.jpg)
My long to-do list didn't get dealt with today, but a lot of lovely things happened that made it a great day. To start with, we had a visit from a couple who donated some artifacts from the 1950s, including a child's tea set in perfect condition. It was donated by the woman who owned it as a child, and it was in its original box. The china tea set was made in Occupied Japan, which makes it even more interesting. She also donated a few other things, including Better Homes and Gardens magazines from 1944 and 1956.
Then the mail arrived, and with it, a package from Eugenia Howson Brown of California, who was born in Revelstoke in the 1920s to Len and Irene Howson. Len was one of the first children born in Revelstoke, in 1890. Len's home and his parents' home (now Minto Manor) are two of the very fine heritage homes on Mackenzie Avenue in Revelstoke. Eugenia sent her mother's and her grandmother's visiting purses - small sterling silver purses in which they put their visiting cards. When they went to visit a friend, they would present one of their cards. Also included was a Visiting Book, in which Mrs. Irene Howson recorded the days on which each of her friends received guests. These are great artifacts representing the social history of the community.
Later this afternoon, we were holding a birthday party for a seven-year-old girl and her friends. I was just beginning a tour for the children when I was asked to help a visitor. I turned the tour over to our capable summer student, Andrew, and went to assist the visitor. She was visiting from California and was looking for information on her great-uncle, who lived in Revelstoke until his death in 1948. After checking on the internet, we discovered that her great-uncle's wife died in Revelstoke in 1988, and when we found the obituary in the newspaper, I recognized the name of the daughter. The daughter and her husband still live in town, so I gave them a call, and discovered that they were having their 55th Wedding Anniversary party at that very moment! They were delighted to hear from their new relative, and immediately invited her to the party. The visitor from California was absolutely thrilled, and quickly went off to visit her new-found family!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Monday, June 14, 2010
Multicultural Heritage Picnic - Event Schedule
Multicultural Heritage Picnic in the Park
Sunday 27 June 2010, 11 am to 3 pm
EVENT SCHEDULE
11 am
Bike decorating contest judging
Music from Steve Smith
Craft making and kids' activities (all day)
11.30am
Mayor David Raven opens event
Winner of bike decorating contest announced
11.45am
Jannica's Drum Song Welcome &
Métis Jigging performance
12.45pm
Egg & spoon, sack and three-legged races (for kids aged 5 - 12 yrs)
1.00pm
Music from Steve Smith
2.00pm
Best dressed heritage costume winners announced
2.00pm
Storytelling for kids:
Moosham George
Stories from the early days of the railway Traditional First Nations' stories
Cathy English
Once upon a time in Farwell...
3.00 pm
Tour of Farwell with Cathy English
Summer Heritage Tours
Here is the schedule for our Heritage Tours for this summer.
Tuesday, June 29: Cemetery Tour: 7 PM Meet at the Cemetery Gates
Thursday, July 8: Farwell Tour: 7 PM Meet at Farwell Park
Thursday, July 22: Cemetery Tour: 7 PM Meet at the Cemetery Gates
Tuesday, July 27: Downtown Tour: 2 PM Meet at the Museum
Wed, August 4: Farwell Tour: 7 PM Meet at Farwell Park
Monday, August 16: Farwell Tour: 7 PM Meet at Farwell Park
Tuesday, August 17: Cemetery Tour: 7 PM Meet at the Cemetery Gates
Cost per person for each tour is $5.00. We can also do tours for groups on request. Get together a group of 6 or more people and give me a call to arrange for a tour of your choice. For more information, contact the museum at 250-837-3067 or email us at revelstokemuseum@telus.net
Tuesday, June 29: Cemetery Tour: 7 PM Meet at the Cemetery Gates
Thursday, July 8: Farwell Tour: 7 PM Meet at Farwell Park
Thursday, July 22: Cemetery Tour: 7 PM Meet at the Cemetery Gates
Tuesday, July 27: Downtown Tour: 2 PM Meet at the Museum
Wed, August 4: Farwell Tour: 7 PM Meet at Farwell Park
Monday, August 16: Farwell Tour: 7 PM Meet at Farwell Park
Tuesday, August 17: Cemetery Tour: 7 PM Meet at the Cemetery Gates
Cost per person for each tour is $5.00. We can also do tours for groups on request. Get together a group of 6 or more people and give me a call to arrange for a tour of your choice. For more information, contact the museum at 250-837-3067 or email us at revelstokemuseum@telus.net
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Farwell Townsite - 125 Years of History
Join us in Farwell Park on Sunday, June 27th from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm as we celebrate Canadian Multiculturalism Day and the 125th Anniversary of the Farwell Townsite. We will have a variety of entertainment, food, and fun, including a bike decorating contest, and a contest for the best heritage costume (whatever your heritage may be!) We'll post the schedule here soon.
