Trip Report: The Greeks of Deas Island – September 26, 2013

Inverholme School House at Deas Island Park

The Delta History Hunters had a wonderful outing Sept. 26 at Deas Island Park. About two dozen people enjoyed the video presentation about the “Greeks of Deas Island” from Peter Capadouca, whose family lived on Deas Island. The participants held a lively discussion later, and we all took a short walk in the autumn sunshine to view some of the historic sites.

Written by: John Stevens, Board Member of the Delta Museum and Archives Society

Trip Report: Watershed Park – August 22, 2013

After the tour, some of us enjoyed tea and scones at Applewood Tearoom

Lorna drinks from Watershed Park Drinking Station

Our tour guide, Hugh Fraser, Deputy Director of Engineering

In the late 1800s, Delta homes had no running water. For washing, drinking and cooking, rain water was collected in barrels. When the rain supply was low or the pipes froze, water had to be hauled from the river. Life on the delta improved immensely in 1909, when the municipality developed the first waterworks system, using spring water from the hills of North Delta. 104 years later only relicts of these early waterworks remain in Watershed Park, while underground a whole new system continues to supply a small percentage of Delta’s water.

Trip Report: Boundary Bay Cemetery – July 25, 2013

A cemetery might seem a strange place to choose for a summer morning walk, yet the Delta History Hunters clearly thought otherwise. A lively group of 25 people gathered for our July 25 outing at the Boundary Bay Cemetery, on the east side of 56 Street, Tsawwassen. Vern Munroe, the Cemetarian, arrived to greet us and tell us about South Delta’s 4.5 acre cemetery.

Trip Report: Tecarte Farms – June 27, 2013

The hay wain at Tecarte Farms, June 27, 2013

Despite drizzling rain, 21 intrepid History Hunters gathered at 9.30 am outside Tecarte Farms on Kettles Road, Delta. Owners, Jack and Ken Bates, were there to greet us. As Jack explained, they have owned and farmed about 200 acres in this part of Delta for the last forty years, and prior to that, the family farmed another area of land that was expropriated for the rail and highway. In addition, the Bates also rent additional land elsewhere in Delta and their two other brothers farm land nearby.

Trip Report: Ladner’s Fishing Fleet – May 23, 2013

On a sunny May 23, a keen group of eleven Delta History Hunters gathered outside the red harbour master’s house in Ladner Harbour. Our leader for the tour of the fishing harbour was John Stevens, a fourth generation Delta fisherman. He is the son of Homer Stevens who was a leader of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers’ Union. Joan Bennett and Angela Husvik, DMAS board members, who also have deep roots in the fishing industry, were among the participants on the tour.