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Mitchell Family Newsletter

October 2001

Editorial Crew for this Edition:

NEXT NEWSLETTER: March 2002 SUBMISSIONS: by March 15, 2002

Pam’s Message – (Nepean, Ontario)

Well, it’s hard to believe that it is autumn already, summer is nearly over and the reunion has come and gone. We had such a great time in Vancouver - George and Sue Mitchell and Kitty and Nick Malysh and all their helpers deserve a huge thank you and an even bigger "pat on the back" - what a wonderful success it was - a great turnout of cousins, great food and great company. I am sure the committee is breathing a sigh of relief that all went well and feeling somewhat letdown that the festivities are all over with. So much planning goes into an event of this kind and it seems that it is over so fast - you know the old saying, "time flies when you are having fun" and this certainly was one of those times. Thank you to all of you who made the reunion such fun.

Thank you to Ross Mitchell (and his family) for conceding to hosting the next gathering in Brandon in 2004 - I am sure you were feeling somewhat ganged up on. We are really excited about going to Manitoba and look forward to another wonderful gathering.

I am extremely pleased to announce that at the reunion we found some "takers" to take on the newsletter - it is such a relief to know that the newsletter is not going to die after so many years. Dave Sargent(6) Henry3, William2 of Victoria, B.C. stepped forward along with his son John7 and, after a bit of coercion and coming highly recommended by Nick Malysh, Nicole (Mitchell) Doyle8 (Alexander3, Samuel2) of Powell River, also has consented to help out. Nicole - you can blame Nick!!! You have no idea how pleased I was that these younger cousins are taking on the project. Dave has asked me to stay on as Treasurer since people are used to sending their subscriptions and donations to me - the expenses of the newsletter are covered from these funds. With Dave, John, Nicole and lots of others the newsletter is in GREAT hands. Grant Ackney will still be our "web master" - with Grant’s help the newsletter has really improved and is now reaching many more cousins. Thanks Grant! Karyn Kondro, Eileen MacMillan and I will continue to contribute articles as well. I must say it was very gratifying to hear from Dave after the reunion banquet that "we have had our first meeting and you weren’t invited!!!" - THANK YOU!

Now, another thank you - to all those who contributed to the wonderful tribute paid to me at the reunion - Aunt Edie, you wrote a most moving and wonderful piece for Aunt Eileen to present - the plaque for the garden I will treasure always. I have not decided on the special item to purchase with the money envelope - I want it to be something I can always reflect on as a "gift from our many Mitchell cousins" - Thank you all so much. As I said at the banquet, I am certainly not giving up the newsletter because I don’t like it - I love it - I just think it is time for new YOUNG blood to continue the tradition and I wish the new team much success. They are already well on their way.

I came back from the West to some sad days as our old collie had to be put down. Lucie was 13 years old and very sick - she gave us so much enjoyment through her lifetime that it was very hard to see her go. We’ll miss her. This week we picked up a new collie puppy - he is 9 weeks old and a real ball of fluff - he is different from all the other collies we have had, this one being a blue merle collie - that means he is grey with black splotches. He still has the big white collar but instead of a sable colour or a tri-colour black, sable and white, he is grey and white with some black. He is gorgeous and full of beans and is keeping us on our toes as he is always into mischief!

That is about the extent of news from Nepean so I will sign off for this issue - and pass it on to Dave and his team.

Lots of love,

Pam (Jones) Mitchell

Ken6, William Noble3, Samuel2

Pam Mitchell needed more help with the many duties she has taken on over the years and at the convention her team actively recruited more members to the Newsletter team. Three people responded with Nicole Doyle, David & John Sargent to take on some of the responsibilities for the newsletter and related activities. Having spent some time with this edition we REALLY appreciate all the work Pam was doing and continues to do for the Mitchell Family.

We in turn recruited George and Sue Mitchell (as representatives from the 2001 reunion) and hope to recruit a team from the 2004 reunion to ensure continuity between events and raising the awareness of people as to why they would want to attend a reunion, what they will see there, and when finished report back what was seen and done. We also enlisted Adele Priestley to help with the special section and other items she contributed this edition. We hope to work with others in a similar manner for each edition.

