PART II
Sea
Island Heritage Society
Richmond,
B.C., Canada.
Documenting the Past NOW
PRESERVING AND PROMOTING THE HISTORY OF SEA ISLAND
Sea
Island Missing Persons, Questions and Answers
AND STUFF
Sea
Island Heritage Society (SIHS)
CAN YOU HELP?
Information and information sought:
– updates
and additions January
2012
CONTACTS: Sea Island Heritage
Society (SIHS)
Mail: 4191 Ferguson Rd, Richmond,
BC, Canada, V7B 1P3
Eunice Robinson, Pres. euniceATccnet.com
(604) 596-2811
Sharon Bordeleau, Sec-Tres. sdbordelATrogers.com
(604) 278-4359
Don Phillips, V Pres. donphillips2ATshaw.ca
(604) 589-3611
Grant Thompson, Dir. tuggerATtelus.net
(604) 241-7977
Colleen Brooks, Dir colbrooksATtelus.net (778) 888-0246
Doug Eastman, Dir. dougeastmanATshaw.ca
(250) 756-1762
Barb Nielsen, Dir. barbaralynnATdccnet.com (604)591-5893
SIHS Website: http://www.seaislandhome.org/
Please replace AT with @ to correspond by email.
Now that you have found us, please help us find you. Or if
you're already found, please keep us up to-date on how to keep in touch. Thanks.
1)
Happy New Year everyone. We trust that this year brings you and yours peace and happiness. You’ve made a wise choice if, on your annual list of resolutions, you’ve
added the idea to submit your family history or to share Sea Island memories to
help document Sea Island’s rich history.
2)
Help us get the facts straight. If you see any errors or ommissions on our
website please bring them to our attention.
Contact any member of our 2012 Executive at the above numbers or email
addresses. Thx.
3)
Carole Lefler was delighted to report that Mrs.
Challoner and Carole exchanged Christmas cards in 2011. Of course, from the early days, you may
remember Mrs. Challoner as Miss L.E. MacKenzie, Sea Island Elementary School’s
long time, favourite, grade one teacher from the early 1950’s, 60’ and 1970’s
and perhaps beyond. Who else recalls
Miss MacKenzie or Mrs. Challoner?
4)
We’re still looking for a permanent home in the lower
mainland for our growing collection of
Memorabilia, photographs, documents and
our many display binders, etc.
There’s
been little or no progress in our efforts since Sharon Bordeleau raised the
issue in December 2007. Sharon
highlighted the fact that the Sea Island Heritage Society is committed, to
documenting the history of Sea Island from the early pioneers until the
present. She said, “We are collecting
stories and pictures that depict the life and times of an era that has pretty
much disappeared. We also are
documenting the businesses that have contributed to the community in the past
and those that have replaced them.
We
have an enormous amount of material that is strewn about in several households
making it difficult to properly display and promote our efforts.
We
are a group of dedicated volunteers and the Society has been in existence since
2001, with several members being active in collecting material for many years
previous to that.
My point is, we
need a permanent home. We need this as
well to qualify for the many grants that are available to historical projects.” Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions in
this regard? Sharon added that placing a
small commemorative information plaque in or near the old
Burkeville Firehall on the history of Sea Island somewhere on the Island would
be of historic value. And
remember that your support by buying the annual $5 membership all helps in this
regard too!
5)
Seen in passing: I like pigs.
Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals. (Winston
Churchill) on the website of former Sea Island resident Sabine Eiche: http://members.shaw.ca/seiche/.
According to one
of the old school class registers, Sabine Eiche of 329 Douglas Cres., Richmond,
Vanc., B.C. attended Sea Island School Grade 1, Div. 8, 1956/57, Miss L. E.
MacKenzie. We have a school class photograph in what we believe
to be the same 1956-57 grade one year.
It is also posted online at: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/e/a/s/Douglas-J-Eastman/PHOTO/0010photo.html
Can you please help identify the kids in this
grade one class at Sea Island School photo.
Kindly send us the names by their I.D. numbers. i.e. Fred Eastman is #26
in this photo? So far we have identified the following. Do we have any of them incorrectly
identified?:
Sea Island School Division 8, Grade one class
1956/57 - Miss MacKenzie:
Top row l-r: 1) _____ __________, 2) Paul
Jackson, 3) _____ ___________, 4) Richard Alexander, 5)_____ ___________, 6)
_____ ____________, 7) Dewar Boutilier.
Second Row down from top, l-r: Miss MacKenzie,
8) _____ ___________, 9) Mike Mogul, 10) _____ ___________, 11) _____
____________, 12) _____ ___________, 13) _____ ______________, 14) Kathy Stokes
(?)
Third row down from top, l-r: 15) _____
___________, 16) _____ ___________, 17) Noreen Lidkea, 18) _____ ___________,
Butts ?, 19) _____ ___________, 20) _____ ___________, 21) _____ ___________,
22) _____ ___________, 23) _____ ___________, 24) Val Hammell (?)
Bottom Row, l-r: 25) _____ ___________, 26)
Fred Eastman, 27) _____ ___________, 28) Danny Hamblin, 29) _____ ___________,
30) _____ ___________, 31) Gary Legault.
