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| From a contribution by Marjorie Houghton in the “Souvenir Booklet” Diamond Jubilee of Ruskin , BC, Canada 1824-1976 |
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The first issue
of The Outpost came out in March, 1975 and was the initial brainchild
of the Ruskin Ratepayers Association. [numbered Vol. 1 No. 3 fb]
Frustration of residents with regard to conditions in the area, poor roads,
poor lighting, vandalism and lack of water had resulted in a motion to
secede from Maple Ridge Municipality entirely. |
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The
banner stated the aims and objectives which were to give factual reporting
on controversial issues in the Ruskin and Whonnock areas and to provide
news of the club and sporting activities so that all the residents will
be made more aware of issues and events, and to provide a medium through
which residents views may be expressed. |
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| The
first issue was typed and offset on blue paper with an Easter lily motif
on the front page, since this issue coincided with Easter. The March issue
was well received and in April it was decided to contact a former resident
and historian, Charles Miller, to write a commentary on the background
of the Ruskin area. Mr. Miller was more than happy to do so and provided
detailed background material which ran for the issues April through September.... |
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The
Halls of Ruskin |
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by
Charles A. Miller, April 19, 1975 Click From the Archives No. 2 to download at no charge a pdf version of this article. |
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Consideration
should be given to the fact that the existing community hall opposite
the Ruskin school was not the first or only hall to serve the needs of
the people of the district. |
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The
first such hall was a magnificent ballroom on the fourth floor of the
otel, store, post office, restaurant and basement, owned and operated
by C.H. Heaps and Company, located on the south side of the C.P.R. track
at the mouth of the Stave River on the Fraser River. |
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Although
this was, in its entirety, a private enterprise, all early conventions,
business rallies, political gatherings, balls, (as they were known in
those days,) down to the ladies of the district tea parties, were held
there and although privately owned, not one soul in the community was
ever left out. Valley talent was always considered for the orchestra,
with the top violinist the late Alonzo Baker, a river boat captain of
Albion. These facilities were used until the early part of the year 1916,
over a period of some eleven years. |
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The
Hall at Stoltze’s |
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During
the latter part of the year 1913, Stoltze Manufacturing Company moved
into the Stave Valley to build a large shingle mill and town-site, on
the west bank of the river, which in late years supported a “drive-in”
theatre and is now the site of a huge trailer court complex. |
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In
the spring of the year, 1916, Mr. Henry Stoltze, owner of the mill and
his associates decided to build a community hall for the benefit of the
people of Ruskin, under the superintendence of Mr. A.G. Miller, this writer’s
father, and early May of that year saw its completion, with a Saturday
evening opening with everyone welcome for the dancing, to be followed
by a sumptuous table supper at eleven o’clock PM, as all such activities
of like nature were frowned upon if they intruded in any way on the forthcoming
Sabbath day. |
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The
hall had been gaily decorated with paper lanterns and streamers interspersed
with a profusion of early spring cultivated and wild flowers. A spacious
lean-to, the full width of the hall had been set up with rough trestle
tables and benches and the ladies of the townsite nearby had prepared
a sumptuous hot supper and a formal announcement declared supper was ready. |
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The
evening had been festive in all ways, including the prevalence of large
quantities of alcoholic refreshments, of which most attendants had partaken
of freely, many of whom, by supper time were showing the effects of such
imbibing and before supper was over, shouting and cries of “fire,
fire, fire,” were heard from without, with everyone crowding outside
to see one of the houses within the mill town-site burning fiercely. Hose
lines were immediately manned and the water from these trained on the burning building. Then the cry arose as to where the owner of the house might be, but nowhere without could he be seen, and his wife, now in hysterics, declared they had been in the house prior to supper time and she had not seen him since. |
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Although
the house was flaming fiercely one of the Japanese mill workers offered
voluntarily to try and get within to see if the owner was indeed there.
