In 1900, William Menzies purchased Sheridan Hill in Pitt Meadows – later to be referred to as “Menzies Mountain” – as a homestead for his family.
William and his wife Mary called it “Boulder Eden,” and while their six children were in school, they also maintained a house in Port Haney, as access to “Boulder Eden” was difficult and there were no schools nearby.
The family’s enthusiasm for community service began with this couple whose spirit of generosity led them to share their home with underprivileged children, who would live with them for a time of good food and rest to restore their health.
Best known locally was their second child, son Halbert Menzies. Smart and entrepreneurial, he started a real estate business in Port Haney that was soon thriving. He married a local girl – Ethel Best – and they had five children.
Hal and Ethel were stalwart supporters of St. Andrew’s United Church, when it was located in the 1888 brick-faced building, still standing east of the Haney Bypass.
Hal was the Sunday School director, and Ethel has had a new women’s group named in her honour.
Hal was also a “keeper” – a person who didn’t throw documents away just because they were out-dated. From him the community archives has fire insurance plans for Port Haney and Port Hammond that are invaluable.
He also kept lot plans for subdivisions spanning five decades, which give us a history of neighbourhood development.
Hal and Ethel had four daughters – Wilma, Dorothy, Jean and Mary.
The eldest became Wilma Robinson, stalwart of the local Alouette Field Naturalists group and staunch protector of her home at Menzies Mountain.
Her legacy is a massive slide collection on the fauna and flora of Pitt Meadows - all carefully annotated and now being copied for the archives.
Recently, the last of the Menzies girls – Jean Menzies Nelson Kirk – passed away.
Jean, too, was a faithful supporter of both St. Andrew’s United and Hammond United Churches throughout her 99 years. She helped with their projects while she still could, and she encouraged the women of her groups.
She will be remembered in her Celebration of Life on June 10 at 1:30 p.m., held in what is now named Golden Ears United Church.
As the family gathers to honour her life, we honour the Menzies family for all their contributions and hope the younger generation will continue the practice of ‘keeping.’