Westshore Memories - Sue Harper
@westshorememories.bsky.social
Discover the history behind Langford, Colwood, View Royal, Metchosin, & the Highlands of Vancouver Island BC Canada. There are mysteries, quirky characters, tragedies, weird events, & more.
https://westshorememories.substack.com
https://westshorememories.substack.com
A Hero Dies in Metchosin: William Dupree, 1881 - 1975 “A man, who was twice cited as a hero passed quietly away in Metchosin in 1975.” #yyj #metchosin #westshore #victoriabc #history #hero
A Hero Dies in Metchosin: William Dupree, 1975
He led a long and fascinating life
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November 13, 2025 at 3:42 PM
A Hero Dies in Metchosin: William Dupree, 1881 - 1975 “A man, who was twice cited as a hero passed quietly away in Metchosin in 1975.” #yyj #metchosin #westshore #victoriabc #history #hero
In Memory of All Who Have Served #remembrance #november11 #yyj #westshore #yyjhistory #victoria #victoriabc
In Memory of All Who Have Served
Ensuring their service and hardships they endured are not forgotten
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November 10, 2025 at 5:00 PM
In Memory of All Who Have Served #remembrance #november11 #yyj #westshore #yyjhistory #victoria #victoriabc
A Warning of Conscription - In August 1951, a growing forest fire in the Highlands District threatening homes, and onlookers hampering firefighters put the community and themselves at risk. Enjoy the latest article from Westshore Memories. #yyj #yyjhistory #westshore #victoria #fire #history
Conscription Faces Forest Fire Chasers, 1951
Highland area blaze highlighted a major issue
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November 6, 2025 at 3:37 PM
A Warning of Conscription - In August 1951, a growing forest fire in the Highlands District threatening homes, and onlookers hampering firefighters put the community and themselves at risk. Enjoy the latest article from Westshore Memories. #yyj #yyjhistory #westshore #victoria #fire #history
The E&N Ghost Train - A Tale Not for the Faint of Heart. Strange noises and lights at night. A chilling tale of the unexplained... #yyj #E&N #railway #ghosts #Halloween #victoriabc #yyjhistory #westshore #oldvictoria
The E&N Ghost Train - A Tale Not for the Faint of Heart
The train groaned to a stop. The old coach stood alongside him. The door slowly opened...
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October 30, 2025 at 11:35 PM
The E&N Ghost Train - A Tale Not for the Faint of Heart. Strange noises and lights at night. A chilling tale of the unexplained... #yyj #E&N #railway #ghosts #Halloween #victoriabc #yyjhistory #westshore #oldvictoria
GHOST WEEK and the Westshore has many! Phantom footsteps, whispers in empty hallways, ghostly figures, music playing from a non-existent gramophone…… history here is never entirely at rest. #westshore #colwood #langford #viewroyal #metchosin #highlands #hatleycastle #yyj #ghosts #victoria #BC
The Haunting of Hatley Castle
She still walks the halls....
