The columns are a gift to those interested in doing further research or just interested in the unique characters who helped to make the North Island what it is today.
The columns are available through the Google News newspaper search function. Dates of the columns and links are provided below.
I have not been able to contact Ms. MacCallum myself, but I would love to be able to thank her for this wonderful collection.
Adventures in Memory through the old North Island
Chapter 1: December 12, 1979
"The day the cougar chased the dog through the house"
Chris Sondrup's memories of life at Cape Scott.
Chapter 2: January 16, 1980
"How one founding family spent the early days here"
The history of the Hole family from Coal Harbour. as told by Ken Hole. In 1912 Albert Hole took up a homestead at Nahwitti, and the family later moved to Coal Harbour. Part I.
Chapter 3: January 30, 1980
"There were always people you could go to for help"
The history of the Hole family - Part II.
"$5,000 in silver stuffed behind a chair and forgotten"
Tex Lyon's reminisces, part I.
Chapter 5: February 20, 1980
"I don't want to get that civilized: it's still possible to live off of the land"
Tex Lyon's reminisces, part II.
Chapter 6: April 2, 1980
"Setting up housekeeping in a tent in the days before company houses"
Stories of early settlers to Port Alice.
Chapter 7: April 16, 1980
"A mere 68 years later the great Hardy Bay land fraud becomes a con come true"
An overview of the Hardy Bay Land Co. and the land sales fraud which lured many unsuspecting families to the North Island.
Chapter 8: April 30, 1980
"Mother-in-law float house: when we moved we just towed her along"
The storey of the Halliday family.
Chapter 9: May 14, 1980
"You went to meet every boat - it didn't matter if it was 2 o'clock in the morning"
Memories from Jessie Roland, daughter of pioneer Nils Gunderson.
Chapter 10: May 28, 1980
"The pilot was digging clams, but the tide came in and the plane floated down the inlet"
Stories from Don Thompson, president and co-founder of Alert Bay air services.
Chapter 11: June 11, 1980
"There's many a wonderful thing we haven't found yet"
The story of pioneer Jim Cordy, one of the last residents who homesteaded along the Holberg - Cape Scott trail.
Chapter 12:June 25, 1980
"When dad ran out he rowed to Port Hardy for more tobacco"
Stories about the founding of Fort Rupert and recollections of Vivian Hunt.
Chapter 13: July 16, 1980
"Nearly 70 years ago Claus Botel fled German inflation"
The story of Claus and Martha Botel as told by their daughter Anna Botel Hole. The Botels first homesteaded on the West Coast at Topknot Point, and later moved to Quatsino Sound.
Chapter 14: August 13, 1980
"He would have turned right around and gone back"
Carl Johnson talks about his memories of growing up in San Josef and Quatsino.
Chapter 15: August 27, 1980
"Sitting Bull's bullet ridden cabin led Chris Nordstrom to Chicago and then Quatsino"
The story of how a group of Danish settlers founded the utopian colony of Quatsino.
Chapter 16: September 10, 1980
"It was mostly the men who liked living here then"
Ida Pugh talks about the early pioneer days in Port Hardy.
Chapter 17: September 24, 1980
"The house sank when the winds broke up the float"
Pioneer Timber and the early history of Port McNeill.
Chapter 18: October 16, 1980
"Dreams of a socialist utopia on a rainforest island"
The history of Sointula.
Chapter 19: October 29, 1980
"Wire was strung on trees right to Telegraph Cove"
Fred Wastell talks about his memories in the early days of Alert Bay and Telegraph Cove.
Chapter 20: November 30, 1980
"Dong Chong delivered groceries by wheelbarrow"
The story of pioneer grocer in Alert Bay.
Chapter 21:December 10, 1980
"English funnies and shuffleboard when Norah arrived"
Phil Watson talks about life in early Port Alice.
Chapter 22: January 7, 1981
"There used to be 10,000 salmon a day from the Keogh"
The story of the Anderson family of Sointula.
