Dear Nelson...

I recently found the originals of all our letters from Nelson, and with them an envelope—with the name "BADKE" in his large lettering—containing all the letters we had sent to him. Many people saved up Nelson's precious letters to this day, and he in turn treasured the letters he received.

Our letters were often about our plans to go and visit Nelson. He always said to just show up, but we had seen his calendar on the wall and knew how much he anticipated the upcoming visitors that he penciled in.

Dear Nelson, (April 3, 1985)
I'm not sure if you will remember me. I’m the "Jim" who was with the Shantymen one summer at Pachena Bay and visited you a couple of times (I once carved a seal out of soapstone for you). My wife and I visited you near Christmas the year before your beautiful old place burned down. We had flown in with a Shantyman pilot from Campbell River. You gave us a brass candlestick (which we continue to use regularly!).

We would like to come and visit you. The last time we saw you, we had said that we hoped to spend a bit more time with you than the couple of hours we had then, sometime in the future. We would like to come on the Lady Rose probably on April 25th (three weeks from now) and leave the next Tuesday. We will bring food, and Brian Burkholder mentioned to us that you have a couple of cabins now for your visitors. It would be good to see you again, and we can't think of a better way to spend part of the break we have from college.

If for some reason if isn't possible for you to have us stay with you at the time I mentioned, it will probably be too late to send us a letter to tell us. We will just come, hoping things will work out. If nothing else, we could catch the boat again on Its way back and have at least a few hours with you. We're looking forward to seeing you. I think it was the Lord who put you on our minds again. We pray that this time will be encouraging for both you and us.

That was our first longer visit, and it was wonderful. On June 17th, we wrote, "When we were watching your place disappear as we headed for Port Alberni, we were thinking how that while we at your place time stood still, and it was like we were going back on the same day that we had arrived. I’m sure the Lord will direct us to you again." Sarah and I didn't know during our visit that we were expecting, so in that same letter, Sarah broke the news: "We are going to be parents!! Our little bundle from the Lord is supposed to arrive sometime in middle of December. When I think of the little miracle growing inside of me, I wonder how anyone can say there is no God."

So when we made plans to visit again the next summer, it would be an even greater adventure:

Dear Nelson, (July 23, 1986)

Just a quick note to say that, if you will have us, we would like to come and stay with you for a few days in August. We would be arriving I think on Tuesday, Aug. 5 and leaving either on the following Sunday or the 8th. That doesn't give you much notice—sorry about that. We were writing you a longer letter, but then decided it would be better to “mail” ourselves to you instead. If that isn't a good time for you, you could do as you did once before and have Mary call us (I’ve enclosed a dollar), but otherwise we’ll just arrive on the Lady Rose: baby and all. And as usual, we will observe your rates: we'll bring our nose-bag and sleeping bags. We’re looking forward to another good time with you, and especially the opportunity to introduce you to Benjamin James, now 6½ months. P.S. - hope this reaches you before we do! 

Another common topic in our letters to Nelson was his hope to begin a Christian community on the island. We were one of four couples that he invited to come and live there. This was our response to his offer:

Dear Nelson (October 3, 1986) 

As you may have guessed, your invitation to us weighs heavily on our minds. My excuses for not packing up tomorrow and moving to Sunrise Cove are not very weatherproof—because surely the Lord would provide for our needs and Benji would be fine and so on—and yet it seems like such a big step that it makes all our other options seem like standing still. I can imagine how impatient you must feel waiting for young whippersnappers like us to make up our minds—you have been waiting a long time. But please bear with us and please keep praying for us. We will keep you posted.

Nelson received a similar response from another couple at about the same time:

Nov 16, 1986
Dear Nelson, how I would love to give my unreserved “yes” to your offer at this time, indeed your kindness and generosity have deeply impressed me and my heart wants to respond by embracing your generous offer and committing myself to serving our mutual Lord Jesus Christ together with you on this land which God has given you to use for his great purposes. Yet, as our dear friends [one of the other couples] know so well, only with the Lord's own approval would such a commitment be truly honoring to him and beneficial to others in His name. Such divine approval I must wait for before I can give you my firm commitment.

To that other couple's response, Nelson replied:

Feb 5, 1987
Your letter at hand and i fully agree with everything you say about the wisdom of having the title to this property secured by a will; in fact, for months i have prayed both night and day for a solution to the problem. It is a terrible responsibility to be title holder to the Lord’s property.

How patient Nelson was as he waited on God and on his people to fulfill the vision he had for Copper Island! Long nights of sitting by his kerosene lamp, reading our letters, praying for us and wondering what to write back.

