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FEBRUARY 10, 2011
This Was Then... With Old Ike In honour of a friend
~By Gareth Flostrand
Do these 62 year-old pictures from Franklin River Camp B ring any bells? Don Watt was told these two photos of a children’s bicycle parade were taken on June 6, 1949. What do you think? If you recognize anyone, or can supply a memory of two, please email me at: ikepatterson@telus.net
Local photographer Gittan Klemetsrud is currently exhibiting her work at the Rollin Art Centre Gallery. Among her photographs is one titled “Strength”. Gittan has lost family members to Cancer and she knows first hand the challenges that these loved ones and their families face day-by-day. What they have and need is Strength! This photograph is displayed in honour of her friend Linda Patterson, for the strength she displayed throughout her battle. The proceeds from the sale of “Strength” go to The Ty Watson House, to acknowledge the emotional and physical toll that the staff and volunteers at the house go through on a daily basis. Gittan thanks you and feels this is a way for her to give back to the Community while honouring a friend. **Ike’s note** Gittan first approached me last fall, after Linda had passed away, with her wish to dedicate one of her photographs to Linda and donate the proceeds to Ty Watson House (one of Linda’s preferred charities). I gave her my blessing then, and I thank her now, on behalf of my family and Linda. I first created this column years ago, at my wife’s request, and because it was special to her, I feel this is the ideal spot for Gittan’s kind gesture.
The Cedar Grove Auto Court story continues Lea and Joe Gardner have come forward with a little bit more of the story on the Cedar Grove Auto Court. “Joe Gardner, Linden Gardner and Charlie Davidson bought the place in 1951, but can’t remember who from,” Lea Gardner emailed on January 31. “They rebuilt most of the cabins, and had 3 trailers along the Somass River during the construction of the pulp mill addition in 1956. I still have the 4 by 4 foot sheet of plywood with Cedar Grove Auto Court and the owners’ names painted on it; using it as my craft table now. Wish we had kept a book of all the folks that had lived in the cabins. Anyway, it was sold in 1961 or 1962 to Jack Gisborne.” Joe and Lea Gardner proudly display the Cedar Grove Auto Court sign, a souvenir from the days when they owned it. The sign was painted/ designed by Cliff Kadatz who worked for the Twin Cities Times back in the 1950’s.
FEBRUARY 10, 2011
Pennyworth • 31
This Was Then... With Old Ike What do you know about this picture? Don Watt has asked around about this bridge photo that he was given. However, no one seems to know the where and when, or anything else about it. It may not even be from around here. When Don approached some local train enthusiasts they suggested he have me run the picture in the hope that someone will recognize it. If you can help out, please contact me at: ikepatterson@telus.net
Reader response Helga Haack emailed last Thursday afternoon about the “What ever happened to?” picture of the five youngsters who walked from the West Bay Hotel to the Greenwood Hotel as a fundraiser for the Variety Club Telethon back in 1982. “Ike, I drove the car behind the kids for safety reasons,” Helga wrote. “As for the kids now, Dawn Morgan lives in Victoria with her family as does Claudine Mueller. Kevin Morgan lives in Port Alberni, as does Tanya Haack with respective families. Peter Haack is in Cedar, south of Nanaimo. They are all doing well and living full lives.”
What ever happened to? What ever happened to Walter Schwarz? He was a 13 year-old Grade 7 student at Alberni Elementary School when he interviewed Tommy Douglas on March 7, 1969. Walter’s class had a project for each student to write about a well-known figure, so he chose Mr. Douglas, then leader of the federal New Democratic Party. The interview took place in the Lawrie Wallace Lounge at Echo Centre before the popular politician addressed a rally in the Cedar Room that Friday night 42 years ago. Ron Deforest, another Grade 7 student of Alberni Elementary at the time, is on the right in the photo on the right.
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Pennyworth
FEBRUARY 10, 2011
This Was Then... With Old Ike Hats off to the woodworkers Thirty-eight years ago an article ran in the AV Times about the changes made to that date in the fashionable head gear worn by MB employees. “Hard Hats” had been required equipment in the forest industry for many years by the time (Jan. 31, 1973), but many old-timers could still
remember the days of the “bonedries.” “In the beginning workers bought their own safety hats,” the article reported. “But under the current IWA contract the headgear is supplied by employers and the new model, an Australian import of nonfading orange colour, lighter in weight
and strong enough to meet Workmen’s Compensation Board‘s rigid standards, is now being distributed among MB employees in this district. “The bright orange color is an important safety factor,” the company’s safety manager Len Kingman added.
