Hi Tom. You may remember me, I think we talked a few years back, and our shared history goes back to somewhere around 1964-67. Phil Barker. I was a member with the cave hunting guys and gals who became the British Columbia Speleological Society. I was recently reminded about the discovery of the Casteret Cavern. In searching I found your article you wrote in 2018, and thought I would bring up a memory of the cave later named Eluclataw Cave, and Riverbend. When our group first found the cave I can’t remember how many of us there were. I was just 16 and I was with my girl friend who was an avid adventurer. I don’t remember all the detail, but would agree what you say in your article. What it doesn’t’t say, and is of little interest to the public, is that my girl fried Stephanie Boardman and I were the first two to crawl slowly in the muck, on our backs, to get through the long tunnel to get to the big caverns. I think we were sent in because we were the smallest. Oh how I wish we had cameras! Steph and I had a good look around, and finding no human evidence proudly thought we were somewhere no one else ever had been to. It has always been one of my secret favourite memories, as I am sure it is Steph’s too. I’m sure glad it has been kept pristine. Perhaps before I leave this world I’ll get to see it again. (ps, enjoy your book I have and your articles). Phil
Hi again, Phil. Finally a chance to get back to you. I’m challenged for time and energy these days and this, my free website, has to take its turn as best it can as my serious effort goes into my subscription website, http://www.CowichanChronicles.com, which, although weekly, because it’s more like a magazine, has become almost a fulltime job.
I actually think of you from time to time as, every day, I walk the abandoned CNR grade by my house, which takes me past historic Keating Farm. I think of you because of your interest in restoring old trucks and the farm has a 1949 International flat deck in really great shape.
I settle for my 1911 Dunsmuir coal car and memories of my ’66 Chevelle Supersport.
As for our caving days, yes, I, too, remember the infamous crawl that linked the old caves to Riverbend because I became hung up in it. I was in the lead, Dave Frankham and Paul Statham behind me, and we were coming out. As you know, it was uphill, very tight between the roof and the floor of loose gravel. My pack or my light became hooked up and I couldn’t go forward or backward let alone sideways. They couldn’t help free me as it was one-way traffic so I had to keep from panicking and work myself loose by kicking away at the gravel behind me with my feet until I could back up then, using my hard hat for a shovel, dig away at the uphill gravel until I opened it up enough to get through. I’ve no idea how long this took but it seemed to me like forever!
Ah, the good old days, Phil: they’re not making them any more!
I’m still physically active but my spelunking days are long behind me. Besides, who wants to be cold and wet for hours at a time? I prefer sunshine these days, thanks; walks in a light to moderate rain don’t bother me, but now I set limits.
Besides, writing and publishing is where it’s at for me these days, with bushwhacking for old logging camps and abandoned mines and hiking the E&N grades a close second. Now, with spring slowly coming, I have to think about cleaning up the Back 40 and 100 other outside chores.
Thanks for getting in touch after all this time and all the best to you and yours. (Back to the subject of old trucks, have you attended the Vintage Trucks Shows at the Forest Museum in recent years? If so, we missed each other, as I always go to take photos. I like old cars–but I love old trucks! Cheers, TW
PS: Ken Sinckiewicz is still alive in Victoria, I saw notice of his birthday on FB not long ago.
Mr. Paterson,
This is the only way I could find to contact you. I’d like to let you know that the war to get Bryon Riblets ashes of the shelf and interned with his wife and daughter. This has been a long process for me. Contact me and I will update you with the complete story.
Hi, Jim: Go to my subscription website, http://www.CowichanChronicles.com for my personal contact info. I look forward to hearing more about Mr. Riblet. –TW
Dear Mr Paterson,
I was referred to your website by the parish archivist at St Edward’s, Maple Bay. Like so many of the correspondents on your fascinating website, i am doing some of my own family history research, with a view to visiting Cowichan Valley (from my home in Melbourne, Australia),although Covid has meant a couple of years delay. I have a thing about restoring, where necessary the graves of my forebears, spread around Ireland, England, Australia and Canada. One of my ancestors died in September 1944 in Duncan and is buried at St Ann’s Cemetery, Tzoulahem.