Other correspondence was with people he tapped for their expertise on projects he had in mind (or on the go). He once thought of adding a steam engine to his boat so he wouldn't have to rely on diesel fuel. This was part of a reply he received:

Aug 6, 1964
I imagine you’ll be wanting to burn driftwood, in which case a large firebox is required. Do not attempt any welding of the pressure parts of a boiler yourself. We must never have an accident with any of these steamboats or the boom will get lowered. The little steam engines and boilers we build (to order only) take such a long time to build, four sets a year is about the limit, and we could sell more if we could build them faster. But we can’t so we have to turn fellows down right along. It’s too bad. The big trouble is I can’t get anything done for myself, nor have I had my own steam boat out for 6 years as a result. Well, I'll close now wishing you the best.

Finally, here is a postscript that I added to the end of one of my letters. My suggestion is one that you and I wish Nelson had heeded: 

PS. The enclosed pad of paper isn’t just for letter-writing this winter. You have a knack for writing. Why not write down some of the stories that you've told, especially about your own experiences? We, if not most people, would be most interested in reading them!!

 Nelson and Snuggles walking back from the float after saying goodbye until next time.

----------------------------------------------------

Delayed But Coming Up: A photo essay by Margaret Stewart—from the 

Isle of Lewis off the coast of Scotland—on Mina and her homeland and background.

Sea Creatures of Copper Island

Recently, several news articles have featured videos of the marine life around Vancouver Island, including Barkley Sound. Nelson never had the privilege of diving underwater to see whales, sea lions, sharks and other fish. Yet all creatures that came to the surface were his neighbours and friends.

Probably the most notable example was Matilda, the basking shark. These gentle creatures grow to be six to eight meters or more in length and have a mouth big enough to swallow someone. They swim with their mouth wide open so they can continuously gather and strain plankton. 

Matilda used to visit Nelson at his float. He would talk to her and rub her back, and sometimes even scrub off her barnacles with his deck brush.

Sadly, the complaints of fishermen led to a government-run program to eliminate the basking sharks from Barkley Sound. They are rarely seen anywhere around Vancouver Island now. But back in August, a basking shark showed up near Saltspring Island, as this video shows:

Humpback whales were also greatly depleted by the Vancouver Island whaling industry, including the Sechart Whaling Station just north of Copper Island. Now they are returning in increasing numbers and are often spotted near Nelson's old home. 

In November, photographer Peter Mieras was setting up at his dock in Rainy Bay, just north of Copper Island, when he dropped a camera in the water. Before he could dive down to retrieve it, a pod of sea lions came into the bay, pushing a bait ball (a large school of small fish) in front of them, followed by a humpback. He didn't know until he got the camera back that it was recording the whole thing, as seen in the video below:

Finally, Carl Sorensen of Nanaimo put together a compilation of all his dives in 2024, including in the area around Copper Island. How Nelson would have loved to see what few of us get to see—the underwater world:

A Copper Island Christmas

If a picture is worth a thousand words, I won't need to write much this month, because this photo is worth 10,000 at least. Inger couldn't have sent it at a better time:

"Santa" Nelson with Dave at the apartment in Coquitlam, mid-1990s.

Don and Patty made Nelson's Christmas bright in 1983. They came to Copper Island with Rick on the Lady Rose, bringing a tree and decorations made for the occasion, and a new baby (but no manger). 

Patty remembers, "Nelson always wore his same old clothes during the week, and then Sunday he would wear a nice shirt and pants. We all thought he could use a new shirt or pants for Christmas. He opened his gifts and was very thankful. But before the day ended, to our surprise he opened a cupboard to put them away and it was loaded with a collection of new shirts and pants still in their packages! His comment was that the clothes he had been wearing weren't worn out yet!"

Perhaps Nelson is remembering here the Christmas of 1953 when Harold Peters, Percy Wills and Earl Johnson came on the Messenger III to the Dunkin family floathouse in Kildonan with a Christmas tree tied to the mast and another onboard for their children to decorate:

This is from the Life Magazine article on the Shantymen and the Messenger III, which you can find here.

Christmas might also have brought to mind Nelson and Mina's adventure in the Port Alberni Inlet near the Christmas of 1950, so well documented by R. Bruce Scott in his book, The People of the Southwest Coast of Vancouver Island, in the chapter which was reprinted in Nelson's biography:

Maybe you will want to give the "Christmas Adventure" chapter another read this Christmas! Or, if you don't have a copy of The Island and i (or have a friend for whom it would be a great Christmas gift), you can purchase it here. All proceeds still go toward kids getting to camp this summer.

If Nelson were still with us, I know he would wish you all a very merry Christmas!

Nelson's Memorial Poem

In addition to the funeral held for Nelson in Burnaby on April 1, 1989, Dave and Inger Logelin arranged a memorial for Nelson on Copper Island and invited locals to attend. Madge's family and friends took the Lady Rose from Port Alberni, a few came up from Chemainus and Victoria, and others arrived by boat from around Barkley Sound, including Mary Scholey of Bamfield. 

One of the Copper Island Camp staff members, Charlene Baldwin, wrote a poem that was read at the memorial, and Inger recently sent me a copy:

Honoring the Life and Memory of Nelson Dunkin

The disciple of a Jewish Carpenter

Hewing a home out of an island hillside 

Laying an axe and adz or awl to wood 

Hammering, digging, smoothing, sanding edges 

Carving words—the Word—in truth, for good.

