|
|
|
|
| December 2 / More Oak Bay history |
| We have an early Christmas gift thanks to Phil Ballam (Connie's Dad). What follows is an abridged version of Mr Ballam's recollections of early Oak Bay . . . |
To the Class of 1960 - O.B.H.S.
MY OAK BAY - circa 1931 to about 1936.
Recollections of Phil Ballam
|
. We lived on Fort Street – now known as Cadboro Bay Road – where the Casanave building is located, presently the office of the Pacific Coast Credit Union. The building we lived in was a combination storefront and dwelling. It had a large garden area with fruit trees, and sheds for chickens and a cow. It backed onto "the Creek" that still runs there.
. From where we lived to the Casanave main house - a stone construction where the huge redwood tree stands today on the Oak Bay High School grounds – was a field where Mr. Victor Casanave grew mangles (a large turnip) for food for his cows. They were pastured in the field behind his home. There was a barn there, and a milk shed where Vic separated the cream from the milk. For some time I visited the shed every night to get free skim milk for my goat (another story).
. As one of the kids of the neighbourhood, you might get lucky and receive a hockey stick from Mr. Casanave! It seems he had been the skate sharpener at the Patrick Ice Arena, recently burned down [1929], and had salvaged some used sticks. The Arena was right across from his property. An apartment building [Cranmore Court] is now located there.
. I attended St. Mary's Church Sunday school by walking through the fields, over the creek, and up through a field to Elgin Street. The minister was a Canon A.E. Nunns, I recall. He had a pretty daughter, which I observed from a distance when, some time later as a young Boy Scout, we were doing our "good turn" by putting his load of fire wood from the driveway into his basement!
. The Municipal Hall was on the corner of Hampshire and Oak Bay Avenue, with the police station at the back. The police chief - a Mr John Syme - and family lived there. The Victoria Lawn Tennis club, with lovely grass courts, once stood where the Safeway complex is now located. We swam at Willows Beach in the summer and enjoyed the waves when the C.P.R. steamers went by, which they did several times a day!
. I went to Willows School for Grades 6, 7, and 8. I recall our principal, Mr. F.G. Dexter, a Miss Alexis M. Brown, a Tommy Horne, and a special teacher in grade 8, a Walter Brynjolfson - a great rugby hero. He played here against the New Zealand All Blacks and scored a try, or so the story went. I played rugby and loved it. We played against St. Michael's and University School and won our games as, of course, I would report!
. The old Oak Bay High was located where the present Municipal Hall is located. We went to that building for our manual training classes - wood working - under our teacher, Mr. Maddock.
. There were two sets of streetcar tracks in front of our place. For the first few weeks we lived there I thought the streetcars were coming right into my bedroom! One set of tracks went to the Uplands turn-around, and the other went along Fair Street to the fairgrounds. I recall the wonderful fairground buildings, the race track, and covered grandstand. From the racetrack up to Lansdowne Road was a field of wheat, a lovely sight in Autumn - shimmering gold in colour! If you went out to Cadboro Bay on the street car it was almost open fields with bullrushes after you left the Willows School area. I recall seeing and hearing the red-wing blackbirds.
