Exposure to Time and Fire Doesn't Dampen Generous Acts In Westholme BC

War Memorial (Source fotolia.com)

 

For 90 Years White Crosses Have Been Placed On Graves In Westholme

Each year in November white crosses appear in front of graves at All Saints' Anglican Church Cemetery in Westholme. They remain for a couple of weeks and then are removed only to reappear the next year. All Saints is a quaint cemetery established in 1887 and located where the Chemainus Road (Old Highway to Victoria) crosses the Chemainus River. Some of the grave-sites are groomed by friends and family members while others are showing signs of passing time. It is one of the few public pioneer landmarks in Westholme and it represents this community's commitment to the heritage of their place. 

All Saints' Anglican Church Westholme - Crofton  8530 Chemainus Road- click here for google map

 (Source: church photos - Cowichan Valley Museum, bridge - Ernest Artist)

The Church which served the community for 91 years no longer stands here as it was destroyed by fire (arson) in 1978. The old narrow timber bridge that lead parishioners to the church location has since been replaced in 2015 with a shiny metal sided one. A shelter was build where the church stood and is used today by solitary visitors and family get-togethers. The original pioneer neighbourhood sacrificed several family members during the two Great Wars. Their names were mounted on two bronze plaques that used to hang in All Saints' Church. After the fire several items were rescued: pews, lecterns, the plaques above and the church bell. These items were kept safely at the Joan Street Church Hall in Crofton BC. and in 2010 donated to the Westholme School Society where the plaques hang at the old school site on Mt. Sicker Road. The Westholme School is about 2.4 km (3 mi) south of the Cemetery. The original building 1911-1918 was also consumed by fire and replaced in 1923 as we see in the picture below. A non-profit society was set up in 2001 to save the building after local government promised the fire department that they could use it for "fire practice". The Municipality of North Cowichan has since designated it a Heritage Building and ensured its preservation.

(Source: top two photos - Temple Lodge #33, flat stones - Ernest Artist, School picture - Ed Devitt 1927)

Now when we fast forward to 2016 we witness a much younger generation demonstrating that same commitment to the past.

A Remembrance Day tradition that has held strong in the Cowichan Valley entered its 90th year Sunday, as volunteers including sea cadets gathered to place white crosses at the graves of veterans in Westholme. 

 (Source: CHEK News Victoria BC October 29, 2016)

“We wouldn’t have the freedoms that we have today unless they’d gone out and done what they’d done,” said Master Seaman Ava Klepsch, who joined other members of 100 (Adminal Mainguy) (my correction) Royal Canadian Sea Cadets Corp in placing 31 crosses at graves in historic All Saints Anglican Church Cemetery, where Canadian Admiral Rollo Mainguy who lent his name to the corp is buried.

Former teacher, amateur historian, and member of the Mill Bay/Malahat Historical Society had taken it upon himself to keep the tradition alive.

“The (Royal Canadian Legion) cenotaph commemorations are largely focused on those that fell overseas and buried overseas, and in our case we’re commemorating veterans that were fortunate enough to serve but came home and lived out their lives in the community … service people that came home that either suffered from gas in the First World War or injuries that affected them for the remainder of their lives.”

Thank you to all past and present from this blog author, for your dedication and steadfast efforts in Westholme, despite fire and the ravages of time.