Salt Spring Island Archives
In 1912 Arthur Drake took over the operation of the Creamery, which had been in full operation since 1904, and ran it for the next 37 years. He married Lydia Mouat in 1919 on his return from World War I, and they lived in the first house on the right on what became known as Drake Road directly above the Creamery (now Embe Bakery), where Arthur worked for so many years.
Salt Spring Creamery butter became famous in the 1930’s when it was judged Canada’s best at the Canadian National Exhibition and was served to the King and Queen of England during their 1939 visit to Victoria. The Creamery typically churned 1400lbs of butter a week, and at peak output produced 140,000 lbs in one year.
Arthur and Lydia had four children: Arthur Vernon, William Bruce, James Colvin and Malcolm “Louis”. Malcom “Louis” went missing in action in 1943, and the other three sons moved away from Salt Spring Island.