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October 27, 2025 at 3:46 PM
GHOST WEEK and the Westshore has many! Phantom footsteps, whispers in empty hallways, ghostly figures, music playing from a non-existent gramophone…… history here is never entirely at rest. #westshore #colwood #langford #viewroyal #metchosin #highlands #hatleycastle #yyj #ghosts #victoria #BC
Captain Josiah Gosse was the last lighthouse keeper at Fisgard Lighthouse. His story is quite interesting and something I wanted to pass along to readers that support the creation of the many articles (over 275) that now reside at Westshore Memories. #yyj #victoria #victoriabc #fisgard #bchistory
Josiah & Anna Gosse
Fisgard Lighthouse Keeper (1909-28) among many other things
open.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Captain Josiah Gosse was the last lighthouse keeper at Fisgard Lighthouse. His story is quite interesting and something I wanted to pass along to readers that support the creation of the many articles (over 275) that now reside at Westshore Memories. #yyj #victoria #victoriabc #fisgard #bchistory
Following WW2 (1939-45) Civil Defense was high on everyone’s agenda. The hostile post war international atmosphere created by the Cold War and the destructive potential of the atomic bomb witnessed in Japan dramatically raised everyone’s fear levels - even in the Westshore of Vancouver Island. #yyj
Fear at Our Doorstep
The Cold War and Civil Defense Exercise 1955
open.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Following WW2 (1939-45) Civil Defense was high on everyone’s agenda. The hostile post war international atmosphere created by the Cold War and the destructive potential of the atomic bomb witnessed in Japan dramatically raised everyone’s fear levels - even in the Westshore of Vancouver Island. #yyj
"Like so many of her generation, Mrs. Battersby is still wonderfully alert and vigorous- perhaps the result of a rigorous upbringing and early hardships associated with pioneer days when children could not be coddled." #yyj #westshore #victoria #victoriabc #BChistory #metchosin
Mary Edith Dutnall (1864-1949
Metchosin Pioneer
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October 16, 2025 at 5:27 PM
"Like so many of her generation, Mrs. Battersby is still wonderfully alert and vigorous- perhaps the result of a rigorous upbringing and early hardships associated with pioneer days when children could not be coddled." #yyj #westshore #victoria #victoriabc #BChistory #metchosin
Construction of Goldstream to Mill Bay, 1908 - Work crews, using largely manual labor and rudimentary equipment, carved out the road through thick bush, over rocky outcrops, and across numerous streams…. #yyj #goldstream #millbay #victoria #oldvictoria #westshore #yyjhistory
Construction of Goldstream to Mill Bay, 1908
Road building through wild and beautiful territory
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October 13, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Construction of Goldstream to Mill Bay, 1908 - Work crews, using largely manual labor and rudimentary equipment, carved out the road through thick bush, over rocky outcrops, and across numerous streams…. #yyj #goldstream #millbay #victoria #oldvictoria #westshore #yyjhistory
FLOOD! One of the earliest and most significant flood events in Westshore history occurred in 1949. While there had been others, this one was a doozy, outweighing the ones that had come before. #westshore #flood #yyj #yyjhistory #victoriabc #oldvictoria
Flood Damage Maroons Many, 1949
The Western Communities under water.
open.substack.com
October 9, 2025 at 2:32 PM
FLOOD! One of the earliest and most significant flood events in Westshore history occurred in 1949. While there had been others, this one was a doozy, outweighing the ones that had come before. #westshore #flood #yyj #yyjhistory #victoriabc #oldvictoria
FLOOD! One of the earliest and most significant flood events in Westshore history occurred in 1949. While there had been others, this one was a doozy, outweighing the ones that had come before. #yyj #yyjhistory #westshore #flood #victoriabc #flooddamage open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
Flood Damage Maroons Many, 1949
The Western Communities under water.
