Walter Volovsek

  • 24 Stories | 
  • Page 1 of 2
This view of the established Robson orchards is full of promise. We are looking across the fields towards the river, with the McDiarmid building out of sight somewhere to the right. Note the mulch around the young trees to deter the growth of weeds and preserve ground moisture.

Walter Volovsek: Retrospectives

This view of the established Robson orchards is full of promise.

This view of the established Robson orchards is full of promise. We are looking across the fields towards the river, with the McDiarmid building out of sight somewhere to the right. Note the mulch around the young trees to deter the growth of weeds and preserve ground moisture.

Walter Volovsek: Retrospective

A boat excursion up Lower Arrow Lake provided a lovely setting for a picnic.

This view from across the Kootenay River.

Retrospectives: Making room for progress

This view from across the Kootenay River shows the completed aggregate screening plant directly above the boiler house.

This view from across the Kootenay River.
This photograph shows yet another communal home of Sion village, this time above the Brilliant train station. Tops of trees in the orchards are just visible on the terrace to the right of the building. The group is gathered beside the CCUB administration building.

TIME WINDOWS: Sion Village

This photograph shows yet another communal home of Sion village, this time above the Brilliant train station.

This photograph shows yet another communal home of Sion village, this time above the Brilliant train station. Tops of trees in the orchards are just visible on the terrace to the right of the building. The group is gathered beside the CCUB administration building.
Portions of the upper Brilliant terraces, including the remnants of Sion village and orchards, were bulldozed away by Cominco to supply aggregate for the concrete that went into Brilliant Dam. The orchards are visible in this photo, dated July 2, 1942, as the overburden is starting to be stripped away. A screening plant is being erected next to the Castlegar-Nelson highway, where a bus has stopped to let off a passenger.

TIME WINDOWS: Brilliant terraces

Portions of the upper Brilliant terraces, including the remnants of Sion village and orchards.

Portions of the upper Brilliant terraces, including the remnants of Sion village and orchards, were bulldozed away by Cominco to supply aggregate for the concrete that went into Brilliant Dam. The orchards are visible in this photo, dated July 2, 1942, as the overburden is starting to be stripped away. A screening plant is being erected next to the Castlegar-Nelson highway, where a bus has stopped to let off a passenger.
In September 1999 David Keir visited the shelter named after his son. He brought his metal detector along. Sitting in front of the entrance annex to the cabin are (from left to right): Rita Keir-Bos, Walter Volovsek, David Keir, and Jan Bos.

TIME WINDOWS: Bonanza Pass connections

I have been busy this autumn working with friends on the Gordon Keir Shelter and adjacent ski trails.

In September 1999 David Keir visited the shelter named after his son. He brought his metal detector along. Sitting in front of the entrance annex to the cabin are (from left to right): Rita Keir-Bos, Walter Volovsek, David Keir, and Jan Bos.
Elizabeth had to spend a solitary winter at Capilano in 1932/33 when Mac decided to seek out a promising business venture in the South Seas. Elizabeth’s letters reveal that Mac went to Tahiti to secure a supply of rum which he then smuggled to the US during the prohibition.

TIME WINDOWS: Macao to Capilano: A Life Journey, Part 5

This is the story of Bryan Mahon’s grandmother, told in five installments.

Elizabeth had to spend a solitary winter at Capilano in 1932/33 when Mac decided to seek out a promising business venture in the South Seas. Elizabeth’s letters reveal that Mac went to Tahiti to secure a supply of rum which he then smuggled to the US during the prohibition.
Elizabeth appears overjoyed in this photograph, taken after her secret marriage to Archibald MacEachran. Young enough to be her son, Mac offered her a respite from the loneliness that pervaded her life at Capilano after the departure of her daughters and son. He also carried out major improvements to the property, which contributed much to her joy.

TIME WINDOWS: Macao to Capilano: A Life Journey, Part 4

This is the story of Bryan Mahon’s grandmother, told in five installments.

Elizabeth appears overjoyed in this photograph, taken after her secret marriage to Archibald MacEachran. Young enough to be her son, Mac offered her a respite from the loneliness that pervaded her life at Capilano after the departure of her daughters and son. He also carried out major improvements to the property, which contributed much to her joy.
While in France, Lilette made a hasty sketch of the other Edouard in her life. There is a foreboding quality to the image, as the young man – seen here departing – would become on Aug. 26, 1914 an early causality of the Great War.

TIME WINDOWS: Macao to Capilano: A Life Journey, Part 3

This is the story of Bryan Mahon’s grandmother, told in five installments.

While in France, Lilette made a hasty sketch of the other Edouard in her life. There is a foreboding quality to the image, as the young man – seen here departing – would become on Aug. 26, 1914 an early causality of the Great War.
The Rebbeck children in Victoria after the birth of Waller (on left). Gundrid is on the right, already displaying her talent for dramatic poses; and a very serious Lilette will soon mature further under the influence of Emily Carr.

TIME WINDOWS: Macao to Capilano: A Life Journey, Part 2

This is the story of Bryan Mahon’s grandmother, told in five installments.

The Rebbeck children in Victoria after the birth of Waller (on left). Gundrid is on the right, already displaying her talent for dramatic poses; and a very serious Lilette will soon mature further under the influence of Emily Carr.
This is the wedding photo of Elizabeth (Lili) d’Abbadie and James K. Rebbeck, taken in Hong Kong prior to departure to their new home at Macao.

