History Helps Volume Seven, Number 2, January 2007
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• Greetings
• New Year’s Eve in the 1890s
• Vital Statistics from New Brunswick newspaper
• Subscription, Privacy Policy

GREETINGS! HAPPY 2007!

New Year’s Eve in the 1890s

“The Fancy Dress and Masquerade Ball a Great Success

Correspondent to THE WORLD

Ladner’s Landing, Jan. 5 -- The fancy dress and masquerade ball given by the ladies of Ladner’s Landing was by far the event of the season and pronounced by all who participated therein to be the most enjoyable occasion of its kind ever given in this locality.

It was predicted by some who were not in favor of the course adopted by the invitation committee that on account of the non-support of a few who considered themselves the leaders of society here, the affair would fall through, but they were doomed to sad disappointment, as through the untiring efforts and zeal displayed by the ladies, conspicuous amongst whom were Mrs. Hicks and the Misses Parr, Green and Woodward, the affair passed off with the greatest success. The invitations were numerous and were in nearly every case accepted.

Consequently, the large hall, which had been tastefully decorated for the occasion, was filled to overflowing with the youth and beauty of the municipality, who so thoroughly enjoyed themselves as to be disappointed when the time for departure had arrived.

The costumes were so good that when the hour for unmasking came, 11:30, exclamations of surprise and astonishment could be heard from all parts of the hall, and many a young cavalier who had, as he supposed, been paying his compliments to the young lady of his choice, was confused to find that he had wasted them all upon a married lady, or, perchance, some gentleman friend.

The music was excellent and in fact the affair passed off successfully without a hitch to mar its joy, in consequence of which it is no wonder that everybody pronounced it the most delightful evening ever passed in the ball room at Ladner’s Landing.

A word of praise is due to Mr. D. Gilchrist for the manner in which he acted as floor manager.

Among those present in character were the following ladies and gentlemen: Miss May Parr, the press; Miss C. Green, old maid; Miss M. Woodward, folly; Charlie Lord, marine officer; F. Arthur, nun; A Cunningham, Chinaman; J. B. Elliott, domino; Prof. Hallam, Italian count; Mr. Hake, ghost; C. Wadhams, dude; Miss E. Green, starlight; F. Green, Negro dude; J. Burr, cow boy; W. Wadhams, Oliver Cromwell; H. Hutchinson, English livery; Mrs. H. Falconer, day; C. Mylius, Satan; Mrs. H. A. Hicks, flower girl; Mrs. Hake, night; Miss M. Beadleston, sister of charity; F. Truax, Turk; T. Gough, clown; Miss L. Elliott, bride; Mrs. Bath, Bopeep; C. Clawson, conjurer; ...”

Source: Vancouver Daily World, 07 January 1891, page five.

Vital Statistics from New Brunswick newspapers

The Provincial Archives of New Brunswick has recently uploaded online transcriptions of vital statistics taken from newspapers, the work of Daniel F. Johnson, a local genealogist. The database includes 298,097 transcriptions from 102 volumes and covers a time period ranging from 29 January 1784 to 31 December 1896.

When I searched this database for “British Columbia,” knowing that many British Columbians were transplanted Maritimers, I found a long list of articles, many of which provided interesting reading on their own.

The URL for the website is http://archives.gnb.ca/APPS/NewspaperVitalStats/?L=EN

Subscription, Privacy Policy

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Gwen Szychter, M.A.

P.S. Here's a favour you can do for me: If you liked this newsletter and found it helpful or just interesting, please pass it on to a friend or colleague. Thank you.

Newspaper Obituary Database coming to

History of Delta, British Columbia On-line

Delta History On-Line

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