In this issue is a special section on the reunion, part 1, and it includes the events on the Saturday up to the auction and dinner. Next edition we hope to have pictures and stories from the dinner, auction, Sunday farewells, golf tournament and trips home! We need more pictures and stories on the 2001 reunion for the NEXT NEWSLETTER: March 2002 SUBMISSIONS: by March 15, 2002

HANDS ACROSS THE BORDER by Eileen (Nepean, Ontario)

Across the hall, across the street, across the country, across the border, we are all friends. We have entered an era like we have never known! We have heard or read of terrible atrocities occurring in third world countries, and we would commiserate --- but we really had no conception of the tragedies! NOW WE KNOW!

We of the western world have enjoyed all the comforts of modern inventiveness, and the results of geniuses! We became so apathetic towards that which we knew was not right, but because WE had all we needed, we turned a blind eye --- we never dreamed anyone would disturb our paradise!

We in Canada feel genuinely sad for the horrendous insult to your loved ones, and your vibrant New York City and Washington. Believe me, we went into as deep shock, and still are, as all our American neighbours. Many times has the saying been repeated since September 11th - "life will never be the same again"!

If one part of the world has salt, or oil, or tin, or timber, or minerals, or water, or diamonds, or anything that another country could use, why could not the parties concerned, sit down like reasonable, intelligent men and work out a suitable trade? As human beings we have become the most avaricious, greedy, cruel and unfeeling species! As long as it didn't happen to us, we didn't think about it. Nothing could touch us --- we had it all! We didn't appreciate it. Politics has become such a dirty word, and the expression "politically incorrect" simply turns my stomach!

Why can't grown men, into whose hands we placed the future of our nations, sit down and use compassion instead of greed; need in place of want; necessity before profit; love in place of hate? We grew up with the belief that education is vital! Well, speaking for myself, --- the heads of state, senators and kings, great industrialists have had the best of education and where are we?

Dear relatives and friends of the United States, please know that we in Canada include you in our constant prayers, and speaking on behalf of the millions of the "little people", we share your grief and tragedy. May God be with you all, and GOD BLESS AMERICA! Until next time, warmest love,

Eileen (Mitchell) MacMillan5 (William Noble3, Samuel2)

Best Wishes & Speedy Recovery to Marie (Savage) Mitchell (Melburn4, Samuel3, Samuel2) of Richmond, B.C. as she is recuperating from a broken leg.

4^th Annual Stan Mitchell Memorial Golf Tournament

Once again, this year the tournament was a huge success. The weather left lots to be desired but at least it didn’t rain. On the other hand, we were in the worst heat wave in ages and the temperature hovered around 37ºC - hot, humid - very muggy. A number of the golfers were unable to finish the tournament due to the hot weather but stayed around, cool drink in hand, under a shady tree, for the dinner and awards afterwards. Stan’s golf buddies, The Duffers, turned out in full force as well as many family and friends. 67 golfers played and another 8 or so joined us for dinner.

Winners included family members Shane Latimer7 (William Noble3, Samuel2) - aged 12 and Chris Landon (Ken P. Mitchell5, William Noble3, Samuel2). Winners from the Duffers included Irene Gallagher, Gerry Watters, Barbara Ann Bellomo, Gerry Green, Mary Lascelles, Percy Hanna and Harry Estensen.

Stan’s sisters and brothers donated a trophy plaque to the tournament and his brother Bob organized a putting contest which attracted lots of action. To compete each contestant purchased 3 balls for $2.00 and had 3 putting tries - closest to the hole won. Winners were John Gallagher and Carmen Gougeon from the Duffers. They shared "the pot" and their names will be the first on the new annual memorial plaque. A special thank you to Bob and Ken P. for organizing the contest and Bob, Orville, Eileen, Edie, Lois, Eldon and cousin Ken P. for donating the plaque.