open.substack.com
October 9, 2025 at 2:32 PM
FLOOD! One of the earliest and most significant flood events in Westshore history occurred in 1949. While there had been others, this one was a doozy, outweighing the ones that had come before. #yyj #yyjhistory #westshore #flood #victoriabc #flooddamage open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
The horrific death in 1955 was announced on the front page of the Victoria Daily Times. The first paragraph describing the event was equally horrendous… #yyj #yyjhistory #langford #westshore #victoria #victoriabc #BChistory open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
Gas & Smoking a Bad Combination, 1955
His body discovered lying in a field
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October 6, 2025 at 3:24 PM
The horrific death in 1955 was announced on the front page of the Victoria Daily Times. The first paragraph describing the event was equally horrendous… #yyj #yyjhistory #langford #westshore #victoria #victoriabc #BChistory open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
Goldstream Rock & Wonders, 1930 - The picture weaved about the Langford Lake Goldstream area, still a far away wilderness with massive dogwoods, Douglas fir, cedars, and among them a few rustic cabins hiding in 1930. #yyj #yyjhistory #victoria #goldstream #BC #vancouverisland #VI
Goldstream Rock & Wonders, 1930
A person might travel hundreds of miles and see nothing finer
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October 2, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Goldstream Rock & Wonders, 1930 - The picture weaved about the Langford Lake Goldstream area, still a far away wilderness with massive dogwoods, Douglas fir, cedars, and among them a few rustic cabins hiding in 1930. #yyj #yyjhistory #victoria #goldstream #BC #vancouverisland #VI
In 1923 an article was written which provides an amazing description of Leechtown and the gold diggings that were once scattered throughout the entire area.. Read the latest article at Westshore Memories #yyj #westshore #Victoria #oldvictoria #vistoriahistory #vancouverisland #BChistory
Leechtown
From 1923, an amazing description of the gold town near the Leech River
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September 29, 2025 at 4:12 PM
In 1923 an article was written which provides an amazing description of Leechtown and the gold diggings that were once scattered throughout the entire area.. Read the latest article at Westshore Memories #yyj #westshore #Victoria #oldvictoria #vistoriahistory #vancouverisland #BChistory
A large concrete ground ledger with a faded inscription on the base marks the Hopwood family grave. Beneath it lies Joseph and Margaret Hopwood whose long and varied life including the Northwest Rebellion, winds its way to Colwood. #yyj #colwood #westshore open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
Joseph Hopwood (1866-1950)
Touching the North-West Rebellion, BC Prospecting, and a Lime Kiln
open.substack.com
September 27, 2025 at 3:44 PM
A large concrete ground ledger with a faded inscription on the base marks the Hopwood family grave. Beneath it lies Joseph and Margaret Hopwood whose long and varied life including the Northwest Rebellion, winds its way to Colwood. #yyj #colwood #westshore open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
No date of birth or death, just a name. I wanted to discover as much as I could about this seemingly forgotten man buried in the Westshore - so off on a historical journey I went. Read the latest article at Westshore Memories. #yyjhistory #westshore #victoria #oldvictoria #yyjhistory #BC
A Lonely Grave
The trail of Wesley David George (1878-1940)
open.substack.com
September 22, 2025 at 5:37 PM
No date of birth or death, just a name. I wanted to discover as much as I could about this seemingly forgotten man buried in the Westshore - so off on a historical journey I went. Read the latest article at Westshore Memories. #yyjhistory #westshore #victoria #oldvictoria #yyjhistory #BC
Its been sitting on this spot, quietly watching ‘progress’ and change for 117 years. At first glance you would recognize it looks old, but beyond that there is no plaque honouring its historical significance to the Westshore and beyond. #yyj #victioria westshorememories.substack.com/p/a-forgotte...
A Forgotten Gatehouse, 1908
Behind which lay a palatial estate and a glimpse of high society
westshorememories.substack.com
September 18, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Its been sitting on this spot, quietly watching ‘progress’ and change for 117 years. At first glance you would recognize it looks old, but beyond that there is no plaque honouring its historical significance to the Westshore and beyond. #yyj #victioria westshorememories.substack.com/p/a-forgotte...
An Opportunity for Every Farmer, 1910. - All farmers should consider this not only to improve farming, but also make some additional needed money. Read the latest Westshore Memories article. #westshore #farming #victoria #yyj #history #BChistory #yyjhistory
An Excellent Opportunity for Every Farmer, 1910
Draft Horses are a farmers best friend
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September 4, 2025 at 2:33 PM
An Opportunity for Every Farmer, 1910. - All farmers should consider this not only to improve farming, but also make some additional needed money. Read the latest Westshore Memories article. #westshore #farming #victoria #yyj #history #BChistory #yyjhistory
In the spring of 1988, a mountain of tires was set alight on Millstream. Black toxic smoke bellowed into the sky as #Langford firefighters attempted to get a handle on the blaze. Subscribers can read the 265th article published at Westshore Memories. #yyj #victoria open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
Mountain of Tires Ignite, 1988
40,000 tires on Millstream catch fire!
