Fonds comprises material created or collected by Wilfred (Wilf) Freeman in the course of his work as a logger and during his community activities. It includes correspondence, logging records, maps, minutes of committee meetings, financial records, ephemera and clippings. It is arranged in four series: Logging; Centennial Committee; Ephemera; and Cortez Grapevine Telephone Association.
Wilfred (Wilf) Michael Freeman was born October 21, 1917 in Vancouver B.C. and died December 23, 2012. He was the son of William George Freeman and Robina Steel (Manson) Freeman and brother to Elizabeth Jane May (Freeman) Ellingsen (born March 13, 1914). His grandparents were Michael and Jane Manson. Wilf grew up on Hernando Island until 1926 when the family moved to Vancouver. One of his first jobs in the early 1930s was in Powell River where, among other things, he was hand digging basements under some of the original Powell River townsite homes.
He gravitated to the logging industry, working for Sigurd Ellingsen and Eric Flescher in Phillips Arm through the late ’30’s and into the 1950’s. He was an excellent worker; strong, resourceful, thoughtful, humorous and thorough, and, as well, he enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Wilf and his wife, May (Spence; died 1970) moved down to Smelt Bay on Cortes in the early 1950s from Phillips Arm. He logged with Bill Mathews between 1954 and 1965 in the Von Donop Creek areas. As well, they both crewed on the seine boat “Courtenay Maid” with Pat Andrews for a few summers.
When the ferry came to Cortes Island, both Wilf and Bill worked as deckhands, always cheerful and busy throughout the trips, often chipping and repainting rust spots on the ship.
Wilf was active in many community affairs over all the years living on Cortes: among them the Ratepayers Association, the 1958 Centennial Committee, the Cortes Grapevine Telephone Assoc. (a local telephone system, 1959 - 1966), Cortes Days summer celebrations, Cortes Island Firefighters Assoc., Cortes Rod and Gun Club.
Wilf and his second wife, Nora, lived on in Smelt Bay until they moved to Willow Point, South of Campbell River, in 2002. There they lived until, on December 23, 2102, he passed away while shovelling snow in their back yard.
Custodial History
Accession 2001.001 was donated to CIMAS by Wilfred Freeman on June 16, 2001. Accession 2002.002 was gathered at Wilf Freeman's garage sale by Bonnie MacDonald and donated to the museum in June of 2002. Accession 2017.006 was donated to CIMAS by Bruce Ellingsen, Freeman's nephew, in July of 2017.
Scope and Content
Fonds comprises material created or collected by Wilfred (Wilf) Freeman in the course of his work as a logger and during his community activities. It includes correspondence, logging records, maps, minutes of committee meetings, financial records, ephemera and clippings. It is arranged in four series: Logging; Centennial Committee; Ephemera; and Cortez Grapevine Telephone Association.
Families of Hernando Island men who worked together in a very small logging enterprise.
L to R: Mrs. Gwen (Fraser) Campbell holding Thelma's hand, Mrs. C. Owen (friend) behind Etta and Hazel McKay, Mrs. Jean (Wilfred) Manson behind Dorothy, Mrs. Florence (Ervin) McKay holding Minerva Campbell.
Families of Hernando Island men who worked together in a very small logging enterprise.
L to R: Mrs. Gwen (Fraser) Campbell holding Thelma's hand, Mrs. C. Owen (friend) behind Etta and Hazel McKay, Mrs. Jean (Wilfred) Manson behind Dorothy, Mrs. Florence (Ervin) McKay holding Minerva Campbell.
Manson's sheep grazing in the field on Hernando Island which was created by removing the old logging camp buildings. On the left is a one-time camp family house and on the right is the former cookhouse, now a barn.
Manson's sheep grazing in the field on Hernando Island which was created by removing the old logging camp buildings. On the left is a one-time camp family house and on the right is the former cookhouse, now a barn.
The log barn at Big Meadow on Hernando Island. The barn is built of logs and hand-split cedar shakes. While the railroad logging was still operating, Victor Berg and his partner lived at the Meadow and logged poles using horses.
The log barn at Big Meadow on Hernando Island. The barn is built of logs and hand-split cedar shakes. While the railroad logging was still operating, Victor Berg and his partner lived at the Meadow and logged poles using horses.
Harry Sundick, one of the logging crew who worked at Stag Bay, Hernando Island. Note the railroad track in the foreground. Shortly after this picture was taken, he had an accident and was hospitalized.
Harry Sundick, one of the logging crew who worked at Stag Bay, Hernando Island. Note the railroad track in the foreground. Shortly after this picture was taken, he had an accident and was hospitalized.
Jean Manson with the reins and Wilfred Manson handling the plough preparing the Big Meadow field on Hernando Island either for planting potatoes or for seeding oat hay which would, when cut, be stored in the Big Meadow barn.
Jean Manson with the reins and Wilfred Manson handling the plough preparing the Big Meadow field on Hernando Island either for planting potatoes or for seeding oat hay which would, when cut, be stored in the Big Meadow barn.
