THE HISTORICAL FEDERATION - Organized October 31, 1922 Web Address: http://www.setkirk.bc.calbchf/mainl .htm

HONORARY PATRON

His Honour, the Honorable Garde B. Gardom Q.C.

HONORARY PRESIDENT

Leonard McCann do Vancouver Maritime Museum, 1905 Ogden Ave. Vancouver, B.C. V6J 1A3 (604) 257-8306 FX (604) 737-2621 OFFICERS

President Ron Weiwood RR #1, S22 Ci, Nelson, B.C. Vi L 5P4 (250) 825-4743 [email protected]

First Vice President Wayne Desrochers #2 - 6712 Baker Road, Delta, B.C.V4E 2V3 (604) 599-4206 Fax (604) 507-4202

Second Vice President Melva Dwyer 2976 McBride Ave., Surrey, B.C. V4A 3G6 (604) 535-3041

Secretary Arnold Ranneris 1898 Quamichan Street, Victoria, B.C. V8S 2B9 (250) 598-3035

Recording Secretary R. George Thomson #19, 141 East 5th Ave., Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 1N5 (250) 752-8861

Treasurer Ronald Greene PC. Box 1351Victoria, B.C.V8W 2W7 (250) 598-1835 [email protected] FX (250) 598-5539

Members at Large Roy J.V. Pallant 1541 Merlynn Crescent, North Vancouver, B.C.V7J 2X9 (604) 986-8969 Robert J. Cathro RR#1 Box U-39, Bowen Island, B.C. VON1GO (604) 947-0038

Past President Alice Glanville Box 746, Grand Forks, B.C. VOH1HO (250) 442-3865 [email protected] COMMITTEE OFFICERS

Archivist Margaret Stoneberg Box 687, Princeton, B.C.VOXiWO (250) 295-3362

B.C. Historical News Publishing Committee Tony Farr 125 Castle Cross Rd, Salt Spring Island, B.C. V8K 2G1 (250) 537-1123

Book Review Editor Anne Yandle 3450 West 20th Aye, Vancouver, B.C.V6S 1E4 (604) 733-6484 yandle@ unixg.ubc.ca

Editor Naomi Miller Box 105, Wasa, B.C. VOB2K0 (250) 422-3594 FX (250) 422-3244 Membership Secretary Nancy Peter #7 - 5400 Patterson Avenue, Burnaby, B.C.V5H 2M5 (604)437-6115

Subscription Secretary Joel Vinge RR#2 S13 C60, Cranbrook, B.C.V1C 4H3 (250) 489-2490 [email protected] Historical Trails

and Markers John Spittle 1241 Mount Crown Rd, North Vancouver, B.C.V7R 1R9 (604) 988-4565

Publications Assistance Nancy Stuart-Stubbs 2651 YorkAvenue, Vancouver, B.C. V6K1E6 (604) 738-5132 (not involved with Contact Nancy for advice and details to apply for a loan toward the cost of publishing. B.C. Historical News)

Scholarship Committee Frances Gundry 255 Niagara Street, Victoria, B.C. V8V1G4 (250) 385-6353 [email protected]

Writing Competition Shirley Cuthbertson #306 - 225 BellevilleSt. Victoria, B.C. V8V4T9 (250) 382-0288 (Lieutenant Governor’s FX (250) 387-5360 Award) Pixie McGeachie 7953 Rosewood St, Burnaby, B.C.V5E 2H4 (604) 522-2062 Bdfiáh Cohba Historical News Journal of the B.C. Historical Federation Volume 31, No. 3 Summer 1998 EDITORIAL CONTENTS Is there a measurable increase in curios FEATURES ity about our own history here in British White Gloves and Parasols Columbia? The appearance of many 2 by Branwen C Patenaude books on local provincial happenings sug gest considerable community involve Naming of Mount Lepsoe 6 ment. Subscriptions for our BCHN have by DavidM Ba’fliur risen by 15% in the last year. B.C. Herit Price Ellison: A Gilded Man in British Columbias Gilded Age 8 age Trust found the 27 applications for by George Richard scholarships so full of plans by graduate Booze Across the Border 16 students that 5 financial awards were by Gary Montgomery given rather than a single annual award. The B.C. Express Company: Life Line To The Cariboo 20 Another factor contributing to public curi by Pat Foster osity about and enthusiasm for local his Stanley Park: Tourism and Development 25 tory are the centennial anniversaries by Eric Swantje being observed. Last year Nelson, Grand Tie Hackers 30 Forks and Greenwood had extended ob by Kelsey McLeod servance of their 100th year. In 1998 Writing Competition Entries 5 Hedley, the Crowsnest Railway, Ymir, Conference Elko, Kaslo and other communities will be and AGM 1998 33 celebrating. NEWS and NOTES 34 We wish them all Happy Birthday on the BOOKSHELF appropriate dates. And may all those cel Bridges of Light 35 ebrating carry on with researching and Review by David Mattison enjoying local history. Park Prisoners: The Untold Story ofWestern Canada’s National Parks 1915-1947 35 Deep Currents: Roderick and Ann Haig-Brown Naomi Miller 36 Reviews by George Newell Enlightenment and Exploration in the North Pacific 1741-1805 36 Review by Barry Gough

The Business of Power: Hydro-Electricity in Southeastern B.C. 1897-1997 . 36 Review by Ron W’1wood Trading Beyond the Mountains: The British Fur Trade on the Pacific, 1793-1843 37 EDITORIAL Review by Brian Gobbett A Woman of Influence: Evlyn Fenwick Farris 37 The BX Express story is one that retains Review by Laurenda Daniells a “wild west” flavor. Pat Foster’s presen Scalpels and Buggywhips: Medical Pioneers of Central B.C 38 tation here takes us from a footslogging Review by Adam Waldie letter carrier to the earliest motorized ve Chilcotin Diary Forty Years of Adventure 39 From War hicles in the Cariboo. The cover picture To Wilderness 39 Reviews by Esther Darlington shows a four-horse stage part way along Kiondike Paradise: Culture in the Wilderness the Cariboo trail. 39 Review by Lewis Green Below the picture of the utilitarian stage Growing Up: coach is a reproduction of letterhead from Childhood in English Canada from the Great War to the Age ofTelevision 40 the British Columbia Express Co. Limited Remembering the 5O’s: Growing Up in Western Canada 40 after it moved to Ashcroft. Postcards from the Past: Photo courtesy of the Ashcroft Museum. #3190. Edwardian Images of Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley 40 The letterhead is courtesy of Marie Elliot. Reviews by Phyllis Reeve Manuscripts and correspondence to the editor are to be sent to P0. Box 105, Wasa, B.C. VOB 2K0. Correspondence regarding subscriptions is to be directed to the Subscription Secretary (see inside back cover).

Printed in Canada by Kootenay Kwik Print Ltd.

News

1998 Summer B.C. 2 Historical -

a as reputation a Co had she to established British Vancouver, moved family that read could said was It she age. early

this By time the of hills ing Okanagan. Moore the this Following crops. grain very a at became evident piano, at the

over roll the horse her saddle own the destroyed riding and hail quality; especially musical inferior talents, Annie’s dren

hours leisure her enjoyed and be relative to of the proved slate when failure to tant chil family a in est twelve of daughter

a with h lived she dis Penticton in where doomed were Utah in ventures business young Robert the As Sir Boyle. physicist

school year taught Annie a two or For Moore’s Arthur Unfortunately ernacle. Irish her as the had Catherine relative

affairs. Tab Mormon the organ in Irish mother magnificent Her her ancestry; proud of

serious any love shied she from away on son the to allowed was practice very Annie being up grew Annie business,

this For herself rea saw Annie for what Baptists, strong family were export the h Moore the import was and in involved

not drudgery; domestic lives to of selves although and Mormon a of leader, Ireland from son Cork County tea merchant

them eyes, committed had Annie’s in the was time at a boyfriend this Her tar. father her Moore, where Arthur 1886,

and families, large had sisters older other gui the Spanish classical and organ July pipe in Crookston, in Minnesota Born

and Annie’s Both couver. Galbraith Mary on the proficient becoming years. training, cal forty over for lasted that career

to Van moved and out sold Galbraiths her musi and with teacher continued a a all in styles to three combine managed

1907 the when until did she years, which become to studied Annie Utah of she a versity children, five of mother became

a for there few school take to the suaded Uni the entering On she farming. grain in and a of role wife the rancher’s her

per was and Island, Bowen on Galbraith and mine, slate a of development the in ral handed teaching, for fate when talent

Mary sister married her visited often had was involved Annie’s where father Utah, natu a With diversified. as were careers

Vancouver Annie in residing City; While Lake Salt to moved had family the whose there but few were as just long,

month. high from school graduated had for Annie taught who many were there doubt

$40.00 a of salary a with School Central time the by in Winnipeg, Educated 1955 No woman. a remarkable most was

at Division 6th the of the as teacher reer play. go to out than h piano the 1910 and between Columbia British

ca long her began she play September That and sit rather would she that and of region Cariboo the in teacher school

in certificate teaching Class First books, read to she before learned a music pioneer Moore Patenaude, Annie 1901.1

a received she where

families. Williams and Goejen Ernie Jones Charlie oftbeATherr Frank up made Patenaude, are

School

Normal

ver’s

others the of to is Nelson Most left. C his his L Mi knee. on Philip son baby his with Patenaude left lower the isAlbert In left Resker’c

Reverend on is seen Patenaude Annie Lake. Williams from Minister Church Anglican an h Reverend the by Reske, Basil given service at Vancou training

church a was schooL occasion the Creek outside Black the 1930. valley Taken in Horsefly upper the of A residents local of gathering

further taking with

mediately faced

was im but school,

to teach plied

ap Annie Utah of

University the from

degree Bachelor’s

Armed her with

Company.

Coffee Dickson’s

famous now

the and Company

Blue the Tea Ribbon

of establishment the

in was instrumental

he where and ness

busi coffee and tea

the import-export

to returned Arthur

where lumbia,

Patenaude C. Branwen by

6’ Parasols Gloves White teacher who always expected the best Harper’s Camp had been an old log from her pupils, and when it came to bunkhouse used during the local gold discipline, one piercing look from Miss rush period at the turn of the century. Moore was enough to discourage any Annie’s ten pupils, none of whom had thing to the contrary. This was not to received any formal education, ranged in say that Annie did not have fun with her age from five to fourteen, composed pupils, for whenever possible she took mostly of the Walters family. Where the them on field trips and picnics, believ several big boys amongst them might ing that time spent outside the classroom have thought they could intimidate the was equally important. On one occasion little teacher, for Annie Moore was barely after her pupils had played a prank on five feet tall and might have weighed 100 her, Annie cut up some soap into little lbs., they found instead that they were squares and coated them with chocolate. falling over each other to please her. ‘When she served them to her pupils the Annie also set several new standards of children fell for the trick, chewing the dress in the little village. Arriving with a “chocolates” with relish, until they got parasol and gloves as part of her attire, it down to the soapy centres. was not long before every female in the By 1910 Annie Moore had reached the district had sent an order to Eaton’s for age oftwenty-four, and was in most peo similar accessories. Early that winter ple’s estimations, on the brink of spin when things got very dull Annie sterhood. In applying for another change organized a community band among a in schools that spring she accepted a re number ofthe local citizens, who proudly quest for a qualified teacher to start a displayed their talents at the first school in Harper’s Camp, a mining town Christmas concert. Taken by the author at in 1952, in the interior of British Columbia. Annie had taught school at Harper’s Annie Patenaude is seen with two ofher several ‘Where in the world was Harper’s Camp? Camp for less than a year when she be grandchildren, Anne and David Patenaude. At the C.RR. Railway station Annie was came the bride of Albert Joseph pus to keep a school open, her applica told that it was not far north ofAshcroft, Patenaude in January of 1911. The tion as teacher was probably welcomed. but as it turned out it was a four day jour Patenaudes, Joseph Philip and his sons With four children in tow, she taught for ney from Vancouver. On reaching Albert and Ernst of La Chute, Quebec a year at Miocene, a rural community Ashcroft she took the stagecoach north had arrived in the Cariboo in the late half .vay between Harper’s Camp and the to the 150 Mile House, a large, two sto 1880s. Locating first in the 150 Mile 150 Mile. With her own children, the rey hotel beside the Cariboo Road. Here hotel and store while his sons worked on other seven pupils were made up of the she was told it would be another two days the ranch; after this the family rented the Wiggins family and one or two of the before a stage could deliver her to Harp Pinchbeck ranch at ‘Williams Lake for hired men. The schoolhouse at Miocene, er’s Camp, thirty five miles to the north five years before moving to Harper’s an old log building across the road from east. The community of 150 Mile House Camp in 1898. There J.P Patenaude the Wiggins house was hard to heat in was a very busy centre during the early bought the store and operated the mail winter due to the high ceiling through 1 900s with several stores, a Government delivery and telegraph office while his which the heat escaped. Annie and the Agent’s Office, a gaol, and quite a size- sons ran a cattle ranch nine miles up the children lived in a sod roofed shanty close able population. While she waited Annie Horsefly River Valley known as the to the schoolhouse where she and young explored the hotel and found in the sit “Woodjam”. By 1914 Albert and a part Ida did their own cooking with grocer ting room a piano, albeit badly out of ner Billy Reid had established another ies and supplies provided by Albert, who tune, upon which she played much to ranch further up the valley at Marten visited them fairly frequently. It must be the delight of other hotel guests. Creek, where in 1916 Annie and their realized that all through her career as a At Harper’s Camp Annie boarded at first child Ida went to live. Following this teacher, and wherever she lived during the Horsefly Hotel, operated by Harry three boys, Albert Jr., Harold, and the time, Annie was without the luxury Walters and his wife Alva Younker. Wilfred were all born on the ranch, with of electric lights, washing machines, or While her accommodations were out the assistance of a doctor. refrigeration as we know it today. adequate, the hotel did not allow Annie By 1923 Annie had returned to teach Wilfred, who was only two when his a quiet place to prepare her lessons, or to ing school. At this time married women mother taught at Miocene, was tended entertain her friends. It was not long were usually considered ineligible to during school hours by an older woman before she found herself cleaning out an teach, but in Annie’s case where she was who sometimes went to sleep on the job, old chicken house which she called home able to include three ofher own children leaving ‘Wilfred to get into mischieE On for many months. The schoolhouse at to make up the required number of pu one occasion when Annie was in a hurry

3 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 ______

;.%_ ssn in Likely made their £- •

*.* own home brew which was usually 1 stored with the veg ‘ etables in a cellar-

. :is4;r. • like space under the kitchen floor. In the house where Annie ‘ - a TI \ztp and the children ‘4 sAr t— —

-‘4 - --—‘ boarded a large sup 4 — -Y4assL — ply of beet wine had recently been — — poured off, capped, —4* and stored. It was 4 e’- ‘4* ne- not long after this, at fl*4$#eu m’4 q riamntJflemn. about two o’clock one morning, when

- ,&ws’4 they were all awak ened by what ‘44 —4$t$t! ur4LW’4%

-‘ _4) - :‘4- çt -gr--- - sounded like a small r_N ;6+4* war for several hours TheAlbertj Patenaudefamifr residence at Marten Creek, 1914-1962. while most of the Photo Courtesy of SCARS 86163. bottles of wine blew to make some biscuits, she found the there were lots of windows, well made their caps and broke. The cellar looked baby had dumped a tin of syrup into the cupboards for books, and a cloakroom. Like an abattoir, the red wine spLattered flour bin. Annie Patenaude taught there for five all over everything. By 1925 several new families, the years, until 1929, when her youngest son Following her two years at Likely, Hocldeys, Jones, Goetjens and Williams Philip was born. Annie taught at Dog Creek in 1936 and had established homesteads at the top In 1933 Annie was summoned to in 1940. To her it was like going to an end ofthe Horsefly valley, bringing about Likely where she taught for two years in other world. Nor only was the climate an immediate need for a school. Living a mining community beside the Quesnel totally different, but also the way of Life. on the Patenaude ranch at this time was River, at the foot of . Dur Situated sixty miles south west of a Dane, Lars Christian Nelson, who had ing the 1930s while the rest of the world Williams Lake, where in summer the cli done well in the gold tush. He suffered from the worst depression ever, mate was hot and dry, Dog Creek was had wandered into the Horsefly valley Likely was enjoying prosperity Depend- primarily a cattle ranching country close in the early 1920s where he found his ant on the mining industry, the commu to the . There the three fami niche on the Patenaude ranch. When he nity boomed when the price of gold lies ofCharlie, Joe, and Frank Place com found that the waters of Marten Creek doubled from $16.00 an oz. and the big prised the majority of Annie’s pupils, agreed with his constitution he decided Bullion mine was hiring dozens of men. with the addition of her own two sons, to remain there, as he did for the next This brought a large transient popula Philip age seven, and Wilfred who was twenty odd years. “Mr. Nelson” as the tion into the area including married cou doing his high school studies by corre children referred to him, made himself ples with children. The Likely school, a spondence. Both the schoolhouse and the very useful on the ranch. As a finishing large building with a lean-to kitchen built cabin where Annie and her children lived carpenter and cabinet maker he was kept on at the back, stood on a hill behind were on the Charlie Place ranch. Annie busy building and repairing constantly. the town. To reach it one climbed a found that social life at Dog Creek cen When a school was needed at Black number ofstairs to a small platform out tred around the Charlie Place home, Creek, two miles east of Patenaude’s side the front doot On alternate week where Ada Place, Charlie’s wife, had de ranch, the community, including Mr. ends the schoolhouse became a crowded veloped their home “Casa Grande” (Dog Nelson, provided and put up the logs and dance hall, and unfortunately there were Creek House) into a holiday lodge where roofof the building, but it was Mr. Nel always a few who fell off the front steps she entertained visitors from all over the son who did all the interior work, and a during the evening. The Patenaude fam world.2 From rime to time Annie was also fine job he did. The floors were built of ily who had all been taught to read mu invited to supper by the other Place fami tongue and groove lumber left over from sic and play an instrument, played for lies, who lived on separate ranches an old mine near Horsefly, the walls were the dances which often lasted until the nearby. Annie’s family from Marten finished with “Nametco” board, and wee hours of the morning. Most people Creek often visited her on weekends,

4 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 bringing news from home and taking delegate many of the chores to the chil Prior to her death on July 15, 1966, advantage of the excellent duck and dren or anyone else who happened to be Annie lived with her daughter Ida grouse hunting in the Dog Creek area. around. In between the work were many Zirnhelt at Beaver Lake. To say that Annie Patenaude had a joyous occasions in the ranch house at Even today, many years after her death, passion for teaching would be an under Marten Creek, around the dinner table former students of Annie Moore statement. It was obviously the most where Annie fed her family and almost Patenaude fondly recall their teacher who important part of her life, and her pu always a few visitors; at the piano where would always insist that they “work hard, pils adored her. However she was not one she played for community church serv tell the truth, and enjoy life.” to shirk her other responsibilities, those ices in the large sitting room; with neigh of being a rancher’s wife and a mother. bours who came to call; and with her own While teaching seemed to stimulate family around the piano in the evenings, Branwen Patenaude is an enthusiastic writei rather than tire her, the real work came when several of her children would ac specializing in Cariboo history. This Qjiesnel during the summer when the school year company her on the violin, accordion or resident has published several books including two volumes TRAILS TO GOLD ended and Annie and the children re saxophone. of describing the stopping houses on the old road to the turned to the ranch at Marten Creek. Between 1942 and 1955 Annie Cariboo. There her days were filled with preserv Patenaude taught several other schools at FOOTNOTES ing a garden full ofproduce for the com in the Cariboo district including another 1. Sessional Papers, 1902. Public Schools Report, p. ing winter, berry picking and preserving year at the Horsefly school, the 150 Mile 1xv11. fruit and jams, cooking for the haying school, and at the school in Beaver Val 2. Trails To Gold, Volume I, p. 64,65. by Branwen C. crew, and sewing and mending the fami ley, where she substituted for short peri Patenaude. 1995. ly’s clothes for the next year. Annie also ods of time. 3. The Williams Lake Tribune, October 18, 1961, P.4. A lot of the information in this article was gleaned made her own brand ofpotato yeast and Annie retired from teaching in 1955, from a cassette tape entitled “The teaching career of home made bread, and when she had a year after the death of her husband Annie Patenaude”, Aural Tape #3234:2. of the Provincial Archives of B.C., made in May of 1973 enough fat saved up would make a lye Albert, and was honoured as the first when Ida Patenaude Zirnhelt was interviewed by soap, which Christine Houghton for the Horsefly Historical she used in the laundry Ac school teacher in a special ceremony for Society Other members of the Patenaude family, Anne cepting the work cheerfully, she would Horsefly’s pioneers in October of 1961. Parenaude Nilsen, Maty Patenaude, Albert J. Pacenaude, and Wilfred H. Patenuade also contributed.

fntries in the 1991 BCHF Historical writing Competition

* TRADING BEYOND THE MOUNTAINS THE PROMISE OF PARADISE by Andrew **PIONEER LEGACY: CHRONICLES OF by Richard Somerset Mackie - UBC PRESS Scott - WHITECAP BOOKS THE LOWER by Norma V

Bennett - HARBOUR PUBLISHING BEYOND LADNER’S LANDING OPENINGS by Laura Cameron - McGILL- by Gwen Szychter - SELF PUBLISHED QUEENS UNIVERSITh’ PRESS GENESIS OF VANCOUVER CITY by Tomas

Bartroli - SELF PUBLISHED THE HISTORY OF PILOT BAY HAMATSA by Jim McDowell - RONSDALE

