6.4.52

1912-1914 -- Porpoise Bay and Sechelt's second school

The building on the left was used by Japanese fishermen for repairing their boats and nets. It was known as the Yamamoto Boat Works and was where Basil Joe and his brother Philip had built the first gas boat owned by the Sechelt Indian Band. Later Mr. Henry John Mills and one of his sons pulled down the structure for its lumber. In the spring of 1913 it became Sechelt's second school until a new one was built at the other end of the foot bridge in 1914. B. C. Public Works Report April 1, 1912 to March 31, 1913 stated "One bridge, Porpoise Bay and Sechelt _ mile from Sechelt: 375 feet long Cost $166.95." Dr. Fred Inglis' medical inspection of the school for the period ending June 1914 said the building conditions were "poor and draughty; heating poor" and he reported there were no sanitary closets. Poise Island, site of tree burials, on the right in the photograph was known as Skeleton, Dead Man's and Cook's Island. A few human bones and the cedar platforms or boxes which once held them were still visible about 1920. The tall tree leaning slightly towards the building marked the rock bluff near the wharf. At this time the original Porpoise Bay wharf ran parallel to the rock bluff. The second wharf, built by the government in the 1920s, started on the shoreline about where the old boat repair building stood earlier.

Photograph #151 by Charles Bradbury See also oversize photograph 6.15.63

6.4.53

c1913/1914 -- Porpoise Bay and Sechelt's second school

The building had been the Yamamoto Boat Works until the spring of 1913 when it became the school house until the end of 1914. Poise Island in the centre was also known as Skeleton, Dead Man's and Cook's Island. For more information see photograph 6.4.52

Print courtesy Norman Burley. Photograph by Charles Bradbury

6.4.53.1

c1915 -- Porpoise Bay, second and third schools.

Left is Sechelt's second school, converted from a former Japanese fishermen's shed and used as a school from spring 1913 to end of 1914. Right is Sechelt's third school built by T. J. Cook and Ellis Hermanson. Superseded by a third school in 1920. Note rail fence built by teacher Miss Mary Gemmel and her students, especially Arnold McQuarrie. Porpoise Bay Road (later Wharf Avenue), a dirt road, was built in 1896 and runs north from Trail Bay stopping at the marsh which is open to tides at the foot of the road. Note a footbridge crosses the marsh, wagons crossed the marsh area just inshore from the foot bridge. See also photograph 6.4.52 for more information.

Photograph #184 by Charles Bradbury, courtesy Norman Burley

6.4.54

c1913/1914 or 1915 -- Porpoise Bay and foot bridge, two photographs

Bridge across Porpoise Bay marsh probably after 1915 and before 1920 but may be earlier. B. C. Public Works Report for fiscal year 1913/1914 mentions "One bridge, Porpoise Bay and Sechelt, _ mile from Sechelt: 375 feet long." No sign of the Yamamoto Boat Works/ Sechelt's second school building. Two copies of photograph one entitled in bottom left hand corner `Porpoise Bay. Sechelt, B.C.'

Photograph probably by Charles Bradbury

6.4.55

c1913/1914 -- Herbert Whitaker's sawmill

Herbert Whitaker's first sawmill at Porpoise Bay which was being operated as early as 1909. Old 1910 records show he leased this mill to Mr. A. Matheson (manager) or at least Matheson operated the mill for Whitaker. About 1917/1918 the cottage behind the mill was occupied by Mrs. Crowston and her children. During a storm a tree blew down over the roof and injured one of the Crowston girls. Winnie Delong identified the Crowston cottage as the one near the mill. Herbert Whitaker also operated a mill near the Skookumchuck where he cut cedar in 1905 for his father's home the `Beach House' in Sechelt. He gave this mill to Ronald after WW1.

Photograph by Charles Bradbury See also oversize 6.15.59