The recent plans to pave the remainder of the Lake Cowichan to Port Renfrew road bring back memories of bone-shaking drives through Lake Cowichan back country.

But in July 1936, the road between Youbou and Duncan was so bad that a doctor who rushed to help a badly injured head rigger refused to allow the man to be taken to hospital by road vehicle.

Instead, Dr. C. H. Beevor Potts called on the Industrial company’s rail speeder to bring Blondy Koski to Deerholme from where the ambulance brought him to the Duncan hospital.

Deerholme to Duncan was no picnic either for the man who’d fallen 35 feet and injured his back, pelvis and internal organs.

“We let down the tires in an effort to reduce shock, but you can’t miss the bumps. The road is a crime even for a man who is well,” said one of the ambulance drivers.

A curious fact concerning Koski’s accident was that shortly before his fall he had doubled for Hollywood actor William Gargan in a scene from Vengeance of the Forest, part of which was filmed at Camp 3.

Considering it an easy task, Koski fell 12 feet for Gargan who was supposed to be injured in the back by the fall.

1936: leading

For the second consecutive year, the Leader won second place in the all-Canadian competition for the best weekly newspaper in Canada with a circulation between 1,000 and 2,000.

1936: protesting

There were 160 signatures on a petition in which residents of Cowichan Bay and vicinity were protesting against the proposed highway diversion, now the Trans-Canada, behind the Bay.

1936: fundraising

Among those assisting at a St. John’s Church fete which raised $75 for a new hall were Mary Savage, Marjorie Langlois, Phyllis Manzer, Pat and Sheila Dwyer and Louise Norcross.