Accession Number

2008.015.006

Description

A four-legged wooden footstool with cushioned fabric top, the top bordered with green gimp braiding.

Narrative

This footstool was made by James 'Boy' Dunsmuir for his mother, Laura Miller Dunsmuir using tools that he had received as a Christmas gift. She used it at Hatley Park. 

The footstool was acquired from the family of former Dunsmuir employee John Frederick William Jamieson. Mr. Jamieson was a rig driver for R. Dunsmuir & Sons during a rail construction project taking place around 1906. As work was coming to a close, James Dunsmuir asked him to be a footman for him at Government House. He accepted the position and continued in that role when the family moved to Hatley Park in 1910. But when he married the governess for the children of Robert William (aka "Robin") Dunsmuir and started his own family, Laura Dunsmuir grew concerned that his footman duties would force him to be away from his family in the evenings. He was therefore re-assigned to drive a truck around the estate, stocking buildings with firewood and moving things as required.

His son Jack Jamieson recalled in a December 30, 2008 telephone conversation with Craigdarroch's Curator that his father had been very close to James "Boy" Dunsmuir. That is the reason he was given the footstool that Boy had made. John also inherited at least one of Boy's long guns, but its location is unknown.  Other items inherited by John Frederick William Jamieson include photographs of Hon. James Dunsmuir, Lt. James Dunsmuir, and Elinor Dunsmuir, as well as a calendar holder from TSSY Dolaura (see: 2008.015.006). 

John Frederick William Jamieson always told his son Jack that Boy was "a real fine fellow". 

History of Use

Laura Dunsmuir used this footstool at Hatley Park. It was inherited by Dunsmuir family employee John Jamieson, who had been a footman at Government House and a footman and estate worker at Hatley Park. The footstool stayed with his family on Vancouver Island until it was acquired by The Castle Society in 2008.

Date

circa 1910

Dimensions

9 x 29 x 19 cm

Material

Wood; Fabric; Metal, iron

Technique

Flat sawn; Upholstered

Country of Origin

Canada