The staff of the Pontiac Golf Club in East Aldfield, Quebec, once again hosted us and made everyone feel very welcome. The barbecued steak dinner after the tournament was absolutely delicious - how they managed to put on such a great meal in the excruciating heat without air conditioning was amazing.

One of Stan’s best friends, Len McCarthy, gave a moving talk on his memories of Stan and how the Duffers evolved. The day ended with a great rendition of Happy Birthday for Stan who would have been 81 on the tournament day. Lots of happy memories were passed around.

We are looking forward to next year’s 5^th Annual Tournament. If you are in the Ottawa area in July 2002 we would love to have you join us for the tournament. Watch for details in the spring newsletter.

Remembrances My mother Marvel (MacDonald) Scobie, passed away this year on June 10 2001 after a prolonged treatment for breast cancer. Predeceased by husband (William Mitchell Scobie(5). William(3), William(2) Jim Scobie (6)

Marriages Brad Mitchell5 and Donna Campbell were married July 7, 2001 at Brandon Manitoba. Son of Tom4 and Lucille Mitchell, Isaac3 Samuel2

10th October 12th Victor6 William & Carmen Lavoie Mitchell (William3 William2)

Anniversaries 50th June 9th Tom4 & Lucille Mitchell (Isaac3 Samuel2) 25th March 29th Sherry7 (Balding) & Terry Hagman (Henry 3 William 2)

New Mitchells Welcome Cole and Kiah - Cole Charles Nelson8 6/21/99 son of Charles and Jodi7 (Steinberger) Nelson, Minot. North Dakota. Kiah Marie Nelson8 10/27/00 daughter of Charles and Jodi7 (Steinberger) Nelson, Minot. North Dakota. Submitted by Karen Steinberger6 (William Noble3 Samuel2) Donnybrook North Dakota.

The Next Generation! A four generation picture of me, my son, Bretton Coutanche8, my dad, Tom Kurtz6, and my grandmother, Helen (McArthur) Kurtz5. It was taken this August at our cottage on the French River in Ontario. Also, my son Bretton was in the Bay flyer a couple of weeks ago, his first modelling job. Jennie7 (Kurtz) Coutanche (Mary Ann3, William2). Dixie Mitchell 6 (Henry 3, William 2) is happy to announce that her son Nelson Morgan 7 has graduated with his Certified General Accountant designation as of Sept 29, 01. He also obtained the West-Can Human Resource Solutions Corporate Sector Award for the highest grade point average. Jenny Mahood7 (William Noble3, Samuel2) daughter of Donna Mitchell of Franktown, Ont. of Nepean, Ontario, graduated from Sir Robert Borden H.S. in June, 2001 and will be attending Carleton University for Criminology in September Graham McLean7 son of Aileen6 & Tom McLean (Henry3 William2) of Las Vegas graduated from Simon Fraser with a BA (Hon) Psychology. Submitted by Marlane King6 (Henry3 William2).

Cousins in the News Kelly Giles 7 (Henry 3 William 2) of Los Angeles, California successfully passed the Foreign Service Written Exam last Nov., of which only 20% pass. He also passed the Foreign Service Oral Exam in mid-July this year, of which again only about 20% pass. What this means is that by this time next year, Kelly and Linda may be off to D.C., and then overseas. Had they decided to go right away, Kelly would have been in the State Department Building in D.C., which was evacuated on September 11th, for his Foreign Service Officer Training Class!! Kelly is the son of Adele (Mitchell) Priestley 6 and the grandson of the late Cleland 5 and Irene (Wardle) Mitchell. Todd Priestley 7 (Henry 3 William 2) of Burnaby, B.C. has recently become involved in amateur theatre. This summer he performed a stirring rendition of Robert Service's poem, "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" during Stage 43's presentation of "The Face on the Barroom Floor" at the Port Moody Inlet Theatre. Todd, is the son of Bill and Adele 6 (Mitchell) Priestley and the grandson of the late Cleland 5 and Irene (Wardle) Mitchell. Todd also performed this poem at the Mitchell Family Reunion. (p.s. a very impressive performance ed.) Congratulations! Jenny, Kelly, Todd, Jennie & Bretton, Graham ,Nelson

