Tag Archives: lightkeeper

George Nicholas Davies Rosina (Warner) Davies (later Harman) Lightkeepers at Race Rocks

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In preparation for the 150th anniversary of the Race Rocks Lightstation
(December 2010) I have come up with a variety of references, about George Nicholas Davies and his wife Rosina. I am entering them here and would urge anyone with further information or photos to get in touch and I would be glad to add them to this historical record. Garry Fletcher

For some time now, we have had the following entries on our Race Rocks History page about the Davies family: Soon after the light went into service in 1860 it became obvious that the tower was difficult to see by day when approaching from the west. Distinctive black and white stripes were painted on the tower by the first lightkeeper George Davies to improve it’s visibility against the shoreline. These markings remain today maintaining Race Rock’s unique appearance. Although the light was a great improvement on clear nights when it was visible for 18 miles the hazards of Race Rocks were still very real in fog.

james Davies

James Davies was 4 years old when the family immigrated to Canada, to live at Race Rocks lighthouse.

Grant Meyer and son and his uncle and aunt.

Grant Meyer and son and his uncle and aunt.


Family members from the Davies family visited Race Rocks with Pearson College on August 24, 2015 and left us with copies of many of these pictures and documents:

Also see https://www.ancestry.com/boards/surnames.davies/998.2

GeorgeDavisarticle1

GeorgeDaviesarticle1 1

 

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The first keeper’s time at the Race was a very unfortunate one. George Davies and his wife Rosina eagerly awaited the visit of her brother, sister-in-law and three friends on Christmas Day 1865. As the skiff approached with the Davies family watching and waving from the station, a tide rip only 20 feet from the jetty swept the small boat away, capsizing it and dumping the shocked passengers and their Christmas gifts into the water. The station had no boat at this time and each of the unfortunate visitors perished. The new year was no better for the Davies family. During the winter of 1866 George became seriously ill. The Union Jack flew at half mast at the station as a signal of distress for nine days but to no avail. George Davies died at Race Rocks shortly before Christmas 1866.

LIGHTHOUSE DIGEST – July,2002
George Nicholson Davies First Keeper on Canada’s West Coast,

An excellent account of the Davies history by Jeremy D’Entremont . refers to Joy Davies research.
Seaside Memories Tribute to Race Rocks
George Nicholas Davies/light keeper Race Rocks and Fisgard

” Seaside Memories is a tribute to my Great-Great Grandfather George Nicholas Davies. He holds the honour and distinction of being the first full-time lightkeeper at Race Rocks just outside Victoria Harbour. His memory is with me as I watch from our window the waves washing the shore. The light in our guest suites will welcome travellers both Near and Far.

by his Great Great Granddaughter, Wendy Breaks.
http://www.seasidememories.ca/My_Homepage_Files/Page8.html
I am conducting a research project and I’m looking for any images of George Davies – British Columbia’s first lightkeeper. I have checked with the BC Archives and came up with nothing. Does anyone know if there are any photographs or portraits in existence?
Mark Evans – Vancouver, B.C. Canada 1999-10-27

http://www.fogwhistle.ca/bclights/guestbook/index.php?from=0&more=39&key=Davies
George Nicholas Davies/light keeper Race Rocks and Fisgard

Anyone out there have connections to George Nicholas Davies the Lighthouse keeper at Race Rocks and Fisgard lighthouses in British Columbia Canada, or to his son George Nicholas Davies who was a coal miner, Fire Chief and Brewer at Naniamo,B.C. Canada in 1800-early 1900,s ,he died in 1934 and his wife Louisa Jenner died in 1950.? The Davies were supposedly from Wales, some from England, arrived in Canada in 1860.They came with three children-George (just mentioned), James and Rosemary.Their ship sustained damage rounding Cape Horn in rough seas and had to change ships at Hawaii then made their way to Canada to fulfill their lightkeeper contract.More info to share soon.

by Ken Davies, 23 Jul 2000
http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.davies/257/mb.ashx
Anyone connected to this Welsh fellow who immigrated to Victoria,B.C.Canada from England Aug 1860? Wife Rosina Warner. Children:David,James,George and Mary Elisabeth.