Sabine
Eiche responded in a December 30 2011 email, “Alas, I can't identify anyone on
the 1956-57 class photo, and I wonder if it isn't the 1955-56 class instead. I
have quite a few old class photos, the earliest from 1958 (don't know what
happened to '57), and I see that they are always taken in the spring, in March
or April, with the date of that year. By this reasoning, a photo dated 1956
would be of the '55-'56 class. I definitely remember that Miss MacKenzie was my
teacher. She was a lovely lady. My mother couldn't praise her enough.
The only
other name I recognize on your list is Legault, and I have a vague notion that
he had a sister (Janice?) who was in my grade. If I remember correctly, they
lived on Hudson, just around the corner from Douglas Crescent.
I've written
a column for the Richmond News for sometime in January that I've entitled
"Down Memory Lane in Burkeville," and it focuses on the Tom-Boy
supermarket and the candy store at the end of that 'strip'. I've got a photo
taken late 1956 of my mother and me standing in front of Tom-Boy. It was taken
shortly after our arrival, so perhaps November 1956. I am hoping they will
publish it with the column.
I have
lots of memories of Burkeville from those years, 1956-59 (after which we moved
to Leslie Road), and I would love to share them. I'd also love to hear
more about other former Burkeville children.
If you
have any recollection of the other stores that were in the Tom-Boy 'strip', I'd
be grateful if you could share them with me. I remember the
candy-newspaper-tobacco store being the last one in that string, but I don't
know anymore what came in between.
Who can
help us out with photos and names of the businesses on the little strip mall near
the corner of Miller Road and the Airport Road before the Russ Baker Way was
built?
6)
Please note that our membership is in dire
straights. If we have a contact address and/or email for you, you may
receive a personal appeal to help support the Sea Island Heritage Society. The membership annual fee remains at a low
costs of only $5.00 each per year. For
those of you that are already SIHS Members, thank you for your continuing
support.
7) Cambie
Junior High Alumni is on Facebook www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=17848684100
A group for all those who attended Cambie Junior High School in Richmond BC.
The school was destroyed by fire, but the memories remain...
Sign up for Facebook to connect with Cambie Junior High Alumni. Please let us know if you run across any
former Sea Island classmates.
8) Can anyone else help identify more of the students
in photo “J” on our Sea Island Elementary School Class Pictures webpage. Someone recently thought that the girl in the
middle row, second from the left was Joan Tewnion, yet Joan’s name doesn’t show
up on the copy of an old school register we have.
Boys on bottom row identified so far incl:
Keith Abbott,
Reg McDonald,
John Cruikshank
Larry Volen
3 names missing
you'd think out of the 7 boys in the bottom row that we'd be able to ID more
than just the 4 so far.
other "boys" names we have on that old
class register are:
Robert Frederick Berry, 116 Douglas
Robert Davidson (no address given)
Norman Glass 342 Croyle (sic) Ave
Douglas Stanley Parker 205 Handley
Thomas Paul, 668 Heakes Ave
Victor David Samuels 3412 Normandy
John Scobel (no address given)
John Winters (no address given)
James Edward Whiting 133 Catalina
Who else does anyone recognize in photo “J” ….or any
of the other posted class pictures.
Thanks for you help.
Bob Hubbard replied in Dec 2011 that Bob Davidson
lived at 54 Lancaster Crescent. Thx Bob.
9) With his above December 29, 2011 email, Bob Hubbard
kindly submitted a scan of a photo of the new fire truck that the Burkeville
Firehall (R.F.D. #4) received. The photo
shows both the old pumper and the new one.
Bob thought he recognized one of the gentlemen in the photo as the first
Chief, Wilf Clark of the Richmond Auxiliary Fire Service (R.A.F.S.). Thanks Bob.
SIHS is not sure of the photo date; likely
1952, but could also be 1947-1950ish. Mr.
E. J. Burke was the first Sea Island Volunteer Fire Brigade Chief about April
1944.
The
Burkeville Volunteer Fire Brigade was formed in 1952 under Chief W. E. (Wilf)
Clark. We’re still documenting anything
to do with the little Fire Hall on Lancaster Crescent Does anyone
have any stories to share, mementoes, photos or a newspaper clipping about it
or its personnel?
10) Does
anyone recall when we posted in our previous “Missing Person Webpage”.....Where
is Louie Wekeen? (b. c1927). There is a newspaper clipping from an August
1939 Vancouver Sun describing how one of their paper carriers got to be a
circus performer for a day at Sea Island. He was Louis "Louie"
Wekeen, 12 years old, of 658 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, BC. We would
like to get in touch with him or anyone else who attended the Circus
performance when it came to Sea Island in August 1939. Do you remember
the Elephants grazing in Grauer's fields? If anyone has photographs, old
ticket stubs, newspaper clippings or souvenir programs of this or any other Sea
Island event, please contact any of the Sea Island Heritage Society members.
Here’s a possible update on our search for
(then) young Louie! Sharon Bordeleau is
still busy transcribing the Norm Findlay Collection of WWII ‘wartime’Boeing
Beams and recently came across a similar name.
