Looking at this 1940 photo, it’s amazing how many well-known family names there are – most of them have played a role in our history. This scene, photographed by Gibson’s Studio, was in the field behind where Sooke Elementary is today.
The teacher at right is Miss Florence Horne. She was related to the Mugford family, which had the boarding house at the corner of Church Road, where the Chevron Station is today. The school then had three classrooms, and Florence Horne, who I thought was the loveliest, kindest lady, was my teacher for grades one and two. The two men on the left were teacher trainees called “normal students.”
The boys in the back row are: Bill “Tuck” Vowles, Warren Sheilds, Joseph Planes, Archie McIntosh, Tom Laberge, Bill Hewlett, Bobby Hanson, Stanley Carlow, Louis Nelson, Norman “Dick” George and Barney Nelson.
The girls in the centre row are: Phyllis McMillan, Frida Jensen, Geraldine Conder, June Orchard, Nadine Bernard, Muriel Baker, Dorothea Carlow, Faith McMeekin, Joan Martin, Beverley Sheilds, Elida Wickheim, Viola Vowles, Laura Vowles, Jessie Carlow and Germaine Planes.
In front are Laurence Laberge, Gerald Pimlott, Norman Hansen, Gordon Duncan, Arnie Hansen holding the slate, Jimmie McIntosh, Raymond Vowles, Bill Stephenson.
Tuck and Ray Vowles of the fishing family are well known for their community service to the Lions, the museum and the salmon. The Sheilds name is also well known in our community. Arnie Hansen, who became a faller, is based at Ayre Manor nowadays, and tools around on his motorized scooter. Bill Stephenson became known as one of the longest-serving volunteer firemen in Canada; Nadine Bernard was the only daughter of longtime forester/businessman Eric Bernard; and Muriel Baker was the daughter of the Sooke River Road family for which Baker Creek is named.
Joan Martin grew up to marry our famous T’Sou-ke boat carver, Harvey George, who left us a legacy of model fish boats. Geraldine Conder joined the diplomatic service and served in Europe, and Frida Jensen spent much of her life farming in the Peace River country. Germaine Planes grew up to marry Larry Sutherland, and the two ran a thriving seafood marketing business.
On a sadder note, four of these young boys that I went through school with were among the victims of one of the worst tragedies that our community has known. Some readers may recall hearing of the high school basketball team returning from a Jordan River game, whose car went over the curved bridge at Jacob’s Creek in December 1946. These boys were Warren Sheilds, Bobby Hanson, Gordon Duncan and Gerald Pimlott.
This tragedy led to the formation of the West Coast Road Improvement Association, which eventually became the Chamber of Commerce.
Elida Peers is a historian at Sooke Region Museum