The head of this tribe immigrated here in Aug of 1860 and he was George Nicholas Davies (apparently from Wales),married to Rosina Warner, after his death in about 1866, she later married a Peter Harman. When George and Rosina immigrated from England,they brought their four children over as well, three with them and a child that was ill came later with someone else. Some of the Warner family were here too and there is a very sad story about this family in websites and books for Fisgard and Race Rocks lighthouses on B.C. West Coast, George and Rosina were the 1st lightkeepers over here. One of the books, Keepers of the Light, by Donald Graham, is excellent. Anyway, one of their sons was born in London,LongAcre County, Middlesex,England, possibly more born there.

by Joy Davies 12 Feb 2003
http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.davies/998/mb.ashx
I am a descendant of George Nicolas Davies through my maternal grandmother’s side. Her father was William Rafter, his mother was Laura Helen Davies, and her father was George N Davies. I am wondering about the information you provided regarding his father George (the lightkeeper) and his wife Rosina? May I ask where I can get a hold of this information? For some reason I had George sr.’s wife penciled in as Elisabeth – I am looking over “George Davis” and “Louisa Jenner”s marriage cert and that is what it says under George’s parents. I would love to clear this up or update my info. Hope to hear from you. Warm Regards,
Joe
by: Joseph Isaac 22 May 2009
http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.davies/998.1.1/mb.ashx

George Nicholas Davies was the son to the lighthouse keeper George and wife Rosina immigrated to Canada with three sons. Two came with parents, because of health problems the other joined them later. For more information. You can e-mail me jdixie (use the at sign here) shaw.ca

by Kathleen Dixon Mar 2004

http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.davies/998.1/mb.ashx

George Nicholas Davies/light keeper Race Rocks and Fisgard
1.There is a book out that will give some information about the Davies connection to the lighthouses Victoria BC. ” Keepers of the Light” By Donald Graham.
2. George and Louisa from Nanaimo are my great-grandparents. One of the sons of the first George N (lighthouse keeper)

by Kathleen Dixon 11 Oct 2009

http://boards.ancestry.com/surnames.davies/998.1.1.1/mb.ashx

Nicholas Bertucci , Assistant lighthouse keeper

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Nicholas Bertucci came to Victoria from Italy in 1862. He was assistant at Race Rocks for 5 years: from either 1863-1867 or 1863-1968. He later owned and operated the Ferry Boathouse until selling it in 1889. He died in 1917
( information provided from an e-mail from Annamaria Bamji, February 2008)

Annamaria was doing research on the life of Mr. Bertucci and sent us this obituary from the Victoria Daily Colonist of 1917.

“Nicholas Bertucci , res/here for 55 years. aged 79. N/o Lavagna Ita. he left there in early 1860’s and came here by way of Cape Horn. Prior to coming to Victoria, he worked on an American Survey ship, and after arriving here worked for 5 years as asst. lighthousekeeper at Race Rocks. Later he owned amd operated the Ferry Boat house, situated at that time where the E&N RR bridge now stand, selling it in 1889.

He leaves a widow, 7 sons: BG; D and J, now on active service:
N;A,Al,and F all of VIctoria.
Also 5 daughters: Mrs J. Sauit, Mrs. H Gallinger; Miss J, all of Victoria,
and MrsF Arnott, Los Angeles; Mrs. H.F.Silk, now in Eng.

VX/NewsPh/Jun23,5-A/Cpl Joseph Francis Bertucci, Victoria, WIA 2nd time. Left Victoria w/2 bros. Louis and Jack, both at front. Was employed in Times Business Office. U 073 B53 (location of burial in Ross Bay Cemetery in Victoria,BC.)”.

Recent information indicates that after his death, of the three sons who went to war, two died in active service in World War 1.

Another more thorough entry can be found on the Markes Family History page: http://marko.dgmm.net/bertucci.html

Mike and Carol Slater: Ecoguardians 1997-2008

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MIKE AND CAROL SLATER-
The last lightkeepers of Race Rocks 1990-1997, and the first Ecoguardians at Race Rocks Ecological Reserve,1997-2008

Mike Slater passed away on February 12, 2017.