Things Mitchell’s Said or Did Our 8-year-old grand daughter Amanda8 was out with her parents at a restaurant. She went to the washroom where there was a lady putting cream on her face. Amanda asked why her why she was doing that and the lady said it was to get rid of the wrinkles. Amanda said, "it isn’t working is it?" The lady thought it was so funny she told Amanda’s parents about it. Shirley (Mitchell) Balding6 (Henry 3 William 2)

Tsawwassen BC- Thank-you organizing committee for the great weekend! All five daughters of the late Cleland 5 & Irene (Wardle) Mitchell (Henry 3,William2) attended, from Man., Alta., and B.C. and along with their family members numbered 28 in total!!

I thought it might be interesting to follow the lead of our excellent bus tour hostess, Arlie Purser, and ask each member of our family what they liked the best about the reunion. Here is what they had to say:

Sean Butler 8 age 9 - Playing with my cousins

Ryan Butler 8 age 6 - Laughing at my cousin performing in the talent show

Day Scott 8 age 5 - Playing frisbee with my Uncle Greg and the treasure hunt

Ethan Scott 8 age 3 - When asked he said "I was just thinking about that" (even though it had been two weeks since the reunion!), liked the treasure hunt & eating dinner with his cousins

Kathleen Sigurdson 8 age 11 - The supper & entertainment & being with all my relatives.

Suzanne Sigurdson 8 age 8 - Meeting everyone, seeing all my relatives & being with my family. Christine Sigurdson 8 age 8 - Meeting all the relatives and the special supper and going on the tour.

Kim Kruger 7 - Enjoyed being with family, learning more of the Mitchell history and having the chance to expose my children to a terrific extended group of people - the Mitchells. We are really looking forward to Brandon in three years.

Todd Priestley 7 - Learning the historical facts about Mitchell Island, M/School M/Rd , the M/grave site & that Alexander M. was an alderman, discovering our Scottish heritage, studying the family tree and meeting new relatives

Jack Scott - The pinata & the children's reaction to it, getting to know everyone's children

Mark Scott 7 - The sense of family

Greg Scott 7 - It was good to get to know family a little bit more the barbeque was great and those people were good organizers!

Sandi Croft - Picnic, seeing different generations together & the feeling of being part of the tribe

Shirley Balding 6 - Bus trip & also Preacher Todd's recitation of "The Shooting of Dan McGrew "

Glenn Balding - Sing-a-long /c Kitty Malysh & Lester Mitchell on piano

Bev Butler 7 - Being with a lot of my relatives at the same time-we don't get to see each other enough.

Jim Butler - Bidding against Kelly in the silent auction for the backpack and six-pack

Beryl Williams 6 - The sing-a-long

Dixie Mitchell 6 - The open air picnic and Preacher Todd

Lorrie Scott 6 - Best watermelon ever, liked getting to know more relatives, uniqueness of being in a room with so many strangers yet knowing that they are all related

Fred Kisil - Interesting to renew acquaintances from the past reunion and to meet new Mitchells

Michelle Morgan 7 - When U/Glenn kissed U/Bill, also wonderful to be in a room of such wonderful people and realize you are related to all of them, inspired by and proud of Ryan who sang in the talent show & who taught us to persist and not give up

Adele Priestley 6 - Cooked onions at barbecue, warm buns /c whipped herb butter at both hotel meals, sing-a-long, oh yes & of course the silent auction (see you in Brandon, Don - you know who you are)!!!

Kelly Giles 7 - Playing soccer with my brother Todd

Linda Giles - Meeting Lester Mitchell and spending time talking with him when he first arrived

Bill Priestley - The PEOPLE!

