St. Aidan's on the Hill

Ucluelet British Columbia is a small natural harbor town on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Vancouver Island is 290 miles long and a 1 1/2 hour ferry ride from the mainland of British Columbia. To then get to Ucluelet is another 2 1/2 hour drive through small towns and then across the mountains. Until the 1950's the only access was by car to Port Alberni about in the center of the Island, and then by boat, probably the rough and ready Lady Rose. In fact, until the 1970's only a gravel logging road could be used for the the trip up one side of the mountain "switch backs" and then down the other side to the wild west coast rain forest that lead to the highway along the ocean and to Ucluelet at the south end and Tofino, an even smaller town, on the north end. When you reached Ucluelet all purchases cost 20 cents more per pound because of the freight charge. Today a paved road extends all the way to Ucluelet, Tofino, and Pacific Rim National Park. (See Link 3.)

Ucluelet means "people of safe harbor" in Nootka, the name of the Native Peoples that first populated the area. In 1870 a trading post was established and settlers followed in 1890. In 1898 the Presbyterians built the first Mission. In 1903 a lighthouse, telegraph station and lifeboat stations were added. The town became incorporated in 1952 and today there are 1500 residents.

St. Aiden's on-the-hill sits at the top of the hill at the intersection of Peninsula Road and Main Street, the street that leads down to the waters of Barkley Sound and the town pier. Across the street from the church is the Coop making this corner the hub of the town. The church was built by the Anglican Diocese of B.C. in 1952. The prominent bell tower with the cross on it was added at a later date. St. Aiden's is named after a Celtic saint and for that reason Celtic liturgies are used from time to time. The minister is shared with the congregation of the Anglican church in Tofino and lay people help in leading the service and music. The entrance door to the church is on Peninsula Road, the opposite side of the church to what is seen in the photo above. The sanctuary is in the left side of the church photo with the altar in the punch out area where the window with the cross can be seen. The sanctuary can seat 60 to 100 people, however, in the early 1970's only about 20 people actually attended the 9 am Sunday worship service. Joan Scander the present minister reports even less than that in the pews on Sundays. The church at 1663 Peninsula Road is also rented out for community events.

Thank You: For additional information about the church to Joan Scander

present minister at St. Aiden's.

Note: St. Aiden's was attended by Suzanne Wilson when she lived on Long Beach in the early 1970's. Her husband was the district school librarian.

Photo:Taken in 2006 by SW.

Link 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ucluelet

Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver_Island

Link 3: http://www.longbeachmaps.com/parks.html

Saturday Travel Feature
"Terry's shack is a thing of beauty..."

The "shack" in question is the ice fishing house of Terry Frank of Sherwood, Wisconsin. His actual home is on the shores of Lake Winnebago, but each February with thousands of others he heads for his "shack" to try to spear the elusive sturgeon. "Try" is the operative word for as his niece says, "He has been spearing for a bazillion years." However, she continues on, "and has never even seen a sturgeon." Liz.

Lake Winnebago is the largest fresh water lake in Wisconsin. It is 30 miles long and 10 miles wide. Its depth averages 15.5 feet with a maximum of 21 feet. Before the ice fishing is allowed the thickness of the ice must be 20 inches. Roads from the boat landings to the ice shanties are marked with Christmas trees: 2 trees=1 mile out, 3 threes= 2 miles out, etc. There are bridges over large cracks. There are about 4000 ice fishing shacks and 10,000 fishermen. They come out to their shacks by ATV, snowmobile or snowshoes. (Notes from Liz.)

The " shack is built on wood blocks so it doesn't freeze to the ice then you pack snow around it for insulation and to keep any stray light from getting in. The only light in the shack comes up through the hole in the ice. It glows an eerie green. The shack is small; just wide enough to cover the hole and long enough for the door to open so two people can sit over the hole and maybe 3 people can stand behind them. Terry has a car radio hooked up to a battery, ad two tanks of propane strapped to the back wall for the heater. It was like a sauna inside..."Liz The actual hole is cut with a chain saw and in this shack it is 18 feet deep and is angled for better visibility. PVC is lowered down to the bottom of the lake to also aid in seeing the fish. Hand carved lead weighted decoys with copper fins are also lowered into the hole. A spear with a rope attached it is throw down the hole at any sign of the fish. (Notes from Liz.)

Sturgeon are caught. One of those caught this year was a 6 foot long pregnant female weighing 110 pounds. The head was almost the size of a humans and the fins were as big as a man's hands. (Described by Liz.)

"Ice fishing"

"Ice fishing is popular on Lake Winnebago. It is not uncommon for 10,000 cars parked on Lake Winnebago during the ice fishing season.^[2] Expansion cracks on the ice are bridged. Many cities along east and west shores plow roads on the icy surface.^[2] Saugerwhite bass catches.^[2] and walleye predominate.

"The spear fishing season for sturgeon is in February. The first season of regulated sturgeon spearing was in 1903, when an eight-pound limit was introduced.^[6] All sturgeon spearing was banned from 1915 until 1931. The lake had the largest population of sturgeon in the United States in 2003.^[6] The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources regulates the number of fish taken each year." Link.


