Derby Reach - 20 February 2005

The GVRD once again asked us to join them at Derby Reach Regional Park for their annual Passport to the Past event, during Heritage Week in the Great Vancouver Regional District of British Columbia.  We had right around 500 people pass through our encampment, which was located on the same ground that the historical Royal Engineers built their first barracks.

Historically, the Columbia Detachment of the Royal Engineers arrived at Derby, in October 1858 and were received their rations from Fort Langley through HBC Fort Langley.  Also represented this day were members of the British Boundary Commission who had arrived in BC in August 1858.

The following photographs were taken by Joe Irving of Joe's Photography.  If you would like to contact him, he can be reached at joesphotography-at-shaw-dot-ca

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Alice (left) and Isabelle Eldridge (far left and left) look on as their mother, Teresa, and Sapper Jonathan H. Brown, R.E. discuss cooking techniques.
Mrs. Moody, wife of Colonel Richard Clement Moody, RE, discusses the unique characteristics of  haggis with Mary Huston
Governor James Douglas signing up yet another employee for the Hudson's Bay Company.
Mrs. Douglas (left) and Miss Susan Pemberton at the Douglas camp.
Serjeant William McColl, R.E.  A surveyor, Serjeant McColl provided the public with information about the arms of the RE -- always a crowd pleaser.
David Lyall, surgeon, Royal Navy, and John Keast Lord, Veterinarian and Naturalist -- both of the British Boundary Commission-- enjoy an afternoon repast of venison stew, haggis, and pickles.
Captain Edward Eldridge. Though not the first non-Native man to arrive on Bellingham Bay in Washington Territory, his family was the first non-Native family to settle there, wife Teresa being the first white woman, their eldest daughter, Isabelle the first white baby.