Ski History Project

Revelstoke Museum and Archives is embarked on an exciting new project. During the year, we will be compiling photographs and information for a major new book on ski history in Revelstoke. The book will chronicle the early recreational ski clubs in the 1890s, the rise of competitive skiing in 1915, and advances in technique and equipment right up until the present day. Ski jumping on Mount Revelstoke will be highlighted, as well as distance and downhill skiing, and what we believe to be one of the earliest heli-skiing photographs around. The book will be 144 pages, with fine-art quality black and white photographs with accompanying text.

During the year, we will be conducting interviews and compiling information as well as additional photographs and artifacts. As a result, we will be mounting a major exhibit on skiing in addition to the book project. We are especially seeking information on the downhill and slalom runs on Mount Revelstoke and the early development on Mount Mackenzie. Please contact us if you can contribute to this project.

In the course of the project, we are already uncovering amazing stories and photographs. One of my favourite stories is Bob Lymburne’s ski ascent of Mount Begbie in 1932, as chronicled in the Canadian Alpine Journal. At the time of this feat, Bob Lymburne was the new Amateur World Record holder in ski jumping, having achieved a jump of 269 feet earlier in the year. On the 15th of May, 1932, Bob Lymburne left town at 4 am and drove as close as he could get to the base of Mount Begbie. He was not too far up the mountain before he put on his skis and set a fast pace, not knowing how long it would take him.

Lymburne described his ascent in the journal: “On reaching the foot of the glacier I was surprised to find that it was just 8 a.m. I enjoyed the wonderful ski-ing that is to be had on the long, smooth slopes of the glacier. After two hours ski-ing on the glacier, I halted and enjoyed my lunch. This consisted of raw eggs, oranges and raising which, in my opinion, forms the most satisfactory lunch for strenuous exercise.”

He continued upward to the highest peak. “In places there were crevasses four feet in width, thousands of feet in length and so deep that I could not see the bottom. The safe passage of these was much facilitated by the fact that I was wearing skis. Climbing to the last pinnacle, I was forced to remove my skis as it was necessary to hack out holes in the ice with my ski poles, in order to get a foot hold. The ice-walls were exceedingly steep and I had to go very carefully as a misstep would have led to a two thousand-foot fall. Before attempting the last bit, I sized up the situation very carefully, and convincing myself that I could complete the climb, reached the summit at 1 p.m.” He started to descend about 2 p.m. “After many wild, swift rides down the mountain side, the valley was reached and I arrived at Revelstoke the same evening at 6 p.m.”

The accompanying photograph shows Bob Lymburne in his glory days around 1932.

What a Guy!

In my last Brown Bag History session, I talked about John Guy Barber, known locally as Guy. I referred to him as our honourary ghost. One of the most frequently asked questions in the museum is whether we have a ghost. After working here for over 25 years, I would have to say that either we do not a ghost, or I lack the required sensitivity to notice such a presence. However, after answering the question over and over I decided that perhaps we should have a ghost, and if we did, I would like our ghost to be Guy Barber.

Guy Barber came to Revelstoke in 1890 as the young community’s first resident jeweller. He was born in either the United States or Manitoba, depending on which census you believe, and received his apprenticeship as a jeweller and watchmaker in Winnipeg before coming first to Kamloops and then to Revelstoke. His father was born in the United States, and his mother was probably born in Manitoba., unless we believe the 1891 Revelstoke census, where he claimed that his mother was Cuban and was born in Cuba. Was this the truth, or was this a young man in his early twenties having a bit of fun with the census-taker? Our reseach shows that his mother was indeed from Manitoba, so for now we will go with the young man’s hijinks theory.

Guy Barber appears in many photographs in the museum’s collection. Many of them are sports pictures, such as the 1891 ski club and the 1909 curling club and the snowshoe club; others show Guy in front of his jewellery store on Front Street, and his later store on Mackenzie Avenue. He also appears in several photographs of local entertainments, such as the 1911 Fireman’s Masquerade Ball.