Tim Priestley 7- Water fights /c relatives, hanging out /c younger second cousins & also Preacher Todd

Brenda Daudlin - THE FOOD, locations & hanging out with the five Mitchell sisters

P.S. "THE FOOD" answer was from a registered dietician.

by: Adele Priestley 6 (Henry 3, William 2)

Maple Ridge B.C.

So just what are Mitchell School, Mitchell Island, and what do Mitchell’s have to do with Queen Elizabeth Park and Fraser View Cemetery. Perhaps it is best to start with where are these places!

Mitchell School – Past and Present (corner of Cambie and No.5 Roads)

driveways down from the school. They had a big pool in the backyard that you can barely make out.

They built the house with the proceeds from the sale of the Island. It was bulldozed a couple of years ago for town homes. I believe that Mel Mitchell lived a few doors down from Lester on that parcel (Carol's Dad, Lester's brother). To the right of the track of Mitchell School was the Delta drive-in also part of the old Mitchell farm. We used to swim at Nanny and Lester's, and I remember seeing the screen of the Drive-In - Dirty Harry forty feet tall. The school educated many Mitchells over the years including the author of this piece, Nicole (Mitchell) Doyle7 (Alexander3 Samuel2).

"Mitchell Elementary School stands as a rare historic symbol of Richmond’s simpler roots … Once filled with children from surrounding farms the school is now hemmed by commerce, traffic and subdivisions…. An older one-room schoolhouse next door is gone" Vancouver Sun June 29, 1998 as submitted by Adele Priestly

The old school now houses five classrooms as well as health board offices. The new school built next door was built in the 1960’s. There are 439 students from K to 7 in the two school buildings. … "Over the years the basement served as a play area– boys on one side, girls on the other –then as an indoor swimming pool (left) and more recently serving hot lunches to kids." Vancouver Sun June 29, 1998 as submitted by Adele Priestly Picture Courtesy of Richmond Archives

On this map the areas to focus on are where the red + sign is, that was the location of the park for the family picnic. The Knight St. Bridge about 1" above the + sign touches on Mitchell Island as it crosses the Fraser River.

A picture of Mitchell Island today (above) with a picture of the Knight St. Bridge at the right edge of the picture. The yellow outline in the picture above is of a 100-acre industrial site that is for sale!

Mitchell Island History/Life on Mitchell Island - from an article written by Lester F Mitchell (5) Powell River BC (Alexander 3, Samuel 2), forwarded by Adele Priestly and updated by Nicole Doyle (Alexander 3, Samuel 2), with Lester; AND a transcript from an interview of Samuel Melburn Mitchell (4) (Samuel3, Samuel2) (nephew of Alexander) 1972 provided by the Richmond Archives consolidated by David Sargent, edited and corrected by Nicole Doyle, George & Sue, and Pam Mitchell.

Lester’s story about his grandfather Alexander Mitchell (3) Samuel (2) will be the main body with an inter mixing of the information from S.M. Mitchell (in italics) nephew of Alexander Mitchell.

When Granddad came to BC in 1877, the train track ended at the Rocky Mountains so he had to go down to San Francisco and book passage on a boat to bring him up to where Vancouver is today (similar to the Abysinia in 1887 at left picture). He settled in Moodyville for a while and, in 1879, took out squatter’s rights on Mitchell Island, which he later bought. He also tried his hand at prospecting and took out a claim for a gold mine at the mouth of Pitt Lake. Abysinia 1887 – Vancouver Archives

He had to clear his island of trees and build a dike around it which he accomplished with horses pulling scoops and with Chinese labour (note: had Chinese cook – all ditches and canals dug by hand by Chinese - 90 cents per day – one contractor handled all labour arrangements. Chinese fed selves & lived in contractor’s bunkhouse). When he first farmed on the island, the fish going up the river were so plentiful that some were left high and dry on the land when the tide dropped. He would take his wagon along the beach and gather them up as fertilizer. Photo – Loggers of 1890 (not related?) Courtesy Vancouver Archives

Brighouse’s Barn circa 1974, picture courtesy Vancouver Archives.

