Delivered at Whatshan Lake Retreat 1100 Hours, Saturday, September 22, 2018 by Elmer Verigin
I was sulking in my construction trailer at Elkford B.C., that late August day in 1973 when I heard a gentle knock on the door. Not expecting anyone as I had just arrived from Cranbrook with devastating news from the Federal Business Development Bank, that I had loan approval for $700,000 to build a Shopping Center and Hotel for a budget that needed a minimum of $850,000.
I opened the door, not knowing what to expect and hoping that whoever was there would not notice that I had been crying. Yes grown men do cry!
“My name is Larry”, the slightly built man introduced himself. “I heard that you are planning on a major construction project here and I want to be part of it!”
“Well I had planned on doing that but my financing is not even 75% of my needs so I think I am folding my tent, so to speak, and leaving town,” I thought I might as well be honest.
“Well you have not received our price on steel studs, insulation, drywall, T-Bar ceilings and stucco so how can you make such a decision,” obviously this man was not going to be brushed off too easily,
The story that followed became a Verigin and Sapriken Brothers commercial association that lasted many years and survived many projects where the two families, blessed with top of the line Tradesmen performed at the peak of their capabilities. What was thought to be a failed project, developed into an apartment being added to the original hotel and shopping center, that required eight (8) truckloads of drywall and completed in the Spring of 1974.
Later, this included projects throughout the Kootenays and a major school for the First Nations in Nelson House Manitoba.
Figure 1 Edna Sapriken
Figure 2 LARRY SAPRIKEN
When Larry and Edna moved to Slocan Park, B.C., with their young family of two daughters and two sons, they became members of the Doukhobor Cultural Association (DCA). In Figure 1 Edna smiles at us and in Figure 2 Larry is contemplating his next move at one of the DCA Socials. DCA photos have since been censored!
Figure 3 LARRY SAPRIKEN
Larry was always ready to participate and be “part of the crowd”. At DCA Socials, he would bring out his humour and we now see him participate in a fashion show and was caught in a dress of all things. Larry had great legs and we could say very “leggy” and hard to tell him apart from the females in the line up as in Figure 3
Figure 4 Marilyn Verigin, Bill Voykin, Elmer Verigin, LARRY SAPRIKEN and Lawrence Popoff .
In 1981, the DCA decided to purchase 204 acres at Whatshan lake, near Edgewood, B.C. Larry and Edna willingly committed themselves to be part of a loan of $150,000 with twelve other DCA couples. The Demoskoffs spear-headed a selective logging initiative to repay the loan. Later in 1995, 50% of the DCA decided to form the Doukhobor Heritage Retreat Society #1999 (DHRS #1999). Larry was on site with part of the group in Figure 4, discussing the project and just how it would be orientated. It was decided to build a Retreat that would be available to anyone who had need to use same for peaceful purposes.
Figure 5 LARRY SAPRIKEN and Walter Demoskoff
Construction started with a typical Whatshan Redi-mix concrete operation with donated cement and Doukhobor muscle and sweat as shown here with Larry and Walter mixing concrete for the Retreat foundations in Figure 5. There were many volunteers who came from the DHRS #1999. Volunteers drove their own vehicles, brought their own food. Volunteers cooked the food and we all ate communally. It was quite an experience and perhaps the traditional Doukhobor ways were being relived by those who participated.
Figure 6 LARRY SAPRIKEN
Here is Larry clowning in Figure 6 with formwork just removed from the foundation in 1996.
We learned to put a bit a humour into our work so we could look forward to the challenges ahead of us. We also made sure that we enjoyed the evenings.
Figure 7 LARRY SAPRIKEN
Larry loved his coffee (when there was no beer) and enjoyed having breaks as often as that was possible. In Figure 7, he is in his familiar pose, legs crossed and coffee in his right hand. It is obvious he just arrived as his favorite hat is still on and he has not removed his jacket yet.
Figure 8 Elmer Verigin and LARRY SAPRIKEN
A temporary kitchen was constructed just to the left of the existing BCH power transformer where a wood stove provided the kitchen base. It was never known whether two (2) volunteers would show or at times, there were thirty-five (35). Somehow the lady volunteers would gather the food that came with the volunteers and would create a feast enjoyed by all. Here in Figure 8, Larry is enjoying a break with beer in hand with a background of burning brush from the clearing just completed for the septic tank, field and Stage.
