gions

Columbia,

. pany,
Milling Company Limited, built a
number of grain elevators. at

In 1906

In the first instalment the writer described the opening
of the Brackman-Ker mill at Shoal Bay by Henry Brack-
man in 1878.. This week the entry of David Russell Ker
inte the business is described.

By BEA BOND

In the meantime an illustrious
resident of Victoria in the person
of. Hon. Robert Ker, for many
years auditor-genera] of British
in February of 1879
had left his home in the midst of a
blinding snowstorm to go to the
Gorge Hotel for some groceries.
Not having returned at a late

‘hour, a search was instituted but

no. trace was discovered until
daylight when his body | was

discovered in a snowdrift in a

field about half-way between his
house and hotel. “It was thought
that the unfortunate gentleman,
who had been in feeble health for
some months, was unable to
break through the snowdrift. and
that, becoming exhausted, he lay

down and perished in the snow..
At the time of his death, Mr. Ker~
-was in receipt of a pension from

“ the Dominion: Government:”’
cong fst. his. death .. his. eldest..son,.
David Russell, was about 17 and

decided. that to help. out~ his
mother’s then very meagre
widow’s pension he had better go

to work early. He decided to learn
~ the milling business and _ for

this purpose went to San Fran-

.cisco and worked for a couple of
years in flour: mills’ there. He-
‘must have had lots of ambition,

because. on his return from San

... Francisco in 1882 at the age of 20
“he joined Henry Brackman in the

“ operation. of the latter’s grist mill.
-and- grain business on Shoal
Harbour near Sidney, very. near

oa the’ spot where Resthaven now
stands: a
He bought a half-interest i in. the
: business: (then valued ‘at: $5,000):
by: paying ‘Mr: Brackman about”
: 00 cash; with: the: balance. to.
be paid from his ‘half-share. of the:

“Mr... Brackman, a

bachelor’ ‘and a.much older man’
“by about 25 years, “gave” his new
~. and young partner a free rein and |
“the business grew rapidly. Within
a very few years a retail branch
“was opened in Victoria, followed

by a cereal and grist mill near the
entrance to..Victoria -Harbour.
From this developed a-branch in
Vancouver and a cereal mill. in

New Westminster.

Great encouragement as well

as good advertising was derived
_,, from the award of a Gold Medal

for B, and'K, Rolled Oats at the
. World's Fair in Chicago in 1893,

~ followed a few years later by a.

similar highest award at the

great. Fair at St.Louis. These

o awards proved the unsurpassed
“quality for breakfast foods at that

time of the oats grown in the
Fraser. Valley and Delta, . ex-

~ dlusively used then for such 8.

and K. products. By the turn of

the century there was a cereal’

mill in. Edmonton and the: com-
then the Brackman-Ker

“pirategic spots in Alberta, mostly

~ between Edmonton and Calgary.

Brackman. died..
~ Jeaving his share of the business
his three

Mr.

to David Ker: and

eWarhan

brothers, two of whom, Arnot and
Walter, were. also. active in: the
business: Robert was with B. C.
Packers, Ltd.

About that time (1906) another
cereal mill was built and started
operations at Calgary, followed
two or three years later by the
acquisition of a flour mill at
Calgary, -situiated. .on the
property. -adjoining the
cereal mill, from English in-
terests which had started it a
year or two earlier. and. were
unsuccessful. ‘‘B.- and K."
cereals and breakfast foods, ‘‘B.
and K.”" flour became household
brands in Western Canada, as
well: as. being exported -to
Shanghai. and’ Hong Kong: “B.
and. K.”’ stock feeds served: the
farmers at the Coast, while. the
company merchandised hay ona

‘| large scale while that was’ the.

sta ple. firol:

vehicles. :

The Company’s own horses,
mostly heavy-type Percherons
and Clydesdales, themselves set
a high ‘standard for breed,
‘grooming ° and general | ex-
cellence.. In the early days. of
motor vehicies too the company
kept in the van with the newest
models for trucks, including
importations from England and
others with electric power bat-
teries. eo

At the mill site on Shoal Har-
bour there was quite a lengthy.

-wharf built: out. to deep water at

which frequently stepped C.P.N.

to discharge and oad reer at

aca Mee

an unusual event for many. years

-for_C.P:R= boats “= “and-later ‘the

.Princesses - Victoria, Charlotte,

Alice and Adelaide - to stop at the.
‘wharf there: for freight purposes. .