LIGHTHOUSE by Susan Hulland - PRESS CHILCOTIN DIARY by Will D. Jenkins, Sr. - THE FRIENDS OF KOOTENAY PARK HANCOCK HOUSE PUBLISHERS DISCOVERY JOURNAL by John E. Roberts - (HM) JERICHO BEACH AND THE WEST SELF PUBLISHED KLONDIKE PARADISE by C.R. Porter - COAST FLYING BOAT STATIONS by Chris HANCOCK HOUSE A PERFECT CHILDHOOD by Art Joyce - Weicht - SELF PUBLISHED KOOTENAY MUSEUM ASSOCIATION AND THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GRAND FORKS UNION STEAMSHIPS REMEMBERED HISTORICAL SOCIETh’ by Jim and Alice Glanville - BLUE MOOSE by A.M. Twigg - SELF PUBLISHED. WILD, WACKY WONDERFUL BRITISH PUBLICATIONS (HM) FIRST ACROSS THE CONTINENT by COLUMBIA by Eric Newsome - ORCA BOOK STOLEN FROM OUR EMBRACE by Suzanne

Barry Gough - McCLELLAND AND PUBLISHERS Foumier and Ernie Crey - DOUGLAS & STEWART INC. REMEMBERING THE 50s by Lorraine Blashill McINTYRE A GLIMPSE OF RICHMOND SCHOOLS - ORCA BOOK PUBLISHERS ***MIGHW RIVER: A PORTRAIT OF THE edited by Loma Robb - RICHMOND RETIRED FRASER by Richard Bocking - DOUGLAS & TEACHERS ASSOCIATION DEEP CURRENTS by Valerie Haig-Brown - ORCA BOOK PUBLISHERS McINTYRE IMAGES AND VOICES OF LIGHTHOUSE THE EMPRESS: IN THE GRAND STYLE by IMAGES OF HISTORY by William Rayner - COUNTRY by Leah Willot - locally sponsored ORCA BOOK PUBLISHERS Ternj Reksten - DOUGLAS & McINTYRE BRIDGES OF LIGHT by Cyril E. Leonoff - TALON BOOKS AROUND THE SOUND by Doreen Armitage -

HARBOUR PUBLISHING * - ** BRIDGES OF LIGHT by Cyril E. Leonoff - Lt. Governor’s Medal 2nd Prize TALON BOOKS “ - - DANGEROUS WATERS by Keith Keller - 3rd Prize HM Honorable Mention A CENTURY OF CARING by Daphne Thuillier HARBOUR PUBLISHING

- VERNON JUBILEE HOSPITAL

5 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 The Naming ofMount Lepsoe by David M. B4four

Robert’s sole am bition had been to study medicine. When he gradu ated from the Trail Tadanac High School in 1941, at a time when many of his classmates were enlisting, he decided he could contribute best through medicine. He enrolled in the University of Al berta and immedi ately joined the Canadian Officer Training Corps. However, with the air war expanding rapidly, he gave up his studies and en listed in the Royal Norwegian Air Robert LepsoeJr., 1944 Force, a choice that ‘Lest we forget’. The words appear on and Smelting Company ofCanada Lim relieved the sorrow felt by his parents who the document signed by the Honourable ited; later known as Cominco. He was had looked forward to a career in medi Glen Clark on November 11, 1996 nam accompanied by his wife, Hjordis, and cine for Robert. Initial training and early ing Mount Lepsoe to honour Robert three sons, Gunnar, Christian, and flying lessons were put in at Little Nor Lepsoe ofTrail, B.C. killed in action Oc Robert. Mr. Lepsoe was an outstanding way stations in Toronto and Muskoka tober 18. 1944. The name and location electrochemist whose research played a and then on to the R.C.A.E flying school were approved by the Canadian Perma major role in the technical advances of at Camp Borden where he earned his nent Committee on Geographical the company. Away from his laboratory wings at the top of his class flying single Names and will appear on future official he enjoyed the outdoor life at the fami engine Harvards. He was posted overseas government maps. ls camp at Robson. immediately for advance training on one The newly named mountain is located On October 18, 1944 the Lepsoe fam ofthe outstanding aircraft ofWWII, the on Highway 3B between Nancy Greene ily received word Robert had been killed Spitfire. Lake and Rossland. It is the third high in action. His squadron commander later His quiet times were spent at his grand est peak in the Nancy Greene Recreation confirmed that Robert’s Spitfire had been piano. Being the private person he was, Area at 7141 feet. The highest, and best hit by enemy fire while returning from few people in Trail realized they had a known, is Old Glory at 7795 feet. Au an attack on the German held positions pianist of such note in their midst. Well gust is frequently the only month the on the Schelde Estuary. The squadron, known musicians from across the prov upper reaches of Mount Lepsoe are free one of an R.A.F. fighter wing, were sup ince came to hear him play. from snow. porting Allied forces, including many When WWII came all three of the The Lepsoe family came to Trail from Canadians, in the drive to open up the Lepsoe sons enlisted. Gunnar and Robert Norway in 1925 when Robert Sr. was approaches to the port at Antwerp and in the Royal Norwegian Air Force and recruited by the Consolidated Mining allow use by Allied supply vessels. Christian the R.C.A.E Robert did not

6 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 itage he enjoyed exploring the shores of son, Grand Forks, and Chase where he the Arrow Lake by sailboat. Membership retired. Christian, who never married, in the 1st Trail Troop of Boy Scouts un lived in Robson. der Scoutmaster, Jack Gibson, made It was suggested, and the family Robert a true woodsman with an appre agreed, the document should be dis ciation and respect for the mountainous played where it’s significance would be West Kootenay. As a Junior Forest War appreciated; and where better than a den he shared in the toil ofplanting hun Legion hall? The Trail branch of the dreds of trees at the start of the program Royal Canadian Legion agreed and on to bring green back to the hills around July 2, 1997, in a moving ceremony, ac Trail. cepted the document for display along Winter meant weekends ofskiing near side others honouring citizens of Trail Rossland with overnights in the Rossland whose lives were lost in war. A second Ski Club’s log cabin high on the flank of document was presented for display be Granite Mountain on the trail to Record side the first. The ‘British Columbia Ridge. A huge rock beside that trail Commemorative Place Name Remem caught the eye ofevery skier. In the win brance Day List’ dated November 11, ter of 1940 Robert and his chum, Jim 1996. Ten geographical locations and the Kilburn, included a can of red paint in names of those honoured are listed. their supplies. The result let to a flurry Robert’s body may lie in far off Bergen ofguesses as to who had painted the sign, but his spirit lives on in the Monashee ‘WHERE WILL YE SPEND ETER Mountains he loved so dearly.

NITY?’. Prophetic? ***** Robert Lepsoe with his motto on a rock. In 1946 Robert Sr. retired from Cominco and accepted the offer of a pro Gunnar and Christian lived out their David Balfbur grew up in Trail a close lives in their adopted homeland. Gunnar friend of Robert, together in Boy Scouts, fessorship at the university in Trondbeim, bigbscbool andJunior Forest Wardens. After Norway. He and his wife arranged to have had a family offour sons, Robert, Derek, serving as a pilot in WWIIBalfour worked in

Robert’s remains moved to the family Christopher, and David and a daughter, various aspects ofthe Chemical indushy - lat plot in Bergen where he had been born. Barbara. Gunnar taught school in Nel terly as manager ofexports to 60 countries. He is now retired in Vancouver CONFEHENCE 1998

Pixie McGeacbie receives 4 an Appreciation Awardfrom President Ron WèlwooeL

4- Naomi Miller dJean Barman shown at the presentation of Heritage Trust Scholarships to (Lto R) Keith Carbon, Douglas Hai7is and Rudy Reime

4 Chuck Davis - after dinner speaker at the Awards Banquet May 2, 1998.

Wayne and+ Stephanie : Desrocher - with our newest membe,i Emiie Joan Desrocber

7 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998

Summer News 1998 Historical B.C. 8 -

“bringing home caribou seven commu with back the in forefront the to Ellison mould the fitting Ellison to be attributed

came and companions his Ellison try, brought incident Aleck” “Smart The can praise this a Much of true spirit.” 4

River coun One Kettle in time erman. today. is Park Poison Vernon’s where “a as men, among man Ellison described

and fish hunter the as gentleman ply Ellison vicinity the in operation blacksmith Doull A.J. Bishop eulogy In ignored.

was cultivated Sentinel Inland and News a established Valley. Forge Ellison are as sim man this surrounded that versies

Vernon the both One image image. became known locale The later dollars. contro and the how depicted is Ellison

perpetuate his eventually and profile 320 for Valley 320 in acres Priest’s buy to which in tone the of mythical critical

boost his effectively to this medium used money had he enough saved later, years of be must Because one this, any detail. 3

Ellison in death his until held and he two Ranch Coldstream tthe at in life to Vernon his describe are ones only the 1932.12

newspaper the which in interest George trolling for working started Ellison of descendants Two Ellison’s Minister. 2

gained he later, con 1876, years By Two each. 6 founded. dollars 120 and 125 and Agriculture Finance to bencher

he outlet media a News, worth w nuggets two Vernon found they work, back of from ascended he where ernment

appeared the in constantly name Ellison’s months After Valley. Fraser the through gov in McBride a the member became

1891, in Price fixture a As community filtered find a when of word and Okanagan ranch valley 1 the largest in ated the

Okanagan.” North the in Creek Cherry to head to oper he century, the of turn the at that

the for North constable special a come decided partners and Ellison his back.” 5 note passing a writes Ormsby Margaret

be 54 suggesting he of petition names [his] on more “blankets than late The nothing Valley pioneer. Okanagan

a community endorsed Ministry eral’s with Cariboo the for eleft he fields, gold the about written been has little infamy,

Attorney-Gen months the of pie later, Californian his the in luck trying After this these of Despite men. one is Ellison

A cou community the the admiration of riches. of search United in States Price the for in history. corrupt Canadian most

won journey him His efforts.’° his for left he 21, turned he When blacksmith. the 1900s of some were early to 1800s

300 dollars Attorney-General the from as a an and apprenticeship late schooling the in Columbia politicians British

did he receive however Aleck”; “Smart basic a received he child, As

Ellison Price

January without in Valley England. Okanagan Dunham-Massey,

to the returned Ellison again.” 9 1852 in 6th, October

through go there will be may he here, on born was Ellison Price

6000 chinamen. are “there proclaims he age. gilded

Montana when from Missoula, Victoria man Columbia’s British in

to sent telegram one in demonstrated is gilded a was Price Ellison

His Aleck”. determination “Smart for ing time; his of man a much very

Portland as look south as and far was he ington sense, a In gain. sonal

Idaho, Wash parts Montana, of for travelled per leader politician and

two Ellison months, For next the Aleck.” 8 a as community position

“Smart a named miner Chinese of cabin manipulated his who man

the under body recovered was as Dewer’s a viewed be also should

days of later couple party” 7 the A rest Ellison Price However,

if ar of possible, and absence cause the politician. and leader nity

out to “ferret volunteered Ellison a point, as residents Valley

At play. foul to that Dewer succumbed Okanagan bution serving

suggested strongly was November it contri major a Ellison made

by missing and Creek. went He doubt Cherry Price There no is

near miners gold Chinese from tax poil wealthy. himself made work

a to Dewer collect (Enos) Aeneas sioned hard through and nothing

commis Lambly T. Agent Government country with the to came

Enderby summer, That 1882. in nity who man, self-made the of

Richard by George

Age Gilded Columbiac

in British Man Gilded A Ellison: Price Presbyterian Church. Most people at the affair had been “unanimous in their ver dict that it was one of the most enjoy able affairs of the season, which has been prolific in entertainments of this descrip tion.”21 Ellison frequently donated his services for social gatherings. One resi dent noted “when froze during the winter of 1903, Price Ellison sent his team of horses to take the whole school skating every afternoon.”22 Their hospitality is equally noteworthy. One Okanagan woman felt quite comfortable when invited for the weekend to the Ellison farm. In her diary, Alice Barrett A Price El.lison orchard in Vernon c1910. found them to be “so good and kind”23 Photo courtesy ot Vernon Museum Archives. and believed she had never seen “a more have seen.”13 Ellison appeared to be quite fair and their brush with Illinois’ upper truly generous man than Mr. Ellison and the fisherman as well. On a trip to the class. Ellison and his family socialized Mrs. Ellison seems to agree with all he Mission with William Postal, both men with members ofthe American hunt club says and does.”24 caught 36 trout, “principally of the sil in Bloomington, Illinois and had an au Perhaps the fondest memories of the ver species.”14 dience with U.S. Vice-President Ellison household belonged to his daugh Price Ellison also appeared to be an Stevenson. A reporter wrote that Ellison ter, Myra: exceptional farmer, o rchardist and “obtained privileges we are safe in saying I have later memories ofmy father as a rancher. One reporter commented on the have not or would not be obtained by wonderful host, sitting at the head of a bumper crop of hay grown on Ellison’s any other visitor from British Colum long table and cooking [an] immense land near the Shuswap, describing it as bia.”20 roast. .. and a table laden with fine fruits “very heavy [with] over 200 tonnes be Price and Sophia Ellison hosted many and vegetables, all products ofthe ranch. ing put up in stacks.”15 One of Ellison’s people in their home and threw grand And what a good talker he was with his orchards in the Mission also seemed to parties. One late winter night, Ellison tales of early times ... and a keen sense be doing quite well as “all trees are thriv threw a “necktie” party under the aus of humour.25 ing beyond expectation and the prospects pices of the Ladies Aid Society of the It was not just Myra that held Ellison for bearing orchards are something won derful.”16 Eventually, that particular or chard helped produce an exceptional bounty as “red Bitigheimer apples 14 inches in circumference”7 were housed in glass jars to be put on display at the Imperial Institute in London. Ellison also won prizes at valley-wide fall fairs for his wares. In 1891, Ellisor, took home 16 prizes in categories ranging from the quality of his horses and sheep to the grade of his fruit, jams and corn)8 His biggest agricultural accomplishment oc curred in 1893. Ellison’s Barley won first place at the Chicago World’s Fair. Before his family left by train en route to the United States for their first trip out of the district in nearly 15 years, his news paper described how “a great many of their friends were out to see them off and Vernon will be quite lonesome with out them for a while.”9 They returned over two months later with stories Ellison Family 1895. of the Photo courtesy of Vernon Museum Archives.

9 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 ______I______

in high regard. By 1892, community petition signed by a number of promi through the media and public events. He leaders had named not one street after nent citizens and by several Justices of sought political power, social status and him, but two.26 the Peace in this district was forwarded influence to ensure that he prospered. If Ellison participated within the com to the Government.”3’ In the same arti the community prospered as well, that munity and eventually turned his public cle, it was no surprise to find a newspa would be a bonus. Ellison used his work into a political career. Some of his per reporter supporting his employer landholdings as a vehicle toward prosper positions within a two year period in the suggesting “we have no doubt that this ity. Perhaps an incident in 1885 moti early 1890s included a directorship on will meet with general approval, as Mr. vated the blacksmith and special the Kamloops Hospital Board and Chair Ellison is known far and near as a gen constable toward his drive for power. manship of the Vernon School Board.27 tleman who by virtue of his level-headed In October ofthat year, Ellison got into By 1863, citizens wanted Ellison to be tact and judgement is eminently suited a land dispute with two neighbours and come Mayor. A petition circulated for such an office.”32 the local Indian agent. He had built a throughout the community requesting He used his office and popularity to fence across a trail which had been “a well he run to become the city’s leading po win the 1898 provincial election. For the recognized highway from time immemo litical figure.28 However, Ellison declined next 18 years, he represented the con rial.”34 Ellison did this to consolidate his as he had agreed not to run against his stituencies of Yale and later Okanagan, property, friend W.E Cameron for the position.29 winning five re-elections. Myra DeBeck When Government Agent W. That decision benefited Ellison. credits his political success to his charac Dewdney tried compromising with By year’s end, Vernon city council for ter: Ellison by suggesting a gate allowing ac warded his name to the Provincial Gov He was a man of the highest integrity cess to other properties in the east “he ernment as a candidate for the position and great force ofcharacter. [He showed] flatly refused to [comply] and not in a of Justice of the Peace. ‘When receiving principles, purpose and tenacity. In his very becoming manner.”35 his commission, the Vernon News pro private life, [he showed] generosity, Claiming that construction of a new claimed his appointment was “an ex kindliness, unselfishness and love of his road around Ellison’s property would cost tremely good one.”30 Five months later, fellow man.33 the government and residents around Ellison received a promotion to Stipen This is not true. He succeeded in poli 2500 dollars, Dewdney brought the is diary Magistrate after city council con tics by cultivating an image of integrity, sue to a magistrate’s court for a decision, sidered it a necessity “and an influential purpose and kindness in the community The two Justices ruled against Ellison. Dewdney did not think much ofEllison’s lJ testimony to the court or his conduct after the decision: Y,eleIks I must confess that I never heard a man

NI/I C.v P1,1,,.’ prevaricate more glibly than Mr. Ellison

ApIfl did when giving his statement. Some men appear not to have the slighest re ClIck,,, I,/ gard for the truth. . . Not finding him I 1,111 selfsuccessful in that direction, he turned I, / — Curl/s on the two Justices and insulted them at 1i I /_ the same time saying he would not com / ply with their decision. He became so / .00 I. Hired c,,, b,.kb,.o. violent in his language that I had to or tiers. .‘$fr. ., \ 2. CHIc,.,, - cock der him out of the office and he left as \ 2. II,ck,mitI 111.7 4. Cirbide llIt .Itk quickly as he came in.36 CecrI.i leosi cliv. I 5. liii,, After being threatened with a court I I 11 Ic, hose 4, ,I,,I’1 0’ roplehk order to open the trail, Ellison built the I 7. FroIl .4 sI.c.o. I. K.chlury .Huq. gate. He lost this battle to his “avowed I I Shed, I I * 14(1 enemy”37 but it would not be the last / e. SI.qblu 1..,. time Ellison was before the courts over / ‘1.PII’Heo / IL Icy r.4octI.o Ii to-3X Ices land issues. I / It a.y .t.,H lobe., leo $,, Ire., I / I $Wdheo.. ,tt..4 by In 1891, Ellison received an early / dd.c /IIIeo — — — sr/a Christmas present from the courts when —. — / S.., THE FIRST his action to recover land from a prop “C ELLISON FIs.MILY HOME erty owner named Campbell succeeded. The judgement went to the “plaintiff with costs.”38 During this time, Ellison

10 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 - government by Mr. Price Ellison who had it removed from the school grounds to a lot of his own adjoining it.”47 Ellison not ELLISeN UROPBRTY only sat as the chair of the local school is now selling board at this time48, but his wife, Sophia, initially ran the school when it was built rvv has bceis completed and tbrcc close-in subdivisions arc britig ofTcrcd for til,, hisi ciriw HILL CREST ten years earlier.49 Then in 1908, the o ;n’coz is back of the Sigh School building and South of Barnard Aveiiuz. Hcauiifrt take Conservative backbencher convinced the in acre tots. A most attractive proposition. McBride government to release funds to PINE GROVE build a new high Th•se lots join Mr. Ellisons grounds on the East. - They yary In size from one to three acres. school at the same lo 0v:,lcg the City and reached by an extcuslo of Eleventh Street. Ideal building stirs. cation as the old school.5° Later that year, -PARK VIEW’ the politician sold his land to Winnipeg This is a subdlvisioa of the forty acres of level land adjoining City Park and the new Hospital s’e. Scventh Street will be opened to It. The CIty Is certaIn to grow this way. Alt acre lois. land developer Sam Polson. Two weeks after the sale to PoIson, advertisements This is an Opportunity You Cannot Afford [Yliss to for the land developer’s subdivided prop ?:tces and Terms o application to— erty appeared in his newspaper promot AGENTS: ing the fact that the high school and Dickson Land Co. Mutrie & Muie hospital were located nearby. Ellison used a similar ploy as a cabinet minister to further add value to his vari Advertisement in the Vernon New, August27 1908 ous other properties. As Finance Minis built a formidable land empire by gob paper of being a social custodian of the ter, he approved of and opened two new bling up property from aged ranchers wealth. One example occurred in 1892 schools in 1912 in Rutland and the dis who purchased land in the 1860s. His when Ellison staked off 45 acres of his trict that would later be known as Ellison. newspaper reported frequently on pur land to the east of the city in residential Ellison located both schools on his own chases he would make in the valley rang lots. He insisted on selling only to peo property.5’ The map shows the approxi ing from buying 310 acres of land from ple who were willing to build credible mate location of the Rutland school and RC. Thurborn for 400 dollars cash39 to buildings, thereby discouraging specula the intended growth of the residential taking control of the Simpson Ranch in tion.44 However, Ellison also used his in area after such a facility is constructed.52 the Mission for 11,000 dollars.40 In one fluence to improve the value of his land A piece of tax sale property Ellison ac land auction, Ellison purchased four of for a future subdivision later developed quired in the early l900s not only made the 17 lots available, grabbing close to by Sam Poison. him some money, but built for him a last 40 acres of prime land for over 1600 In the same year, Ellison met with di ing memorial. Ellison purchased the 640 dollars.4’ By 1894, Ellison controlled rectors of the Okanagan Land and De acres on the east side of , over 11,000 acres which included lands velopment Company. At the time, he sat 16 kilometres south ofVernon in 1903. from Lumby to and as far on the Board of Directors of the In 1911, Finance Minister Ellison de south as the Mission. He dedicated much Kamloops Hospital and had recently cided to construct a new courthouse near of the land “to wheat, and he ran 2500 chaired a public meeting aimed at estab one ofhis Vernon properties costing tax head of cattle and 300 horses on his own lishing a hospital in Vernon.45 After the payers 200,000 dollars and taking nearly range.”42 meeting, a newspaper reporter wrote: three years to build. At the same time, Ellison’s grandson claims the pioneer The Directors of the Okanagan Land Ellison created a granite quarry on his did not want to be a land developer: and Development Company, at the lake property as “a large quantity of cut Price likely never acquired property insistance of Mr. Price Ellison, decided stone was needed for the new court

with the idea of subdivision and profit. to grant an entire block. .. on seventh 53house.” Ellison “received a footage roy He saw the need for more land for the street, on the south side of Long Lake alty on all stone removed.”54 city (Vernon) and accordingly, let parts Creek, as a site for the proposed local Ellison’s greatest legacy to Olcanagan be sold to achieve this.43 hospital, in lieu ofthe three lots formally valley residents dealt with his tenacious This is simply not true. There were donated by them for the same purpose.46 support ofirrigation. Once again, Ellison plenty of occasions between the 1890s The two-and-a halfacre parcel in ques had an interest in this scheme to make and 191 Os where Ellison purchased land tion is adjacent to Ellison’s property to money for himselE Certainly he realized and then sold it for profit. Sometimes, the east. However, Ellison did not stop that the community could prosper con he would display the traits of a gilded there to improve his land value. One year verting wheat and rangeland to orchards. capitalist by subdividing land and then later, his newspaper reported “the old However, he also saw that he could in cultivating an image through his news- school building was purchased from the crease his land value by having fruit trees