Now we have to wonder if Louise Wekeen (sp?) is actually Louie Wikene?
The
Boeing Aircraft Canada Ltd Volume 1, Number 3. February 3, 1943 of the employee
Newsletter BOEING
11) Does any know the whereabouts of the McManus family
of 157 Abercrombie? Bradley McManus
attended Sea Island School in the 1950s.
12) Many thanks to another former Boeing worker’s family
member for stepping forward. The family
member wanted to honour Mother on her upcoming 90th birthday by
collecting data and history about her Mom’s wartime workplace on Sea
Island. She contributed her Mom’s “Boeing”
story; and will be sending some photos. We’ll
look forward to documenting them too. The
Sea Island Heritage Society (SIHS) is grateful for this and pleased we were
able to help each other.
13) Christopher Garrish has a nifty website about the history of vehicle
licence plates in British Columbia. He
has photos of many of the examples.
Check out Chris's website: www.bcpl8s.ca/
Scroll down to 'National Defence' and take a look at
the military plates – You’ll even see an RCAF Sea Island one there (1957) Very
cool. In 2005 Mike Lederer of Surrey,
B.C. had a vehicle with veteran plates and displayed in his
back window was a small 1957 license plate (like a business plate) It had the
number R-794 on it and the words Sea Island on it. Mike said that he was
stationed at the Sea Island Airforce Base and that you needed that plate on
your car in order to drive on the base. It was issued by the Air Force and you
could not get past the guards at the base entrance without ID and this
plate. Does anyone know the signifance
of the numbering sytsem on these plates or have any
of these plates or have additional information on the purpose they served?
14) The Sea Island Heritage Society (SIHS) thanks all
that attended the 2011 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Open House on Sat. Nov.
19, 2011 in Delta, BC at the Ladner Pioneer Library. Please remember to follow through with offers
of photos and family stories. Your offers to let others know about our Society is also
appreciated.
For further
information, please call Eunice for further details. (604) 596-2811.
We
were fortunate to receive the following:
A copy of an
8.5” x 11” Golden Anniversary of Powered Flight, Air Show program, Sunday, July
12, 1959, Van International Airport, kindly donated to the Sea Island Heritage
Society – sent by Tom Wilson Feb 2011.
He said that it's in reasonable condition - a little yellowed and a
little musty smelling – “but hey, it's a treasure. I found it amongst
hundreds of old aviation magazines that I was given. I'm sure there are
more goodies”.
Former CAC 111
Sqn (RCAF) member Rusty Hopper donated an Airforce Pamphlet and displayed his
interesting photo album.
Photos that were
submitted earlier in the year were turned over to Eunice included some from Ursula Wienecke (original photo of SI Airport 1938) and D.
Rowden, of Ottawa, Ont
Butch G. advised
us that the McDonald’s Restaurant on Sea Island has a small pic on their wall
that was found in a garage sale and donated to them. It has former
Burkeville resident (and former RCAF, Sea Island member) Oscar Neilsen in it, 3rd
from beginning.
15) Thanks to Joan in Courtenay, B.C. for contacting us
about her father who worked for Boeing Aircraft Canada Ltd during WWII at the
Sea Island Plant #3. Her father now lives
in Chilliwack
Joan
visited him in November to see what memorabililia and stories he had to share
for our Sea Island history project. Joan
added, “I
think Dad left the plant in 1944 – he worked in the sheet metal shop, the
template shop and finished up as an employee in the office.
On Nov 25 and 26, Joan supplied scans of many
of her Dad’s memorabilia, including the following:
Boeing/Sea Island History
List of Vic Clarke’s Documents and Memorabilia November, 2011
Boeing Beam Newsletters
1943
February
17
March 17
and 31
April 14
and 28
May 12
and 26
June 9
October
13 and 29*
November
10 and 24
December
8 and 22
1944
January 7
and 21**
February
4 and 18
March 3
and 17
April 28
May 12
and 26
*
October 29, 1943 includes article on choosing Burkeville name (and photo of
signpost) and also includes a photograph of the “buttons” worn by Boeing
employees (Page 5)
**
Jan.21, 1944 edition includes article about moving into Burkeville homes
Boeing Patrol (glossy employee newsletter)
Vol.1 –
No. 1 – June 1942
Also have
two other Boeing Patrols (no date) 1941-42?
Canadian Aviation Magazine September 1942
· Includes
Boeing PBY first flight and many photos
(original
clipping titled “Heroic Work of Airmen and Firemen Saves Huge Aircraft
Factory”)
· Includes
story of Boeing Plant 3 Fire of June 1 with photos by
· Also
includes story “The Sea Island Bridge” about the need for an adequate
bridge across the North Arm of the Fraser
Scans of the above June 2 1941
newspaper articles were received June 26 2011.
