Written by Yono
Last semester, following a memorable Halloween night, Aida led us on a field trip. We might visit a museum with a horror theme. So, upon arriving at the Roedde House Museum, I still thought someone would jump out and scare us. I had yet to research this heritage house to keep this field trip’s mystery.
When we arrived at this museum, I was in awe. Not only the style of the architecture but also the displays of this museum were impressive. The Roedde House Museum is located on Barclay Street in Vancouver. From the outside, you can see the difference of this building compared to the other ordinary houses. Its well-maintained condition has preserved its nearly 130-year-old structure even after a fire. This heritage house has been a part of Vancouver since the late 19th century. I can’t imagine what kind of life the people living here had.
This house has two floors; the first floor was used for receiving guests or having dinner together. The clock is both beautiful and classical and even still works today. There were also some books from that era; reading was a favoured pastime in the absence of smartphones. And there are also some newspapers when I read it, I even go back then. Reading the newspapers from the late 19th made me feel I had gone back in time, learning something amusing that had happened in this city or reading international news from Europe or North America. Besides that, there were various documents in the cabinet, leaving enough space for me to imagine whether this family had some secrets waiting for us to explore. This was also an inspiration for our presentations. The piano, a standard item in a middle-class household, stood as a symbol of cultural appreciation. When I saw the Roedde Family Preservation Society, I was shocked. A vast social network supported the entire family. On the second floor, we visited the children’s bedroom; each preserved item was ingenious and beautiful. I can imagine they had a cozy childhood. As a keyboard enthusiast, I was particularly fascinated by the two typewriters, which stood as a testament to human intelligence. It is worth saying that their children joined the army, which is a matter of honour for this family.
When we finished the field trip, everyone received a red flower brooch. At first, I thought this was just a kind of souvenir; however, over the following days, I noticed these brooches everywhere—in the streets and shops. It seemed to be a collective act of commemoration. Upon further research, I discovered these pins were poppies worn to honour those who had fallen in war. At that moment, I felt a profound connection to Canadian culture, much like the Roedde family.