11 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 ______

ing the same convention, he told del egates “a few years ago, lands in this dis TJ, trict were assessed at two dollars an acre; aL. flEL /xcfy today under irrigation, they are assessed at hundreds of dollars an acre, and they \ CC Mnqn stand at that enhanced value not only for ...: today but for all time to come.”62 Ellison’s newspaper covered the event yet astutely :: ?ccç did not report his comments concern ing land value.63 - Critics of my argument suggest that if Ellison wanted to make money turning c ...... over most ofhis holdings to irrigated land ;; ---: from the pasture and wheat fields he pos

.• sessed, he would have done so during this * period. These critics could point to Osoyoos water district records from 1911 which clearly show that despite the amount of land Ellison owned, very lit- tie of it had waterworks.64 There are sev eral fundamental reasons why Ellison Legend Map of Rutland c1910. chose not to or could not transfer the Courtesy of Kelowna Museum Archives majority of his landholdings to irrigable Rutland School c1912 lands. They include the lack of powerful Where Rutland Road North runs in a north/south direction today influence he had in the McBride Gov ernment, the cost of maintaining such rather than cattle on his property Kelowna, noting during the drive thou works, the current labour situation in the Ellison committed to the fruit indus sands of acres ofvaluable land which are Valley, the quality of labour service try in the early 1 890s by planting roughly expected in the near future to be brought Ellison had at his disposal and the fact 1000 trees on newly acquired property under irrigation.”58 Some of the land that one bad political move and an even in the Mission and completing an irriga Carpenter saw on that valley trip be worse business decision prevented him tion ditch to the trees.55 A reporter shared longed to Ellison. By this time, there had from reaping the rewards he tried to sow Ellison’s enthusiasm: been plenty of growth in the valley’s or in his development career. The older orchards promise an enor chard industry Central Okanagan Land It took Ellison 11 years of service and mous yield offruit, and there is no doubt and Orchard Company President Dr. winning re-election three times before that in the near future an immense rev WH. Gaddes told a Vancouver newspa Premier McBride gave him a Cabinet enue will be derived from this industry. per there had been phenomenal growth position. This is the opinion of an experienced in the industry within six years. He cited While serving those 11 years as a back horticulturist, who backs up his state Dominion census information saying bencher, his only major accomplishment ments by largely investing here himself:56 B.C. fruit-growing acreage ballooned involved the 1908 Commission report By 1907, Ellison’s eight years of lob from over 7400 acres and 650,000 trees on irrigation and the New Vernon High bying as a backbencher in Victoria started in 1901 to 25,000 acres and 1.5 million School. He often said “the government paying oW The Provincial Secretary’s of trees in 1 907. Gaddes says “year by year, was going rather too slow in this matter fice committed 5000 dollars toward a good orchard land is becoming more [irrigation], and the Hon. Mr. Fulton had commission investigating different irri valuable as the settlers pour into the said that they would go slow.”65 Five years gation schemes. This occurred after a country”6° In fact, while addressing the after the Commission report, Ellison held dramatic address in the Legislature when Western Canada Irrigation Convention the portfolio ofFinance and Agricultural he showed off “a desk laden with New in Vernon in 1908, J.M. Robinson said Minister. Despite this, he had still not ton pippin yellows and Ben Davis reds”57 all orchard land in Summerland six years convinced McBride and other politicians from his orchard showing the merits of earlier had been worth 100,000 dollars in the lower Mainland and Vancouver irrigation. Later that year, Ellison accom but in that year, the same land with irri Island to settle the irrigation question panied the Commissioners on their tour gation was assessed at two million dol satisfactorily. He informed the Western of the North Okanagan. Commission lars.6’ Canada Irrigation Association Conven author Professor Louis Carpenter says Ellison also believed irrigated land was tion in 1913 that “the government has they “drove down by Long Lake to highly-valued property While address- appointed a commission to inquire into

12 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 matters pertaining to agriculture in all caused problems for KLO directors such infested with insects like the Apple Leaf its branches. . . and I have no doubt as TW Sterling. In a letter to another Hopper. Many farmers and irrigation that it will depend very largely upon the director Bob Pooley, Sterling outlined the experts must have felt Ellison’s embar recommendation ofthat committee what predicament: rassment at the 8th annual Western policy the government will adopt.”66 In There is no way of the SKL continu Canada Irrigation Association conven other words, Ellison could not influence ing in business, nor can one see that there tion in Penticton when during a ques policy on his word alone. He took a is likely to be any prospect in the near tion and answer session, he shared a chance the Royal Commission on Agri future of their being able to do so, ex problem he had at another orchard: culture would support the concept of cept by the guarantors throwing sops to The sheep got in by mistake last year government paying for irrigation.67 the bank and also finding the funds for and did great damage to 500 trees. My Ellison wanted the government to pay the running expenses of the company. If advice is to keep the sheep as far away for the total cost of surveying and con we did this, we are almost certain to find from the orchard as you possibly can, for structing irrigation works and then to tax ourselves after a period of time in just they trimmed the trees as clean as you orchardists for the works for the first ten the same position as we are now but with could have done with a knife77 years. Afterwards, ownership of the sys our resources further depleted and less Upon hearing this, Mr. Johnstone in tem would revert to the orchardists with able to meet our obligation to the bank.73 the audience responded “1 may say I kept fees paid to a taxation district.68 Ellison Ellison probably saw this as a big ob my sheep all last winter in the orchard acknowledged “the initial cost if under stacle in trying to convert his rangeland and fed them all the good hay on it, and taken by the government might be into orchards. certainly they never touched a single greater than if performed by a private Another obstacle for Ellison dealt with tree.”78 company, but the cost would be nothing the lack of available labour for a work Ellison’s frustration over the quality of compared with the extra taxes they would ing orchard. Prior to and throughout his workers bubbled up in a meeting with derive from that land after the water was World War I, limited farm labour existed a bank manager in 1916: put onto it.”69 In one way, Ellison prob in the valley. The 1914 Royal Commis I have had several managers or rather ably felt his political peers discriminated sion on Agriculture report found “the mis-managers during my tenure of of against him because of the location of difficulty in securing efficient labour was fice in Victoria, and I have found them his riding. He said “the government of frequently assigned by witnesses as a rea to be very expensive & altogether incom the day was spending thousands of dol son, not only for failure to extend farm petent, reckless and not able to handle lars in dyking land [in the lower main ing operations, but even for their men or know what a day’s work is. . . I land] to keep the water off, and [added] curtailment, as where small fruit grow take pride myself in being able to handle they could very well afford to spend very ing has been abandoned and dairying men and get the best results. They know much more in putting the water on the given up in favour ofselling hay.”74 There that I understand what is required of land, for the returns would be much would have been no point in Ellison con them.79 greater.”7° In fact, by 1915, the Provin verting his farmland to orchard when he It’s unfortunate Ellison’s daughter did cial Secretary’s office responded to peti did not have the available labour to help not attend that meeting. Myra DeBeck tions from lower mainland farmers with the harvest. felt her father’s “attitude to them was urging the province to maintain and ad Besides, the current farm hands on generous, fair minded and kindly.”80 minister dyking and draining infrastruc Ellison’s land were not competent. In The beginning of the end for Price ture in their areas by doing just that.71 1909, a neighbour north of Lumby suc Ellison took place in the late days ofFeb Ellison knew he had to get the govern cessfully sued Ellison for 470 dollars in ruaryin 1915. At this time, he sat on the ment on board with this idea because he damages; a fire spread out ofcontrol from board ofdirectors ofVancouver’s Domin and other orchardists could not make Ellison’s hired men who were clearing ion Trust company. This brokerage firm money if they had to pay for and main land for the politician. Ellison appealed dealt with mortgages, stocks, bonds, in tain the infrastructure themselves. Ellison the decision two years later, saying “his surance and sold and purchased real es told irrigation officials and farmers “the men acted against his instructions.”75 tate. That month, Lands Minister WR. scheme is so large that private capital can Five years later, the fruit inspection de Ross came under heavy fire for selling not take care ofit [and] these companies partment of the government conducted public lands at low prices to speculators, have found it a greater undertalcing than a special report on Ellison’s orchard near namely Dominion Trust. Additionally, an they thought.”72 Concurring with this Swan Lake. Sydney Dash reported most opposition backbencher in the Legisla would be the Kelowna Land and Orchard trees were in such a bad state that “any ture asked Ellison about the sale of some Company. It controlled the shares of the horticulturist, possessed ofmeagre intel cows and horses from the government’s South Kelowna Land Company (SKL). ligence, would remove [the trees] under Colony Farm near Coquitlam in 1912. SKUs irrigation system had been diffi any circumstance.”76 Many of the trees Ellison confessed he purchased the live cult to build and a tremendous cost. As looked like small bushes because they stock, and later on, that he was associ a result, the land did not sell well. This were never pruned and they also were ated with Dominion Trust.

13 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 Days passed, and Ellison refused to engineer named A.R. Mackenzie to con On December 12th, 1932, Price Ellison resign or explain his actions beyond the duct a report on the physical and finan died in Vernon Jubilee Hospital of bron question asked in the Legislature. The cial conditions of the irrigation projects chial pneumonia at the age of 81. His Editor of the Vancouver Sun found this of the province.87 Mackenzie eventually wife Sophia, along with seven of his eight simply unacceptable: recommended that the government pay children, could not attend the funeral Every day [Ellison remains silent] adds for and maintain works through irriga service due to their contraction of influ to the shame of British Columbia. They tion districts, something Ellison had al enza.93 Probate records show Ellison’s net know that unless the Hon. Minister can ways promoted and which would have, worth, willed to Sophia in the height of clear himself of the grave accusations of not coincidentally, made him a rich man. the depression, to be over 14,000 dol graft that he is admittedly unfit to hold As the election approached in the fall lars.94 Part of that estate included shares office. . . Every day poor men are being of 1916, much of Ellison’s landholdings in the Vernon Daily News where sent to prison for crimes infinitely more were in jeopardy. Ellison became Presi Ellison’s daughter Myra had been em justifiable than the one with which Mr. dent of Dominion Trust in 1916 and ployed as a reporter since 1929. Ellison is charged.8’ made a fatal mistake in pledging his Certainly Price Ellison’s contribution The next day, Ellison stood up in the landholdings “as security to the bank in to the Okanagan Valley was immense, legislature to give a full explanation of order to keep the company going as the not just through his community involve the livestock purchase. He claimed he other partners were unable to come up ment, but also in advocating lasting con paid full market value for the animals, with the money.”88 In November, a legal tributions such as government subsidized he bought the animals sight unseen from notice appeared in his newspaper stating irrigation infrastructure for the valley. Victoria and, in the end, he sustained a that the banks seized most of his prop However, one must keep in perspective heavy loss as the animals were in poor erty as collateral from the bankrupt Do what motivated Ellison to do these shape.82 Presumably, Ellison chose to minion Trust Company.88 Politically, the things. He espoused how his actions ben explain this scandal and not his role in news was worse two months earlier. On efited the community or Okanagan so the Dominion Trust Scandal because the September 14th, Ellison lost the election ciety; however, under examination, his former was less damning. to Liberal Dr. K.C. MacDonald in the actions mirrored that ofother politicians Myra DeBeck suggests that “although Okanagan as the Grits swept the scan of his time; men who used their office, a strong conservative in politics, [Ellison] dal-ridden Conservatives under whether at the local or senior level, for endeavoured to keep [the Vernon News] McBride. Ellison now only possessed his financial gain. Price Ellison, the as unbiased as possible and to give his Vernon home and little more than 271 Okanagan Valley pioneer is a symbol of opponents a fair chance.”83 Ellison’s lo acres which was held under his son’s name self-interested politics in early British cal opponents certainly did not have a during the liquidation. Columbian history fair chance to explain their side in his Ellison tried to make a political paper during this scandal. Opposition comback but did not succeed. He ran claims in this incident never made the under the Conservative banner in the The autho, winner ofthe Burnaby Historical paper that week; only Ellison’s explana 1920 election, but disarray within the Society Scbolarsbtp in 1997 is a student at Okanagan University College majoring in His tion to which the Editor obliged his em party caused Ellison to back out just be tory. He is married anti lives in Kelowna. ployer with the headline “A FULL fore the election campaign. In 1924, he EXPLANATION OF CATTLE PUR created his own party and ran as leader. FOOTNOTES CI-IASE: Hon. Price Ellison Vindicates His political opponents scoffed at his 1. Margaret A Ormsb> A Study of the Okanagan Valley Himself of British Columbia, (MA Thesis: UBC, 1931), p. 54. Completely of any Unworthy comeback saying the bankrupt Vernon 2. Margaret A. Ormsby, British Columbiar A History, Motives in Connection With Colony resident “has not got a dollar and has not (Vancouver: MacMillan, 1958), p. 356.. 3. Myra K. DeBeck, ‘Price Ellison, A Memorial by his Farm Transaction.”84 Ellison told the bread enough to eat?”90 Ellison would Daughter”, 12th Report of the Okanagan Historical Legislature this “petty affair”85 had been counter making fun of his plump frame Society, 1948, p. 48-58. Ken Ellison. A Short History of an Okanagan Valley trumped up by the opposition to make and question, “Do I look as though I have Pioneer, (self published: Oyama, 1988) political capital and suggested “the peo not bread enough to eat”.9’ Despite hav Ellison made 50 copies to give to &mily, friends, and museums. He is the grandson of Price Ellison. ple of [Okanagan] would have the op ing some support in Vernon, Ellison fin 4. Vernon Daily News, December 15th, 1932. portunity 5. This is detail given by Price Ellison in a campaign ofsaying whether they thought ished third in balloting. speech held at the Empress Theatre in Vernon on June him guilty ofany such things.”86 Despite Life became bleaker for Ellison. The 4th, 1924. Vernon Museum Archives. 6. Ellison, Price Ellison, p. 5. those words, he then resigned as Finance next year he suffered a stroke from which 7. The Inland Sentiaei, November 9th, 1882. and Agriculture Minister as Premier he would never recover. In 1931, the 8. Telegram from Kamloops Government Agent G.E. Tunstall, November 11th, 1882, A-G Ministry files McBride dissolved the Legislature. The upper portion of his Vernon house sus Box 1, File 11, Folios 168, 199, 159, 166,202 & 198 bitterest irony that Ellison had to live tained sixteen thousand dollars damage (or ‘Smart Aleck” file), BC Archives. L193. 9. Smart Aleck file, November 30th, 1882, BC Archives. with happened two weeks later when the in a fire and it “likely was a contributing 10. Ibid. government ordered a Finance ministry factor to his death several months later.”92 11. Ibid.

14 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 12. Registrar of Company Records, BC Archives. It should 62. Report of Proceedings from the 2nd Annual Provincial Secretary Archives. 1913-15, B.C. Archives. be noted Ellison’s wife, Sophia, was the principal Western Canada Irrigation Convention in Vernon, Registrar of Company Records, B.C. Archives. shareholder in the newspaper for those 40 years. Ellison OUC Archives, p. 25. Report of Proceedings of the Western Canada Irrigation was Chairman of the paper in 1912 and stayed ott as 63. Every speaker in the Report of Proceedings including Association’s Conventions: 1908, 1913, 1914, OUC President until 1925. Ellison at least talked briefly about increased land value Archives. 13. Kaniloops Inland Sentinel, October 20th, 1888. through irrigation. The newspaper reporter wrote Report on the Honourable Price Ellison’s Orchard and other 14. Vernon News, July 2nd, 1891. something about every speaker and each story at least Irrigation Reports. c1914. Box two, file four, B.C. 15. Ibid., November 5th, 1891. alluded to land values with the exception of Ellison’s Archives. 16. Ibid., June 2nd, 1892. speech. The omission of this detail by the reporter Report of the Irrigation Commission to the Provincial 17. Ibid., October 4th, 1894. could well be innocent, but certainly is an interesting Secretary’s Office. February 11th, 1908. B.C. Sessional 18. Ibid., October 15th, 1891. coincidence considering Ellison owned the newspaper. Papers, 1908, Microfilm, OUC. 19. Ibid., May 18th, 1893. 64. Osoyoos Water District Records of the Kelowna Royal Commission on Agriculture Report. B.C. Sessional 20. Ibid., July 27th, 1893. Precinct, November 29th, 1911, Kelowna Museum Papers, 1914, Microfilm, OUC. 21. Ibid., March 8th, 1894. Archives. Vancouver Sun. 1915, Microfilm, Vancouver Public Library

22. Phyllis A LaLonde, “The French Family - 1881-1966” 65. WCIA Minutes, Vernon, 1908. p. 25. Vernon Daily News. 1932. Microfilm, OUC in the 31st Report of the Okanagan Historical 66. Ibid., 1913 minutes, p.49 Vernon News. 1891-1893, 1908, 1915. Microfilm, OUC Society, 1967, p. 130. 67. As it turned out, the Royal Commission supported the Vernon Supreme Court Probate Records. 1932. Box 54, File

23. Diary of Alice Barrett, Vol.4 Nov.18, 1891 - Mar, 22, Government’s stance to have private land companies 12, B.C. Archives. 1892 (Unpublished: Courtesy Vernon Museum construct and maintain works. This despite “the ‘ictoria’I’imes Colonist. 1915. B.C. Prov. News Index, Archives), Feb. 23, ‘92. existence of a great deal of confluion with respect to Microfilm. 24. Ibid. water rights” as court battles between land owners and 25. Myra K DeBeck, “Price Ellison, A Memorial by his the government took place. The controversy of British SECONDARY SOURCES Daughter”, 12th Report of the Okanagan Historical Riparian water rights and new provincial water laws Carter, Tom and Jay Ruzesky. Paying for Rains A History of Society, 1948, 53. allowing private control could have been another thctor p. the South East Kelowna Irrigation District. Kelowna: 26. Maps in the Vernon Museum Archives show in 1890, why Ellison would have been tentative in converting SEKID, 1990. one of the roads was called “Ellison Avenue”. Two years most of his land to irrigation. Ellison, Ken. Price Ellison: A Short History of an later, the town map showed “Price Avenue” had been 68. This would be the equivalent to how an irrigation Okanagan Valley Pioneer. Oyama: Unpublished. 1988. added parallel and north of Ellison Avenue. district operates today in the Okanagan. DeBeck, Myra K. “Price Ellison, A memorial by His 27. He also became fire brigade captain, a director of the 69. WCIA Convention, 1908, 25. p. Daughter” 12th Report of the Okanagius Historical Vernon Curling Club, trustee to the Presbyterian 70. Ibid., 24. p. Society, 1948, 48-58 Church and First Vice President of the Okanagan and 71. Petitions and follow-up correspondence involved p. Falconer, David. “Hewers of Granite”, 41st Report of the Spallumcheen Agricultural Association during this farmers around Dewdney and the Langley Drainage Okanagan Historical Society, Nov. 1977, 59-66. time. and Dyking District. Found in Provincial Secretary p. LaLonde, Phyllis A. “The French Family - 188 1-1966”, 31st 28. Vernon News, January 12th, 1893. Archives, 1915, B.C. Archives. Report of the Okanagan Historical Society, 1967. 29. Ibid., January 19th, 1893. 72. WCIA Convention, 1913, 49. p. p. 128-32. 30. Ibid., November 9th, 1893. 73. Letter from Sterling to Pooley, December 3rd, 1913, Ormsby, Margaret. British Columbia; A History. Vancouver: 31. Ibid., April 19th, 1894. cited in Paying for Rim: A History of the South MacMillan, 1958. 32. Ibid. East Kelowna Irrigation District, Jay Ruzesky arid Ormsby, Margaret. A Study of the Okanagan Valley. 33. Defleck, “Price Ellison”, 58. Tom Carter, SEKID, 1990, p.47. p. Vancouver: UBC, 1931. 34. Letter from Hozier et al to William Smithe, October 74. The Royal Commission on Agriculture Report, B.C. 26th, 1885, Price Ellison file, Vernon Museum Sessional Papers, 1914, Microfilm, p.23. Archives. 75. Ellison, Price Ellison, P. 28. 35. Dewdney’s letter to the Chief Commissioner of Lands 76. Sydney Dash’s report on the Honourable Price Ellison’s and Works, November 28th, 1885, Price Ellison file, Orchard cl914, B.C. Archives, Box two, file four, p.1. Vernon Museum Archives. 77. Report of Proceedings from the WCL4 Convention 36. Ibid., December 17th, 1885. in Peuticton August l7th-l9th, 1914, p. 90. 37. In a letter from Dewdney to his superiors, he writes 78. Ibid. about affidavits and counter-affidavits being filed by 79. Ellison, Price Ellison, p. 27. the parties involved before the hearing. Dewdney 80. DeBeck, “Price Ellison”. p. 58. suggests in his phrasing from a pervious conversation, 81. VancouverSun,March6th, 1915. Ellison declared the plaintiff to be his enemy, Ibid. 82. Victoria Times Colonist, March 7th, 1915, B.C. December 5th, 1885. Legislative Assembly Sessional Clippings, Microfilm 38. Vernon News, December 24th, 1891. JllO.H6. 39. Ibid.,July3Oth, 1891. 83. DeBeck, “Price Ellison”, p. 58. 40. Ibid., April 28th, 1892. 84. Vernon News, March 11th, 1915, p. 1. 41. Ibid., December 3rd, 1891. 85. Times Colonist, March 7th, 1915. 42. Ellison, Price Ellison, p. 23. 86. Ibid. 43. Ibid., p. 30. 87. Ruzesky & Carter, Paying for Rain, p. 45. 44. Vernon News, March 3lst, 1892. 88. Ellison, Price EUison, p. 27. 45. Ibid., March 3rd, 1892. 89. Vernon News, November 22nd, 1916. 46. Ibid., March 17th 1892 90. Speech by Price Ellison at Empress Theatre in Vernon, 47. Ibid., May 18th, 1893. June 4th, 1924, p. 8. 48. Ibid., June 30th, 1892. 91. Ibid. George Ricbard author ofthis essay - 49. Ormsby, Okanagan Valley, p. 161. 92. Ellison, Price Ellison, p. 18. winner ofthe Burnaby Historical 50. Ellison, Price Ellison, p. 33. 93. Ibid. Society Scholarship. 51. Ibid. 94. Vernon Supreme Court Probate Records, 1932, B.C. 52. This c19 10 townsite map is the only one of its era Archives, Box 5, File 12. available. Both the Black Mountain Irrigation District and Rutland Water Works confirm their oldest maps BIBUOGRAPHY do not go beyond 1927. Map courtesy Kelowna PRIMARY SOURCES Museum Archives. 53. Ellison, Price Ellison, p. 26. Attorney-General’s Files, Box I, file 11, Folios 159, 166, 169, 54. David Falconer, “Hewers of Granite” The 41st 193, 198, 199 & 202 (Smart Aleck files), B.C. Archives.