Newspaper Clipping and Photo of Brisbane Aviation School at
Other Documents:
· Blotter
paper: “Aviation Beckons Canadian Youth – Train Now” from Brisbane
Aviation Co. Ltd., Box No. 35,
· Pay
stubs: Boeing Aircraft of Canada Limited,
· Poem:
“Ode to Mayhem” written by a female employee at Plant 3
· Work
orders: 2 samples from Boeing Plant 3
· Letter of
Reference for V.M. Clarke on Boeing Aircraft of
Memorabilia:
· Boeing
Canada patch from coveralls
· Union
pin: I A of F Local 756 – A F of L Vancouver
The Poem “Ode To Mayhem, author unknown, is included
here for all to enjoy. The Sea Island
Heritage Society would be grateful if anyone knew who the author of this poem
is so that we can give credit. There is
a possibility that the author was an Irene Holmes (or alternate spelling) at
Plant 3. Can anyone help with that as a
clue?:
1940s Poem:
“Ode to
Mayhem” author unknown
(written by a female employee at
Boeing Aircraft (Canada Ltd), Plant 3, Sea Island (Richmond, B.C.)
“Ode to Mayhem”
MAN HAS KNOWN FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING
THAT
THE FORCES OF GOOD WORK BY DAY
WHILE AT NIGHT THE DARK SPIRITS
OF EVIL HAVE POWER
AND
ROBBERS AND MURDERERS PREY
AND HERE IN THE SHOP WHERE WE
LABOUR
THE
OLD SUPERSTITION HOLDS TRUE
FOR WE ON THE NIGHT SHIFT ARE
PERFECT YOU KNOW
IT’S
AT THE NIGHT THAT THE ERRORS COME THROUGH
WHEN THE ORDERS WE WROTE THEN
HAVE VANISHED
AND
ALL THE PARTS RUN AWAY
YOU CAN BET THAT THE NIGHT SHIFT
HAS CAUSED ALL THE GRIEF
IT
COULDN’T HAVE HAPPENED THAT DAY
THEY MIX UP THE CARDS AND THE
ORDERS
CONFIRMING
THE WORST OF OUR FEARS
THEY BIN THE PARTS WRONG AND THEY
BLAME IT ON US
THEY
SEND OUT A SKIN FOR SOME GEARS
BUT IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG ON
THE DAY SHIFT
IT’S
ONLY A MATTER OF LUCK
FOR WE ON THE DAY SHIFT ARE
PERFECT YOU KNOW
(WELL
PERFECT AT PASSING THE BUCK)
SO I AM GOING TO STAY HERE ONE
EVENING
(WHEN
I THINK I CAN MASTER MY FRIGHT
TO TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THE
DESPERATE MEN
WHO
RUIN OUR WORK IN THE NIGHT
Thank you so much again
Joan and Vic. Much appreciated your
contributions to the history of Sea Island
16)
The Sea Island Heritage Society (SIHS) expresses
sorrow over the tragic aircraft accident near the corner of Russ Baker Way and the
entrance to the Dinsmore Bridge on Sea Island (Richmond, B.C.) on Oct 27, 2011. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those
involved. We are heartened by the heroes
who rushed to help the survivors while risking their own lives. Thank you from all of us.
17) Brian
Croft is seeking the exact location of Thomas Hamilton’s training aircraft that
crashed on November 6, 1916. It turns out it crashed in Richmond contrary to
previously published accounts. It was reported in a Sun article to have
occurred on a farm 10 minutes walk north of the Blundell BCER station. The farm
is referred to as the Rose Farm. Does
anyone know the location of the (then) Rose Farm or have any information about
the accident?
18) The Sea Island Heritage Society (SIHS) was saddened
to receive an obituary for former Sea Islander (Burkeville) Dale Gordon of Penticton,
B.C. Dale and his family lived on
Douglas Crescent in the 1950s. Another
obituary has come to our attention.
Jackson Edward Ormson of Nanton, Alberta passed away earlier this
year. The Ormson family lived on
Wellington Crescent in the 1950s. The
Sea Island Heritage Society passes on since condolences to both the Gordon and
Ormson families and friends.
19) Thanks to
Jack Baryluk of Sea Island and his keen interest in our history project
introduced us to another person with an interest in preserving history. The SIHS are now the proud recipients of an
early aerial photogrpah of the Boeing Aircraft Canada Ltd Plant #3 on Sea
Island. The donor’s father’s had this RCAF
photo. It does look like early wartime
era and maybe even while under construction. SIHS believes that the
Boeing Plant on Sea Island commenced PBY Catalina Flying Boat production on Jan
2 1940 so that large B&W photograph might be before but close to that date.
On this c1940 photo, a ramp
into the Middle Arm of the Fraser River is not yet built for launching or
hauling up of the PBY Catalina Flying Boats at the time. You can see the old Boeing ramp between the
main manufacturing multi-facet building and the nearby Boeing/Canadian Pacific
Airlines Overhaul and Repair Plant #2 for RCAF Western Air Command for the PBYs
and other RCAF aircraft in both of the 1960 RCAF aerial photo from former RCAF
Photographic Section i/c/ Sgt Rene Bousquet.
The ramp furthest south/west of the main Boeing Plant was normally used
for the normal seaplane traffic at Vancouver Airport and not normally for
Boeing production aircraft.
