Inscription on reverse reads: ” Late Miss Bowen”

A formal photograph of Miss Bowen dressed in evening dress with a small posy of flowers.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Inscriptions on reverse read: “To the Mayor of Levin. from H E B.” and ” Late Mayor and Mayoress Mr and Mrs Parton donated by Mr Joyce 3/77 Mrs Florence Algie on left of Miss Bowen”

Miss Bowen (left) with the Mayor and Mayoress of Levin, Mr and Mrs Parton, with other ladies in the background. Mr Parton was Mayor of Levin from 1950 to 1953. The group is standing outside the front door of an unidenified house. Mrs Florence Algie is standing to the left of Miss Bowen.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Inscription on reverse reads: “Late Miss Bowen donated Mr Joyce 3/77”

Miss Bowen in a garden wearing a velvet dress with a large bow at the neck.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Inscriptions on reverse read: “Mrs R Prouse, Miss Bowen, Mrs Maude Clark” and “Front Mrs R Prouse Miss Bowen Mrs Clark Donated by Mr Joyce 3/77”

A group of Levin women with Miss Bowen. Amongst the group are Mrs Flora MacDonald (back row far right) and in the front row from left to right, unknown, Mrs Richard Prouse, Miss Bowen, Mrs Lett (Clark) and Mrs Burdekin (Mayoress)

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Five Levin women, from left to right, Mrs Parton, Mrs Burdekin, Miss Bowen, Mrs Richard Prouse, Mrs Lett, sitting behind a table which has a large floral decoration in the centre. Mrs Parton (former Mayoress) is wearing a dark coat over a floral dress, a dark hat with a turned back brim and she has a floral spray on her left lapel. Mrs Burdekin (former Mayoress) has a light outfit with a fox-fur over her right shoulder. She has a dark hat with a turned back brim and a floral spray on her left lapel. Miss Bowen is partly obscured by the table centerpiece, but is wearing an outfit with a fur collar which comes up to her ears. She has a small hat with a veil perched on top of her head. Mrs Prouse has an overcoat and scarf over the top of a dark dress. Her hat has a wide brim with a decoration in the centre front, and she has a brooch on her left lapel. Mrs Lett over a white top which has a tie neck. Her black hat which has a high crown and a small brim is decorated with an ostrich feather. She has a floral spray on her left lapel.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Inscriptions on reverse read: “From left Mrs Parton, Mrs Burdekin, Mayoress and ex-Mayoress, Deputy Mayor, Miss Bowen, Mrs Richard Prouse, Mrs Lett (formerly Mrs W M Clark). Miss Bowen died in 1959 Mrs Lett about the same time.” and “To Mrs Herrick. I thought dear you might like this. Sorry you were not with us.”

Five Levin women, from left to right, Mrs Parton, Mrs Burdekin, Miss Bowen, Mrs Richard Prouse, Mrs Lett, sitting behind a table which has a large floral decoration in the centre. Mrs Parton (former Mayoress) is wearing a dark coat over a floral dress, a dark hat with a turned back brim and she has a floral spray on her left lapel. Mrs Burdekin (former Mayoress) has a light outfit with a fox-fur over her right shoulder. She has a dark hat with a turned back brim and a floral spray on her left lapel. Miss Bowen is partly obscured by the table centerpiece, but is wearing an outfit with a fur collar which comes up to her ears. She has a small hat with a veil perched on top of her head. Mrs Prouse has an overcoat and scarf over the top of a dark dress. Her hat has a wide brim with a decoration in the centre front, and she has a brooch on her left lapel. Mrs Lett over a white top which has a tie neck. Her black hat which has a high crown and a small brim is decorated with an ostrich feather. She has a floral spray on her left lapel.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Written on back with ink pen: “Entertainment for Miss H.E. Bowen by Women’s Society of Levin & District on 22nd Sept. 1948. L to R : Top – Mesdames. Burt, Kilsby, Jones, E. Clark, MacDonald. Bottom – Roe, Prouse, Miss Bowen, Lett, Burdekin (Mayoress).”

The Women’s Society of Levin and District providing entertainment for Miss H E Bowen, 22 September 1948. Those in the photograph are from left to right:-

Back Row: Mesdames Burt, Kilsby, Jones, Elsdon Clark, Flora MacDonald

Front Row: Mesdames F Roe, Prouse, Miss Bowen, Lett, Burdekin (Mayoress)

1 B&W photo print

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

1) Municipal block decried as "white elephant" in days when first mooted.

No proposition in the history of Levin was discussed so hotly as the municipal buildings scheme. It owed its conception to Dr. D.W. Matheson (who was mayor in 1932) and some of his councillors, who first considered it in that year. There was considerable opposition, but the proposal to build the block, consisting of the municipal offices, theatre, social hall and shops, at an estimated cost of £24,000, was endorsed by the ratepayers with the overwhelming vote of 371 for and 191 against.

2) Those were the days.

Some items from tradesmen's accounts, in 1895, with today's prices in parentheses, are:-

3) No flowers for Bonny.

Bonnie was a well-mannered horse- a big draught and she used to plod around the borough in the service of the council. But one night Bonnie made a "blue." She decided to go wandering after someone left the paddock gate open (her paddock was used as a short cut and some person had been very careless) . Her wandering took her to Tararua Road railway crossing. That was the end of the road for Bonnie.

4) Hectic time for firemen.

One of the Levin Volunteer Fire Brigade's most hectic experiences was during a fire which broke out in Oxford Street soon after high pressure water was introduced. The fire was near the premises of W.M. Clark, Ltd, but when the time came to plug into the system it was discovered that in remetalling the road all the fireplugs had been covered over.

5) Levin's high knobs.

The erection of the walls of the municipal block, massive construction for the Levin of those days, prompted the following lines submitted to "The Chronicle" in 1924. In those days the columns of "The Chronicle" were often used for satirical verse to express the current controversies and incidents in the life of the community.

6) Concerts were highlights.

"This year (of 1953) memory takes me back very nearly 60 years ago. Miss Bowen was postmistress and she was much loved by the schoolgirls of those days.