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March 1994 WEST VANCOUVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY Page 7 COMING EVENTS THURSDAY, MARCH 24 at 7:00 pm WEST VANCOUVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY -ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING -In the Auditorium of the Cedardale Centre, 595 Burley Drive, Off Taylor Way DATE OF FOLLOWING MEETING: Thursday, May 26,1994 MARCH 29 to JUNE 28,1994 - Every 2nd Tue. AM MUSEUM VOLUNTEER TRAINING- WEST VAN MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES -At Gertrude Lawson House, 680 I7th St. W.V. - For Museum Gallery Guides & Education Docents - For Information Please Call 926-9254 MAY 7,1994 - Saturday 10 AM to 4 PM PORT DAY - NORTH VANCOUVER-PACIFIC TRAINING INSTITUTE At Waterfront Park ofFEsplanade W est of Chesterfield MUSEUM & ARCHIVES ----Special Request--------- Shields Dam and Flume In support of a special project, the Museum & Archives are urgently looking for photos and memories of the Sheilds Reservoir Dam. Built by Robert Shields on Lawson Creek Near Millstream Road in 1917, the dam was used to form a flume pond for shinglebolts. Of particular Interest would be pictures of the dam or flume during its operation but later pictures are also welcome. In lateryears the flume trail was a main access route to the ski area. Photographs of the flume are also needed. This unique Crib Dam is a heritage site and is of significant historical Interest. The photos are needed for a special display that is being assembled. For further information contact Jacquie Gijssen at 926-9254. Arthur Delamont and The West Van Band For more information on Mr. D., Jack Condon, and the West Vancouver Boys Band see page 10 of this issue. A BACKWARD GLANCE In answer to a continuing request from the Editors of History-onics many members have submitted their Personal Recollections of the Past. Thefollowing was submitted by BiU Newman of Courtenay, BC. BiU was formerly known in West Van as Bill Nutt. MRD’S WEST VANCOUVER BOYS BAND Like most members of the Arthur Delamont West Vancouver Boys’ Band, I joined the group at age 12 in grade 6 and played throughout my schooling in Pauline Johnson Elementary and West Vancouver Jr. and Sr. High Schools. In my case this occurred during the period 1938-1944. I can vividly remember Mr. Jack Condon, Band manager and our Pauline Johnson principal and grade 6 teacher, promoting the idea of joining the Band by means of enticing stories about the wonders of performing imder the baton of Mr. D. (the affectionate name his Band boys called him). Mr. Condon also recmited members from Holly bum School, West Vancouver’s only other elementary school at that time. I chose the trombone for some unknown reason - perhaps because of a long reach - and with a used, battered instrument costing $7.50 I launched my musical career. Every Wednesday after school and Saturday mornings we rehearsed for approximately two hours under the stem eye of Mr. D. He had a wide reputation for producing top flight boys’ bands but he demanded full commitment. Both Jack Condon and our parents impressed this fact upon us as we practised at home in order to be accepted into the senior level Band. Once one made it in to the senior Band, all sorts of interesting public performances and trips ensued despite the fact that World War 2 somewhat curtailed these activities. These were very busy times for the band. There were the regular spring concerts in the West Van High School auditorium, the annual Remembrance Day ceremonies, the music festival competitions in the old Lyric Theatre, and of course the May 24th parades with the following performances at Ambleside Park . Every band member will remember repeating those short Maypole dance selections up to 24 times. In the summer there were the Union Steamship trips to Newcastle Island, Bowen Island and Squamish (Mr. D's favourite, “Colonel Bogey on Parade”, was always performed on board ships and at destinations), and the Band Camp held each summer on Keats Island. Continued - See "Mr D's Boys Band" • Page 9