Sinking pilings, floating docks and barges 

Anchoring structures suited to storm and tide 

Building a strong foundation as a shelter 

Embracing the scripture's grace in place of pride.

Tending the family flock as faithful shepherd 

Praising a living God with hymns that ring 

Opening heart and home with warmth and welcome 

Watching the wounded soar on eagles wings.

Providing—blessing—an outpost for Christ's kingdom 

Building believers and servants for all the earth 

The life of one faithful man is a priceless treasure 

His handwork a door, through Jesus, to new birth.

A host of memories fashioned in wood still bless us 

The legacy of a gospel lived and preached 

In the simple life of a man with an eye for eternals 

Giving glory to God for the many still to be reached.

This note accompanied the poem:

In keeping with a long tradition of hospitality and camping, Nelson Dunkin made his property on Copper Island available for a Bible camp targeting native youth from the area in 1987. Dave and Inger Logelin became directors in 1990 and were offered the property to build a camp. The Wilderness Retreat Society, a Canadian non-profit organization directed by a board of missionaries and pastors, including Mary Scholey of Bamfield, was then established to receive Nelson Dunkin's donation. Church work parties have labored with Dave Logelin to build a solid and efficient facility to accomplish the work Nelson intended: preaching the gospel, training ministry, transforming lives and touching nations. 

A verse from Copper Island Camp's song, written by a guest in Nelson's home years before the camp existed, says:

Copper Island is where you go

To seek the Lord so you will know

There is a place where you can be

Happy, joyful, and totally free. 

Nelson's Guest Book

Recently, I received in the mail a package containing a few old letters, along with a treasure—Nelson's guest book, with entries from 1985 to 1993. It contains many names I have known, have heard of or have never seen before. Want to know if you are in there? Email me, and I will tell you!

Nelson received the guest book on May 2, 1985 from the Coastal Missions crew, who would have tied up at Nelson's dock in the original Coastal Messenger on its annual West Coast missionary voyage. Debbie, Tom, Brian and Anne were aboard. In the new guest book, they commented in green ink, "We always look forward to seeing you. This was a very special visit. God bless you!" Debbie wrote the word "look" as:

Debbie decorated the book and wrote the headings "date" and "name" on the left pages, and "comments" on the right. Visitors followed this regimen until about halfway through the book, where they began writing anywhere they liked.

Here are some highlights from entries, with only first names given:

• Bill P (May 85) – a great place here for hermits to gather!

• Gary (May 85) – Ahhh… woodstoves and candles. The thoughts of this world grow strangely dim.

• Wynn (Jun 85) – Back by popular demand.

• Bill I (Jul 85) – If you start charging wharfinger rates, we won’t be able to come as often!

• Family from Friend Island (directly across Copper Island just off the north shore) (Jul 85) – Wonderful! Heard about you for years. Glad to finally meet you.

• Bill of Olympia, WA (Jul 85) – After 55 years I met my school chum. Lots of changes in the world since we attended Olympic High. Enjoying this retreat immensely.

• Berna of Lake Cowichan (Jul 85) – A precious time of rest and relaxation in Jesus’ love. (About 40 years after this entry, we took Berna back to Copper Island to visit for a few days, shortly before she lost her eyesight.)

• Francis, Georgia, Larry and Peg (Aug 85) – Our friendly stopping place between Port Alberni and Bamfield.

• Visits by the RCMP vessel Manyberries

• Steve (Apr 86) – To a friend and brother in Jesus. We all love you, Nelson.

• Coastal Missions Crew (Brian, Anne, Debbie and Tom) (May 86) – Our yearly visit was such a blessing—as always. Thanks for sharing it together! We sure feel at home here, Nelson! Thank you for your love for the Lord and us.

• Ardis (July 86) – Your favorite niece?!?! To my favorite uncle the Hermit, God bless.

• Brian (July 86) – To Grandpa. I hope you have some nice weather this summer.

• Ben (Aug 86) – Thanks so much for your good hospitality. Can’t blame you for the lack of fish!

• Dave and Arlene of Kildonan (Aug 86) – Two more satisfied customers.

• Bernd & Sylvia of Tofino (Sep 86) – At last the Lord has granted us the opportunity to meet this wonderful old gentleman about whom we have heard so many good things… May God bless your desire to see your land used for his glory, dear Nelson.

• Neil, Kathy and Joshua (Mar 87) – Here to get away from it all. Thankful for a warm and cozy home in the midst of a stormy and wet few days.

• Brigitte of Germany (Apr 87) – I think I will never forget you and your way of life.

