Qua-Hail-Ta and Chief Thunder Voice

On August 10, 1948, Gassy Jack's widow died on the North Vancouver Indian reserve. Qua-Hail-Ta, her native name, was 90 years old. Madeline, as she was known, was 12 years old when Jack Deighton married her. Madeline was the niece of Jack's first wife and the mother of his only child, a son named Richard who died at the age of five. Six months after his father died. Madeline spoke fondly of Gassy Jack until her death.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on August 13 to celebrate the opening of the Oakridge Transit Centre on West 41st, just east of Oak Street. Dignitaries, civic and other, took inaugural rides on the city's new T-44 trolley buses. B.C.  Electric offered the public free rides on the 15th and on August 16, 30 of these new buses started making money for the city.

The first passengers received a route map and an explanation of how the trolleys worked.

On September 1, 1948, Mayor Charles Jones died in office. He had replaced Mayor Gerry McGeer who had also died in office. Jones was replaced by Alderman George Miller. Miller was a former mayor of Vancouver - 1937-38 - and covered the mayoral duties until the end of the year.

September 10, 1948 was the day Margaret Sinclair was born. 18 years later, Margaret was in Tahiti when she met the Minister of Justice, Pierre Trudeau. Trudeau became prime minister in 1968 and married Margaret in 1971.

Ten days later, Bing Crosby brought his highly popular Philco to Vancouver to record a program on the 22nd. The location for this recording, which aired on October 13, was the Sunset Memorial Centre on East 51st Avenue. Performers who joined Bing on this broadcast were jazz violinist Joe Venuti and actors Marilyn Maxwell, William Gargan and Ray Milland.

This was a benefit for the Centre and it was unique because it was the only show in the Philco series transcribed outside the US.

Before the show, the Squamish tribe made Crosby a full-blooded Indian "Chief". Bing became an honorary member with the name "Chief Thunder Voice".

Hallelujah Point in Stanley Park was named on October 3, 1948, to commemorate the work of the Salvation Army for over 60 years, 1887-1947.

On October 18, a small bust of Mayor Gerry McGeer was unveiled at the north side of city hall.

Olympic athlete, Marion Lay, was born November 26, 1948. She became known as "Ms. Everything in Sport" and was involved in the advancement in women in sports.

On November 28, at a home in West Vancouver's British Properties, a ghostly image of a basketball game in Seattle appeared on a four-by-five-inch screen. Radio-shop proprietor, E.A. Mullins, built the primitive set from a kit the cost $238. The signal came from Seattle TV station, KRSC - later KING-TV.

Thanks to The History of Metropolitan Vancouver website.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

1947

The year is 1947. The place... Vancouver, Canada.

On January 27, Walter Mulligan became police chief. This Liverpool born officer had a memorable term in office as you can see by some of my earlier entries. He was a colourful character who was unfortunately not too honest and was investigated.

Mayor Gerry McGeer officiated at the sod turning ceremony for the Schara Tzedeck synagogue at Oak and 19th on January 31, 1947.

The next day, February 1, Bob Smith made his debut as host of the CBC Radio show Hot Air. Winnipeg born Smith played jazz recordings from his own collection. He hosted the show for 35 years until 1982 when he left due to the onset of Parkinson's disease.

February 10 marked the end of an era. The last ferry to run across the Burrard Inlet to West Vancouver made its run and returned to the downtown terminal. The ferry to North Vancouver would continue to run until 1958.

The Eburne Post Office, active since 1892, closed on March 31, 1947.

April 28 a mystery was born. A Trans Canada Airlines Lockheed Lodestar disappeared with 15 people aboard. No one from the flight was heard from again. In September 1994, the crash site was discovered on Mt. Cheam near Chilliwack.

Here's something interesting. On June 24, 1947, US pilot Kenneth Arnold was flying above the Cascade Mountains in Washington State when he saw nine silver disc shaped objects in the sky. These orbs did aerial manoeuvres unlike anything Arnold had seen before. This was the start of the flying saucer craze.

