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February 1997 WEST VANCOUVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY Pages My mother, Effie Sutherland (nee Vickery), who passed away January 17, 1997,at aged 80, lived her life from early childhood in West Vancouver. She was very much a part of the community fabric, reflecting its many changes over the years. Her parents, Arabella and Henry Vickery came from Ireland in the early 1900’s, settling first in SE Vancouver .They built their house, which is still standing, in the woods at 13th and Jefferson. Their three daughters, Cecily, Effie, and Betty can remember the many months of clearing the land and pulling stumps to make their home next to what was then deep forest. They had goats, chickens and ducks in the yard, as had many of the early pioneers in West and North Vancouver. West Van was a small country village at that time with only the little ferries to keep it connected to Vancouver. One of Effie's friends from those early days, Barbara Johnson (nee Hadwin), remembers roaming all over what was then a safe environment, making forts and playhouses in the huge stumps left over from the logging done in the early part of the century. They foraged for blackberries, blueberries, and salmon berries in what was then a very lush and undeveloped environment. They often ran into bears, but somehow the two species seemed to coexist with mutual respect. Mrs. Vickery took gangs of kids for hikes and picnics up Baby Mountain, (now called Sentinel Hill), as well as Hollybum Ridge, Black Mountain and Strachan Mountain. Being Irish, she delighted in telling stories of the little people and spine tingling ghost storieswhen they picnicked around the cemetery by the Capilano River. As an older teenager and young adult, at UBC and Normal School, Effie continued to be closely related to the local mountains. She was president of the Outdoor Club and was up many times with the club to Hollybum and Grouse for skiing and hiking. She married Bill Sutherland who built, together with his pals, one the first cabins in 1928 on the trail to Westlake up Hollybum. It was called ‘The Hillbillies”. In those days there were many dances held up at Westlake, Hollybum and later. High-View Lodge when the chair lift was built in the late 40’s. In the early days, everything, stoves, furniture and even pianos, was carried up the mountain on the backs of these early skiers and hikers. They would get off the ferry at Ambleside pier, hike up 15th Street to about Queens, where there was a halftrack up to the old Shingle Mill, or they would go up the trails at 15th or Effie Sutherland, 1916 - 1997 22nd Streets, which connected to Hollybum or Westlake Lodges. A lot of fun was had at the dances and many parties in the little community of cabins up Hollybum. They even had a telephone service between cabins with everyone being on the partyline. There were no secrets held! I can remember the excitement as a child, walking along the wooden sidewalks in the Village with my Mother going to the 5 and dime store around 16th and Marine to get a little penny candy. She would also take my sister and me to see an elderly friend that lived in the Fortune Cup Inn across from St. Mawes by the Sea at Dundarave Beach. My mother and all her friends learned to swim at Dundarave Beach, as did my sister Bette and I. To the east of the Pier were wooden floats that formed a pool with both one and three metre diving boards. One of the things I also remember from my childhood was the excitement of the May Day celebrations. My mother was on the decorating committee and every year would be frantically busy with the other helpers cutting, collecting, and decorating the May Day stand with fresh flowers and boughs from local gardens for the Queen and her entourage. In those days May Day celebrations somehow mobilized the entire small community into that wonderful event that symbolized the real camaraderie of the early residents of West Vancouver, as well as the beginning of Summer. Mom was also very involved with the early Red Feather and C.A.R.S. charity campaigns as well as campaigns for all the local. Provincial and Federal, Liberal candidates. She also supported the campaigns of many of the West Van mayors and councillors. One of the last candidates to benefit from her unwavering support is West Van Mayor, Pat Boname, as well as The Friends of Cypress Park, who are trying to stop further commercial development up Hollybum and Strachan Mountains. On the evening of her death, with her blessing, I was making an impassioned plea on her behalf for her beloved mountains, at a meeting at St. David’s Church. Effie was committed to the many causes and people that she thought would best represent the West Vancouver she loved so much. She was also able to show her love for West Vancouver by being an active participant and a founding member of the West Vancouver Historical Society. She will be sadly missed. January 25,1997 Diana J. Somerville (nee Sutherland) m HISTORY â-  ^ classifieds ONICS, Help Wanted â€" Volunteers 0001 _________Museum Gallery Guides Gallery Guides required to meet and greet exhibit visitors and sell gift shop items. Applicants should consider local history interesting and enjoy talking with the public. Local background an asset but not essential. Training supplied. 2 hr. shifts, Tues. - Fri. afternoons. Phone Deborah at 925-7295 Oral History - Transcribers Experienced Typists required to transcribe Oral History recordings. Interest in local history desirable, local background an asset. Dictaphone Transcription and Computer training will be supplied. Requires typing at Museum but schedule times are flexible. Contact Waring at 987-2810 or David at925-7295. rrwCT Oral History - interviewers Interviewers required to record Oral Histories. Good listeners interested in local history, a local background will be an asset. Training in recording techniques will be supplied. Requires the use of a Museum recorder but schedule times are flexible. Contact Waring at 987-2810 or David at 925-7295.