Charlotte Gorley was scanning some family photos when a couple of unfamiliar images captured her attention.
“I have found two photos of the Oyen school fire in [1918],” explained Ms. Gorley, a resident of Victoria, B.C., in an email message. “The photos show clouds of smoke billowing out and a crowd of people watching.”
– Image courtesy of the collection of Wilma Gyger (nee Gorley), daughter of Harold Gorley and Thelma Miller
On the back of one of the images, a postcard, was written: “This is a picture our school when it was in flames”, signed by “Barney, Oyen”.
Both images were from the collection of Wilma Gyger (nee Gorley), daughter of Harold Gorley and Thelma Miller, who passed away in 2017.
A genealogy researcher, Gorley wished to learn about the area, and the ‘backstory’ behind these postcards and images.
– Image courtesy of the collection of Wilma Gyger (nee Gorley), daughter of Harold Gorley and Thelma Miller
“I’m curious to know more about the fire and the community of Oyen,” she added.
Continue reading Oyen endured trial and fire during efforts to construct first school