He also took a contract to farm Sam Brighouse’s property on #3 Road in Richmond, which was all in hay. There was so much hay that he sent for his younger brother Sam Mitchell (3) in 1882. Father came in 1882 and rented Brighouse Estates before present home which he got in 1907 – talks about his father and adventures with the Indians. Sam bought a tugboat called "Lottie" and a scow. He applied for and got a captain’s licence and he and my grandfather Alexander sold hay to Nanaimo mine owners on Vancouver Island to feed the donkeys that pulled the ore cars. Mitchell family sold cream only, used milk for feeding cattle – discusses quality of cream – lots of milk in those days (around World War 1).

S.M. Mitchell talks about farmers trusting each other and helping each other – much trading then for staples – eggs were used as money – egg money was considered home money – talks about Grauer’s store (just north of Mitchell Island) being paid once a year by farm stock. Photo - Marpole Bridge near Grauer's Store 1900 Muriel and Wilfred Cornis and Mary Tait in picture, Vancouver Archives

Staples bought in bulk also from Woodwards in Vancouver – Cordova (was Main then) discusses early livery stable practices in Vancouver. Photo – 1910 Woodwards store, Vancouver Archives

Alexander (below) and Alexander’s Family back left to right: Grandma Stirton, Mary Jane, Granddad Alexander, and Ethel. Front left to right: Gerald, Edith, George, & Sara. Photos above and below are courtesy of Lester Mitchell, supplied by Nicole & Martin Doyle.

My grandfather (Alexander pictured at left) met my grandmother in Nanaimo or Victoria. Her brother. J.W. Stirton was the contractor who put in the first water system in Nanaimo. In 1892 Granddad was a councilman for the municipality of Richmond and by 1894, partially through his efforts, he was able to get a bridge built across the Fraser River to Mitchell Island. Since there was a small river between Mitchell and Twigg Island, the bridge maintained its height of about 16 feet above Mitchell Island and landed on Twigg Island. Twigg Island was owned by Bill Oldfield and is related to the Mitchell’s through marriage. From Twigg Island they had to build a bigger bridge across to Lulu Island and from the other side of Lulu Island they had a ferry going to Ladner, the mainland. Getting back to Mitchell island, since the bridge was 16 feet above the Island they built an off ramp down to the Island and Granddad had a mile of paved road put in. To designate it as a private road he had put up a big gate and closed it one day a year. After a while he took the gate away because the municipality agreed to look after the road.

Granddad left a large grove of trees on the east end of the island where the family and friends came for picnics. His first hose was built on the east end of the island; the bridge was on the west end. The house was overlooking the north arm of the Fraser River. Grandmother was afraid to stay alone in the house because of the Indians paddling by in their dugouts. They would sometimes come ashore, build a fire on the beach and make something to eat. Photo – Indians making a dug out canoe 1893, Vancouver Archives.

Grandmother taught school in Vancouver so she would paddle across the river, standing up in an old dugout. In 1893 Granddad built a house at 12th and Scott where she could stay when she was teaching. I do not know what school she taught in. I think it might have been the first school in South Vancouver, which was on Fraser Street close to the interurban tacks that go from Marpole to New Westminster. Photo - First School in South Vancouver Marine Drive area picture 1912 Courtesy Vancouver Archives

Alexander built the second house in about the middle of the island. I don’t know what year he built the third house but he built it up on 16-foot pilings so it would be level with the bridge. Granddad’s house was divided inside – the left side was the living side and the right side was his store where he sold hardware and oil, etc. There were two doors and the bridge railing was cut out so it was open onto the bridge. This was an area about 500 by 700 feet. Photo at left courtesy of Lester Mitchell, supplied by Nicole & Martin Doyle.

The north side was about 100 feet from the ramp coming off the bridge, the other side or south side of the house was built over the water at high tide of the little river that flowed between Mitchell and Twigg Island. There was a porch built out on that side which overlooked the Sea Scout’s wharves and boat shed. He put in a floating ramp for unloading scows, and a derrick to lift stuff off. There was no bridge railing on that side - it was all open. He put a gas station right across from his house with a gas pump outside which had a large glass full of coloured gas on top. Granddad moved all his hardware out of the house to the gas station.