The early newspapers are full of writeups telling of Guy Barber’s talent as an entertainer. There is hardly a local event that didn’t have Guy listed as a soloist or part of a quartette. His voice was said to be particularly good, and he was also a talented banjo player. He also played alto horn in the city’s first brass band in 1897.

In the mid 1890s, Guy Barber’s name was often linked with that of Lyda Edwards. They were partners in tennis, and at other local events. In November of 1897, though, Lyda married Charles Holten, a Revelstoke pioneer who had made a small fortune with a mining claim in the Lardeau. The museum now has many of the personal papers of the Holten family and they contain some material on Guy Barber, including photographs of Guy’s father and sister, and photographs showing Guy and Lyda on outings together, even while Charles Holten was still alive. What was the connection between Guy and Lyda? Were they friends, or more than that? Guy never married, but does that mean that he didn’t have any children? We’ll never know for sure, but there were rumours.

The early photographs of Guy Barber showed him as a tall, dark, slim man. As time passed, he became quite heavy. He played for the “Fats” team in the “Fats” versus “Leans” Red Cross benefit baseball game in 1915, and continued to grow in girth over the years.. In the 1930s, Guy moved back to Winnipeg, where he passed away in 1937 at the age of about 70.

The photograph shows Guy Barber, far left, with the Revelstoke Ski Club, circa 1891. F.B. Wells is at the right. He brought skis in from Minnesota and sold them in his men's clothing store.

Ode to Eva Lake

A recent acquisition to the archives was the poems and personal papers of Thomas Pagdin. Mr. Pagdin was born in Yorkshire, England in 1868 and came to Revelstoke in about 1909. In the 1930s and 1940s he began publishing poems in the Revelstoke Review newspaper under the pen name “Ivanhoe.” He eventually published a book of poems, including the one here, inspired by a hike to Eva Lake on Mount Revelstoke National Park.

Ode to Eva Lake: August 11 – 17, 1936:
A pilgrim – tired, yet not disconsolate;
The winding trail was long and steep:
The load was heavy and (for such is fate),
It grew in weight enough to keep
The panting pilgrim longing for trail’s end,
And wishing to unburden and unbend.

‘Twould seem the stiffest climb is at the crest;
The hardest fight toward the goal:
The prize being greatest when unyielding zest
Brings conquest to the anguished soul.
The weary traveller with head bowed down
Attains the heights, – the cross preceeds the crown.

A generous comrade plied the rod and line,
And played the game as sportsman ought.
So very deferential he and fine –
When but a single fish he caught.
Imperative and firm was his insistence
It MUST be mine; – futile my resistance.

Petite maiden, enthroned in the hills,
Didst hear the “Songs of Araby”,
And many another song, that throbs and thrills
I sang thee; or some soft lullaby?
You must have heard – you or your alter ego:
To me there came a sweet accompanying echo.
We saw thee, dear, distressed – under the lash –
They fair face fretted by the storm:
For lightning’s lurid flash, and thunder’s crash
That shook our shelter, charmed thy form.
A golden dawn eclipsed the storm scene:
You smiled again – sublimely and serene!

Farewell thou sweet oasis, and adieu!
Till kindly providence our trysts renew.
May God and courtesy of men keep thee
From fashion’s rude parade for ever free;
Secure in thy supreme beatitude,
That they who prize thy sacred solitude
May prove their love, woo thee, and win thy smiles
By pilgrimage through intervening miles.
Ivanhoe

Wishing everyone the best of the holiday season and all the best in the coming year. My New Year’s resolution will be to update this blog on a more regular basis!

Photo: A group of hikers at Eva Lake in 1918. From the Earle Dickey collection.

Politics in Revelstoke 100 years ago

There seemed to be a lot of talk this year about the need for change in the city government, but our mayor won by acclamation, and the four incumbent councillors who were running all won their seats. There is definitely a precedent for this. One hundred years ago, municipal elections were held annually in January. In 1911, there was a lot of criticism of the city council, to the point that the mayor, Dr. J.H. Hamilton, felt compelled to write a letter to the editor of the Mail-Herald newspaper:

“Mayor’s Message: Think It Over – Statement by Mayor Hamilton: Revelstoke is on the eve of prosperity. The city is in a most enviable position. Let us forget petty differences and all boost for the city. Don’t knock those who are doing the best they can for the city, but help them along. This city has been so mixed up with petty strife that any man offering himself for public office might as well get out of the city. We all have our homes here and should pull together to make the city second to none in the Dominion.”

