Jane Lewis was born December 20, 1902 to her parents Emily and Jesse Goodale. She had 2 sisters and 1 brother. Jane was born in Quay River, B.C. but lived in Nanaimo most of her life
Jane married John Lewis and they had 5 children: Arbutus (Bub), Rose, John, Henry (Hank), and Tom.
Jane was a strong willed woman who accomplished many outstanding feats in her lifetime. She was a pioneer in the early logging years when women were unheard of working in this industry. Jane was B.C.'s first female boom logger. She began her experience alongside her father, Jesse who had a pile driving and towboat business.
Jane was just a teenager but she worked hard and faced many and was equal to any man.
Her love of the sea and her determination earned her a good reputation in the business. She learned to run all the machinery, operate the towboat and to do repairs when necessary.
Jane was the first woman to have her own booming contract. Right up and to 1952, Jane could be seen working the logging booms along the B.C. Coast. She was agile and her ability to move freely on the log booms earned her the nickname "Boomcat". Jane continued to meet the challenges and dangers a boom-man faced daily. There were many times she was exposed to possible harm or injury. For instance, a load of logs unexpectedly tumbled down the skid and Jane was forced to dive between the logs and into the water to avoid being crushed. Jane faced these near misses often but it never deterred her from returning to work near the sea.
Jane was also known for her fishing abilities. She worked alongside her husband on his fish boat. She knew the value of a good skiff and could explain the difference between fishing with a gill net or with poverty sticks. Jane could identify a boat powered by an Easthope or a Vivian by the sound of the boat chugging in Newcastle Channel.
Jane was a hardworker who always put her family first. She knew what day her husband got paid for working in the coal mine. On those days she would stand in the pub doorway and say, "John, your family comes first, you get home!" SHE WAS AN IMPOSING FIGURE.
Her strength and determination kept her family fed and a roof over their heads in hard times.
Jane was a wonderful, understanding person who took time to care about and listen attentively to many different people. In her later years she could be found knitting Cowichan Indian sweaters and listening to her Hallicrafters Short Wave radio, identifying the towboats as they navigated up and down the coast.
The Hallicrafters Company manufactured, marketed, and sold radio equipment, and to a lesser extent televisions and phonographs, beginning in 1932.
(This article may rely partly on a book by George Dorman, a pioneer of logging and owner of a sawmill in Nanaimo, B.C.)