Thank you: To cousin Kay's daughter Liz who e mailed me about her adventure ice fishing with the family on Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin. As a child Suzanne Wilson visited with her cousin Kay at her parent's cottage on Lake Winnebago. 
Photo: e mailed from cousin Kay's daughter Liz, then printed, photographed by SW, downloaded to computer, photo shopped, hence the "arty" look.
Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Winnebago

Friday, March 26, 2010
A Mountain Behind

468 Genoa Crescent is the first of two homes on this blocked slated for demolition.  The other is at 482 Genoa Crescent.  Genoa Crescent is tucked between Hermosa Avenue and Vienna Crescent just south west of the Delbrook Avenue  and Montroyal Boulevard intersection. At this point you have driven up Delbrook Avenue near to the base of the north shore mountains. This is evident in the photo above as you can see the slope of Mount Fromme behind the house.

The house at 468 Genoa Crescent was built for $13,000 in 1958 by E. A. Sinkler.  In 1962 E. G. Sinkler added a $250 sundeck. The sundeck also gave the house a covered carport. By 1971 Vernon C. Gouchee and his wife Gwendolyne M. were living in the house. Vernon was a salesman for Northland Commercial Sales.  In the 1980 City Directory the house was reported as vacant.  Jack and Jessie Pendygrasse owned the house in 1990.  Jack was employed by Chevron Canada.  The 1995/96 City Directory could not verify a resident at the 468 Genoa Crescent address.  At the time of the 2010 photograph this typical 1958 North Vancouver  house was a rental.


Demolition: Application for Permit in February 2010.
Photo: Taken in February 2010 by SW.

 

Thursday, March 25, 2010
Maplewood Farm Neighbour

The blue house with the brighter blue front steps at 343 Seymour River Place once had a different address.  Before 1960 it was part of Riverside Drive. But now both 343 and 405 which is Maplewood Farm share the street name of Seymour River Place.

The house at 343 Riverside Drive was built for $5500 in 1953 by G. Watt.  In 1959 he built a $150 carport.  As indicated by City Directories and telephone books Eva and George have lived there ever since. In 1960, the year his address changed from Riverside Drive to Seymour River Place, George was working as a yardman at Seaford Sales.  In 1971 and 1980 he was a laborer and sorter at Northcoast Forest Products. By 1990 George had retired. 

"The History of Maplewood Farm"

"In the early 1900's Mr. Akiyo Kogo first discovered this idyllic little spot nestled at the foot of Mount Seymour on the banks of the Seymour River. He could not have known then that this land would be the last remaining farm on Vancouver's North Shore.

During the twenties, the farm developed into a thriving dairy, delivering fresh milk and cream to customers from Deep Cove to Lonsdale for almost three decades.

By 1970, agriculture had all but disappeared from North Vancouver but luckily the farm land came under the protection of the District Parks Department, being preserved for future generations to enjoy a truly rural experience in our ever expanding urban area.

"Officially opened to the public in 1975, and now home to over 200 domestic animals and birds, Maplewood Farm strives to provide a unique experience, incorporating enjoyment, education and a recollection of the rural heritage of this pastoral 5 acre setting." Link.

Part of Maplewood Farm is directly behind the house at 343 Seymour River Place. The moo's and quack's of  the animals of Maplewood Farm can be heard from the backyard. The Watt family lived in the house for at least 57 years. That is three more years that the Facer family at 564 Granada who lived in their house about 54 years. (See Blog post February 23, 2010.)

Demolition:  Permit applied for in February 2010.

Photo: Taken in February 2010 by SW.

Link:  http://www.maplewoodfarm.bc.ca/

Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Originally Built in 1921

The original house built in 1921 at 719 East 6th Street cost only $1000. The owner was E. Henderson, the same owner that built a $500 addition in 1923. Although this was a very small one storey house, at least one of the other homes on the street that had already been built in 1915 was quite stately. That was the McAllister Residence at 736 East 6th Street. It was built in the Late Edwardian style and decorated with Craftsman motifs. It still stands and a description and photo are in the City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory 1994 page 76. Both of these homes are east of Queensbury Avenue in the Queensbury area of the City of North Vancouver. In the very early years it was thought by some that Queensbury Ave., not Lonsdale Ave. would become the main drag of the City of North Vancouver.

Starting in the 1930's there were many owners of 719 East 6th Street. By 1931 John T. Moriarty had become the owner. By 1940 it was Mrs. Mary Burgess. In 1950 the owners were May and Robert E. Cadwallader. Robert worked as a fisherman. In 1960 the owners were Patricia M. and Barry J. Gough. Barry worked as an importer. In 1971 the owners were Joan and Douglas Harrower. Douglas was a counterman at Asbestonos Corp. In 1980 Shirley and Robert L. Bitner lived at 719 East 6th Street and Robert was an electrician at Vancouver Shipyards. In the 1991 and 1995/95 City Directories Graham R. Eagle, a draftsman is listed as the resident. Diane Naylor is an additional resident in 1995/96. She was a chef at the North Shore Association for the Mentally Handicapped.

