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November 1996 WEST VANCOUVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY Page 7 LOCAL EVENT REPORT North Shore Heritage Weekend â€" “Better than ever!” Reported By: Helen Davies This year’s North Shore Heritage Weekend, held Sept. 21st through the 23rd, was a big success, with attendance increasing from last year. The event, a joint project of the Districts of North Vancouver and West Vancouver, as well as the City of North Vancouver and Bowen Island, saw a record number of events offered. It seems the biggest problem facing participants was deciding what event to attend. In West Vancouver, events were sponsored by the District of West Vancouver, through the Heritage Advisory Commission, the Museum &Archives; the West Vancouver Historical Society and the North Shore Heritage Committee. Running Saturday through Sunday, West Vancouver sponsored several events that began with Hugh Johnston of the Historical Society conducting his ever popular Ambleside seawall walking tour, A Short Walk with a Long Story. One of the participants was the great grand-daughter of John Thomas. Known locally as Navvy Jack, John Thomas is reputed to be the first white settler inWest Vancouver, arriving in 1867 and settling in 1870. Another popular event this year was a walking tour of Lighthouse Park and the Point Atkinson Lighthouse sponsored by the North Shore Heritage Committee and led by Don and Elaine Graham. In addition to its current exhibit '*West Vancouver Collects", the Museum & Archives hosted a very successfiil identification clinic. The public were invited to bring items to the Museum for identification by local antique dealers. Advice was also given on bow to care for these personal treasures. The response was overwhelming, with every appointment filled within no time. While the weather was not always cooperative, it did clear up on Sunday. This meant that participants on the Dundaiave walking tour, guided by historian Helen Davies of the Heritage Advisory Commission, were able to put away their umbrellas and enjoy a leisurely walk under blue skies through the historic Dundarave business and residential area. Once again, the West Vancouver Heritage Information booth proved very successfiil. Some 400 people stopped by to look at the West Vancouver Historical Society's display of Laureen Jones’ wonderful photo panels and to learn more about West Vancouver’s heritage. All in all the weekend was very successful and planning is already underway for next year. Watch in future editions of History-onics for more information. Heritage Week - February 17-23,1997 Watch for Information on upcoming events, including: Heritage Dinners, Historic Walking Tours, Essay Contest and another possible Collectibles! event. MEMBER’S CONTRIBUTION Early Memories By: Rubina Twigg My son Arthur Twigg is a member of the West Vancouver Historical Society, he always passes on to me your Newsletter to read. I enjoyed reading about the old North Vancouver General Hospital. Arthur was bom there April 25,1923.1 was put in the nursery, passed my time looking at the babies in their cribs, later moved into another room. The young nurse on duty was a very nice woman who stayed after her 8am shift to see my baby bom. Dr. Stainsby was my doctor. I remember the meals, they were so good. In those days, new mothers were kept in the hospital 2 weeks In the same Newsletter, a short story by Mrs. Joan (Luke) Skipper. Like the Lukes we lived in one of the cottages on Ambleside Beach. I always remember her Dad. He always wore a bowler hat and at times a tightly rolled up umbrella, when walking to catch the ferry to his office in Vancouver. They moved to Ottawa Ave. She mentions her neighbours, who also lived on Ottawa Ave., the Harrop family Dorothy and Frank Harrop, were our friends, Dorothy was the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Harris, Mr Harris was the first light house keeper of the First Narrows Lighthouse Arthur and my 2 Grandsons John and Alan all went to school in West Vancouver. I loved West Vancouver in the early years, there was a wooden side walk to the Hollybum Post Office. Our doctor was Dr Stainsby, our dentist Dr Seale, Mr. Gemmill was the dmggist. Mr. Jeffries our butcher, the Minion family had a feed store. Mrs. Minion’s mother, Mrs. Ross had a small bakery, our electrician Mr. Patterson, our plumber Mr Yates, Mr. & Mrs. MacGregor (not sure 1 have the correct name) had a drapery store. Bill Thompson had the Imperial Gas Station at 14th and Marine Drive. Of course we all knew the Captain’s mates and engineers on the ferries. Mr & Mrs. McGowan had the Ambleside Tea rooms, Mrs. Salter, Mrs. McGowan’s sister, helping them. My son was Purchasing Agent for the Municipality for 20 years. He decided to retire early in 1974 and moved to Oyster Bay. He still keeps in touch with his old friends in West Vancouver. I also remember going up 10th Street picking red and blue huckle-berries. We moved to Oyster Bay on Vancouver Island in 1940.1 will be 91 years old this September, still living in my 56 year old log house by the water. I will always remember my early years in lovely West Vancouver. Why not give your friends something very special for Christmas? Purchase WVHS gift memberships and each recipient will recieve a Gertrude Lawson House Christmas card, an acknowledgement of the gift and will receive a year of History-onics with all its news of early West Van.