government, without success. The time seems ripe and opportune, however, for the present Liberal Government to take the matter up."

Source: The Daily Columbian, 16 March 1897, page two.

1901 and 1906 Canadian Census

An interesting site to search, for genealogists and others, is this on-line index to the 1901 and 1906 Canadian census at
http://automatedgenealogy.com/index.html

Canadian Order of Foresters

In the past I mentioned benevolent societies as a source of genealogical information. The following conveys some information about the societies themselves.

"The Canadian Order of Foresters

The Canadian Order of Foresters is a society that has become more favorable and widely known in our Dominion than any other Friendly Insurance Society doing business in this country.

In order to secure the attention of those who have not yet considered the superior merits of this society, the following facts are submitted. It is:

The article continues, giving details in respect of the rates of life insurance and the rates for sick and funeral benefits.

Source: The Daily Columbian, 10 March 1900.

The Book of B. C. Architects

Some time ago I made reference in this newsletter to a book being compiled about B. C. architects.

That book, entitled "Building the West: The Early Architects of British Columbia," compiled and edited by heritage consultant, Donald Luxton, has now been published by Talon Books, and is available in Lower Mainland bookstores (probably elsewhere also).

This is a truly beautiful work, and I can state that unabashedly since I was involved only in the proofreading. To have a look, go to http://www.talonbooks.com on the Internet, and click on "New and Recent."

Immigrants’ Names

I came across an interesting page on the web site of the Bureau of Citizenship and immigration Services at http://www.immigration.gov/graphics/aboutus/history/articles/NAMES.htm

While it refers to the American experience, some of the information and explanations have a wider applicability to those doing research in other countries. As someone who was amazed to find my father’s surname spelled correctly in the 1928 Immigration Records available through the National Archives of Canada, I’m more appreciative than ever after reading some of the above explanations.

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Gwen Szychter, M.A.

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