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Juno 1996 WEST VANCOUVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY Pago 9 MEMBERS CONTRIBUTIONS My Early Years in West Vancouver By: Joan (Luke) Skipper I arrived in West Vancouver as a baby in 1923 with my parents, Jim and Vera Luke. Our first home was one of the cottages on Ambleside Beach. My father could walk along the beach to the ferry at Ambleside dock, and once across the inlet, on to his office on Pender Street. My mother told me that sometimes, at high tide, the water would come under the house. After the arrival of my sister Audrey, we moved to 2432 Ottawa Avenue, a double lot on the south side extending to the lane off 24th Street. I can not recall any other north south lane in the area. Across from us lived Dick Beard and next to him lived Peter and Pauline Greer on the north west comer of 24th and Ottawa. On the north east comer lived Myrtle Duckworth and across the street, the Wilner family on the south east comer. The Gisby and Harrop families lived in the block east of 24th along Ottawa. To the west on Ottawa beyond me were the Lynns and the Murrays. (Not the Maijorie Murray who lived one block higher). My father bought 6 lots at 23rd and Palmerston, (along the “pipeline”) and planned to build a new home on this property. I recall watching him clear land and cut huge trees, with the help of friends who came to help him on the weekends. On this property was a wide trail leading up Hollybum Mountain. The property was sold in the early 30’s in order to pay for a major operation my mother had to have. I can recall times when we would come home from Vancouver on the North Vancouver ferry and transfer to the PGE to travel to Dundarave. From there we would walk the six or seven blocks up the hill to our house. We took swimming lessons at Dundarave pier (in the “tank”) and spent many summer days swimming there. Audrey, our younger sister Angela and I attended Pauline Johnson School, walking along wooden sidewalks on 24th Street for part of the way. Both Audrey and I went on to attend Inglewood Jr/Sr High School until we moved to Victoria at the beginning of World War 2. Strolling Sentinel Hill â€" Post 1942 By: Jeremy Dalton Sentinel Hill in the 40’s and 50’s was a quiet neighbourhood, like any other in West Vancouver in the “good old days”. Our home faced south, overlooking the Lions Gate Bridge (it’s still there!) and we enjoyed walking around the Hill with friends and neighbours. When I say “around the Hill”, I mean along Braeside to its end, and then through whatever trails there were. There were no roads on the north side of Sentinel Hill in those days, and very few homes anywhere except on Anderson Crescent, Braeside and Inglewood. But there was plenty of adventure, even walking with the old folks. (I cannot tell any stories in this account of what my brother and our friends did in those days, but even coming home from scouts at St Christopher’s was an adventure.) My mother was the great walker of the group. My father did join us when he was not working, but his strolls of the Hill came later, after he retired. As a young person, and somewhat stubborn (no longer of course), I often tired of the walk and would lie or sit down on the street refusing to move. I remember one time I lay at the comer of Braeside and Inglewood and wouldn’t budge. My mother and her neighbours carried on towards Anderson and I would have been there still if someone had not taken pity and dragged me home. Over the years the walks changed, as roads appeared (ie, Burley Drive), and other opportunities presented themselves. For example, I remember well when Younette Drive was extended around the east side of the Hill, opening up a whole new world. My other recollection of walking the Hill would be after Park Royal opened (1950). Then we could travel down the Hill through private property and trails, coming out below Evelyn Drive. You can still trace those trails today as my daughter did recently. Fond memories, and I am pleased to say the family home is still ours, even though my walking parents have passed away. PROGRESS REPORT The Historical Significance of West Vancouver This project was started nearly a year ago and this is my first report. We have had some delays but we are now back on track. My first endeavour was to establish the geological history. With the help of some geologists I’ve documented this part in general and I hope that one of the volunteers may author a paper on this. My second task was to identify the historical changes in ground cover. Again this was difficult because I found no technical papers on this subject. Fortunately, with the help of some foresters, I now have a general picture of the plant and tree sequences related to the historical significance of the watercourses. In the meantime, I am still looking for a Palaeobotanist or Forester. Waterways Gordy Knight, Project Leader A third task involves our First Nation's people and their involvement with the creeks and streams. I need help with this phase also as 1 understand there are no written records. Actually, this will be part of the largest task which will be gathering the oral histories of these watercourses, but this will come later. In the meantime. I’m still looking for volunteers for my committee. There is not a lot of work involved; more to sit down together and map out how to present this project to the public. Should you wish to become involved in any aspect of research I would appreciate your help. So if you are interested phone me, Gordy Knight, at 922-7358.