Just heard some Red-winged Blackbirds are back also some Canada geese are in the fields at the landing, could be an early spring.
Good bye to Tom
Last Sunday night I was very fortunate and by accident I tuned into the memorial service for the late Stompin’ Tom Connors and what a program it was. The whole program lasted for two hours.
I was so glad to be able to hear the service with so many of his friends and performers who had played with him. What a man and what a life. Tom was true Canadian and big time. I wish I could remember the year he came to Burns Lake. Tom sure left us with lots of good memories. One of the things they showed of Tom’s life was his last Stompin’ board and his guitar. There was lots of Tom’s songs that were sung and lots of stories.
His oldest son also was on the stage and gave a very moving address. This program will no doubt come on TV again and if it does, don’t miss it, it’s well worth the time.
A little story that I picked up a day or so ago from John Keefe, it’s interesting. John’s late wife Eunice was born and spent her young life in St. John, N.B. and her family home was very close to the orphanage where Stompin’ Tom Connors spent his young life. Eunice and her family used to visit there and she got to know Tom very well. As the story goes a group got together and bought a bike for all the boys in the orphanage, there were about 40 bikes and every boy was to have a bike.
When they gave them out there were short one and it was Tom who was the boy who did not get a bike. Eunice’s father, Lloyd Patterson, heard about this little boy with no bike so he went down town to the hardware and bought the best bike they had and gave it to little Tom, what a wonderful gift this was and Tom never forgot it. This was such a gift to a orphan boy and what a generous man Lloyd Patterson was to think of this little boy.
I mentioned last week I would have another story of one of the well known packers form the Southside, Johnny Barker. During those old times the only way to get supplies in was by pack horse. Johnny was one of the many and be brought in pack trains from Bella Coola for other settlers as well.
He told me he was leaving the Bella Coola valley, it was a very dangerous hill to climb and one had to be careful of the footing for the horses. They were going along single file. In some places there would be a terrible drop of hundreds of feet.
He had about 20 head all loaded with supplies for the Southside. One of this horses was loaded with bags of flour. At one of the steepest drops his best pack horse stopped the train, turned and jumped over the bank, no doubt an act of suicide. They watched the body go the hundreds of feet down. There were marks left by the flour where it hit the rocks going down. This horse had made many pack trips and to have it go like this.
There were lots of these stories to tell of those old packing day. Barkers meadows are named for Johnny Barker. So I have been told quite an honour for an old time pioneer. It’s hard to believe the things that came in by packhorse in those old days, one old timer told me they packed in a mower, a hay rake and a farm wagon, of course in pieces. Also they packed in five gallon cans of kerosene. It must have taken lots of helpers to help load and unload every day.
Nice visit
A week or so ago I had a very nice visit with Johnny Johnson and he showed me a brochure that he has with all the old timers from the west end from Colleymount, Clemretta (Trout Creek), Noralee and Nadina.
It’s very interesting. The names are all there but some of the names are on the wrong person. These pictures go back to the very start of the first settlers.
They are a treasure. Who made it up did a first class job. Johnny was born at the head of the lake and he is also very interested with making up some history of the west end. At one time these three settlements were very busy and had a large population. There was also a large Finish settlement there. Johnny is also a member of that Finish settlement. I also got to know a number of them. They were great people and hard workers. The two of us are trying to get more history of the old pioneer families.
When the Finlanders migrated into the Clemretta and Noralee they brought in a lot to help to settle those districts.
They are hard workers in the logging business, good farmers, very sociable, enjoyed dancing and the music and were good neighbours.
For many years Clarence Corliss and I used to play for the dance at Colleymount and Clemretta. Tom and Hugh Cowan used to spell us off. They were good times and lots of fun as I look back on those old days. Those days leave a legacy that will never die.
Sad news
It was a great shock to hear of the passing of another one of our well known pioneer families, George Van Tine, what a man, what a life and what a family he has left behind.
He passed away last week in Sidney, Vancouver Island. He wanted to be buried in Burns Lake and the service will be in the United Church with all his family there.
Sometime we all have to go but it leaves a heartache for us all from family and his many friends.
The Van Tine family were very special to us as they took us in after our deal in Marilla went sour. This was an act of kindness that we have always remembered, now for almost a lifetime.
They made us feel at home. This was so long ago, September 1941, over 70 years ago. George has left a loving family behind and so many friends. Although the family lived away most of his working life the family never lost that feeling of his birthplace, Ootsa Lake, and it was always home. George’s pleasant personality and his friendly smile was always there.
The family are pioneers of our Lakes District in every sense of the word and have left their mark for generations to come.
What memories that will never die. I pass my sympathy and love to everyone of the remaining family.
Remember God loves you and so do I.
