The year 1866 was an interesting time in what is now the province of B.C. There were many political activities in the then-colony as Confederation was nearing reality in the east.
A look at some everyday things in New Westminster, as seen through the local press in July of that year, is enlightening and wonderfully illustrative of the everyday world of the Lower Mainland.
Two excellently written magazines were promoted as fine opportunities for entertainment. Clarkson and Company’s book store was offering the July issues of Godey’s and Harper’s magazines. Godey’s was described as “more than usually attractive, especially in the fashion department” while Harper’s was “a well written paper, ‘Personal recollections of the war, by a Virginian,’” plus other writings. Harper’s is still around today and there are extensive online digital archives from both publications.
For the local sports fans, there was much discussion about cricket. There were plans for games between the Victoria and New Westminster teams and, while an immediate challenge contest could not be arranged, something was being worked out for August. Other local events included games between the Town Eleven and the Civil Service Eleven, and a recent match between the Married and Single men’s teams had resulted in a “signal defeat for the Married Eleven.”
As everyone has to eat, there were many advertisements for stores and businesses providing foodstuffs of all kinds including produce, meats, fish and baked goods. Of course there were the establishments that supplied a wide assortment of provisions from around the world. Of local food and agricultural interest, there was a short promotional article for cheese from the Fraser Valley.
The farm of Reece and Company in Chilliwack in the Fraser Valley was operated by a large dairy and specialized in cheese. The article noted that “this valuable commodity is now being manufactured in excellent quality and large quantity.”
The paper expressed the hope that the farm would find a good market “in our colonial traders whose interests should lead them to patronize the home-made article.”
There was a short notation in one article of miscellaneous items that a sizable amount of alcohol products had arrived destined for Governor Seymour. This had recently arrived by the ship Mohawk from London, England, and amounted to “3 barrels, 21 cases and 13 casks.”
It would seem that Government House had some pretty major party or reception plans.
The town site of Hope upriver was promoted as a place to visit and relax. Stating that there a few places within reasonable distance with such attractions, Hope was described as being “a cool and pleasant retreat during the heat of summer, with its cool shades and clean cold streams, well stocked with the finest trout to be found in the country.”
It was very different from ours today but certainly not a bad life in the ever growing Lower Mainland of 1866.
