Part 1 (This file contains a lot of chatter, presumably by the interviewer, Bill Yach and his sister, and maybe others.)
Part 2 Bill Yach discusses cottages and camps in the area, and their owners, the Roses, Martins, Wigginess and Tuheys who were early settlers in the Ladysmith area. There was a Mr. Ross who was a storekeeper. The Armstrongs were across the road, and they also had a store later on.
Part 3 The first hotel belonged to Ferdinand Bretzlaff. They all called him “Daddy” Bretzlaff. There was also a blacksmith called Daniel Steinke who came about the same time. A lot of the early settlers were “draft dodgers” who were avoiding conscription in Prussia.
Part 4 Bill Yach’s own father left the old country to avoid conscription. Back then men were called up for seven years in the army. “They either made a man of you or broke you.” Some of the early settlers came over in family groups. Although they fled their country, some managed to bring personal items like dishes or furniture. Yach’s father came straight to Canada, landing in Quebec. They sailed from Hamburg. Their names were Frank Karl Yach and Hermina Mindach.