He was swathed in blankets, soaked with the hose water and made two extraordinary
attempts to get inside but on each occasion, was repulsed by the heat
and flames. The fire took a goodly time to subdue and it was then discovered
that the owner had indeed been within and had perished in the conflagration. |
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This
was the first and only event held in this hall. It remained standing until
the fall of the year and the children of the community were allowed to
use it for roller skating and other activities. Before the year was out,
material was needed for more construction in the village and mill area,
and it was dismantled piecemeal for these purposes. |
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During
the summer of the year 1916, the two room school at Ruskin was completed
with classes in both rooms commencing during the fall semester. This is
the same school, with whatever additions and renovations that have been
made over the years until this present date. |
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The
old school, in good repair, to the East and further back, was now disused
and it was not too long before consideration was given to the thought
of using it as a small community hall and meeting place for the now increasing
population. Privilege was given by the school board to hold a meeting
in the new school, with a very good attendance of recognized citizens
and a Committee was formed, and instructed to contact Victoria, B.C. to
find out if it might be purchased, moved from the school property, and
re-established as a community hall for the surrounding district. |
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Three
responsible and well known men formed the first committee and were, namely
Alex and George Gilchrist and Charles Stuart. Within short weeks, confirmation
was received from Victoria, and for the sum of one dollar, and the proviso
that it would be moved from the school property entirely, it became the
beginning of the third hall in the district. |
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Property
now had to be obtained and it was through the generous and magnanimous
effort of the whole Gilchrist family who owned the property immediately
across the road from the school, in donating and deeding a portion large
enough for any future needs for such an enterprise. |
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Activities
now began in earnest and without fear of contradiction, everyone who was
a resident, man and women both, did at sometime give of their efforts
and effects and before the year was out the old school was moved to the
proposed site. |
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Deference
and consideration must be given, at this time, in naming those who helped
in the culmination and fulfilling of a lone, sought after dream, and if
any are omitted it is only because this writer, through the mists of time,
may have forgotten some of them and may be excused for this oversight. |
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Motive
power in those days consisted of mostly behemoth steam engines and horses.
Horses, in this case, magnificent teams, were used exclusively, and those
owned by Gilchrist brothers, Isaac Parker and sons, Leander, (Tom) and
Harry, Charlie Nelson and Martin Kusha, under the foremanship of Moses
Ball. L. O. “Dick” Day, and Albert Miller as riggers, made
short work of the job, whilst others in the names of John Speller, James
Davidson, John Milne, Charles Stuart, George Langford, Thomas Stewart,
R. Dillman, and others including E. T. Parker of Stave River contributed
to the labour force, whilst the women of the district saw to hot soup,
tea, coffee and food being provided on the weekends that were worked. |
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During
the clearing of the site, several uniform sized logs were saved from the
trees that were fallen and dragged to the site of the old school. Stumps
were blasted, the resulting holes levelled whilst all bush and debris
was systematically and cleanly burnt. Then the building was lifted with
screw jacks and when the necessary height was reached, six inch by six
inch by thirty foot timbers were placed on top of the round logs now in
place under the building and when lowered upon this wooden mat, blocks
and cables were attached to anchor holds, the free ends of the cables
now hooked to the double trees of two teams, then slowly and carefully
the building began its journey to the new foundation of its new location.
Whilst such was going on, the labour force with another horse team carefully
set more round logs in place and in front of the others, these at a slight
angle off square and in so doing in this manner, the building was slowly
rotated and by the time it reached its destination, it had been completely
turned around. More logs had been peeled, greased, then set at right angles
to the building, then with the rigging judiciously set it took but a few
minutes to have it pulled into place and now a simple matter to jack it
up, remove the logs and gently lower it into place on the already prepared
and levelled cement foundations. |
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There
was a period of gratified jubilation when this was completed, for with
time out for lunch in the new school basement, the whole operation was
successfully concluded on this one Saturday. |
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Now
the task of renovating the whole building had to be contemplated and as
the year progressed, two bachelor carpenters, Mr. William Icing and Mr.
