22 — Sunday, March 31, 1991 - North Shore News

Ferries part of expanding fortunes

The following is taken from the book “Reflections: 100 Years’ a retrospective look at North Vancouver District's first 100 vears thar was recentiv: released ine commeniworation of ihe District's: Centennial -— written by Chuck Davis, itis available in local bookstores,

BECAUSE THEY were essential to the development of the entire North Shore, the ferries deserve special mention. The changing ownership of the ferry system, its difficulties with the changing fortunes of the North Shore, and the colorful characters associated with the service make far toc long and detailed a story to fuliy present here. Like the proud littl boats themselves, we'll skim along the surface and give a general idea of the 90 years they served.

The 1866 rowboat service of Navy Jack was obviously not go- ing to suffice for long, and by 1868, there was a tiny boat, the Sea Foam, in operation back and forth between the two shores. In those early days, when vessels were in’ short supply, some of these carly ‘‘ferrics’’ were used for their original purpose: as tugboats. Not being built to serve as passenger vessels, they couldn't be described as comfortable, but the voyages were happily brief!

{In 1873, Captain James van Bramer, who ran the Sea Foam, added the Chinaman, a steam launch, to his service. The Lily arrived from Victoria in 1874. Then van Bramer replaced the Sea Foam with a new ferry- tugboat called the Senator, a 28- ton vessel that would stop occa- sionally in North Vancouver en route to Moodyville. The 10-cent fare got you a ride in a boat that made some slight concession to the traveller: there was even a separate compartment for the ladies.

The two books on the ferry ser- vice (Echoes of the Ferries, by J. Rodger Burnes, and Ferry Across the Inlet, by Captain James Barr) occasionally differ in their chronologies, Barr served as master in the ferry service for many years, so perhaps he is the more reliable source. But Burnes had been travelling on the ferries since around the turn of the cen- tury and had a deep affection for them, so attention must be paid to his record, as well.

Both writers agree that 1900 saw the building of the North Vancouver, which became the first ferry to op2rate regular service be- tween North Vancouver and the south shore. Burnes recalls going to school in Vancouver with other North Shore students aboard this vessel, built by Wallace Shipyards in its False Creek location.

One indication of the expanding fortunes of the North Shore is that, in 1911, when Wallace Ship-

WV Foundation names chairman

The West Vancouver James Foundation recently announced the appointment of James S. Cameron as chairman.

Cameron is a former director of the Vancouver Foundation. He succeeds Keith Duncan who will temain as a director.

The following directors were also confirmed: Mark Sager; Robert C. Bentall; Helen A. Boultbee; Richard Baker; Keith Duncan; Moh Faris; Margaret Forsyth; James H. Green; J. Russell Kinninmont; Kay Meck: Frank A. Robertson; Garth Rowsome.

The West Vancouver Founda- tion is a non-political, non- ideological independent charitable organization. I employs the in- come from capital of all amounts received from individuals, fami- lies, businesses and private foun- dations for the benefit of the West Vancouver area.

The mission of the foundation is to enhance the quality of fife in West Vancouver and to foster a sense of comnuunity in all citizens.

The Foundation’s mandate in- cludes: priority community needs in environment, health, education, culture and social welfare.

OUR HERITAGE

yards built the North Vancouver Ferry No.3 as an addition to the cross-Inlet service, it did so in its new North Shore yard. (Wallace opened its North Shore branch in the District in 1906, keeping its False Creek yard as a repair facili- ty. When the city of North Van- couver was incorporated, Wallace Shipyards was within the city’s boundary, and eventually con- solidated iis operations there in 1913.)

The No.3, incidentally, is in prominent view to this day, as the Seven Seas Restaurant at the foot of Lonsdale Avenue.

The No.3 joined the North Vancouver and the St. George,

which had been prosaically renamed othe North Vancouver Now and No.2. Thes provided a valuable and essential service, and so, When the private company running them developed financial and scheduling problems, a change was inevituble. North Vancouver City took over the operation of the service.

For JO more vears, the ferries continued to cross the Inlet, their prosperity. waxing and waning with the availability of alternative transportation routes. By August 30, 1988 — the day of the last run — the service had carried more than 1f2 million passengers, a splendid achievement. I: had been a crucial element in the growth of the entire North Shore — and. for many residents, a much-loved one, as well.

Ever after the city was incor- porated, the District was still big — it surrounded the new city like a giant, upturned bowl — but much of it was still undeveloped, and the entire region west of the Capilano River lacked a direct connection to the prosperity of the City. Keith Road had originally extended from Deep Cove to Eagle Harbour, but it was little used and had become overgrown. The bridges to Eagle Harbour had been washed out by floods and there was no money te rebuild . 7 them. Francis Caufeild had settled b Soh or

c feild i” Cove i West Vanceoery” hi "909 FORMER CENTRAL Red Army goalie Viadislav Tretiak made an

and built a wharf there which | appearance at D.H. Usher Co. to sign limited edition collector allowed for east-west travel. plates.

NEWS photo Mike Wakefleld

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