Editorially speaking...
Well, it appears that summer has finally arrived—for awhile, anyway, if you go by our long, drawn-out wet, rinse-and-repeat spring weather.
For many, summer is a time to ease up, to sit on the patio with a cold drink, to just...........relax......
But it’s business as usual for your editor of the Chronicles, with another weekly deadline. However, this one has a slight difference. If I can’t put my feet up, I can at least let someone else do the heavy lifting. So, this week, I’m in debt to faithful friend and reader Bill Irvine, in Victoria, who was inspired to dig into his incredible memory bank by this recent post from the Shawnigan Lake Museum:
“Austrian born Otto Netzer bought the large island on the northwest side of Long Island. He built a large house and lived year-round on the island commonly referred to as Netzer’s Island.
“Mr. Netzer had a red boat with a 14hp motor which was one of the fastest boats on the lake in the 30s. He apparently only knew one speed — full throttle.
“He was responsible for putting out the first navigational markers on the danger areas of the lake. He would remove them each winter and repair and repaint any that needed work and have the markers restored before the following summer.
“He was considered a real gentleman and a good neighbour who was always willing to help.”
Here’s what Bill wrote in response:
“As a boy of 12 years in 1949, I had the privilege of vacationing often at the cottage of my great-aunt and uncle. Their property in those days extended from West Shawnigan Road down to the lake. A drive past that location today one sees probably dozens (or hundreds) of homes on the property they once owned with one cabin on it.
“During the intervening over-seven-decades, vivid memories fail me but looking on Google.earth it seems their property was close to 1680 W. Shawnigan Rd. Given enough time, I could find it from the water.
”My grandmother, Carrie Milligan, had a sister named Annie. Annie (1891-1956) married Stan Okell.
“Stanley H. Okell (1888-1956) went on to become Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs in Louis St. Laurent's government after the Second World War. He held this post until 1953 when he retired. Stan had an illustrious military career serving in both the First & Second World Wars as a senior officer in the Canadian Army rising to the rank of Major in the latter campaign.
“Major, S.H. Okell. and wife, Annie, lived in a fine home at 24 Douglas Street in Victoria. In the 1970's, this home was converted to a multiple dwelling containing ten living units. When one considers Stan & Annie lived there childless for many years, one can appreciate what a grand home this was. It still stands today as part of a larger retirement rest-home complex, and the granite stone stairway and granite front porch are still intact. The house has a southern exposure and is only yards from the sea.
“In 1949, after the death of my aunt, Maxine (nee Irvine) Kissinger, her son, Leonard, was adopted by Stan & Annie Okell and took their last name. Leonard Junior, went to live at 24 Douglas Street and was enrolled in the best private school in town. He got to enjoy weekends at the cottage on Shawnigan Lake and received much love and attention from his new parents.
“The Okells felt that Leonard Jr. would not receive the care and attention he needed from his father, Leonard Kissinger. Len Kissinger came from a very old and large Victoria Catholic family. The Kissingers, who lived on Fairfield Road, were headed by the patriarch, John D. Kissinger. John D. was a successful lumberman living in Victoria and stalwart, and large financial supporter, of the Victoria Diocese. Kissinger Lake — west from Cowichan Lake — is named after him.
“So this is how I came to be vacationing at Shawnigan Lake in the 1940s. Leonard Jr. needed company and I was it. Lucky me.”
Yours, aye, Bill
But Bill wasn’t finished. Check out this wonderful photo of the Kinsol Trestle, taken from Bill’s drone.
Thank you, Bill Irvine, for your reminiscence and for this awesome shot of my favourite trestle!
Oh, and if there are any other stories out there...
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