A bridge in central British Columbia reopens in 1941, and is captured in a black & white snapshot that nearly 70 years later opens up a flood of controversy on the Internet. To know more about this story, visit the exhibit Their Past Lives Here, produced by the Bralorne Museum and virtualmuseum.ca. Leave us your comments below, and tell us why this History Matters to you.
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How could the reopening of a bridge some 70 years ago…connect the future to the past?
It’s 1940. A raging flood washes out the South Fork Bridge near Bralorne, British Columbia.
This rusty, metal structure is a lifeline to one of the richest gold mines in Canada. The Bralorne mine draws thousands of dreamers to B.C. seeking their fortune. Soon, it will draw a dreamer from another time.
With much fanfare the bridge reopens in 1941…
…and is captured in a black & white snapshot that some 70 years later opens up a flood of controversy.
The photograph shows a crowd of men and women wearing clothes of the day—suits, trench coats, dresses…a sea of fedoras. Nothing odd about that. But upon closer inspection, one man stands out from the rest.
He sports funky sunglasses, a hip haircut, a t-shirt with a logo beneath a Hoodie and what appears to be a modern camera in his hands that makes one take a second look.
Known as the Time Traveller, this Internet sensation with more than one million hits has many wondering what brought him to Bralorne? Gold?
To see the Time Traveller for yourself go to History Matters at virtualmuseum.ca.
And tell us why this history matters to you?
July 19th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
This photograph has caused many to believe a “Time Traveller” visited the Bralorne area in April of 1941. The truth of the matter is the gentleman in question was not a time traveller. He was a “World Traveller”.
From the Archives at the Lillooet Museum, an excerpt from the Bridge River Lillooet Newspaper dated April 4th, 1941: “Visiting his aunt and uncle, L.A.C. Edward Russel came to stay his leave with the Creamers. Two and a half years he has put in with the RCAF and his duties are navigating. L.A.C. Russel stands 6’4 and 1/2″ and expects to become a pilot when they make cockpits larger.”
In 1941 Rayban created the first “Aviator Glasses” which replaced aviator goggles. These glasses were given out to RCAF pilots and aviators. His hair and clothing would not seem strange to those living in England during the early 1940′s. As for the “M” on his T-shirt. Manchester, England was were the pilot training school was located during WWII…….
July 27th, 2011 at 9:03 pm
The photo and the comment by Susan Bell reminds me of the importance of not making assumptions about an item whether it be a photograph or a document by first impressions. Further thought and investigation is often needed to determine the whole story.
August 13th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
The “Time Traveler”, that’s funny! He was defiantly into cutting edge fashion for his day.
November 9th, 2012 at 8:26 pm
Very interesting story indeed. I’d love to see this photo enlarged myself as I’m quite good at Photoshop (working with it since 1992) and I believe I could tell if it has been altered or not. But I was not able to find a large enough photo on the net.
March 5th, 2013 at 5:43 pm
This picture reminds me old days, looks really nice.