• Leona (Aug 87) – Grandpa, I am very glad I got to see you again. I love coming down here. Hope you have lots more people to keep you company. I will try to make it down more often. Love, Leona

Rich Parlee wrote a poem as his guest book entry in July 1987:

When I look out across the sea

And see the sunrise glowing

The eagle sitting in the tree

The westerly a-blowing

My thoughts stray way across the Sound

To a cabin on the shore

Where a welcome smile is always found

Where I have come oft times before

Copper Island! Restful haven

Honouring the Saviour’s name

Praise and worship always given!

Some things always stay the same!

After Nelson left Copper Island in 1989, many people still wrote in the guest book, mostly thanking him for making the property available to become a summer camp for children, youth and families. They wrote about their new perspectives and changed lives because of their time there. Inger also recorded a number of visits, and I assume she took the book to show Nelson at some point. 

Mary Scholey, faithful friend and regular visitor of Nelson and Mina for many years, has two precious entries in the guest book, written after Nelson had moved to the Mainland:

March 1990 – Came for a quick check since the big North winds. Everything seems divinely protected and serene—just waiting for another opportunity to serve its Creator and Master. God bless Nelson and Mina for keeping this lovely place for the Lord’s work.

 

March 1993 – After all these years—the peace of God lingers in this lovely place. I praise him for the privilege of weekly visits to Sunrise Cove, first to pray with Mina & Nelson about their dream for the future of this place, then to see the unfolding of this dream—a haven of rest for weary souls, a Bible camp where children and youth can learn of God’s peace in a setting of nature’s peace. Mina has entered into her reward in heaven. We pray a measure of this Copper Island peace will bless Nelson in Coquitlam as he serves God there.

Photo: Bamfield Archive and Museum

Poem by Nelson: The Hour is Late

Nelson' biography contains an excerpt from a long poem he wrote about the Bible and how it addresses the evil in the world. Having no access to a photocopier (or a Gutenberg press would be more his style), Nelson repeatedly typed out the poem and made small booklets to give away. Note the unusual typewriter, which had larger capitals for the start of sentences and small (and smaller) capitals for the rest. Nelson is not shouting at you—he simply always typed in capitals. Also, he must have crafted a stamp for the front cover, perhaps from the heel of an old shoe.

Here is the poem in full. Every line has a Bible reference. If you hover your cursor over the reference, the full verse will show up in a bubble. What would Nelson have thought of that?

THE HOUR IS LATE

THIS LITTLE BOOK TAKE AND READ (MALACHI 3:16) 

AND PLEASE FRIEND DO TAKE HEED (I TIMOTHY 4:15) 

FOR IN ITS VERSES YOU WILL FIND (PROVERBS 2:11) 

SIGHT FOR EYES THAT BE BLIND (ACTS 26:18) 

SEE HOW GOD'S MIGHTY PLAN (II TIMOTHY 1:9) 

WORKS TO THE WONDERMENT OF MAN (HABAKKUK 2:14) 

 

HARK THE TUMULT, HARK THE SOUND (PSALM 46:6) 

FROM EVERY PEOPLE THE WORLD AROUND (PSALM 2:1) 

HIS WICKED TIME IS SHORT HE KNOWS (REVELATION 12:12) 

SO ABOUT THIS WORLD SATAN GOES (I PETER 5:8) 

BY BRIBE OR THREAT EVER WINNING (LUKE 4:6) 

SOULS TO DO HIS EVIL BIDDING (II TIMOTHY 3:1-9) 

 

SATAN DOES SO WARP ONE'S MIND (I TIMOTHY 4:1) 

A PERSON IS RENDERED TOTALLY BLIND (II CORINTHIANS 4:1) 

AND THE BLIND LEAD THE BLIND ALONG (LUKE 6:39) 

IN EVERY PATHWAY THAT IS WRONG (II TIMOTHY 3:13) 

IN SIN, IN LUST, AND DEPRAVITY (ROMANS 1:14,32) 

INTO THE GATES OF ETERNITY (HEBREWS 9:27) 

 

DEMON SPIRITS DO TAKE POSSESSION (MATTHEW 12:45)

AND RULERS FILL WITH MAD OBESESSION (PSALM 2:2-3)

TO DO SATAN'S URGENT BIDDING (JOHN 8:44)

OF GOVERNMENT AND RELIGION RIDDING (ROMANS 1:21-23)

ALL TRUST IN GOD TO OWN (HEBREWS 10:26-27)

FROM THE PULPIT AND THE THRONE (HEBREWS 6:4-6)

 

BE NOT TAKEN IN THE DEVIL'S SNARE (DEUTERONOMY 32:17-18) 

BY CLERIC ROBES AND SPEECH SO FAIR (II CORINTHIANS 11:15)

FOR SATAN DOTH THE POWER POSSESS (II THESSALONIANS 2:9) 

TO APPEAR IN EVEN ANGEL'S DRESS (II CORINTHIANS 11:14) 

BUT BE YE WARY HIS EVERY MOVE (I PETER 5:8) 

EVER AWAKE THE SPIRITS TO PROVE (I JOHN 4:2-3)

