This picture shows the house built by George Freeman in about 1915 when he moved his family to Stag Bay, Hernando Island to look after Mike Manson's timber interests and livestock. The house is not yet finished, but is liveable. The house was located on a hill overlooking Stag Bay, on the site of the former Smith family home. They had planted two apricot trees, Italian prune trees and cherry trees which were bearing fruit.
L to R: David Robertson, Jack Manson, Mrs. Jane (Mike) Manson holding granddaughter May Freeman, Mrs. Robina (George) Freeman standing behind her sister Florence Manson, and George Freeman.
This picture shows the house built by George Freeman in about 1915 when he moved his family to Stag Bay, Hernando Island to look after Mike Manson's timber interests and livestock. The house is not yet finished, but is liveable. The house was located on a hill overlooking Stag Bay, on the site of the former Smith family home. They had planted two apricot trees, Italian prune trees and cherry trees which were bearing fruit.
L to R: David Robertson, Jack Manson, Mrs. Jane (Mike) Manson holding granddaughter May Freeman, Mrs. Robina (George) Freeman standing behind her sister Florence Manson, and George Freeman.
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.
Series consists of nine albums (binders) holding 554 photographs of Cortes Island and nearby islands, including Twin Islands and Hernando Island, with accompanying descriptions and with additional textual information such as pre-emption records, reminiscences and newspaper clippings. Most of the photographs date from the early decades of the 20th century, depicting homes and buildings, pioneer families, community activities, schools, wharves, boats, logging and marine activity. The majority of the photographs are copies, as indicated by the numbers assigned to them by the Campbell River Museum & Archives. There are 72 original photographs in the albums.
Nine photograph albums (binders) holding 554 photographs with accompanying descriptions.
Custodial History
May Ellingsen put this collection together in the mid 1980s. She collected hundreds of old photographs from 30 donor families which were then copied and catalogued by the Campbell River Museum in 1985, with funding from the Canada Council and Canada Works. (see "Musings", a publication of the CR Museum & Archives Society, Vol. IV #1, March 1985) The Campbell River Museum made negatives and two copies of the photographs; the originals were then returned to the donor families. One copy of each photo was given to May, who arranged them in albums and added her commentary. She continued to add to the albums through the 1990s, adding 72 original photographs and more descriptions. She kept the albums in the library in the Manson's Hall and then in the Cortes Museum when it opened in 1999. The albums were officially donated to CIMAS in 2004.
Scope and Content
Series consists of nine albums (binders) holding 554 photographs of Cortes Island and nearby islands, including Twin Islands and Hernando Island, with accompanying descriptions and with additional textual information such as pre-emption records, reminiscences and newspaper clippings. Most of the photographs date from the early decades of the 20th century, depicting homes and buildings, pioneer families, community activities, schools, wharves, boats, logging and marine activity. The majority of the photographs are copies, as indicated by the numbers assigned to them by the Campbell River Museum & Archives. There are 72 original photographs in the albums.
Item level finding aid is available for the 72 original photographs.
Copyright
The Campbell River Archives has negatives for the copied photographs in the Collection and makes prints on request for a charge according to their policy and according to the wishes of the donors. Donor/source cards were filled out by each family donating photographs and include restrictions on use in some cases. They are on file at the Campbell River Archives.
CIMAS holds the copyright on the 72 original photographs in these albums.
This shows the Campbell River Lumber Co. logging camp buildings and long pier for dumping logs at Stag Bay, Hernando Island. In the foreground are buildings for family men, in the mid-distance are the homes of the Japanese families, and farthest, the cookhouse and camp buildings.
This shows the Campbell River Lumber Co. logging camp buildings and long pier for dumping logs at Stag Bay, Hernando Island. In the foreground are buildings for family men, in the mid-distance are the homes of the Japanese families, and farthest, the cookhouse and camp buildings.
Logging crew in front of the cookhouse at Stag Bay, Hernando Island. Of the men up on other's shoulders are: far left, Dick Thompson, next, Cliff Palmer. Far right, in the white shirt is Eric Erickson, blacksmith.