‘Early in. ‘the: ‘century (about.
1901) the B. and K. Company built’
‘and. operated: first. one

(the
“Forager’')and> then two- (the
‘*Grainer’™') as

New Westminster, Nanaimo‘and

‘Courtenay. Oats from the F raser.

Valley forthe Victoria mill, and
horse and cattle feeds, including

much hay, were the main freight. |
It must be remembered horses in|.

those days were the main motive

power: for vehicle . transport
before motor vehicles took their
place!

p

An item from the

part: “The firm (B.. and K.)
operates a cereal mill at Victoria,
situated at. the Outer Docks at
lidewaler, with a capacity of 500
barrels per. day of rolled. oats,
oatmeal, Graham and whole
wheat flour. split peas, and pearl
barley. In addition ‘ta large
warehouses at its different
“branches. the firm also hag grain

elevators: at both Vancouver and Hl

hasancawasamn Lis
“SOR SS-UTL A WIE ees

become a household word in the

industry, the. company typifies
very: well the rise and develop- :

: few industries have had a a greater :

‘|. ater: -€;P.R.) boats’ operating: =
_ between Victoria and Vancouver |=

| Dorothy Evans, will present its.
. Claremont’ Senior: Secondary

- 8:00 p.m. Included in this “Pops” :

“Peter and the Wolf”,
its own. steam
.[: freight. boats: between” Victoria,

« Square. dance ‘caller.

~ of: Ronnie Frey, will be guest
performers, presen ting a half-

“Times":
dated June 27th, 1917; mentions in.

collectively:

Women’ Ss

"Best Selling
Fortrel Co-O rdinates

SALE
7.99 to 1 9.99

Now wave 5.01 to 10.01 on Separates Neg, 15.00 to 30.00.

Hf colour alone was a fashion criteria these renowned
Forirel co-ordinates would still be our best eellers at
peg has pe del, Cohuus au ul ide ein pink, waiile oF intl

Short sleeve Pant tanies, veg. 10.40 Rate, each. 1.4

Pull-on pants. vest. cardigans and Aline skirte all reg
NS. bo 17,00. Bale, each, 9.4

Front vipper tuaic. Reg, 30.00. Sale, each, 19.99,

Sportewear, Floor of Fashion.
pare cpmmaiaiaasanaan sasnaasenaianeaiaatnamenana nana neneas umealanmaarmaeniainiamneneananainatiandl

‘New Westminster, with “ae
capacity of 50, 000. bushels each.

The trademark “B and K.’ -has
west, synonymous. with. purity

and quality. In its evolution from
a small grist mill toa mammoth

ment of the west; in fact, very.

SHADES OF BYGONE DAYS are evident i in the
ietterin ing ore this: oa ‘Sign’ depicting “OVET Tmgnt
rooms for rent; the sign is now destined to finda
place in the Sidney museum at the foot of Beacon
. Avenue. Mrs. Jack Bosher, President: of the

: North Saanich Historical Society displayed the

1877.

share in this development than

the “B. and. K." Company.””»
A number of years after the B.

and K. Milling Company, Limited

became a subsidiary of an.
eastern milling concern it finally —
became uneconomic to operate a_

mill in Victoria due to increasing.

freight costs to and fromthe.

mainland, so. this. plant | was

dismantled. and ceased operation

in 1928...

Concert At

annual. Spring . Concert: nat

School this, Thursday, April], at

program. are. “Orpheus in the
Underworld”, (Offenbach),
“Toccata”, (Frescobaldi), “Isle
of Capri", ““Havah: Nagiela” and
by:
Prokofieff arr. Swift) narrated
_by Doug George. a well- known

“The Skylarks", a> popular
choral: group under the direction

“musicians,

Claremont

“favourites: ‘such’ as: “‘Shenan-
_doah"’; ne
bones"” and: later: joining: the.
‘orchestra for: the: finale of Hello
Dolly”. o - :
Peninsula. ‘Concert. _Or-

* “Exodus?

The’
chestra. ‘comprised of 45 amateur
meet: weekly at
Claremont as one of the classes

sponsored by the Adult Education.