Report of the Oleanagan Historical Society, Barrett, Alice. Diary. Vol.4 Nov. 18, 1891 - Mar. 22, 1892. Nov. 1977. p. 60. Unpublished: Vernon Museum Archives. 55. Vernon News,July2lst, 1892. Ellison, Price. June 4th. 1924 Campaign speech, Empress 56. Ibid., June 2nd, 1892. Theatre in Vernon, Price Ellison file, Vernon Museum 57. Unidentified newspaper article from Price Ehlison file, Archives. Vernon Museum Archives, dated April 10th, 1907. Hozier, Dewdney et al. Letter to government. Price Ellison 58. Report of the Irrigation Commission to the Provincial file, Vernon Museum Archives. Secretary’s Office, February 11th, 1908, BC Sessional Inland SentineL 1882. 1890. Microfilm, OUC. Papers, 1908 Microfilm, p. 1. Map of Kelowna. c1910. Kelowna Museum Archives. 59. Reprinted in Vernon News, Aug. 13th, 1908. Maps ofVernon. c1890-cl895. Vernon Museum Archives. 60. Ibid. Osoyoos Water District Records of the Kelowna Precinct, 61 Ibid. 1911, Kelowna Museum Archives.

15 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 Booze Across the Border by Gary Montgomery

been a place to se estant and family oriented grain farmers cretly cross the In who were then and remain to this day a S ternational Border formidable force to be reckoned with at for as long as there the polls, started agitating for prohibi has been a border. tion in Montana. It came in 1919 and Even as early as the then Federal prohibition of alcohol fol 1 870s, whiskey and lowed in 1920. The Treasury Department other contraband jumped hard on the little border towns was smuggled where enterprising men and women north into what stood ready to profit no matter which was at that time the way the booze moved. Ironically, Canada Northwest Territo did not forbid the export of alcohol so ries, where neither warehouses ofit existed in basements and Indian nor white barns near the border. Now the flow re man could take a versed as whiskey was moved out of legal drink. Canada into the U.S. When work was The small towns of Rexford, just a few completed on the miles south of the border along the Canadian Pacific , and Fernie, nestled along railroad in the early the Elk River some-40 miles to the north part of the century east, were also connected by a spur line and the Chinese that ran benveen the main east-west lines workers were laid of the Great Northern and Canadian off, the Americans Pacific Railroads. And so, with full pro immediately passed hibition in effect and lots of Federal the “Chinese Ex money to fund the project, extreme pres clusion Act.” Still, sure came to bear on those who would the Chinese man flaunt federal authority to meet the de Thirst quenchersfor Montana visitors near Fernie, B.C. c. 1922. aged an under mand for tax free alcohol. Not long after Along the 49th parallel that marks the ground railway between the well the end ofWorld War I, the “dry squads” International Boundary between the established west coast Chinese in Van were becoming a potent force in north United States and Canada, there’s a 100 couver with those in Butte and to a lesser ern Montana. mile stretch in the northwest corner extent in Missoula, where opium and From the beginning, it was an uphill Montana and the southeast corner of refugees were commonly slipped across. battle for the authorities and by the time British Columbia, where there are only Indians treated the imaginary line with prohibition had ended in 1933, an ex two places the line can be legally crossed. total disregard and on at least one occa pensive lesson had been learned - mo But, that’s 100 miles as the raven would sion “Buffalo Soldiers” from Ft. Missoula rality cannot be legislated. Prohibiting fly. Should one decide to follow the ac were sent to quiet things at the border. the manufacture and distribution of al tual border, he or she would traverse a Later, Canadian farmers casually drove cohol did nothing to stem the demand. much greater distance and encounter tractors and trucks across the border to It merely took it from under the watch along the way terrain that requires moun avoid paying a high duty ful eye of government and there was no tain climbing skills. It is safe to say, that As early as 1915, in the climate of shortage of people ready to step forward except for the eight mile wide Tobacco World War I, which Canada joined in to meet the demand and reap the prof Plains and the roughly mile wide North 1914, British Columbia began going dry its. The fact that the Canadians did not Fork drainage, the remainder is either By 1917 they were totally dry and along prohibit the making of booze for export impassable or passable only to a hiker or with the gradual drying out came the only made enforcing the law south ofthe a pack train. steady increase in smuggling bootleg border that much more difficult. The span of the Tobacco Plains has whiskey north. But now, the largely Prot One of the major players in southeast-

16 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 em British Columbia was Fernie entre The spur line of the preneur Emilio Picariello. From humble Great Northern Railroad beginnings as an ice cream peddler, that ran between Rexford Picariello rose to become a major player and Fernie for the purpose in moving liquor across the border into of moving coal into the the United States. He and his henchmen, States was also a popular who included his son, most commonly means of moving illicit worked the border in the prairie country booze. Specially designed of western Alberta, but the Tobacco sacks were used to prevent Plains saw more than a few of his liquor the bottles from breaking. laden cars pass its way in the early 1 920s, Sid Workman: “I know Gus Costanzo: ‘Picariello went through one guy who’1 ride a coal here (Thbacco Plains) the odd times. There train to Fernie and heIget were quite a fow roadc and trails like be him a pack sackfull ofCa tween Gateway where the Great Northern nadian whiskey and ride came through and the customs here at the coal car back to Roosville. That’c quite a space there and Rexfbrd” therec lots of open country they could go fim Costanzo: “Us guys through.” were pretty young follows. The Southeast torner ofBr,ticb Columbia. But, the money that Picariello accu We seen quite a bit of it mulated did him no good when in a fit though. Like the guys when of anger he shot Alberta Provincial po they were hauling in cars and stopping The coal train, though a popular means liceman and former chief of police of trains and loading the booze into the coal oftransporting the untaxed alcohol, was Fernie, Stephan Lawson. Picariello was cars. W knew some ofthe guys that were far from the only way the booze was ultimately hanged for his rash act. Un traveling around with it, eh?A guy by the moved. The Kootenay River was also fortunately, a quiet and enigmatic young name ofAlabama Joe, he workedfor Jack used. woman, Florence Lasandro ofFernie, was Wilson, Wilson was a bootlegger in thispart Mary Roo: (reading from the book, also caught up in the people’s quest for of the country same as Picariello was for Backtracking) “In the bootlegging days, retribution. She too was hanged one dark Alberta. They used to travel at night in bzg OliverAbbey (herfather) builtseveral Iarge day at the provincial prison near Edmon cars. One dizy we weregoing down to aplace fLat boatsfor a bootlegge who would load ton, Alberta, although it is unlikely that they callfour-mile just out ofFernie and them up with liquor and go down the she had anything to do with the killing we saw the two cars at the crossing and this Kootenay River with high watei The first beyond the fact that it was her misfor train was there and these guys were load load was lost when the boat hit the rocks in tune to be in the bootlegger’s car at the ing sacks of booze into the coal cai That some rapids near Newgate, but after that time. was around 1926-27; something like that.” many cuccessful’ tr:ps were made.” Jim Costanzo: “Emilo Picariello used to come to our ranch. He was visiting all the time when he was in that bootlegging business. I think most ofthe supply came from Alberta ‘cause old Picariello, he had a lot people making that moonshine. The cops there couldn’t catch on to him. Either that or they didn want to. I don know which. The woman that got hanged with him - she was our cousin. But, she was in nocent. What happened there, see old Picareillo, he waspretty welloffandhefig ured he could buy his way out, eh? So he got her to take the blame for it. But, she never done the shooting. She said she did and the reason she said that was she fig ured that hed be able to get her off but it didnt work that way. They both were hanged” Enjoying a trzP to ‘ctock UP Pictures from a pioneer collection owned by the author.

17 B.C. historical News - Summer 1998 Tyler Lindberg ‘Me and another kid know a thing about it. Theydpay himfor ing the runs weren’t locals. The only way pulled a boat out ofthe river and a boot it. The cops were comin’ roundall the time, the locals mzht have been involved is they legger bought itfrom usfor $20. He loaded they didn’t know where it went. Some of might have had a cache somewhere and it with whiskey and turned it loose and met the cars had bz bumpers made out ofrail load it for the runner People just didn’t it on the other side ofthe line. And theyd road steeL Sometimes theyl wait around a want to get involved My dad said ‘Thu take wire and tie two logs together and load curve and when the dry squad came along don’t want to say anything. Some ofthose the whiskey on and let them go. They boot theyW backup andpush them over the bank. bootleggers don’t give a darn. Ifyou turn legged everyway you could imagine. Even There was Paul Bedne, he hada big Hud them in, you’re in trouble. ‘Iknow a lot of airplanes come in here. Howard Brown was son. And Freddie Roo used to haul whis them down town here were helping them a bz chiefbootleggei He used to have those key.” out too.” bz Hudson cars and that. So he bought a Vernon Uphill: “The next time I went Darrell Roose: ‘Maurine Thomas had plane and got a pilot to bring it up and down to Grasmere was in 1924 And my a Model A and she used to haul us kids land it. Thefri even get the Indians down father made arrangementsfor me to get this around in it and 01’ W’’bb Garey had one there. Onefilla loaded up their wagons and ride with this follow from Grasmere. He just like it and every now and then the ‘Wry then put their tents on top and the police had a Model T Ford with a Ruxall gear squad”wouldstop us and think it was Wbb wouldn’t bother them.” When he picked me up, he had 40 to 46 Garey, He was packing booze, you know? Alec Gravelle: “There was afrw boot cases ofliquor He picked it up at the ex They tell about a time that Foster leggers that would get the Indians to pack port house in Fernie.” Hendrickon and his dad, Ed, helped Webb it across the border There was aguy named George Shea: ‘My uncle hada bz barn Garey out. They workedfor the county and Jette Smith, he was a big bootlegger around in the Flathead with an old shed behind in those days they just had a grader and a Eureka. My dad had this Model T Ford. it. A lot oftimes fit got too hotfor one of Cat to smooth the road with. And on the My mother would make it look like they those bootleggers so heWpark them in that old hzhway between where Smithers and were moving back down to the 69 Ranch. shedfor afiw days ‘til it cooled off I knew the old brickyard used to be out that way, They were haying there. Any way we didn’t a lot ofthose ‘Wry squaders”around here. I they were grading road and ol’ W4’bb came cross the border at the legal crossinK don’t know what they were, must of been by and yelled at them to turn that thing went around to Scott Grade. Jette Smith FederaL There was a bunch ofthem around around W’bb went on to Foster; he turned met us there at the 69 in a bz Buick and here. Oh hell, they had everythingfixed that Cataroundand, ofcourse, thatgrader then would take itallthe way to Missoula.” Those bootleggers knew what the dry squad was way behind It took Ed 15 or 20 min The large touring cars of the day were were doing. They paid their dues. Ifthey utes to turn that thing around and before the most common, and perhaps the most didn’t, theyWcatch em: Ifpeople down here he got it turned around the ‘Wry squad” practical means for transporting bootleg in town wanted to go to Canada andpick came along and they couldn’t get by.” alcohol, as sooner or later, no matter how up a load ofliquor; heW stop down here in It was Webb Garey who came up with it got across the border, the contraband townfirst and talk to thatguy andpay him what might have been the most novel liquor had to be distributed to “speak hisfoe. Ofcourse, part ofthat went to the means for transporting booze across the easies” or “blind pigs,” as they were some dry squad and maybe the sherfl’c office. border. times called. Any way, when they come back the damn Darrell Roose: “Out here at the Mary Roo: “So you see the States was dry squad would be on US. 93 and the Hollenbach place, that used to be the old dry. The liquor all seemed to come infrom bootleggers took the next road ovei Next Garey ranch. My uncle, he rented that Alberta to a licensed warehouse in Fernie. time the dry squad would be on the other ranch out there and l W’bb let him have Then they hadplaces down here where the road and 10 or 12 or more of those guys itfor nothingjust to take care ofthe horse bootleggers would come. They would load hauling liquor run together” and the whiskey when he brought it down. up with their liquor and away they would While many ofthe runners came from This ‘ol mare had a colt and theyW leave it go across the line. ‘Boots’ Coombs, who was out of the area, some of them became in the barn and take the mare up to the my husband (Fred Roo) greatfriend, was local folk heroes as there was little sym line and load her down with booze and a dry squad man down there. They used to pathy for the government’s effort, regard turn her loose. Ofcourse, sheW come back catch them, take their liquor and have auc less ofwhich side of the border one lived to her colt.” tions every once in a while to sell offtheir on, to stem the flow of alcohol. Besides, That the government was fighting an cars. My dad (Oliver Abbey) got a nice World War I ended just as prohibition uphill battle is typified by the fact that Studebaker one time.” began and many ofthe returning soldiers bootlegging was often a family affair, thus Tyler Lindberg: “The roaddown to the had nothing else to do as the Great De proving that much of the populace did states wasjust a ditch. Theylget stuck, bust pression got off to an early start in this not consider the act to be a crime. Not a drive shafr bust an axle, myfather1 take economically depressed part ofthe coun uncommonly, children were privy to the horses out. They’l unload whiskey and tr) what was going on and were even used dad wouldput it in the barn and nobodfrl MabelLeonard: ‘Most ofthe ones mak as cover in some cases.

18 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 Darrell Roose: “Some of them would utes you’re doing real good I can squads made 180 arrests in one month

take their cars and go up there - I won’t ber when I was 12 going and keeping the alone and bootleggers who had been

mention no names - they-I take their kids firefor thefolks. Stayin’up a couple hours. centered around Havre, Montana moved with them and take the back cushion out Il get ten cents a quart. Id have to get their operation to the west side of the

ofthe old touring cai They’dgo up andget that fine kindling early in the evening - Rockies. “. . . Customs officers combined a load ofwhiskey and come back with the burning steady there. You don’t need very to catch a reliefcolumn’ 25 miles west of kids in the back-end and they got by with muchfire. Once you get hergoingjust keep Whitefish. The convoy consisted of eight thatfor awhile. everything burning steady and you gauge men and ezht autos with a cargo of4000 Running the border wasn’t always a everything by how much is coming out. quarts ofscotch, bourbon, rye and beerfrom lark and innocent people sometimes got “The neighbors would know what each Canada. Four ofthe drivers werefrom df caught up in the governement’s effort to other were doingandtheydswap stories and ferent areas ofMontana and the rest were stem the flow. a’iffirent methods and stufflike that. The Canadians. Hudsons, Cadillacs and George Shea: “There used to be some bestpart about it we had a good sherff’in Oldsmobiles were the favorite mode of people up there by the name ofBedne They those days, ol’ Frank Baney, and hedjust transport.” hadaparty house. Yu couldgo up andget about like to let everybody know when he From its very inception, the border all the drinks you wanted. Even business heard the revenue officers were comin’ between the United States and Canada people went up to have a drink. Don Bierly lookin’for a still Hedget word toyou some has been only a minor obstacle to those went upfrrawhile and come back. He was way and give you time to clean everything who were serious about moving contra out here coming down 93 and the ‘zlry out and let’em come and go and not find band back and forth between the two squad” was after him and Iguess he wasn’t anything. countries. The spirit of cooperation that paying much attention. Isuppose he hada “I wasn’t quitegoing to schoolyet, I must exists between businesspeople, friends few drinks, but they tried to stop him and have beenfive. My dadgot word that there and families that inhabit the border re he didn’t stop. They unlimbered theirguns was going to be - they used to call it a ‘rev gion has always been, and most likely will on him andgoddamn, he had haifa dozen enue raid’ Thered be four orfive ofthese remain, the greatest obstacles for govern bullet holes in the back of his ca, Itc a guys come and search your house. My dad ment enforcement agencies to overcome. wonder they didn’t kill him. He stopped had this 30 gallon barrelgoin’ and he had then and he didn’t have notlin’.” a nice teepee tent that he always took hunt All the alcohol that was consumed in ing with him. One day he asked me, says, Gary Montgomery was born in Pennsylvania, those tumultuous days was not legally ‘How wouldyou like to play in the tent,fbr grew up in Florid4, was educated in Colorado then moved in Canadian liquor. Moonshiners operated awhile? Firstlgotta diga hole. and to Montana 1973. He now lives ‘So he in Eureka, Montana close to the Canadian bor on both sides of the border. More often another guy got out there and they buried der He publishes a small magazine The Trail than not they were small operators who that barreland thenpitched that teepee tent (formerly the Thbacco Plains Journal) and in worked their homesteads and supple over the top ofit. I remember the revenuers terviewed all the quoted old timesfor stories in mented their meager incomes with cash comin’and lookin’around. Everything was his magazines. from the sale of still-made whiskey. This, underground so they couldn’t smell any even more than running the border, was thing. Otherwise, you could smell this stuff MOVING? commonly a family affair. fermenting f’you was around, say in the Send your change of address to: Sid Workman: ‘4ll the stuff that my evening. folks ever made never poisoned anybody or ‘My dadpaid offa mortgage with whis Subscription Secretary, B.C. Historical News, anythingand they dgetpeople to come back key at ten dollars a gallon. The guy was a Joel Vinge after it, you know, whoever their customers judge, Judge Pomeroy. At one time, I think RR#2 Site 13 Comp áO About time it were. that was sellingfor ten he was a representative ora senatoi We were Cranbrook, B.C. dollars a gallon - 85, 90proofstuff What living in town at that time, 1929 or 30. V1C4H3 myfolks did wasn’t big They hadjust regu My dad would bundle it up andput it on lar customers. A lot ofpeople just come by my sled and Id haul it to town and take GIFT SUBSCRIPTIONS and say, ‘Well, it timefor mypint or quart my sled rzht up the stairs. Thejudge would Only $12 per year before of whiskey. some ofthem a gallon. Thatl put it in the closet and give me a dime.” Christmas - $15 per year to within hold them over until they thoughtyou had The glory days of smuggling booze Canada starting in 1999. Add $5 another gallon ready. across the border ended in April of 1933 for an address “It took the mash about two weeks tofir when the United States changed presi outside ment. They called it - stop workin ‘Course, dents. But, just prior to that, arresting Canada. to run that isjust one nzght work or maybe the bootleggers had reached a fever pitch. Contact Joel at hafofone n4ght cause this thing runs.. . if Gary Wilson in his book, “Honky-Tonk the above you get itto run one quart everyfrw mm- Town,” tells us that late in 1932 the dry address

19 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998

20

News B.C. Summer Historical 1998 -

years old twelve when those father his days in died in claim when jumping (con ables, gold, a to including of value

a hardware business. Francis was only was elected dangerous a constable, job and pieces of express, fifty other valu

the in 1800’s early he where at sold established a profit. soon small 1859, In he as well as transported were four hundred

Jones Barnard moved oLower to to Canada enough stake claim, gold a which it horses. sixty he hundred Fifteen passengers

Massachusetts 1642. in His father Isaac Yale. By frugally, in he living saved used and including agents, one hundred

who came from to Europe Deerfield, delivered and ohomes to and businesses miles, he employed it thirty-eight men, not

a he was descendant Francis of Barnard pocket. earn To split he wood fire money, wagons stages and covered 110,600

Barnard. in Born Quebec in City 1829, five a only with gold dollar in piece his service tSoda at Creek. this In his year,

This intrepid was man Francis He left Jones Victoria and arrived in Yale connecting with North the Fraser canoe

miners. his of several fellow passengers. four-horse, first fourteen passenger stage

per, price a readily by paid the lonely food caused that rotten the mail and deaths In of he 1864 put freight. the on —

letter, dollars per dollar one newspa class steerage per overcrowding, heat, and which carried passengers as three as well —

The charge world. for this service, survived appalling the two conditions third in expanded two-horse to light wagons

Cariboo in contact the with outside a to sailed trading on ship Victoria. He Soda pleted the to road Creek, Barnard

turn keeping trip, the gold of fields the and wife son, New to 1863, went In and York, the when government com

seven cult, hundred and sixty miles 1858, out re fortune his west. In he his left ginning Barnard’s of Express.

allowed, weather the made

he this diffi so isfactory living there, decided to the up seek to Cariboo the trail it be the —

spring, summer and long as fall, as early but unable Toronto to was he a earn sat the and mail express its on back, led and

Quesnel. to a Several times year, in ae he later his and wife and moved son to a north. bought He mule, small loaded

Creek he Soda paddled Indian an canoe married Ellen and two Stillman, & to years their Nelson carry express Yale from

newspaper parcels and his back. on From siblings. When he twenty-five, was contract postal he n arranged and Dietz with

to Yale Creek Soda with sack a mail, of to provide his for mother and 1862, In he younger awarded the was government

a 1861, in solitary walked he but from 1841, man went work to was and able started he to packing mail h Cariboo, the

being built Boston to from Yale Bar, then

a eworked He short for time the on

trail

horse Four stage of in the front Eipress B.C old in office A43(iC 189Oc the

for look less hazardous employment.

