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Pages WEST VANCOUVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY June 1998 ARCHIVES CORNER Mary Chapman, Archives Volunteer Coordinator Early Days in West Vancouver Entries from Elizabeth Lawson’s 1909 Diary Our Archives contains a large collection of the Lawson family papers and among them is a diary written by Elizabeth Lawson, eldest child of John and Christina Lawson. Elizabeth was 17 when the family first came to West Vancouver and she kept the diary from 1907 to 1910. Her diary has come to us through her daughter, Gertrude Wilson, a portion of which is reprinted here with her permission specifically obtained for a Nov. 1993 publication. The following entry was written on her 20th birthday and seems timely in its reference to the early operation of the West Vancouver Ferries in view of our recent feature presentation on the Uons Gate Bridge which became the primary reason for discontinuing the West Van ferry service. On Nov. 6,1909, my 20th birthday --1 got a lot of nice presents -ring from Mrs. Hill, Jewel case from Aunt Annie, a locket and a chain from Norman. Norman was in for an hour or so, then we went over to Hollybum in the new ferry boat, the “West Vancouver”, its first schedule was put up on my birthday. The Capt. was Capt. Black - since then Capt. Findlay has taken his place. In the evening I went to Lisa’s. Just at present we are pretty busy at Normal (School) having practice lessons in teaching. We do not care for these rooms either and think we shall move after Xmas. The family was living in temporary accomodation in Vancouver. Over at Hollybum Aunt Maggie and Mr. Harte are living in our house till their own is finished. Aunt Evelyn and Sandy and the baby are staying with them too. Papa has got a donkey engine to clear the land for the golf links. Thompson’s house and Harte’s house are to be plastered next week. I might add that the wharf was really finished a month ago. Dec. 17,1909-On Sat. Nov. 20 Dune mama and I went over to Hollybum. Dune and I stayed over Sunday and came back on the “West Vancouver”. On Saturday Evelyn and Sandy left for town. They had a cook, Mrs. Miller, there. She has left lately. On Nov. 28 we had terrible rains. The street was washed completely out in places-Heather Street and Bridge St.,where the ravine had been filled in. On Dec. 2nd we all went to the Boy Scouts’ concert in the Opera house. It was splendid. The Boy Scouts have just recently organized here. Vancouver is the first place in Canada to have them. Both Dune and Howard both belong. Researchers Take Note By: David Wardle, Community Records Archivist One of the most popular items in terms of the “ooohhs and aaahas” it solicits from researchers are a handful of our original copies of the West Vancouver News. The West Vancouver library has a much more complete set on microfilm but handling the original copy and turning the yellow pages is more real than viewing page after page on a micro film reader. The earliest copy we have dates from July 6th, 1928, very nearly 70 years ago, when the paper was a weekly publication. The paper began operating in 1925 and in its initial years, was operated by F. Francis Lovegrove and Harry Hodgson. The first copy we have was published during a provincial election year and as such is full of articles where the candidates slug it out in a dignified manner that defined the era. Jack Loutet was running on behalf of the Conservative Party against Ian McKenzie of the incumbent Liberal government and A.C. MacMillan, an independant candidate. Various meetings were held in West V^couver; at Ambleside Hall and at the Blue Dragon Inn over in Whytecliff. The topics of local interest included the completion of the Pacific Great Eastern Railway and the fiscal state of the provincial government. The Conservatives under leader S.F.Tolmie, a vetrinarian, won the election. West Vancouver Like other papers of the day, the West Vancouver News was full of little tidbits that give snapshots of the era. The municipal Museum&Archives council meetings were reported and matters before the council from the previous week included: a petition asking for a street light to be placed at the comer of 25th and Palmerston; a Mr. Tinney's application to build a duplex was refused ; and the schoolboard requested the council to clear the ditch on Jefferson Avenue to prevent it from ovmmning into the grounds of Pauline Johnson School The classifieds had advertisements for bungalows in Altamont with full plumbing., fire place and furnace selling for $3,500. If that was too expensive, a cottage with a garden and a fine sea view was available for $1,000. There were ads for electricians, general handymen and tutors. • The regular advertisements listed all sorts of local businesses and their fares. Smith's Grocery at 24th and Marine and part of the Red and White chain was selling Perrin's Choco-Opera Creams for $.33 lb, corned beef at $.19 a tin, a pound of coffee for $.95, and Blue Ribbon Mayoimaise for $.35 a bottle. ‘Researchers Take Note*, Continued on page 4