RECORDED: Hornby Island (B.C.), 1979-11-03 SUMMARY: Mrs. Smith recalls arriving at Hornby Island on the CPR boat "Charmer" in 1921 as an 18-year-old teacher. Describes quiet island life at that time. Most of islanders were sheep farmers. Tells of meeting her husband when she was teaching on Denman and he on Hornby, he courted her using a secret code they flashed between the islands. Communication between Hornby and Vancouver Island -- rowboat travel, supplies, mail, etc.
RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-08-06 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. King, nee McKay, recounts the arrival of her family at Union Bay; she and her brother were the first white children born in Union Bay; her mother was the district nurse. She recalls early life in Union Bay; Cumberland; bank and store robberies; construction of the railway; Hindu workers; her family's farm; schooling; coal mining; "One-Eye Anderson", Adolph Anderson; Denman Island residents; Hornby Island residents; reminiscences of Union Bay past and present. [TRACK 2: blank.]
Footage. Probably scenes from a school inspector's trip through the Gulf Islands. Shots of Texada, Lasqueti, and Denman Islands, and of sports day activities at Nanaimo.
RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-08-02 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Edgar D. Thwaites describes life in Comox, Cumberland and Parksville in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Mrs. Thwaites describes her father's [Mr.Willemar] early life; in BC ; his religious involvement and his building of churches in Comox in the 1870s; settlers in the Comox region; Hornby and Denman Islands; rivers; the Duncan family; other early settlers; more on Willemar. TRACK 2: More information on early settlers; anecdotes; Comox and the navy; Cumberland; Robert Service; lack of Anglican/English social life in Comox; religion; Indians and Chinese; lack of antiques in Comox; life in Parksville.
Log books of Forest Service launches including those of the MV Catherine Graham, Department of Highways Denman Island ferry, prior to her transfer to the Forest Service in 1973.
This series contains records of the Government Agent from Cumberland relating to coal and petroleum prospecting licences for lands covered by water opposite the foreshore of Denman Island, Comox harbour, and for other lands in the Sayward and Coast Land Districts. The records consist of correspondence, notices, and plans. These records were filed in a transfer case with the Dept. of Lands on which was noted "Documents from Government Agent, Cumberland, December 18, 1939, to be destroyed under Public Documents Disposal Act. To be retained in this box pending decision of Deputy Minister of Lands."
RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-08-06 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. McKenzie, nee Piercy, discusses her family's arrival in the Comox area and her grandfather's [Tom Piercy] settlement on Denman Island. She recalls other early residents of Denman; her family's reunions at "the Ranch"; the Piercy family; farming; schooling; her career as a teacher; Orkney Islanders immigration to the Comox area; Hornby Island residents; social life; other island residents. [TRACK 2: blank.]
The sub-series consists of oral history interviews dealing with community and pioneer history in the area between Sayward and Hornby Island on eastern Vancouver Island. The modern (1960s) way of life on Denman Island, Hornby Island and Quadra Island is also highlighted.
RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-08-09 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Isbister recounts her grandfather's [William Baikie] arrival on Denman Island, and his contribution to the early development of the island. Her family and many other early island settlers were originally from the Orkneys, and Denman became known as "Little Orkney". She recalls her mother's family, the Piercys, who settled on the island; early settlers; including the McMillans and Beadnells; schooling; social occasions; farming; logging; transportation; fishing. TRACK 2: Mrs. Isbister describes her grandmother's house, "the Ranch"; island anecdotes; her grandfather, Thomas Piercy; fruit farming; dairy farming; sheep farming; the sandstone stone quarry; nearby Hornby Island residents; Yellow Rock Lighthouse; the Comox tribe summer camp; Indian battles.
