September 8, 1921
What was happening a century ago this week from the front page of the Cowichan Leader.
September 8, 1921
The big headline of the day—wall to wall, in fact—is a reminder that
Fall Fair Entries Close Next Saturday at 6 p.m.
In a world of constant change it’s heartening to know that the Fall Fair aka Cowichan Exhibition, is still with us (even if, in pandemic times, in a virtual state).
The real news story of the day is about a Labour Day Reunion, this one by Cowichan Soldiers. (The First World War in which 100s of Cowichan men had served and many were killed, was not quite three years in the past, remember.) In 1921 the reunion was looked upon as “the last summer holiday,” Labour Day having been inaugurated in Canada in 1894.
Much of the program involved sports—so many, in fact, that the editor complained (mildly) of the difficulty one had in “keeping abreast of the happenings”.
“There were three main theatres of action—where children raced, where their elders competed on the greensward and where on a raised platform a young Cowichan showed its prowess in the manly art of self defence. Then one might watch the onslaught on ice cream and other delicacies at a long booth, or forget the whole scene in listening to the Victoria [Great War Veterans Assoc.] band under Conductor Miller…”
Watching the boxing “one was struck with the sportsmanship and gameness of the competition. They were almost entirely drawn from Duncan Boy Scouts and Shawnigan Lake Preparatory School. The efficacy of proper training under proper organization was abundantly demonstrated”.
W.H. Batstone was praised for organizing the event and former army champion Maj. E.W. Grigg and principal E.W. Lonsdale were the judges.
For two full columns the Leader listed every event and every prize winner. Many a scrapbook entry was made that day by proud children participants and their equally proud parents.
Children’s sports were to be a highlight of the Fair also, now just a week away, with a total of $50 allocated for prizes. This year the Cowichan Poultrymen had officially merged with the Agricultural Society, surrendered their treasury of $84 and both groups as one were working to stage a separate poultry show in November.
The Duncan Board of Trade had held its half-yearly meeting at the Shawnigan Lake Athletic Hall with 80 in attendance, including a “motor lorry load” from Chemainus. Perhaps as a result of their meeting site, the first order of business was security at the lake where most homes were occupied in summer only and thus subject to break-ins. In a petition residents, seasonal and permanent, asked that the lake have its own provincial policeman. The Board agreed to endorse their request and to pass it on to the proper authorities.
After numerous committee reports were reviewed and filed, directors returned to the matter of changing the group’s name to Cowichan Board of Trade because it included members from most of the Valley. After considerable discussion, and a compromise title of Duncan-Cowichan BoT, it was proposed that members settle the mater by a plebiscite.
The president then gave a review of the Board’s various projects and successes, including having convinced the post office to give daily mail service to Lake Cowichan and having encouraged the founding of three-days-a-week banks at Cobble Hill Village and Chemainus. An outstanding issue, but still being actively pursued, was convincing the CNR to build an extension into Duncan.
At a quiet and brief meeting of North Cowichan Municipality, councilors decided that it was best to roll over until after an election a request for a grant by the King’s Daughters’ Hospital to help their campaign to build a $5000 extension.
It was ditto for the KDH at Duncan City Council after a short meeting.
Mr. and Mrs. LC. Brockway had arrived in Duncan after a three-week trip from Unity, Sask., in their McLauglin car. They’d previously made the trip twice, by CPR and CNR, and recommended motoring for the scenery. The couple had taken up residence at the corner of Craig and Ingram streets where, a licensed embalmer, Brockway was going to operate the former Whidden undertaking parlour.
A concert which included a piano duet by Miss Monk and Miss Barbara Chapin had filled the Glenora school house in aid of the United Farmers of B.C.
The Leader reminded readers of the forthcoming fair while acknowledging that summer weather had not been kind to some vegetables and fruits. Nevertheless, “Next Wednesday afternoon will see each district hauling in its produce and willing workers will be busy until midnight putting them in position. The rivalry will be keen and good natured.”
Some things, thank goodness, haven’t changed over the past century.
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