Before Television

What Happens When We Turn off the Remote

CDM 976.38.1

Here is a charming example of artistry in a hand painted dish that was donated to the museum in 1976. The dish had been owned by Mrs. Robb.

Of course the name "Robb" is synonymous with colonial settlement of the Comox Valley and particularly with Comox.

Valley author and historian Eric Duncan described his first view (1877) of the Comox Landing and Robb's property in his book From Shetland to Vancouver Island:

"The first settlers had been only fifteen years ahead of me, and of course had only hand tools to work with, and the huge trees crowded each other almost to the head of the wharf, which was new, and much narrower than at present [1937] - barely wide enough for one vehicle, and with a turn-off in the middle of the long approach. There was neither sidewalk nor freight-shed, and the hill at the head was then a regular bluff. Away to the east and right down on the beach was a naturally open field fenced with driftwood where the Robb's raised their vegetables and roots for their cattle. The rising ground above was unbroken bush; the only buildings visible were Rodello's store under tall ragged firs east of the wharf, the Elk Hotel down on the beach on the west side, and Robb's low, wide-spreading barn on the slope above, surrounded by cattle-sheds, one of which had a hatchway in the roof through which they threw in turnips, and another was utilized by William Robb - lately married - as a dwelling. Farther west, and hidden behind a screen of maples, was James Robb's small rough log residence and orchard..."