Early Recollections: Nanaimo The Forties and Fifties, A Memoir

by J. Douglas Steel

Discover Nanaimo in the forties and fifties as the author reflects on the events that shaped his youth. Experience horse-drawn milk wagons, high towering schools with clapboard siding, and the hustle and bustle of Commercial Street in its heyday. For entertainment, there were shoot 'em ups, flying saucers and 3-D movies at the old Strand, crows of cheering fans at the Civic Arena, large bonfires of railway ties, circus animals walking the streets of the city, and the inspired event where some men rode donkeys just to play a little baseball at the Central Sports Grounds. There were good times, bad times, and some a little sad. The author recounts all, many laced with a generous dose of humour. Anyone interested in Nanaimo's history will find this a fascinating read.

240 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2009