Could you tell me if you know of anyone who could send me a photo of his grave? I read one of your comments about vandalism to headstones etc – and that made me concerned to ascertain its present state. I would be most willing to remunerate any such person for their time and expenses in doing that for me while i am unable to travel.
I hope this is not too much trouble if you could point me in the right direction.
Dear Tom
thanks very much for coming back to me so promptly – i have lost none of my amazement at what the internet can do! But it is not a high priority request, so please don’t give it too much of your time. In my wandering about your historical writings, it occurred to me that my great-great uncle and his wife must have been on Vancouver Island when the great fire of 1938 occurred. I will send you a short piece that was published in the Times Colonist upon his death in September 1944. My IT skills are insufficiently competent for me to attach it to this reply, so i might send it by ordinary email message. thank you again, Paul
I think it is because my home town, Melbourne ,Australia has gone back into another (4th) hard lockdown, that i am too idle for my own good – but was wondering if you had anyone in mind whom I could engage for a fee to visit the Cowichan church yard for me and to photograph the grave of M-J Sir Ernest Alexander Walker?
Hi, Paul: Haven’t forgotten you, just been too danged busy.
But I’ve committed to visiting St. Ann’s for you. Did you give me his grave’s coordinates in your earlier email?
Did I ask you why he was knighted?
If you can narrow down the location of his grave it would help. With our spring weather you’re giving me an excuse to revisit this lovely cemetery. Cheers, TW
Yes, Hibbens Stationery, by name, and the fact that they published several informational booklets (such as on the Chinook Jargon) that are now collectible. I think we also used their book covers at school. Mostly, my parents bought my and my brother’s school supplies at The Bay and Eaton’s.
Hi Tom. You may remember me, I think we talked a few years back, and our shared history goes back to somewhere around 1964-67. Phil Barker. I was a member with the cave hunting guys and gals who became the British Columbia Speleological Society. I was recently reminded about the discovery of the Casteret Cavern. In searching I found your article you wrote in 2018, and thought I would bring up a memory of the cave later named Eluclataw Cave, and Riverbend. When our group first found the cave I can’t remember how many of us there were. I was just 16 and I was with my girl friend who was an avid adventurer. I don’t remember all the detail, but would agree what you say in your article. What it doesn’t’t say, and is of little interest to the public, is that my girl fried Stephanie Boardman and I were the first two to crawl slowly in the muck, on our backs, to get through the long tunnel to get to the big caverns. I think we were sent in because we were the smallest. Oh how I wish we had cameras! Steph and I had a good look around, and finding no human evidence proudly thought we were somewhere no one else ever had been to. It has always been one of my secret favourite memories, as I am sure it is Steph’s too. I’m sure glad it has been kept pristine. Perhaps before I leave this world I’ll get to see it again. (ps, enjoy your book I have and your articles). Phil
Hi, Phil: I’m going to have to get back to you with a proper answer. Stay tuned! –TW
Hi again, Phil. Finally a chance to get back to you. I’m challenged for time and energy these days and this, my free website, has to take its turn as best it can as my serious effort goes into my subscription website, http://www.CowichanChronicles.com, which, although weekly, because it’s more like a magazine, has become almost a fulltime job.
I actually think of you from time to time as, every day, I walk the abandoned CNR grade by my house, which takes me past historic Keating Farm. I think of you because of your interest in restoring old trucks and the farm has a 1949 International flat deck in really great shape.
I settle for my 1911 Dunsmuir coal car and memories of my ’66 Chevelle Supersport.
As for our caving days, yes, I, too, remember the infamous crawl that linked the old caves to Riverbend because I became hung up in it. I was in the lead, Dave Frankham and Paul Statham behind me, and we were coming out. As you know, it was uphill, very tight between the roof and the floor of loose gravel. My pack or my light became hooked up and I couldn’t go forward or backward let alone sideways. They couldn’t help free me as it was one-way traffic so I had to keep from panicking and work myself loose by kicking away at the gravel behind me with my feet until I could back up then, using my hard hat for a shovel, dig away at the uphill gravel until I opened it up enough to get through. I’ve no idea how long this took but it seemed to me like forever!
