tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post4587018941935837376..comments2024-03-26T11:42:04.114+00:00Comments on Positive Letters ... inspirational stories ...: Cowichan Valley … the settling and opening up … part 2 Hilary Melton-Butcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-58394824047929731792018-11-08T18:27:17.118+00:002018-11-08T18:27:17.118+00:00@ Lee - thanks ... I've found it interesting t...@ Lee - thanks ... I've found it interesting to put a very brief covering on the thought about settling the land - I know I'm missing out huge chunks ... but it's getting the semblance for us all to think about. The area is delightful. It is only 150 - 180 years ago this all happened ... which seems extraordinary.<br /><br />The church is a delight isn't ... sadly it is very neglected now ... but the vineyards are wonderful ... <br /><br />@ Lisa - it does look like they had a happy and successful marriage. Access only by sea must have been trying ... the rivers on the island weren't much help in the early days to the Europeans ... the First Nations revered them ... <br /><br />@ Susan - I'm sure there was an awful lot of greed, lack of understanding by many of the men who'd left Europe under difficult circumstances - and trapping would have fallen into that category of desperate need ... <br /><br />@ Teresa - thanks ... it's been good to write it up - albeit my own little take on the start up of life here ... <br /><br />@ Bazza - yes Vancouver Island has been glorious ... I haven't seen much of Canada ... but have thoroughly enjoyed being here. <br /><br />Thanks for your comments and visits - cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-67520017834103704502018-11-07T22:12:38.718+00:002018-11-07T22:12:38.718+00:00You should write a book about Vancouver Island bec...You should write a book about Vancouver Island because you clearly love it!<br /><b><a href="http://todiscoverice.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> CLICK HERE for Bazza’s habile Blog ‘To Discover Ice’</a></b>bazzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14794010156639774028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-61325684928089138822018-11-07T20:55:27.906+00:002018-11-07T20:55:27.906+00:00This is so interesting. I especially liked the sto...This is so interesting. I especially liked the story behind the butter church. <br /><br />TeresaT. Powell Coltrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160774009926623671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-41519847758282152982018-11-07T20:16:11.282+00:002018-11-07T20:16:11.282+00:00That is such an interesting time in history. I saw...That is such an interesting time in history. I saw a show recently that spoke of how heartless and vicious the trapping industry was in the early settlements. Susan Gourley/Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669793865290876168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-3431885964427532262018-11-07T18:51:22.428+00:002018-11-07T18:51:22.428+00:00Sounds like they lived a good life together. I lov...Sounds like they lived a good life together. I love the name of the Butter Church. Life must have been fairly hard even with the river access. I like hearing about those times, but am glad I didn't have to live in them!Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06658507579160418855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-31724657109415380052018-11-07T18:34:37.662+00:002018-11-07T18:34:37.662+00:00What an interesting bit of history. It's hard ...What an interesting bit of history. It's hard to find a piece of land that has been farmed continuously for such a length of time. Also, I loved how the church got its name. The view of the vineyard is beautiful.cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-47545252539576772262018-11-07T16:58:57.458+00:002018-11-07T16:58:57.458+00:00@ David - it gives the flavour of how the land was...@ David - it gives the flavour of how the land was settled ... with nods in various directions. I know you've been here - it is an amazing place to have experienced and visited ... I've been lucky ...<br /><br />@ Sandra - the butter church engraving print was a delight to see ... and I was pleased to get the agriculture link in ...<br /><br />@ Jess - in those days it probably wasn't unusual ... but he does seem to have been very independent, as well as pretty capable with his hands and brain. He did do well didn't he ... <br /><br />@ Elsie - it's a prized valley ... with a lot going for it. I know re land being taken for building - let alone the damage it does ... re water, flooding etc ... you're right - and sadly the human race has too many demands that can't seem to be curbed.<br /><br />@ CD - good to see you ... he must have been 'some chap' to have coped with the sea journey and then after he'd cleared the land - he could go off and do something else ... ie work at the saw mill ... as you say interesting to know about.