New Old Photos

After I published Nelson's biography, The Island and i, people continued to send me photos and other memorabilia that I would likely have included in the book. Here are a few of the more interesting photos I received (click to enlarge):

Many visitors took photos of Nelson's iconic first house on Copper Island. This is how a photo-of-a-photo was sent to me. The perspective is easily corrected, but I found it intriguing.

Two more shots of the original house. Notice that in this photo, the uprights that form the breakwater extend below the walkway (partially constructed by me at the age of 19).

A new old photo of "Ye Hermitage," the tiny cabin—once a floating outhouse—where Nelson would escape if his visitors were too much for him. Equipped with a narrow bed and a coffee tin stove, Nelson's Hermitage was all he needed in a pinch.

Nelson's main activity in Ye Hermitage was writing letters. Here is an envelope that was apparently carried by the Greek god Hermes—or some friend of Nelson's whose beautiful feet brought good news.

Two newly acquired photos of Nelson, one on a pre-haircut day, and the other with Snuggles as a puppy. I realized as I was researching Nelson's story that when I first met him, he was only four years older than I am now. But he always seemed quite old in appearance to me, while being young and energetic by nature.

Finally, appropriate to this Easter season, a candlestick that Nelson carved in the form of a celtic cross. The cross has the words, "Jesus—Saviour—King—Lord" and the base reads, "God so loved the world." As Nelson might say on Easter Sunday morning, "He is risen indeed!"

Corrections and Tiny Metal Art

People have very kindly told me how much they have enjoyed The Island and i. There have been repeated phrases like, "I couldn't put it down" and "I learned so much about Nelson." One person said, "You have written it so well; it's like a movie to me!"

But you have also been quick to point out errors. Thankfully, these have not been typos and grammar, but much more interesting: that is, points of Nelson's story that I simply got wrong. I have updated the book files, so any new copies will have these corrections. For those of you who are stuck with the original, here are the corrections in all their glory:

1. I love the photo on the back cover, taken by Heather Arnott. Any visitor remembers Nelson greeting them on his tiny float—often accompanied by huge Nook or wee Snuggles—and catching the line thrown to him, making it fast. The photo reappears at the end of Chapter 13. But the caption there says that he is receiving the line from the Lady Rose, while Brian Burkholder assures me that it is the line from his fishboat, the Kolberg.

2. Joan's affectionate description of Mina in Chapter 23 unintentionally caused a bit of a stir in her home island, the Isle of Lewis off the northwest coast of Scotland. Margaret, who lives there, tells me that "fishmonger woman" is not a friendly term in Mina's homeland. "Ouch, that is certainly not a suitable description of Mina and is, in Scotland at least, a derogatory term and one of the worse insults which can be hurled at a woman. Fishwife: a coarse-mannered woman who is prone to shouting or screeching, in an unpleasant way. I am putting it down to cultural differences, but thought I should let you know." The reference is removed.

3. Margaret also let me know that the newly-reunited Nelson and Mina did not stay with an "Aunt Isabella" in Vancouver after the war, but with Aunt Marion and Uncle Calum McIver, whose daughter was named Isabelle. This cousin of Mina's was the one with whom Margaret went to visit Nelson and Mina on Copper Island in the summer of 1975.

4. In Chapter 46, there is a grainy photo of Nelson in the hospital holding an unidentified baby. Pat Rafuse tells me that this is her daughter, Anna.

5. As noted in a previous post, the glass trading beads I found on Pebble Beach were cobalt blue, not "blue-green" as described in Chapter 8. All the beads that I found were that colour, which was highly valued in First Nations culture.

6. At the end of Chapter 29 is a picture of a plaque carved by Nelson with a quote from Micah 6:8 – "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God." Brian Burkholder brought this carving to his interview. Because he showed me another carving that he received from Heather Arnott, I assumed that this one was from her as well. However, contrary to the footnote to this picture, Heather never owned this carving.

