By Eilish Murphy and Dory Haney
Something extraordinary has appeared just next door to the Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Centre in Chemainus.
Standing outside the Chemainus Valley Museum is the sculpture of Charlie Abbott, better known as the Hermit of Chemainus. After decades away from public view, Charlie has returned to the community where the final chapter of his life unfolded.
Born in 1901, Charlie was originally a longshoreman in Victoria. Sometime during the 1970s, he left his wife and children and travelled up-island by train.
He struggled with alcoholism and likely carried the effects of wartime PTSD.
Before arriving in Chemainus, Charlie lived beneath the Silver Bridge in Duncan. After being repeatedly rousted from the area, he boarded the train once more, travelled a few stops farther, and stepped off at the Chemainus station.
From there, he walked into the woods and made a life for himself. Aft first, Charlie lived without any proper structure for shelter. Eventually, someone donated a camper. (It is believed that Rotary Club members arranged for the camper that became Charlie’s home)
He acquired seeds and began planting flowers, ferns and other greenery. He also began creating trails and rock walls entirely by hand. Every path was shaped through his own labour.
Every wall was built one rock at a time.
Chemainus resident Henry De Wit met Charlie on numerous occasions and supplied him with cement to help build and secure the trails during those later years.
In 1988, the Pacific Rim Artisan Village Foundation guaranteed Charlie official sanctuary and honoured him as the first resident artist of the Artisan Village.
His pilgrimage ended on April 14, 1989, when the Hermit of Chemainus died at the age of 87.
The sculpture now standing outside the museum was created by Glenn Spicer. Following an act of vandalism that damaged the beloved work, Spicer removed it and stored it on his property, intending to restore it. He passed away before that work could be completed, and the sculpture remained on the Spicer property for approximately 20 years.
A few weeks ago, Henry De Wit retrieved the sculpture from the Spicer property. With the help of longtime Chemainus resident Ron Waller, the current president of the Chemainus Valley Historical Society, De Wit brought it back to Chemainus and placed it outside the museum
For now, Charlie’s likeness has a temporary home. The sculpture will remain at the museum while funds are raised for its refurbishment, and a permanent location is selected.
It is a fitting return to prominence for a man whose life in Chemainus was built quietly, patiently, and entirely by hand.
After all these years, the Hermit back among us. And for the moment, he is standing right next door.
Eilish Murphy is the coordinator for the Chemainus Visitor Centre and Dory Haney is the executive director of the Chemainus and District Chamber of Commerce.