|
 Spencer Obelisk - Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Posted by:  The A-Team
N 48° 24.614 W 123° 20.649
10U E 474532 N 5361954
This obelisk marks the resting place of six members of the Spencer family and stands at the westernmost edge of Ross Bay Cemetery in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Waymark Code: WMN7ZE
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 01/15/2015
Views: 6
The obelisk and the Spencer family burial site is in section Q of the cemetery, row X, west side, plots 59 to 62. The obelisk is approximately 16 feet tall. There are a number of other obelisks in Ross Bay Cemetery, but this is the tallest.
The Old Cemeteries Society of Victoria provides a history of David Spencer:
David Spencer was born in 1837 on a farm in Southern Wales. He arrived in Victoria in 1862 and opened a dry goods store.
The first David Spencer department store opened on Government Street in Victoria in 1878. Branches were later opened in other BC towns such as Nanaimo, Chilliwack and New Westminster. David Spencer Ltd. eventually expanded into other businesses, including ranches in the interior of BC and the Victoria Times newspaper. Eaton's bought the eight Spencer's stores from the family in 1946.
The family became prominent in Victoria society and for many years he occupied a mansion in the Rockland area with his wife, Emma and thirteen children. It was just down the street from Government House and Craigdarroch Castle. The Spencer family later donated the house to the City of Victoria and today it houses the Victoria Art Gallery.
The inscription on the front (east) side of the obelisk reads:
IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
DAVID SPENCER
DIED MARCH 2, 1920
AGED 83 YEARS
EMMA SPENCER
BORN MAY 10, 1842
DIED SEPT 11, 1934
The inscription on the right (north) side reads:
IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
DAVID SCOTT SPENCER
BORN SEPT 30, 1869
DIED JUNE 21, 1932
AGNES EVANS SPENCER
BORN APRIL 6, 1873
DIED OCT 12, 1943
MARY LOUISE SPENCER
BORN APRIL 6, 1873
DIED MAY 7, 1951
The inscription on the back (west) side reads:
IN LOVING MEMORY
OF
KATE GORDON SPENCER
BORN DEC 31, 1887
DIED DEC 17, 1976
Date Created/Placed: 1920
Address:
1495 Fairfield Road
Victoria, BC
Height: 16 feet
Illuminated: no
Website: [Web Link]
|
Visit Instructions:
Give a narrative of your experience. What did you think of the obelisk? Did you learn anything? Photos are always welcome too. Please no virtual visits.
|