[BCMA] Duncan 100: Stories for the Centenary

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

For Immediate Release

Duncan 100: Stories for the Centenary

Cowichan Valley Museum & Archives

July 16, 2012

 

To celebrate the City of Duncan's centenary in 2012, the Cowichan Valley Museum & Archives presents Duncan 100: Stories for the Centenary. Duncan was incorporated in 1912. That simple fact belies the efforts of the merchants and residents of "Duncan's Station", as Duncan was known at the turn of the 20th century, to secede from the Municipality of North Cowichan. Duncan had become the economic hub of the Cowichan Valley and people of the townsite believed that not enough was being done to address the issues of bad roads and poor services.

 

The incorporation came at a time when Duncan was experiencing a boom, thanks to the successful copper mining on nearby Mt. Sicker.  The townsite was established on farmland owned by William Chalmers Duncan, from whom the city gets its name. W.C. Duncan wanted to see the village called "Alderlea" (the name of his farm), but after the train tracks crossed his land in 1886 locals called it "Duncan's Crossing".  And when the first train station was built in 1887, they called the townsite "Duncan's Station", later shortening it to "Duncan's" and "Duncans".  

 

Duncan 100: Stories for the Centenary features stories from Duncan's history -both from the early days prior to incorporation in 1912 to a recent visit from The Honourable Steven L. Point, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, for the City's centennial celebration marking the official day of incorporation - March 4th. There are so many interesting stories about Duncan - a visit by Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald, in 1886, the election of "Father of Medicare" Tommy Douglas for MP for Nanaimo-Cowichan in 1969, and the "adoption" of Skeezix the pet deer by some of the merchants in 1928 after her mother was struck by a train passing through the city.  The first performance of the "Tzinquaw Indian Opera" performed in Duncan's Guide Hall in 1950, the1971 visit of England's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillips who, when evidence of the nearby Crofton pulp mill was in the air, said, "That's the smell of money!", and the efforts of master carver and Order of Canada recipient Simon Charlie to preserve the stories of his peoples' past.

 

The exhibition opens this Wednesday, July 18, at 11 a.m.  Local historian T.W. Paterson will be delivering a talk for the event, and guest of honour, and granddaughter of W. C. Duncan, Mrs. Shirley Garriock will be cutting the ribbon to officially open the exhibit.

 

The museum is also celebrating the centenary of the Duncan Train Station by offering Admission by Donation in 2012. The exibit will be on view until October 20, 2012.

 

The Cowichan Valley Museum & Archives is located in the heritage designated Duncan Train Station, 130 Canada Avenue, Duncan, BC.  For additional information, please contact curator Kathryn Gagnon at (250) 746-6612 or email cvmuseum.archives at shaw.ca.  Summer museum hours: Monday-Friday 10-4, Saturday 1-4.  Admission by Donation in 2012.

 

Douglas Family at Duncan Arch, 1953 

2005.8.3.1

 



 

Kathryn Gagnon
Curator/Manager
Cowichan Valley Museum and Archives
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