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Page 2 West Vancouver Historical Society May 2004 WEST VANCOUVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY Offices Gertrude Lawson House 680 17'^ Street West Vancouver, BC V7V 3T2 Phone: 604-925-7299 Principal Officers President I "* Vice President Past President Secretary Treasurer Hon. Archivist Directors: Pamela Dalik Carol Howie Hugh Johnston Doris Lewis Newsletter Team Publisher Production & Distribution Editor Tom Taylor Vacant Dave Barker Vacant Joan Cox Rupert Harrison Janis Johnson Bud Langley Joan Skipper Tom Taylor Tom Taylor Tom Taylor It is Society Policy: That every effort is made to ensure that all articles are accurate, but the Society takes no responsibility for inaccuracies. That opinions expressed in contributions and presentations are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Society. That corrections, contrary opinions and contributions are welcomed. That excerpts from HISTORY-ONICS must be attributed to the WEST VANCOUVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY and reproductions in whole or in part are not permitted without the express authorization of the SOCIETY. Edith Hawirko Edythe (Allen) Hawirko is the eldest of four children, all of whom attended Hollyburn School. Thanks to the inspiration given her by Mary (Burns) Chapman, she is one of the most dedicated volunteers, both in our museum and the historical society. Our principal at Hollyburn, Mr. Donald Davidson, was a man of few words, whose shyness was often mistaken for ill temper. One day Edythe was in her room chatting with Mr. Edgar, when in walked Mr. Davidson with an arm- load of scribblers. Mr. Davidson pointed to the scribblers, then to Edythe. Both Edythe and Mr. Edgar had a chuckle as Mr. Davidson left the room. Of course, the scribblers were duly placed on each desk. As a Hollyburn School chorister, Edythe remembers how the school consistently came second at the music festival in Vancouver. She mentioned that Mr. Davidson presented each singer with a chocolate bar at the end of the competitionâ€" so delighted was he with the choir’s efforts. And the mailout team is delighted that Edythe is a part of it. She must partly owe her superb nature to Mr. Davidson’s ministrations and the splendid school whose principal he was. Mr. Davidson boarded in a house on Esplanade Avenue, about two blocks from the school. Edythe had a younger brother, George Allen (who died December 31st, 1998), and two younger sisters, Margaret Allen (later McBride) and Mary Allen (later Fairfield). Once, Edythe lamented to her mother: “Mother, I just can’t do arithmetic!’’ Unbeknownst either to Edythe or her mother, Mr. Davidson heard this. (The Allens lived at 12th and Keith.) The next day, at school, Mr. Davidson said to Edythe: “If I didn’t think you could do mathematics, I wouldn’t be trying to teach you how to do it.’’ One day, years later, Edythe boarded my step-father Fred “Pep” Pepper’s bus at Pemberton and Marine Drive. This was the first time her newborn would ride a bus. “Where did you get thatT he exclaimed. “Where do you think?” replied Edythe. Old May Days Learn more about former May Queens on pages 3 (Queen Norma); 4, (Queen Jean); 9, Queen Peggy (the first ever); 9, Queen Dale. Grand Theft Auto January 31, 1931 The auto of J.G. Sentance, 1342 Duchess, was stolen on Wednesday night, the 12"’ instant, and was later found upside down and badly wrecked at Sherman. The party or parties responsible have so far not been located, but it is thought that following the accident they escaped by water, as a boat and oars are missing from the Sherman cannery. (WVN)