TIME WINDOWS: Macao to Capilano: A Life Journey

In 1993, as Judy Watten was visiting her mother in Michigan, one of her daughters discovered a package in a desk in the basement.

This is the wedding photo of Elizabeth (Lili) d’Abbadie and James K. Rebbeck, taken in Hong Kong prior to departure to their new home at Macao.
Sacks of coal are being unloaded from Wilfred Gibbard’s pack train, to be stored in the basement. The Forest Service lookout is slightly higher, but hidden by the building.

TIME WINDOWS: The Old Glory weather observatory

In the 1940s plans were launched to construct a meteorological observatory on Old Glory Mountain.

Sacks of coal are being unloaded from Wilfred Gibbard’s pack train, to be stored in the basement. The Forest Service lookout is slightly higher, but hidden by the building.
The local region from Thompson’s map, as published in the Champlain Society Edition of his Narrative.

TIME WINDOWS: David Thompson: Mapping our region

David Thompson is recognized as an explorer who connected closely with the natives he met, and a maker of remarkably accurate maps.

The local region from Thompson’s map, as published in the Champlain Society Edition of his Narrative.
A daguerreotype of James Fitzjames, taken just before departure in 1845.

TIME WINDOWS: Reappraising the Franklin Expedition

Two winters ago I connected with William Battersby, British author of a biography of James Fitzjames, who perished in the Arctic.

A daguerreotype of James Fitzjames, taken just before departure in 1845.
George McCleary sent this eerie family portrait, which includes two people who were not there when it was taken. John, Albert McCleary’s father, was dead, and the photographer pasted in a picture of him sitting in a chair; Albert was lost in the western wilderness, and he was treated in similar fashion. The brothers are (from left): Robert George, John, Albert, and Samuel.

TIME WINDOWS: Connecting with Albert McCleary

Three weeks ago I received a phone call from George McCleary, Ontario descendant of Castlegar pioneer farmer and ferryman Albert McCleary.

George McCleary sent this eerie family portrait, which includes two people who were not there when it was taken. John, Albert McCleary’s father, was dead, and the photographer pasted in a picture of him sitting in a chair; Albert was lost in the western wilderness, and he was treated in similar fashion. The brothers are (from left): Robert George, John, Albert, and Samuel.
Bryan Mahon, a little over seven years old, is the youngest of the three friends. Margaret Woodroofe, the mystery girl, is the oldest. Jim Virtue appears tense and unhappy; Heather Lapierre thinks he did not like to have his picture taken.

TIME WINDOWS: A story behind a photograph

I was intrigued by a set of Edward Stolterfoht photos of three children at play, all taken on the same occasion

Bryan Mahon, a little over seven years old, is the youngest of the three friends. Margaret Woodroofe, the mystery girl, is the oldest. Jim Virtue appears tense and unhappy; Heather Lapierre thinks he did not like to have his picture taken.
Edward Mahon (right) entertains a business associate at his house on Burrard Street, a site now occupied by the Marine Building. The piano in the corner must often have come to life under the fingers of Edward Stolterfoht, who recorded this now-vanished setting for posterity. The negative for the photo was marked “Best Qualitat.”

TIME WINDOWS: Tribute to a photographer

The Mahon Family Records include century-old glass plates produced by Edward Stolterfoht, a close friend of Castlegar’s founding father.

Edward Mahon (right) entertains a business associate at his house on Burrard Street, a site now occupied by the Marine Building. The piano in the corner must often have come to life under the fingers of Edward Stolterfoht, who recorded this now-vanished setting for posterity. The negative for the photo was marked “Best Qualitat.”
Merry Siding consisted of a sawmill, a small mill pond, a dry flume (whose lower nearly-level segment is visible behind the buildings), horse barn, and two residences. A short railway spur serviced the site, which was connected to it by a bridge across McRae Creek. Evidence of the fire that swept up the creek in 1906 is obvious in the forest behind.

TIME WINDOWS: Farron summit industry

Smelters blossomed in the Boundary after the opening of the railway in order to process the largely-copper ores from various sources.

Merry Siding consisted of a sawmill, a small mill pond, a dry flume (whose lower nearly-level segment is visible behind the buildings), horse barn, and two residences. A short railway spur serviced the site, which was connected to it by a bridge across McRae Creek. Evidence of the fire that swept up the creek in 1906 is obvious in the forest behind.
Amalia Peterson and her sons, John and Roy, are about to embark on the train at Farron for a visit with her parents.

TIME WINDOWS: Farron memories

After the extension of its Columbia and Western line, the CPR focused its efforts on developing a maintenance centre through the Monashees.

Amalia Peterson and her sons, John and Roy, are about to embark on the train at Farron for a visit with her parents.
Babe, who was missing an eye, is seen in the rowboat, while Ben (with rod) shows off his dugout at the Sheep Creek ranch.

TIME WINDOWS: Ben Shaw: Myth and Reality

When he failed to return from his trap line in December 1934, Ben Shaw’s friends in Rossland stared to worry.

Babe, who was missing an eye, is seen in the rowboat, while Ben (with rod) shows off his dugout at the Sheep Creek ranch.