20) Sad to hear that former VLA Cora Brown subdivision
resident Mrs. Doris I Forsyth passed away in early October. Mr. and Mrs. Doug Forsyth lived at 477
Ferguson Road on Sea Island
21) The
Vancouver Island Military Museum in Nanaimo, B.C. has been very helpful to the
Sea Island Heritage Society (SIHS) over the past 15 years or so! They’ve provided some insight on the Sea
Island Air Force base there prior to 1965, have helped identify people, places
and events on Sea Island from photographs; and some of their super volunteers
once served on Sea Island, including their current President, Roger Bird and
volunteer Hal (Harold) Johnstone. We
want to pass along our sincere congratulations to them on their achieving 25
years service. Sept 1986 –Sept 2011;
Bravo Zulu/Well done! See their website:
www.vimms.ca
22) Eunice
Robinson said in a September 29 2011 email that “….I received two more Boeing
Beams from Bruce Forrest, 93-yr old former Boeing worker and Sea Island
resident for many years now living in Chilliwack. Eunice said, “These two issues are – October
13, 1944 and May 25, 1945”. I’ll work on getting these historic
newsletters scanned for our history project collection!”
23) The Sea Island Heritage Society (SIHS) continues to
be grateful for submissions from a retired RCAF airman. The SIHS is amazed at the memory and
memorabilia that former RCAF Band member Tony Padula has. In a Sept 28, 2011 email, Tony said, “In my last email, I mentioned that Joe Micelli was the first bandmaster
of the 442 Squadron Band.
Looked to see if I could come up with a picture with him conducting the
band. have shoe boxes of pictures going way back in time but unfortunately did
not come across any at the moment.
However, did find several of the Joe Micelli band playing at The Embassy
Ballroom with Ozzie McCombe and myself in it.
The three of us were original members of the [RCAF] 442 Squadron A bit
of the past.” Tony
Previously Tony provided a picture of the band
in front of the ‘1021 door’. Tony Said,
“It is a building West of Burrard on Hastings Street back of The Marine
building, as I recall.
The band rehearsed in several places. At the
base on Sea Island, at 1021 W. Hastings St. and at times at a place in the
West-End on 4th Ave, I believe.
As noted before the band was organized by the
first bandmaster Joe Micelli, who fronted a dance band playing at the Embassy
Ballroom near Burrard & Davies, where I was a member in the band at the
time.
As one of the original members, the band began
according to my Certificate Of Service, November 1st, 1949 and disbanded with
the closure of the air base March 1964.
Joe Micelli stayed on as bandmaster for about 5 years and left to join
the forces once again (army I believe). Don Lastoria took on as bandmaster for
almost 5 years and left due to his work load with The Vancouver Symphony, CBC
Orchestra & teaching. Ozzie McComb became the last bandmaster for the
remaining time.
From the photos you can see the band grew from around 16 original
members to approx. 25 or more.”
24) Julie
Clausen of Redding, California USA posted to the SIHS website guest book on
Sept 10 2011, "My husband's grandfather, Carl Clausen was the blacksmith
on Sea Island. That would be #6 on the map of the island. As a child, he would
often visit a farm and ride the Clydesdales to his grandfather's blacksmith
shop. We have no pictures of his grandparents, however, Barry does remember
quite a bit from living in the area and would appreciate any photos or contact
with people who may have known his grandparents. Thank you very kindly, Julie
Clausen julie.clausen@yahoo.com ". Please contact both Julie and the Sea Island
Heritage Society if you have answers on this query.
25)
Mr. L.G. Walker is an 89-yr old former
Boeing Aircraft Canada Ltd (Sea Island) worker now residing in Nanaimo,
B.C. On Sept 8, 2011 his daughter and
son-in-law kindly donated a copy of one of her father’s last pay stubs (Sept
1-12, 1945 – two weeks pay for $71.64 [gross]).
Although the plant stopped production on VJ Day in August, this pay must
have been for the ‘skeleton’ clean-up and de-mob crew held on.
26) Leading
up to the 10th Anniversary, the Vancouver Sun newspaper has an
article dated September 9 2011 with 11 photos about YVR “hosting” jet airliners
on September 11, 2001 (9-11) following the horrifying terrorist attacks on the
World Trade Centre buildings in New York, The Pentagon in DC and the attempted
attack on the U.S. Whitehouse. “YVR
turned into a giant parking lot for grounded 747s”
By Doug Ward, Vancouver Sun September 9, 2011
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/news/turned+into+giant+parking+grounded+747s/5379638/story.html#ixzz1XXpd7SAS
Doug
Barry, one of the off-duty Air Traffic Controllers visiting the Vancouver International
Airport on Sea Island the following day submitted photos of the many airliners
waiting permission to resume their flights.
Thanks Doug, ‘an historic collection.
27) The Sea Island Heritage Society is grateful to
Colleen Brooks of White Rock, B.C. for donating her collection of Sea Island
Memorabilia of 5 DVDs and a CD holding over 600 pictures relating to the
history of Sea Island in September 2011.
The DVDs include:
RCAF (14(F) Sqn Reunion and 2 Interviews with Dan McIvor
c1990, Rogers TV Production “Sea Island Then and Now (1+2); the 1931 Airport Opening,
From the Past to the Future; and the
Japanese-Canadian Sea Island Reunion.
Thank
you so much Colleen.