He a that took as this sign should he again

in dining the saloon, thrown was clear.

but was Barnard, who eating dinner his

days. those Five crew the of were killed,

exploded, not an in uncommon event

Hope, miles two above the boiler ship’s

1860. its On next at very trip, Union Bar

nwhich on his in and wife arrived son

on newly the steamship built Fort Yale,

less and dangerous as job, hired purser on

tentiary, However, he a decided find to

get and them convicts to peni safely the

a powerful man, able was subdue to the

When they to attempted Barnard, escape,

oners New to by Westminster canoe.

a as policeman was escorting pris two

rious) were common. very His duty last

posing the of owner (almost se as claim

sidered to be the dis ultimate crime) and

by Foster Pat

to the Line Cariboo Lfe

The C. B. Express Company: $4,619,000. On one trip alone a BX stage tance from Yale or carried $600,000 of the precious metal Ashcroft, thus the from the Barkerville mines. By 1865, as apparent discrep the road was completed, he extended the ancy in their num service to Richfield, Barkerville and bering. Camerontown. Some of them In 1866 Barnard purchased the busi were noted for the .f BritisFi Columbia Express Co1 ness of Dietz & Nelson of Victoria and quality of their gained control ofthe express and passen food and lodging, ger business from Victoria to all points some were not so in B.C. By 1868 he had added six-horse good, but in gen stages and hired several more employees. eral the traveler Thus developed the B.C. Express Com fared well on his pany, better known as the B.X. Com journey. As the pany, the first established land gold fever sim transportation system west of the mered down, prices Rockies, and eventually, with routes cov stabilized, and a ering over a thousand miles, second in meal or a bed size only to the legendary Wells Fargo. ranged from 50 a The stage coach trip from Yale to Soda person as far as Creek, which took from forty-eight to Quesnel to 75 be fifty—two hours was made twice a week, yond there, and and never a trip was missed in all the years generally would in that this route was in operation. Busi clude all you could ness men, miners, Indians, Chinese, eat of at least one dance hall girls, the whole spectrum of type of meat, sev interior B.C. society, crammed the eral vegetables, pie, coaches on their way to make their for cake, fruit, milk tune in the gold fields. Some lucky pas and cream. Break sengers were able to ride outside with the fast was substan driver, listen to his stories, and enjoy the tially the same, breathtaking scenery Mind you, this was except porridge

not for the faint of heart — the wheels might be added. just inches from the thousand foot preci Some of these pices, the flimsy-looking trestles and houses still remain, bridges tenuously attached to the jutting Ashcroft Manor rocks, all too easily seen from the outer and Cottonwood seat could be terrifying. House being two of Charles G. Major drove the first stage the best preserved, to Barkerville while Steve Tingley went as well as the very BX Time Thble A208. C ahead leaving extra horses at relay sta large stable at 83-Mile which was built New Brunswick via San Francisco. He tions which he established at the “Mile in 1892-3 on property owned by Steve tried his hand at mining in the Cariboo Houses” which were approximately fif Tingley These historic buildings are open for two seasons, then, as did many nov teen miles apart. Fresh horses were always to the public and well worth a stop by ice miners, decided there was a better liv ready, and hay and barns awaited the ar the history buff Sadly, most ofthe houses ing to be made in business, so returned riving animals, meals and lodging have been destroyed by fire. to Yale and ran a harness shop for a short awaited the passengers. Enterprising resi Tingley began his thirty-year career time before joining Barnard. dents, many of them road contractors, with the BX on that first stage trip, the Barnard was not totally out of the who lived where water was plentiful and start ofan association which saw him rise transportation industry when he sold the vegetables and hay could be grown, es from driver to partner in 1864, to direc BX. In partnership with Beedy, he im tablished these stopping places. Because tor, to manager, and ultimately to sole ported two steam coaches from Scotland the original road came from Lillooet, owner in 1886 when the fifty-seven year for use on the Cariboo Road carrying most of the houses were numbered ac old Barnard, after twenty-five years run freight from Yale to Soda Creek. Al cording to their distance from that town, ning the BX, decided to retire. Tingley though these machines made much faster although later some indicated the dis had arrived in Yale in 1861, coming from progress than horse teams on level

21 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 the Yale Convention for their ability to drive and their reli of 1868, with De Cos ability; they handled the horses and stage mos and Robson, he with expertise and took seriously their was instrumental in obligation to deliver the mail, express and convincing the del passengers safely and on time. The horses egates that union with were unhitched, fed, and bedded down Canada was both de as soon as they arrived at a stop, then the sirable and necessary; passengers were attended to. The driver He was a member of was a good host, sitting at the head of the House of Com the table to ensure everyone was prop mons from 1879 to erly cared for, and entertaining his pas 1886 and had contrib sengers, often with stories ofthe Cariboo uted substantially to Road. Women, no matter what their sta the development of tion in life, from prostitutes to the wives British Columbia and of the gentry; were always given special Canada by the time he consideration, offered the choice ofplaces died in 1889. His sons to sit on the stage, seated to the right of carried on his tradi the driver at meals, and given the most tion of service to the comfortable room at the stopovers. province and the Just as the drivers of the stages were a country, (Sir) Francis special breed, so were the horses that Stillman Barnard as pulled them. Never broken as were horses Lieutenant-Governor used for other purposes, they were use of British Columbia ful only for pulling the stagecoaches, but and G.H. Barnard as at that they excelled. It was rarely that Senator. the driver needed to use the long whip The CPR tracks had that he carried. been laid through To guarantee a safe departure, a spe Ashcroft in 1884 and cific routine had to he observed. First the a bridge constructed mail, express and baggage were loaded across the Thompson and made secure, then passengers were River connecting asked to board. After the driver had taken Ashcroft to the his seat, the wheel-team was brought out, Cariboo Road in positioned, their harness and rigging ad 1886. When Tingley justed to the satisfaction of the driver, took over sole owner and their reins passed to him; the swing &r VAIL CAGO IJLLOUETi ship of the BX, he team was brought out, and the same moved his headquar process followed. Only then was the lead BXRoute map. A208. C ters to Ashcroft. Peo team brought from the stable. This lively ground, they had to make numerous ple, mail, and freight came to this point pair usually inspired some very colorful stops to pick up the wood needed to by train, then transferred to the stage language from the hostler who had his operate the boilers. In addition, going up coaches and freight wagons. Ashcroft be work cut out for him to hook them up or down hill so affected the water level came the new gateway to the Cariboo. and get out of the way before the driver in the boilers that they became over As the BX prospered so did Ashcroft. released the brake. Immediately they

heated and developed leaks — not too One of the most important businesses were off, rearing up on their hind legs useful on this mountainous road. The with the office, freight and wagon ware once or twice and unnerving the more first and only trip came to a sudden halt houses, livery stable, and houses for em fainthearted passengers, before they set when the coaches were unable to climb ployees right in town, barns, corals, and tled down to a brisk trot to the next sta up Jackass Mountain in the Fraser Can fields on the outskirts, the BX attracted tion. yon so Barnard abandoned the project many other private businesses: wheel The BX schooners, bright red with and sold them to Jeremiah Rogers for wrights, blacksmiths, merchants, hotel yellow trim, pulled by these high-spir clearing timber in Vancouver. and restaurants. ited horses, were an awesome sight as they While still running the BX, Barnard We tend to picture stage coach drivers flew down the long hill into Ashcroft. In had represented the Yale-Lytton riding as rough-hewn, hard-drinking fellows, the 1860s, needing more horses to keep in the B.C. Legislative Council, and at but not so the BX employees. Chosen pace with his expanding business,

22 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 Barnard sent Tingley to Southern Cali and one outside beside the driver, and The cost ofoperating the stage line was fornia to purchase five hundred head could be used as an open or closed coach. approximately $50,000 per year. For ex which he drove overland to Vernon to Steve Tingley himselfdrove the Dufferin ample, in 1896, wages ($50 per month start the BX Ranch, which from that time Coach for the vice-regal visit. It was used per driver) and feed for the horses came supplied all the stage horses. for many years by the BX to transport to approximately $20,000 per year. Re An old timetable advertises the BX as prominent patrons, and it was often pairs to the coaches, replacement of iron “650 miles of the best equipped stage hired, at twice the rate of ordinary vehi wheel rims, and shoeing horses cost about lines ofAmerica”. The average trip took cles, by those who wished to make a big $30,000 per year. The mail contract four days each way. Special trips were fre impression. brought in about half of the operational quently made in less time. All parts of More than fifty years after it was built, cost, the rest came from passengers and the Interior were served by the BX, in the coach was still in use, although not express. cluding Lillooet, Chilcotin, Alkali Lake, with its original distinction. Al Young, a The BX guaranteed safe delivery of Horsefly, Quesnelle, 150-Mile House, former stage coach driver used it as a hack gold from the Cariboo to Yale, something Soda Creek, and Barkerville. in Prince George in 1914 and 1915, af Governor Douglas, even with the Royal In winter, stages were replaced by sleds. ter which it came back home to Ashcroft Engineers at his disposal, would not do. The first to try this was Steve Tingley in for seven years. In 1922 it was sold to There were surprisingly few robbery at January, 1867. Snow and intense cold Bill Livingstone who carried mail and tempts considering the miles of remote made the going extremely difficult. At passengers between Quesnel and roads covered by the red and yellow 150-Mile House, Tingley found a large Barkerville. Livingstone traded it off to coaches and the value of the cargo they sled, secured the bed of the stage to it a rancher who replaced its elegant coach transported. All coaches carried an ex and drove to 127-Mile. With more than with a rack and pulled it behind a trac pert shot to discourage any hold-ups and two feet of new snow covering the road, tor to haul firewood. Its leather braces penalties for breaking the law were se they started for 83-Mile but by nightfall were sold to a Chinese shoemaker. Luck vere and immediate. In addition the only they were only at 100-Mile. More snow ily a Quesnel citizen rescued the old ve practical route away from the Cariboo greeted them the next morning, but hicle before the braces became half-soles, was the railway at Ashcroft where any Tingley acquired two extra horses from and invested many hours and dollars to stranger would immediately be noticed the owner of the roadhouse and they fi restore the Dufferin to its original appear and investigated. nally arrived at 83-Mile at 6 p.m., tak ance. It is now on display at Irving House In 1897 Tingley lost the mail contract ing three days to complete a trip that in Museum in New Westminster. to Ryan Kilgour and Charles Miller of normal conditions would take one. It was this tenacity that allowed the BXto be the only company that kept the Clinton to

Barkerville road A open in winter, A transporting pas sengers, mail and express all year round. When Lord and Lady Dufferin, the Governor-General of Canada and his wife, made an of ficial visit to B.C. in 1876, the BX spent $1,200 to have a special ve hicle built in San Francisco. It seated seven pas BXpassenger sleigh in Asbcroft, 1911 taking childrenfor a Christmas ride. This normally held sixteen passengers, mail and band luggage. sengers, six inside B160

23 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 been justly proud. From 1896 until 1920, the BX operated a fleet of steam boats and smaller sternwheelers on the Upper Fraser from Soda Creek to Fort George. At its busiest it had three steamboats, and did a large business in freight and passengers, hauling supplies south for the PGE and Cariboo products north to be forwarded to markets in Ed monton and Prince Rupert. Between 1910 and 1915 the BX stages were replaced by red and yellow 60 hp Winton Six

automobiles — fresh air taxis. A large garage to house them was S built adjacent to the other BX buildings south ofAshcroft. Fi Unnumbered (This is Helen Forsterc own picture) The List B.C Express office which still stands on Railway Street in naliy, in 1920, due to the com Asbcrofr Helen Forster lives in this building now. pletion ofthe PGE Railway and Toronto, and sold the BX to them. He 1915. His obituary called him “the pio the advent of truck transport, lived inAshcorft until about 1910, then neer whip of the Cariboo Road”, an ap the BX, after more than fifty years ofserv moved to Vancouver where he died in propriate title of which he would have ice, closed its doors for the last time. No company has been more closely as sociated with the history ofthis province

G.TIS6LCV. Me..1... ,NCQ*..Oqnr.n less. than the B.C. Express Company. The BX was an important part of the develop ment of the interior of B.C. and the Cariboo trail, and remains a part of Ashcroft where the office building still stands, and the “Welcome to Ashcroft” signs proudly display a BX stage pulled by a handsome six-horse team.

Pat Foster was a teacher in Alberta who came to to retire. She and her hus band then moved to Ashcroft where they have CARIHOO HAS PRODUCEI) OVER FORTY MILliON OOLLARS IN DOLD. energetically researched Cariboo history. GARIBOO STILL HOLDS MORE GOLD THAN SHE EVER PRODUCED.. BIBLIOGRAPHY GENESAL STOHE HOTEL Ashcroft Museum and Archives 5AClD..I-il SUH lll.CtSMIIH’i i’tJl Note- Many thanks to Helen Forster of the Ashcroft POST...1ELtGRH OFFICtS 150 MILL HOUSE B. C., Museum for all her help. 011)501 50*11!. 0) Pictures - from Ashcroft Museum Archives QUtS.I I E fOIIKS l40RSlF.Y /& . 190 o C Hl L ( C) T C N *L.Ll AKF

24 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 Stanley Park: Thurism and Development by Eric Swanje

On 29 October 1889 on the ancient Indian clearing ofChaythoos, i.e., “high bank,” and of Pipe Line Road, First Narrows, Stanley Park, and in the presence ofhis worship David Oppenheimer, second mayor ofVancouver, and a small group of eminent citizens, Lord Stanley threw his arms to the heavens, as though embracing the whole thousand acres of primeval forest, and dedicated it (his words) “to the use and pleasure of peoples of all colors, creeds and customs for all time.” A city that has been carved out of the forest should maintain somewhere within its boundaries evidence of what it once was, and so long as Stanley Park remains unspoiled that testimony to the giant trees which occupied the site of Vancouver in former days will remain.2 Nothing in this, noryet the next world would tempt a Coast Indian into the compact centres ofthe wildportions ofthepark, for therein, concealed cunningljc is the “lure” they all believe in.3

The totem poles, a of our urban existence. Moreover, since oftourists to the city in future years. How curious sight, society as a whole relies on visual percep ever, at its birth the park “was still a dense Stana four togethei in tions to form opinions,8 one could argue forest relatively inaccessible beyond its a row, that tourist impressions of Stanley Park shoreline fringes.”3 As McKee notes, the Wrought with a patience can be used as an indicator of one aspect problem facing the city was how to ad infinite, of the city’s livability. minister and develop it for posterity; Ob By Indian carvers, long The land which was to become “Van viously, the park was seen as an ago.4 couver’s Eden” was acquired by the city “irreplaceable civic asset” which played a of Vancouver through a certain amount key role in establishing Vancouver’s iden Vancouver has the public image of a of serendipity: it had been set aside as a tity: thus, during the nventies and thir beautiful, exciting, booming, cosmopoli military reserve in 1863 (which, inciden ties, the forest playground tan city with Stanley Park as its outstand tally, saved it from the interests of private ever-increasingly transformed into a ing landmark. Negative impressions ofthe loggers) with a plan to place artillery at “tourist mecca” and “the centrepiece and city are rare. Stanley Park proved to he Brockton Point in order to ward off a pride of the entire civic park system.” Its central in the formation of Vancouver’s feared invasion by the United States. potential for tourist development using identity; because it gave the city a sense ‘When the threat of an American invasion natural and historical resources seemed of place. During the early twentieth abated in 1886, the first act of the new limitless. tury, the park was seen as “high status, City Council was to petition the federal The creation of the park resulted from undeveloped, and large,” and it was government requesting the land for a civic a middle-class British notion in which lauded as one of the finest parks in the park.9 (The lessening friction with the local public parks were seen as “breathing world primarily because of its “one thou United States was also an important fac spaces where citizens might stroll, drive, sand acres of virgin forest.”5 Because of tor in the transfer of lands for peaceful or sit to enjoy the open air.”14 It was ob its size, a visitor to the park is able to es purposes.’°) The request was granted by vious that parks were for passive, not ac cape the hustle and bustle of nearby the Dominion government in 1887 for tive, recreation; hence, the transformation downtown and perhaps even the values use as a public recreation spot,’1 and the that Stanley Park underwent during the associated with a business-oriented world. park — Vancouver’r first — was opened one interwar years (from natural green space In the world of Stanley Park, only tower year later. to tourist mecca) is significant for what it ing trees take precedence6 - they offer es As one of the largest civic urban parks suggests about the changing perceptions cape. However, despite the image of the in North America, Stanley Park was offi Vancouverites had of this civic treasure. park as a natural, unspoiled wilderness in cially opened by Vancouver Mayor David During the inter-war years then, the tra the city, it was a human-modified envi Oppenheimer on September 27, 1888 ditional paradigm of the character and ronment. Bearing in mind that the con (under a 99 year lease from the federal role of the park as a natural urban green centration of human-made attractions is government) in honour of Canada’s Gov space was augmented with a new percep related to population density;7 Vancouver ernor General Lord Stanley. At the open tion of Stanley Park as a booster for the was situated in an ideal spot. During the ing ceremony, Lord Stanley dedicated the tourist industry; inter-war years as well as today, the over park “to the use and pleasure of peoples How Stanley Park was perceived by whelming popularity of the zoo, the to of all colors, creeds and customs for all Vancouverites and visitors alike will be tem poles, and Lumberman’s Arch attest time.”12 Lord Stanley’s proclamation al revealed through a discussion of the com to this fact. Thus, it seems fair to say that ludes to — perhaps unintentionally — the mercialization of the park; conservation Stanley Park is an important dimension potential of drawing increasing numbers efforts in the park, the Lions Gate Bridge