In 1990 the head keeper Mike Slater and his wife Carol came to the station. Carol in particular held strong views about the need to live in harmony with the nature that truly surrounds Race Rocks. The Slaters worked hard to protect the reserve and assist researchers. These volunteer activities fall far outside their regular lightstation duties. During the early 1990’s the ominous signs of the first radical change at Race Rocks became apparent as the Coast Guard experimented with automated equipment to operate the station. In the spring of 1994 the first announcements about de-staffing of lightstations on the British Columbia Coast were made. The decision was surprising and unpopular. rranderIn September, 1995, the Minister of Fisheries, Brian Tobin and the MP for Victoria, David Anderson paid a visit to the island and are shown here talking with Mike and Carol Slater and Pearson College faculty and students. Most surprising, a few months later was the announcement that Race Rocks was on the list of the seven stations to be de-staffed in the first round of budget cuts. Race Rocks was to be closed on March 1st 1997. Mike and Carol watched as the last of the automated equipment was installed and a maintenance crew measured the windows of their house for shutters. They might as well have measured the keepers for a box too as the end of a way of life would be coming to Race Rocks.
TEMPORARY REPRIEVE, 1997:
For the time being Race Rocks and its keepers won a reprieve. In an emergency two year agreement Pearson College undertook to operate the facility in cooperation with the Coast Guard, as an education centre. A private donor agreed to cover the salary costs for the Slaters who were invited to stay on at Race Rocks by Pearson College. The College continued negotiations with the Provincial Government, the actual owners of the land, to operate the facility on a long term basis. Twenty  years later, Lester B. Pearson College is still managing the island on a long term lease from BC Parks. We are determined to make the island self-sufficient. So with that in mind, the Race Rocks endowment fund has been set up for operating racerocks.

lastkeeper

Mike and Carol Slater 2008

 

 

This powerpoint presentation touches on some of the aspects of their life in the last few years at Race Rocks.

Light Keepers of the Race Rocks Lighthouse 1860-1997

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The original list of the Lightkeepers below was provided by Trev Anderson to students from Lester Pearson College who were doing an assignment on Marine History for their Marine Science class in 1980.

In 2009-10 in preparation for the sesqicentennial of Race Rocks, I have added a number of references for individual stories gleaned from the Daily Colonist Archives. (G.Fletcher)

Ed Note: We appreciate the cooperation of family members and others who have kindly contributed comments about the light keepers and their families. We encourage others to do the same to fill the gaps.
Link to posts on this website with the tag “lightkeeper”

Senior Light Keepers
and Assistants.
Years of Occupancy at Race Rocks
and Hyperlinks in blue to pages of known historical connections
Roberts Feb 1860 – 1861
George Nicholas Davies (and Rosina) Feb.9 1861 – 1866- died on the Race Rocks station, see note above. (b. 1831 – d. 1866)
Rosina Davies 1866-1879- remained on station as keeper after her husband died.Rosina remarried later and her name was then Rosina Harman.)
Nicholas Bertucci Came to Victoria from Italy in 1862, was assistant at Race Rocks for 5 years: from either 1863-1867 or 1863-1868.
John McQuarrie January 19, 1869; 1st Assistant Keeper; age 52 in 1872; pay $410 per year; (British Columbia Report of the Hon. H. L. Langevin, C.B., Minister of Public Works, 1872)

