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New year's festivities a big part of city past

Another year is nearly past, with a new one lurking just around the corner. The period of time around the turn of the new year is always a time to look back as well as to think about the year to come.

Another year is nearly past, with a new one lurking just around the corner. The period of time around the turn of the new year is always a time to look back as well as to think about the year to come.

The year 2012 will be a year filled with interesting anniversaries and we are looking forward to our participation in many of these.

In the past, the ending of one year and beginning of the next in this city was frequently the cause for parties, balls, performances and other community events.

An excellent example of this occurred with the turning of 1867 to 1868. Government House, home to Governor and Mrs. Seymour, was the scene of a social function that drew the town's full attention.

A newspaper comment on the event noted that an evening party had been held at the official residence of the governor and that things had gone well: "The invitations were, we understand, very general, and the attendance was large." For those wondering where Government House was situated, a brief explanation is in order. In 2011 terms, it will suffice to say that this building stood near the corner of East Columbia Street at Richmond Street in the general location of Royal City Manor.

In this same time frame of early 1868, a "grand musical entertainment" was also held at Government House in aid of the Royal Columbian Hospital.

The event was a great success and lasted, if we are to believe the account, very late into the evening in our little town.

"Owing to the extreme coldness of the night, the attendance was somewhat thinner than it would doubtless have been under more favourable conditions. The party was, however, a very pleasant and successful one, and dancing was kept up with great spirit 'til 3 o'clock. Much praise is due to the committee of management for the really tasteful decorations and excellent arrangements."

Perhaps the dancing with "great spirit" was kept up in order to keep warm.

That New Year's editorial had a very heavy tone with the words: "Old eighteen hundred and sixtyseven, with hoary head and palsied limb, has just disappeared in the illimitable gulf of the eternal past, and winter once more encloses the dead summer in its mantle of snow, as in a shroud."

It then followed this with a less than enthusiastic approach to the new year: "subject to unforeseen agencies and influences, everything discernible within the compass of 1868 wears in British Columbia a hue of promise, and, with less faltering of tone than usual, we may bid one another A Happy New Year!"

To the readers of Our Past and to those who enjoy the presentations of A Sense of History, we extend best wishes for the New Year and our thanks for another year of appreciation of our history and heritage.