Recording is an oral history interview of Duncan Robertson by Oonagh O'Connor at his home in Whaletown (Part 1 of 2). Topics covered include some family history; people and customs of the early days on the island; logging; fishing; hunting; cougars; Cortes in the 1950s and 1960s. There is a short summary of the interview, written by May Ellingsen, in the cassette case.
Recording is an oral history interview of Duncan Robertson by Oonagh O'Connor at his home in Whaletown (Part 1 of 2). Topics covered include some family history; people and customs of the early days on the island; logging; fishing; hunting; cougars; Cortes in the 1950s and 1960s. There is a short summary of the interview, written by May Ellingsen, in the cassette case.
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.
Series consists of CIRA general correspondence and APC general correspondence, as well as CIRA correspondence on specific issues, including ferry service, electrical and telephone service, the Regional District system of government, medical services, parks, wharves, environmental concerns, tax assessments, log dump and beach salvage, predators (wolves and cougars), oyster poaching, the road network, garbage collection and disposal, historic sites, library services, emergency response and policing, and the Raven Lumber subdivision proposal and ensuing court case.
Series consists of CIRA general correspondence and APC general correspondence, as well as CIRA correspondence on specific issues, including ferry service, electrical and telephone service, the Regional District system of government, medical services, parks, wharves, environmental concerns, tax assessments, log dump and beach salvage, predators (wolves and cougars), oyster poaching, the road network, garbage collection and disposal, historic sites, library services, emergency response and policing, and the Raven Lumber subdivision proposal and ensuing court case.
Recording is an oral history interview of Duncan Robertson by Oonagh O'Connor (Part 2 of 2). Topics covered include Dunc's children Ann (Dewar) and Lynn (Summers); oysters; the Whaletown store; early telephone system; mining; the Robertson family; the ferry; changes in wildlife population he has observe over the years; and logging practices. There is a short summary of the interview, written by May Ellingsen, in the cassette case.
Recording is an oral history interview of Duncan Robertson by Oonagh O'Connor (Part 2 of 2). Topics covered include Dunc's children Ann (Dewar) and Lynn (Summers); oysters; the Whaletown store; early telephone system; mining; the Robertson family; the ferry; changes in wildlife population he has observe over the years; and logging practices. There is a short summary of the interview, written by May Ellingsen, in the cassette case.
Photograph of Gilean Douglas (second from left) holding a rifle and three men (two with guns and one holding an unidentified animal upside down), standing in front of a log building at Limberlost.
Photograph of Gilean Douglas (second from left) holding a rifle and three men (two with guns and one holding an unidentified animal upside down), standing in front of a log building at Limberlost.
Photograph labelled on the back as "Nick Manson, Jack Manson with Ruff (?) thinking of his next meal." The photo depicts Jack Manson holding his rifle beside Nick and the dog, and a deer stretched out over a barrel.
Photograph labelled on the back as "Nick Manson, Jack Manson with Ruff (?) thinking of his next meal." The photo depicts Jack Manson holding his rifle beside Nick and the dog, and a deer stretched out over a barrel.
Photograph of a cougar looming large in front of the Manson's Landing school. Captioned "This was shot at the had of the Manson's Lagoon and brought up to the school for the children to see".
Photograph of a cougar looming large in front of the Manson's Landing school. Captioned "This was shot at the had of the Manson's Lagoon and brought up to the school for the children to see".
Mrs. Margaret Nixon posing with her husband's rifle and a dead buck. "This is a pose only. Her husband shot the deer. They lived alone on Twin Islands and picture taking was a pleasant pastime. She was two years older than her husband's mother. They were very happy and a very fine couple. She was an English-trained nurse for missionary work. Married a missionary doctor. They went to India where the doctor died of fever so she left. Eventually came to Canada where she met and married Capt. James Nixon. Note the scar on her left cheek. While in India an insect went up her nose. It burrowed into the bone and the doctors were never able to effect a cure- it eventually reached the area of the brain. She had to undergo an operation and did not survive the operation. Her husband was desolated." (May Ellingsen).
Mrs. Margaret Nixon posing with her husband's rifle and a dead buck. "This is a pose only. Her husband shot the deer. They lived alone on Twin Islands and picture taking was a pleasant pastime. She was two years older than her husband's mother. They were very happy and a very fine couple. She was an English-trained nurse for missionary work. Married a missionary doctor. They went to India where the doctor died of fever so she left. Eventually came to Canada where she met and married Capt. James Nixon. Note the scar on her left cheek. While in India an insect went up her nose. It burrowed into the bone and the doctors were never able to effect a cure- it eventually reached the area of the brain. She had to undergo an operation and did not survive the operation. Her husband was desolated." (May Ellingsen).
.jpg?width=1200&404=no-img.jpg&watermark=wmk)
.jpg?width=1200&404=no-img.jpg&watermark=wmk)
.jpg?width=180&404=no-img.jpg)
.jpg?width=1200&404=no-img.jpg&watermark=wmk)
.jpg?width=1200&404=no-img.jpg&watermark=wmk)
.jpg?width=180&404=no-img.jpg)