Alvin Brown with the old Jack James models a snappy John Allen in the original Stan Rukin shows bone-dry. aluminum hard hat. hardboiled model. latest in hardhats.
the
If you were a member of the Community Youth Choir in 1981 – you could be in this picture
A nice story is still a nice story – even if it is 25 years old Public criticism about living in Port Alberni (not always constructive) seems to be going around during these economic hard times. In some cases, individuals enjoy “bashing” everything that happens, or does not happen here. After living here for the past 44 years, I can tell you that life in this city - and the greater community – is not that bad. Over the years, countless visitors and new residents have confirmed this fact. This nice story about Port Alberni appeared in the AV Times on Monday, Dec. 8, 1986: A motoring Saskatchewan couple believes Port Alberni must be a nice place to live. On Saturday, Nov. 15, Jack and Alice Greening of Christopher Lake, Sask. were trying to make the ferry driving from Tofino. Their car broke down west of Sproat Lake. “Many motorists stopped and offered help while we waited for the tow truck,” the couple wrote the Times. But the story gets even better for the couple. “We were taken to the home of the tow truck driver and fed banana cream pie while we waited for the diagnosis of our trouble from the garage owner. Who had been called out after hours, by an RCMP corporal who was also off-duty. We were given the use of a car to take our daughter to the ferry so she wouldn’t miss work the next day and so that we could keep a breakfast date in Courtenay the next morning.” The couple told this story of what they considered “extraordinary kindness” and were surprised by the response. “The comments were ‘that’s the way they are in Port Alberni,’” the Greenings wrote the Times to tell their story because “we wanted to say thanks again.” All of which should be enough for the community named the one with a heart to take another bow – this time for friendliness.
How much was this doggy in the window 41 years ago?
Robin Mitchell directs the Community Youth Choir in this picture, which appeared in the AV Times on Friday, February 27, 1981. If you (or someone you know) are in the photo, please email me at: ikepatterson@telus.net and let everyone know about your experience with the Choir 30 years ago. You might also include memories of the spring tour that the 45-voice Choir took that year, performing Hansel and Gretal in Victoria, Vancouver, Penticton, Vernon, Castlegar and Calgary.
People have commented that I never feature old pictures of dogs on these pages, so here’s one, from August 5, 1970. Times’ photographer, Roy Snikkers (always had a camera with him) was strolling the downtown area and caught a curious Laddie wanting to see what was going on. Does anyone recognize Laddie? Who owned the truck he was guarding that day? Lets chat at: ikepatterson@telus.net
FEBRUARY 10, 2011
Pennyworth • 33
This Was Then... With Old Ike A Real Estate memory from 1974 Huggies changed to
cash for Cory in 1993
You are bound to recognize these local members in the Real Estate business from February 1974. The picture was taken at the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board (VIREB) annual meeting and dinner in Parksville 37 years ago. Left, front: Jim Robertson, Bob Pratt, 1973 VIREB President Vic Price; Prince Pabbi, and Doug Findlay; back, Karl Reber, Bruce Berry, Allan Parker and Larry Hanna, manager of the Johnston Road Branch of Johnstone’s Real Estate and Insurance Agencies, which in 1973 led in dollar sales volume in VIREB’s Port Alberni Zone.
With the purchase of Huggies diapers from People’s Drug Mart eighteen years ago, customers were invited to enter a scholarship draw. Cory Pointon, who was almost two at the time, was the winner of $500. The money was to be cared for by Steve Kalugin (right) of The Investors Group and in about 16 years when Cory receives the scholarship fund, it will have grown to $2500. Cory’s mom Karen holds him and People’s Drug Mart manager Karen Forsyth looks on in this picture, which appeared in the AV Times on February 3, 1993.
Found in the files The Nov. 17, 1965 issue of the Alberni Valley Courier carried this story:
World War One Veteran Dies On Armistice Day “Funeral services were held on Saturday, November 13 in Steven’s Funeral Chapel for the late Simon (Sam) Crease Stewart who passed away in the West Coast General Hospital, Thursday, November 11. Mr. Stewart resided at 314 Second Avenue South. He was born in Oldham, Nova Scotia, 73 years ago and moved to the Alberni Valley in 1932. Mr. Stewart was a veteran of World War I, a member of the Independent Order of Oddfellows. He retired three years ago from MB&PR mill where he worked as a jackladder operator.”
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“On parade were veterans of both World Wars with color parties from both Legions and Auxiliaries, flanked by members of the Army and Navy Cadets and the Navy Wrenettes. Mrs. Anne Damery, acting on behalf of Mrs. J. McKay, laid the wreath representing the Motherhood of Canada, on the Cenotaph. Murray Grant and E. S. Ruttan, presidents of the Legion Branches 55 and 169 and presidents of the Ladies Auxiliaries Mrs. M. Margaret Lamb and Mrs. John Duma, laid wreaths for their respective branches. Mayors Fred Bishop and Les Hammer laid wreaths for their cities.”
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Pennyworth
FEBRUARY 10, 2011
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incl’d. 250-7357502. FOR RENT: Spacious Church Hall available for your seminar. Weekly, seasonal or daily event. Kitchen available at additional cost. Please call 250724-4921 to rent the hall or for further info. FOR RENT: Spacious Church Hall available for your seminar. Weekly, seasonal or daily
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FOR RENT: Short term rental on Sproat Lake waterfront. Self contained 2bedrm, 2bath, completely furn, all major appls, including TV/ DVD/ electric f/ p, + internet. N/S, N/P. Avail. Now - June 2011. Refs req’d. Rent neg. 250-723-3398.
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