Let's do a throwback and check out these Delta Archives photos, as well as a few items from the pages of the Optimist, providng a glimpse of life here in the 1940s.
An early 1940s photograph on the May Days parade working its way up Ladner Village, looking north toward The Big Store.
From the 1941 pages of the Optimist
A 1945 view of Dr. King's house on the corner of Delta Street and Westham Street, now called 48th Avenue, with the Big Store in the distance.
A photograph of the Denecroft boarding house after a fire had damaged the building August 30th 1940. The house was originally owned by the Lanning family and rented to Mr. and Mrs. Deane for use as a boarding house. The house was on Delta Street and was demolished in the 1950s to make way for retail stores including the Village Hardware Store.
A 1940 photo of Sid Mowat with a display of ducks and geese from a hunting trip. Sid also hunted in the Brunswick Point area where he kept his punt. Sid is seen here sitting with his dog Trailer in front of his home on Arthur Drive.
Boy and girl cadets drilling behind Delta Central School, later called Delta Secondary School, during World War II in the early 1940s.
Boundary Bay Airport was an important military training facility.
An ad from the 1941 pages of the Optimist
The May Day parade in 1941 heading toward Memorial Park. It’s passing the Ladner Baptist Church, now home of the Delta Optimist newspaper, on 47A Avenue. The May Queen for 1941 was Marilyn Guichon, while the retiring Queen was Edith Martinsen.
Ernie, William and Lloyd Tamboline in military uniforms in 1945. Ernie enlisted in the RCAF in 1941 and served in Canada in general duties, including working in the forestry unit. William, pictured in his WWI uniform, enlisted in the Pacific Coast Militia Rangers. Lloyd enlisted in the army in early 1945. Lloyd's recruitment was delayed until after the harvest by which time the war had ended. Albert Tamboline was not called up in order to keep him on the farm and contribute to the war effort in that way.
Another ad in the Optimist from 1942
A photograph of the high school cadets marching in the 1942 May Day parade on Delta Street. The stores on the street include Gough's Lunch, Overwaitea, Delta Beauty Salon and Ottewell Delta Pharmacy.
The B.C. Potato Growers Association annual banquet held in Ladner on January 28, 1942 at the Anglican Hall.
A 1942 ad in the Optimist
A 1945 photograph of Laure Bradshaw standing by an automobile used by Delta Taxi. She was part owner and operator of Delta Taxi from 1945 to 1947.
A group of women in 1947 who belonged to the Westham Island Sewing Circle, also known as the Westham Island Service Circle. The group was responsible for renovating the Westham Island School into a community centre after the school closed in 1945. The group was also responsible for planning the Westham Island Old Timers Banquet in the centre in 1947.
One of the many wartime ads in the Optimist in 1943
Ferguson Motors on Westham Street, now called 48th Avenue. It opened in 1947. The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce is now located on the site.
Albert Huff, A.D. Paterson and Norman McCallam, who helped rebuild and reactivate the races at Paterson Park in 1948.
A 1946 photograph of a band called the Del Vets playing at a local dance in Ladner.
Chief Wilkes James of Nanaimo, who carved the totem pole in front of municipal hall, with small scale replica of totem pole that he created. The replica pole was presented to Delta council in March 1949.
Having fun at a dance at the Ladner Community Hall in April 1946.
