October 29 and the Earthquake Connection? In 1727 on October 29th, there was apparently a severe earthquake in New England. Over two hundred and fifty years later on the same date in 1990, thirty people died in a magnitude 5.7 earthquake in Algeria. I also found reference to an earthquake right here in Victoria around
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Some Political Trivia at Election Time While we are in the middle of election fever in British Columbia, Canada, this month, it seemed like a good time to research some Provincial politics from the past. Here is what I found. Did you know for instance that during the 1870s and 1880s, schoolteachers were prohibited from
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The English Language! A Conundrum. SCHOOL IS BACK! And that means students of all ages around the world are now in study mode. But here is my vent for the day. I’m very glad that English was my first language and I pity those who must learn or teach English. If you teach English, for
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Never a Dull August While forest fires rage in Canada and around the world, and the horror of war seems never-ending, let’s for a moment compare these horrific events with similar events in history. In the past, such events were of course more localized simply because people were not subjected to instant news through the
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From Bastard Son to King of England William the Conqueror When I was in France a few years ago, I visited Falaise and found the birthplace of the man who changed the history of England, always later referred to as William the Conqueror. The story of William’s birth goes this way. His father, Robert, Duke
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On This Day – June 2 Seventy-three years ago today, a young Princess was crowned Queen in London, England. In London, people filled the streets. Celebrations took place everywhere. Flags were hung; street parties were held. The war was far in the distant past and the second Golden Elizabethan Age was ahead. In the month
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Mothers Through History The word “mother” is used in many contexts today from nursery rhymes about “Mother Goose” or “Old Mother Hubbard” to the country of our birth known as our “motherland” or a rich vein in mining being the “mother lode.” And, of course, we all know “you can’t fool Mother Nature!” As we
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Who Was Catherine Hogarth? During her life, Catherine Hogarth was known by three names, but I doubt you would know two of them. She was born in 1815 in Scotland to Georgina and George Hogarth, but the family moved to London so her father could accept a new editing position with a magazine. Catherine had
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Black History Month February is Black History month when numerous events are held across Canada to honour and celebrate the contributions made by black people to this country. This year the theme is “Thirty Years of Black History: Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations – From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries.” In 1926, historian Carter G.
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The Charismatic Hannah Maynard One of the most fascinating women in the history of British Columbia’s capital city was the matriarch of the Maynard family, Hannah Maynard. The Maynard family purchased a Cadboro Bay beach cabin from the Todd family in the 1880’s, where they were well known. Hannah, the matriarch of the family, an
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