10 Radio Unit - Cape Scott, BC.

1944 - The Rest of the Story

Alfred Spencer was a civilian - the last remaining settler of the Cape Scott village that had folded around the turn of the century. He had a small fenced area where he kept some remaining cattle that I seem to remember as partyly wild. He also had a small barn with two horses and an ancient farm wagon.

He was an interesting, colourful character, quite outspoken and to the point, particularly when he spoke of government policies of the day. I have a clear memory of my first meeting with him. He sometimes stuttered a little if he became annoyed or excited and he said:

Wwwwhere yu from bbboy?

I said "Toronto".

Tttoronto huh (with decision).. city slicker.. ppprobably born with a silver spoon in your mouth and you ain't worth a God damn out here!

Our maintenance line shack was located close to where he lived and we formed a bond with him and we were able to assist him from time to time with his chores that required young muscles. He kept a small boat in Hansen Lagoon from which he would occasionally venture out and down the coast to a village to pick up supplies.

This photo was taken in September 1944 and he lived there until 1956. The Spencer farm and house located where Cape Scott village once existed, are shown on Mike Higgin's hand drawn sketch map of the Cape Scott area on this web site.

Danish Settlers

From 1896 to 1907 approximately one hundred Danes established a tiny business center at Fisherman Bay and farmed the meadow lands at Hansen Lagoon. Their idea to establish a self governing, culturally distinct farming and fishing community was not to be. The Provincial Government of the day, fearing a backlash for establishing a "little Denmark" withdrew their land lease and road construction promise. Faced with uncertainty and inadequate transportation to outside markets, may discouraged settlers vacated their farms to seek income in surrounding fishing and logging communities.

To promote population growth and a cultural mix, the government opened crown land previously detained from the Danes, to individual land seekers from Europe, eastern Canada and Washington State. Although this action further disbanded the Danish colony, it produced a small-scale land rush. By 1912, more than 600 people had arrived to homestead the Cape Scott area. Inevitably, the same problems experienced by the Danish settlers, again contributed to the failure of this second settlement attempt. Inadequate transportation and communication services, lack of income, adverse weather conditions and the outbreak of World War 1 in 1914 prompted many settlers to return home or seek employment in the booming resource industries. By 1917, most settlers had abandoned Cape Scott, leaving everything they could not pack on their backs.

Hansen Lagoon (Wachlalis - river on the beach in bay)

With the arrival of the second attempt of settlers, the community center shifted from Fisherman Bay near Nissen Bight to the Hansen Lagoon area. The government in response reserved a plot of 100 acres at this site for public purposes, and in 1910, a community hall with a classroom was built. During the peak population years, 25-30 students attended school here. Today only moss-covered planks remain of this structure.

On the north side of the lagoon road are the remnants of the Spencer farm. Alfred Spencer arrived at Cape Scott in 1912 with the second wave of colonists and settled into the abandoned King farm. He remained at Cape Scott until 1956, one of the very last settlers. His home stood in relatively good shape until 1969, when a thoughtless visitor burned it to the ground. The settlers built two extensive drainage ditches to recover this land from the ocean.