 

MEN WITH PERVERSE HEART (MARK 7:21-22) 

AND APOSTATE MIND DEPART (JUDE 1:4) 

FROM BELIEVING GOD'S HOLY WORD (I JOHN 5:7) 

AND FROM SOME IS ACTUALLY HEARD (JUDE 1:16) 

(EVEN TO REPEAT WE DREAD) (PSALM 119:11) 

THE BLASPHEMY, "GOD IS DEAD" (PSALM 14:1) 

 

GREED FOR MONEY IS A SIN (I TIMOTHY 6:10) 

MONEY BUYS THE SOULS OF MEN (MARK 8:36) 

MONEY ABOUNDS AS FLAKES OF SNOW (LUKE 12:19-20) 

AND PRICES SPIRALLING UPWARDS GO (REVELATION 6:6) 

BUT WHEN THE SON WILL FROWN THEREON (MATTHEW 19:23) 

LIKE SUN ON SNOW 'TWILL ALL BE GONE (JAMES 5:1-3)

 

TIME THERE WAS WHEN MEN TOOK PRIDE (PSALM 90:17) 

IN MAKING A KNIFE OR TANNING A HIDE (ECCLESIASTES 9:10) 

NOW EVER DEMANDING HIGHER PAY (ACTS 19:25) 

LESS WORK AND A SHORTER DAY (II THESSALONIANS 3:11) 

FOR MORE TIME TO FAN THE FLAME (PROVERBS 23:29-30) 

OF WORLDLY PASSIONS AND IDLE GAME (GALATIANS 5:19-21) 

 

WITH GIFT FROM GOD IT IS HIS DUTY (EXODUS 31:3-5) 

THE ARTIST TO MAKE A WORK OF BEAUTY (ECCLESIASTES 3:11) 

BUT SATAN HERE DOES INTRUDE (JOB 1:7) 

WITH COLOURS HORRID AND SHAPES MOST CRUDE (ISAIAH 5:20)

AND FOOLS ARE TAUGHT THAT IT IS SMART (ROMANS 1:22)

TO CALL SUCH CRIMES WORKS OF ART (ISAIAH 5:21) 

 

MUSIC DOTH OF HEAVEN IMPART (REVELATION 14:2)

A SONG DOTH CHEER THE WEARY HEART (EPHESIANS 5:19)

BUT HERE AGAIN DOTH SATAN COME (JOB 2:2) 

WITH RABID VOICE AND CONVULSING DRUM (II KINGS 2:23)

TO TORTURE THE VERY SOUL WITHIN (PSALM 6:3) 

WITH RACKET HARSH AND CLASHING DIN (I CORINTHIANS 14:7) 

 

ALL THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN TOLD (EZEKIEL 3:27) 

BY OUR LORD AND PROPHETS OF OLD (HEBREWS 1:1-2) 

HOW SIN AND EVIL WILL ABOUND (GENESIS 6:5) 

IN EVERY LAND THE EARTH AROUND (GENESIS 6:12) 

THE EVIL SHEDDING OF INNOCENT BLOOD (GENESIS 4:11)

AS IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE FLOOD (LUKE 17:26-27)

 

WITH WAR AND MURDER IN EVERY LAND (JEREMIAH 6:25)

TREACHERY AND THIEVERY ON EVERY HAND (ZECHARIAH 5:3-4)

BLASPHEMIES, LIES, AND CONTRADICTIONS (PSALM 101:1-8)

RARE IS THE MAN OF CONVICTIONS (PSALM 12:1) 

SEEK YE GOOD, BUT EVIL HATE (III JOHN 1:11) 

DARKNESS IS FALLING, THE HOUR IS LATE (JUDE 1:13) 

 

I'LL NOT HERE WRITE OF MORE (ECCLESIASTES 12:12)

BUT READ MATTHEW CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR (MARK 1:31-37)

AND THERE YOU' LL SEE FOR YOURSELF (PROVERBS 22:3) 

FROM THE VERY WORDS OF CHRIST HIMSELF (MARK 13:31)

THE CONDITIONS ON EARTH ABOUNDING (II JOHN 1:7)

ERE THE TRUMP OF GOD BE SOUNDING (I THESSALONIANS 4:16)

 

THE WONDER OF WONDERS WE SEE (JOB 9:10) 

THE FULFILLMENT OF ANCIENT PROPHECY (II PETER 1:21) 

GOD DOTH WITH A MIGHTY HAND (JEREMIAH 16:16) 

GATHER JEWS TO THE PROMISED LAND (DEUTERONOMY 30:3) 

HIS WORD IS EVER PROMPT AND SURE (PSALM 19:7) 

HIS JUDGEMENTS EVER RIGHT AND PURE (PSALM 19:8) 

 

SO MY FRIENDS I BEG OF YOU (ISAIAH 55:6)

THIS IS SOMETHING YOU SHOULD DO (ACTS 3:19) 

