Revy celebrates history — Friday

By David F. Rooney

The BC Historical Federation Conference had a full day of activities for delegates and other participants, including a noteworthy presentation entitled The Romance of the Big Bend by Revelstoke Museum Curator Cathy English.

The presentation was vintage Cathy: detailed, colourful anecdotes about the truly marvelous characters who peppered our community’s past, all salted with great examples of her trademark dry wit. If you missed the talk you should kick yourself… Fortunately, though, I recorded it and you can watch it on your home computer or tablet. Just activate the YouTube player below and settle down for 53:37 of this fascinating take on local history.

Revelstoke Museum & Archives Curator Cathy English is very well known for her detailed knowledge of local people and events. She regularly hosts a Brown Bag lunch-hour talks that regularly attract fair-sized crowds to the museum. On May 27, 2016, Cathy gave a Brown Bag-style talk about the Romance of the Big Bend to participants in the BC Historical Federation Conference held in Revelstoke May 26-28, 2016. This is vintage Cathy: wonderful detail about the characters and stories from the Big Bend region north of Revelstoke, all presented with her trademark dry wit. A fabulous talk about our local history! David F. Rooney photo
Revelstoke Museum & Archives Curator Cathy English is very well known for her detailed knowledge of local people and events. She regularly hosts a Brown Bag lunch-hour talks that regularly attract fair-sized crowds to the museum. On May 27, 2016, Cathy gave a Brown Bag-style talk about the Romance of the Big Bend to participants in the BC Historical Federation Conference held in Revelstoke May 26-28, 2016. This is vintage Cathy: wonderful detail about the characters and stories from the Big Bend region north of Revelstoke, all presented with her trademark dry wit. A fabulous talk about our local history! David F. Rooney photo

After an afternoon visiting notable places in and around Revelstoke, conference delegates were invited to the Railway Museum to view the official unveiling of the Walter Moberly memorial sculpture the federation had sponsored. They were also treated to a wine and cheese party and a rare performance of Toni Johnston’s iconic play about Revelstoke, Red Lights and Dynamite.

Moberly was born n England and trained as a civil engineer. He worked on early railways in Ontario before coming west in 1858 to join the Cariboo Gold Rush. He didn’t strike it rich but he did survey in the Cariboo and then worked on civil engineering projects in the Lower Mainland and elsewhere in the Interior. In 1865, Moberly surveyed Eagle Pass and identified it as the best way through the mountains between Salmon Arm and the place that would eventually be named Revelstoke.

Here are a few photos from the Railway Museum event, followed by the video of Cathy English’s Romance of the Big Bend, and the schedule for Saturday, May 28:

Jennfer Dunkerson, executive director of the Railway Museum, addresses the throng of locals and visitors who turned out for the dedication of the new memorial to Walter Moberly on a brisk early evening on Friday, May 27. The out-of-towners comprised most of the crowd of 63 people here for the BC Historical Federation Conference running from May 26 until May 28. David F. Rooney photo
Jennfer Dunkerson, executive director of the Railway Museum, addresses the throng of locals and visitors who turned out for the dedication of the new memorial to Walter Moberly on a brisk early evening on Friday, May 27. The out-of-towners comprised most of the crowd of 63 people here for the BC Historical Federation Conference running from May 26 until May 28. David F. Rooney photo
This stainless-steel sculpture commemorates Walter Moberly, the English-born surveyor who surveyed must of the BC Interior, including Eagle Pass in the mid-19th century. The work of art replaces a plaque dedicated to Moberly that has affixed to a stone cairn at Moberky Manor on Second Street. David F. Rooney photo
This stainless-steel sculpture commemorates Walter Moberly, the English-born surveyor who surveyed must of the BC Interior, including Eagle Pass in the mid-19th century. The work of art replaces a plaque dedicated to Moberly that had been affixed to a stone cairn at Moberky Manor on Second Street. David F. Rooney photo
After the the memorial was unveiled everyone retired to the Railway Museum for a wine-and-cheese party culminating in a rare presentation of Red Lights and Dynamite, a play written by Toni Johnston (center in the dark magenta dress). This play was amazingly appropriate because is entirely about Revelstoke. Please click on the image to see a larger version. David F. Rooney photo
After the the memorial was unveiled everyone retired to the Railway Museum for a wine-and-cheese party culminating in a rare presentation of Red Lights and Dynamite, a play written by Toni Johnston (center in the dark magenta dress). This play was amazingly appropriate because it is entirely about Revelstoke. Please click on the image to see a larger version. David F. Rooney photo

Saturday: May 28
Morning Events – Regent Hotel

Saturday: May 28th

Morning Events – Regent Hotel

8:00 am – 1:30 pmBook Fair
8:00 am – 9:00 amContinental Breakfast
9:00 am – 11:00 amAnnual General Meeting
11:00 am – 11:15Coffee Break
11:15 am – 12:30 pmRevelstoke’s Ski History
12:30 pm – 1:30 pmSoup & Sandwich Lunch
1:30 pmBuses leave for Mount Revelstoke National Park
2:00 pm – 4:00 pmTour of Nels Nelsen Historic Ski Area and “Nels Knickers” exhibit on Mount Revelstoke National Park

Banquet & BC Book Awards Presentation
Location: Revelation Lodge, Revelstoke Mountain Resort

Bus leaves Regent Hotel to RMR5:15 – 5:30 pm
Cocktail Hour6 – 7 pm
Dinner7 pm
Awards Ceremony8 pm
EntertainmentBob Rogers

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