County of Brant Public Library Digital Collections

Robert ("Bobby") and William ("Wally") West in front of House

Description

Comments (0)

Creators

Unknown, Photographer

West, William

, Depicted

West, Robert

, Depicted

Media Type

Image

Item Type

Photographs

Description

This photograph depicts William "Wally" West (1818 - 1912), self-proclaimed Bard of the Nith and Grand Commodore of the Nith Navigation Co., his son Robert in front of their home on the Ayr Road. They were among the most eccentric of Parisians in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Nith Navigation Co. rented boats and took passengers out on the Nith River.

Robert's entertainer's cart, containing a phonograph and magic lantern (a type of early slide projector), is attached to his bicycle on the left. The text on it reads:

"R. WEST
ENTERTAINER,
PARIS
ONT.

BLUE
RIBBON"

More information about the Wests can be found in chapter 18 of volume I of At the Forks of the Grand, linked to on the right.

This image was printed on page 248 of At the Forks of the Grand: Volume I by D. A. Smith.

Notes

Robert became an entertainer in 1905, and his father died in 1912; this photo was taken at some time between those dates.

Date of Original

19[??]

Dimensions

Width: 18.6 cm
Height: 11.1 cm

Subject(s)

Bicycles & tricycles
Entertainers
Dwellings
Phonographs
Projectors
Sailors
Telescopes
Paris, Ontario
West, Robert
West, William (1818 - 1912)

Local identifier

2009.0062.01, Page 11, Photo 1

Collection

D.A. Smith Photograph Collection

Language of Item

English

Geographic Coverage

Paris

Ontario, Canada

Latitude: 43.2 Longitude: -80.38333

Recommended Citation

Robert and William "Wally" West in front of House, 19[??], D.A. Smith Photograph Collection, 2009.0062.01, Page 11, Photo 1, Paris Museum and Historical Society

Terms of Use

The information and images provided are for personal research only and are not to be used for commercial purposes. Use of this information should include the credit “Paris Museum and Historical Society.”

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