Frederick Gray took this task upon themselves each and every day that
they were not gainfully employed elsewhere. Whilst doing this work, they
were helped with the heavier construction work by another bachelor resident,
John Speller, already mentioned in this article. |
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Appeals
went out for lumber, hardware and brick, the response was fabulous, with
the firms of F.H. Heaps and Company, Stoltze Manufacturing Company and
Abernethy and Lougheed, together with many small but numerous cash contributions
sending or bringing what they could whilst construction was being carried
on and progressed apace. |
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New
skirting from the base line of the old building to the new ground line
was put in place, thereby excluding all cold air from the floor, with
all the positioning of three ventilators to keep this area aired out and
the highest side used for storage. The existing cloakroom partition, together
with the raised teacher’s dais were removed and refloored with edge
grain fir flooring, in all, making one room of approximately 900 square
feet. |
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Enough
and more, good dimension shiplap lumber had been delivered from the two
milling concerns, together with an ample number of first grade shingles
from the shingle mill, that it was now considered possible to construct
an annex consisting of a full width stage, complete with a two roomed
dressing room on the west side and a similar sized kitchen complete with
wood burning cook stove on the Eastern side. |
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This
work was carefully and completely carried out, then with the necessary
chimneys for the kitchen and another for a large upright heater in he
front of the building, together with the necessary approach stairs, a
good-sized slatted woodshed and a spacious double sized privy, complete
with a huge slaked lime barrel for each side, the new hall was now in
readiness for any event that might be considered, and at this time it
would be only appropriate to thank those old timers. |
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By
the time that all this work had been concluded the year was drawing to
an end and it was now decided the first full public gathering should be
a Christmas concert and to this end Mrs. Frank D. Pelkey, wife of the
C.P.R. station agent took upon herself the task of coaching, teaching
and preparing the youngsters of the district for such an entertainment.
In this she was a very able person together with also being a flawless
pianist and with the help of the junior room teacher of the new school
across the road, Miss Jean Fraser, rehearsal commenced for an hour after
school each day, with the exception of Saturday and Sundays, until the
evening of its much advertised, (by word of mouth mostly) gala opening. |
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Consideration
had been given to the fact that this formal opening of the new hall might
be so well attended that special efforts were taken in looking after the
seating requirements and a call went out for extra chairs which were loaned
by many district residents, whilst the two carpenters concluded their
efforts in making a number of wooden benches to accommodate visitors on
the two sides of the building. |
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Refreshments
in the form of sandwiches, cakes, cookies, tea and coffee were generously
prepared by the local ladies and the tables in the kitchen literally creaked
with the abundance of such goods, whilst some of the men brought in a
large fir Christmas tree which was set in place on the west side of the
hall front near the stage. It was decorated by the older teenage pupils
together with holly and assorted natural greenery tied with crimson ribbon,
adorning the side windows and over the double front entrance doors. |
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It
had been decided to have this formal opening on the Saturday evening preceding
Christmas day, and by the opening time of 7:45 PM arrived, there was not
even standing room left within the main floor area and many visitors were
standing in the wings of kitchen and dressing room areas. |
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Try
and visualize this setting of nearly fifty-nine years ago, together with
the fact that electric lights had not been as yet installed in the building
and the illumination consisted of reflector type coal oil lights, ten
in all in the main hall, whilst the candles on the tree and in the footlights
box, fronting the stage, together with four more hanging coal oil lights
at the back provided all the illumination. Promptly on the time proposed,
Mrs. Pelkey, with a fortissimo chord from the piano announced the appearance
of the chairman for the evening, one of the oldest settlers and dearly
loved citizen of the district, Mr. Moses Ball, who lived on the hill immediately
above the new hall and who had been one of the most ardent workers on
the entire project and who had been a former path master, poll tax collector
and councillor for the district of Maple Ridge, in a few homely well chosen
words declared the new Ruskin peoples’ hall formally opened and
for all to enjoy themselves. |
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Mr.