The establishment of the Farwell townsite in 1885 marks the beginning of our community's history.
In 1885, surveyor A.S. Farwell filed the map of his Farwell townsite, with Front Street as the main commercial area. The quickly growing frontier construction town was nestled along the riverbank next to where the first railway bridge was constructed. Farwell had applied for a provincial land grant in this area knowing that the Canadian Pacific Railway company would construct their line through Rogers Pass. He planned to sell his land to the company for their station and yards. The CPR disputed Farwell’s claim and refused to deal with him. They located their local operations to the east of Farwell’s land and began selling lots in what was known as Revelstoke Station, named after Lord Revelstoke, a British financier who had bought sufficient shares in the struggling railway company to allow them to complete the line.
Revelstoke quickly overshadowed Farwell as more and more businesses relocated close to the station. By the 1920s, the general stores and the large hotels were gone. A sawmill and shingle mill dominated the street in the 1940s and 1950s, but before long the street became wholly residential, with very few of the original buildings remaining. Join with us as we celebrate this important part of our heritage.
In 1885, surveyor A.S. Farwell filed the map of his Farwell townsite, with Front Street as the main commercial area. The quickly growing frontier construction town was nestled along the riverbank next to where the first railway bridge was constructed. Farwell had applied for a provincial land grant in this area knowing that the Canadian Pacific Railway company would construct their line through Rogers Pass. He planned to sell his land to the company for their station and yards. The CPR disputed Farwell’s claim and refused to deal with him. They located their local operations to the east of Farwell’s land and began selling lots in what was known as Revelstoke Station, named after Lord Revelstoke, a British financier who had bought sufficient shares in the struggling railway company to allow them to complete the line.
Revelstoke quickly overshadowed Farwell as more and more businesses relocated close to the station. By the 1920s, the general stores and the large hotels were gone. A sawmill and shingle mill dominated the street in the 1940s and 1950s, but before long the street became wholly residential, with very few of the original buildings remaining. Join with us as we celebrate this important part of our heritage.
Friday, May 21, 2010
The Queen's Birthday
Make sure to do something special on May 24th to celebrate the birthday of Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1837 to 1901. The early residents of Revelstoke always made the Queen's Birthday a reason for a fun community celebration.
The Kootenay Star of May 30, 1891 reported on a picnic held by the Independent Order of Grand Templars to celebrate the 72nd Birthday of Queen Victoria. They held the picnic on the banks of the Illecillewaet River, and arranged for horse-drawn buses to transport those who attended. The paper reported that "Queen’s Weather’ prevailed, the day being bright and warm, with probably an accent on warm.” Swings were set up in the trees, and baseball and other games were held. Ten women participated in the ladies' race, with Mrs. Coursier coming in first. Mrs. Coursier daughter, Isabel, later became the world champion women's ski jumper.
One of the highlights of the picnic was a tug of war between the men and the women. As the newspaper reported, “It remained, however, for the ladies to humble them in the dust, and this they did with the grace of polished dissemblers. Seven of the stronger sex thought they had a soft thing to outpull fourteen of the ladies. The pull began and thirteen ladies looked anxiously toward their Captain at the end of the line. She was equal to the occasion and puckered her lips to whistle. That was all that was necessary, and the twenty-eight fair hands let go as one, and seven men rolled over in the dust amid the derisive cheers of the assembled crowd.”
The crowd then enjoyed their picnic supper, "...after which the picnicers wended their way homeward, evidently pretty tired but serenely satisfied with the days outing.”
However you celebrate the Queen's Birthday, I hope that you have a lovely day. The museum will be open this Saturday, May 22nd but closed on the 23rd and 24th.