Whether the Mayor’s letter had the desired effect, or whether the rest of the citizens were afraid to put their names forward, the entire council that year was elected by acclamation, for the first time since Revelstoke was incorporated in 1899. One of the aldermen, Ed Trimble, resigned, because he had not formally accepted the nomination, and it was well into February before his seat was filled.

Alderman Hector McKinnon was determined that the city would find ways to cut expenditures and even suggested that the city could save $96 each year by cutting private phones to the City Cleark’s home and the Fire Chief’s home. Alderman McKinnon’s methods were popular with the public, because he was voted in as alderman each year until 1914, when he successfully ran for Mayor. McKinnon ran for Mayor 11 times; he was acclaimed five times; won five times and was defeated only once. Hector McKinnon was a popular and eloquent Mayor who presided over many important events, including the visits of the Prince of Wales in 1919 and 1927. Hector McKinnon ran a pool hall and cigar store in the building that now houses the Nickelodeon Museum and also ran Standard Dairy on land below where Downie Sawmills now stands. McKinnon tragically lost his life in a barn fire in 1929.

There was concern this year that less than 35% of the voters bothered to come out to the polls. Our forebears were definitely better in this regard, as most elections saw over 90% voter turnout. In one election in the 1920s only six eligible voters failed to cast their vote.

Remembering in Revelstoke

On Remembrance Day in Revelstoke, there are many people to remember. The cenotaph carried the names of over 100 people from this city and district who died in World War I, and over 30 who died in World War II. This city was deeply affected by both world conflicts. During World War I, twelve men from Revelstoke and district died at the battle of Vimy Ridge alone. Here is a brief biography of each of those men.

John Henry Anderson was a well known young man in both Revelstoke and Malakwa. His name is etched on the Malakwa Cenotaph as well as the Revelstoke Cenotaph.

George Edward Bell had lived in Revelstoke since 1902, working as an engineer on the CPR. He had a sister who worked as a nurse here and is the great uncle of Gordon Robinson of this city.

John Collia came to Canada in 1907 with his father and sisters to join his brother, Bruno Collia. Bruno died here at the age of 101. There are numerous relatives still living here in Revelstoke.

Thomas Copeland was born in North Bend, B.C. and came here as a young man and worked as an engineman on the CPR.

Owen Harold Davies was born in Wales and worked as lineman for the CPR. During his service he earned a Military Medal.

Thomas Fleming was born in Revelstoke in 1893 and was working as a teamster in his father’s business. Thomas may have perished on his birthday or close to it.

Harold Freeman was the son of a Methodist minister who served in Revelstoke during the latter part of the war years. He was a student when he joined up.

Edwin Ibbotson was a bank clerk with the Canadian Bank of Commerce in Revelstoke. His family had close ties in the Salmon Arm area and his name is also etched on the Salmon Arm Cenotaph.

Reginald Lorraine Johnson was born in England and was working as an electrician in Revelstoke when he joined up.

James Alfred Kirk lived in Arrowhead with his parents and had a brother, Henry Kirk, who died shortly after the war and is now buried in Arrowhead. James was buried in France.

Leo McKinnon was the brother of the Mayor of Revelstoke at the time, Hector McKinnon. Mayor McKinnon had the sad duty of dedicating the newly planted maple trees around the Courthouse in honour of the Canadian soldiers one month after the death of his brother Leo. Many family members still reside in Revelstoke.

John Donald (Rory) McLennan was a champion amateur wrestler before the war and was working as a railway conductor prior to joining up.

Vimy Ridge was just one of many battles the Canadian forces fought in during World War One. All told 60,000 Canadians lost their lives in this conflict, 100 of them from Revelstoke. This “Great” War affected Canada and Revelstoke profoundly and the world is still dealing with its consequences. The Canadian Army’s victory at Vimy Ridge helped to form the nation of Canada as we know it today. Ordinary men (and women) from Revelstoke participated in these great events and helped to shape the city and country and world we live in.

