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April 1997 WEST VANCOUVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY Pages AND THIS IS THE WAY IT WAS West Vancouver Hosts an Antique Road Show Barb Johnson, Contributions Editor Last February 16th, a Sunday, the North and West Vancouver Museums presented 'Antiques & Collectibles - the Identification <&. Care Show' at the West Vancouver Seniors Activity Centre as a fund raiser for the two organizations: a personal opportunity to reflect on both the present and the past. Today is our version of Antiques Road Show, to be held at our Senior Activity Centre in West Vancouver. I have long been fascinated by the television show, originating in England and enjoyed seeing the old possessions displayed and particularly the stories told about these treasures. So, thus inspired, I wrapped up my Wedgwood jar with its tarnished silver decoration to take to the show. Perhaps one of the experts will tell me its age and whether I should have its silver refmished. In my earliest memories I can see this blue Wedgwood jar sitting in Mother’s china cabinet. (Mother was a pioneer resident in West Vancouver, Janet Hadwin). The jar had belonged to my grandmother. Mum said, and had stood in her mother’s cupboard back as far as she could remember. Her mother had travelled many difficult miles in her life and the Wedgwood jar accompanied her. The family had left the Glasgow area in 1860 to come to Canada; mother, father and nine children, my grandmother Margaret being the eldest of the children. The family got very seasick on the long voyage by sailing ship, all but Margaret. She nursed them all and still had time to fall in love with a dignified Scotsman, Thomas Beveridge, who was fifteen years older than Margaret. Thomas was emigrating to Canada and was happy to find that Margaret had relatives near Owen Sound who would help them. Margaret and Thomas were married soon after landing and were given a small log cabin in which to start married life. The Wedgwood jar had a special spot in their modest home and was much admired by all. But Thomas had itchy feet and, a few years later, hearing of good farm land in Manitoba, he packed up his wife, and by then, ten children to “Go West”. Mixed Up Babies? On March 27,1944, Steve Webster, then manager of the West Vancouver Transportation department, got a call from the Lions Gate Hospital advising him that his wife Betty had just made him the father of a daughter. He hurried to North Vancouver to embrace his wife and check out the new sister to their son. When he got there he was told that there had been some confusion and the little girl that had been represented as his was actually the daughter of Hilda and Norman Leeming. However, not to worry, his wife did have a baby and the trip had not been wasted. In the following years, could these two sets of parents be certain, without any lingering doubt, that proper identification had been made after the mix-up. By covered wagon, ferry across Lake Huron, and then ox cart, they made their way to Winnipeg and the Little Mountain area. Here they acquired farmland, house and unpacked the Wedgwood jar. When my mother Janet, the tenth Child, was married, she and Dad (another “Go West” young man) came to Courtenay, later to Vancouver; fortunately the Wedgwood jar came too! Though a second child, I always loved this family treasure and hoped some day it would be mine. My older brother beat me to it, but his son gave it to me after my brother died. He thought I would appreciate its history. And I do! As I set out for the show today, my jar carefully wrapped, I think about its history and look forward to other stories about long-enjoyed treasures. My jar is judged valuable, made well before 19(X), the expert tells me. “Do not refinish the silver”, he says, “it was made by a famous silversmith, just clean it.” There are at least seven experts here today, well representing various antique businesses in the area. Unfortunately, there is no speaker system that would allow the public to hear the expert comments on the many interesting items brought in for comment. A little disappointing from our point of view. However the show is considered a success as a money raising venture for our Museum & Archives. The Hadwin Wedgwood Jar WARING By: Norman Leeming Neither of the mothers was a bit concerned and chuckled over the confusion as they shared a room together. Betty Webster was sure that the baby placed in her arms immediately after delivery was a boy, and Hilda Leeming was equally certain that her child was a girl. After several years in the Okanagan Betty and Steve Webster returned to West Vancouver in 1967 and settled in Horseshoe Bay were they still reside. Hilda Leeming died in 1985 but her husband, Norman, still lives in Ambleside. And the babies? One of then is a violinist and personnel manager with the National Art Council orchestra in Ottawa, and the other teaches Grade 12 English at Richmond High school. Which is which?