Old-Time Stories

About the Book

Old-Time Stories is a collection of stories by old-timers in the Powell River area. Most are based on he West coast in the Powell River area, others in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Amusing tales based in the first half of the twentieth century about characters who survived and put their stamp on Canadian History. This book contains numerous photos from private collections, published for the first time.

The lead story is about Billy-Goat Smith. Mystery surrounded Billy-Goat Smith, a hermit living on Powell Lake. Rumours swirled around this man: bank robber, arsonist, even murder! Readers are asked to solve this historical mystery! The Author explores his connection with the famous 1906 Stanford white murder in New York. Secrets are revealed about his colourful past.

The shortest, but most interesting story is that of Squirrel soup Jones who lived new the Head of Powell Lake.

Mr. Dippie, known as Dippie Dippie, lived in a tent for 40 years on a beach at Lund. He was an amazing artist who drew the tugboats and fishing boats that passed by his tent.

Stories of old-time dancing and an old-fashioned Christmas in the pulp & paper company town of Powell River: go to the Papermakers' ball on New Year's Eve and then take in a round of gold the nest morning.

Visit a "Ma & Pa" teashop at the beach before fast food restaurants arrived. Enjoy and smile at the family farm stories, one by Ruby Roscovich in Alberta in the 20s and 30s and the other by Barbara Ann Lambert in paradise Valley, Powell River, in the early 70s.

About the Author

Barbara Ann Lambert was born in Yorkshire, England at the beginning of World War II. She lived with her parents, Ernest and Margaret Rathbone, and older sister, Joyce. She attended St Oswald’s elementary School, Guisley and Otley Grammar School, Yorkshire. In 1952 the family moved to Lancaster, Lancashire where relatives, on both sides of the family, lived.

After attending Lancaster Girl' Grammar School, Barbara trained as a teacher at Wentworth Castle Training college, near Barnsley, in Yorkshire. She completed her education at Liverpool University, England, and the University of British Columbia, Canada. In 1975 Barbara received her Bachelor of Education degree in History and Special Education from UBC.

In 1966 Barbara immigrated to Canada. After accepting a teaching position in Powell River in 1968, Barbara met, and later married Stuart Lambert. They have a daughter, Ann.

In 1998 Barbara self-published her first book on local history: In Paradise: West Coast Short Stories 1890-1950.

In 2001 Stuart Lambert died at age 87 In memory of her husband, Barbara published in 2002, her third book, through Trafford Publications: Rusty Nails & Ration Books: Great Depression & WWII Memories, 1929-1945.

In 2003 Barbara left the family farm to live in quiet solitude, by the ocean, with her dog "Dakota" and two cats, "Princess" and "Queenie".

In 2005 Barbara published her first children's book through Trafford Publishing: The Mystery of Billy-Goat Smith.