F. D. Pelkey now took over as M.C. and very ably took the audience through
a short three part play, numerous recitations and group singsong by the
pupils and children of the district, each event receiving a heartwarming
ovation of applause for each event, whilst the concluding number of, “The
Night Before Christmas”, by the whole cast received a double encore. |
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During
the whole performance Mrs. Pelkey had been the accompanist to all the
songs and it would be only considerate to note that the piano, a small
boudoir, “Bell” upright of magnificent tone, had been donated
to the hall by a district settler. |
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Immediately
upon completion of the concert, Santa Claus, in the, person of Mr. George
Gilchrist, together with several helpers took over the task of dispensing
the host of presents from and around the large tree and within a very
short time, the floor area of the whole building was a shambles of discarded
candy and present wrappers. |
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Food
in generous proportions now made its appearance dispensed from various
baskets for sandwiches and cheese box tops for the cakes and cookies,
whilst tea and coffee was poured in cups on the front of the stage and passed hand to hand to all the seated visitors who were now enjoying a good get together chat on local happenings. |
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By
this time, fine snow was commencing to fall with the outside temperature
falling rapidly and within a short time the hall was cleared up, dishes
washed, dried and stored, parcels and carriers, collected by their owners
and the people started their return to the various homes in the area.
Most had less than a mile to go; horse drawn vehicles could be counted
on one hand and automobiles were unknown; the furthest visitors had a
walk of over four miles before they reached their home to the north. |
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From
its inception this little community hall became an inspiration for all
and every social, political and holiday event held in the district, together
in the advantage of having the school playground immediately adjacent
and each forthcoming first of July and the end of the first half of the
yearly school session in June saw the events held nearby and if the weather
was inclement, ice cream and goodies were within the shelter of the building. |
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Throughout
the next few years, Mrs. Pelkey took upon herself, further duties, gratis
to the community, in the form of both modern and ballroom dancing, in
which again, she proved to be a most adept teacher, with her pupils learning
the intricacies of the movements and steps of, “The Lancers”,
“Roger de Coverley”, “French Minuet”, “Polka”,
“Circassion Waltz, and the more modern steps of one, two and three
steps, fox trots and waltzes. With her music together with the instructions
of another resident, “Jake” Lehman, the rudiments of square
dancing, together with Scotch schottisches were learned and enjoyed on
nearly every afternoon throughout the year. Together with all this, Mrs.
Pelkey also undertook to teach singing to any with such talent, the outcome
being much juvenile talent shown in concerts over the succeeding years. |
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Season’s
Christmas festivities of the annual concert and tree now saw the advent
of Japanese children taking part, with their proud parents in the audience,
the first to be D. Fujita and family, the first Japanese people to purchase
land in the district. |
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During
these activities, the large woodshed was kept filled with dry wood cut
by John Speller from his large acreage of timber and hauled by Gilchrist
Brothers horses. |
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The
residents of nearby Stoltze Mill, with their children, also took part
in all events, and being salaried people, were most instrumental in monetary
needs and always contributed generously on all occasions, |
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Daring
the use of the first old schoolhouse hall it would be appropriate to record
two most outstanding concerts put on by local residents and their children,
whose ages would range from early entry at age six to public school, until
their entering high school. |
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The
first such evening event was highlighted by the Japanese residents with
their numerous children putting on a beautiful play with authentic Japanese
flowing silk costumes, the dialogue conducted entirely in the Japanese
language and interpreted to the white audience by young Lanny Fujita.
