Editorially speaking…
After going missing for 50 years, this striking chandelier from the ca 1927 Nelson’s Capital Theatre has been returned. (Photo by MyNelsonNow)
Its twin also disappeared about the same time but was returned during a 1980’s restoration. Until recently, this chandelier hung in the living room of a private Prince George area home and was once owned by an antiques dealer whose son, Mike Mana, identified it as a match to the one hanging in the theatre. He has graciously returned it.
As Allison Girvan, the community engagement coordinator for the Capitol Theatre, explained, “There are photos from the late ‘20s where there are two chandeliers hanging, so we always knew there was a second one; we just thought it had disappeared over the course of time, either destroyed or just gone completely.
"It was a shock to say the least when somebody reached out, out of nowhere, saying they had a chandelier from the theatre.”
According to the news report in MyNelsonNow, the two chandeliers are "unique to their time, with clouded glass on the lower section of the fixture with faux candles and chandelier bulbs located on the top. Regular bulbs occupy the central housing area of the fixtures, which...makes them very distinctive".
“The style is not something I’ve seen very often at all,” said Girvan. “It’s not the style that leaps to mind when you think chandelier with dropping jewels and things. It’s very much the art deco kind of vibe.”
In short, a happy ending!
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An application to the Municipality of North Cowichan for permission to hunt bullfrogs for food has been in the news.
Bullfrogs are an invasive species, originally turned loose upon the land by unknown idiots, and, like many other invaders such as grey squirrels and broom, to name but two of 100’s of undesirable immigrants, now dominate their environments.
We can look at this from the biological/environmental viewpoint; I prefer the historical perspective. We can thank (or curse) human intervention for deliberately encouraging the Canada goose, introducing skylarks, pheasants and cottontail (brown) rabbits, as well as the aforementioned broom, gorse, bamboo, Daphne, ox-eye daisy and a host of other flora and fauna.
Today, many of them have become pests and are dealt with accordingly.
My fascination in this subject is the story behind their introduction, the who and the why. Always, it’s the story! One day, I hope to get around to writing a post with the thick file of news clippings and printouts I’ve compiled over the years on what’s, to me, a fascinating subject.
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Like many historians I’ve always been interested in stories about heritage houses, buildings, structures, etc. In fact, I’ve just finished writing a book on the subject: Built to Last: A Social History of Duncan’s Finest Character Homes & Buildings.
But I, like others, I’m sure, instinctively think ‘old’ when I think heritage. This isn’t really so, there’s what is called modern heritage. In other words, heritage from the 1950’s up.
Centennial Square. —City of Victoria
A perfect example is Victoria’s Centennial Square Fountain, created as a gift in 1965 from Saanich, Esquimalt and Oak Bay for Victoria’s centennial celebrations. Architectural historian Martin Segger describes it as “the first major piece of public art—modern public art—to be commissioned and erected in Victoria.”
Its proposed replacement by a children’s splash pool has sparked numerous letters, for and against, to the Times Colonist. As yet no final decision has been made but public support for the fountain appears to be growing.
For a building or, in this case, a fountain, to become ‘heritage’ it has to survive. I remember Duncan’s ‘old’ Safeway building with its distinctive arched roof, said to be one of only two or three like it in the province.
When it was demolished, 10 years or so ago, for a new SaveOn store, I was convinced that the architecturally unique laminated beams would be saved and repurposed.
They were bucked into short lengths with chainsaws to fit the dumpsters.