25 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 debate; relief work in the park; and the charm — “a primitive virgin forest close to amidst conflicting interests. For instance, park’s role as a symbol of Vancouver. As the city” — the desecration of the park a “Save-the-Park Campaign” was started well, the white construction of the no through logging and commercialization in February 1935 by a group ofconserva tion of “Indian-ness” will be examined. of the park is also symbolic of the chang tionist-minded citizens that transcended Commercialization of Stanley Park ing social and economic paradigm to class boundaries.24 The creation ofa mini The commercialization of Stanley Park wards civic parks during the inter-war ature railway, zoo, golfcourses and tennis would prove to be an inescapable issue. years: Stanley Park was destined (or courts, bowling greens, and the Malkin Despite pre-Worid War I efforts to pre doomed) to undergo a metamorphosis Bowl (1934) can be seen as a sign that, vent the park from undergoing a meta from natural urban green space to “tour during the thirties, Stanley Park was morphosis into a “commonplace city ist trap”. (Despite the negative perception changing into a more user-friendly green park,” the inter-war years witnessed in of the park evident here, it remained the space.25 It should be noted, however, that creasing commercialization of the park — premier tourist attraction in the city)9) the Park Board pursued a policy to keep albeit not without opposition champi The temporary commercialization (i.e., the “[g] reatest part in the forest and made oned largely but not exclusively by the admission fee) which was to befall Stanley accessible by roads, trails, bridle-path, high-status educated elite ofVancouver.’5 Park during the Vancouver Golden Jubi etc.”26 Nonetheless, the Stanley Park ofthe twen lee Celebrations never materialized. In Obviously, the Park Board had realized ties was somewhat modified as it com large part this was due to the fact that: that the conservation of Stanley Park’s bined “within itself something of the The people of Vancouver have regarded natural qualities was inextricably linked majesty and magic of the primaeval [sic] Stanley Park with a sense of affictionate to its continued tourist appeal. In this forest” in addition to tennis courts, ownership for so very long that the experi sense, it seems fair to say that although putting and bowling greens, and other ence ofhaving topay to get into even a small popular perceptions of Stanley Park dur recreational facilities.’6 part ofit will tend to make it seem like al ing the inter-war years had progressed The utilitarian version ofthe forest play ien ground2° from a conservationist to a more utilitar ground was not unanimously popular, This comment appeared on the edito ian ideal. Vancouverites still saw the natu however. The Local Council of Women rial page of the Vancouver Sun on May ral beauty of the park as the key factor in were particularly vociferous opponents to 11, 1936 before the celebrations took establishing Vancouver’s identity. Here we the commercialization of the park, be place. It interestingly illustrates that the see how the conceptual integrity and natu cause they felt it would shatter the “old- feeling of “affectionate ownership” har ralness of the forest had remained intact time peace.” For instance, the Council boured by numerous Vancouverites would despite large-scale changes in people’s per expressed their disapproval with the Van likely change to “militant affection” ceptions of Stanley Park. Commerciali couver Golden Jubilee Committee’s plan should an admission fee be levied, even zation had taken place in moderation; to charge admission to the park during temporarily. Greed, according to the hence, the sublime nature of the park did the celebrations in 1936. “The Council writer of this editorial, is no excuse for not change. condemned the plan to transfigure the the commercialization of Stanley Park. In Conservation Efforts natural [emphasis added] grandeur of light of the foregoing remarks, it is not The issue ofconserving the Stanley Park Stanley Park with cheap attractions ofthe surprising that the proposed admission fee forest was the paradoxical result of the Coney Island variety”7 (The proposed (and the installation ofmechanized attrac revenue-motivated effort to commercial attractions included dance pavilions, tea tions) was denied, since the policy of the ize the park. Although substantial altera gardens, and other exhibits between the Park board was to keep the park in its free tions were made to the park (i.e., Pavilion and Lumberman’s Arch.) and natural state.21 human-made structures were added), a The temporary commercialization of Although the park, by and large, was concerted effort was also made to conserve the park opposed so vehemently by a par not distastefully commercialized during its wilderness character for tourists and ticular group implies that many the inter-war years, modest development visitors.27 This environmentally friendly Vancouverites resented a challenge to the did occur. For example, Lost Lagoon was attitude, which was already prevalent in environmental integrity of their forest stocked with fish, and it was proposed by the beginning of the twentieth century, is playground. Undoubtedly, they felt it rep the Park Board that people wishing to fish significant for what it suggests about the resented a shift to the gaudy entertain in Lost Lagoon would have to purchase a sentiments of the people of Vancouver ment centres of the United States which fishing licence. (The licence would cost towards Stanley Park. During World War were lacking in aesthetic appeal. The un $1 per day to a maximum of 10 trout.22) I, the city’s “laissez—faire attitude” to the popularity of the Coney Island theme Also, the proposal in February 1936 to forest playground was gradually replaced underscores the ethnocentricism of construct a miniature railway “along the by a more conservationist ethos. The re Vancouverites. After all, “what would not shores of Lost Lagoon to Second Beach, sult was the post-war emergence ofaVan the Americans give for such a park near [and] the Board to share in the profits couver identity premised on the natural one of their busy cities?”18 Precisely be from such”23 exemplifies the increasing beauty ofthe place — not on the city’s com cause of its priceless value as a natural development of “Vancouver’s Eden” mercial attractions. Nonetheless, the

26 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 changing role of Stanley Park represented make the park accessible to all, thereby matic businessmen] and conservationists the advent of the business of tourism in increasing not only the forest’s but also across North America over the natural Vancouver as well as embodying the phi the city’s appeal as a tourist destination. heritage of this continent.”4’ What then losophy of “capitalizing the scenery;” For Nonetheless, popular sentiment sought to accounted for the 1937 construction of a example, efforts to beautify the “foul maintain the integrity of the park which, bridge which was commonly portrayed in smelling and unsightly” tidal flats around it was hoped, would increase property the media as an injury to the citizens of what is now Lost Lagoon began as early values in the area and attract tourists.34 Vancouver? as 1908.28 Thus, one could argue that Through the promotion of tourism by Again, the decision can mainly be seen these aesthetic improvements were rooted various agencies such as the Vancouver as a result of the changing social and eco— in civic pride29 which attests to the per Publicity Bureau, the media, and Premier nomic paradigm. The economically de ception ofStanley Park as “the finest natu Pattullo. Vancouverites began to see the pressed mind-set of the thirties probably ral park in the World.”30 Moreover, park “as a centre for games, amusements, placed less value on the environmental

. .“5 schemes for park beautification can be [and] rallies . integrity of the park; therefore, the pre seen as a concerted effort by the city to Despite the feeling exptssed by Alder dominant desire to encourage British in attract tourists. The increased usability of man William Brown that parks were a vestment prevailed in the city’s decision the park was central to the construction waste of space, because “a man never got to approve construction. So, in the early of a Vancouver identity during the inter- a square meal ofscenery;”36 further desire thirties, “a privately financed project was war years. This eclectic notion saw the city to conserve the urban wilderness of welcomed as a means ofopening the west in general and the park in specific por Stanley Park came after a brutal wind and ern section of the North Shore for subur trayed as world-class destinations on par snow storm destroyed large numbers of ban development and as a source of with Banif and Jasper National Parks aa trees in the park during the winter of employment.”42 Simply put, the Lions nd Niagara Falls, for example. Further 1934-35. Under the auspices ofthe “Save- Gate Bridge was paid for by the Gum- more, the changing perceptions ofStanley the-Park Campaign,” civic-minded citi ness family of Ireland to allow automo Park shed some light on the modicum of zens “from those in high office to the man bile access to their real estate holdings thought towards recreational space as on the street” were called upon by the City known as the British Properties.43 The fact such: parks were now being seen not only Council “to expedite the urgently needed that this major construction project was for their intrinsic nature value but also as salvage job” before fire-season began.37 undertaken in the midst of the Depres potential sources of revenue for the city Obviously, Stanley Park was considered sion interestingly illustrates Stanley Park’s The changing perceptions of Stanley such an irreplaceable civic asset that many role not only as a popular destination

Park were a product ofthe Depression era, Vancouverites felt compelled — out ofcivic where poverty-stricken citizens could because the park was inexorably linked to duty and privilege — to assist in the clean momentarily escape reality but also as a prosperity Although the inherent value up.38 Only “cold-blooded indifference” potential source of employment in the of the land as a “noble forested area and would prevent one from helping out. building of the Lions Gate Bridge. as a playground and breathing space”3’ The Lions Gate Bridge Debate ReliefWorkers hi Stanley Park was never forgotten, its value as advertise The controversy over construction of Even during the midst of the Depres ment and as a tourist attraction dramati the Lions Gate Bridge is further emblem sion, the park had not lost its pride of cally increased. In light of the atic of the struggle to conserve Stanley place. A plan was conceived by the mu environmentally harmful side-effects of Park. The issue ofa bridge crossing at First nicipal government of the day to bring tourism, reform-minded, progressive citi Narrows had been discussed five years af the work that needs to be done in Stanley zens argued that “the word ‘park’ suggests ter the birth of the park, but “the pro Park and the unemployed labour together. conservation, the preservation ofthe beau posal to drive a roaring speedway through “The clearing of all dead wood and un ties nature has created.”32 Hence, it seems the heart of the Park” came to the fore dergrowth and the cutting down of pest- fair to say that many upper-middle class front of civic business again in 1927. A infected and dangerous timber in Stanley Vancouverites realized that the intrinsic plebiscite regarding its construction was Park. .. “ was especially popular, because value of the park should be more impor held in June ofthat year but was emphati it beautified the park for tourists and tant than its economic potential; there cally rejected by the City Council39 in an employed relief recipients. Construction fore, it must be held sacred for posterity effort to defend the park from “injury and of the Sea Wall and the improvement of and for tourists. After all, “[w]e can not mutilation.” (Similarly, a plan to build an Deadman’s Island were affected by a simi expect people to come fal, or often, to look Edwardian museum and art gallery at Lost lar strategy;45 In a broader sense, the idea at our logged-offlands.”33 As perceptions Lagoon was introduced by city planners ofemploying relief recipients in the clean of Stanley Park changed throughout the in the twenties but then shelved.40) The up of the park is representative of a “work twenties and thirties so did the environ initial opposition to the construction of and wages” scheme (urged by the Pattullo mental impact on the park itself the causeway and bridge represented a government) rather than a relief system, Employing the notion of development “battle, albeit microcosmic, that had been and it also embodies the traditional con was central to the Park Board’s desire to waged between industrialists [i.e., prag cern that the work ethic would be eroded

27 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 by indiscriminate charity; Moreover, the age has been constructed by the dominant displaced. Then, the setting aside of the employment of reliefworkers in the park culture to fit whatever mold it desired at park for a naval reserve in 1863 witnessed bespeaks the pride that the citizens of the time. Consequently, the Native vil the end of Indian title to the area. As a Vancouver took in their “holy retreat.” For lage at the totem poles in Stanley Park is result, the original occupants of the pe this reason, it seems fair to say that Stanley a non-Native creation put there for tour ninsula became squatters. Although no

— Park because of its unparalleled natural ist purposes — not to gain a better under notable exodus ofsquatters occurred,56 the

splendour — truly was instrumental in standing of Native peoples. (What displacement of Indians is significant for forming a Vancouver identity; particular tribe or nation of Indians is ac what it suggests about the white construc Stanley Park as a Symbol of tually represented at the totem poles is in tion of “Indian-ness” in Stanley Park: Vancouver significant to most non-Native observers. whites wanted Indian symbols such as The development of the park and the In fact, non-Native tourists expressed an totem poles to remain in the park,57 but perception which visitors formed of it ambivalence to Indian culture so long as no one wanted to see an Indian face be were inextricably linked to foreign mod what they were seeing was authentic.51) side them. Thus, the image of the Indian els, especially Britain and the United Even though the totems themselves were that (white) tourists desired was an inac States. Chicago’s World Fair of 1893 dis carved by local Coast Salish Indians, ac curate one constructed by the dominant

played American urban park achieve tually seeing an Indian face at the site was majority — not by the Indians themselves. ments and, in turn, greatly influenced the (and still is) rare. This fact reflects the The case of Dr. Raley provides us with a park system in Vancouver46 (e.g., the City times: Indian culture was something to poignant example. Dr. Raley, a local non- Beautiful Association.) Ironically, it was be marvelled at, but Indians as human Native minister, was to supervise the erec this “park plagiarism” that was central to beings were to be shunned. Simply put, tion of four new totem poles in Stanley the construction of a Vancouver identity; their culture was part of Canadian soci Park. The purpose of the additional to As for the development of public rec ety; yet they were not. As Daniel Francis tems was “the need for a knowledge of reation spaces within the park itself, the notes, “the fact that the Indians were van totem pole legends so that questions by City Council was urged by Fred Crone, ishing added an urgency to the tourists’ Jubilee visitors can be answered by local chairman of the Park Board, to increase quest for novelty.”52 They were seen as an residents.”58 This comment embodies the its breathing spaces and provide for the “ancient and dying race,” and, notion of a non-Native construction of future.47 Public sentiment supported Mr. The frct that it will not be long beJre “Indian-ness”: Jubilee visitors would prob Crone’s recommendations, because these interesting peoples have disappeared ably be white, yet their queries about In Vancouverites saw their park system as a befrre our advancing civilization should dian totem poles would be answered “proud distinction” of the city; Not sur make us eager to gather their story in per almost exclusively by white residents. prisingly, civic pride virtually dominated manentfrrm in our art and literature.53 There was absolutely no Native represen the Park Board’s decision to add to the The marketing of the Stanley Park to tation on what were essentially Native amount of recreation spaces. This exem tem poles was part ofa “curious phenom matters (i.e., totem poles.) Here we see plified the Board’s desire to maintain enon.” For example, during the twenties how the old-world view of the “noble sav Stanley Park’s idyllic image. By 1934, ad the provincial Liberal government ofJohn age” was perpetuated: the white image of ditional facilities for large picnics appeaid Oliver (1918-27) had prohibited the erec the Indian was never challenged by an

in the park,48 and, by 1936, a proposal to tion oftotem poles and other Native sym Indian voice — there was a total lack of introduce more recreation areas and to bols, yet approximately ten years later the Native agency; light the tennis courts at night on a “pay- Liberal government ofTD. Pattullo was To further illustrate this point, the case as-you-play” basis had been accepted.49 In appropriating the totem pole as an unof of Dr. Raley again provides a good exam the same year, $55,000 would be spent ficial symbol of British Columbia.54 This ple. In 1937, Dr. Raley published a his on giving Stanley Park a make-over (e.g., simply echoes my earlier assertion that tory of the totem poles. He was given building Jubilee Fountain in Lost Lagoon) only the white notion ofNative culture— permission “to conduct the sale [of book

for the Vancouver Jubilee Celebrations.5° rather than the Natives themselves — was lets] from the Board’s booth at Obviously, the perception that visitors and part of Canadian society; Lumberman’s Arch and other booths as tourists had of Stanley Park was linked The city’s claim to undisputed control may be arranged, until the end of Sep with the image they had of the city as a over Stanley Park has been challenged by tember, no commission to be charged by whole. its original inhabitants throughout the the Board.”59 Ironically, just four years White Construction of “Indian-ness” park’s existence. The Indians, members of earlier ChiefMatthias Joe ofthe Squamish in Stanley Park the Burrard, Musqueam, and Squamish tribe was denied permission to sell curios Perceptions ofthe park and the city are, bands, who resided and buried their dead at a booth near the totem poles.6° Hence, however, only a part of the overall picture at several sites in the park55 saw it as their one could conclude that Indians as such ofsupernatural British Columbia. Images permanent home. With the arrival of played no part in the creation of their ofthe Indian have always been fundamen Europeans in in 1791, how image. Only whites were permitted to tal to Canadian culture. The Indian im ever, the Indian population was gradually construct “Indian-ness” which undoubt

28 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 edly the accuracy of the image world” is as important today as it was 1997.) affected 30. The Oakland Times (California) dubbed Stanley Park itself. during the inter-war years. “the finest natural park in the world.” See Vancouver Conclusion Daily Province, June 23, 1927, p. 1. ***** 31. Vancouver Daily Province, June 11, 1926, p.6. While Stanley Park had once served 32. Ibid. 33. Ibid. primarily as a natural green space for rest The author prepared this essay for Dr. 34. Patricia E. Roy, Vancouver An Illustrated History and relaxation during the pre-Worid War McDonald at the University ofBritish Colum (Toronto: James Lorimcr Company and Publishers, bia. He completed his Bachelor ofArts in the 1980), p. 49. The possibility of increasing property value I era, the inter-war years saw the forest is allsded Alderman W.J. McGuigan in 1899 with spring of 1997. When an undergraduate, to by playground develop into a proverbial gold respect to the proposed sawmill on Deadman’s Island. See Swanje was emplo’yed as a tourguide with Gray McKee, MA thesis, 1976. However, the desire to mine as a booster for the tourist industry Line of Vancouver maintain the park’s integrity — its natural state — was espoused by the Park Board during the inter-war years. — a function which it serves to this day. Vancouver Province, June FOOTNOTES See Daily 11. 1926, p. 6. The selling of the park resulted in a posi 35. This comment is made by Robert A.J. McDonald with 1. City of Vancouver Archives (CVA), Additional reference to the proposed Coal Harbour stadium; tive world view of the city itself: The per Manuscripts (Add.Mss.) 54, Major Matthews Collection, however, Stanley Park as such was likely seen in the same ception that tourists had of Vancouver file 282, vol. 13, Stanley Park Correspondence, “Stanley light. See McDonald, “Vancouver’s Stanley Park,” P. 34. Park - golden anniversary,” 1939. 36. McKee, MA thesis, p. 47. undeniably influenced such factors as 2. Vancouver News-Herald, October 30, 1939. 37. Vancouver Daily Province, February 8, 1935, p. 1. immigration and trade in a positive way.6’ 3. Pauline E. Johnson, Legends ofVancouver 38. This view is eapressed by C.?.. Cottetell, a local (Vancouver: Privately Printed. 191 1), P. 74. businessman, in Ibid. Through increased immigration from dif 4. Robert Allison Hood, By Shore and Trail in Stanley 39. CV?., Vancouver Park Board, Annual Report for 1927 ferent ethnic backgrounds, the promotion Park (Toronto: McClelland and Stewart, 1929), p.61. (Office of the Superintendent of Parks and Recreation, 5. Ellen Janet Nightingale Berry: “The Tourist’s Image of Vancouver), p. 4. of arts and cultural development also oc a City: Vancouver, BC” (Master of Arts thesis, University 40. Robin Ward, Robin Ward’s Vancouver (Vancouver: of British Columbia, 1979), p. 106. Harbour Publishing, 1990), p. 127. curred. In addition, conservation of the 6. Ibid. 41. McKee,MAthesis,p.5l. natural and historical resources of Stanley 7. British Columbia, British Columbia Tourism 42. Ibid., p.41. Development Strategy: An Opportunityfor the 43. The bridge cost $6 million to build and was paid for Park works to maintain its status as an Eighties (Province of British Columbia, Ministsy of by rolls of25 cents per car until it was sold back to the unspoiled natural setting thereby adding Tourism, l980),p. 15. city in 1955 fist the cost of construction, $6 million. See 8. Nightingale Berry: MA thesis, p. 277. Gray Line ofVancouver, “Tour Commentary Manual” to its economic and social importance in 9. The petition was organized by three businessmen (Vancouver: Gray Line ofVancouver, 1996), p. 72. involved in local land sales. Park promoters realized the 44. CVA, 48-A-3,VPBMM, file 2, December 30, 1931. an increasingly intergrated and diversified potential the forest had as “an attraction for tourists and 45. CV?., 48-A-4, VPBMM, file 2, July 13, 1933. tourist industry visitors to the city:’ See Robert kJ. McDonald, ‘Holy 46. McKee, MA thesis, p. 32. Retreat’ or ‘Practical Breathing Spot’?: Class Perceptions 47. Vancouver Sun, July 6, 1929, p. 3. One should, however, bear in mind that of Vancouver’s Stanley Park, 1910-1913” (Canadian 48. CVA, 48-A-4, VPBMM, file 2, April 12, 1934. the acquisition of the park was a “fortui Historical Review, vol. U(V no.2, 1984), p. 139. 49. Ibid., July 20, 1936. 10. Elsie M. McFarland. The Development of Public 50. Vancouver News-Herald, March 31, 1936, p. 11, tous event,” and because of this Vancou Recreation in Canada (Vanier, On.: Canadian Parksl 51. This argument is advanced, albeit with respect to ver developed a very unbalanced and Recreation Association, 1970), p.8. attitudes of white writers to indigenous culture, byTerty 11. McDonald, “Vancouver’s Stanley Park,” p. 127. Goldie, Fear and Temptations The Image of the unplanned civic park system.62 Conse 12. CVA, Md. Mm, 54, Major Matthews Collection, Indigene in Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand Stanley Park Correspondence, 1939. literatures (Kingston: McGill-Queen’s University Press. quently, Stanley Park received preferen 13. William C. McKee, “The l-Iistory of the Vancouver 1989.) tial treatment from the Park Board while Park System 1886-1929” (MA thesis, University of 52. Daniel Francis, The Imaginary Indians The Image of Victoria, 1976), 36. other natural green spaces were ne p. the Indian in Canadian Culture (Vancouver: Arsenal 14. McFarland, Public Recreation, P. 14. Pulp Press, 1992), p. 182. glected.63 This undeniably accounts for 15. McDonald, “Vancouver’s Stanley Park,” pp. 133-34. 53. Vancouver Daily Province, August 8, 1926, P.6. 16. University of British Columbia, Special Collections 54. Francis, The Imaginary Indian, p. 184. the overwhelmingly positive perceptions (UBC-SC), Pamphlet File, W.S. Rawlings, “Vancouver, 55. Mike Steele, Vancouver’s Famous Stanley Parka The and unabating affinity that the people of British Columbia, Its Parks and Resorts,” (Vancouver Year-Round Playground (Surrey, BC: Heritage House Board of Park Commissioners, 1919.) Publishing Company Ltd., 1993), P. 6. Vancouver share for their forest play 17. Vancouver Sun, May 5, 1936, p. 8. 56. McKee, MA thesis, p. 42. ground. Even today, Stanley Park is still 18. Vancouver Daily Province, July 24, 1927. p. 12. 57. The West Coast Indian theme is likely the most 19. Vancouver Daily Province, July 5, 1938, p. 1. internationally &mous cultural and historical resource in seen as a civic gem. To many people, it is 20. Vancouver Sun, May 11, 1936, p. 6. the province. Since the coastal tribes have “an interesting 21. CVA, 48-A-3, Vancouver Park Board Meeting Minutes and dynamic lifestyle with a sophisticated and impressive the pride of Vancouver. Yet despite the (VPBMM), file 2, Marth 20, 1931. (‘Fhe Park Board is level of material development,” the tourist appeal of the park’s ever-increasing role in bringing in significant nor only because it administers Stanley Park Indian cislture was not insignificant. See British but because it acts as an arbitrator in the development of Columbia. Tourism Development Strategy, p.l5. tourist dollars, the federal government the park as a civic booster for tourism. It plays a tough 58. Vancouver Daily Province, June 13, 1936, p. 5. (i.e., the owners ofthe land) remains stal role, because it has to represent “traditional principles, 59. CV?., 48-A-4, VPBMM, file 2, July 8, 1937. interests in beautification and a desire to incorporate 60. CV?., 48-A-4, VPBMM, file 2, May 11, 1933. wart in its mission to protect the pseudo- some of the latest reform notions about the value of 61. E.J. Hart, The Selling of Canadar The CPR and the sacred forest. When Vancouver Park athletic activity for adults and of structured play for Beginnings of Canadian Tourism (BattlE Altitude children.’ See McDonald, “Vancouver’s Stanley Park.” p. Publishing Ltd., 1983), p. 8. 129.) Board chair Duncan Wilson was in Ot 62. McKee, MA thesis, p. 54. 22. CVA, 48-A-3, VPBMM, file 2, March 28, 1929. 63. H. Bartholomew and Associates, A Plan for the City tawa last week promoting the Board’s pro 23. CVA, 48-A-4, VPBMM, file 2, Februasy 13, 1936. ofVancouver (Vancouver: Town Planning Commission, posal for a tunnel linking West Vancouver 24. Vancouver Sun, February 9, 1935, p. 1. 1928.) 25. The creation of the miniature railway, zoo, golf and 64. Vancouver Sun, March 19, 1997, p. Bl. to downtown, Heritage Minister Sheila tennis courses, bowling greens, and the Malkin Bowl are Copps expressed the federal government’s discussed in CVA, 48-A-4, VPBMM, file 2, December 12, 1940. In addition, the unsuccessful proposal to We inadvertently omitted the Bibliography. This may be desire to preserve “the environmental in construct a stadium in the park — which truly bespeaks obtained by writing or phoning the Editor.

the issue of commercialization — is discussed in CVA, 48- tegrity of Stanley Park.” This comment A-4, VPBMM, file 2, May 13, 1937. suggests that maintaining the image ofthe 26. CV?., 48-A-3,VPBMM, file 2, November, n.d., 1931. 27. McDonald, “Vancouver’s Stanley Park”, p. 127. park as “the finest natural park in the 28.Ibid., p. 131. 29. Personal Contact (Eric Fulscht, Vancouver, January 31,

29 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 The Tie Hackers by KeLcey McLeod

up, resources discovered. Im bunkhouses. “Most ofthe tie camps were migrants quickly followed to just clearings in the woods with anywhere seek out, build, make new and from two to a dozen men keeping each better lives, and one ofthe ways other company, each cutting his own ties. they made money in their new A canvas tent and an air-tight heater, a land was hacking railway ties. common wash basin and nails on the Our mountainous terrain trees to hang things on, a cache on a plat made transportation difficult form, and all the mosquito netting the and dangerous till the railways men could afford. “2 However, judg came. And even after the Ca ing from stories in Ties To Water, it ap nadian Pacific and Canadian pears that camps in the Kootenays tended National Railways opened up to be somewhat larger than those in the the eastern and southern parts north.3 of the province, long after the Locally it was called tie hacking, and Cariboo Road cut through to it was a difficult and dangerous occupa Barkerville, northward nothing tion, aside from the primitive living con changed for many years. The ditions and the isolation. “Two serious Telegraph Trail did lead north accidents occurred in the CPR tie camps and west from Quesnel, reach up river last week. One man cut his foot ing Hazelton, but after its con badly with an axe, but remained in camp.

