The route was new, but the truck was old. On Dec. 8 the Sooke Santa Parade followed a new route from Throup Road to Church Road to Wadams Way – but the truck was old, a 1925-26 Model T Ford, used by Charlie Stolth in early developments around the Village of Sooke.
It was in 1931 that Charlie and Ida Stolth, a couple who emigrated from Sweden, bought a house way up Sooke River Road, where they raised their three children. While Charlie Stolth was a hard-working logger, he was also an enterprising man who set about developing his large property alongside the Sooke River, hence this innovation of the day, a Model T truck.
While the Stolth's son Elmer (generally known as "Smokey") followed his dad as a logger, and then became a road foreman, his daughters became homemakers, in the custom of the time. Daughter Eleanor married Richard Arden, while Norma married Bob Lajeunesse.
Smokey Stolth married Evelyn (Clark) Eve, becoming stepdad to the three Eve youngsters, Leslie, Elinor and Gordie, and then raised a new family of Stolth kids: Wayne, Janice, Mike and Karen. With the passing of time, and new generations succeeding our pioneers, their interest in history has continued, with the Sooke Region Museum the beneficiary, where the Stolth Model T truck was donated.
It was a great-granddaughter of Charlie Stolth, Cheryl, who mustered this many of the Stolth descendants together to send the historic Model T truck off with cheers on its Christmas tour, to bring many happy memories for the spectators of the Santa Parade.
Starting at left, the photo taken by Keith Van Eyk shows: Paige Mills, Cody and Dana Lajeunesse, Lance Lajeunesse, Kaitlyn Lee, Kyle. Debbie and Leslie Lajeunesse, Sydney and Cassandra Van Eyk, Chelsea Lajeunesse with infant Charlie Henry Heggelund at the doorway of the truck, Cheryl Van Eyk, Bonnie Hay, Karen Brooks, Jody Buchanan, Mike Stolth, Robbie Stolth, Lisa Stolth, Janice Mosely, and then Matthew, Samus and Theo Stolth.
History, family, and good cheer, a fitting photo for the holiday season.
Elida Peers is the historian with Sooke Region Museum.