. Wonderful memories! |
| Our gratitude to Phil Ballam for taking the time to record some of his recollections of early Oak Bay. Also, thanks to Sandy for suggesting we contact Mr Ballam and to Richard for following through. Other class members are encouraged to contact our senior residents to archive their recollections of early Oak Bay. These recollections, and any maps and photographs obtained, will become part of a "History of Oak Bay " website being developed by Gary. |
|
| December 10 / Christmas |
| Merry Christmas to all and best wishes for every happiness in the New Year. |
| Marilyn Walmsley |
|
| December 10 / Recollections |
| Many thanks for Mr. Ballam's recollections of the days before our time. I was especially interested seeing the name Walter Brynjolfson, remembered as 'Brindie' by those of us at Monterey. He was our principal there before we moved onwards to Oak Bay Junior. |
| Otherwise time seems to fly, and we are getting close to 'Jul' and then 'Nytaar' here in Denmark. |
| The best of seasons greetings to all. |
Don
Don Ingham / di.fks.bow@12mail.dk |
|
| December 11 / Happy Holidays |
| Seasonal Greetings to all. Thought you might be interested, all those who enjoy the Vancouver theatre scene, the Playhouse production of "The Music Man" features our 10 year old grandson, Jeremiah Kennedy, as Winthrop. It's a good show — just right for the holidays — and it's on until the 19th. |
Therese
chickiedoc@yahoo.com |
|
| December 13 / The Music Man |
| I remember going to see the the Warner Bros. production of The Music Man at the Odeon in the early sixties and that it received quite a few academy award nominations. I believe Ron Howard took the part of Winthrop. More recently it has been well received on Broadway and if I lived near Vancouver I would certainly make an effort to take it in. Good for Jeremiah in getting the part. |
Richard
goodallr@sunwave.net |
|
| December 13 / The First Christmas Card |
| A Christmas morsel from Richard . . . |
The First Christmas Card
1843
|
|
I thought some of you might be interested in seeing an image of the first Christmas card. It was the idea of Sir Henry Cole of London (founder of the Great Exhibition of 1851 and the Victoria and Albert Museum) who wanted an easier way of sending greetings to his friends rather than the tedious chore of writing letters. He commissioned the Royal Academy artist J.C. Horsley to produce the card and the first ones were sent out for Christmas in 1843. The card illustrated a wealthy family enjoying a Christmas feast as they all toast the festive season by sipping wine and it was all set within a woody, rustic border hung with ivy, grapes and vine leaves (holly did not appear on Christmas cards until 1848).. "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You" was printed on the first card and they were all hand delivered.Legend says Sir Henry didn't send any cards the following year, but the custom became popular and just three years after the English Parliament passed the Postage Act, it made it possible to send letters for a penny. Within 10 years, Christmas cards were the rage of England. |
Of the 1,000 original Christmas cards printed, only 12 are known to still exist.
|
|
| December 13 / The First Christmas Card |
| Hey Richard, how come it was sent by Tom and Marion if it was Sir Henry's card? |
|
| December 13 / The Card |
| My guess is that the butler and the parlour maid found one of Sir Henry's cards lying around. |
| Actually this one is from a private collection and was purchased at auction for 2000 British pounds in 1987. No doubt it was from the second run three years later. |
| Richard |
|
| December 19 / Xmas Greetings |
| Holiday Greetings from Burlington. May your New Year be fruitful and happy. |
| Ian |
|
|
| December 19 / Happy Holiday Season |
|
Wishing all of you a Happy Holiday Season. |
| Richard |
|
| December 21 / It's that time of year... |
| To wish you all a very happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year. Looking forward to seeing many classmates in June!! |
| Much love. |
Sandy
Canberra, Australia / redoak@austarmetro.com.au |
|
| December 24 / Happy Holiday |
| To all of you... |
| May this season of holidays draw deep from the abundant joy, fierce hopes, and enduring traditions of all our ancestors. |
| More Peace, More Joy, More Love! |
diane
diane wilson / ddyer2001@mediaone.net |
|
| December 25 / Season's Greetings |
| Hi everyone. Season's greetings from Vancouver. |
| Gary |
|
| December 26 / Original Christmas Card |
| Can't help but wonder if people in the 1800s tsk tsked about receiving a CARD instead of a letter -- the way I do about receiving a form letter instead of a handwritten note in a card. Grumble, grumble -- guess Christmas must be over! |
| Best wishes for peace, good health and education for all in 2002. |
Therese
chickiedoc@yahoo.com |
|
| December 27 / New Computer |
| Hi everyone: |
| I got a new computer for Christmas, but I'm having trouble importing my old address book, so if I send you messages, and you want more, take pity and send me a hello so I can add you to my new address list. |
| Cheers, and happy new year |
Laurel
laurelj@aebc.com / Tsawwassen |
|
| December 29 / Winter |
| Hearing about this seven foot snowfall in Buffalo brings remembrances of Victoria winters. I wonder what was our heaviest snowfall when we were kids? I remember ice skating on a frozen pond in the Uplands woods with twigs and branches in it (not deep). It was very cold! Of course it never snowed enough for us, right? |
Lynne
Lynne Schulnik / lynnelj349@aol.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