It was received with ovation and enthusiasm by the elders of the assembled
community but it must be recorded that the younger teenage set did some
desultory ridiculing. However, let it be recorded that it was so well
received that it was repeated on two succeeding concerts, which were so
well advertised by word of mouth, that standing room in the little hall
was at a premium from visitors from outside the boundaries of the Ruskin
community! |
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The
Salish Indian children of the community had always attended both the old
and the new schools, with the respective teachers seeing that some of
them always took part in the annual Christmas concerts. Harry Cheer’s
family resided about half way between the Ruskin trailer court and the
village on Wilson Road at Ruskin Dam. |
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The
family were all musical, the father being a talented coronet player, having
been instructed by the fathers of the OMI Church at Mission. The children
were all self taught and one of the girls, Clara, had a magnificent contralto
voice, her sister Lena, a good accompanying voice, while two of the boys,
Ray and Clarence, were talented accordion and banjo players. Once their
natural shyness and reticent was overcome, that their teacher could induce
them to take part in the concerts, they gradually responded to take part
in some of the most well received musicals ever held in the little Ruskin
hall. |
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From
its first occupancy, the little schoolhouse hall was the centre of all
happenings in the surrounding vicinity and the years it was in use saw
Sunday School and Church services conducted there and the former Mrs.
Pelkey did the teaching together with the leading and singing of all the
old and favourite hymns. |
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Bake
sales, teas and parties for various events to raise monies, together with
meetings of the Ruskin Whonnock Women’s Institute, meetings of the
organized coop Farmers Union of small fruit growers and municipal as well
as political meetings also took place within its walls, as well as the
plays and concerts already mentioned and a few Friday night dances each
year. During these gatherings, it may-be recorded that unless sickness
prevented their attendance, all local residents were there, not only for
what was going on at the moment but to meet and chat with neighbours and
friends. |
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The
area surrounding the little hall had never been cleared very far away
from its perimeter walls and the predominant growth was small coniferous
firs and cedars with a thick mat of Salal berry on all sides but the roadside
entrance. Summer was upon the valley with extremely hot weather and in
July of the year 1922, fire totally destroyed the building and contents,
including a magnificent full toned Bell piano. School, across the road,
was out, the people in the nearest house some two hundred feet away were
visiting and it was only when a local resident, taking cream to the morning
Aggasiz local train, discovered the hall still smouldering and a goodly
brush fire in progress. The alarm was given, a crew mustered, the fire
subdued before that day was out. To this day it has never been established
whether the loss was incurred from fire starting outside near the area,
or from faulty wiring, or an electrical short circuit from within. Insurance
was nil; the loss to the community was total and complete. Everything
had been consumed except the bricks in the chimney! |
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Within
but a day or two after the conflagration, a meeting was held in the home
of one of the residents, to establish a course of action to rebuild. The
response was spontaneous and impulsive with most of the men folk in attendance.
A course of action was implemented within a short time, the outcome, to
rebuild immediately, if material and funds could be obtained. |
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Mr.
George Gilchrist offered to canvass the district for pledges of funds
and material for the now proposed new building and Albert Miller, the
writer’s father, began drawing the plans, estimating and taking
off quantities of necessary lumber and material needed, whilst others
started immediately to clean up the site of the fire and greatly clear
and enlarge the area for the proposed building. It must be remembered
that this was the middle of the summer when practically all were working,
either on their own holdings, fishing the Fraser River or at the mills
and logging camps in the general vicinity, and it was late fall before
full-time building actually commenced. However, the word went out as to
what had occurred and what was premeditated, whilst Mr. Gilchrist visited
the owners of the Mills in the district on foot and at the same time asking
for cash and donations from any and all who could financially contribute.
The response was fantastic, with pledges for all lumber, shingles, cement
and hardware being received at once, all gratis, with the exception of
the last item which was delivered at cost price by Cunningham Trapp Hardware
of New Westminster and the lumber was donated by and from the huge Abernethy
and Lougheed Logging and milling company whilst the nearby firm of the
Stoltze Manufacturing Company donated the roof and wall shingles. |
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It
is commendable to note at this time, that this was the second time that
both the above named companies had donated their lumber and shingles gratis
to, first the little schoolhouse hall and now for the building of a second
and much larger building, both within a period of eight years. |
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It
would be in order, at this time, to give the dimensions of the existing
hall and also the amount of material necessary to construct such a building.