 
Thomas Argyle
(and Ellen)		 Feb 1867 – 1888 (Thomas (1839 – 1919) Argyle & Ellen Argyle (d. 1925) May 23, 1867 – 1888; 32 years old in 1872; Chief Keeper; pay $625 per year. Note however,,,In the 1891 Census Thomas’s, now a farmer in Metchosin— birthday is listed as Feb3 1840, Thomas’s wife is listed as Helen, born Feb 25, 1835, and the daughter is listed as Ellen, born June 22, 1865, And the son Frederick born Dec 25, 1873.
Ellen Argyle 1867-1871- assistant keeper May 23, 1867 – 1871; 32 years old in 1872; 3rd Assistant; pay $150 per year; (British Columbia Report of the Hon. H. L. Langevin, C.B., Minister of Public Works, 1872)
Henry Montrose He was the assistant lightkeeper in 1877 who helped pull the two sailors from the water. (no further information is available so far)
Samuel Askew 1871 September 11, 1871 – ; age 30 in 1872; Second Assistant; $360 per year;
W.H. Berus Assistant? Mar 31-1861- Aug 5, 1879 (d. 1879)
Amelia Berus August 05, 1879 – February 01, 1880
Albert Argyle (son) 1888- Jan 1, 1889
W.P. Daykin 1889-1891 (W. P. (Phil) Daykin & Anna Daykin) (Many newspaper articles on their time at Carmanah)January 1, 1889 – April 23, 1891(Cadieux papers say he started July 03, 1889)From the 1891 census, a P. Wm Daykin  age 48 and W.F. Daykin age 47 lived in Metchosin. Children listed, CT Daykin ( 17) Edward D. (15) WT (9) RS ( 7) Philip CS ( 5) and Elizabeth E  Daykin (age 66) I believe this is the same Daykin family as two of the sons were killed by the sea later ( see link on W.P. Daykin name)
Frederick Mercer Eastwood April 23, 1891 – February 01, 1919; on station in 1910 (Vancouver City Directory 1910, Dominion Government Section) (resigned) (Cadieux papers) (b. March 02, 1862, England – d. 1932) & Annie. 

newspaper reference1905
James Thomas Forsyth (and Ellen) February 01, 1919 – December 10, 1932 (Cadieux papers)(b. November 16, 1870, Halifax, NS, Canada – d. December 10, 1932) & Ellen J. (Cadieux papers)
Arthur Fielding (Ed note: Previously not recorded so added Dec. 2013) In the 1921 census Arthur is listed as a lodger in the household of James Forsyth and as the assistant Light Keeper, govt. employed at $600  per year.  He was 26, born BC in 1895.
Henry I. McKenzie (and Evelyn) Dec 1932 – Oct 24, 1933—another reference says..Henry I. December 15, 1933 as temporary keeper when James Forsyth died (Cadieux papers)
“Henry I. McKenzie (b. May 13, 1884, Nova Scotia) & Evelyn McKenzie (Cadieux papers) From the marriage records Henry I. Mckenzie married Alberta Forsyth on November 24 1931 in BC. He died in Victoria on July 2, 1947
Andrew and Mary Ritchie Oct 24, 1933 – Sept 20,- 1940 (his first station).
Thomas Westhead Sept. 20, 1940 – Sept 15, 1948 (wireless operator in 1927 according to BC Directory; later a lighthouse keeper) He also built three sailboats while on the island.
Arthur Anderson Sept 15, 1948 – Jan 23, 1950 ( drowned while returning to station)
S. Footman Jan 23, 1950 – Feb, 1950
Percy C. Pike Feb 1950 – Oct, 1952
Percival (Percy) Coatsworth Pike (b. May 21, 1898, Durban, South Africa) & Mary Ellen Pike (Cadieux papers spell the name “Pikes”)( married Dec 11, 1919 in Alert bay,) Percy was also a lighthouse keeper at Discovery Island in 1949.
Bruce W. Rogers August 01, 1951 Assistant Keeper
Gordon Odlum Oct 1, 1952 – July 31, 1961, (b. June 17, 1914, Vancouver, BC) & Jean Odlum. See the note on his contribution to UBC research on bird nesting of the Glaucous -winged Gull.
Chris W.Slater Aug 1961 – Sept 1961
Charles Clark Sept 1961 – Nov 1, 1961 (Born March 22, 1888, Ireland) (Cadieux papers)
Ben Rogers Nov, 1961 – July 27, 1964
Alan J. Tully July 27, 1964 – July 26, 1966 ( J. Alan (Al) Tully (d. 1971) & Mona Tully (Cadieux papers))
Curt Cehak summer 1966 to 1968–Junior keeper (Kurt Felix Carl (b. February 09, 1925, Vienna, Austria) & Erika Cehak (Cadieux papers) Link is to video of him talking about sea lions
Trevor and Flo Anderson Jul 26, 1966- March 2, 1982
David Odlum for a short period in the late 60’s. junior keeper. (son of Gordon & Jean Odlum)
Edward and Alice Hay **Junior Keeper 1968-1977
Rudy Dufour **Junior Keeper. ..1977?
Bob Lundy **Junior Keeper 1977
Edward Carson Relief Keeper 1980- 1982 (Edward (Ed) Carson (b. December 30, 1912, North Vancouver, BC – d. 1990) & Karlene Carson (not spelled “Karlene”) (Cadieux papers) Ed remarried in 1982 to Sheryl)
Frank Coffey c 1980..junior keeper on station with relief principal Ed Carson
Joseph Slyth 1981- Relief Lightkeeper at Race Rocks. ( died 2008 in Victoria at age 93)
Charles and Joan Redhead 1982- 1989 (Charles d. 1966).Joan Redhead passed away in 2012
Warren and Elaine Kennedy Junior Keeper on station with Charles Redhead 1982-1990-
Gerry Toner Junior Keeper..1990- 1994? Gerry passed away in Victoria, July 20, 2011 .
Pat Mickey Junior Keeper. Dec 16, 1993- 1995 (and Lorraine Mickey). They became Lightkeepers at Discovery Island 1995-1997
Mike and Carol Slater Oct, 1989- 1997…and continued as Ecoguardians until 2008, see link below.
Station Automated 1997
. ** Explanation of the terms Junior vs Assistant keeper provided by Trev and Flo Anderson:“Before 1961 the senior lightkeeper hired his own assistant . The government then began a system of examining all applicants. Lightkeepers were then all hired by the government ( Trev was in the first group). When the government hired and placed applicants, after posting position openings internally, they were called junior lightkeepers. Relief keepers were hired by the local office but the senior keeper could, and did often, suggest someone as the relief keeper had to live in the personal residences.”