The telephone book lists both Graham and Diane as living at 719 East 6th Street in the year 2000. This was the year their home was photographed for Suzanne Wilson's Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home. That year Graham displayed his art work at the home during the Harmony Arts Festival described in the poster below. See Grahams are work  at Link below.

The photo of 719 East 6th Street was taken by Suzanne Wilson as part of her
Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home. 2000 photos of homes in the City of North Vancouver were photographed.


In the month of June 2007 Suzanne Wilson celebrated the City of North Vancouver's 100 birthday by distributing to their home owners copies of 1000 photos taken for the Y2K Project. At this time it was discovered that the home photographed at 719 East 6th Street had been demolished and a new home was under construction. The 2008/10 phone book seems to indicate that both Graham R. Eagle and Diane Naylor built the new home and are the present owners.  See Grahams art work  at Link below.


Photo: Taken in the year 2000 by SW.
Reference: The Year 2000 project was donated by Suzanne and Alan Wilson to the North Vancouver Archives and is available for viewing.
Link:  http://www.grahameagle.com/site_map.php?xyz=20

 

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY

RICHARD

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Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Decked Out for Every Holiday

During the photographing of over 2000 homes in the City of North Vancouver for the Year 2000 Project, Your House/Our Home (see March 22 Blog Post) it was noted that the house at 662 East 5th Street was decked out for every holiday. At Halloween a pumpkin scarecrow even guarded the front porch of the Wartime House (See March 22 Blog Post) from his chair next to the front door. Ghosts hung in the front bushes and side tree.

Since it was built in 1941 many families lived in this well decorated home. In 1945, right at the end of the war, it was Yvonne and John W. Mark. In 1950 it was William J. Ellison Jr., a roofer. In 1960 Ken A. and Marianne Woods were the owners. Ken was an electrician. By 1971 Donald J. and Mary Martin owned the house. Mary was a clerk at The Citizen Newspaper. In 1980 the resident was S. Dennis and in 1991 it was A. Geraldine Sandau. Perhaps Geraldine was new to 662 East 5th Street in 1991 for the 1995/96 City Directory notes that by then she had lived there for 6 years. In 1995/96 another resident is mentioned and that was Terrace S. McCabe.

In the month of June 2007 Suzanne Wilson celebrated the City of North Vancouver's 100 birthday by distributing to their home owners copies of 1000 photos taken for the Y2K Project. At this time it was discovered that the home photographed at 662 East 5th Street had been demolished and a new home had been built.

Photo: Taken in the year 2000 by SW.

Monday, March 22, 2010
Wartime House

"SECOND WORLD WAR HOUSES FOR WARTIME HOUSING LTD.

1941-1942

  "During the Second World War the City of North Vancouver was an important centre for shipbuilding activities.  The sudden influx of workmen for these and other defense projects necessitated the construction of a number of new homes.  As such, in 1941 two hundred new residences were built at 2nd Street and St. George's Avenue, and four hundred were constructed between Fell and Heywood Avenues, while McCarter and Nairne acted as supervising architects for all wartime housing in British Columbia.  In addition, two large buildings, each housing approximately one hundred and eighty bachelors, were built at the corner of 3rd Street and St. George's Avenue.  A number of these smaller wartime residences remain in the City of North Vancouver, however, due to their modular nature, most have been altered or added to over the years.  A recent in-depth study of wartime housing by J. Robert Faulkner has clarified its significance to the development of the North Shore, and identified those examples still remaining in the City; these are listed and described on the following pages."  City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory 1994, page 172.

The house at 648 East 3rd Street is one of these Wartime Houses and a photo and description are shown on page 174 of the City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory 1994. "This is another example of an H-1 single family residence. These houses were 24'x24' in plan, and also built in reverse, such as this model which has the double windows of the living room to the left of the entry."  648 was built in 1941 for $1605.  

In 1945 and 1950 the house was owned by Eric S. and Justine Dunham.  Eric worked as a burner  for the NVSR in 1945 and for the PDD in 1950.  By 1960 Justine was a widow and a factory worker at Schlage Lock.  In the 1968 City Directory the house is listed only as occupied.  And in 1975 there was no answer at all to their requests.  In 1985 the new resident was R. K. Crockett.  And in 1995/96 the occupant is listed as C. Jordan.

The photo of 648 East 3rd Street was taken by Suzanne Wilson as part of her

Year 2000 Photography Project, Your House/Our Home.  2000 photos of homes in the City of North Vancouver were photographed.  Approximately 800 of these were accompanied by some history from the present or previous home owner sometimes including personal photographs. 

In the month of June 2007 Suzanne Wilson celebrated the City of North Vancouver's 100 birthday by distributing to their home owners copies of 1000 photos taken for the Y2K Project.  At this time it was discovered that the home photographed at 648 East 3rd Street had been demolished and a new home had been built.


Photo: Taken in the year 2000 by SW.
Reference: The Year 2000 project was donated by Suzanne and Alan Wilson to the North Vancouver Archives and is available for viewing.