October 2004 - Vol Four, No.11

History Helps, Volume Four, Number 11, October 2004
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HAPPY HALLOWE’EN!

And remember that we fall back to Standard Time at the end of the month!

"HALLOWE’EN CELEBRATED

Ladner Young Folks Indulge in Usual Pranks -- Jolly Night Spoiled by Wilful Vandalism

Among the good humored jokes were the usual tick-tacking. Gates were unswung, wagons and buggies drawn away. A bunch of young ladies who were out for a good time had a ride down the main street in a buggy drawn by two legged steeds. Whiskey bottles were piled on the door of both the Methodist parsonage and the Presbyterian manse.

A heavy wagon was drawn up on to the sidewalk and left in front of Fisher’s drug store. A large double grate was hauled up to the top of a pile driver. Unfortunately this good humored trick was spoiled by the fact that the rope for the purpose was cut from Reagh’s awning. A barrel of tar was rolled across the wharf and placed in front of the barber shop, and other sundry articles.

One action of the evening cannot be too severely condemned. Some of the bunch visited a Chinaman’s garden. Uncovered his potatoe [sic] pots, scattered the potatoes around, and in the morning, bushels of potatoes were found frozen and ruined. Such action cannot be too severely condemned, and if there is any spirit of decency about the ones who did it, they will chip in and do something towards remunerating him for the damage they have done."

Source: The Delta Times, 04 November 1911, page one.

The Classified Ads

As I’m sure some subscribers know, I’m a volunteer with Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness (whose website can be found at http://www.raogk.org/), and do newspaper obituary lookups. Sometimes I allow my attention to wander and discover items of interest that distract me from the search at hand. Two such distractions follow, both found under "NOTICES":

""Mrs. C. Hamer-Jackson, nee Baroness Grivot de Grandcourt, has much pleasure in informing the anonymous friends who are advertising for her whereabouts that her name and address is and has been for years in the Vancouver telephone book 4693 Drummond; Pt. Grey 879."

"The 2 young men who took my bag, Tuesday night, 8800 block, Osler Street, would do me a favor by letting me know where they ditched it and papers. Phone Marpole 11. S. Churchill."

Source: The Vancouver Sun, 03 January 1931, page 20.

The Royal Engineers in New Westminster, British Columbia

"GREAT AUCTION SALE

AT THE R. E. CAMP, NEW WESTMINSTER

In consequence of the departure of the Detachment of the Royal Engineers, and Auction will take place AT THE Camp, New Westminster ON THE 16TH DECEMBER, PROXIMO,

and following days, of the undermentioned Articles, viz:

Butchers Tools, consisting of Pole axes, Cleavers, Steels, Knives and Hooks. 12 Field Service Chests and 9 American Chests of Carpenters’ Tools. I Chest of Coopers’ Tools. I Field Service Chest of Collarmakers’ Tools. 6 Chests of Masons’ Tools. A large quantity of Miners’ Tools, consisting of Picks, Shovels, Crow-bars, Hammers, Sledges, Jumpers, & c., & c. An immense quantity of miscellaneous Tools, Felling, Squaring and Belt axes, Bill and Reaping Hooks, Manure, Hay and Potato Forks, Hoes, Rakes, Garden Knives, Scythes, Grinding and Sharpening Stones, Single, Double and Treble Blocks, Weights, Scales and Steelyards of different descriptions, Mauls, Furnace Bars, Screw Jack. 2 Field Forges and 2 cases of Armourers’ Tools. 6 Chests of Blacksmith’s Tools and a variety of Forge tools and fittings. 3 Chests of Farriers’ Tools. 1 Chest of Tinners’ Tools. A variety of Tailors’, Sailmakers’, Shoemakers’ and Sawyer’ Tools. 3 Chests of Wheelers’ Tools. A variety of Plumbers’, Painters’ and Glaziers’ tools.

3 Sets of Cart Harness. 1 Field Cart. 12 Ox Carts. 1 Light Waggon. A quantity of Harness and Yokes. 1 Hay Cutter; and several Saddles.

1 Row Boat, 1 Bateau and 1 Iron Life Boat.

216 Hair Mattresses. 216 Hair Pillows. 840 Single Blankets. 29 Double Blankets. 675 Barrack Sheets. 246 Rugs. 96 Towels. Some earthenware. 4 Cork Mattresses. A quantity of Clothing, Boots, Soles and Shoe Leather. Tents and Tarpaulins. Stoves and Cooking Utensils.

Locks and Bolts of different descriptions, Nails, Spikes, Hinges, Sash fastenings, Pulleys and Weights, Door Bells and fittings, Hat Hooks, Bar, Sheet, Boiler and Plate Iron. A quantity of Cast and Blistered Steel. 262 Sheets of Tin. 275 lbs. of Sheet Lead. A quantity of Soda, Borax, Paint and Oil. 166 Sheets of Emery Cloth. A small quantity of Calico and other Cloth, Webbing, Bees-wax, Twine and Thread. A quantity of Rope. 162 pairs of Horse and Mule Shoes. 100 lbs. of Horse Shoe Nails. 4 turned Mahogany Table legs. A quantity of Window Glass, Shoemakers Wax, Hemp and Bristles.