Outside measurements are 30 feet by 80 feet and encloses entrance area
with ladies and gentlemen’s cloak rooms on either side, main floor,
stage and dressing rooms, a small kitchen annex, full width balcony over
entrance and a furnace heating area located about midway under the main
floor. To itemize all lumber used would not mean very much and would make
very dry reading but the main floor at today’s prices would cost
over two thousand dollars for sub floor of three quarter inch plywood
covered with finished edge grain fir or hemlock flooring! The one piece
of full length lumber which forms the arch over the stage would cost fifty
or more collars today. So the next time you may visit the premises, look
closely at the beautiful “Vee” joint lumber that was donated
for walls and ceiling, together with all the heavier framing lumber used
in the main construction and if you are mathematical minded and know how
to figure lumber dimensions at today’s prices you would find them
astronomical. |
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Much
of the lumber was delivered to the wharf at Ruskin by S.S. Skeena,
and the same men who had helped with their horse teams in the moving and
building of the former hall now hauled the lumber up the steep hill to
the site. There were but few heavy trucks in use at that time but some
of the heavier and longer timbers were brought to the site in this manner. |
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The
work progressed with every available resident doing what they could during
the longer summer evenings, Sundays and any day they were not at their
regular work. So it progressed, with good cement piers cast in place to
carry the foundation timbers and before the winter set in, the frame was
up and the roof on. |
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Here
again, the yeoman efforts of the two carpenters, Messrs. Laing and Gray
with much labour help from George Bartlett and others concluded the interior
finishing. New residents who had arrived after world war one, the Lee
family who had taken up property on what was then Parker Road, gave many
days to the project and John often said how much he learned at this time
about dedicated community efforts. |
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The
winter of 1922–1923 saw much seasonal work closed down and it was
during this time that most of the work was concluded because more of the
local people could help. During this time the walls were shingled, a number
of demountable tables, (made to take down when not in use, to be piled,
thus taking less space) and Mr. Percy Peterson of Stave Gardens constructed
the chimneys for furnace and kitchen. Electrical wiring was done gratis
by Messrs. Kamb of Stave Falls, Cameron of Mission and Phelan of Haney. |
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Cash
donations were received from various north shore communities who put on
benefit dances to help, with generous subscriptions from Dewdney, Hatzic,
Mission, Stave Falls, Whonnock and others, which in its entirety was the
backbone of cash necessities. |
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Work
had now proceeded to final completion in the young of the year 1923, a
woman’s committee was formed and plans finalized for the opening.
The valley was a riot of spring blooms and flowers with every resident
having such a garden. Huge bouquets graced the wall areas of main floor
and stage with varied coloured lilac predominating, interspersed with
wild currant and dogwood blooms, whilst the tables, covered with prized
snow white linen table cloths, loaned by every available housewife in
the community, were enhanced by vases of tulips and other spring blooms. |
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Invitations
had been sent to dignitaries throughout the lower mainland and when all
were seated at the head tables on the stage, together with every seat
filled on the main floor. The benediction was given by the minister of
the Anglican Church at Whonnock, a short welcoming speech from Alex Gilchrist
and supper be- gan immediately thereafter. Upon completion and when all
were seated, Mr. Gilchrist introduced the head table guests, the first
being the then mayor of the district of Maple Ridge. Next was Mr. Chas.