Logging crew in front of the cookhouse at Stag Bay, Hernando Island. Of the men up on other's shoulders are: far left, Dick Thompson, next, Cliff Palmer. Far right, in the white shirt is Eric Erickson, blacksmith.
Cow and chickens among the vacant logging camp buildings left after Campbell River Lumber Company logging ended at Stag Bay. Part of the pier can be seen in the background. The building on the right had been part of Japanese family quarters.
Cow and chickens among the vacant logging camp buildings left after Campbell River Lumber Company logging ended at Stag Bay. Part of the pier can be seen in the background. The building on the right had been part of Japanese family quarters.
"Logging, 1903-1949":
The album contains reminiscences of Frank Gallinger's logging camp; a photograph of old-growth trees; logging camps (various locations) and group photos; photographs of hand logging with the use of springboards and logging with steam donkeys, tractors, power saws and horses (on the John Manson property); photographs of log booms (various locations), logging on Quadra and "haywire" logging on Hernando Island; and a newspaper clipping about horse logging (1984).
"Logging, 1903-1949":
The album contains reminiscences of Frank Gallinger's logging camp; a photograph of old-growth trees; logging camps (various locations) and group photos; photographs of hand logging with the use of springboards and logging with steam donkeys, tractors, power saws and horses (on the John Manson property); photographs of log booms (various locations), logging on Quadra and "haywire" logging on Hernando Island; and a newspaper clipping about horse logging (1984).
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.
Fonds consists of the personal, business and research records of May and Elmer Ellingsen. Textual records include personal and business correspondence; financial and legal records; information about local history; records and newsletters of various community organizations; records created by John Manson and by the St. James Ladies' Guild; maps; ephemera; and clippings about Cortes Island people and events. Fonds also includes photographs of the Manson family and other island people and places, and cassette tapes of oral history and music.
Fonds is arranged in 14 series: Correspondence; Financial records; Elmer Ellingsen records (business and personal); May Ellingsen personal records; Local history subject files; John Manson records; St. James Ladies' Guild records; Community organizations and services records; Cortes Island Museum & Archives Society records; Maps; Ephemera; Clippings; Photographs and Audio tapes.
Records from Accessions 2017.003 and 2019.002, which were processed after the other material had been arranged, have been interfiled.
3 meters of textual records
726 photographs
21 audio cassette tapes
Extent
252 cm
History / Biographical
Elmer Ellingsen (1913-2002) was born in North Vancouver to Sigurd and Gladys Ellingsen. After graduating from high school, he took a short course in business at Sprott Shaw College. In the early 1930s Elmer worked in logging and became a strong supporter of the trade union movement. He also had classical piano training in school, later turning to popular music; he played for many dances and parties until well into his eighties.
May Ellingsen (1914-2012) was born in Vancouver to George and Robina Freeman. Her maternal grandfather, Michael Manson, was the first person to pre-empt land on Cortes Island, in 1886. May grew up on Cortes and Hernando Islands until grade six, then moved to Vancouver with her family to finish her schooling.
May and Elmer met on Cortes in 1935 and were married on August 1, 1936. They built a float house and spent the next ten years in the Loughborough Inlet/Phillips Arm area where Elmer worked in his father's logging operations. While there, their children Shirley (1939), Bruce (1940) and Andy (1941) were born. In 1946 they moved to Von Donop Creek, where Elmer formed a logging partnership with Mike Herrewig and Scotty McKenzie. In 1950, he formed a new partnership with Erne Anderson for logging in the Whaletown area, and moved the floathouse to Manson's Landing lagoon. Two years later their floathouse was moved to its present location on Hague Lake.
After travelling from home to various logging operations, Elmer retired from logging. He bought a D8 Caterpillar tractor, backhoe and gravel truck and worked for the next forty years excavating, delivering gravel and moving things. He often worked with BC Hydro and BC Tel on pole installation, repair and maintenance.