The BC Bus Terminal opened on July 31, 1947.

Art Seller moved his little airplane company from Vancouver to Langley on August 6, 1947. There was mention of Seller and his company on the Canadian Museum of Flight website but it doesn't seem to be there any longer. Fortunately, the source I am using managed to save this quote:

“To take advantage of the postwar flying boom, almost as soon as he got home in 1945, in partnership with Harold Foster, whom he later bought out, he formed Royal City Flying Club at Vancouver Airport. It had one war surplus Tiger Moth. Later, a second Moth was added. Vancouver airport was becoming crowded so, in 1947, he decided to move to Langley. He might almost be considered the father of the present day bustling Langley Airport for in 1947 it was only a grass field—an emergency landing strip for Trans Canada Airlines, with no buildings other than a couple of old farm privies Art used as offices. Business was good. The company grew. On August 6 1947 it changed its name to Skyway Air Services . . .”

August 11, 1947 was a sad day for Vancouver. While still serving his term as mayor, Gerry McGeer unexpectedly died. His was vigorous man, full of energy. McGeer passed quietly lying on a sofa at his home.

“Clad in pyjamas, covered by two blankets, he was found by his driver, Police Constable Andy Sculley, (who) had gone to pick up the mayor and take him to his office at City Hall.”

Stuart Thompson took this photo in 1932 of Gerry McGeer. He served as mayor from 1932 to 1936 then was re-elected in 1947. Seven months after re-taking office, he died. Photo courtesy of the Vancouver Public Library.

I would like to thank The History of Metropolitan Vancouver website for the information in this blog.

I was going to start a new feature this week but was unable to get the photos I needed. Maybe next week.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

1945 Continues

On May 16, 1945 Prime Minister Mackenzie King opened the federal election with a speech from Vancouver. This speech was broadcast over Radio CBR. (now CBU)

May 22 was the day that the first veteran moved into the first of new veteran homes.

May 25, 1945 was the day that writer W.P. Kinsella was born in Edmonton. Kinsella has since lived in White Rock and Vancouver and currently lives in the Fraser Valley. Kinsella is a prolific writer and may be best known for his book Shoeless Joe. A quote from a lengthy article on the website Bookworld states:

"After a young American editor in Boston named Larry Kessenich saw a brief synopsis of W.P. Kinsella's short story called Shoeless Joe Jackson Comes to Iowa in Publisher's Weekly, he contacted Kinsella and asked for a novel. Shoeless Joe became the basis for the 1989 Kevin Costner movie Field of Dreams ..."

On June 11, 1945, former city mayor, Gerry McGeer, was named to the senate.

There is a photograph of 23-year-old 2nd Lieutenant Molly Bobak painting in London, England. Molly Bobak (Lamb) was born in Vancouver and studied art at the Vancouver School of Art from 1938 to 1941.

In 1942, Bobak enlisted as a draughtsman in the Canadian Women Army Corps (CWAC), the only woman to be hired as an official war artist. She worked on the design of the décor and the costumes for the Army Show in Toronto. At the National Gallery of Canada in 1944, Bobak took 3rd prize in the Canadian Army Art Exhibition. After V-E Day, Molly was posted to Holland where she painted the tasks and experiences of female soldiers overseas.

In 1950, Molly Bobak obtained a grant from the government of France, which allowed her to paint in France. Air France invited the Canadian artist back in 1960 to lead a tour in Paris and a Canada Council grant allowed her to spend much of that year painting in Europe.

On July 14, the Province newspaper published an interesting story concerning Ivan Knopski. Knopski ran a concession at St. Paul's hospital and was building his own home at the corner of Main Street and East 29th Avenue. You may not think that was newsworthy, but Knopski was blind.“His neighbors, as they watched him building, didn’t believe that. They were sure he was boasting, that he had some sight left. But when they heard his hammer going on into the night till 11 and 12 and no lanterns around, then they knew he must be telling the truth."

I want to thank The History of Metropolitan Vancouver website for the above information.

I hope you find the beauty around you.