Figure 9 LARRY was here!
The Whatshan Kitchen was equipped with pots and pans and here was even a mirror for the ladies to check whether their hair was done right. Larry again showed humour by hanging a heart with his name just above the mirror in Figure 9.
Figure 10 LARRY with Lawrence Popoff
The men also cooked. Here Lawrence Popoff and Larry pitch in and help out in their speciality dishes. The ladies did not seem to mind and gladly moved over to let the guys do their thing. Obviously Larry is very serious about what he is about to prepare as he wields his knife in Figure 10. Nothing was ever thrown out as there were too many hungry customers. There was always more food brought than we were able to consume.
Figure 11 LARRY SAPRIKEN
Not always was there enough light as there was no electricity till 1999. So Larry is sitting here using a flashlight to follow instructions of some sort in Figure 11. Could it be his secret menu?
There were all forms of accommodation including pickup trucks, truck campers. tent trailers and Recreational Vehicles as noted in Figure 12. Yes, Lawrence and Larry were taking a break from the hard work.
Figure 12 LARRY SAPRIKEN with Larry Popoff
Trees were sawn into timbers and trusses for the Retreat Center were designed and constructed. These eight (8) supporting roof members required steel gusset plates on either side of the center truss chord. This meant that a 1 1/2 horse power drill was needed to predrill for the 1,350 bolts that were required to assemble them all. Larry would light a cigarette and start drilling which took a few minutes.
Figure 13 LARRY SAPRIKEN
Unfortunately (as in Figure 13), the holes in the second steel plates were not aligned and the drill bit would grab that and jar Larry awake. The ashes would fall off his cigarette and Larry’s cap would fall off. there were always a few words that were uttered that were not always understood. Depending on the time of the day, they could be in either Russian or English or a combination of both.
Figure 14 A Larry Figure 14 LARRY SAPRIKEN
Larry was there when the first structural component was raised above the Retreat Foundation. Here Larry was busy securing the anchor bolts after which he gace the post a big hug. Larry’s specialty was drywall. in Figure 14, he demonstrates how a round post (his love) can be fire-proofed.
Figure 15 LARRY SAPRIKEN
Larry is on the scaffold finishing the ceilings in the Retreat Center in Figure 15. There were many pails of mud mixed and joints to be sanded.
His special project was the Bandshell that was designed by the Acoustics Specialist, Anton Neidersteiner. every detail was followed with the expertise Larry learned at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver.
Figure 16 Fred Chursinoff and LARRY SAPRIKEN
Larry is on the Retreat Roof in Figure 16, completing the fireplace chimney cap with Fred Chursinoff.
There were very few jobs that Larry did not participate in to complete the project.
Figure 17 Lawrence Popoff, Fred Chursinoff, Elmer Verigin, LARRY SAPRIKEN, Walter Demoskoff and Bill Voykin
This assembly of the regular crew that was responsible for much of the construction at Whatshan is shown in figure 17. What was amazing and very heartwarming to see all these people just present themselves to get the job done. There was no complaints that someone was not doing their share. They just pitched in and did it.
Larry was one of those that started doing a job and those who were looking for something to do were welcomed to join him.
Larry was “part of the gang”, you might say, and enjoyed that role.
Some of the missing men in this photo were Alex Markin, Russel Verigin, Lawrence Verigin, Lawrence Tamelin and Philip Konkin.
Many times I heard the comments from the Volunteers “if had to die at sometime, then I would prefer that took place at Whatshan Lake Retreat. At the time of this writing (September 14, 2018), the following have passed on from the photo : Larry Sapriken, Walter Demoskoff as well the missing men from the photo.
Figure 18 Ann Zibin, Russel Verigin, LARRY SAPRIKEN and Lawrence Popoff
The Retreat Center was in the finishing stage, with the kitchen in place. Visitors come to inspect and complete deficiencies as in Figure 18.. Again, Larry is clowning around.
At one time a question was asked “why are we doing this?”
The best answer was “why not?”
There was a story about this Philosophy Professor who set a final examination for his class.
The class prepared the best they could and arrived at the appointed date and time.