E. Tisdale, former mayor of the city of Vancouver and who for years had
had a summer home at Whonnock; then Nelson Lougheed of the Abernethy-Lougheed
timber empire, then Mr. Henry Stoltze of the nearby Stoltze Manufacturing
Company. |
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So
the names were called, no one was left out and it included the man who
drew the plans, the two carpenters, the bricklayer, and each man and woman
who had worked so long and arduously to complete such a worth while project. |
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By
this time the orchestra, a new one to most in the valley, known as the
Edna Haywood Players and owned and conducted by her, had arrived and this
was the signal for the younger unmarried men to quickly start dismounting
the tables which had been cleared by the young ladies, whilst the elders
moved to benches and chairs along the ends and sides of the now newly
waxed dance floor. Within minutes the band played the opening waltz with
everyone taking the floor who wished to take part in this first dance
in the new hall. The leading attraction of this orchestra was the playing
of a xylophone by the lady owner, something few if any had ever heard
before, and it was long after midnight; with an extra collection fee taken
up for overtime before the music stopped, and a tired but happy gathering
left for their various homes, with many with sore feet, seeking rides
with neighbours lucky enough to own cars. |
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From
that memorable opening until this present day this building has seen and
entertained so much activity and entertainment that if it were all recorded
and itemized the files would be enormous and would have to have a goodly
sized area to accommodate their keeping. Much has been forgotten and many
who took part in these earlier activities are no longer with us for now,
at this date, in late spring of the year 1975 this building has been in
constant use for fifty-two years—no wonder some have forgotten! |
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Various
committees have been organized for the keeping and welfare of the building
and all who were elected to such office have taken upon themselves the
care and consideration of the upkeep of such an establishment and the
general appearance of the building at this present day will show how well
it was cared for. |
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Dorm
through the years it has been an indoor haven during the winter months
for athletic activities, such as badminton and basketball and produced
some outstanding players, together, in the earlier days, of a modified
type of indoor tennis in which the late Mabel Nelson was very, very seldom
outclassed! |
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Many,
many wedding receptions have been held within its walls, together with
innumerable “do’s” to raise funds for the yearly upkeep
of the premises and it was and still is the dedicated efforts of all and
such people who take it upon themselves to conclude this outstanding work.
It is not an easy job and in a good many instances a very thankless undertaking. |
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Within
its confines it has been the recognized centre for all provincial and
municipal voting for the immediate district, together with many a stormy
meeting of proposed candidates for such office and many good laughs have
been had at the remarks emanating from some of the speakers. |
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It
is with pride and gratification that this writer looks back upon the community
efforts of the people of the Ruskin district in the looking after a -e
communal building worthy of all who enjoy its’ use. It could be
of interest to some who may remember that the first duly elected committee
for the first year, late in 1923, for the forthcoming year of 1924, were,
namely Mildred Gilchrist, Charles Polack, Evelyn Monkman, H.V. Deane Freeman,
Vera Finlay and this writer, Charles Miller, with the first duties being
the organizing of a mixed badminton team with some remarkable players
making their debut, two of the most outstanding the sister and brother
team of Emma and Albert Thorstenson. |
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That
spring saw two dances put on by this committee one in May, the next in
June. With a profusion of cultivated and wild dowers they were advertised
as a “May time” and a “June night” dance. The
now well known orchestra of Edna Haywood was in attendance with the xylophone
and an added attraction of a slowly rotating circular vari-coloured screen
in front of a stationary electric light, set up in the balcony and providing
a varied rainbow effect on the clothing of the dancers. So well attended
were these two events that after all expenses were paid, over thirteen
hundred dollars went to the bank account of the hall! |
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Down
through the years many residents have taken office for the continuation
of the upkeep of this hall, with the Hoppers, Hustons, Lees, Lobbs and
others, looking after its’ welfare and in these duties have given
unstintingly of effort and time. It has not been an easy task, for the
ravages of time have seen a great deal of repair work which had to be
done to keep the building serviceable, with many of these being major
projects and included the renewal of the roof shingles twice! |
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During
the late 1920s the Japanese population had increased to proportions of
three to one in their favour against the early white settlers and they
now owned practically all the good arable and bottom land which they were
using to raise remarkable prolific crops of raspberries and strawberries. |
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School
law determined that all children attend the public schools in their district
and in this respect the Japanese children faithfully attended, and with
the roster showing the first pupil from the Japanese community appearing