Are
there any volunteers out there willing to help by transcribing these DVD
interviews? Thank you.
28) Also in September 2011 Doc Hopper of Ottawa, Ont an
aviation historian has helped SIHS understand the change of the prewar RCAF 111
(CAC) Sqn of Vancouver – who used the 1931 dome-shaped hangar on Sea Island -
to its development of a wartime unit and transfer to Pat Bay (Victoria BC) in
1939. Doc said in response to a question
about the P-40 Curtiss Kittyhawks on Sea Island, “Re 111 Sqn's Kittyhawks' brief stay
at Sea Island. They then moved on to Pat Bay before going to Alaska. Another example of Squadron Codes is seen on
numerous photo of RCAF bi-wing, Patrol Bombers ,Stranraers. These were two letters on one side of the
roundel (i.e.for RCAF 5(BR) Sqn, QN) and one on the other side of the roundel
which was the individual aircraft identifier ("O" in the case of the
Stranraer photo). Note that these code letters were underlined for home
defence aircraft.
There
was a major reshuffle of Squadron codes between 1941/42. The original 111 Sqn used "TM" and
the "new" 111 kept these. The "TM" does not seem to have
been applied to the Kittyhawks until they got to Pat Bay. In the 41/42 "reshuffle", 111 was
allotted "LZ" and used that for most of their time in Alaska.”
The late Gerald
Hunt Bowman was an aero-mechanic in the RCAF. He was posted at Sea Island from
June 4th, 1942 to July 8th, 1942 and then he went to Annette Island
from July 9th, 1942 to August 16th, 1943. He came back to Sea Island August
17th to October 26th, 1943 before going to Halifax and then over to Bournemouth
England.(RCAF #438 Sqn)
It's
interesting to note that his squadron was listed as #132 when he first
went to Sea Island then it changed to #118 when he went to Annette Island Gerry
Bowman’s photo of his RCAF 118 (F) Squadron Flight Board shows two flights of
Kittyhawks on Annette Island which used the” YW” code.
This
also shows that Annette Island, Alasaka (only 60 miles north of Prince Rupert,
BC) was part of “W” Wing of the US Air Force (as opposed to the Canadian
involvment with “X” wing, of the USAF in the Aluetians.
This
flight board on Annette Island also showed two Harvard aircraft with the Code
LZ, so presumably they had come down from northern Alaska to Annette Island and
retained that code on their fuselage.
29) As part of YVR 80th Birthday celebrations
and happenings, The YVR Airport authority held an online voting contest to see
who could spend 80 days exploring and reporting on YVR activities. Jaeger Mah
was voted onto Sea Island starting August 17, 2011. You can follow this interesting development
at www.yvrlive.ca
Eunice Robinson
added in an email August 9, 2011 that she saw this about Jaeger Mah on TV too –
“I'll try and get out to the airport in the next while and meet this
fellow. I'll let him know about our Sea Island Heritage Society - and
maybe he can give us a plug”.
30) On August
23, 2011 the Richmond Review newspaper published a story about a black bear
that had been spotted twice on Sea Island that week, prompting city officials
to post warning signs at McDonald Beach Park.
Sharon Bordeleau who lives on Ferguson Road on Sea Island and is one of
the remaining pioneer McDonald Family members, said in a comment about the
enwspaper report, “While we have not seen Ms Bear, we have discovered
some bear scat, not a hundred yards from the back of our barn. We’re sure
he/she will be competition for those wonderful blackberries, so anyone who is
brave enough to venture out as been forewarned. It is most likely that this
bear swam across the river from the UBC Spirit Park area. Yes, he will
probably move on and is no threat….but first there are a lot of wild berries
for his consumption.
Who recalls the time that the beekeeper on Dinsmore Island surrounded
his little white shack with the hives of bees in it with a battery operated
electric fence? Anyone else have any
interesting “wildlife” stories about Sea Island?
31) On August 6, 2011 PBY Canso
aircraft N249SB (formerly C-FNJB) was seen over Victoria during a fly-by of YYJ
(Victoria Int’l Airport at Pat Bay, B.C.). It was on its ferry flight
from Cassidy CYCD (Nanaimo Airport) to its new home at the Evergreen Aviation
and Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, USA where it will be put on static
display. It is interesting to note that 68-yr old N249SB
is a former RCAF PBY5-A Canso amphibian aircraft that did a stint on Sea Island
/ YVR (Vancouver Int’l airport) from 1949 to 1951 as a Transport and Search
& Rescue aircraft. It certainly has
led an exciting post-military life, mostly as a converted waterbomber.
Although
the above PBY was not built on Sea Island, 55 other PBY-5A’s were; plus
numerous PBY Flying Boats (non-amphibians).
If you haven’t already seen it online, there is a 10 minute video clip
on manufacturing the PBY Catalina "3" Flying Boat. These PBYs are shown under assembly and are
part of an order by the U.S. Navy to Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego
for 65 aircraft in prewar 1939
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eojkM5q52LA&feature=player_embedded
I imagine the assembly details shown are similar in some respects to those carried
on at the Boeing Aircraft Canada Ltd Manufacturing Plant #3 on Sea Island
(Richmond, B.C.) 1941-1945.