This gave Grandmother a lot more room in the house. Heading from Vancouver to Richmond, the house was on the left hand side, and on the right was a mens and ladies toilet and a weigh station, and later a gas station, all built on the pilings that Alexander had had the foresight to install. The pilings were all decked and had ramps that rose and fell with the tides approaching sixteen feet in January. Parts of the Island would be subject to flooding until it was diked using horse drawn 'scoops' which were pulled by a team of horses, sounds like a big pointed shovel that had handles at the back and would flip up and dump once it was full. Plenty of guys who drove those things had no teeth - from hitting a root or something unexpectedly, and the handles flying up.

I was 8 years old and was glad to be with my Grandmother and Granddad. We had a place in the basement to sleep and Grandmother did all the cooking upstairs. My two brothers, Melvin and Newman, and I were always glad to pump up the coloured gas into the big glass bowl on top of the pump. Granddad never knew what to expect when we were sitting in the house having lunch. You would hear the rumble of the bridge planks as they drove on the bridge but you knew it had to be a gas buggy or a horse buggy. Alexander decided to put in a big scale for weighing wagons as he was now hauling scow loads of rock and ore from his mine in Pitt Lake.

When Granddad moved into the bridge house, one of his daughters, Mary Jane (4), who was married to Wesley Widdess, moved into the house that was in the middle of the island. He also sold a few acres of land to a Mr. McKercher who built the Union Shingle Mill, also 3 mill houses for the workers. This was on the north side of the island. A little later on he sold a piece of land, which was part of the very tip of the east end of the island to David Scott’s Shipyard. Other sales went to Mr. McCormick who had tugs and scows and Harry Alfred and he built a blacksmith shop. Photo Mitchell Island 1952 Courtesy Richmond Archives

Before the bridge, Granddad told me he had to bring everything across the river to the island on scows in the summertime and in the winter they brought everything across on the ice. It froze just about every year and you could drive a team of horses over the ice from Vancouver to Richmond. In 1927 my Dad and I drilled a hole in the ice on the river and it was 23 inches thick. The pile driver came up from the river from the Gulf, dropping its big hammer on the ice as it came. They wanted to keep the river open so they could keep the sawmills operating, but when they got up to the Fraser bridge the hammer just could not break off any more that the size of the hammer so they gave up.

Mitchell Island History/Life on Mitchell Island (continued)

On a foggy night, Granddad was sitting in his living room when he heard a crash outside. He ran out on the bridge and found the gate had been closed for a boat to go through, the gate was all smashed up because the bus that ran from Ladner to Vancouver had driven through it and gone into the river. Granddad ran and jumped into his rowboat and rowed out into the river. He found a little girl floating around in her mother’s fur coat. He couldn’t find anybody else so he took the little girl home to dry out. When the police came they looked for survivors and found none. Photo Alexander and Muriel Evans - courtesy of Lester Mitchell, supplied by Nicole & Martin Doyle.

S.M. Mitchell left school at age 13 or 14 - many boys in those days went to school only during the winter, being required to work on the farm during the rest of the year – (discusses this) – talks about transition of chores into regular work on the farm – boys wanted to prove themselves among men – talks about threshing procedures. In those days people made their own entertainment – house parties discussed – (barn raising and dance stories). Santa Claus at school and at home in early days – schools raised own money by whist drives, box lunches for picnic (describes box lunch procedures). Went to Orange hall for school dance, early dance music (circa 1920) was chiefly violins. Photo: Orange Hall 30 years later in 1950, Vancouver Archives

