*British Columbia Chronicles special bonus section for Members Only.*
There’s nothing quite like a mystery, and Victoria certainly has had its share over the past 180 years. Some, of course, were solved. Others, like that of the “small haunted cottage” remain unanswered—and as tantalizing today as when they first intrigued Victorians.
Read MoreThere’s no doubt as to the big news story of the day in this issue of the Leader. What makes it unusual is the fact that it’s in-house, so to speak, rather than the usual third-party.
Read MoreWhen, many years ago, I was interviewed by a radio announcer about my newest book, Outlaws of the Canadian West, he expressed amazement that we had ‘outlaws’ in British Columbia. In the American Southwest, yes, but north of the 49th parallel? He could hardly believe it.
Read MoreFirst off the mark for this issue of the Leader is a report on Duncan Council which had had a busy meeting, Mayor Pitt presiding. Ald. Whidden reported that the new concrete pavement of Station Street had been “thrown open” to traffic and all was well but for two drainage outlets which had clogged with fallen leaves despite the installation of wire grates.
Read MoreAs we’ve seen, Volcanic Brown had to make some momentous decisions in his lifelong career as a prospector, such as the day he amputated his own gangrenous toes with a pocketknife.
Read MoreThe front page of the Leader in 1921 looks nothing like the front page of a contemporary newspaper. Today, you have maybe three headline stories with teasers for those within. The October 13, 1921 Leader has no less than 12 stories of varying sizes spread over six columns.
Read MoreOf all the stories of lost treasure in British Columbia the legendary Lost Creek Mine has the most personal meaning for me. It helped to set me on the path to becoming a lifelong writer/historian. All thanks to my growing up in Victoria in the 1950s on a diet of, first, American comic books, then American magazines, movies and TV.
Read MoreThe headline that cries out on this front page of the Leader is a nasty one: ORIENTAL MENACE – Asiatic Exclusion League Aims Endorsed by Board of Trade Council.
Read MoreAs befitting its importance to the Valley’s economy, agriculture was the big news story of the day, Cowichan cattle having had “splendid success” at the Victoria Fall Fair.
Read MoreWhen we left off last week, California badman ‘Judge’ Ned McGowan had barely escaped a vigilante neck-tie for his alleged role in planning the murder of crusading San Francisco newspaper editor James King.
Read MoreBloodless it may have been, a tempest in the proverbial teapot, a farce, even. But bland, never!
Read MoreThis will be an abbreviated 100 Years Ago as fully one-half of this front page is dedicated to a report of the just-held Fall Fair and a list of prize winners.
Read MoreI have no idea what young boys read today. My favourites were Mark Twain (in particular Tom Sawyer which I’ve read a half-dozen times) and Robert Louis Stevenson.
Read MoreThe big news story of the day was the Union of B.C. Municipalities Convention in Alberni; the main topic of concern, at least for the Duncan delegates, Mayor Pitt and City Clerk Greig, was roads. (An issue that has ever been with us, it seems.)
Read MoreIn 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).
Read MoreSituated on Vancouver Island’s west coast, between Long Beach and Ucluelet, Florencia Bay (until 1930 known as Wreck Bay) marks the final resting place of the Peruvian brigantine of this name.
Read MoreOne of the downfalls of having to work most of the time is the number of lost opportunities. Over the years there have been many. One I truly regret is not having known Gerry Wellburn, father of the B.C. Forest Museum, today’s B.C. Forest Discovery Centre…
Read MoreFor the second week in a row the big news in the Leader was agricultural, this time headlined, GROWING SEED INDUSTRY - Cowichan’s Sweet Pea Far Superior to that of California -Harvesting Now.
Read MoreAgriculture, particularly dairy farming, is still a major player in the Valley economy, but nothing like it was a century ago. Back then, most residents operated their own small farms…
Read MoreYou won’t find this in Bob Dougan’s book, A Story To Be Told. It’s something he told me personally; of growing up on the family farm on Telegraph Road, Cobble Hill, and of knowing ever so vaguely, even as a child, that there was a skeleton in the family closet.
Read More