32) Thanks to Doug Barry, Ernie Kilroe, and Gary H. (all
former Vancouver Airport workers) whose September 2011 donations of photo scans
of the British and French Concorde Jet Airliner visits to Vancouver (YVR)
during Expo 86. These have contacts have
spurred another two photographs of this historic occasion on Sea Island. If anyone else has photos of either Concorde’s
visits to the West Coast in 1986, we’d appreciate hearing from you.
Richard C.(another retired airport worker),
said that that Air France and British Concorde’s were in YVR for the Expo 86 “British
Day” and “French Day”. (but we’d like the exact dates if anyone still has a
program). Richard did share some of his exciting memories of a
ride-along he had
Richard
said, “I was with CP Air at the time and responsible for the ground handling of
them both, publishing handling procedures for all departments.
I flew on
the BA Concorde as we did a fly pass between the Lions Gate Bridge uprights to
the Canada Pavilion then false creek and Abbotsford.
The
Commander of the BA Concorde Fleet (Commander Walpole I think) loved to show
just what his a/c could do and threw it around like a fighter aircraft, I
thought he was going under the Lions Gate bridge at first but he flew very low
and between the uprights, the only one who got airsick while he was manoeuvring
at low altitude and tight turns was the CP Engineer I took with me.
The
public could buy tickets on both of them for site seeing trips.
The BA
Concorde left YVR for a theme flight to ANC then HAL. It was a mystery murder
flight where we actually had the perp. fire a gun in the holding room and board
the aircraft (had the RCMP in attendance of course). Try that now a days.
I also
flew on the Air France one at Expo and a wedding was conducted on that one. I
believe the groom was the owner or son of the owner of “Gold’s Fabric’s” or
something like that
A BA Concord
also brought Prime Minister Maggie Thatcher to YVR, via Gander, for a meeting
(I believe it was Commonwealth Conference) at a later date
33) Sad to hear that former Cora Brown residents,
Waltruda Glibbery passed away June 17, 2011 and that Audrie Oliver passed away
on July 1, 2011. Jean Roberts of the
Pioneer Richmond family of Gillespie passed away in May 2011. Sad also to hear that long time resident and war veteran of
Burkeville, Donald (George) McGregor, passed away August 1, 2011. George was well-known to many families on Sea
Island over the years as he coached many baseball teams and was a charter
member of the Army, Navy and Air Force (ANAF) Club #285.
The Sea Island Heritage Society sends condolences to their
respective families and friends.
34) The Hubbard family lived beside the firehall on
Lancaster in the early days of Burkeville.
Bob Hubbard loaned a copy of an old Vancouver
Sun newspaper article about Burkeville, which includes many photos of
Burkeville and its residents. It’s a double page spread dated September
30, 1944. Bob kindly provided a copy of his Cambie Junior High School
Annual “Cambian” for 1957/58. Lots of
great memories and information about the students who travelled from Sea
Island. In December 2011 Bob added a
vintage photo of the arrival of the new fire truck to Burkeville with a picture
of the old original pumper near it! What
a treasure to have. Thanks for all those
Bob.
35) It
was nice to make contact with the Barker family, formerly of Burkeville. Ray Barker of Ottawa, ONT posted to the SIHS
website August 26, 2011 and said, “Our family lived at 19 Catalina Cres (1943?-
1954?)..father Ken Barker (worked for TCA driving mail truck), mother Marjorie
worked at Boeing in office, and later on at 'Oveno' ??” read more on our guest book http://www.seaislandhome.org/ click on
view entries.
Ray Barker asked
if we have any info on a Lawrence Erwin/Irwin who lived at 21 Catalina Crescent. We don’t.
Can anyone else help Ray out with this query?
36) The CORA BROWN & TAPP ROAD SUBDIVISIONS - 10TH
REUNION WAS A GREAT SUCCESS – Thanks to the
organizers and to all the attendees.
June 11, 2011 was the date of
the last Cora Brown/Tapp Road Subdivisions’ last reunion. About 150
people attended the afternoon celebration which had been held at the Southarm
United Church at No. 3 Road and Steveston Highway, in Richmond, BC.
As well, the display from the
Sea Island Heritage Society was enjoyed by the attendees, who were very
interested in what has been gathered to date. Both Barb and Eunice
encouraged the former neighbours and friends to submit their family information
to the Society.
A great afternoon, with good
food, good friends, and the sun shone too. The organizing committee is
planning another reunion in 2013; and are hoping to connect with even more
former residents of both subdivisions, and the surrounding area. Anyone
with more information on this part of the Island, please contact us through the
Sea Island Heritage Society.
37) Susie
Marino posted to the Sea Island Heritage Society website guest book on
Saturday, 6/18/11, 1:35 PM, "Hi, I am the grand-daughter of Ronald and
Evelyn McCutcheon -- niece of Martha McCutcheon and of the late Les McCutcheon
-- and daughter of Judi McCutcheon. Looking to re-trace some tracks from my
grandparents -- wondering if anyone remembers a Foundry being next to a tram
station -- and details of it...? Also -- might anyone have a photo of the tram
station or surrounding parts...? My Grandparents and Mom, Aunt and Uncle lived
only a few doors down (I think it would have been 1944-46 that they lived in
that house -- before they moved to Grauer Rd)... Thank you SO much -- this
website is wonderful! Susie Marino (from the McCutcheon Family)”. Can anyone help the Sea Island Heritage
Society (SIHS) and Susie find the answers?
