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.
Notes on Byers Logging, 1863-1935; facsimile of a letter written by Mike Manson to his brother John in 1923, typed up by Etta Byers in 1978; Read Island History: Byers Family, by Mrs. Etta Byers, nee McKay, 1975; clipping of coastal logging/family camps, Etta Byers, 1977; Etta Byers, interviewed by Marcia Wolter, April 20, 1993; clipping of Clarence and Etta Byers 60th wedding anniversary, 2008; clipping of Clarence Byers obituary, 2009; letter from Etta Byers regarding visit to the museum and her local history, undated. Blue folder labelled Etta Byers: Read Island History, 1975; Hand written notes from Etta Byers, undated; printed photograph of Mary Jane (chapman) Aldrich and Herbert Cyrus Aldrich
Notes on Byers Logging, 1863-1935; facsimile of a letter written by Mike Manson to his brother John in 1923, typed up by Etta Byers in 1978; Read Island History: Byers Family, by Mrs. Etta Byers, nee McKay, 1975; clipping of coastal logging/family camps, Etta Byers, 1977; Etta Byers, interviewed by Marcia Wolter, April 20, 1993; clipping of Clarence and Etta Byers 60th wedding anniversary, 2008; clipping of Clarence Byers obituary, 2009; letter from Etta Byers regarding visit to the museum and her local history, undated. Blue folder labelled Etta Byers: Read Island History, 1975; Hand written notes from Etta Byers, undated; printed photograph of Mary Jane (chapman) Aldrich and Herbert Cyrus Aldrich
Fonds consists of ten photographs (nine black and white; 1 coloured) depicting members of the extended Byers/ Manson families, logging at Seaford and Von Donop Inlet, and the Union Steamship Chelohsin.
Henry and Ruth Byers, Ervin and Florence (Manson) McKay, Clarence and Etta (McKay) Byers, Ken and Hazel (McKay) Hansen, Scotty and Amy (Byers) McKenzie moved to Von Donop Inlet in 1939, where they ran a logging operation.
Custodial History
Found in Information Files folder (Byers family), August 1, 2020 and transferred to Archives.
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of ten photographs (nine black and white; 1 coloured) depicting members of the extended Byers/ Manson families, logging at Seaford and Von Donop Inlet, and the Union Steamship Chelohsin.
Info on Carrington Bay history and early settler homesteaders from late 1800s onward; scans from Whaletown to 1930 album; scan of location for Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, 1945; park brochure; clippings about Carrington from 1982-2014; excerpt from interview with Clarence and Etta Byers, 2001; notes from exhibit curation (labels, photo captions, etc); excerpts rom June Cameron's Destination Cortez; topographic map of Green Mountain; emails about exhibit; printed photographs for exhibit. Keywords: drowing, Island Timberland, Coulter Bay, stream keepers
Info on Carrington Bay history and early settler homesteaders from late 1800s onward; scans from Whaletown to 1930 album; scan of location for Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, 1945; park brochure; clippings about Carrington from 1982-2014; excerpt from interview with Clarence and Etta Byers, 2001; notes from exhibit curation (labels, photo captions, etc); excerpts rom June Cameron's Destination Cortez; topographic map of Green Mountain; emails about exhibit; printed photographs for exhibit. Keywords: drowing, Island Timberland, Coulter Bay, stream keepers
Writing, emails and excerpts with info on early homesteaders, early postmasters, the first post box in Cortes Bay, Frabjous Bay/Frabjous Day, The Columbia Coast Mission, and the Rendezvous. Map of lots with some names of early homesteaders near Cortes Bay. Old postcard of Cortes Bay
Writing, emails and excerpts with info on early homesteaders, early postmasters, the first post box in Cortes Bay, Frabjous Bay/Frabjous Day, The Columbia Coast Mission, and the Rendezvous. Map of lots with some names of early homesteaders near Cortes Bay. Old postcard of Cortes Bay
Written info on Carrington Bay and Coulter Bay with info from late 1800s; info from Doris (Houghton-Brown) Henderson on Cortes Island early history, late 1920s. Ian and Mary McMillan's island in Coulter Bay listing, early 1950s. Info about Rendezvous Rock in Coulter Bay, 1953, from CIMAS photo albums. Excerpt from The Columbia is Coming!, Doris Anderson, 1982. Clippings from WNE with info on Coulter Bay, 1982-1992. Typed transcript of written letter from Mary McMillen to Doreen Thompson, undated.
Written info on Carrington Bay and Coulter Bay with info from late 1800s; info from Doris (Houghton-Brown) Henderson on Cortes Island early history, late 1920s. Ian and Mary McMillan's island in Coulter Bay listing, early 1950s. Info about Rendezvous Rock in Coulter Bay, 1953, from CIMAS photo albums. Excerpt from The Columbia is Coming!, Doris Anderson, 1982. Clippings from WNE with info on Coulter Bay, 1982-1992. Typed transcript of written letter from Mary McMillen to Doreen Thompson, undated.
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
L to R: Art Hayes, Nerine Hayes, Frank Hayes, Florence McKay, Gwen Campbell, Fraser Campbell.
Front: Bobby Hayes, Irene Hayes, Clarence Byers and Queenie the dog.
L to R: Art Hayes, Nerine Hayes, Frank Hayes, Florence McKay, Gwen Campbell, Fraser Campbell.
Front: Bobby Hayes, Irene Hayes, Clarence Byers and Queenie the dog.
File contains materials related to Raven Forest Products Ltd's proposal for logging in Section 38 on Cortes Island, including maps, correspondence, meeting transcripts, and newsletters.
File contains materials related to Raven Forest Products Ltd's proposal for logging in Section 38 on Cortes Island, including maps, correspondence, meeting transcripts, and newsletters.
Photo depicts a line of buildings on the shore at Seaford, with a long wharf going into the water. Hazel McKay and Audrey Denny are diving into the water from logs beside the wharf. Photograph is stained and creased.
Photo depicts a line of buildings on the shore at Seaford, with a long wharf going into the water. Hazel McKay and Audrey Denny are diving into the water from logs beside the wharf. Photograph is stained and creased.
Scanned photograph of Baron & Nellie Jeffery home at Smelt Bay, 1982. Smelt Bay Master Plan, Province of British Columbia, Ministry of Environment and Parks, 1987. Full issue of The Cottage Magazine, article featuring Smelt Bay midden sites, 1997. Excerpt from Seven Knot Summers, Beth Hill. Post cards and greeting cards featuring Smelt Bay, undated.
Scanned photograph of Baron & Nellie Jeffery home at Smelt Bay, 1982. Smelt Bay Master Plan, Province of British Columbia, Ministry of Environment and Parks, 1987. Full issue of The Cottage Magazine, article featuring Smelt Bay midden sites, 1997. Excerpt from Seven Knot Summers, Beth Hill. Post cards and greeting cards featuring Smelt Bay, undated.