The Kootenay Star of May 30, 1891 reported on a picnic held by the Independent Order of Grand Templars to celebrate the 72nd Birthday of Queen Victoria. They held the picnic on the banks of the Illecillewaet River, and arranged for horse-drawn buses to transport those who attended. The paper reported that "Queen’s Weather’ prevailed, the day being bright and warm, with probably an accent on warm.” Swings were set up in the trees, and baseball and other games were held. Ten women participated in the ladies' race, with Mrs. Coursier coming in first. Mrs. Coursier daughter, Isabel, later became the world champion women's ski jumper.
One of the highlights of the picnic was a tug of war between the men and the women. As the newspaper reported, “It remained, however, for the ladies to humble them in the dust, and this they did with the grace of polished dissemblers. Seven of the stronger sex thought they had a soft thing to outpull fourteen of the ladies. The pull began and thirteen ladies looked anxiously toward their Captain at the end of the line. She was equal to the occasion and puckered her lips to whistle. That was all that was necessary, and the twenty-eight fair hands let go as one, and seven men rolled over in the dust amid the derisive cheers of the assembled crowd.”
The crowd then enjoyed their picnic supper, "...after which the picnicers wended their way homeward, evidently pretty tired but serenely satisfied with the days outing.”
However you celebrate the Queen's Birthday, I hope that you have a lovely day. The museum will be open this Saturday, May 22nd but closed on the 23rd and 24th.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
JD Sibbald
We have had some recent requests from family members of Revelstoke pioneers to do profiles of them on our blog and Facebook page. In the first of these, I will give a brief history of John Drinkwater Sibbald, a Revelstoke pioneer who arrived here in 1893, coming originally from the Lake Simcoe area of Ontario, where he was born in 1846. He settled for a short time in California, then moved to Yuma, Arizona, where he became involved in mining interests. In 1882, he returned to Canada, settling in Regina, where he was manager of the Western Milling Company. J.D. Sibbald moved to Revelstoke in 1893, starting in the flour and feed business, but soon gave this up to pursue mining interests, and to open an insurance and real estate office. He organized and was the first president of the Revelstoke Board of Trade in 1895. This organization still exists, under the current name of Revelstoke Chamber of Commerce.
In December of 1897, Sibbald was appointed as Gold Commissioner and Government Agent for the Revelstoke district. This was a political appointment, and when the provincial government changed in January of 1899, he was asked to resign. This created outrage among his supporters in Revelstoke, although the two local newspapers took opposing sides. The Revelstoke Herald supported Sibbald, and in their issue of January 14, 1899, they led with this headline: “The Sibbald Outrage – The Dismissal of J.D. Sibbald Characterized as Un-British, Unjust and Cruel – The Reason That the Position Was Wanted by a Friend of the Government is an Aggravation of the Wrong.” The opposing newspaper, The Kootenay Mail, published statements that caused J.D. Sibbald to sue them for libel, but the case was dismissed.
J.D. Sibbald met with a serious accident in 1904, when he was inspecting mining property at McCullough Creek, north of Revelstoke. A large rock came loose from the hillside above where Sibbald was standing, and it struck him in the back of the head, fracturing his skull and rendering him unconscious. A mining packer made the 75 mile trip to Revelstoke in a very fast 10 and ½ hours and early the next morning, Doctor Graham and Mrs. Sibbald set out on the S.S. Revelstoke, reaching the scene of the accident that afternoon. The next morning, they were able to bring Mr. Sibbald into Revelstoke where he was admitted to the hospital. The return trip took over 14 hours. Mr. Sibbald remained in the hospital for over two weeks.
Mrs. Amelia Sibbald was also very active in the community and was the first president of the Women’s Canadian Club of Revelstoke when it formed in 1913. This organization was very active in supporting the troops during World War I. The Sibbalds had two children: J.D. Sibbald, Jr., and Mrs. Kathleen Lloyd.
Mr. and Mrs. Sibbald returned to the family home in Ontario in 1919, where J.D. Sibbald died on September 19, 1923. The museum has more information on the family and would be pleased to provide this to anyone who is interested.
In December of 1897, Sibbald was appointed as Gold Commissioner and Government Agent for the Revelstoke district. This was a political appointment, and when the provincial government changed in January of 1899, he was asked to resign. This created outrage among his supporters in Revelstoke, although the two local newspapers took opposing sides. The Revelstoke Herald supported Sibbald, and in their issue of January 14, 1899, they led with this headline: “The Sibbald Outrage – The Dismissal of J.D. Sibbald Characterized as Un-British, Unjust and Cruel – The Reason That the Position Was Wanted by a Friend of the Government is an Aggravation of the Wrong.” The opposing newspaper, The Kootenay Mail, published statements that caused J.D. Sibbald to sue them for libel, but the case was dismissed.
