Nanaimo, British Columbia, Saturday,
March 9, 1907
Evening Edition
Sketches of Old Time Nanaimoites
More Reminiscences of the Founder
of Nanaimo by Marke Bate -- When Lord Chester Beresford Visited Nanaimo and
Other Interesting Incidents
(Continued from Last Saturday)
The next house, situated at the southeast corner of Dallas Square, was called
the "Stranger's House" because, soon after its erection it was set apart for
visitors -- officers of the Hudson's Bay Company, and others who might desire
to stay over a day or two. In 1860, '61, '62 and '63, the rooms in
one end of the building were used for the purposes of a Court House, Captain
William Hales Franklyn -- the gentleman who built the "Franklyn House", now
tenanted by Mr. Conrad Reifie -- being the resident magistrate. Mr.
James Farquhar, accountant for the Hudson's Bay Co., occupied the other end
of the house from January, 1860 to July, 1868. Afterward it was occupied
by Charles A Alport, Harry Green, Dr. Klein Grant, Dr. Carroll, Christopher
Loat and E G Prior, and lastly by the late Mr J P Planta and family. Admiral
(Lord Charles) Beresford, when here as a Midshipman, passed a few pleasant
evenings in the company of Messrs Alport and Green and their guests. Sitting
on the side of a home-made bedstead -- the chairs all being filled -- he,
with the rest joined heartily in the wit and humor which flowed freely, and
just as heartily quaffed the contents of his glass. The house was taken
down by Mr Richard Hilbert some years ago, with the intention of making room
for a more handsome edifice, which, unfortunately did not materialize.
Then came the "Stone House", built by William Isbister and his assistants,
the lime used being made from Clam shells. This was said to be the first
stone dwelling erected on Vancouver Island. It was occupied by Captain
Charles Edward Stuart, who was the officier in command of the "Nanaimo Establishment".
The building served as the Pay Office, and contained the Officers'
Mess Room, where many a way-farer was handsomely regaled by the generous
hospitality of the gentleman in charge, whose table always was bounteously
supplied. The Mess Room was used, now and then for a Dance when the
Governor's daughters, and other ladies; Mr. A G Dallas, Dr Tolmie, Mr Blenkinsop,
and several others who might be named, paid Nanaimo a call. The Mess
room was done away with in 1860, the house then vacated by Captain Stuart,
and the general offices of the Company fixed there. After the removal
of the office in 1867 to Haliburton Street, the building was used by Mr Charles
Newton Young, now of Duncan, as a private School, then, for 11 years until
1886, as the City Council Chambers. It was taken down by Mr Richard
Hilbert, and there has been ever since, a vacant spot where it stood. But
this is known of most of the Nanaimo people of today. This odd looking
old house might be considered the first Home of those who directed the labors
of the founders and builders of Nanaimo. Captain Stuart was a gentleman
of much energy of character, though suave in his manner. He stood high
in the estimation of the Hudson's Bay Company, and had been many years in
their service, in command of the vessels first engaged in trading on the
Northern Coast. He was a warm, opened handed friend. Many of
the inhabitants of Nanaimo of his time, have reason to bless his memory.
He was one of those good-natured, noble souls who would speak in this
wise to a person who went to him on an errand of mercy, in behalf of another.
"Thou shalt drink the poor gentleman's health in a glass of sack thyself,
and take a couple of bottles, with my service, and tell him he is heartily
welcome to them, and a dozen more if they will do him any good". He
died in September1863, of acute bronchitis, on board his sloop "Random",
while on his way to Sangster Island, where he had at the time, some exploratory
work on hand. His remains were laid in the old Cemetery, where he himself
had reverently read the Burial Service by the grave side of a number of those
who had "gone before".
The "Cook House" came next with George Mills as chief Steward, and Indiana
Wallace and Charley, assistants. Mills left, and went to England about
the end of 1857 or beginning of 1858, and his place was filled by the late
Jonathan Martin, of Gabriola Island, who had previously been steward of the
steamer "Otter". Mr Martin remained in the position of "Chief" of the
Mess Room, until it was closed in 1860. He used to tell some well-flavoured
stories in connection with his stewardship. He was one of the earliest
settlers on Gabriola Island, and died there on the 16th of January, 1907,
aged 78 years.