Dorothy Manson standing behind 'Ruff' the new sheepdog, 'Brindle' lying beside them. In the background, beyond the rail fence, is (left to right) a steam donkey, a storage shed, the main camp manager's house (now the home of Mike Manson), a garage for the car and a barn.
Dorothy Manson standing behind 'Ruff' the new sheepdog, 'Brindle' lying beside them. In the background, beyond the rail fence, is (left to right) a steam donkey, a storage shed, the main camp manager's house (now the home of Mike Manson), a garage for the car and a barn.
Mabel Christensen standing beside the beautiful arbutus tree on the beach at Stag Bay, Hernando Island, near the former site of the white canvas house. There was also a good well there.
This photograph was donated to May Ellingsen by Buster and Mabel Christensen.
Scope and Content
Mabel Christensen standing beside the beautiful arbutus tree on the beach at Stag Bay, Hernando Island, near the former site of the white canvas house. There was also a good well there.
The pier from which the locomotive dumped logs at Stag Bay, Hernando Island. Cortes Island is in the far distance with Twin Islands in the right background. The pile-driver beside the pier and gin poles are arranged to unload logs. There are also poles set at intervals on the beach for hanging booms.
The pier from which the locomotive dumped logs at Stag Bay, Hernando Island. Cortes Island is in the far distance with Twin Islands in the right background. The pile-driver beside the pier and gin poles are arranged to unload logs. There are also poles set at intervals on the beach for hanging booms.
Members of the Manson family at Stag Bay, Hernando Island. There is a cherry tree at the end of the storage shed, and to the left and behind the people, an old building and fence and Italian prune trees.
L to R: Mrs. Jane Manson holding May Freeman, Mrs. Robina Freeman, Flossie Manson, David Robertson, Jack Manson, George Freeman
Note Freemans fox terrier 'Gypsy' to the left of Mrs. Manson and blocks of stove wood with an axe to the right.
Members of the Manson family at Stag Bay, Hernando Island. There is a cherry tree at the end of the storage shed, and to the left and behind the people, an old building and fence and Italian prune trees.
L to R: Mrs. Jane Manson holding May Freeman, Mrs. Robina Freeman, Flossie Manson, David Robertson, Jack Manson, George Freeman
Note Freemans fox terrier 'Gypsy' to the left of Mrs. Manson and blocks of stove wood with an axe to the right.
The photograph shows a boatload of visitors going to Stag Bay, transport provided by the small gasboat in the background. During George Freeman's years at Stag Bay, he used this '"little green boat" for necessary commuting between Stag Bay and Lund, not only for personal needs but also for logging camp needs for repairs, medical emergencies, etc.
Wilfred Manson is standing on the gasboat in the back.
In the rowboat, L to R: Colin Campbell, Fraser Campbell (brothers), Jean Manson and Dorothy, Florence McKay with oar, Gwen Campbell and Thelma, Mrs. Colin Campbell behind Hazel McKay, Etta McKay.
The photograph shows a boatload of visitors going to Stag Bay, transport provided by the small gasboat in the background. During George Freeman's years at Stag Bay, he used this '"little green boat" for necessary commuting between Stag Bay and Lund, not only for personal needs but also for logging camp needs for repairs, medical emergencies, etc.
Wilfred Manson is standing on the gasboat in the back.
In the rowboat, L to R: Colin Campbell, Fraser Campbell (brothers), Jean Manson and Dorothy, Florence McKay with oar, Gwen Campbell and Thelma, Mrs. Colin Campbell behind Hazel McKay, Etta McKay.
Dorothy Manson, daughter of Wilfred and Jean Manson, with her dog 'Brindle' at Stag Bay, Hernando Island. Where the bulk of logging camp buildings had been, has been cleared and seeded to clover for hay. The house with a ladder had been one of the camp family houses. Note the beached "little green boat" at the end of her career.
Dorothy Manson, daughter of Wilfred and Jean Manson, with her dog 'Brindle' at Stag Bay, Hernando Island. Where the bulk of logging camp buildings had been, has been cleared and seeded to clover for hay. The house with a ladder had been one of the camp family houses. Note the beached "little green boat" at the end of her career.
A group of people on the beach at Stag Bay, Hernando Island. Twin Islands can be seen in the background.
Back row, L to R: Mr. Niven, Jim Niven, Dick Parker, Jean Manson, Mrs. Niven
Front row, L to R: Muriel Hurreen, Thelma Campbell, Audrey and Eileen Kenny, Minerva and Lorne Campbell, Dorothy Manson
A group of people on the beach at Stag Bay, Hernando Island. Twin Islands can be seen in the background.
Back row, L to R: Mr. Niven, Jim Niven, Dick Parker, Jean Manson, Mrs. Niven
Front row, L to R: Muriel Hurreen, Thelma Campbell, Audrey and Eileen Kenny, Minerva and Lorne Campbell, Dorothy Manson