Division: of the Saanich. School
Board, Tickets may be purchased

from any of the orchestral group

or.at Claremont ‘when door. ticket

sales begin at 7:30: p.m. on April |

Ist. Further information may be

obtained atthe. School ‘Board |
Office. SON, ‘ oi .

ae

sign recently for Review photographer Dane
on the exact site ‘ofthe North Saanich
Hotel in Shoal Harbour. The hotel was formerly
the Brackman-Ker Flour mill: constructed in

“STUDIO

*~ Dane

‘ampbell, announces he will be away June, “July,
August, In his absence the studio will be in the c capable hands
of. Patrick: ‘Stephenson. For appointments 656-4 4546, Photo
F inishing : an rames aia Passports.

DANE

Jerom

THE MOST ¢

VICTORIA, B.C.

COMPLE TE RENT-ALLS

ISLAND
gi PANDORA AVENUE,
TELEPHONE

-ALLS LTD. |

> STORE ON THE

RENT

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ARS-AL2Q1 |

EASTER

NORTH ae ROD & a a

M the Range, McTavish Rd.,
Sidney.

Sundae April, 10:06
Hai vouchers and Cash,

SHOOT |

an

“BRENTWOOD -
COMMUNITY CLUB

¥ lait d oats
UP WARS i )

BINGO

fh Monday, April 5. 8:00 pom,

13 fames Shaw.
extra cards « Le

Proceeds for
Heating Fund,

From

BY CHUCK SWANNELL

The production of a play in-
volves a tremendous amount of
work backstage. which the
audience watching the ‘actors
‘strutting. and orating’ on the
Stage seldom appreciate or even
think of. But the problems: are
almost inexhaustible. and for. an
amateur group are compounded
by poverty on the one hand and
lack of time. available to par-
ticipants on the other.

Jili Swannell is responsible for
the set design. the furnishings.
andthe color. scheme «which
involves the harmonization of the
costumes with the scenery) - in
Short for the total decor. Her
concepts are quite daring and you
will find. very. effective. No
professional . theatrical . director
has devoted more thought or time
than Jill, and this with no reward
other than the appreciation of her
fellow workers and the cast of the
play.

THREE INJURED
Three people were injured
Slightly.i in a crash at. MacDonald
: Grose. Road..
Highway.

Richard Forbes- Roberts of

| Stop. sign and entered the high-
_-way striking a vehicle driven by
Peter Bingham of Ganges.
Damage totalled $800. Forbes-
Roberts was issued. a’ traffic
violation report for’ failing to
yield right of way.

awe

“Little League
Registrations ©

Little League baseball
registrations will. be “held this
Friday and Saturday, April 2 and
-3. For Sidney’and North Saanich
-areas it is at the new Scout Hail,
‘Bevan and Third St.. on Friday
: from 5 to 8. ‘p.m. and Saturday
: between 10 a.m..and dpm.

For. a Saanich. ays

CAR LEAV ES ROAD:

; An accident resulting. in $500.
damage took place on March 27
when -Paul Erickson of Mac:

Donald Park Road. Sidney drove -

; his. vehicle off ‘the road on Den-
cross: Terrace. “south of Amity:

Registrations’ are: for boys |” Sidney. R Ce M.
between the ages. of éight and. AQ:
ayears.. They. should ) be™. ac.
‘companied _ by a parent: or
: guardian, anda birth certificate
“should be’ produced, It‘is hoped
that all. parents will make. an
attempt to register: their. “boys on:
these. dates. . ;

‘SHOTS FIRED
Me -RCMP" “were © called:
Friday afternoon to investigate a
report of shots being fired across
the Patricia Bay Highway into
the. Tsehum Harbour lagoon. but.
{no individual was s apprehended.

CRYSTALLIZED REFLECTIONS — ot
Mixed media by Betty Waterton and Mary Aikman as
DEEP COVE ART GALLERY | 10796 Deep Cove Road:
_ March 28- April 12, 2-5 p. m, daily ,
ce Admission free’ ae

CHOCOLATES AND»
_ CANDIES |
2521 Beacon 656-2414

WIN A GIANT |
EASTER EGG

| Get Your Entry in

To he drawn April 10

~ FLOWERS ¥ Rom THE:

FLORIST — |

‘a

fon Faster Lithes ' Avalens. + Mydrangeuy, dui
Vor the Gurdener eas mi if

~ Shrubs - Buths » Seods «Garden Supplies, ote, ee ay
TH11 West Saanich Rd, W52-2TH |

oun rene i!
ee 7

~§.P.E.C.

