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are attending as many public information meetings as possible to PRESIDENT'S REPORT inform the public and members of by Ann Brousson Council of our concerns over the fate Our last Historical Society's of the Lawson House. We would Newsletter was published in strongly urge our general membership November, 2012. Just prior to to do the same if the opportunity Chnstmas, the Society was pleased to arises. help sponsor "A Cottage Community The selling of our centennial book Christmas", a 1980's musical play set "Cottages to Community" is gradually in our own Horseshoe Bay. This was winding down. We have less than 150 the first stage play initiated by The K books left, with The Ferry Building and Theatre on the Kay Meek stage. Red Horses in Dundarave still selling Claude Breeze, of the Meek Theatre, the remaining copies. gave us a guided tour backstage prior Another project which has to the performance on opening night. captured our attention is an idea which We are so very fortunate to have a grew out of the book preparation. facility like the Kay Meek within our John Moir, the curator of the book, has own neighbourhood. The generosity proposed that, through our web site, of contributors like Kay Meek must we should try to set up a "Virtual never be forgotten. Kay was also one Museum" on-line. We have a of the donors from the municipality committee of people: John Moir, Bruce when the Gertrude Lawson House was Young, Yvonne Bower, Don Grant, Rob being acquired for the community in Morris, Gerry Reynolds (Bas Collins' the 1980's. wife) and myself. We have been told that the future use of the Gertrude Lawson House will shortly move up the ladder of projects to be discussed by Council. As of now, we are told no decisions have been made. However, whatever takes place on the site of the new Public Safety Building will have an impact on the future of Gertrude Lawson House. If the House is left in its current condition, the street to the north (Esquimalt from 16th to 17th) appears, on maps handed out by the District, to be swallowed up in the new development. Parking is a huge issue for people wanting to access the Lawson House now, without losing another whole block of available parking spots. Our board members We are all making an attempt to gather histoncal information about life in West Vancouver As John says, we are not taking baby steps we are still on "all fours". However, over time we hope to see some progress and to memories of growing up in West Vancouver Some of these stories were collected at the time of the writing of the book, but we know there are more out there. If you can jot down any of these little stories in a concise form and direct them to the Gertrude Lawson mailbox, or send them on-line to vwhs@shaw.ca. we would appreciate it. What was your house like in the 40's, 50's, or 60's? What were your living conditions like? What special characteristics did your neighbourhood have? What events occurred that formed part of your childhood? Do you remember the war years? Where were you when the King died, when the bridge went out, when the Upper Levels was constructed? Do you remember when apartments arrived in West Van, when the British Properties became popular, when the sea-wall was built? Obviously your submissions won't all tailor themselves to what we are attempting to display, but we will appreciate having them anyway. The next generations will want to know what life here in West Vancouver was really like for its residents, (fodder for the next book?) that our Photo o f Nick Williamson holding h i s son near 26th and Marine Drive . N i c k W i l l i a m s o n was the owner o f t h e Hollyburn Pavilion dance hall on 17th Street and Bellevue Avenue. C o u r t e s y o f West Van Archives. 3409.WVA.PHO [2]