<br /><br />@ David - the image shows the different soils i.e. the moraine, and ultimately the soils after the last ice age ... while there's valuable gravel on the Island - which William Shearing back then didn't realise would carry value within a few decades - early in the 20th C ... so he 'gave' it back ... <br /><br />Thanks everyone - such fun to see what you think ... and get you thinking about travel only 150 years ago or so ... cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-20030870168000699322018-11-07T16:53:16.812+00:002018-11-07T16:53:16.812+00:00That's different gravel for different soils? H...That's different gravel for different soils? Had no idea vineyards did that. Cool to see from the sky! :)David Powers Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10942728197352977520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-20278399807642174332018-11-07T15:52:27.365+00:002018-11-07T15:52:27.365+00:00Fascinating stuff. I too, enjoy the story of a far...Fascinating stuff. I too, enjoy the story of a farmer who just up and says "I don't want to farm" and goes to do something else. :-PC.D. Gallant-Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01080400727631587101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-40929471117930492802018-11-07T14:56:41.761+00:002018-11-07T14:56:41.761+00:00Forgive me while I sound like an "old timer&q...Forgive me while I sound like an "old timer" but I love knowing the land is still farmland. So much of the land around us has been sold off acre by acre and stores keep building up along with condos and apartment buildings. It's no wonder our wildlife is either dying off or moving into our neighborhoods. And don't get me started about the flooding issues we have now that we didn't have before the development. Rant over. :)<br /><br /><a href="https://helpingpartnersofsexaddictsheal.org/" rel="nofollow">Elsie </a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-65675158413351503112018-11-07T00:39:24.207+00:002018-11-07T00:39:24.207+00:00How fascinating! It is amazing how young he was wh...How fascinating! It is amazing how young he was when he set off for a new life. Seems like a lot to take on- though he obviously managed and did well. Thanks for sharing!<br />~JessDMShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04202502753961748992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-59149235681314256582018-11-06T20:46:03.468+00:002018-11-06T20:46:03.468+00:00I love the wood engraving on the right. Well done...I love the wood engraving on the right. Well done.Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-28278282220862463642018-11-06T16:46:16.797+00:002018-11-06T16:46:16.797+00:00Thanks for the history lesson, Hilary. This is an ...Thanks for the history lesson, Hilary. This is an area I have visited several times but I was unaware of this detail. It certainly is a beautiful spot on the Island.David M. Gascoigne,https://www.blogger.com/profile/17229638811027153569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-78565183155797335842018-11-06T01:46:34.684+00:002018-11-06T01:46:34.684+00:00@ Jo-Anne - so glad you enjoyed it ... and found t...@ Jo-Anne - so glad you enjoyed it ... and found the simple info interesting ... <br /><br />@ Steve - the sweaters are much prized ... and glad you enjoyed the tale ... <br /><br />@ Pat - yes, they were capable people ... mind you anyone who got on a boat for x months to come round here, had to be fit and aware of how things got done ...<br /><br />@ Janie - Victoria still is the capital - I've slightly rephrased it ... in case others get befuddled with my posting ... <br /><br />It's just thinking about an 18 year old getting on a ship and setting of with only a sail to steer it by ... and then start a new life here - he was lucky it seems ... <br /><br />@ Debby - it's just some interesting tales from around here ... which get us thinking about life as it was. The cardigans are of great value. I wasn't going to write up on the HBC's development - it's quite complicated ... and that logo too ... perhaps I'll succumb ... <br /><br />@ Holly - yes it is a pity about the butter church ... it looks quite delightful. The stone church is its other name ... <br /><br />Cheers to you all - it probably helps us here on the Island that Victoria remains the capital. Thanks for commenting - Hilary <br />Hilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-76744422461676417412018-11-06T01:22:59.106+00:002018-11-06T01:22:59.106+00:00Interesting. Too bad Butter Church was on native l...Interesting. Too bad Butter Church was on native land. It was pretty cute.H. R. Sinclairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06715450637785127208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-89899668409530618922018-11-06T00:34:11.637+00:002018-11-06T00:34:11.637+00:00This is some fascinating history of Canada Hilary....This is some fascinating history of Canada Hilary. Love the cardigan and looking forward to the next part as I'm interested in finding out how our Hudson's Bay department store got the idea for their updated logo - the horizontal colorful stripes - red, green and yellow. ;)D.G. Kayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04292901895982357952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-83584835273689047622018-11-05T21:51:52.747+00:002018-11-05T21:51:52.747+00:00I thought Victoria was still the capital of Britis...I thought Victoria was still the capital of British Columbia. I'll have to Google that to see what the capital is these days. It's amazing that some people are brave enough to be explorers, and sad that so many times the explorers found native people to exploit.