In the North end of the building, John Work, wife, and two sons resided,
but poor Work was confined to his bed. In Captain Stuart's Diary of
Friday, 18th April, 1856 the following record is found: "An accident of a
serious nature happened to one of the men working at Dunsmuir's level named
John Work, a piece of the roof falling upon him, causing fracture of several
ribs, as well as severely injuring the spine, causing complete paralysis of
the lower extremities". The injured man lingered until April, 1857.
He was buried in the "Old Cemetery", which at that time was new, containing
only one head-stone and two head boards.
Christopher Finlay, and Jean Baptiste Fortier, occupied the building beyond
the Cook House, which building (late residence of Mr James M Brown) is still
standing. It was built in 1858. Mr Finlay was well up in his mathematics,
and among his other duties, as assistant in the Store and office, was that
of village pedagogue, after the resignation of Mr Charles A Bailey, and until
the appointment of the late Rev C Bryant. Finlay was a somewhat stern
master. A few now among us who have grown gray and who were his scholars
can doubtless recollect, from the sharp slashes they received, how free he
was in the use of the strap. In the language of the immortal Goldsmith:
"Full well the busy whisper circling round, Conveyed the dismal tidings when
he frowned". And -- "The village all declared how much he knew, Twas
certain he could write and cipher, too". He was withal an upright man
-- would never wrong anyone. He died suddenly, falling on the door-step
of his house, Mill Street, on the 23rd of August, 1879, aged 46 years.
Fortier was a first-Class Axeman. His principal employment was hewing
and squaring timber, "barking" and edging slabs, which were commonly used
for fencing. He was accustomed to pride himself upon the quality of
his work, and often declared when in his cups, that he could allow, without
fear of splinters, his bare body to be drawn over the surface of any "stick"
which he had finished with the broad axe. He left for Fort Langley in
1860. Returning to Nanaimo in 1879, aged and feeble, to "take a look
at the old place", as he expressed himself, he was surprised to find wide
streets -- hollows filled, and hills cut away, but he remarked "that traces
of his blows with the axe were still to be found on the frames of many of
the buildings".
A little farther on was the house of Elijah Ganner, Mrs Ganner and four
children -- two boys and two girls -- and of Thomas Hawkes, Mrs. Hawkes and
three children -- two boys and one girl. These families came out in
the Princess Royal, and were among the arrivals of 1854. Ganner and
Hawkes were miners, though the former had been a coke burner in England,
and he made coke from No 3 Pit coal -- the Pit opposite the Government Court
House, with which Iron was smelted, that made, here in Nanaimo, the first
casting ever turned out in the Colony. An old funnel of the Beaver
was made into a Cupola, and a hand-made blower or fan, constructed by Antoine
E Nelson, was driven by pulleys and belting connected with the Pit winding
engine. Mr Ganner, and the late Mr Joseph Webb opened a level in 1861
into the Douglas Coal about two feet above high water mark, at what was then
the foot of Commercial Street -- say near Mr Beget's Fruit Store. The
level extended under the street, and a few hundred tons of coal were mined
from pillars, and from a thin portion of the seam which had been left when
the workings at No 1 Pit were closed.
Mr Ganner built the house of Cavan Street, now occupied by his grandson,
Wm Ganner, and died there on the 30th of March, 1882, aged 67. He was
jovial good fellow was Ganner, entertaining as a songster, and always agreeable.
Mrs Ganner died at the residence of daughter, Mrs Marshall, at the Gorge
Hotel, Victoria.
Mr Hawkes was a good miner. When in his prime he never feared the
hardest kind of labour. He erected the house standing within the plot
of ground, known as Webb's Orchard Dunsmuir Street. Also the house,
which is now falling to decay, adjacent to Mr A E Booth's residence, Prideaux
Street. He was employed some time at the Wellington Collieries, left
Nanaimo many years ago, and went to the Sound. Worked at the Wilkinson
Coal Mines and met with a serious accident there, through which he had the
misfortune to lose a leg. He is said to be still living at or near
Wilkinson. Mrs Hawkes died at her home, Prideaux Street in 1885.