J.D. Sibbald met with a serious accident in 1904, when he was inspecting mining property at McCullough Creek, north of Revelstoke. A large rock came loose from the hillside above where Sibbald was standing, and it struck him in the back of the head, fracturing his skull and rendering him unconscious. A mining packer made the 75 mile trip to Revelstoke in a very fast 10 and ½ hours and early the next morning, Doctor Graham and Mrs. Sibbald set out on the S.S. Revelstoke, reaching the scene of the accident that afternoon. The next morning, they were able to bring Mr. Sibbald into Revelstoke where he was admitted to the hospital. The return trip took over 14 hours. Mr. Sibbald remained in the hospital for over two weeks.
Mrs. Amelia Sibbald was also very active in the community and was the first president of the Women’s Canadian Club of Revelstoke when it formed in 1913. This organization was very active in supporting the troops during World War I. The Sibbalds had two children: J.D. Sibbald, Jr., and Mrs. Kathleen Lloyd.
Mr. and Mrs. Sibbald returned to the family home in Ontario in 1919, where J.D. Sibbald died on September 19, 1923. The museum has more information on the family and would be pleased to provide this to anyone who is interested.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
The Art of Embroidery
This Saturday, we will be holding a "Learn to Embroider" class at Revelstoke Museum as the first in our Pioneer Living Series. This new series is a part of our celebration of the125th Anniversary of the Farwell townsite.
As well as the opportunity to learn embroidery, we will be showing some examples of the craft. We will have some very beautiful embroidery work on display, including a few pieces done by Fred Maunder.
Fred Maunder was born in Ontario in 1876. He attended college, where he became a schoolteacher. He later became a Canadian Pacific Railway locomotive engineer. In 1907, he married Mable Cora Perrin, and she joined Fred in Field, B.C. In 1913, Fred became superintendent of Yoho and Glacier National Parks, and in 1914, when Mount Revelstoke National Park was created, he became the first superintendent of the new park.
In 1916, Fred Maunder signed up for overseas service, at the age of 40. He saw active service, and suffered shell shock and the effects of gassing. He was sent to recuperate in Oxford, England, and it was there that he learned to embroider, taught as a form of occupational therapy. He was soon creating beautiful embroidered pieces, and some of his work was displayed in the Hudson’s Bay store in Vancouver.
Upon his return to Canada, Fred Maunder resumed his work as Parks Superintendent until 1926, when he moved his family to Banff. Fred died there in 1929, after a bug bite in his eye became infected.
Fred Maunder’s daughter Marjorie married Alf Olsson in 1939, and Fred, John, Gordon and Larry Olsson are all grandsons of Fred Maunder. We thank the family for loaning Fred’s work for display.
Anyone interested in the embroidery workshop can call the museum at 250-837-3067.
As well as the opportunity to learn embroidery, we will be showing some examples of the craft. We will have some very beautiful embroidery work on display, including a few pieces done by Fred Maunder.
Fred Maunder was born in Ontario in 1876. He attended college, where he became a schoolteacher. He later became a Canadian Pacific Railway locomotive engineer. In 1907, he married Mable Cora Perrin, and she joined Fred in Field, B.C. In 1913, Fred became superintendent of Yoho and Glacier National Parks, and in 1914, when Mount Revelstoke National Park was created, he became the first superintendent of the new park.
In 1916, Fred Maunder signed up for overseas service, at the age of 40. He saw active service, and suffered shell shock and the effects of gassing. He was sent to recuperate in Oxford, England, and it was there that he learned to embroider, taught as a form of occupational therapy. He was soon creating beautiful embroidered pieces, and some of his work was displayed in the Hudson’s Bay store in Vancouver.
Upon his return to Canada, Fred Maunder resumed his work as Parks Superintendent until 1926, when he moved his family to Banff. Fred died there in 1929, after a bug bite in his eye became infected.
Fred Maunder’s daughter Marjorie married Alf Olsson in 1939, and Fred, John, Gordon and Larry Olsson are all grandsons of Fred Maunder. We thank the family for loaning Fred’s work for display.
Anyone interested in the embroidery workshop can call the museum at 250-837-3067.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