 

 

See this file for the Ecoguardians now provided by Pearson College UWC and who have been in residence from 1997 to present at Race Rocks.

Joan and Charles Redhead, Race Rocks Lightkeepers 1982-1990

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redhdAfter a short interval after the departure of the Anderson’s in 1982, when Race Rocks lightstation  was covered by relief keepers, Joan and Charles Redhead  moved to the island and Charles took over as the Head Keeper at Race Rocks. They served more than the station during their tenure; they served muffins! Several generations of Pearson College students the world over still remember hot chocolate and muffins in their kitchen, after a cold scuba dive. Charles and Joan Redhead continued the strong interest in protecting the ecology of Race Rocks.

redkenFor a few years before retirement, they shared the island with the assistant lightkeepers Warren and Elaine Kennedy. All four keepers often turned out to greet the students as they came ashore. The keepers also often shared the island and boathouse slipway with stray elephant seals or sea lions that strayed from the large herds that hauled out on the outer rocks during the winter months.

In retirement in Vancouver and then Victoria, Charles and Joan remained in contact with the college. It was with sadness that we learned of the death of Charles in the spring of 1996. The students of the year 11 and 12 reunion have remembered Charles with a walnut tree planted in his honour on the Pearson College campus in June of 1996.

In 2012, we received he news that Joan Redhead had also passed away. Pearson College had now lost two devoted supporters.

From TheVictoria Times-Colonist,  May 11, 2012:

REDHEAD, Joan Elizabeth April 28, 1927 April 30, 2012
Joan Redhead (nee Wilson) died suddenly in Victoria on Monday, April 30, 2012. Joan was predeceased by her husband Charles; her parents, Thomas and Doris Wilson (nee Shaw) and her brothers, Derrick and Bryan. She is survived by her sons, Alec and Peter (Sheila); her beloved grandchildren, Emily and Thomas as well as her sisters, Doreen Cartwright and Mary Blades and her brother John Wilson. Joan was born and raised at Bridlington, Yorkshire where she married her childhood sweetheart, Charles, in 1947. Joan and Charles emigrated to Vancouver with their young boys in 1957, retiring to Victoria in 1994. An active volunteer, compassionate and principled, Joan was devoted to her family and to her friends. We are left with our loving memories.