4 Barrels of Salt Beef. 15 Barrels of Flour, 136 lbs. of Tea. 15 lbs. of Coffee. 300 lbs. of Sugar. 15 lbs. of Mustard. 23 lbs. of Pepper. 40 gals. of Vinegar. 88 lbs. of Tobacco. 640 lbs. of Soap. 1030 lbs. of Stearine Candles. 27 gals. of Lamp Oil. 1300 lbs. of Rice. 315 lbs. of Currants. 4 bags of Beans. 30 lbs. of Lamp wick. 2666 boxes of Matches. 51 gals of Rum. 14,145 lbs. of Compressed Vegetables. A few tins of Yeast Powder. 1850 lbs. of Pearl Barley. 8 doz. of Port Wine. 3 doz. of Pale Sherry. 1 1/2 doz. of Brandy. 129 tins of Boiled Beef. 10 lbs. of Wax Candles. 3 cases of Boiled mutton. 1 case of Preserved Potatoes. Some washing Soda. 6 bottles of Raspberry Vinegar.

A splendid Pile Driver. A magnificent earth boring Machine, complete (never used). A Church Bell. A small Saw Mill adapted for Steam or Water power, Metal table with roller, drawing bands, ropes and six Circular Saws. 2 powerful Force Pumps. 1 Stone Roller, and several other Articles not enumerated.

Sale will commence at 11 o’clock A. M. each day.

Terms of Sale: Cash on delivery, Articles purchased to be removed without delay.

Camp, New Westminster, 18th November 1863."

Source: The Government Gazette, 21st November 1863, page one.

Ice Manufacturing in Vancouver

"A COMPLETE PLANT

For the Manufacture of Ice now Being Erected Here

A cold storage and ice manufacturing establishment is in course of erection in this city, and should all go well will be opened in about two months’ time.

The promoters of the institution are Messrs. Atkins & Johnston, Water street, and the owners of the establishment [which] will be known as the International Ice Factory and Cold Storage Company. The site chosen for the building is on one of the C. P. R. lots at the end of Gore avenue near the railroad track, and just beyond the B. C. Iron Works.

The building, which is in the hands of Messrs. Crowe & Wilson, contractors, will measure 55 feet by 75 feet, and will at present be about 13 feet high. About one-half of the edifice will be supported by piles, which have already been driven into the ground.

The company expect to have their ice plant and the whole building ready about March. They contemplate at a future time building another story over the first, and also intend to construct a wharf opposite their premises. New Westminster can now boast of a cold storage establishment and Vancouver will ere long be in possession of a similar institution."

Source: [Vancouver] Daily News Advertiser, 23 January 1895, page five.

Request from a Subscriber

Peter Grauer, a subscriber to "History Helps," is looking for a school reader that was probably used in British Columbia for Grades 5 or 6 (maybe) in the 1940s and 1950s.

Peter, as the foremost authority on the infamous Bill Miner, believes that there was a story about Bill Miner in that reader.

If there is anyone who collects school readers, and has or knows about this story, please contact me and I’ll forward your information to Peter. Many thanks in advance.

Self-Promotion, or Promotion of My Next Book

About the middle of last month I had a new page added to my website, http://www.ladnerslanding.com/home.html, one dedicated to the research of my next book, the subject of which is Tsawwassen. The page can be accessed at http://www.ladnerslanding.com/Tsawwassen.html, but don’t miss the lovely postcard featured on the home page.

Tsawwassen, known in earlier days as "Chewassen," has the reputation of being a relatively modern invention. Many of its residents believe, rather incorrectly, that there is no history there to speak of -- a belief that I’m intent on proving to be entirely otherwise.

This is a reminder that I’ll also be involved in a presentation sponsored by the Delta Museum and Archives on Saturday, October 2nd at 1 p.m. Admission is by donation to an event labelled "Was There a Tsawwassen Before the Tunnel?" Pre-registration is recommended, and can be accomplished by phoning the Museum and Archives at 604-946-9322.

Speaking of Books

I never promote someone else’s, but this is one of those rare occasions when I can’t help myself. While prowling through one of the bins at Book Warehouse recently I came across an absolutely fabulous book -- especially "fabulous" to anyone interested in the history of British Columbia.

The book is called "Light on the Water: Early Photography of Coastal British Columbia," by Keith McLaren, published in 1998 by Douglas & McIntyre. The photographs, all black-and-white, of course, are simply stunning! And the author has included just enough text with each photograph to inform without overwhelming.

Book Warehouse was selling these off for the unbelievable sum of $14.99 -- and when you see the quality of the paper used you’ll agree with the adjective "unbelievable." As recently as September 23, the Book Warehouse on Broadway in Vancouver still had several copies.

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gwen Szychter, M.A.

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