Holberg, BC

1984 – The End of an Era - Assorted Sources


[Map of Holberg Area]

Map of the Holberg Area


Jim Cordy - One day while I was still living in Holberg, my friends and I saw a small boat coming up the Holberg Inlet. When it tied up to the dock we saw six men in the boat. By their clothes we knew they weren't settlers in the area. These strangers got out of the boat and without a word to anyone as to their destination, they went up the trail from Holberg, then suddenly veered off into the bush, where there wasn't even a trail. They just disappeared. I think they must have had a compass. After some time lapsed, the purpose of their visit was that there were signs of work being done in the high mountains - overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Then domes were seen on the mountains. The settlers here weren't in contact with news of the area, so we just kept wondering what was happening, but we soon found out. Men were clearing the forest where the Station is today. We were told that if we went to Vancouver or some other place, we were to avoid any talk of the happenings in the area. Time went on and the Station was built. After the land was cleared, the PMQ's and a few other buildings were built.

This is an excerpt from an account given by Mr. Jim Cordy, a resident of the Holberg area since 1927. Mr. Cordy was 95 years of age when he related his observations on the establishment and early days of the Station - in 1984. Regretably, Mr. Cordy died in 1984.


Earle Lincoln - Earle Lincoln had a cabin on the old San Josef trail. Lincoln worked at RCAF Station Holberg, became a recluse, was committed to a home in Port Hardy, and died soon after.


Bernt Ronning - Bernt Ronning bought 5 acres of land (see the map above) in 1910 and over the next 50 years, he planted seeds and cuttings of plants from all over the world. Ronning lived nine miles up island from Holberg and he filled acres of his clearing woth flowers, shrubs and trees from around the world. Twin monkey-puzzles guarded his gate. Babmoos, rhododendrons, azalias, flowerings peaches and oriental maples made themselves as much at home in the garden of this young immigrant from Norway as did chrysanthemums, pansies, delphiniums, asters, phlox, roses and a host of other more common species of the plant world. Following major surgery, Bernt Ronning spent his last days in Vancouver. Ronning died in 1963 and the rapidly growing rain forest took over. Ron and Julia Moe eventually purchased the property and have worked towards restoring this heritage site.


A few of the early settlers such as Ronning, Cordy and Lincoln found some productive work at RCAF Station Holberg after many lean years of prospecting, trapping or bush work. Although they moved into the station and enjoyed the comforts of warm barracks and regular meals, they still maintained their tidy homesteads carved out of the surrounding bush.



Click on the description text to view the photograph.

  1. This boardwalk from the Wagon Road to Cordy's house was very shakey and unsafe - September 1990.
    Courtesy Curt Usherwood.

  2. The front of Jim Cordy's house. A heavy snowfall would probably bring it down - September 1990.
    The entire property was overgrown, windows were out and the floor was buckled.
    Courtesy Curt Usherwood.

  3. The porch area was pulled away from the house - September 1990.
    Courtesy Curt Usherwood.

  4. A view of the back of the house - September 1990.
    Courtesy Curt Usherwood.

  5. Interior remains of the house - September 1990.
    The military had built Jim Cordy a house near the gate and he had moved from his original home to be closer to the station.
    Courtesy Curt Usherwood.

  6. Another view of the inside of the original house - September 1990.
    Courtesy Curt Usherwood.

  7. This grave yard is located about half way from Cordy's house on Sharps Creek to Ronnings cabin - September 1990.
    The grave yard was kept brushed out by Ron & Julie Moe who used to live on Fisherman's River. See the location on the Holberg map in this section. The Moes owned Ronnings cabin in 1990 and made it into a tree and plant garden. Julie was the Postmaster at the Holberg Logging townsite.
    Courtesy Curt Usherwood.

  8. The sign pretty well says it all - September 1990.
    Courtesy Curt Usherwood.

  9. There are two other visible graves in the graveyard. One says MP Anderson, and this one is unreadable - September 1990.
    Courtesy Curt Usherwood.

  10. Bernt Ronning Garden - September 1988.
    Courtesy Ren L'Ecuyer.

  11. Distant view of Ronning cabin - September 1988.
    Courtesy Ren L'Ecuyer.

  12. Close up view of Ronning cabin - September 1988.
    Courtesy Ren L'Ecuyer.

  13. Graveyard in local bush area - September 1988.
    Courtesy Ren L'Ecuyer.

  14. Ren L'Ecuyer taking photo in graveyard - September 1988.
    Courtesy Ren L'Ecuyer.

  15. Jim Cordy grave marker (1888-1984) - September 1988.
    Courtesy Ren L'Ecuyer.

  16. Automobile junk yard in local bush area - September 1988.
    Courtesy Ren L'Ecuyer.

  17. Local area residents - 1984.
    Courtesy 30th Anniversary Booklet.

  18. Mr. Jim Cordy - 1984.
    Courtesy 30th Anniversary Booklet.

  19. The Ronning homstead. Two giant Monkey Puzzle trees and many exoctic plants surrounded the home and told of the green thumb of this settler - June 1982.
    Courtesy Mike Broxham.

  20. The remains of the Earl Lincoln cabin - June 1981.
    Courtesy Mike Broxham.

  21. Jim Cordy's home on San Josef Bay trail. His age was approximately 92 and he had a radio phone and used it to contact the base every day or we would send someone to check on him. CE and volunteers built a home in Elephant Crossing for Mr. Cordy in 1980 - June 1980.
    Courtesy Mike Broxham.

  22. Jim Cordy's neat homestead, formerly the home of Knute Hansen - 1973.
    Courtesy Curt Usherwood.

  23. Jim Cordy was a real gentleman - 1972.
    There were rumours to the effect that he had deserted from the Royal Navy and that he had served with the REng in Palestine during World War I.
    Courtesy Curt Usherwood.

  24. (L-R) Lester Peterson and Curt Usherwood at Jim Cordy's house - 1972.
    Courtesy Curt Usherwood.

  25. (L-R) Curt Usherwood, Jim Smith, Jim Cordy and Earl Lincoln at the San Josef boat launch - 1972.
    Earl Lincoln was a funny little gnome of a man. A copy of a "scribbler" (his diary) is in the Port Hardy Museum and is worth a read. He was a graduate of MIT and many wondered why he was living like a hermit at San Josef
    Courtesy Curt Usherwood.

  26. (L-R) Les Peterson, Jim Smith, Curt Usherwood and Jim Cordy - 1972.
    Courtesy Curt Usherwood.

  27. Hike to San Josef Bay led by Mr. Ronning - June 1954.
    Courtesy Terry Pineau.

  28. Hike to San Josef Bay led by Mr. Ronning - June 1954.
    Courtesy Terry Pineau.

  29. Hike to San Josef Bay led by Mr. Ronning - June 1954.
    Courtesy Terry Pineau.



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Updated: March 5, 2002