Fonds consists of photographs of the Gorge Harbour Lodge and Lodge activities, the Corneille and Ballantyne families, and Gladys Ballantyne's house, Gypsy Hill.
Bobby (Elizabeth) Corneille Ballantyne (1914-2009) was born in Vancouver and moved to Cortes Island as a young child. She was 4 years old when her father died suddenly on Marina Island in 1919; she remembers that they had to wait 3 days for a Union Steamship to get the body. Her mother Tena (Sarah Christena) Corneille (1877-1949) bought a tourist lodge at the east end of Gorge Harbour in 1929, and ran it until 1936 with the help of her two teen-age daughters. Gorge Harbour Lodge offered accommodations in the main building or in tents, tennis and badminton courts, and excellent boating, bathing and fishing. Vacationers came up from Vancouver on the Union Steamships for a round-trip ticket price of $6.65. The annual Regatta was the main social event of the season, with people arriving by boat from Cortes and the surrounding islands. It featured boat and swimming races, and a dance in the evening.
Gladys Georgeson Ballantyne (1882-1964), first came to Cortes in about 1910. In about 1920 she bought a property in Whaletown (now 640 Whaletown Rd.) that she called "Gypsy Hill". She was one of the original members of the Whaletown Friendly Circle, later the Whaletown Women's Institute. Gladys, her son Bill, daughter Valerie and her fiance were all on Cortes building a summer cottage when the Depression suddenly hit. Their off-island jobs fell through, and they remained at "Gypsy Hill" for the duration.
Bill Ballantyne (1908-1993) was in the Merchant Marine from 1924-1929. When he was unable to find work on ships during the Depression, he took whatever jobs he could find hand-logging and fishing. Bill and Bobby Corneille were married in 1937. They and other young Whaletown residents formed the Gorge Harbour Dramatic Society to help raise funds to build a community hall, and Bill was the work boss of the building crew for the Gorge Hall. In 1941 they moved to Victoria, and after the war settled in Courtenay with their two sons Peter and Ross. In the late 1950s they returned to Whaletown on Cortes Island where they fished for many years on the gulf troller “Viking”. During that time many young “deckhands” spent time aboard during summer vacations. On retirement, Campbell River became their home.
Custodial History
Electronic records were downloaded in 2012 from an internet address provided by Peter Ballantyne. One photograph was scanned from a photograph temporarily loaned by John and De Clarke.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of photographs of the Gorge Harbour Lodge and Lodge activities, the Corneille and Ballantyne families, and Gladys Ballantyne's house, Gypsy Hill.
List of pre-emptions on Hernando from records in archives, Victoria, BC, 1888-1900, and maps showing preemtions. Excerpts from Goosegrass and Buttercups, D.C. Kirk, and Chalkdust and Outhouses: WC Schools 1893-1950, Barbara Ann Lambert. Emails with info on the island's history and related families, Manson, Conant, Baker, 2016-2017. Additional info on the island's history
List of pre-emptions on Hernando from records in archives, Victoria, BC, 1888-1900, and maps showing preemtions. Excerpts from Goosegrass and Buttercups, D.C. Kirk, and Chalkdust and Outhouses: WC Schools 1893-1950, Barbara Ann Lambert. Emails with info on the island's history and related families, Manson, Conant, Baker, 2016-2017. Additional info on the island's history
Historical info on Marina/Mary/Chamadaska Island from 1792-mid-1900s. Info on Cortes Island in the late 1920s from Doris (Houghton-Brown) Henderson. Excerpt from Destination Cortez Island, June Cameron. Old beer bottle labels from Marina Island "where the big log house was," undated. Emails with info on naming of Cortes and Marina, and Chamadaska post office, info on early 1900s, emails from 2009-2014.
Historical info on Marina/Mary/Chamadaska Island from 1792-mid-1900s. Info on Cortes Island in the late 1920s from Doris (Houghton-Brown) Henderson. Excerpt from Destination Cortez Island, June Cameron. Old beer bottle labels from Marina Island "where the big log house was," undated. Emails with info on naming of Cortes and Marina, and Chamadaska post office, info on early 1900s, emails from 2009-2014.
Info on Steam Tug Stella, late 1800s. History of First Nations use, settler use and preemtions, maps, bird sancturary, birds, 1891-1990s. Copies of "Nature's Island," David Stirling, 1976; "Flora of Mitlenatch Island," Brooke et al, 1983; "Bird Checklist Mitlenatch Island Provincial Park June to August," undated, Birds of Cortes Island and Mitlenatch Islands, G.P. Sirk, CH. W. Gronau, F.C. Zwickel, undated.
Info on Steam Tug Stella, late 1800s. History of First Nations use, settler use and preemtions, maps, bird sancturary, birds, 1891-1990s. Copies of "Nature's Island," David Stirling, 1976; "Flora of Mitlenatch Island," Brooke et al, 1983; "Bird Checklist Mitlenatch Island Provincial Park June to August," undated, Birds of Cortes Island and Mitlenatch Islands, G.P. Sirk, CH. W. Gronau, F.C. Zwickel, undated.
Clippings re Quadra Island, 1986-2019. Regional Director's Reports, 2005-2016. Quadra Island Fall Fair booklets 2012-2014. Quadra Seniors Housing Questionnaire, 2014. Pamphlets for Quadra Island and local businesses and organizations.
Clippings re Quadra Island, 1986-2019. Regional Director's Reports, 2005-2016. Quadra Island Fall Fair booklets 2012-2014. Quadra Seniors Housing Questionnaire, 2014. Pamphlets for Quadra Island and local businesses and organizations.
Clippings, emails, posters, brochures and pamphlets with info on museum history and featuring museum exhibits and events, 1996-2017. Copy of B.C. Museum Roundup, British Columbia Museum Association, 2001. Info on Museum stats and lease, 2010-2017
Clippings, emails, posters, brochures and pamphlets with info on museum history and featuring museum exhibits and events, 1996-2017. Copy of B.C. Museum Roundup, British Columbia Museum Association, 2001. Info on Museum stats and lease, 2010-2017
Info on social gatherings of early settlers such as picnics, shows and dances. Printed photos and descriptions of settler social life from 1930s-1950s. Old posters for Community Club meeting and a Masquerade Ball. Keywords: Boat Days, Cortes Day, Regatta at Corneille's.
Info on social gatherings of early settlers such as picnics, shows and dances. Printed photos and descriptions of settler social life from 1930s-1950s. Old posters for Community Club meeting and a Masquerade Ball. Keywords: Boat Days, Cortes Day, Regatta at Corneille's.
