In the gallery below I have compiled at least one photo from nearly every decade since the 1890s that features a picture of the trees at the bottom of Argyle in what is now commonly known as “Sea Cadet Park”. All pictures are from the Alberni Valley Museum digital archive. If you click on a picture you will be taken to its original page at the AVM with a further description.

At one point there was a Royal Navy Sea Cadet detachment near the trees on the south end of the property. There is a picture of it amongst the rest below.

You will find also find one that has a photo from today, March 4, 2019 for comparison.

The first Mayor of Port Alberni, AE Waterhouse, lived at the foot of the hill on what is now Harbour Road.

In every picture, whether they dominate the picture, or they reached up to the sky in the distance, or they obscured a hidden view of the harbour, or even were just shadows on Argyle, the trees and hill are there. That tiny patch of shade is probably the most photographed grove of trees in the City and before Port Alberni, the Tseshaht and Hupacasath peoples knew the hill since time immemorial.

Compared to the rest of the Harbour, the dirt there has been relatively untouched.

I hope they leave the Park with the Trees and Hill. If you’d like to provide input to the City directly, use the letsconnectpa.ca platform.

Happy Scrolling.

1890s

1896

1900s

1902
1902
1908
1908
1909
1909

1910s

1910
1910
E&N Construction 1910
E&N Construction 1911
1910
1910
1910
1911
E&N 1911 (real)
1910
1911 E&N
1911
1911
1912
1912
1912
Dec 19, 1912
1912
1912
1912
1912
1912
1913
1913
1914
Mar 4, 2019 – Chris Alemany
1913
1912
1915
1915
1912-1916
1912-1916
1918
1918
1918
1918
1918
1918

1920s

1920
1920
1920
1920
1920
1920
After 1920
1920s
after 1927

1930s

1930
1930
1930
1930s
1930s
March 6, 2019 – Photo by Chris Alemany – (the tug boat actually has a yellow funnel too!)
1933
1933

1940s

1940
before 1940
Sea Cadet Hall 1940s
March 6, 2019 – Photo by Chris Alemany
1940s
1940s
1940s
1940s
1949
1949

1950s

1950
1950
1950s
1950s
1950s
1952
1952
1952
1952
Feb 15, 1957

1960s

1960
1960
1962
1962
1954
1954
1964
1964
1964 (After Tsunami)
4/30/1965
4/30/1965

1970s

1976
1976
1976
1976
1976
1976

1980s

1981
Oct 1981
Oct 1981
1981
1980s
1980s
1984
Aug 12, 1984
1984
1984
1984
1984
1989
1989

Undated Photos

Before 1952
1980s