PUT YOUR TRUST IN GOD TODAY (JOSHUA 24:15)

MAKE CHRIST YOUR SAVIOUR WHILE YOU MAY (JOHN 6:40)

AND YOU'LL FIND A BLESSING THERE (PHILIPPIANS 4:7)

NOTHING THIS WORLD CAN COMPARE (I JOHN 2:15-17)

 

BE YE WATCHFUL EVER PRAY (MARK 13:33) 

READ THE BIBLE EVERY DAY (II TIMOTHY 3:16) 

FROM THE SCRIPTURES YOU WILL LEARN (ROMANS 16:25-26) 

THAT CHRIST IS SOON NOW TO RETURN (ACTS 1:11) 

AND IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE (I CORINTHIANS 15:52) 

HIS OWN WILL MEET HIM IN THE SKY (I THESSALONIANS 4:17)

Pages From Nelson's Photo Album

 When visitors came to Copper Island, a common activity was to browse through Nelson's several photo albums.

The album he is showing is now lost. Notice that it contains a photo of the front of the first cradle he made (inset). Photo from Bamfield Museum and Archives.

As with many albums, most pages were filled with family photos, the most pertinent of which I included in the book. Madge allowed me to photograph Nelson's only surviving album, and I thought a few of the pages might be of interest. Here they are:

A sketch of Nelson and Snuggles by an unknown artist.

I assume that many people sent Nelson photos they had taken of him and Mina.

Some dear friends, including Ron Pollock, who often brought random useful objects with him.

The Covenant was the mission boat operated by the group that formed the Wilderness Retreat Society, to which Nelson sold his property for a loonie to start a camp that still operates today.

Nelson sometimes used an ancient instant Polaroid camera. Here are his photos of our visit in 1986 with our 8-month-old son, who is now 38.

A Christmas visit with Don and Patty Cameron, a few years after they had lived with Nelson. That's the frozen waterfall at Pebble Beach.

I assume the house is a cake someone made for Nelson. Again, the frozen waterfall at Pebble Beach. He bought nearby Davies Island at the same time as the property on Copper Island, and later sold it.

Photos, letters and memories of Nelson continue to surface! Please don't hesistate to contact me if you discover anew any old thing related to Copper Island. Coming up: A newly found letter with a sketch of a machine Nelson hoped to build. And a photo essay on the island where Nelson met Mina, and the manner of life that she lived there.

Great Photos That Didn't Make the Cut

Nelson's biography contains many photos, but there are many more wonderful pics that didn't make it into the book. Here is a sampling, with comments:

Oh, that hair—as if Nelson was constantly buffeted by wind off the water, even when in his house! 

Photo from Bamfield Museum and Archives.

Nelson and Nook.

Nelson and Snuggles offered necessary companionship to one another.

The Shantymen, stationed in Campbell River, occasionally flew in by float plane to visit Nelson. This is MAF Pilot Art Mitchell, who sometimes flew for the Shantymen.

Debbie (above) and Gloria (below) were frequent visitors, dearly loved by Nelson. They always combined visiting with cleaning, cooking and doing Nelson's laundry. They both served with Coastal Missions for many years. Gloria went home to be with Jesus in 2013.

Visiting in the cabin of an unidentified boat with Pete Williams (standing) and Paul Goetz in 1983.

Jim and Brian having fun with Nelson out on the boomsticks.

Exploring the frozen waterfall at the end of Pebble Beach with Don Cameron (bottom right).

The outside of this house carving is in the book, but here are the inside and the back of the carving. Such attention to detail!

Another of Nelson's windmill experiments, apparently designed to rotate the small wheel. On display in Nelson's suite, which has been set aside as a heritage room and a place of quiet and prayer.

A little unclear, but the only photo of a harp that Nelson made, lost in the fire.

A side view of the first cradle that Nelson crafted, which was for his first grandson. This is a rare glimpse of the inside of the old house.

Sketches for a toolkit that Nelson wanted to make, apparently to hold wedges and a sledgehammer for chopping wood or splitting shingles.

This carving was on the wall of the "Empress Room," a guest room that Nelson built onto the second house. It was removed when an addition was built on the house.

A view of the back of the second house, with the Empress Room tacked onto the second storey. Perhaps it was wise to take it down??

The Old House in its earlier days, probably in the mid-seventies. The shack on the left was possibly one of the original buildings used by early miners. Nelson stored tools and a small amount of firewood here.

New Old Letters From Nelson - Part 2

Here is more from the envelope of letters from Nelson that Pat Rafuse recently discovered. I hope you will enjoy reading what was on Nelson’s mind on some of those long dark winter nights:

Poetry and Ramblings

Were i a wee birdy
With feathers bright blue,
i’d perch on a flower
And sing to you.
i’d sing of the mercies
Of God above,
And i’d sing of the
Mysteries of life and love.

i have written a letter asking for the name of the author who wrote “One Ship Sails East Another Sails West.” No one in Banfield knew the author. i did a master-sheet of the poem for Mary so she could zirk off as many as she wants to give away. Without asking Mary’s permission, some _______ put it in the Bamfield Blat and gave the name of the squibbler as Duncan Nelson (whoever that might be).