Please contact the SIHS.
38) The Sea Island Heritage Society
sends condolences to the families and friends of three former Sea Islanders and
Cora Brown subdivision residents who passed away recently. On April
27, 2011, Muriel Clendenning passed away at age 97 years. And on May 2nd,
Jim Hamalock, passed away. He was 94 years old – still living in his own
home in Richmond, and still driving. Eric Petri died in May, worked at
the airport for Pacific Western Airlines (PWA) and lived on Edgington Avenue.
39) Our Sea Island Heritage Society President, Mrs. Eunice Robinson (nee
Hamalock) was nominated for one of the City of Richmond 2011 Heritage
Awards. Former Sea Islanders, Maureen Stark Ross and Barbara Thomas
Nielson nominated her for this award, not only for her work with the SIHS but
for her ongoing voluntary work with Family History research and the many
speaking engagements Eunice presents annually.
Eunice excitingly reported that she was delighted and honoured to be selected.
The presentation ceremony took place May 7th at 2:30 pm at the
Richmond Cultural Centre. Eunice added, “The award will be presented to
me, for the Sea Island Heritage Society. I am very honoured to have
been nominated, but absolutely thrilled that the Sea Island Heritage Society
will be recognized.” Way to go
Eunice. We’re all very proud of you.
40)
The Sea Island Heritage Society (SIHS)
was recently contacted by someone that acquired a Royal Canadian Air Force
(RCAF) trunk, or Barrack Box) with the following painted in yellow on the top:
COMMANDING
OFFICER
RCAF STN.
SEA ISLAND
ATT. 49236 MCISAAC A.D.
Can anyone tell
SIHS more about this trunk and about the previous owner? Who was A.D. McIsaac and what time period was
this person associated with the RCAF on Sea Island. Former RCAF Sea Island 442 (Aux) pilot,
Harold (Hal) Johnstone of Nanaimo said that if we found out who all owned the
barn that the trunk was in, perhaps we’d find the answer.
41)
A question was posed by William Hampson, a Canadian Military Historian, seeking information
pertaining to the 1-9 Aerodrome Defence Platoons/Companies (Brief Histories
& Locations during the World War Two).
Thanks
to Jerry Vernon, RCAF historian and the current Chapter President of the
Canadian Aviation Historical Society Mr. Hampson and SIHS was provided
additional insight into the Aerodrome Defence
Companies - Platoons that maintained camps to protect Canadian
Aerodromes (Airports) with artillery, including Sea Island during WWII.
42)
After Eunice Robinson provided an
article about our Sea Island Heritage Society (SIHS) in the April 9, 2011 Richmond
Review newspaper, SIHS was contacted by a lady that bought her house on
Steveston Hwy, Richmond, B.C. from the Metcalf family who bought it after it
was expropriated by the Federal Gov’t for airport expansion and moved from Sea
Island to its present resting place on Steveston Hwy about 1959 or so. The Sea Island Heritage Society would like to
find out where on Sea Island the house came from and who were its former
owner(s). Who can tell SIHS about the
house or its owners from Sea Island?
43) We
were fortunate to have Terry Slack fill in many forgotten/unknown details about
the history of Iona Island and his family’s arrival there in 1947. Thx Terry – and
thanks to Sharon Bordeleau for transcribing the late Don Gordon’s taped
interview he did with Terry Slack.
44) The
Sea Island Heritage Society sends sincere condolences to the family and friends
of John (Jack) Sherwood Alexander of Richmond, B.C. who passed away in April
2011.
In the 1940s and
50s, Jack and
his 3 brothers lived on Sea Island. They
are the sons of Sherwood Earl & Helen Alexander – r 638 and 648 Miller
Road. GT said that Jack came out with his family from Framingham Mass,
(about 12 miles west of Boston) in 1947.
His dad, Earl had been in the US Navy during WW11. After he left
the Navy they came to Richmond to assist in the running of the Sherwood Dairy
Farm located on what is now the Quilchena Golf Course.
45)
Thanks to a recent submission from Grant Thompson
we have been able to obtain a complete scan of the newspaper clipping and photo
of Sea Island Queen, Bev Hoggard and her Steveston Salmon Festival court. The photo includes an honour guard of Boy
Scouts from the 6th Richmond Scout Troop. All but one were identified by Grant
including: Grant, John Campbell, Gordon Eastman, Bob Martin and Jack
Alexander. The photo was identified as
being 1952. If you were a member of any
of the Sea Island 6th Richmond Cubs, Brownies, Guides or Scouts,
we’d like to hear from you and would appreciate any photographs.
46)
The Sea Island Heritage Society sends
sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mildred Walley, formerly of
Catalina Crescent; and to the family and friends of Susanna (Ruth) Hollinger,
formerly of Tapp Road, Sea Island (Richmond, B.C.). Both passed away in February 2011.