in the new Ruskin school in 1917, in fourteen short years, when this writer’s
daughter first went to school in 1931 she was the only white girl attending. |
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Some
years prior to this the Japanese elders decided that their children should
be receiving more of their own teaching. Municipal authorities were approached
at Haney for the purpose of obtaining land together with a permit for
the erection of a Japanese community hall in the Ruskin area. Such permission
was granted, land was purchased from one of the few remaining white settlers,
a portion cleared and within a very short time a large hall was constructed
by the people concerned. |
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The
site of this hall was on then what was known as Parker Road, now 280th
Street, a short half mile north of River Road and its location, pinpointed,
would be directly south of Mr. and Mrs. Rod Fraser’s stable, as
a direct landmark, and its’ north wall was almost on the Fraser’s
south boundary, with a large deep well for water for this hall between. |
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This
hall was in constant use for over twenty years, by old and young alike,
by members of the Japanese community, and the children upon leaving the
Ruskin school, had to go directly to their school where a teacher of their
nationality instructed them in Japanese culture. No trace or vestige of
this hall remains today, as it was demolished, the well filled in and
the land repurchased in the late 1940s. |
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Consistent
with the history of community halls in the district of Ruskin, another
hall has served the people of that part of the community at the small
village below the dam, at the homes there, for the past forty-five years
and it would only be fair to relate its inception and historical background
because during this time it has been in constant use by employees of the
British Columbia Electric Railway Company Limited, now British Columbia
Hydro and Power Authority. |
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Situated
on the west side of Stave River in the midst of the small group of village
houses, it was built primarily for the reception and entertaining of visiting
dignitaries from throughout the world, who came in the early years of
1930 to tour the most modern hydro electric plant in existence at that
time, then when that excursion was over they were wined and dined by a
coterie of caterers who were brought up from Vancouver by train on each
occasion. |
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Such
events continued for a few short years, gradually declining until no further
such parties were held and the little hall became unused and empty. |
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Social
life in the immediate surroundings of the little village, at this time,
had not reached the hectic tempo of the present day and after the building
had remained unused for a lengthy period a meeting was held by several
of the resident employees to formulate plans for the caretaking and use
for gatherings and parties. Management was contacted and a tentative agreement
drawn up in which it was agreed that the building would be turned over
to a committee of employees for varied and sundry social activities. |
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At
this time, the building, although well designed and sturdily built, was
unlined and only sheathed with building paper against the wall studding
and the floor consisted of plain lap jointed shiplap, which had shrunk,
making dancing on it, virtually impossible. The committee again approached
the owners to have permission granted to update and renovate the entire
unit, the outcome being the usual one dollar contract and it was turned
over to the villagers with an amendment that the company would do, within
reason, certain renovations, with the company maintenance staff doing
such work when occasion permitted. |
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This
writer in charge of outside maintenance was asked by management to make
a survey of the building, present a cost work order and if approved, the
company would appropriate funds for the necessary work. |
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These
intentions were carried out and it was established that a major work program
regarding renewal and repairs to the building would be extensive and costly
as the existing building had been built upon wooden ground foundations
which were badly rotted, together with interior and other work brought
the cost of renovation to a formidable figure. However, the company, with
certain reservations which included the proviso that this work would only
be carried on when other work necessary for the maintenance of power plant
was not being done and over a goodly portion of time this is how the repairs
were made. |
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The
old foundations were replaced with cement and all defective supporting
timbers replaced. The interior walls were covered with heavy “gyproc”
plasterboard, whilst the existing shiplap floor was covered with a beautiful
edge grain fir floor and all openings cased and trimmed, and the kitchen
and toilet facilities brought up to standard. New lighting fixtures were
installed together with a large ventilating fan and regulator. |
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During
the renovations the little hall was in constant and varied use, with a
gala party to celebrate completion of the work. Now, during nearly 45
years of use the little building is zealously looked after by Mrs. George
“Patty” Mantle, who has been instrumental in establishing
a first rate kindergarten school which has taken care of youngsters for
a goodly area of the surrounding district, together with all other usual
activities held in any similar rural surroundings.— |
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Charles
A. Miller, April 19, 1975. From the Archives No. 2 |
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