Sunday 8th Day of September 1985 – From Sunrise Cove – Copper Island - Strange it is, but i never realized until yesterday that numbers were cannibals. i knew that figures in crooked hands could be made to lie but never did i think they were so debased as to eat one another. But using the old proverb, “Figures never lie,” they prove their own evil: Seven Ate Nine.

No matter how close we come to God, we do not crowd others away. This thought came to me at reading time this morning.

[The following is a poem referred to in Nelson's biography. Enter in if you dare - it is a bit of a wild ride! If you have difficulty with the following page-turning image, you can view and/or download the poem as a PDF here.]

 

The Watermill and Toy Factory

The new road to Pebble Beach is under construction. And also work has started towards the little factory for making wooden toys for poor children.

Sunday, Sunrise Cove - The sighting level i ordered (or rather, Mary ordered over the telephone from Simpson Sears) finally arrived and Mary shows a keen interest in it. We are to survey the waterfall possibilities for waterpower and a shop to make wooden toys for the Gospel work. i can neither preach or sing or play upon a harp of ten strings, but by God’s grace i do believe i can design and manufacture toys of wood. Please pray for me as i am so very useless unless the Lord will have pity on my uselessness.

Thursday morning. Just back from the waterfall, pushing through the salal, and the prospects for waterpower and the toy factory look very good (God willing). Did i tell you that that seems to be my ministry? Making toys for children (not a toy a year done with all hand tools, but hundreds of toys a month done with the good water power, as yet just running into the sea).

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The Big Dugout Canoe

i am keeping busy: went back to working on the canoe again and got the keel on and find that it will lengthen out to 45 feet 6 inches, not 50 feet as i thought—anyway, it will afford comfortable living space for one (or two) not given to extravagant living.

Well, the sun is up today, bright and cheery, so i hope to get more work done on the canoe… So evening now—the sun didn’t stay around to see what was going on but considerable more is accomplished on the canoe.

Night time now and i am thankful for what i could accomplish today—i can just see myself, Snuggles and Hawkshaw rounding Cape Horn in this canoe. Just in case the Lady Rose should be stopping here tomorrow, i shall get this letter ready to post.

i find i do considerable dreaming about the big canoe and wonder if that is a sin. i think it would be fun sailing the stormy sea if i had but a mate. Or going up to the head of some inlet and anchor and tie to a tree and just read, write, listen to music and eat and sleep and rest.

Friday: Still precipitating (raining). Not they who are going to do, but they who do, do. This thought just came to me: how much information i would have if everyone sent me what they say they will. Wouldn’t Do Do be a keen name for the big canoe?

Friday and hot, and the cove is boiling with little fish. Back from cutting brush at the waterfall. Now to fly at work on the big canoe. Be nice to sometimes take my guests out for a cruise. Also, there are 2 eagles and 1 osprey putting on a show on my TV [that is, his front window].

Thanking the Lord for work to do and the strength given to do it. Cut into a big fir log and found it not suitable for stern of canoe but excellent cooking wood. Got cleared around a big cedar tree which has been laying anyway a hundred years so as to cut into it to see if it will do for the canoe stern.

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Views on the World

Oh there is reason to be sad when all about us, near and far away to the four corners of the earth, we see and hear evil report of this sin-sick society in which we live. Yesterday, [Jack] Hobbes brought me an armful of Time magazines. The more i see of this world of sin and greed, the less i want of it. i cannot see but that God must soon say, “That is enough,” and bring in the righteous rule of Christ.

Was just talking to a gillnetter from Whonnock who ties to the float. He says that if the sockeye don’t show up in this two-day opening, there will be no more openings. The fish outlook is very dark. The Lord put fish in the sea for food but man has made a crime of the gift by waste, destruction and gambling with fish for money, money and more money. So let them eat their money.

All the world is embroiled in such a seething mess of contradictions and uncertainties that surely the Rapture must be nigh. Come soon, Lord Jesus.

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Discouragement and Encouragement

At one time i was feeling very low and weak but it was all in my head i know. It must be a sin to God to feel discouraged and lonely.

There is a beautiful big long rainbow setting on the water at Turn Island. It arches up and over, and the other end is at Clifton Point. Of all the rainbows i have seen, this one is special—it is fading now but it must have stayed strong and bright for all of half an hour. So the world will not be flooded. Praise the Lord.

“Red sky (Wednesday) morning, sailors take warning.” But it looks like there will be sunshine all the day long so i should be about my canoe-wright work. Each day i pray for enough strength to carry on. It seems like a long time i have been trying to operate this place by myself. You likely have heard how near i came to turning it over to a large outfit, but the Holy Spirit spoke to me otherwise. So i still struggle on here, trying to do the best i know how to the glory of God.