<br /><br />Love,<br />JanieJanie Junebughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10573607241326291404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-59844305426586687372018-11-05T21:36:16.802+00:002018-11-05T21:36:16.802+00:00Sure knew how to use their talents to their advant...Sure knew how to use their talents to their advantage.Pat Hatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07745293224202430152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-22720321246049635262018-11-05T20:51:40.969+00:002018-11-05T20:51:40.969+00:00I would love to have one of those sweaters, what a...I would love to have one of those sweaters, what a lovely tale shared.Out on the prairiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09548162534362532705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-48856545155903586872018-11-05T20:29:01.049+00:002018-11-05T20:29:01.049+00:00Now this was an interesting read, I knew none of t...Now this was an interesting read, I knew none of this Jo-Anne's Ramblingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11418152399382818709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-27328461946383515732018-11-05T18:08:11.318+00:002018-11-05T18:08:11.318+00:00@ Elizabeth - the acquisition of land is a difficu...@ Elizabeth - the acquisition of land is a difficult one to this day ... as the natives have always had full access along the waterways and coasts ... their ancestors and spiritual ancestors have for millennia been there. The different tribes/bands and the provinces - some have sorted things out ... some haven't and that's the way here in BC ... <br /><br />It's just a pity that the church that had been so lovingly built was unable to be put to its full use - before being made redundant ... still it reflects the agricultural start in the valley ... <br /><br />@ Hels - yes the Hudson Bay Company was critical in opening up Canada - their buildings are around today ... especially in the larger cities. They have an interesting history ... <br /><br />@ Joanne - well I suspect he came out 'country unknown' looking for a better life - at 18: that's some initiative. He had enough knowledge and common sense to know what was wise ... securing his land, and marrying his wife. How funny about your mother ... <br /><br />The coast and the rivers were 'the roads' in early years - as too in Europe and I'm sure down with you ... <br /><br />@ Jacqui - as I mentioned to Elizabeth ... the different provinces cope with their populations differently. Things are changing and we are realising that the native way of life does have a lot of things to offer. I saw a lot of documentaries over the weekend - some on this ... to be mentioned anon.<br /><br />Certainly having now lived here I'm finding out a few things ... and realising a bit more than when I turned up a year ago. I'd be interested to read some of your mountain man stories in due course.<br /><br />That's good ... I'm glad the posts engage!<br /><br />@ Liz - well he got land with trees on, that needed to be cleared - but that had to be 'negotiated' with the government and the elders (not easy and probably not right ... ) ... and I'm sure as an 18 year old - he'd have had far more experience with sea-faring and the mechanics of boats than farming ... so his approach made sense to him - and obviously worked.<br /><br />Thanks for your comments - I'm enjoying answering them ... though explanations can be troubling, as I don't want to step on toes in my unknowledgeable thoughts - cheers HilaryHilary Melton-Butcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17596532480645510678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-2282383639421640832018-11-05T17:15:02.233+00:002018-11-05T17:15:02.233+00:00He got land but didn't like to farm? Well, tha...He got land but didn't like to farm? Well, that's one way of doing things...Liz A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16531953467834426316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-4556187982905032402018-11-05T16:11:07.540+00:002018-11-05T16:11:07.540+00:00These stories of settling unknown lands are fascin...These stories of settling unknown lands are fascinating. Sadly, almost all talk about getting the natives to agree with the foreigners. I'm not judging, just commenting. This is one reason why the mountain man stories from the American West are so appealing to me. They blend the White invasion with respect for the native culture.<br /><br />You can see that as usual you have me thinking!Computer Tutorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00938856237984732342noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-47623684197873558042018-11-05T12:48:32.858+00:002018-11-05T12:48:32.858+00:00I did chuckle that the farmer didn't really li...I did chuckle that the farmer didn't really like farming. Rather like my mother who grew up on a farm and didn't care for animals. First chance she had she headed into town. Guess out there, the coast was one's outlet.<br />Have a good weekJoannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11604494404874408870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6401528799218373095.post-90352198918699166072018-11-05T12:17:33.246+00:002018-11-05T12:17:33.246+00:00The Hudson Bay Company was very important, both ec...The Hudson Bay Company was very important, both economically and architecturally. I am always amazed by how widely they covered the country and set up their services.Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07701188167981018244noreply@blogger.com