February 2005 - Vol Five, No.3

History Helps, Volume Five, Number 3, February 2005
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HAPPY HERITAGE WEEK!

This year Heritage Week in British Columbia runs from February 21st to 27th. The theme is “Heritage of Faith: Sacred Buildings and Spiritual Places.” So far neither the Municipality of Delta nor the Delta Heritage Advisory Commission has announced this year’s winner of the Heritage Preservation Award.

More Weather of the Winter Kind

“‘SILVER THAW’ ON DELTA IN 1893

Contrary to reports published by a Vancouver daily, severe ‘silver thaws’ have been recorded on the Delta. The report stated that the weather phenomenon called ‘silver thaw’ was never known to come farther down the valley than in Cloverdale, but Paul Ladner informs us that in the winter of 1893 two ‘silver thaws’ were recorded.

Mr. Ladner also maintains that this is the worst winter weather he has seen on the Delta, as previously heavy snowfalls were never followed immediately by rain and warmer weather. He calls it the ‘dirtiest freeze-up ever seen on the Delta.’”

Source: The Weekly [Delta] Optimist, 24 January 1935, page three.

Still on the Subject of Winter Weather

“SNOW ENDS COLD SNAP AND SKATING ON WEDNESDAY

The recent cold snap was productive of some good skating. Many young folks enjoyed themselves at Crescent Island, Westham Island and elsewhere. A few minor accidents resulted, W. Bain getting a bone broken in his left hand, which is causing him some pain and inconvenience.

The cold snap was responsible for many frozen water pipes, insufficiently covered, and the local plumbers were kept on the jump from place to place in answer to the many calls made on their services.

The flurry of snow on Wednesday night finished the cold snap and a drizzling rain on Thursday brought weather conditions back to normal for this time of year.

An interesting feature of the weather news was the conflicting reports emanating from the meteorological observation points. It sounded very much like a case of ‘Your guess is as good as mine.’”

Source: The Weekly [Delta] Optimist, 04 February 1932.

Coastal Lighthouse

“SAND-HEAD LIGHTHOUSE

This new structure, at the mouth of [the] Fraser river, has been completed and was handed over to the Dominion government agent on Wednesday.

The lighthouse is a hexagon, the sides of which are 18 feet at the base and 14 feet at the top. It is 47 feet above high water, and the lantern is 17 feet, making in all 64 [feet].

The lighthouse is constructed of wood, and stands upon 6 iron screw piles, six inches in diameter. The light is stationary, with a powerful reflector, and may be seen at a distance of 12 miles. There is also a bell tower, with a fog bell weighing 1800 lbs. [sic] This bell is rung by clock-work machinery.

The structure was built by Mr. J. McMullen, and cost altogether $10,500.”

Source: The British Columbian, 08 March 1884, page three.

Sort of History

A most fascinating website is that of the Canadian Museum of Civilization, accessed at http://www.civilization.ca/indexe.asp.

When I touched base there recently the main “exhibit” was called “Before e-commerce: A History of Canadian Mail-order Catalogues.“ Now, there’s a subject many, if not most, of us can relate to.

The Sturgeon Fishery

“NEW WESTMINSTER

The Cleeve Canning and Cold Storage Co. shipped to-day to Chicago a carload of sturgeon, taken in the mouth of the Fraser river. The new season fish are in splendid condition and are shipped over the C. P. R. line in an air tight refrigerator car in sawdust. The car contained 26,000 lbs., 13 tons of fish.

This may be mentioned as about the inception of the sturgeon export trade, and it might be a great thing for the Fraser river men were it not that the ridiculous fiscal formalities of invoicing and sealing and the cost attached to these luxuries, through a foreign consulate office, bleed the exporters to such an extent that the industry is seriously retarded and handicapped.

It is probable that sturgeon fishing will form one of the chief employments of labor and capital in the future of the Fraser river fishing trade, especially if the Department of Marine and Fisheries consider with favor the request of the fishermen, embodied in a petition to be allowed to take sturgeon in the interior lakes.”

Source: The Vancouver Daily World, 31 August 1898, page one.

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Gwen Szychter, M.A.

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