Alden Wesley Huson (1832-1911), also known as West Huson, was a Vancouver Island entrepreneur, promoter, trader, and businessman with interests in a salmon saltery and cannery at Alert Bay, a coal mine at Suquash near Fort Rupert, and a quarry on Haddington Island.
A.H. Huson, also known as “West” Huson, was born in Oneonta, New York in 1832, the son of David Tomkin Huson and Sally Jackson. A.W. Huson arrived in British Columbia in 1858, and by 1867 he was living in Victoria and running the Adelphi Saloon. He established a close friendship with the photographer Stephen A. Spencer and opened a salmon saltery at Alert Bay on Cormorant Island, with Spencer acting as his agent in Victoria. Huson had obtained a lease to the entire island around 1870 and established a cannery, but by 1880 his lease was reduced to 160 acres as a result of the allotment of most of the island as an Indian Reserve. He transferred his interest in the cannery to Spencer in 1884. Huson married Mary Lyons, a First Nations woman from Alaska, also known as Ekegat, in 1873, and adopted her son Charlie Lyons. They had at least 9 children together. Although his wife and most of his family lived at Alert Bay, Huson travelled to Victoria frequently in order to trade and negotiate business deals, and later to visit his granddaughter Stella. He eventually moved to Victoria permanently. In his later life, Huson attempted to sue various parties over his rights to the property on Haddington Island. He died in Alert Bay in 1911.
The records consist of correspondence, invoices, receipts, agreements, land and tax records, a genealogy of A.W. Huson’s ancestors, and one photograph of A.W. Huson’s stepson, Charlie Lyons Huson.
The correspondence is primarily inward correspondence to A.W. Huson from his father David T. Huson, his sister Elizabeth Huson, his wife Mary, children Charlie [aka Charley], Spencer, Alfred, David, and George, grand-daughter Stella, friends such as Stephen Spencer, and other business associates. Huson’s stepson Charley lived for a time with Stephen Spencer and his wife “Em” in Victoria while attending school.

The records document the business activities of an early entrepreneur on Vancouver Island, and the life of a significant historical figure on Vancouver Island.

Of particular note is an 1871 letter from Father Leon Fouquet of the Jesuit Mission on Harbledown Island offering to vaccinate Huson’s children against smallpox (File 1); four letters (1874-1878) from Stephen A. Spencer in File 2; 1895 and 1897 letters written by Alfred J. Huson while a student at the Coqualeetza Indian Institute (File 4), and letters from Stella Pamphlet in Files 7 and 8, written while she was a child. Stella was the daughter of Ada Elvina Huson and Frederick William Pamphlet. There are also letters from James McGrath, who ran a store in Alert Bay, Stephen Cook, and A. Mouat of Barkerville.

Barry McClung transcribed many of the letters, and the transcriptions are filed with the originals.

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Edwin DeBeck Interview RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1974 SUMMARY: T0271:0001-0003 comprise a three-part interview about DeBeck's life, conducted by Inez O'Reilly. Topics include his early years in New Westminster and Vancouver; his work at the Canadian Scottish Cann;ery in Steveston; his later life at and around Alert Bay, where his father was Indian Agent (1903-1906); his experiences as a defense lawyer during the Potlatch trials in the 1920s; experiences as Sup;erintendent of Brokers and Inspector of Credit Unions (1937-1940); and Clerk of Legislative Assembly (1940 -).;

CALL NUMBER: T0547:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Life in Alert Bay, 1909-29, and Telegraph Cove, 1929-74 PERIOD COVERED: 1909-1974 RECORDED: Telegraph Cove (B.C.), 1974-08-01 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Fred Wastell describes: early life in Alert Bay; description of Alert Bay, ca. 1910; prominent families in Alert Bay, 1910-20; sawmill and Indian village at Alert Bay; potlatches at Alert Bay; visitors' accommodation at Alert Bay, 1920s; cannery and fish hatchery in Alert Bay and Nimpkish area. Description of Alert Bay, 1910-20: settlers around Nimpkish Valley, 1912; Tracey & Garland Logging Co; Hand logging Operations, 1920s; sawmill operation and Beaver Cove, 1918. TRACK 2: Fred Wastell discusses: labour problems at Alert Bay; problems with sawmill organization at Alert Bay, ca. 1920; Wood and English mill at Englewood, 1924-25; description of Mr. Wood and Mr. English; Telegraph Cove sawmill operation, 1929-74; saltery operation and problems at Telegraph Cove, 1929-37 Japanese business practices, 1930s; cannery influence on government policy, 1920-40; labour supply at Telegraph Cove mill, 1920-74.

CALL NUMBER: T0547:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Life in Telegraph Cove, 1929-74 PERIOD COVERED: 1899-1974 RECORDED: Telegraph Cove (B.C.), 1974-08-01 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Life in Telegraph Cove. Personnel and Jobs. Building of the road to Telegraph Cove. Advantages of a large mill operation over a small mill. Sointula Finnish commune settlement. Social conditions in Telegraph Cove. The naming of Telegraph Cove. [TRACK 2: blank; end of interview.]

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1967-06-23 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Nick Cadwallader discusses the beginnings of Fort Rupert with Rupert Hunt in 1884; a description of Fort Rupert; hand logging in Seymour Inlet; his uncle Spencer and his cannery at Alert ;Bay in 1870; longhouses; the potlatch; Hamatsa ceremony; and fishing. [TRACK 2: blank.]