Ah, the good old days, Phil: they’re not making them any more!
I’m still physically active but my spelunking days are long behind me. Besides, who wants to be cold and wet for hours at a time? I prefer sunshine these days, thanks; walks in a light to moderate rain don’t bother me, but now I set limits.
Besides, writing and publishing is where it’s at for me these days, with bushwhacking for old logging camps and abandoned mines and hiking the E&N grades a close second. Now, with spring slowly coming, I have to think about cleaning up the Back 40 and 100 other outside chores.
Thanks for getting in touch after all this time and all the best to you and yours. (Back to the subject of old trucks, have you attended the Vintage Trucks Shows at the Forest Museum in recent years? If so, we missed each other, as I always go to take photos. I like old cars–but I love old trucks! Cheers, TW
PS: Ken Sinckiewicz is still alive in Victoria, I saw notice of his birthday on FB not long ago.
Mr. Paterson,
This is the only way I could find to contact you. I’d like to let you know that the war to get Bryon Riblets ashes of the shelf and interned with his wife and daughter. This has been a long process for me. Contact me and I will update you with the complete story.
Hi, Jim: Go to my subscription website, http://www.CowichanChronicles.com for my personal contact info. I look forward to hearing more about Mr. Riblet. –TW
Dear Mr Paterson,
I was referred to your website by the parish archivist at St Edward’s, Maple Bay. Like so many of the correspondents on your fascinating website, i am doing some of my own family history research, with a view to visiting Cowichan Valley (from my home in Melbourne, Australia),although Covid has meant a couple of years delay. I have a thing about restoring, where necessary the graves of my forebears, spread around Ireland, England, Australia and Canada. One of my ancestors died in September 1944 in Duncan and is buried at St Ann’s Cemetery, Tzoulahem.
Could you tell me if you know of anyone who could send me a photo of his grave? I read one of your comments about vandalism to headstones etc – and that made me concerned to ascertain its present state. I would be most willing to remunerate any such person for their time and expenses in doing that for me while i am unable to travel.
I hope this is not too much trouble if you could point me in the right direction.
Thank you. Paul
I shall get back to you asap, Paul. –TW
Dear Tom
thanks very much for coming back to me so promptly – i have lost none of my amazement at what the internet can do! But it is not a high priority request, so please don’t give it too much of your time. In my wandering about your historical writings, it occurred to me that my great-great uncle and his wife must have been on Vancouver Island when the great fire of 1938 occurred. I will send you a short piece that was published in the Times Colonist upon his death in September 1944. My IT skills are insufficiently competent for me to attach it to this reply, so i might send it by ordinary email message. thank you again, Paul
Hi, Paul: I’m still behind the eight-ball; will properly answer you asap. –TW
Hello Tom,
I think it is because my home town, Melbourne ,Australia has gone back into another (4th) hard lockdown, that i am too idle for my own good – but was wondering if you had anyone in mind whom I could engage for a fee to visit the Cowichan church yard for me and to photograph the grave of M-J Sir Ernest Alexander Walker?
Hi, Paul: Haven’t forgotten you, just been too danged busy.
But I’ve committed to visiting St. Ann’s for you. Did you give me his grave’s coordinates in your earlier email?
Did I ask you why he was knighted?
If you can narrow down the location of his grave it would help. With our spring weather you’re giving me an excuse to revisit this lovely cemetery. Cheers, TW
PS: I’ll dig our your original email.
Do you remember the name of the store in Victoria where we bought our school supplies in the 1950s. Hibbens??
Yes, Hibbens Stationery, by name, and the fact that they published several informational booklets (such as on the Chinook Jargon) that are now collectible. I think we also used their book covers at school. Mostly, my parents bought my and my brother’s school supplies at The Bay and Eaton’s.