Revelstoke Secondary School

Yesterday, November 9, 2011, was an exciting day in Revelstoke, as the new Revelstoke Secondary School was formally opened. The building is visually stunning, and is a wonderful asset to our community. Congratulations to all who were involved in this project.

Revelstoke’s first High School opened in September of 1904, in a small building that had previously been used as an annex to Revelstoke’s first elementary school. The first teacher was C.B. Sissons, who went on to become a distinguished Canadian academic. He was invited here at the suggestion of his cousin, Rev. James Woodsworth. Woodsworth was a Methodist Minister who had spent a short time here. He later became the founder of the Canadian Commonwealth Federation – now known as the New Democratic Party.

C.B. Sissons received a salary of $1500 per year when he came to Revelstoke. He was very active in sports and outdoor pursuits, and spent his summers working on A.O. Wheeler’s survey of the Selkirk Mountains. He taught his students Latin, Greek, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, English literature, composition and grammar, geography, history, physiology, book-keeping and drawing. In the first year of the High School, Sissons had 23 students. One of them, Geoffrey Haggen, became a Rhodes Scholar and became Dean of Law at the University of Leeds, England.

By 1914, the small wooden school was very overcrowded, and a new brick building was constructed by local contractor O.W. Abrahamson.
The Mail-Herald of January 31, 1914 reported, “For years high school students and teachers have been hampered by the unsanitary and uncomfortable conditions existing in the old ramshackle building in which they have been quartered. Now the energy and perseverance of the school board, backed by the city and government, have resulted in building in this city the finest high school in BC.” Visitors who came to the opening ceremony were asked to bring at least one book to donate to the school library. An annex for Home Economics and Manual Training was built in 1938, and an addition with gymnasium in 1951. Prior to that, only outdoor sports were played, but soccer was a problem, because the ball would go across Third Street and over the bank into the river, and the school was only allowed to purchase one ball a year.

In 1965, the High School was moved to Tenth Street. There were already two schools at that site: Mountain View Elementary and Joseph Hammond Junior High School. The schools were renovated to became the new high school, and Mountain View Elementary was moved to the old high school building. The new Revelstoke Secondary School is a positive step forward for education in Revelstoke.

The photograph shows the original frame high school with the class of 1912.

Columbia Park Street Names

Today in Brown Bag History, we were talking about street and place names. It's a very broad topic, so we focused on names in the Columbia Park subdivision. The name Columbia Park dates back to 1898 when the Dominion government granted 7 villa lots to a local committee for park purposes. When Revelstoke was incorporated in 1899, Columbia Park was turned over to the new city. Many of the street names in the area come from early farmers in the area. Oliver Henry Allen had a brewery on the river bank where the Trans-Canada Highway bridge is now. Hugh Allen Smythe, W. Maddocks, Job Maley and Jock Malcolm were all early farmers in the area. George Laforme was a miner and packer in the Big Bend region, and also had a farm where he grew strawberries and other crops.

Cleland Road is named after James Cleland, who wife was the sister of farmer Jock Malcolm. Cleland had farmland in the area but was also a Revelstoke policeman, and later chief of police from 1916 until his death in 1920. Cleland was only 40 years old when he died of influenza. Although 1920 didn't see the number of flu deaths that occurred in 1918 and 1919, it was still considered serious enough that only 10 people were allowed to attend his funeral. This wasn't the end of tragedy for the Cleland family. In June of that same year, 1920, James Cleland's 14 year-old daughter Marjorie died in a boating accident on the Columbia River. Four young people were boating in high water and attempted to "jump" over the breakwater when their boat overturned and all of them drowned. Marjorie's body was finally recovered in August and she was buried beside her father. That same month, a serious fire on the Cleland farm almost destroyed the family home. Mrs. Cleland and her remaining children moved to South Africa, where they had other relatives. Several years ago, some of the South African relatives visited the museum and learned more about the family's time in Revelstoke.