Item T1089:0001 - 0003 - Myra DeBeck and Ellen Sovereign interview

CALL NUMBER: T1089:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-11-11 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Myra DeBeck and Mrs. Ellen Sovereign are the daughters of Price Ellison (1853-1932). Mrs. DeBeck begins the interview by discussing her father's background; how he came to the Okanagan; the story of her mother's wedding ring; how her mother, Sophie Johnson, came to the Okanagan and married Ellison; Ellison's youth in England; his apprenticeship as a Whitesmith; neighbours in Vernon; the Ellison Ranch; a description of the house; her mother's involvement in the women's council; Lord and Lady Aberdeen. TRACK 2: Mrs. Ellen Sovereign discusses her father as an Okanagan pioneer and as a politician with great vision for the valley. She describes social life in Vernon; various visits to Victoria around 1900; impressions of Victoria; Premier Richard McBride; the Aberdeens; the Barnards of BX Ranch; a trip to Simpson Ranch.

CALL NUMBER: T1089:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-11-11 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Myra DeBeck recalls life in Vernon and the area from 1890 to 1910. She describes Vernon as it was around 1900; the strawberry festival and social events; the story of how her mother came to; the valley; a trip to the World's Fair in 1893; Okanagan Mission; a visit to the Simpson Ranch; roads in the Valley; Coldstream Ranch; W.C. Ricardo; Lady Aberdeen and the Womens' Council, and the Cottage Hospital. TRACK 2: Mrs. DeBeck continues describing Lady Aberdeen's visit; the visit of Earl and Lady Grey; the Aberdeen family and their children; Lady Aberdeen's Irish village at the Chicago ;World's Fair; Coldstream; hop growing and Indian pickers; other ranchers and ranches in the area; the O'Keefe family; the Greenhows; BX Ranch; the Barnard family; the MacDonald family; young Englishmen; the Womens' Institute; Penticton; the Ellis family.

CALL NUMBER: T1089:0003 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-11-11 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Myra DeBeck recalls a 1910 trip with her father, Provincial cabinet minister Price Ellison, into what became Strathcona Provincial Park on Vancouver Island. She also describes the creation of Ellison Park on Okanagan Lake; Premier Richard McBride; electioneering with her father; and stories about an old hand on Ellison Ranch. [TRACK 2: blank.]