This is a copy of a recording made by Imbert Orchard as part of a "People in Landscape" series for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. In this program, some of the people who grew up on Cortes Island recall how the settlement began, and discuss the quality of life there -- as it is today, and as it used to be. Voices heard include: Otto and Mary Weiler, Elmer and May Ellingsen, Rose (Manson) MacKay, Allen Robertson, and Duncan Robertson.
Tape was found at the Cortes Island Recycling Center and donated to the museum by Gail Ringwood on Oct. 3, 2004. Original owner is unknown.
Scope and Content
This is a copy of a recording made by Imbert Orchard as part of a "People in Landscape" series for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. In this program, some of the people who grew up on Cortes Island recall how the settlement began, and discuss the quality of life there -- as it is today, and as it used to be. Voices heard include: Otto and Mary Weiler, Elmer and May Ellingsen, Rose (Manson) MacKay, Allen Robertson, and Duncan Robertson.
People are gathered around a Christmas tree in the Gibbons' home, a building later used as a schoolhouse.
L to R: Chris Hall (on lap of hidden person), Michael and Lisa Gibbons, Ken Ferguson with son Andrew, Denise Gibbons in the shadow
People are gathered around a Christmas tree in the Gibbons' home, a building later used as a schoolhouse.
L to R: Chris Hall (on lap of hidden person), Michael and Lisa Gibbons, Ken Ferguson with son Andrew, Denise Gibbons in the shadow
L to R: Alan Georgeson, Tena Corneille, G.G. (Gladys) Ballantyne, Mabelle Corneille, Bill Ballantyne, E (Bobby) Corneille, Bernie Allen
In front: Edith Munday
L to R: Alan Georgeson, Tena Corneille, G.G. (Gladys) Ballantyne, Mabelle Corneille, Bill Ballantyne, E (Bobby) Corneille, Bernie Allen
In front: Edith Munday
Standing, L to R: Inez White, Judith Williams, Sherry Hall
Seated, L to R: Bonnie MacDonald holding daughter Lucy, Ann Ferguson, Pat Lovell, Judy White, (? ID), Doris Hope, Denise Gibbons,
In front of Doris Hope: (? - lived in Teakerne Arm)
Standing, L to R: Inez White, Judith Williams, Sherry Hall
Seated, L to R: Bonnie MacDonald holding daughter Lucy, Ann Ferguson, Pat Lovell, Judy White, (? ID), Doris Hope, Denise Gibbons,
In front of Doris Hope: (? - lived in Teakerne Arm)
“Large numbers of sea birds overwinter in Carrington Lagoon & Bay. Nudibranchs spawn in lagoon as well as chum & coho (Spruce Creek). Herring run into the bay.”
“Large numbers of sea birds overwinter in Carrington Lagoon & Bay. Nudibranchs spawn in lagoon as well as chum & coho (Spruce Creek). Herring run into the bay.”
Series consists of a hand drawn map of Cortes Island showing places of interest to visitors, maps showing the location of hydro distribution lines on Cortes Island, maps related to zoning and rezoning on Cortes Island, the Official Settlement Plan, and a drawing showing an engineering plan for the Whaletown ferry terminal.
Series consists of a hand drawn map of Cortes Island showing places of interest to visitors, maps showing the location of hydro distribution lines on Cortes Island, maps related to zoning and rezoning on Cortes Island, the Official Settlement Plan, and a drawing showing an engineering plan for the Whaletown ferry terminal.
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.
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.
Looking out the door of Jim & Jan’s float house; Alan Bent & Gail Johnson’s house (right), Jason & Kathy’s (left) on the east of Carrington Bay in the distance.
