Along the Teslin Trail, Faith and party inspect a Klondiker’s wheelbarrow used to replace a mule. – $140
Toronto. in issue 23-2, Bob Lansdale writes an auction topic titled, “Waddington’s Marks 100th Anniversary of the Klondike”. Many of us think about the romance of the Klondike gold rush in the Yukon territory in the late 1800s.
Bob was reviewing a book by Jill Downie (Passionate Pen) and begins his article, “Waddington’s in Toronto have auctioned an extraordinary collection of photographs, correspondence and personal memorabilia on the centenary of the Klondike Gold Rush. The material was brought to light by author Jill Downie while collecting biographic details for a book on Faith Fenton, an unsung heroine of Canada’s late 19th century.
“She defied conventions and restrictions placed on her gender, to become a monumental figure in the shaping of this country. With the completion of the book, family descendants chose to disperse the collection via Waddington’s at a time that proved auspicious to the Klondike anniversary.
“The book, Passionate Pen, reveals the life struggle of Alice Freeman (1857-1936), brought up in the Ontario communities of Bowmanville and Barrie. She became an underpaid school teacher for 19 years in Toronto’s lower-class industrial area of Front and Sherbourne Sts. It was a time when women’s place was in the home; schoolteaching served as a job of convenience until marriage would hopefully replace it.
“But Alice developed a hidden persona writing a column in the 1880’s for the Barrie paper, Northern Advance, under the romantic nom-de-plume of STELLA.” …
Bob Lansdale’s article in full, plus other articles appear in the issue 23-2 pdf on the free members only DVD/thumb drive. Not a member? Then join now (see MEMBERSHIP above and at right). If you have any membership questions email our membership secretary Lilianne at member@phsc.ca.