Both Elmer and May were very active in community life. They sponsored weekly movie nights through the 1950s and square dancing in the sixties. May's many involvements included the Ladies' Guild, Women's Institute, Ratepayers Association, Post Office, Vancouver Regional Library development and Cortes Island Days. Elmer was a leading promoter of bringing ferry and hydro service to the island; he helped renovate Manson's Hall in the late 1970s, lobbied for road paving and helped initiate the Cortes Island Firefighters Assoc. in the 1980s. Both were founding members of the Cortes Island Museum and Archives Society.
Custodial History
Records were collected from the home of May and Elmer Ellingsen by Andy and Susan Ellingsen and by Bruce Ellingsen and donated to CIMAS. There are eight accessions in this fonds: 2007.001, 2007.002, 2007.003, 2007.005, 2008.002 and 2010.001, 2018.002 and 2019.002.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of the personal, business and research records of May and Elmer Ellingsen. Textual records include personal and business correspondence; financial and legal records; information about local history; records and newsletters of various community organizations; records created by John Manson and by the St. James Ladies' Guild; maps; ephemera; and clippings about Cortes Island people and events. Fonds also includes photographs of the Manson family and other island people and places, and cassette tapes of oral history and music.
Fonds is arranged in 14 series: Correspondence; Financial records; Elmer Ellingsen records (business and personal); May Ellingsen personal records; Local history subject files; John Manson records; St. James Ladies' Guild records; Community organizations and services records; Cortes Island Museum & Archives Society records; Maps; Ephemera; Clippings; Photographs and Audio tapes.
Records from Accessions 2017.003 and 2019.002, which were processed after the other material had been arranged, have been interfiled.
Photograph shows members of the Michael Manson extended family in bathing costumes. The are identified as Mr. Niven, Muriel Hurren, Jim Niven, Dick Parker, Thelma Campbell, Audrey Kenny, Jean Manson, Eileen Kenny, Minerva Campbell, Mrs. Niven, Dorothy Manson and Lorne Campbell.
Photograph shows members of the Michael Manson extended family in bathing costumes. The are identified as Mr. Niven, Muriel Hurren, Jim Niven, Dick Parker, Thelma Campbell, Audrey Kenny, Jean Manson, Eileen Kenny, Minerva Campbell, Mrs. Niven, Dorothy Manson and Lorne Campbell.
Photograph of a group of people at Raine's Spit on Hernando Island.
L to R standing: Amy and Scotty McKenzie, Calvin Campbell
Back, seated: Henry Byers, Lorne Campbell, Ruth Byers holding Elaine McKenzie, Hazel Hansen holding Lorraine Byers, Ervie McKay, Rod Griffin, Nerine Hayes
Middle seated: Flo McKay holding Judy Hansen, Gwen Cambell, Frank Hayes
Front: Mary Hayes with Bob Hayes, Sharon Herrewig
1 photograph print: b&w; 6.5 x 12 cm and 1 negative
Scope and Content
Photograph of a group of people at Raine's Spit on Hernando Island.
L to R standing: Amy and Scotty McKenzie, Calvin Campbell
Back, seated: Henry Byers, Lorne Campbell, Ruth Byers holding Elaine McKenzie, Hazel Hansen holding Lorraine Byers, Ervie McKay, Rod Griffin, Nerine Hayes
Middle seated: Flo McKay holding Judy Hansen, Gwen Cambell, Frank Hayes
Front: Mary Hayes with Bob Hayes, Sharon Herrewig
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.
Robina (Manson) Freeman, Frank Fox holding Wilfred Freeman, Mike Manson, Flossy (Manson) Kenny, Ralph Kenny, Alma (Martin) Wiedman, May Freeman, Carl Wiedman, George Freeman
Robina (Manson) Freeman, Frank Fox holding Wilfred Freeman, Mike Manson, Flossy (Manson) Kenny, Ralph Kenny, Alma (Martin) Wiedman, May Freeman, Carl Wiedman, George Freeman
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.
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