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Visit our website for advertising information and local business directory www.southcowichanlife.ca Glimpses of Our Past Wilton Place Hotel Built in 1892, the ‘Station Hotel’ was located opposite the railway station on the east side of Cobble Hill Road near the present location of Olde School House Coffee. The Porter family constructed the hotel which immediately became a popular place for socialites from Victoria to come and spend a few nights in the country. Guests arriving by train found the hotel was a place to relax and party away a few days while Cobble Hill Mountain afforded an opportunity to hike and hunt in the wilderness. For its time, the hotel was a grand structure. Guest rooms graced the upper floor whilst a tea room was located on the north end of the main floor. The ladies and escorts parlour plus separate beer parlour were located at the south end of the building while a huge entrance hall hosting a player piano was located in the central lobby area. The hotel was the hub of activity in Cobble Hill, for not only did it provide holiday space for people visiting from Victoria and beyond, but those searching for land in the area often stayed here until a home site could be found. In addition, those travelling from Mill Bay or Cowichan Bay would stay overnight at the hotel to catch the early morning train. It is told that the school teacher at Cobble Hill School also used the hotel as her home for several years. In 1942, just 50 years after it was built, the hotel burned to the ground in a late night fire. Although the blaze was fought valiantly by villagers who formed a bucket brigade, the building was completely destroyed. This fire prompted the construction of Cobble Hill’s first fire station in 1943 and the hall with its firefighting equipment was located in a small building next to Barry’s garage. In her book, Hamlet With An Attitude, Virginia Bonner notes that before it destruction in 1942 the hotel had seven different proprietors and it was in 1924 when the hotel was purchased by Mr. H. Macklin that its name was changed to Wilton Place Hotel. Page 22 South Cowichan life 1–2 Yard Delivery of Topsoil 1–3 Yard Delivery of Bark Mulch �� General Hauling & Refuse Clean-Up 250-743-4884 $45 Delivery to most areas of Cobble Hill, Mill Bay, Shawnigan Lake, Cowichan Bay �� !�""#$��%��&%��'��(%�(�� !��"��#��$��#%��$��"�� & �� Snakewood Renovations �� RELIABLE • COMPETITIVE Over 20 years experience. Eager to take on all your home renovation needs. Handy Tip for April: Old picture holes: Over fill holes with light weight patching compound. Coloured walls? Tint compound with wall paint colour. Once dry smooth with a damp sponge. No dust or damage to wall paint. Call for a free estimate. 250-885-6443 snakwood@telus.net
PLEASE MENTION THE SOUTH COWICHAN LIFE MAGAZINE WHEN RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS April Movie Review By A.R. (Angie) Boutin, Mill Bay Prime Video Plus Prime Video Plus has so often been complimented by our unique categorization of our genres and presentation that I can not help but present yet one more lesser known mini-genre that so many of our customers are attracted to. That is, we have created a section dedicated to movies with the common theme of Court and Law. With this genre, there is always the element of suspense coupled, usually, with some element of court drama or action that keeps many of us on the edge . . . our interest is even more heavily invested should the story be based on factual events that somehow remotely challenge our perceived legal rights . . . The most current movies that come to mind that are befitting this Court/Law category is Conviction starring Hilary Swank (acting was superb) and Beyond A Reasonable Doubt starring Michael Douglas. Both of these films give rise to new stars all the while concentrating on the all too realistic court room battles that despite the keen eye of reputable witnesses and their pledges to tell the truth, have often time proven to (both on and off screen) have horrific results. So, given that this is one of my personal favorite categories, what would I recommend? In no particular order here are some great court and law films: 12 Angry Men – either the original 1957 version with Henry Fonda or the 1997 remake with Jack Lemmon offer good entertainment value. The movie focuses on a jury’s deliberations in a capital murder case in which the accused may face the death penalty if found guilty. Open and shut case? Perhaps not as the complexity of juror personalities and prejudices influence the issue at hand . . . to reach a unanimous verdict. Can one individual sway the opinions of eleven others? It makes for an interesting film! Rated PG. A Time to Kill – What makes this movie great is not just that it is based on a John Grisham novel which in itself is an unforgettable experience, but the cast is incredible as well... Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, Oliver Platt, Keifer Sutherland, Donald Sutherland, Ashley Judd . . . In this court room film the underlying theme is about racial division and politics. McConaughey plays a young idealistic lawyer defending a black man accused of murdering two men who raped his 10 year old daughter. Will vigilante justice prevail? Rated R. A Few Good Men – Starring, Tom Cruise, Demi Moore and Jack Nicholson – Cruise plays a less than interested young lawyer who is assigned with defending two Marines accused of murder; The Marines contend that they were acting under orders . . . with out giving away too much, the trial prep scenes are compelling and the court room confrontation between Cruise and Nicholson is exhilarating . . . Rated R. The Rainmaker – One of Matt Damon’s better performances (although in all due respect I am becoming increasingly fond of his performances as he matures). In this film, also based on a John Grisham novel, we are shown that despite the seamy side of law and lawyers’, justice can prevail . . . Damon plays an inexperienced and unemployed lawyer who finds him self representing an elderly couple whose corrupt insurance company will not pay for an operation that could save their son’s life. His role is supported nicely by Danny DeVito. Rated PG-13. A Civil Action – based on a true story as well as the book by Jonathan Harr, this movie focuses on the compelling class action lawsuit against a large greedy company who happens to also be the pre-dominant local employer (which in itself causes much turmoil giving us a sense of desperation). The accusation is that this company has knowingly dumped toxic waste into a river causing illness amongst the local townsfolk. Stars John Travolta, Kathleen Quinlan, William H. Macy and Robert Duvall. Rated PG-13 for language. Are these good court room dramas? . . . You be the judge! ReVIeW South Cowichan life Page 23
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