Editorially speaking...
It’s not likely that any Chronicles readers knew Frank Clapp who died in Victoria several weeks ago.
I can’t say that I knew him as a personal friend but, shall we say, as a professional acquaintance. His career with the provincial Ministry of Highways and Transport, then as the Land Survey officer in the Victoria office, certainly didn’t get in the way of his hobby—ships.
Frank loved anything to do with them and became an historian who was respected by all who knew him or who accessed his voluminous contributions to maritime lore. Among these were several booklets on Highways ferries and a real book, Ships of British Columbia Waters.
Frank was meticulous in his research which he shared freely with anyone who asked. I can only imagine the size of his personal archives which, I’m sure, the family will see goes to the proper home, perhaps the Maritime Museum of B.C.
I met him when I was still a teen but already writing about history (and ships, of course) in the Colonist and it was Frank and Terry Walls, owner of a hobby store, who invited me to join the newly-formed Victoria branch of the World Ship Society.
Both nice folks and I remember them with fondness for their encouraging me to record provincial and maritime history. I’ve written 1000s of articles on both subjects since then and it’s a privilege for me to be able to acknowledge my mentors along the way.
Hence this small tribute to a real gentleman, Frank Clapp.
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Some good news on the heritage scene for a change.
The ca 1916 CNR station house which, although structurally sound, was threatened with demolition because it can no longer stay where it is, has been saved. Moving to a new location is already underway then it will be renovated for use by community groups and, I hope, as a museum.
The province’s railway heritage took a major hit with the damage of Kettle Valley Railway bridges during the November flood waters. We don’t want to lose any more of our few surviving icons, particularly when salvation is both doable and purposeful.
It would have been a tragedy had the Hope station house, which looks more like a private residence today, been demolished. —Wikimapia.org
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Cultural cleansing continues across the nation.
Among the latest examples is in Newfoundland Labrador which is considering changing the name of its ca 1850, new-classical Colonial Building in downtown St. John’s. The landmark structure which most resembles a pre-Civil War cotton king’s mansion (think Gone With the Wind) housed the colonial government then served as the provincial legislature for the first 10 years after Newfoundland joined Canada. It’s currently undergoing renovation for use as a museum.
According to the provincial Tourism Department it’s necessary to rename the building “as part of [the government’s] ongoing efforts in support of Indigenous reconciliation and in keeping with current public sentiment/discourse surrounding the concept of colonialism”.
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My (hopefully) last word on the recent occupation of Ottawa by mandate-protesting truckers and supporters. According to the latest news update the three-week-long protest cost local merchants and the city 10s of millions of dollars in lost business and policing costs.
All for what? “Freedom,” the protesters said.
What a contrast to the On-to-Ottawa Trek of 1935 when unemployed Relief Camp Workers who’d been all but abandoned by federal and provincial governments were fighting for gainful employment and dignity. For that, as we’ve seen in previous Chronicles, they were halted in Regina with bludgeons and bullets.
“Only in Canada, you say?” asked the long-running Red Rose tea ad. “Pity!”
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