Story and photos: Ursula Maxwell-Lewis
While wind and rain battered the coast, I took refuge in the White Rock Museum & Archives. The historic 1913 train station on Marine Drive underwent a $1.4 million renovation last year giving the landmark building a new lease on life.
A spacious gift shop in the building breezeway separates the temperature-controlled archives and offices in the east of the building from the collections hall and main storage on the west side. Tourism and traffic flow steadily past on the building’s north side. An elegant promenade protected by railings from the still operational railway tracks flank the south side. Whitecaps thrash the bay and beach beyond – a distinct contrast to the expansive beach revealed when the tide recedes.
Hugh Ellenwood is Archives Manager, a position previously held by his mother, Lorraine Ellenwood, author of the local history book, “Years of Promise”.
Clearly, his work rewards and fascinates him. I ask what question he hears most at the museum. Unhesitatingly he replies; “Do you want this shoebox [of old papers]?”The answer, he says, is always, “YES!”
“We want White Rock-related letters, pictures, and memorabilia that people have had stored in the basement for years,” he says. “The 40’s, 50’s and 60’s are of particular interest. We want to know the truth about what life was really like then.”
Ellenwood offers some advice about storing treasured documents. Electronic filing is important, he says, but paper is still by far the best. Remember to store papers in acid-free envelopes and boxes, away from sunlight, and in a stable environment such as a cool closet. “People should scan old photos, but always keep the originals,” he advises.
Jasmine Moore, Collections and Exhibits Coordinator, is justifiably proud of her current exhibit: Emergency and Everyday Assistance: A History of Fire Rescue in White Rock. Produced in partnership with White Rock Fire Rescue, the comprehensive displays chronicle the critical role White Rock Fire Department has played over the years. The interactive floor images will delight children – and their parents.
In 1918, fire threatened White Rock Elementary School and in 1935, fire claimed the Legion that was located on the pier at the time. The Campbell River Company mill burned twice – once when the wharf caught fire, and later in the 1940’s when two boys playing in the abandoned kiln finished the job. In 1956 the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans hit the headlines when their building facing the museum went up in flames.
The operational cherry red fire truck parked in the gallery began its career as a 1925 Studebaker. No doubt, it starred in many of the above dramas.
Part of the west wing houses the 1913 Great Northern Railway ticket and signal office. Countless visitors have felt transported back in time by the sound of the approaching train, warning signals clanging, the clickety clack of ticker tape, and the familiar warm wood surroundings.
White Rock Museum & Archives is located at 14970 Marine Drive. Comprehensive on-line resources: www.WhiteRockMuseum.BC.CA