Return to the List of Lightkeepers File

 

Gordon Odlum and Jean, Lightkeepers -1952 to 1961

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Gordon Odlum and his wife Jean were resident at Race Rocks from Oct 1,
1952 – July 31, 1961, So far we have very little information on them
except one special entry in a research paper : The British Columbia Nest Records Scheme Author(s): M. T. Myres, I. McT. Cowan, M. D. F. Udvardy  Source: The Condor, Vol. 59, No. 5 (Sep. – Oct.,1957), pp. 308-310 Published by: University of California Press on behalf
of the Cooper Ornithological Society Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1364966
I have quoted the part referring to Gordon below: “The purpose of the scheme is to collect information on birds’ nests that ornithologists and bird-watchers find, but which would otherwise go unrecorded or are recorded but left idle in personal field notebooks or diaries. The main items of avian biology that can be analyzed by this scheme are as follows:
1. The timing of the breeding season, the succession of clutches in species which lay more than one, and the variations in laying time from place to place and from year to year.

2. The size of the clutch and how this varies with latitude, altitude and climate.

3. The degree of success that birds have in hatching and rearing their young.

4. The essentials of habitat preference and variation in habitat throughout the range of a
species; these data are provide

In 1956, 1003 cards were returned and these covered 1606 nests or broods.
Particular mention should be made of the 120 nests of Glaucous-winged Gulls (Larus glaucescens) which Mr. Gordon C. Odlum watched on Race Rocks, off the southern
end of Vancouver Island. He was able to study them from the pre-egg stage through to hatching, and his observations are an example of the most valuable types of nest-record returns. It is seldom that sufficient nests are watched right through from the start until they either fail or their young fledge successfully .

SUMMARY A
A Cooperative scheme for the assembling of data on the breeding biology of birds was organized in British Columbia in 1955. The aims of this scheme are outlined, and it is suggested that observers over the whole Pacific coastal region might eventually cooperate in the scheme. Already 1600 cards covering 2700 nests or broods of 139 species have been collected and are available for consultation Department of Zoology, University of
British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, February 8, 1957.

From  http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=1436

Gordon Odlum grew up in Vancouver and during an outing one day he hiked to Point Atkinson Lighthouse, where Keeper Thomas Grafton kindly gave him a tour. Odlum was captivated by the life of a lighthouse keeper, and after frequent visits out to Capilano Lighthouse, he decided to become a keeper himself. After brief assignments at numerous lighthouses, Odlum was transferred to Triple Islands Lighthouse in November 1942. He seemed to made for the work, as a year later, he wrote home, “I think I can truthfully say that I haven’t felt at all lonesome, partly I guess because I’m built this way…”
He must have felt at least a bit lonesome as he decided to bake a tiny loaf of bread and send it to an attractive girl that worked at the Glass Bakery in downtown Vancouver. Not having her home address, he sent the package to the bakery and then eagerly waited a reply. A response arrived in December 1943, a true Christmas gift, and Odlum wasted no time in writing back. “It was sweet of you to remember little old shabby lightkeeping me. It seems such a long time since I had the pleasure of going into Glass Bakery and saying ‘Hello. Two whites please’ to your sunny smile. Fifteen months it has been since I have been ashore. I wonder if you might be married and have four children by now?”
A seven-month-long courtship by mail followed, and the couple married on September 20, 1944 in Vancouver. After a short honeymoon, the Odlums headed north to Triple Islands. While Gordon was gradually introduced to the remote lifestyle of a lightkeeper, eighteen-year-old Jean was plucked from Vancouver and planted on the most remote and confining station in British Columbia. Many a sailor bet the pretty, young girl wouldn’t last a year on “the Rock,” but she did, and it wasn’t until eight years later, in 1952, that the couple was transferred to a station a bit closer to humanity – Race Rocks. After nearly a decade there, Keeper Odlum lucked out and got Point Atkinson, where he was first introduced to lighthouse keeping, and stayed there from 1961-1974.

See the Lightkeepers of Race Rocks Index

Victoria Times Magazine article on Race Rocks July 15-1950

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On June 22, 2015, Ecological Reserves Board Member Jenny Feick sent this e-mail with the scanned image of a newspaper page.  Click for large version.

“I  found an old newspaper article on Race Rocks from 1950 that I was hoping to give you.  It was inside a wall in our house.  That’s how they insulated houses here in the 1950s.  When we had blown in insulation installed a few years ago, I kept a few of the old newspapers, many which dated back to the late 2nd world war years. I re-discovered it again this week while purging paper files and other items in our basement, and thought you and others in the Friends of Ecological Reserves of BC would be interested in the article.”

TC1950 Lighthouse