Historical info on local forestry and early logging practices from as early as the late 1800s. Signed agreement between Elmer Ellingsen and Ernest Anderson, 1948. Invoices and other business documents, including handwritten notes "bills paid to Finning Tractor," for Ernel Logging Company, 1949-1952. West Coast Ballads sheet music written by Victor Couture from poems by Robert E. Swanson (BC Truck Loggers Association), 1969. Clippings and emails with info on historical logging practices and camps, local forestry, accidents, political influence, tourism, protests and controversies, 1958-2020. Excerpt from Goosegrass and Buttercups, D.C. Kirk, undated. Additional keywords: Ripple Rock; tug towed booms from Teakerne Arm; Carrington Lagoon; Squirrel Cove; MTV; the Ellingsen Jack; Forbes Bay; Von Donop; Island Timberlands; Tony Fhunka; Truck Loggers Association; Wildstands/Wild We Stand
Historical info on local forestry and early logging practices from as early as the late 1800s. Signed agreement between Elmer Ellingsen and Ernest Anderson, 1948. Invoices and other business documents, including handwritten notes "bills paid to Finning Tractor," for Ernel Logging Company, 1949-1952. West Coast Ballads sheet music written by Victor Couture from poems by Robert E. Swanson (BC Truck Loggers Association), 1969. Clippings and emails with info on historical logging practices and camps, local forestry, accidents, political influence, tourism, protests and controversies, 1958-2020. Excerpt from Goosegrass and Buttercups, D.C. Kirk, undated. Additional keywords: Ripple Rock; tug towed booms from Teakerne Arm; Carrington Lagoon; Squirrel Cove; MTV; the Ellingsen Jack; Forbes Bay; Von Donop; Island Timberlands; Tony Fhunka; Truck Loggers Association; Wildstands/Wild We Stand
Info and photographs on history of businesses in Manson's Landing, from CIMAS "Manson's Landing & Lagoon" photo album, 1880s-1996. Documents for the operation of Manson's Landing store: Grant of Concession and additional documents; mandatory site inspection documents; and tender for operation, 1985. Correspondence re Robert James Taylor, owner of the store in 1966/67.
Info and photographs on history of businesses in Manson's Landing, from CIMAS "Manson's Landing & Lagoon" photo album, 1880s-1996. Documents for the operation of Manson's Landing store: Grant of Concession and additional documents; mandatory site inspection documents; and tender for operation, 1985. Correspondence re Robert James Taylor, owner of the store in 1966/67.
Info on George Eward and Emma Jane Ewart, 1921 census, medical certificate of death, George Ewart, 1946. Info on marriage registration of Frank George Barnard and Blanche Madeline Dennis, 1938 (Ewart's son). Info on medical certificate of death and cemetery query, Josephine Skerton, 1968. Emails associated with all information from 2017. Notes with photographs on Eward family research, 2017
Info on George Eward and Emma Jane Ewart, 1921 census, medical certificate of death, George Ewart, 1946. Info on marriage registration of Frank George Barnard and Blanche Madeline Dennis, 1938 (Ewart's son). Info on medical certificate of death and cemetery query, Josephine Skerton, 1968. Emails associated with all information from 2017. Notes with photographs on Eward family research, 2017
Photocopies: Fire Insurance receipt, 1908; letters from PO Inspector to David Forrest, 1915; Public Schools Act Assessment letters, 1915; notary and registry papers, Wallis Walter Lefeaux, W. Lawrence Forrest, Joseph Edward Mellor last will and testament, 1927; pharmacy receipts, undated; letters, undated
Photocopies: Fire Insurance receipt, 1908; letters from PO Inspector to David Forrest, 1915; Public Schools Act Assessment letters, 1915; notary and registry papers, Wallis Walter Lefeaux, W. Lawrence Forrest, Joseph Edward Mellor last will and testament, 1927; pharmacy receipts, undated; letters, undated
Notes, emails, clippings, maps, scanned photographs, and written info on Squirrel Cove, including local businesses and people, early 1900s-present. Squirrel Cove store receipts, 1952-1953. Envelope of files titled "Squirrel Cove - early days - info from Ron Forrest, Nov 2014." Excerpts from Sliammon Life, Sliammon Lands, and Chalkdust & Outhouses, Barbara Ann Lambert. Keywords: Nichols, Squirrel Cove General Store, The Cove Restaurant, Flying Squirrel Take Out, Union Steamship "Cheakamus," Squirrel Cove Church.
Notes, emails, clippings, maps, scanned photographs, and written info on Squirrel Cove, including local businesses and people, early 1900s-present. Squirrel Cove store receipts, 1952-1953. Envelope of files titled "Squirrel Cove - early days - info from Ron Forrest, Nov 2014." Excerpts from Sliammon Life, Sliammon Lands, and Chalkdust & Outhouses, Barbara Ann Lambert. Keywords: Nichols, Squirrel Cove General Store, The Cove Restaurant, Flying Squirrel Take Out, Union Steamship "Cheakamus," Squirrel Cove Church.
Historical files from various stores and people on Cortes including order forms, receipts, and invoices, 1951-1952, copies of photos of Whaletown & Squirrel Cove stores.. Transcripts: Gary and Velma Bergman, Whaletown, with Dianne Hentschel and Doreen Thompson, 2003; Ken and Bert Summers with Susan Ellingsen, Dianne Hentschel, and Doreen Thompson, 2005. Additional keywords: Mrs Pearl V. Graham, Miss Lorraine Graham, McDevett/McDevitt, Cortez Lodge Store
Historical files from various stores and people on Cortes including order forms, receipts, and invoices, 1951-1952, copies of photos of Whaletown & Squirrel Cove stores.. Transcripts: Gary and Velma Bergman, Whaletown, with Dianne Hentschel and Doreen Thompson, 2003; Ken and Bert Summers with Susan Ellingsen, Dianne Hentschel, and Doreen Thompson, 2005. Additional keywords: Mrs Pearl V. Graham, Miss Lorraine Graham, McDevett/McDevitt, Cortez Lodge Store
Clippings and emails with info on Refuge Cove and its inhabitants over the years, 1979-2018. "Hope's Refuge," Doris Hope, 1992. "Memories of Refuge Cove," June Cameron, 1997. Photographs, undated. Posting for Refuge Cove Coastal Kitchen for sale at CIMAS
Clippings and emails with info on Refuge Cove and its inhabitants over the years, 1979-2018. "Hope's Refuge," Doris Hope, 1992. "Memories of Refuge Cove," June Cameron, 1997. Photographs, undated. Posting for Refuge Cove Coastal Kitchen for sale at CIMAS
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.