- PUBLIC MEETING
APRIL 13th, 8:00 P.M.

_ Poychiotugical Elects Of

JET NOISE
Speakei: DR, FRANK SPELLACY

P MARGARET VAUGHAN-BIRCH
FOURTH STILE. SINE vo

ley etnies fiat im ae i ie " ve bs phage

-ands. -Patricia-- “Rav...

Vancouver failed to yield at the

FREE al

“FOR EASTER GIVING HY le
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BRENTWOOD ft
4 GARDEN SHOP ib

Cholee arrangements & hougue bs { s

The Prompt Corner

Actual construction of the sets
has been carried on under Frank
Spear. assisted by various. per-
sons, particularly Mary
Malenfont and. Diane . Day,
newcomers to the Peninsula
Plavers. In addition, these two
girls have as their. domain
‘props’. producing everything
fron) mortarand pestle. phials, to
tea sets. and flowers. = [n-
‘cidentally. the furniture. pic-
tures. objects of art... liquor
glasses (and liquor?) come from
the homes of the cast and back
room boys and girls, or have becn
scrounged from’ friends) whose
arms have been gently but firmly
twisted.

Background music has been
selected. and taped by Wayne
Coulson, this and sound effects
‘are carried out during the
production by Ron. Douglas.
Costumes have been produced or
selected by members of the cast.
subject to Jill's approval.

Lighting is the creation of
Peter. Swannell, who. has. ‘cer-

fects with the limited equipment
available.

But space. runs. out: © co-
ordinating the actual production -
timing. lighting, change of
scenery, curtains etc. is the stage
manager. our very popular Joe
Fenton. Jackie Price and
Margaret Dixon are in charge of
make up,. Gwen. Gregorig. of
feminine hairdos, and Jennifer
Mason is wardrobe mistress.

. Marg McAdam. prompts when
Florence -

actors falter,
Newcombe and. Vivian “Wallace
look after the front of the house,

‘and rake in; we hope, many

shekels.

Think of all these people when —
_ you see ‘Bell, Book, and Candle’

on. April 2 and 3.
(Editor's note: Mr. Swannell i is

directing the play, assisted by his

wife, Joyce).

tainly extracted the utmost ef-

FOR TASTY
BREAD
AND PASTRY

ALEXANDER .
BOAT WORKS LTD.
‘At Clark Bros. Marina

‘SPECIALIZING

IN COMPLETE REPAIRS
. AND ALTERATIONS. :

PH, 656-1541"
Ay ee ca

=

PAO. he

PAGE SEVEN |

ae “DAILY
| PHONE 656- 1012

Sidney Bakery

>

a ahi es :

Raad North Saanich

iy}
iZ}

{4}
i)
16).
Ty Any other business.
if) Adjournment,

Ate Clan

year term:

Bas HENRY | AVE. ; ae
_ sHoP AT YOUR F RIENDLY. CORNER STORE
- PRICES COMPETITIVE _

whe 7 DAYS A\WEE Ks
730 A. M. TO 10: 00. Y. M.

| “wom aay “s a ve
BATTLE OF BRITAIN

AT THE |
GEM THEATRE, SIDNEY
~ THURSDAY, APRIL. Ast, 7:85. P. M
ADMISSION - ADULTS $1.25

H ~ Leave Names At Legion Lounge 656- 2428
‘ Bob ‘Harmon 656- 1862

Deep Cove.
Waterworks District

The Eighth: Annual General Meeting of the Poop: Cove
Waterworks District will take place at 8:00 P.M. on Wed-
nesday evening, April t4th, 1971 at Holy Trinity Halt on Mills” ‘

The order of business al the noid meeting will be:

Teading of the notice of moeting.
Adoption of minutes of the lant Annual: Meeting...
On Presuntiadion ol Liye Tddneid report fer. iid.
The Trustees’ annual report. oo

_ Elottion of two trustees. : es :
Appointient af the auditor for 1971, Soc Phage de

Trusters 1 WOW. Clowes and i, WW, Drew retire by fetatlon.
ee off ere himectf for re-eleetion for

Marjorie J, Smith, Secretary

W

a farther three:

For the fluard of Trosmees

ack Young 656 a q