The Oak Bay EncyclopediaTM
T . H . E . . E . A . R . L . Y . . Y . E . A . R . S

A listing of noteworthy
people, places and things from
Oak Bay's early years.

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Click on any letter, above, to visit specific section of encyclopedia


L

Lafayete Street
see Street/Place Names section

Laing's Grocery
947 Monterey Avenue (1949 phone book)
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Lander's Book Shop
 2224 Oak Bay Avenue (1948–1949 phone books)
Former location of Bett's Book Shop
Subsequent location of Dogwood Book Shop
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Lansdowne, Fenwick J.
1937–2008
Oak Bay artist of international renown
Profile under development

Lansdowne Road
see Street/Place Names section

Larkdowne Road
see Street/Place Names section

Lincoln Road
see Street/Place Names section

Linkleas Avenue
see Street/Place Names section

Little League Baseball

Click on image to see enlargement
In 1953, Little League baseball in Victoria was expanded to include kids living in adjoining municipalities. This was huge for Oak Bay pre-teen boys, who dominated the rosters of the four new teams created: the Kinsmen, Lions. Elks and Oak Bay Kiwanis.
Click on the MEMORABILIA button to view or contribute recollections, photos and artifacts

Little Wheel Coffee Shop
2045 Oak Bay Avenue (1959... phone book)
"Does anyone recall the "Little Wheel" hamburger joint on Oak Bay Avenue near Mitchell Street? Big Ben Laughren — wrestler, Juan de Fuca Strait swimmer — was the host and cook there. It was a great hang out for the in-crowd!
I remember Big Ben showing me how a punch was faked by having me place my schnozz in the crook of his forearm. Wow! I don't recall breathing for the rest of the day.
Can anyone elaborate on this memoir and fill in for my spotty memory?"
— Mike Gibbs, OBHS class of 1960
* * *
"I recall one evening in the summer of '60 when a band dropped by after a gig and Ben got them to play a few songs in the loft in exchange for dinner. What a great evening that was!
We played a lot of cards up in that loft — mostly Hearts. Ben would join in when things were quiet.
The wall alongside the booths was plastered with original art by aspiring artists. I remember adding something to the collection.
And then there was the cartoonist up from the States who was drawing on everybody's t-shirts.
And then there was the jukebox. I'm not sure how it happened, but I ended up with a box full of 45s from that jukebox!
Big Ben Laughren had a gruff exterior but a heart of gold."
— Gary Wilcox, OBHS class of 1960
* * *
"As I recall, Ben relocated to Esquimalt in '60 or '61. The original burger joint was on Oak Bay Avenue. To me it was always referred to as "Big Ben's Burgers," but then I'm older than you guys so what do I know. The name "Rendezvous" rings a bell though. Maybe (thanks to Miss Burridge), I've subconciously tried to block out any French sounding words."
— Blaine Tringham, OBHS class of 1958
* * *
"I don't recall the name "Big Ben's Burgers," I do remember the "Rendezevous" on Oak Bay Ave.
Ben had a restaurant in Esquimalt, was that the one? Many hours were spent by yours truly and others at the Rendezvous. Possibly this is where I was introduced to jazz and in particular Brubeck's music. The sign at the entrance read "There's no place like this place, so this is the place"
Ben made the best burgers in town and many of us followed him to Esquimalt."
— Dick Kirk, OBHS class of 1960
* * *
"I remember Big Ben as one of the pioneers in swimming the Strait of Juan de Fuca — from Cattle Point to Port Angeles — after Flo Chadwick, etc. After this, as far as I can remember, he was studied at U of Washington for having a very low body temperature.
He opened his Big Bens Burgers here and there around Victoria. I think that the last one I can remember was out at the Gorge where there was a rocket (or a plane) that had crashed on the roof. (Please correct me it I am wrong!!)
I remember Ben well as he was cook at the camp where I had my last job in Canada. I was working for the Dept. of Highways in Gold River, and he was the cook at the camp."
— Don Ingham, OBHS class of 1960
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Lorne Terrace
see Street/Place Names section

Lowe Bros fruit and vegetables
2003 Oak Bay Avenue (...1934... phone book)
Former location of Bourke Hardware and Paint Co. (1930 phone book)
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Lucille's Estevan Woollens
2519 Estevan Avenue (1950–1953 phone books)
Formerly Watson's Woollens but sold when Watson opened Watson's Grocery & Confectionery at 2559 Estevan in 1950
Became Estevan Woollens in 1954
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

"Lucky Corrigan" (aka "Fury and the Woman")
1936 movie produced by film studio in Oak Bay
see Willows Park Studio
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

"Lucky Fugitives"
1936 movie produced by film studio in Oak Bay
see Willows Park Studio
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Lucky Jim Barber Shop
2006 Oak Bay Avenue (...1941–1942... phone books)
Photos, artifacts and recollections welcomed

Lulie Street
see Street/Place Names section

Luxton, Norman
First mate of the "Tilikum," the dugout canoe that sailed around the world from Oak Bay in 1901
Profile under development

Lyn Crescent
see Street/Place Names section



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The Oak Bay Encyclopedia™
Contents copyright © 2004-2012 Gary Wilcox Studios Incorporated.
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