The examination was passed out with one question on the full page: “Why”?
The students started feverishly writing long essays to try and capture the intent of the Professor and provide their answer. One student completed the three (3) hour paper in fifteen minutes and handed it in.
The other students thought that this looked like a failing student. His was an “A” mark, in the opinion of his Professor, as he wrote “Why Not?”
Perhaps that is the story on Whatshan as that was Larry’s philosophy that was accepted by those who participated with him.
Fifteen (15) Carpenter Apprentices from J. Lloyd Crowe High School demonstrate their appreciation of Larry and the special Carpentry “Tricks” that he had showed them. They built this “special CANTINA” for Larry.
Figure 19 Lawrence Popoff
Lawrence Popoff sits there with a sad look on his face in Figure 19. “So why was I just a Tin Basher and not a Carpenter as I could had this built for me instead of Larry.”
We spent many hours with Larry, exchanging philosophical views on life in general. He expressed a wish that his family would learn to love Whatshan Lake Retreat as he did. Many of us in the DHRS #1999, obviously felt the same. Today I see Larry’s family here and his dream has become a reality. Nobody should try to predict the future but who knows where it will take us.
Here are some humorous stories that took place at Whatshan.
In the evenings, a bonfire would be built as there never was a shortage of wood. At this fire some liquid spirits would be consumed and various debates would be argued. One such debate was whether the North Star moved across the sky.
To prove Russel Verigin’s opinion, that the North Star was stationary, a four (4) foot 1 x 2 was nailed to a tree and carefully pointed at the North Star. Everyone could align themselves along the 1 x 2 and the pointed end was fully directed at the North Star. No matter when anyone looked, the result was the same, they saw the North Star.
A few days later, another bonfire needed stoking to encourage a flame and so Fred Chursinoff ripped the 1 x 2 from the tree and stoked the fire. Larry became infuriated and wrestled the 1 x 2 from Fred and immediately aligned it back on the tree so that the Whatshan Astronomy lesson could stay intact.
The end that Larry used to align the 1 x 2 had soot on it and so Larry’s eye was blackened. Of course everyone could see that as he returned to the now burning bonfire and started laughing. Only Larry did not laugh as he could not understand the joke.
The empathy that Larry imparted around him was especially understood by the animals. We watched as Larry patiently befriended a few Chipmunks. When he moved to Campsite 6, the Chipmunks seemed to follow him. On many occasions we would find a Chipmunk eating a peanut on Larry’s knee. To this day, there is a sign posted on the tree “Slow Chipmunks Crossing.”
One day Larry invited me to have Bean Soup with him at his Camper. I am not fond of Bean Soup and I waved my hand only to have the invitation repeated more seriously. “Elmer, this is my special recipe”, he called out.
Not to offend Larry, I finally settled down to a bowl. Well I ended up having two (2) helpings. “Where, did you learn to make this soup?” I asked, “it is the most delicious I have ever tasted!”
“Aggazzi”, was his response. Larry and spent many hours, with me, when he shared his experiences from the controversial incarceration time in his life. What was most educational to me was that he never once complained about it but just accepted it as part of the Journey of his Life.
This has been a lengthy story about Larry but so it has been a long time that I knew him. There is no question that I can sum it all up by saying that “I knew a great Soul”!
They say in the Rotary Club “that we are all sent here to Earth and rented a space, check from time to time that your rent is paid.”
Larry’s rent has a credit in his audit!
If we listen carefully, to the rustling leaves, we will hear Larry. If we feel the soft touch of the wind on our faces, it will only be Larry whose presence at Whatshan Lake Retreat is eternal.
Elmer Verigin
September 14, 2018
Credit is hereby noted to Lawrence Popoff who was the perennial and faithful photographer of the DCA and DHRS #1999 projects and socials. Thank you Lawrence. Thank you alos to Marilyn Verigin for editing
On September 13, 2018 I forwarded a draft of this Writing to Lisa Poznikoff, daughter of Larry for comment so that I could post it in my blog. I have her approval to do so.
On September15, 2018. Lisa advised that she had read this story to her mother, Edna, and she liked it.
On September 19, 2018, the pictures were substituted for JPEG to insert into my Blog. Other pictures were added along with comments
Elmer Verigin 