After the book was published, I rediscovered the remnants of a candlestick that Nelson had hanging about and passed on to me. It had been made from odd metal scraps and green and white marbles, and I have to admit that I never liked it much—except for the tiny metal bits that hung in a circle from the top of the candlestick. In one of our moves, I decided to part with the thing. But I first removed the small metal carvings and put them away in a box. Here they are (click to expand):

The middle piece reads: Ps. IIXX:XXVIII [Psalm 18:28] - “For thou wilt light my candle: the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.” Note Nelson's creative way of etching the Roman numeral 18—he made it IIXX rather than the usual XVIII.

Anchor: A Christian symbol of hope: "We have this hope [in Christ] as an anchor, firm and secure."

Cross: On which Jesus died, and which his followers are called to take up as they follow him.

Dove: A symbol of the Holy Spirit, a gift given to those who believe in Jesus.

Fish: This has inscribed on it the Greek word ΙΧΘΥΣ (meaning “fish”). Early Christians under persecution used this symbol as a secret password to identify themselves as followers of Jesus. The word is an acronym for the following words that start with each letter:

• Ιησους = Jesus 
• Χριστóς = Christ
• Θεοῦ = God’s
• Υἱός = Son
• Σωτήρ = Savior

Ship: This boat appears to be one of the Pilgrim ships, such as the Mayflower. In early Christian symbols, a ship represents the church.

Crown: In light of the other symbols, this one represents reward, not royalty. "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him" (James 1:12).

These symbols, lovingly crafted, meant a great deal to Nelson Dunkin.

Nelson and the Newspapers

"Sometimes I read parts of letters or articles to Snuggles."

As much as Nelson lived alone for many years, he was still very interested in the happenings of the world abroad. Visitors would bring him newspapers, which were not only of interest to him but were handy as a table covering or to start his wood stove. Here, from his letters, are a few things that intrigued, distressed and impressed our friend Nelson:

What distressed Nelson in the news:

 

i read in the newspapers, and the world turns more disgusting to me day by day. Now they are harping on the harlots; laws and more laws; but not a word that there is any sin in what they are doing. Now the Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that stores stay open on Sundays. That is in the interest of Religious Freedom—after all, some Satan-worshipper may want to buy a pack of fags [i.e., cigarettes] on Sunday.

 

It is saddening to see how, in these latter days, the devil is working every foul scheme to break up marriages and homes.

 

There is for sure that falling away we are warned of but why dwell on the subject? It is all about us in the news and even in the air. Yet whilst on the subject have you noticed the toys in the catalogues? Outright demonic. So if a young child is brought up on such things what must we expect them to be when grown? 

 

How people are driven crazy by Satan over money, so it is a cause of higher, higher and higher. 

 

i was sickened yesterday to read that they are killing babies in Port Alberni. i had just assumed the Port Alberni was free from that curse but “no,” Satan gets around.

 

That roof falling in [re: news of a new grocery store roof collapsing]—i should think that would be a slowdown to opening a new business, even in Vancouver; really, that was a bit too blatant an opening gimmick.

 

i have been seeing and reading too much how Satan uses people, innocently or otherwise (Judas for example) to try to wreck God’s plans. So it behooves us to try to keep in step with Jesus. 

 

What blessed Nelson in the news:

 

National Geographic, November 1978. Beside the River Shannon in a little earth-floored cottage lived (or might still be living, God knows) Jerry Martin, a fiddle maker, making at age 81 his last of 75 fiddles. On the wall hangs a notice: 

No Cursing

No Filthy Talk

No Waste of God’s Name

Allowed Here

This is so very good that the Land Lady wishes for one, so i am doing what i can to bring one forth.

i have a wonderful story to tell you about a wonderful little girl which i have fallen in love with. In the month of April, the newspaper up in Port Alberni puts on a writing contest in all the schools from Grade 1 through Grade 12. Well, it so happened that Mary brought a paper, the very paper with the 1988 writing contest section in it. i thought, so what, no interest here! and then i again thought, “i shall just force myself through this stuff to see if i can savvy what kind of trash is on the minds of the upcoming generation.” And so glad i did: there was but one of interest to me but that one is a treasure to me and here she is:

Now isn’t that sweet? i am so impressed with her that i am sending her an 1893 Life of Christ which i think is well written and will be a keepsake for her.

UP NEXT: Corrections and clarifications sent in by readers of The Island and i. Plus, some tiny metal artwork pieces you have likely never seen before.