Photograph depicts several men standing on the platform of the Gorge Hall at the start of construction. From the caption to this photo in June Cameron's memoir (p. 169): "Among a crew of volunteers who built the Gorge Community Hall in 1933 were Ed Tooker, George Beattie, Charlie Allen, Elsie Beattie and Elsie's baby Margaret. (Margaret Schindler photo)" (Cameron, June. "Destination Cortez Island". Surrey BC: Heritage House, 1999 - page 169)
This photograph was given to the Whaletown Community Club in 2008 by Margaret Schindeler, a granddaughter of George Beattie, the donor of the land the Hall stands on.
Scope and Content
Photograph depicts several men standing on the platform of the Gorge Hall at the start of construction. From the caption to this photo in June Cameron's memoir (p. 169): "Among a crew of volunteers who built the Gorge Community Hall in 1933 were Ed Tooker, George Beattie, Charlie Allen, Elsie Beattie and Elsie's baby Margaret. (Margaret Schindler photo)" (Cameron, June. "Destination Cortez Island". Surrey BC: Heritage House, 1999 - page 169)
Fonds consists of a minute book and an accounts book of the Whaletown Church Hall Building Fund Committee, documents written by Canon Alan Greene setting out the history, responsibility and terms of use for the Church Hall, and a cover letter for the Certificate of Title from the Land Registry Office.
In 1919, the settlers of Whaletown decided to raise the funds necessary to erect a combined church and hall, to be used for both secular and religious purposes. The new building was attached to the first Whaletown school building, which was then used as a kitchen and dressing room. At this time, the parcel of land on which the school stood, at the corner of present-day Carrington Bay and Harbour Rd. in Whaletown, was deeded to the Diocese of Columbia by Mrs. Alice Robertson, and part of the property was set aside for a cemetery.
After a church was built in Whaletown in 1950, the Church Hall continued to be used for social events. In 1952 the Whaletown Community Club took over responsibility for the Gorge Hall, which then replaced the Church Hall as the main venue for weddings, dances, meetings and parties for both the Whaletown and Gorge Harbour communities. In 1953, the Whaletown Women's Institute signed agreements with both the Whaletown Community Club and the Columbia Coast Mission to assume responsibility for the use and upkeep of the Church Hall and cemetery. The Church Hall was used for a few more years. It was decommissioned in about 1957 and later dismantled.
Custodial History
Canon Alan Greene of the Columbia Coast Mission was involved in the project to build a new Church Hall, and wrote the document setting forth its history and terms of use; envelopes indicate the material was in his possession. Found in a box on the archives shelves; provenance unknown.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of a minute book and an accounts book of the Whaletown Church Hall Building Fund Committee, documents written by Canon Alan Greene setting out the history, responsibility and terms of use for the Church Hall, and a cover letter for the Certificate of Title from the Land Registry Office.
1999.002 Whaletown Women's Institute fonds
2003.003 Whaletown Community Club fonds
2009.001 Island Women's Club fonds
2011.001 Dorothy Huck Whalley fonds
(L to R): Isolde Ruthenberg, Sheril Matthews, Gloria Jorg and Paul Kirmmse performing "Hit the Road Jack" at a Gorge Hall Variety Night. The name of the group was based on the doo-wop band Ray Charles and the Raylettes.
(L to R): Isolde Ruthenberg, Sheril Matthews, Gloria Jorg and Paul Kirmmse performing "Hit the Road Jack" at a Gorge Hall Variety Night. The name of the group was based on the doo-wop band Ray Charles and the Raylettes.
File contains executive and general meeting minutes, including minutes for a special meeting regarding the Old Whaletown School building, with related correspondence, bulletins, membership lists and financial reports. Of particular interest is correspondence pertaining to the Old Whaletown School site and correspondence with Regional Director J.R. Nursall.
File contains executive and general meeting minutes, including minutes for a special meeting regarding the Old Whaletown School building, with related correspondence, bulletins, membership lists and financial reports. Of particular interest is correspondence pertaining to the Old Whaletown School site and correspondence with Regional Director J.R. Nursall.
File contains executive and general meeting minutes, bulletins, advertising materials, memos, accounting statements, and correspondence. Of note is correspondence with Fisheries and Oceans Canada regarding the Gorge Harbour Wharf.
File contains executive and general meeting minutes, bulletins, advertising materials, memos, accounting statements, and correspondence. Of note is correspondence with Fisheries and Oceans Canada regarding the Gorge Harbour Wharf.