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May 2006 Volume 23, Number 5 The Newsletter of the West Vancouver Historical Society In the ‘thirties, Caulfeild was iridescent with charm, more so, to me, than it is today. It was a gentle and almost unreal place, verging on the magical. It contained a mixture of people, some wealthy, others decidedly not so. Some were eccentrics, who helped shape the atmosphere of the little village. One was “all Blighty and plus-fours”. An inveterate walker and talker, he could be seen and heai'd almost every day, regardless of the weather, invariably clad in his customary golfing garb. But he was part of the local atmosphere and regarded as an essential element in the Caulfeild spirit. Of course, “being British” offered him much advantage, and speaking the finest “received standai'd English” did him no harm at all. The rest of the world were still “colonials” and looked up to the “Brits” as examples to be followed. At least, some felt this way. In the Vancouver of that day, recollected in shades of gray, the depression was raging. The contrast between Vancouver and Caulfeild was as stark as that between dust-bowl Kansas and the Magic Kingdom. Skunk Cove 1917 In the woods above Skunk Cove (later changed by correct circles to “Pilot Cove”) lived a woman who regularly rode the Pacific Stage from Caulfeild into West Vancouver. She usually brought her small dog along with her, and had an unusual claim to make about it. She alleged that it could talk, but that it was reluctant to do so with strangers around, especially bus drivers, who predictably expressed skepticism about her assertion. It should be said, though, that one of the drivers. Jack Orrey, was spontaneous and kindly in his treatment of her. She was a frequent traveler on Jack’s bus, and knew that cordiality and kindness would always greet her there. The earliest properties in Caulfeild were sold in 1909. Some of the original owners were familiar names to me. Frank Bodwell was a business man in Vancouver and lived on West Georgia Street. My paternal grandfather tried to see him concerning a possible trip to South Africa (July 20‘^ 1895) but was unable to find him in his office. Just as well: I might not otherwise be writing this now. Bill Chappell bought Caulfeild property before the Great War, and eventually built his home and business there. For years he ran the gas station, which was adjacent to his house on Marine Drive, just opposite to where “The Dale” intersects it. For children, especially, the greatest attraction of the Chappell bailiwick was the apple orchard, which was on a slope just behind their house and service station. Mrs. Chappell was much involved in the life of the community, and was an important part of the creation of St. Francis-in-the- Wood church. (Continued on Page 3)