Not long ago our family was notified by our long time neighbour, Richard Ladouceur, about a discovery he had made during the deconstruction of a wall in the retirement home my great grandfather Robert Lea Smith built at 2870 Shingle Spit Rd. Wedged between two framing members he found an old metal stencil that would have likely been used to label produce leaving the island for sale elsewhere. Really exciting find.
Patrick Birch
I’m Clara Peter’s grandson, Betty Smith’s great grandson and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed wading through your photo records of Hornby Island over the past few years.
Hi Patrick!
That’s an amazing find. My Dad (Richard Lea Smith) and your great grandfather built the house together. They even went to night school to learn how to construct the joists and rafters. I’ll ask him if he remembers the stencil being placed there and what it was used for.
Thanks Kathi.
TAL Smith was R Lea Smith’s father, Bettys father in law.
What a great find, would the T A L Smith pre date Lea Smith…?
That is a real find. It would be over 100 years old I would think.