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Archiver > METISGEN > 2004-04 > 1080927797


From: Denny Lowe <>
Subject: Re: [METISGEN-L] I have a neat story & Marion question? OT
Date: Fri, 2 Apr 2004 09:43:17 -0800
In-Reply-To: <006f01c41879$09a90dc0$6401a8c0@gv.shawcable.net>


On Thursday, April 1, 2004, at 10:09 PM, Stanley Hulme wrote:

> Hi Brenda
> This has nothing to do with your message other than the mention of
> Gibsons. My grandparents used to live in Gibsons and many of my
> happiest
> childhood memories relate back to the early 1940's in Gibsons Landing.
> [...]

Well, now! 'tis a small world, indeed...

My Mom and Dad transplanted me, and my older sister Margaret, from
Saskatoon to a small log cabin on Honeymoon Lane, near the lower end of
Pratt Road, near Gower Point, in the early 1940s.

I guess I have lived in some six different localities in the Gibsons
area, before leaving home at the tender age of 16. I delivered the
Vancouver Province, from the North Road as far West as the Cannery Road
(today's Henry Road), with side excursions down the Shaw and Pratt
Roads, and up the North and Payne Roads, for almost five years. First,
I use to go down to the village and pick up the papers when the Sea Bus
arrived from Fisherman's Cove, then later meeting the arrival of a
converted 2nd WW2 Fairmile (the name of which eludes me as I now write).

I recall watching the first 16 mm films, shown once or twice a month,
in the Farmer's Institute Hall (later bought by the School Board, and
then known as the School Hall) before the building of Bal's Block,
complete with a theatre, in the village. I worked after school (before
delivering papers) stocking the shelves in Mr. Grey's 'Groceteria',
located in Bal's Block. The theatre was to burn down and Bal's Block
was then rebuilt.

Needless to say, I attended the Elementary School and the old Gibson's
Landing High School, during the period where the later saw rapid
expansion into the old Legion Hall, the classroom under the extension
built onto the School Hall, and a former restaurant built by Carson &
Peterson. This expansion was triggered by the bussing of students,
from as far away as Robert's Creek and Hopkin's Landing. I guess I had
been in the Canadian Army Signals a couple of years before the new
Elphinstone High School was built on what was, I think, Johnny and Maud
McDonald's farm.

While I do recall numerous names from my youth, I must confess that
neither Hulme nor Bedard ring any bells. Is my memory slipping,
Brenda, or does your family's name appear in Gibsons post 1950? May I
ask if you live in the older part of the village, or would it be in one
of the newer subdivisions?

By the way, have you folks with an interest in Gibsons read Lester R.
Peterson's "The Gibsons Landing Story"? I have certainly enjoyed
reading it, and finding the mention of so many of the names that grew
up with, and learning that Gower Point was first named by Captain Cook
in 1792. I have recently purchased a copy of his book, on CD ROM, via
Archive CD Books Canada:

http://www.archivecdbooks.ca/acdbcanada.html

Like Stan, I too need to make a trip back up memory lane... come to
think of it, the sooner the better.

Denny (Langley BC)

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