Comments on: The mysterious graves at UBC’s Gage Towers

By: Judith Stark

Judith Stark — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 03:03:33 +0000

Having officiated at numerous official and unofficial burial sites, my experience makes me wonder if the remains (ashes/urns? caskets?) actually belong to someone in the Gage family. Sometimes, even though it’s not legal to bury remains in certain places, people ask for this as a dying wish when the location carries such profound meaning. In other words, the Gage family members or patriarch/matriarch could not officially be laid to rest there, so maybe a story of former workers served as a convenient cover story! Thus, your ‘plot’ (sorry) might be even thicker, Eve!

By: Skip Savage

Skip Savage — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 04:40:21 +0000

I lived in Gage Lowrise for a couple of misspent UBC sessions, 1979-80 and 1980-81. I unfortunately did not notice this shrine while I lived there, so even though I spent sixteen months in its immediate vicinity, I can offer no reminiscences. Maybe there was nothing to see then?

I will say the landscaping and gardens at UBC were great then and still are, so thanks Gregg.

By: Megan Stuart-Stubbs

Megan Stuart-Stubbs — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 17:14:39 +0000

In reply to Eve Lazarus. The mention of the shingle mill brings back a faint memory of friends living at Carey Hall finding “artefacts” in the same grove. (Though could as easily have been debris from WW2 or construction garbage.)

By: Megan Stuart-Stubbs

Megan Stuart-Stubbs — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 16:14:20 +0000

I can’t believe this is here! This is a mystery my childhood next door neighbour have been planning to pursue for years. These were on the path to our “fort” which was right behind.

I can’t see it in the pictures but it seems part of what I remember is no longer there. There was an altar like brick construction, with Chinese characters on it.

The U-Hill connection seems plausible. The “graves” were along side a well trodden path in the mid 60s though well overgrown at that point.

By: jmv

jmv — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 03:34:31 +0000

In reply to Sandra Walton. This hypothesis actually makes a lot of sense to me, a tribute shrine to an unknown history! Very zen, in fact. If the contractors went out of their way not to disturb the site, they would never learn if in fact anything was buried there at all!

By: Sandra Walton

Sandra Walton — Sat, 19 Nov 2022 18:31:59 +0000

Hi Eve, These are not “graves”. My husband and a friend created this “shrine” in the early 1960’s when they were high-school students at University Hill. I have sent your blog to the instigator, who may, or may not get back to you. He became a highly regarded UBC Prof… I think they would like it to remain a mystery!