The Tie Hack - Wish a railroad needing3000 tiesper mile during struction was stopped in 1866, Another was in the way of a falling tree. construction anda steady supply ofreplacementsi ties were a major the route became more and and a pointed piece penetrated his side component ofa railway and the Tie Hacks role an important one. Here is a Bull river Tie Hack in typical dress with hisfull line of more hazardous. The entire He was carried on a stretcher. . . a equipment, a one man crosscut saw, a scoring axe anda broad axe. area, with its resources of tim distance ofeight miles.”4 “It was a rough Stamina and a natural dexterity were a must on thisjob. ber and minerals, remained life. 4 men died in one accident, 2 in Throughout British Columbia, wher largely unknown, and certainly un another. Eventually lost lives became ever a railway ran, ties were needed. From tapped.’ common enough to receive casual men the Kootenays to the Coast, from South The coming of the Grand Trunk Pa tion in the back pages of the Herald. ern B.C. to the Skeena River where the cific, which was finally completed after .“ “At present four men are prostrate Grand Trunk Pacific eventually cut many delays, on April 7, 1914, changed from accidents caused by axe and through to Prince Rupert, the need for all that overnight. And when the Line broadaxe “6 “Accidents happened ties never ended. (It was estimated that became the Canadian National on Janu sometimes and I remember hearing an 2800 ties per mile were used.) And there ary 30, 1923, nothing changed as far as injured man calling for help in the were always men willing to take on the the need for ties was concerned. woods.”7

task of providing those ties. — Gruelling In the north, the pattern followed that Early on, the camps drew men eager winter labour it was, yet was welcomed already established in the Kootenays and or desperate for a job. In today’s coddled by those involved, for it meant needed elsewhere, and in all areas the fact that world, it is easy to forget that in years income. tie cutting was done in the winter, when past, each individual was in a sink-or The tie camps! Three simple words that most construction and other work op swim situation, dependent entirely on his cannot begin to tell the behind-the- portunities slowed down or stopped al or her own resources. For example, Carl scenes story ‘When you look at a railway together, made it all the more important Strom of Prince George has stated that track, or ride a train, little or no atten economically. Winters were-and are— his father came to Prince George with tion is given to the ties on which the steel long, between the Rockies and the Pa the express purpose of getting employ rails lie. Yet without those ties the rail cific Ocean. ment in the tie camps. There were many way could not function. The term “tie camp” can be mislead like him. What a wonderful vision brought-to- ing, for it did not necessarily mean hun The first step in becoming a tie hack life the railways were! Because of them, dreds or even dozens of men gathered in was the obtaining of a contract from the vast areas of our province were opened a permanent location, housed in railway for a certain number of ties. —

30 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 Ties that were to be hewed from com graceful motion along paratively small surveyed blocks of tim the tree with his axe ber land. Once he had the contract, it rhythmically swing

. was up to him. ing . Once the “Each ofus had a 500 tie contract from tree was scored the

George Ogston of Vanderhoof. . . We broad axe came into spent a happy carefree winter in the tie use to flatten the sides

camp. . . we had a Spanish guitar, a man of the timber. Here a

dolin banjo, and a banjo-uke. . .“ “I de hacking motion was

cided to return to Ft. Sr. James .. . I used, hence the term collected my broadaxe, scoring axe, “tie hack.” Much

Swede saw, and bedroll. . . left for Chilco pride was taken in had no problem obtaining a 500 tie producing a smooth,

contract ...““We then, each of us man flat surface, and some aged to get a contract to hew 250 ties. men’s product looked Tie piles up the Tanglefoot. •“8 Ifhe didn’t have money at all, he could as if it had been finished with a plane. 1919 Carl and two companions cut ties come north, ignore the rule calling for a Finally, the saw was employed to cut the and piled them on the banks of the Bull

license, cut ties, make money and get out tie into eight-foot lengths. River. Come spring, the .. . waters would “9 The last touch to each tie was its mark whisk thousands of. . . ties down The trees used for ties were Douglas ing with the hacker’s individual mark. stream.”12 fir, jack pine, lodgepole pine, larch. The This was done by a heavy hammer that But the most ingenious, and dramatic work had to be done in the winter and had a man’s own mark in raised letters. stories oftransporting ties come from the early spring months before the sap be Thus did the tie loader keep tally ofeach north, and centre around Isle Pierre. Isle gan to flow. worker’s output. Sometimes a coloured Pierre is 20 miles west of Prince George, Tools employed were: short, one-man crayon was used, but this obviously was on the south bank ofthe . crosscut saw, a large double-bitted axe, a not as effective or long-lasting. Today it is the location of a stud mill broad axe which had a twelve-inch blade, For this labour, prices varied as to the owned by CANFOR, and as such mun and weighed eight pounds or more, a quality of the tie, and to the year it was dane enough. But what a history centres picaroon. The crosscut saw was short in produced. In 1912 a tie paid the man 28 around this island, when transport of ties

order to prevent whipping on the unsup cents in the north. “. . . they would be is brought up. For here the turbulent ported end when used by a lone faller. paid from 12 cents to 25 cents a tie de Nechako separated the tie hackers from (Sometimes a bow, or Swede saw was pending on the times and circum the railway, and so not only difficult ter used instead.) The double-bitted axe was stances.”11 As the years passed prices rain, but the river, separated the men kept sharp as a razor, on both sides, but naturally increased, and by 1953 a from their market. The solution was an was filed thinner on one side. (The thick number one tie in the north brought in ice bridge, a seemingly impossible struc side cut off hard knots, the thinner was $1.70, a number two tie, $1.50, and a ture. The ingenuity ofthose pioneers who used on the softer wood in the trunk.) A number three 90. dreamed this up deserves special com draw knife or spud was also used. Once the tie was hacked, ifthe tie camp mendation.

The tree was felled, the limbs taken off was remote from the railway — and most As if navigating the trails from those

to where the trunk would be too small were — there was the problem of getting north-bank tie camps to the river was not to make a tie. This top with its halo of it to that railway. With luck it could be hair-raising enough! “It was a treacher limbs, would help steady the tree while simple (though never easy). The ties were ous trail, not wide enough at any one the hacker stood on it to do his hewing delivered by horse and sleigh over icy point for two tie sleighs to pass. On the of both sides of the log with quick, even trails to the tracks, there to be stacked. upward trip each driver paused as he strokes of the broad axe. The remaining Sometimes boxcars were left on a siding rounded a bend and gave a lusty shout.” rounded sides were sometimes peeled for this purpose. Helen Hagberg, who If there was an answer from the trail with a spud or draw knife. Bark left on grew up in Finmore, out ofVanderhoof above, the empty sleigh pulled into one would break off in transit. (the community no longer exists) re of the spaces cut into the bank till the The ties had to be hewed to railway members the stacks of ties all along the loaded sleigh passed.13

specifications. — A certain thickness and railway right-of-way. Her uncles and her A ferry crossed the river at Isle Pierre,

a certain width of faces. — This was ac husband all hacked ties, and she states but as soon as slush and ice began to complished by using the scoring axe, and how welcome the income those ties come down the river the ferry had to be the depth in which it was driven. “To brought in was. discontinued. A heavy rowboat attached watch an expert at this job was like In the Kootenays the Bull River was to a heavy cable was all that crossed the watching a dancer, as he moved with used to transport ties. “In the winter of river till the ice bridge could be con-

31 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 peared strong, but water had backed up structed. and weakened the ice; he was fortunate expected, many ties were by then sawn The current on the Nechako’s north to save himself But there were accidents in the mills around Prince George, shore, as well as in the river’s centre was even when the ferry across the river was Vanderhoofand Fort Fraser. And, by this swift enough to prevent freezing in even operating. “Fred Ellas came down the time, the ties were counted not as ties, the worst winter, and this was what led coulee with a big load of ties. He had but as board feet. to the creation of the ice bridges. not been using the customary brakes on Still, though the romance of the early “...two fin booms were thrown out. the back of his sleighs, but simply rough days of tie cutting has ended, with the from the north bank. . . beyond the locks on the runners. As he neared the Bull River no longer clogged with ties at centre of the stream. A cable attached to last steep pitch down to the ferry he felt spring breakup, with the ice bridge at Isle the outer end of the boom was brought it would be a waste of time to stop to Pierre but a memory to those pioneers back and anchored. . . to the shore. This who are left, the record of this vita] part adjust the rough locks. .. As the horses boom shot the. . . water toward the op rushed down the last pitch to the ferry ofour history relating to the railways re posite bank and created a pocket to still the ring at the end of one of the hames mains. water on its lower side.” The still water - snapped, letting the pole drop.” There Tie hacking tie cutting, whatever you quickly froze. “Logs were.. . cut on the were five tons ofties to be stopped. “They want to call it, played an important part south bank.. . and rolled to its edge... raced across the strip of gravel, onto the in the opening up ofour province. Those One end of a cable was attached to the hardy men who stacked their hard-cut ferry and plunged to their death. . . The log lying farthest downstream and the driver jumped, and caught the rail.”5 ties beside steel lines along the banks of other end fastened to a log sunk into the The overall picture becomes clearer as the Skeena and Nechako, lines that led ground back from the water’s edge. one reads accounts of the far-gone days to Prince Rupert and to Jasper, and those “Two men in a small boat... dragged oftie hacking. Men working in isolation who worked farther south, for the C.PR. the other end of the log into the.. river and in primitive conditions, yet taking and the C.N.R. whose rails wound and the .. . current carried the log pride in turning out ties that were first through mountains, and over countless and boat . . . across to the end of the rate. trestles, through tunnels, finally leaving boom where it was fastened with a ca A good tie hack in a good stand oftim the Dry Belt behind, finally reaching the ble. Four. . . logs were carried across in ber could make forty or fifty ties a day. Pacific with its ports and markets, are this manner and fastened to the boom.. Excellent pay for days long ago. One mostly gone, but their exploits remain a .Small poles were thrown across these young Norwegian man became a legend link in the chain of our railway history. timbers and brush placed on The top. in the Kootenays for his superior ability water, slush and. . . ice pouring. .. over at hacking. He stood over six feet, and this .. . froze into a solid mass which The author did considerable research while in weighed two-hundred pounds, which no extended all the way from the north bank Prince George and northern B.C. She is now doubt helped his record. While most men to the south bank.. “14 retired and lives in Vancouvei made thirty or forty ties a day, Gunnar Predictably, there were many accidents FOOTNOTES Almie hacked from ninety to a hundred, when ties were being delivered in such 1. Map of Early Travel Routes into the Vanderhoof Area. and what was more, he made it appear conditions. Alvin Hagberg lost his team 2. Cutting up die North, p.22. easy, whistling and singing as he worked. 3. Ties to Water, picture, p. 77. ofhorses, sleigh and load going down the 4. Ibid., p.74. Once, when inspectors from Calgary 5. Cutting up the North. frozen river near Finmore. The ice ap were present, he waded into a stand of 6. Ties to Water, p. 83. 7. Ibid, p. 83 trees, and cut and 8. Goldseekers. 9. Cutting up the North. hewed thirty-three 10. Ties to Water, p.73. ties in one hour. A feat 11. Cutting up the North. 12. Ties to Water, p. 75. likely never equalled 13. Tie Hacking in British Columbia. by any other hacker. 14. Ibid. 15. Ibid. The days of the tie BIBLIOGRAPHY

hacker are long gone, Goldseekers, Ralph Hall, Sono Nit Press. though ties were still Cutting up the North, Ken Bernsohn, Hancock House. A Histoiy of Prince George, Runnalls. being cut by hand, at Yeflowheacl Pass and its People, Valemount Historical least in the north, in Society Ties to Water: The History of Bull River in the East 1953. In three dis Kootenay, Verdun Cassdman. tricts in the Prince SOURCES George area in that Artide: Tie Haddng in British Columbia, by Nellie R. Campbell, in Family Herald and Weekly Star, May 1953. year 83,000 ties were Helen Hagberg’s personal memories. made by hand,

Photos courtesy of the Casselman - Bjorn family. “7es to Water” with pickeroons andpikepoles. though, as might be

32 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 Conference 98 in Surrey

The pre-conference genealogy workshops Richard Bocking for Mighty River: A Portrait will replace her as chair. EL. Affieck resigned co-ordinated by Melva Dwyer were much of the Fraser. Mrs. Bennett. 87, was represented as a judge and was thanked profusely. The appreciated by almost 60 attendees from at the banquet by her son and top essays submiffed for the 1997 Scholarship across the province. granddaughter. The Best Article winner. Erin have all appeared in the News. Entries for A most pleasant welcome was created by Payne of Prince George. was not present to 1998 are due on May 30, 1998. the host society on the Thursday evening with receive his award for the article “A Chinese John Spittle noted that the Society for the a wine and cheese reception. A greeting Secret Society in the Cariboo.” History of Discoveries. founded in 1960, will from a Surrey City Councillar was followed by A very special event was the inclusion of hold its annual meeting in Vancouver in a delightful display by 15 teenaged girls three winners of B.C. Heritage Trust November.The Vancouver Maritime Museum trained in Irish dancing by the Steel School scholarships. Chair of the Trust. Dr. Jean and the Map Society of B.C. will host the of dance.They alternated between soft shoe Barman, and former Trust director Naomi gathering for members and non- members and clog numbers. Miller welcomed Keith Carison, Douglas Harris interested in the discovery exploration and A slide show. “the Changing Face of Surrey” and Rudy Reimer to the banquet and mapping of the earth’s land and sea from

prepared by the Surrey Museum, gave described their ongoing studies.Each winner earliest times to the present day - EXPLORERS viewers a condensed history of the 20,000 was accompanied by his wife and Carlson AND THE EXPLORED. acres now defined as Surrey. Farming. had his 7 month old son captivating nearby Membership Secretary Nancy Peter reported logging, the expansion of trails into roads. diners, Keith Carison. from Powell River, is that the BCHF currently represents 1865 railway building, early landmark stores. historian for the Sto:lo Nation and is writing members of member societies and 604 in waterfront recreation areas, fisheries and his PhD thesis on aboriginal oral tradition and affiliated groups. Organizations recently canneries, ethnic settlers, community centres. historical evidence. Douglas Harris, with a BA added to our roster include Anderson Lake schools, the combination railway/highway in Honors History and a Law degree, is Historical Society Nicola Valley Museums and bridge, ferries and more were depicted on working on the history of law pertinent to Archives Association, and Texada Island the screen. Fisheries regulations and native fisheries. Rudy Historical Society. The rest of Friday morning was given to “A Reimer is working on a Masters degree in Melva Dwyer thanked Canada’s National History of the Fraser River” as told by archaeology at Simon Fraser University with History Society for funding a pre-conference Jacqueline Gresko of Douglas College.After a view to seeking prehistoric sites in alpine workshop in 1996. ‘97. and ‘98. The free lunch the speakers were Victor Sharman. a regions near his home in Squamish. (Previous genealogy workshop on April 30, 1998 was devotee of Inter-urban Railways local and searches have been limited to valley well attended. Any future workshop will have across the continent, plus Jim Foulkes who boffoms.) Two other scholarships, also for a fee attached. Melva also reported on the gave an excellent presentation “Telegraph $5000 each, were awarded to Claudeffe provincial Heritage Council, with a Trail” which depicted the entry of telegraph Gouger at the University of Northern British representative from each of the provincial lines into southwestern B.C.from points in the Columbia to study aboriginal cattle ranching societies for Archaeologists, Heritage, U.S.A.. A fun evening reception, including a in the Kamloops area 1870 to 1930. and to Museums Association. Underwater singa long, capped the day. Dorothy Kennedy who is presenfly at Oxford Archaeologists. Archivists and the B.C. Saturday morning the Annual General university in England. Historical Federation hope to meet soon with Meeting was ably conducted to cover a The after dinner speaker Chuck Davis the recently reconstituted B.C. Heritage Trust large agenda but to conclude with sufficient delivered a lighthearted description of his Board. time for those who signed up for tours to research and filing methods. Alice Glanville was created an Honorary Life regroup. Annual General Meeting Member of the BCHF. Leonard McCann A Sternwheeler took 60 delegates from New The AGM ran smoothly chaired by President accepted a further year as Honorary Westminster Quay to Barnston Island. Out-of Ron Welwood. Treasurer Doris May gave her President, Appreciation Awards were given towners enjoyed the skytrain ride to the Quay final report before turning over the books to at the banquet to Pixie McGeachie, E.L. from the hotel and return. Others opted for a Ronald Greene. Of special note were several Affieck and Wayne Desrochers. Past President 4 hour bus tour with stops at Historic Stewart donations ($600 in total) given in memory of Alice Glanville conducted the election of Farm, the Surrey Museum and the clubhouse Don Sale. officers. Ron Greene of Victoria is a new face of Surrey Golf Course, The tour guide Reports from member societies were given on the executive. introduced passengers to the various crisply. Many groups are responsible for a Delegates were apprized about the change subdivisions of Surrey waterways, churches, museum, some concentrate on caring for in management and supply of the book schools, old highways and new ones, and the archives, some members have assisted stores on B.C. Ferries. During the changeover independent community of White Rock. The genealogical groups to catalogue old the display of books by B.C. authors and weather was perfect for these afternoon cemeteries. Specific activities will be publishers has vanished. A motion was made outings. reported in the Fall issue of the B.C. Historical instructing the secretary to protest The Awards Banquet featured good food. News. vehemently on the part of the Federation. good fellowship and interesting speakers. Tony Farr, Chairman of the News Publications Individuals and societies were urged to Pixie McGeachie spoke of the challenges committee reported on the change of protest to the Ferry management and to faced by the judges then presented a subscription rates as required by Canadian individual politicians. cheque, certificate and the Lieutenant- Heritage. Beginning January 1. 1999 The meeting concluded with a hearty vote Governor’s medal to young Dr. Richard members of member societies pay $12 per of thanks to the Surrey Historical Society, Mackie for his book Trading Beyond the year. individual subscribers $15. and especially the team of five who planned and Mountains. Runners up were Norma V. Institutions $20. managed the weekend so well. Bennett of Terrace for Pioneer Legacy: Pixie McGeachie spoke briefly on the Writing Chronicles of the Lower Skeena River, and Competition, noting that Shirley Cuthbertson

33 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998

34 1998 Summer B.C. News Historical -

Qualicum the When Hotel. managed WWI and Jan with Perrier Graphics designer combined

they bought his with when Maud England,

wife at office 250-426-5138 Map Thunderwater

to returned Qualicum. from He Canada, CRRC the detailed contact For information

in lots of in purchase which the six resulted this [of people province]” for place

the on more. and service

Sunday

scouting land Shawnigan to and Lake trip a “This Rattenbury, remarked, Francis truly is

and a breakfast actors,

pancake street church

day in 10 a for Vancouver fishing 1913 Island anniversary. John son

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groups, age all for contests, actMties

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visited Money General Ernest Noel Brigadier a this made other attending of dignitaries

point

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and of designed MLA5 Scores former building. General Qualicum’s Money

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stories. had as predecessors rotunda, their upper the 21 August has 23 Cranbrook to designated

history on keen for buffs newsletter Cariboo in sang The pm. 1 nnMale Anon after tours Choir along in communities line. celebrated the many

a u out put and trails, historic prospectors’ a driveway awaiting lineup long visitors of and be Lake McLeod Kootenay Fort from will to

led He tours summer over many cemetery. 5th the in brass playing Artillery B.C. band railway the of centennial The building the of

Likely Forks I Quesnel the of restoration by a was the recital, cannons, carillon salute Centennial Crowsnest Route Railway

the adult in and neighbours students There Gardom. Lieutenant-Governor Garde

classmates in killed the of each WWII. with of am 10 at arrival the began his led nies who heritage person minded very

a for Trail metre buy to Trans-Canada the of the Ceremo buildings Victoria. in parliament a was March Falconer Dave on 19. suddenly

was last directed the from of centennial profit The to only, reunion the day one for celebrate Canboo the in tallest died The schoolteacher

10 was February on legislature recalled The

1998 Falconer 1944 Dave

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Replicated Golden Buildings

Sannie recreated a past the to in cruise a Take to 7. wishes best and congratulations send We

Federation. Historical the Twigg. of eetmember newest Art

during 1998. of display

summer the

of this proud Purser very is from tales ad Wayne Daddy Steamship 6. Union to 7 Listen oz. 1 lbs.