Lester speaking; There was a boiler room - oil or coal fed I can't remember - next to the barn. It was where they made the steam to sterilize the bottles (for the milk). Hay kept getting tracked from the barn into the boiler room: that's what started the fire. Alec Crawford used to pick up the milk cans from the farmers at about four or five in the morning - well, he saw a red glow in the sky and guessed that it was coming from the Island. He tore into the yard, and there was a tool shed that stood between the cow barn and the big hay barn. He tied a rope around the bumper of his truck and tied the other end to the big main support post of the tool shed. He pulled the shed down, and that stopped the fire from spreading to the big hay barn. The cow barn burned with the cows in the stanchions: it was too much for Granddad. He took a stroke shortly after and laid in bed for a few weeks not knowing anyone, before he finally passed away. (ed. Note: He also owned Nicomen Island, but that is another story!)

Alexander3& George Mitchell4 Melvin5 and Newman Mitchell5 Ethel Mowat4 Dorothy Mitchell

(Alexander3 Samuel2) & Alexander Mowat (Alexander3 Samuel2)

Nestled deep in the far corner of the cemetery, bordered by a row of houses and schools, in a very picturesque setting are the Mitchell Family tombstones. The people in the stories and pictures above are buried here, including Alexander and his brother Sam whose families and descendants established farms on Mitchell Island and the surrounding areas and provided us with most of the information for this feature article. Dorothy Mitchell, head stone above right, Lester’s5 (Alexander3 Samuel2) wife and Nora (blue jacket below left picture) are sisters.

Two bus loads of family, and two bus drivers training for the bus driver precision driving Olympics, ventured to several corners of the cemetery before reaching the far corner of the cemetery and the Mitchell head stone.

Nora, wife of Melvin Mitchell4 (Alexander3 Samuel2) at right in blue jacket points out the names of loved family members on the head stone.

Group gathering around for speech and prayer by Keith Mitchell5 (Alexander3, William2) of Brandon, Manitoba. Photos by David Sargent

Queen Elizabeth Park was once the site of a quarry that provided the rock and granite for the construction of many of the older office buildings in downtown Vancouver. Above is the view from the top of the quarry into the sunken garden, view at left is a small creek that cascades down the walls cut out of the rock. Alexander let the city of Vancouver use his rock crusher to create materials that were used in many of the roads and buildings in the early part of the century. We are unclear as to whether Alexander actually worked in the quarry as well.

Who is that guy with the camera and why is he taking our picture? So I can put it in the newsletter it turns out! After a very informative trip around Mitchell stomping grounds it was time to retire to the picnic area. Only grumbles heard on the day was the fact the buses didn’t stop at the best liquor store I town!   Photo by David Sargent

Good Time for All Family, Fun, Food   First time picnic attendees, actually quite a number of us, were most impressed with the picnic! The organizers ordered up a perfect weather, bug free day for some 200 or so folks that turned out.

Reflections of our family picnic by Carol (Mitchell) Malysh (6) (Alexander3 Samuel2) Orders from the chief (baby brother George), Expect about 150 people, don’t run out of food! The shopping list included: 176 Hamburgers, 76 hot dogs, 15 romaine lettuce, 75 pounds of watermelon, 4 gallons of ice cream, 40 litres of pop, 300 tim bits and a day of good weather! Saturday Morning: Prayers were answered, woke up to a beautiful day. Photos by David Sargent

However the best laid plans of mice and Mitchell’s. Buses went to the ferry terminal instead of the hotel, McDonald’s ice machine broke down and had to buy it elsewhere.

One of the 3 BBQ’s was in flames, so husband Nick was off to get the extra one we did not have room for on the truck. One comment from cousin Ron Mitchell who was watching me toss the salad – " You won’t use all the lettuce". Sorry to report Ron, we could have had four or five heads more. Don’t tell brother George.

I loved the Mitchell appetites- "you done good" no leftovers! Special thanks to sister in law Sue Mitchell (George’s wife), my sisters and their husbands, daughter Beccy and son in law Geordie, and the others who pitched in to haul food and set table that day. We have had lots of feedback, and it seems the family truly enjoyed themselves. Many thanks to you all for making it another wonderful Mitchell memory.

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