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Miss Ransom and Miss Bridges’ School for girls in Piedmont, California, existed from 1908 to 1932. Low enrollments during the Depression years forced the school to close. However, when Dola Dunsmuir attended in 1920, the school was thriving. More than a finishing school for young ladies, the school offered a challenging curriculum for university preparation. The school had accommodation for 50 girls and offered frequent outings to concerts and plays as well as riding and hiking clubs. Students also performed an annual Shakespeare play.

Miss Ransom and Miss Bridges’ School for girls in Piedmont, California, existed from 1908 to 1932. Low enrollments during the Depression years forced the school to close. However, when Dola Dunsmuir attended in 1920, the school was thriving. More than a finishing school for young ladies, the school offered a challenging curriculum for university preparation. The school had accommodation for 50 girls and offered frequent outings to concerts and plays as well as riding and hiking clubs. Students also performed an annual Shakespeare play. This picture shows one of Dola’s school friends.

Marion is standing on the west side of the porte cochere.

The Italian garden to the west of the castle was added as part of extensive development of the Hatley Park estate by Boston based landscape architects, Brett and Hall from 1912-1914.

Miss Ransom and Miss Bridges’ School for girls in Piedmont, California, existed from 1908 to 1932. Low enrollments during the Depression years forced the school to close. However, when Dola Dunsmuir attended in 1920, the school was thriving. More than a finishing school for young ladies, the school offered a challenging curriculum for university preparation. The school had accommodation for 50 girls and offered frequent outings to concerts and plays as well as riding and hiking clubs. Students also performed an annual Shakespeare play. This picture shows some of Dola’s school friends on one of the many outings.

Maude Shoobert married Robin Dunsmuir in November 1901. Robin was the eldest son of James and Laura Dunsmuir.

Silhouettes were a common way to capture a portrait before photography was widely used. This silhouette may be Laura Dunsmuir or a friend of the family.

Laura Mary 'Maye' Dunsmuir and Lieutenant Arthur Bromley were married at St. Saviour's Church in Victoria on the evening of Friday, June 24, 1904. Attending bridesmaids were Kathleen and Muriel Dunsmuir, Miss Bromley and Miss Gertrude Rithet. The groomsman was Arthur's brother, Lieutenant Maurice Bromley-Wilson.
After the church ceremony, some 500 invited guests attended a reception at the Dunsmuir home, Burleith.

Upon Laura Dunsmuir’s death in 1937, she left instructions in her will that the estate and all its contents were to be sold. This was a long and difficult process and the estate was managed in the meantime by a skeleton staff of about 10 people. There was a monthly transfer of $1500 from the estate of Laura Dunsmuir to cover the cost of running Hatley Park. In late May 1939, King George the VI and Queen Elizabeth visited Vancouver and Victoria on the western leg of their cross-Canada tour. They spent a full afternoon at Hatley Park and picnicked on the property. In the following days, June 1-5, a week-long auction for the contents of the house was held and most of the contents were sold off at bargain prices. The catalogue cost 25c to purchase and included admission to the auction held onsite at Hatley Park. Many locals took the opportunity to come and tour the property for the first time rather than make purchases in the auction.