Quite too often i feel inferior and that i am not doing for Jesus so much as i should. And again i feel that i must be sinning against God to feel so all alone when God has given me so very much. Betimes, in the stillness of the night, i awaken and think on all the numerous ideas i have and experiments i would like to carry out, and i am confounded to realize that i have but two hands striving to keep pace with my brain. But in truth i can see that if i will but trust to Jesus, great things will take place. For example, i have been giving shelter to a man and his son who come out from town fishing, very nice people, always helpful and grateful to have a cabin to stay in. Angelo is a welder at one of the mills and he made a very good stove for the Honeymoon Cottage. The old stove was too far gone to have fire in it anymore.

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Memories

Tuesday night: Some things are funny. This evening i found myself remembering my stay in Vancouver after the war. Try as i might, i could not get a job, and little i knew at the time why. Today, i can look back and truly thank the Lord that i never got a job (that is, until i got the job from Nootka-Banfield Fish Company and was shipped out to Port Albion on a seiner). Dreadful thought to think what things would have been like had i stayed in the sinful city in some 6x6 human hutch.

Saturday Night 3rd of November and Mary never came today as a SE wind blew. This is an unusual night for me as it was this night seven years ago that Mina was taken up from this world, leaving this one to wander an outcast for these seven sad years, and wonder what God can use me for.

This is not some new-fangled brain wave i have for it has been with me all my life. i can remember even in the lean days of the Great Depression, i was looking at streams of water and dreaming, dreaming. Even in Scotland during the war i very foolishly started to build a woodturning lathe. i was shipped back to Canada and my machine was left with a farmer. Oh how foolish i have been.

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Snuggles, Hawkshaw and Other Critters

Poor little Snuggles is right here beside me and all ashiver: there is a bit of thunder and she doesn’t like it at all. i tell her not to be afraid—i was stunned by lightning when a pup, and now i’m an old dog and i’m still here.

Sunday November 4th: Clearing up with the sun shining after the heavy rain.

i suppose if i kept this letter laying here, i could write chapters; in fact, i could write a book. Snuggles and Hawkshaw—what a pair they are. Hawkshaw is quite a big cat now; in fact, they both wear the same size of Stanfields. It is a pleasure to see how kind they are towards each other; would that humans would learn from them. Oh that i had their picture: a few days ago, they both sat real cuddly-close together, looking at me.

i don’t think old Spindle-shanks [Great Blue Heron] has too much intelligence: Yesterday, he caught quite a large perch and spent an hour trying to swallow it when he couldn’t even get his bill around it. Probably he would still be trying had i not gone down and scared him away.

Oft you have heard of a Pussycat, but Hawkshaw has grown to be a Pushycat. When i feed him, i have to watch that he doesn’t claw the dish right out of my hand. He just now clawed Snuggles, and if he does more of that, Snuggles and i will be looking for a Pussycat.

Tuesday Morning: After we went to bed last night, Snuggles told me all about her troubles.

You should see: Though the human species may avoid me, the ducks are holding a convention here today—hundreds of ducks. [Later]: i have just “called the roll” and every duck is back.

Poor Hawkshaw isn’t feeling well and i just don’t know what ails him. Wondering if it was something he ate. Yesterday, he threw up some brown nasty-looking stuff, and this morning he didn’t eat his breakfast. With all the sickness and pain in the world, i wonder if it is a sin to pray for a cat—he is a very good cat.

A fine state of affairs this is: We keep a high-priced cat to keep the mice away, and just the other day i find two mouse calling cards in the cat’s dish. Just now, Snuggles went after a mouse behind the stove. By helping her by moving things, she got the mouse in a hurry, and a large one it was.

That cat Hawkshaw—i just don’t know what to do about him—yesterday morning, he didn’t eat his breakfast, went out and stayed out all day and all night (he quite often stays out at night). Now this morning, when i call him and tell him to come to breakfast, he does not respond. i see him sitting among the bullrushes so i sent Snuggles after him and still no response.

Evening. Still don’t know what ails Hawkshaw. i went to pet him and he just turned his head to see what was coming—he seems to be in a daze. i took some milk to him but he wouldn’t drink. He is still outside but i don’t see him.

Tuesday morning. That cat Hawkshaw—can’t figure him out. This morning, i heard a tingle tingle and opened the door and there was Hawkshaw his happy old self again. Any i’m thankful as now i needn’t build a nice little cedar coffin.

Wednesday. A brilliant sun as only God can make. Out in the front yard is Mamma Duck and her six ducklings. They were all setting on a log and now they are swimming about as ducks are traditionally supposed to do. Mary likes my ducks. Now Momma Duck and ducklings are sunning on the outmost float log.

Evening now, and Snuggles and i are just back from the waterfall where we did the first start on clearing the brush—that is, i did most of the work—and Snuggles claimed she had to protect me from wild animals: mice, mink and squirrels.