open.substack.com
September 1, 2025 at 3:57 PM
In the spring of 1988, a mountain of tires was set alight on Millstream. Black toxic smoke bellowed into the sky as #Langford firefighters attempted to get a handle on the blaze. Subscribers can read the 265th article published at Westshore Memories. #yyj #victoria open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
Famous Actor Goes Missing, 1926. Matheson Lang - A bigger adventure than originally thought...Who is Matheson Lang you ask? Find out in the latest article from Westshore Memories! #yyj #yyjhistory #westshore #Langford #victoria #oldvictoria #BC #history open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
Famous Actor Goes Missing, 1926
Matheson Lang - A bigger adventure than originally thought...
open.substack.com
August 28, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Famous Actor Goes Missing, 1926. Matheson Lang - A bigger adventure than originally thought...Who is Matheson Lang you ask? Find out in the latest article from Westshore Memories! #yyj #yyjhistory #westshore #Langford #victoria #oldvictoria #BC #history open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
Rents Soar at Belmont Park, 1979 The state of the housing left something to be desired- "Only the ceilings of the married quarters are insulated, which means higher fuel bills."
One said she had 2 1/2 feet of water in her crawlspace! #yyj #westshore #rent #victoria open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
One said she had 2 1/2 feet of water in her crawlspace! #yyj #westshore #rent #victoria open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
Rent Hikes at Belmont Park, 1979
Bankrupting families....
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August 25, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Rents Soar at Belmont Park, 1979 The state of the housing left something to be desired- "Only the ceilings of the married quarters are insulated, which means higher fuel bills."
One said she had 2 1/2 feet of water in her crawlspace! #yyj #westshore #rent #victoria open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
One said she had 2 1/2 feet of water in her crawlspace! #yyj #westshore #rent #victoria open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
Where am I? Head over to the Facebook group and guess where the location of this piece of Westshore history is #yyj #yyjhistory #westshore #whereamI #oldvictoria #BChistory www.facebook.com/groups/langf...
August 23, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Where am I? Head over to the Facebook group and guess where the location of this piece of Westshore history is #yyj #yyjhistory #westshore #whereamI #oldvictoria #BChistory www.facebook.com/groups/langf...
What's on the Menu? 1956 - Adventures eating at the Knotty Pine in Langford. #yyj #westshore #langford #restaurant #victoriabc #bchistory open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
What's on the Menu? 1956
Adventures Eating at the Knotty Pine, Langford
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August 21, 2025 at 3:00 PM
What's on the Menu? 1956 - Adventures eating at the Knotty Pine in Langford. #yyj #westshore #langford #restaurant #victoriabc #bchistory open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
The Thetis Lake Monster, 1972. It scared and put everyone on edge. Was there a monster lurking in the depths of Thetis Lake? RCMP were called in to investigate strange happenings. #yyj #monster #yyjhistory #westshore #thetislake #victoria #victoriabc #BC #BChistory #oldvictoria
The Thetis Lake Monster, 1972
Waiting in the depths to attack the unsuspecting...
open.substack.com
August 18, 2025 at 3:41 PM
The Thetis Lake Monster, 1972. It scared and put everyone on edge. Was there a monster lurking in the depths of Thetis Lake? RCMP were called in to investigate strange happenings. #yyj #monster #yyjhistory #westshore #thetislake #victoria #victoriabc #BC #BChistory #oldvictoria
Tragedy Beneath the Surface, 1983 - It was just a routine training dive that went terribly wrong on Thursday February 10, 1983. #yyj #yyjhistory #colwood #westshore #bchistory #victoria #victoriabc #BC open.substack.com/pub/westshor...
Tragedy Beneath the Surface, 1983
On a routine training dive, disaster would strike
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August 14, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Tragedy Beneath the Surface, 1983 - It was just a routine training dive that went terribly wrong on Thursday February 10, 1983. #yyj #yyjhistory #colwood #westshore #bchistory #victoria #victoriabc #BC open.substack.com/pub/westshor...