Qualicum to

Museum grandfather

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is Joan, She 1998. Emilie April on child 17, first the of Salon Britannia. Ladies

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Money

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raised to funds quickly Qualicum of nity Beach

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513- (604) M Vi B.C. Fax/Phone 2S4 Langley,

advertised a collector winter Last Victoria

22.

Feb.

Sunday, and 21 Fort 1097, Box Group, Thunderwater from:

Feb.

Saturday,

Heritage at do Days, to ‘Things $5 Tracy. postage $17.50 plus GST) (inc. for obtained

listed Undercurrent newspaper the of MENT and Flynn Errol Hope, Spencer Crosby, be may Bing maps These presented. information

SUPPLE

HERITAGE 1998 20, February The as such celebrities Bob Hollywood and Siam, the from benefit will displays heritage where

Days Island Heritage Bowen of King the Canada, Governor of General areas and classrooms for recommended

every entertained Money’s 1940 hotel is map This border. Yukon the

to

Oregon

afi mailing. our

mid-March

in came

date,

From until then of 1923. in control ing hotel the from Northwest the Pacific covers It

ings.

to reception prior days twelve

or

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regain 1919, in Qualicum to returned Money group language Aboriginal alongside

posts

with

renewals,

of number A issue.

1998 Spring

officers. for hospital a became convalescent trade fur plots which color

in map 38” by

27”

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subscribers to

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Spring Mailing War Boer this the of veteran out, broke the with working a historian Carlson, Keith

& NOTES NEWS BOOKSH ELF Books for review and book reviews should be sent directly to the Book Review Editor: Anne Yandle, 3450 West 20th Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. V6S 1 E4

Bridges of Light: Otto Landauer of Leonard loan from his brother-in-law, Otto purchased preserving and publishing this bridge to our past Frank Photos, 1945-1980. Cyril E. Leonoff. Leonard Frank Photos on October 1, 1946. Fol David Mattison, Vancouver, Talonbooks, 1997. 208 p., illus. lowing graduation from the school he moved to David Mattison, a reference archivist with the $39.95 Vancouver as a landed immigrant in 1947 and be B.C. Archives, isa photographic and film Otto Landauer, of a similarJewish German back came a Canadian Citizen in 1954. Otto also mar historian, the author of two books and many ground to Leonard Frank, was the perfect succes ried in 1954 an English immigrant and school articles. sor to Leonard Frank. Bridges of Light is the teacher, Barbara Graham. companion volume to Leonoff’s award-winning Four years earlier Otto’s budding reputation as Park Prisoners. The Untold Story of biography Frank, An Enterprising Life a skilled industrial photographer nearly ended with Western Canada’s National Parks, 1915-1946. (Talonbooks, 1990). Leonoff and Talonbooks have a compound leg fracture on a skiing trip at Garibaldi Waiser, Bill. Saskatoon & Calgary, Fifth House produced another evocative album supported by Provincial Park. With his family’s help and that of Publishers, 1995. 294 pp. Maps, Illus. $27.95. an affectionate biography of Vancouver’s most im his darkroom assistant, Jack Bowman, Otto kept The title and sub-title of Park Prisoners are some portant postwar industrial photographer. Unlike the Leonard Frank Photos afloat while he recovered what misleading. The author, in his chapter “Tran Frank collection which is split between the Vancou his mobility over several months. Though there sients”, states that the subjects of that chapter “were ver Public Library and the Jewish Historical Soci were a few who did not appreciate Otto’s perfec not in the strict sense prisoners”; and not all the ety, the entire Landauer photograph collection is tionism, assistants such as Bowman, Kelly Duncan activities described in the book took place within housed at the JHS, Vancouver. and John Tincombe who doubled at times as pho the boundaries of the national parks. Landauer, from Munich in southern Germany tographers in addition to their darkroom activities The prisoners of the title were the men “sent to (Frank was from a small town in northern Ger under Landauer’s guidance, contributed in their Canada’s mountain and prairie national parks be many), spent more than half his life in Germany, own way to the success of Leonard Frank Photos. tween 1915 and 1946 as part of a general govern Liechtenstein and Switzerland, where he worked Landauer earned an unrivalled reputation over ment effort to remove them from Canadian society.

and played hard as the son of a successful busi his 33 years at Leonard Frank Photos for attention They were Canada’s unwanted — unskilled foreign nessman. Following their father’s death in 1928, to detail and dedication to his craft as a photogra workers, the jobless and the homeless, pacifists, the brothers Otto and Albert carried on the carpet pher’s photographer. Like Frank before him, he possible subversives and enemies of the state, and business Simon Landauer had established in 1887. believed in the staying power and beauty of large- prisoners of war.” The stories of their activities are

A decade after his death, Germany’s Nazi govern format black and white photographs. Although his not, as Waiser points out, well known — the subject ment legislated Jewish-owned firms such as Gebr/ remained a vigorous outdoor enthusiast, Landauer matter is one of which people generally do not wish der Landauer out of business. did not roam as far afield as his predecessor. to be reminded. With the help of relatives abroad and through Landauer’s customers were nearly all within in the Managing the various groups of men, often most necessary subterfuge, the immediate members of Lower Mainland region. As Leonoff makes clear in unwilling participants, demanded administrative Otto Landauer’s family escaped the Nazi slaughter his biography, large-scale construction projects talents and abilities that were usually lacking. Much of non-Aryans. Otto fled on skis to Liechtenstein in throughout the region from the 1950s to the mid of the book is taken up with litanies of the prob. 1937 and eventually moved to Switzerland, where 1970s provided Landauer with a steady flow of lems which plagued the projects undertaken. Yet he was reunited with his sister and brother-in-law. comfortable revenue; Landauer would photograph there was solid work achieved. The national park It was during the early years of the war, after be practically every significant public building, down system profited from the projects. “While regular friending a Swiss Catholic Father, that Otto con town office tower, and metropolitan bridge built Parks funding was being reduced in response to verted to Catholicism. during this period (1946-1971), as well as many war and depression,” Waiser writes, “the national Because his German passport did not specifi commercial and industrial complexes. His client parks experienced one of the most intensive de cally identify him as a Jew, Otto was able to move base would become a who’s who of Vancouver’s velopment periods in their history.” from a sales job in Liechtenstein to Switzerland in architecture, engineering, and construction com There are many good features to this book. The April 1939, where he enrolled as an agricultural panies of the day. (p. 33). maps are kept simple: they show what needs to be student Through a friendship his brother-in-law had Bearing the look and feel of Leonoff’s tribute to shown and are easily read and understood. The with a Canadian Pacific Railway agent in Lausanne, Leonard Frank, Bridges of Light is distinctive in photographs—over one hundred and twenty — are Otto’s sister and husband emigrated to Vancou its own way. The typeface is different, the ink is an essential part. In them are shown details which ver, also in April 1939. Another friendship devel lighter, the paper glossier and the duotone photo flesh out the text in significant respects — general oped in Vancouver between Otto’s brother-in-law graphs printed in a subdued, often flat light gray and detailed views of the camps, buildings, both and Bernard Frank, Leonard’s brother, It was that tone. With more than 300 photographs, an index outside and inside, men walking through the snow relationship which ultimately brought Otto to Van to image content, a feature also lacking in the Frank to their daily jobs. Above all the photographs de couver. book, would have made the Landauer work even pict the men themselves, emphasising that people Landauer’s luck at navigating wartime bureauc more useful. Both works also lack a bibloigraphy, were at the lbcus of the projects. The extensive notes racies and transiting occupied countries was noth but there are fewer footnotes to Landauer’s life. more than compensate for the lack of a bibliogra ing if not extraordinary. Travelling through France Many of Landauer’s photographs are as distinc phy; readers will find in the notes details which will and Spain, he and other refugees sailed from Bil tive as Frank’s and the growth of the Lower Main enable them to pursue any particular aspect of the bao to Cuba. With his younger brother already es land is well represented in both books. Perhaps it is subject tablished in Portland, Oregon, Albert with the the photograph’s age and wide.ranging coverage, Overall Park Prisoners is a very adequate treat financial help of his mother’s cousin obtained a but I found Frank’s images more appealing than ment of an intriguing subject Anyone who has vis United States Immigration visa k)r Otto. He reached the often static and humanless industrial and archi ited the prairie and mountain national parks will Portland in mid-summer 1941. Following the entry tectural photographs by his successor. Leonoff com find much of interest, and not a few surprises. of the U.S. into the war, Otto engaged in war work. ments on this spare aesthetic, partly reflective of George Newell, Otto, already a gifted amateur photographer and the actual content, the client wanted a visual record, Victoria. knowing of the void created by Leonard Frank’s not an artistic impression. Landauer’s visual legacy, Deep Currents: Roderick and Ann 1-laig- death in 1944, enrolled in 1946 in Portland’s North however, will only grow in value as time increases Brown. Haig-Brown, Valerie. Victoria, Orca west School of Photography with GI Bill of Rights its worth to anyone studying the past Leonoff and Book Publishers, 1997. Foreword by Steve aid. While still enrolled in the school and with a Talonbooks are to be congratulated for their part in

35 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998

36 1998 Summer News B.C. Historical -

by Bamett, K. introduction 1995), James excellent an for penchant indicated author’s exhaus the

in Steve

addi “In writes

his Foreword. Raymond

(UBC under These together Coast” are brought all west review, Fall BCHN 1995 lumbia

- Press,

bit

equal,” every

his was “Ann

phy.

intellectual

North the of the and Feoples Native Vancouver Co of History the British and Mines Rossland’s

biogra is This

and dual a much father.

very band

“George Fisher, 1779,” Bay, Robin and Bucareli Roaring book, Jeremy Days: first Mouat’s

hus the of life the dwell to on permitted exclusively

Encounters Engagement: at Indian-Spanish

Deep not is Currents,

however, of

reader The

Humane at “Efforts Stephen Langdon, couver,” heavy WW2). and ae during water

and

Walker

(Spatsizi). (Tommy) TA.

Van of Age Voyage the in of Journals Readership during (zinc during wars world modities WWI both

Pastures)

R.M.

(Dangerous

River,

Far Patterson

“Publication Payne, and Anthony Explorer Artists,” com crucial produce to enabled which Cominco

(and

as

such

Englishmen transplanted

published)

of Work Native of “Images the in Alaskans ward, subsidiary, was its to due success WKPL, largely

other of homeland new his

those and to

response

Wood- Kesler a Collector,” “Vancouver: Cautious smelting the fact, company’s development and In

to

Haig-Brown

the interesting is It tion.

consider

King, included J.C,H. are: and here sequences,” Power’s fabric Kootenay the into of growth West

a be

imposi would

unwelcome most for most that

and last “Outcomes is and third Con section The woven Cominco) are Trail of (later Company ing

something for

being fortune” “good

Haig-Brown

to Pacific North 1792.” the of Mapping “Russian Smelt

and Mining the of history the Consolidated

days

a for

mouth the at Coppermine the of — few

Umess, of Carol and Cartography Alaska,” the and Columbia British into expansion southeastern

stay

by

bie to obliged fortune”

was he “good was

that

Contribution to British Cook “From to Vancouver Pacific Canadian Railway’s history the the Both of

it that writes place. the of history Haig-Brown the

David, Alaskan in Andrew Waters,” Navigation and power.

and boy

ihhim with lnuit

h went who young about the

Vancouver’s a Survey Technology: New “Testing demands more for mines’ the constant to tion

and visiting the

was he about is country account

Davies, Alun “Evolution fShipbuilding,” of Kendrick, and solu inexpensive effective an provided Rivers

the

as Coppermine

much As fishing, about River.

John Vancouver’s Achievement,” Mariners: and Kootenay the Columbia WKPL, for nearby

for ing

he Arctic’s the fished

in how of grayling

of “Health and Naish John Technology”: ence century. turn the of the at Fortunately the Kootenays

tell a

section Summer in

wonderful Fisherman’s

title the specific under for themes “Sci analyses mining power in booming the to to industry supply

has

place.” He

in

him to em of terms everything meant

nicely the They set Objectives.” and “Motives ing company the a formed was more. or century Initially

River

and river the Campbell in fields garden, the

the under are head These clustered Malaspina.” for operated B.C. have to of handful companies a

a now h house, The was he Canadian. much how ize

of Voyage the the in “Ethnology Enlightenment of one is Power 1897, in Kootenay Formed West

real in being than him made ever, England more

Herda, to Phyllis and Visit Naval Alaska,” French landscape.

In

that, Ann writes, told author the “Roddy 1945,

(and a 1786: Robin “Laperouse Inglis, Exploration,” national) of provincial context the larger the

feelings. clarify own his him helped which for War

Admiralty, the and Vancouver, “George Williams, this of in growth the company depicts successfully

brought World Second the by on pressures sonal

Glyndwr of Age uigthe during (WKPL), Enlightenment,” Light & Mouat Power Kootenay West ity,

per may

the been have It he adopted. well which

Exploration “Spain’s Pacific in Role Engstrand, the of util years electric the describes hundred first

country the with to developed respect Haig-Brown

as follows: are Iris contributions and Individual Columbia in British electricity of southeastern

relationship the hc Roderick which was there Then

history 1792-94. the okexamines book January). this Although

merit its has

RN., by Vancouver, George Captain west a Coast in Canadians million power over to source this

certainly the in community literary valued” ticularly

North the of exploration the off commemorate to cut in held 1997-1998 of winter the tario-Quebec

par were nor fishing of h subject the ohim to naturally

of a a conference the to credit On great in storms organizers are ice winter when h severe the created

came that essay Currents the “neither form that

and do basis, they common a by have chaos chapters the the depicted power graphically was electric

Deep in suggestion Chronicles, 1977. in no.7, The

Still, always various mark the on and are ies, (our not on is reliance Canada in energy of electricity

was Raincoast in which published Haig-Brown”

case or stud contributions form examples, different the otcommon most the and necessities; or comfort

Roderick essay his in “Remembering Woodock

conlunction.

so many of consists Because work the work, for eused be recreation, whether activities it

George echoed critic the sentiment by a ity,”

themes Coastal

into European obring to and everyday our attempt of all almost to central is Energy

ary abil spite in often-praised his of community,

a

$21.95. is essays of book a fine this and p., appreciation, full ifius.

liter wider by the being tnot at noticed annoyance

lacks

theme overall the that say to fair is 199 Yet 1997. savants. Press, Nis Mouat Jeremy Sono Victoria,

some felt notes “He... author The that writings.

and British

so

French and greatly, less theme 1897-1997. Columbia British this Southeastern

his to given the about feelings reception private)

stressed

have particular. in scholars in Spanish of Hydro-Electricity Power: the h Business The than

(usually his on oecomments some example, for are,

the

generality is

in this but known better enment,

There life. Roderick of aspects Haig-Brown’s public

of Age

the with

Enlight coincides Coast Northwest

Waterloo,

Ontario. more the of interest aware those will that much

of

exploration the the that

fact known well a is It

University, Laurier Wilfrid

has necessity two of the of principals, vate lives

$19.95

U.S.

maps.

Gough,

Barn)

pri the about while Currents, essentially Deep

p.,

History illus., 1997.232 of

Art, and age

Museum

Coast history. Northwest read. a is credit, her rewarding to result, The

Anchor the in Society Historical Cook Inlet the for

of

18th century

field the anyone in

collecting for tion friches”. of n“embarrassment an with faced was thor

Published Press. University

Vbshington of London,

a as

classic acquisi

place

its take

should it and ure, au the clearly on; to sources draw had rich such

Seattle

and

and

Liburd.

Caedrnon Barnett James

treas

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analysis, the

last the attime. last one have biographers Few them. reading recipient the

Stephen

by Edited

Haycox,

1741-1805. Pacific

for

brought been

together great the all

had talents for the and rewards wonderful letters the writing

North and

the in

Exploration

Enlightenment

it if as judging seems book, particular this reviewer, from received each enjoyment great the Currents

opportunism. this

To

even convenience, certain

Deep throughout reader the and feels ployed —

a of point of view often is the to stretched Victoria. rationale em was she book Seattle where store the in met

scholarly the though

love obvious, is fhistorical of

George Newell,

hudhave should they that appropriate is it reading —

terms in answer The celebrate “why centennials?” history. social good is emerges which story and writing for affection and life-long deep a had

been often has pondered in It one particular. this aspect valuable The most biography’s this sent Haig-Brown Ann and Roderick Both aggeration.

by conferences, and by enriched many these may been private, repre the more other acclaimed, and ex not is “Great letters” family.” many the in kept

has Coast Northwest the of historiography whole public more one lives, two the of “balancing” The have we that letters many “great and diaries the

the Certainly studies. cross-cultural and scientific, Haig-Browns. Ann unsung the by on draws part author the part large In book well. the

to importance historical themes such rich of dress in built been have large province this of munities describes This our and life.” family of parents my

ad gatherings such will possible is other that The it and com deserves a preservation. lifetime, decades, story my is it personal biography; a very necessity

1978, in okBicentenary Cook James the with years begun but not her over, contribution of h record The of and obviously “is Deep Currents that duction

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of a Crossroads Pacific: North the and “Alaska and as homemaker role $32.95. traditional her to tion 80 pp., photographs, 216 Raymond.

ELF KSH BOO BOO KSH ELF

five research and detailed analysis. This book is no ond, economic diversification and market devel woman is no easy task. The author was originally different. Mouat has the uncanny ability to inter opment. The Company was successful on both inspired by four of Evlyn Farris’s speeches which twine regional development within the context of counts. The intentional “scorched-earth” policy of were contained in the J. Wallace de Beque Farris the provincial and national scene. Although the text trapping fur bearing animals to extinction on the papers in the UBC Archives. As she recounts it: is replete with references to annotated endnotes, “frontier” area of the Snake country brought the “Those speeches are so well written, rational, full his writing style is far from pedantic. In fact, it is region under HBC control by 1828. The Ameri of enthusiasm, at the same time modem and old embellished and complemented with both photo can retreat allowed the HBC freedom to experi fashioned that, when I read them, I felt compelled graphs and quotations from primary sources (of ment with new exports: salmon, lumber, wheat, to get to know her” Getting to know Evlyn involved ten displayed in a framed side-bar or pull quote). flour, potatoes, and butter were exported to mar studying at length her upbringing and education in The book also includes a “bibliographical essay”, kets such as Hawaii, California, and the Russian the Maritimes, following her life in British Colum appendices (WKPL related data) and a four page settlements in Alaska. By 1841 the salmon trade at bia as reported in newspapers, minutes of clubs, index. Fort Langley, for example, was worth about a third University records, private material lent by relatives, Anyone who is interested in either the history of of the fort’s fur trade. Further, Mackie discusses the and many archives. Six years of fact-gathering pose hydroelectric power in the province, or of a cen transition of native labour from participants in the a danger to a biographer, too many facts can com tury-old corporation, or of the industrial growth and fur trade to more formal, explicit working relation plicate unnecessarily, or add the smell of the lamp development of southeastern British Columbia, ships. Over these five decades, Mackie argues that to a creation. Fortunately McClean has managed should definitely include this book on their reading the economic development of the region was dra to convey the essence of the Farris character and list matic: in 1793 commerce consisted primarily of a work rather than just the simple facts of her life. Ron Welwood, riverine fur trade; by 1843 the region possessed And she has confined her more academic com Ron Weiwood is Librarian at the rudimentary elements of a commercial ments to endnotes which, in fact, are in themselves Selkirk College, Castlegar. economy, including established trade routes, ex very enjoyable. port trades, local markets, and a large and cheap Evlyn Farris was born in Nova Scotia in 1878, a Trading Beyond the Mountains: The British labour supply. Mackie maintains that such devel time of intellectual awakening and religious ferment Fur Trade on the Pacific, 1793-1843. Richard opments were a catalyst for the resettlement of the in the Marilimes. The old Anglican, anti-democratic Somerset Mackie. Vancouver University of British colony. class which had formerly held office had long been Columbia Press, 1997. 420 pp., illus. maps. hard Trading Beyond the Mountains makes several banished by Responsible Government, which in cover, $75.00 paperback. $29.95 contributions to fur trade historiography. For ex turn was succeeded by Confederation. It was a cli Native and fur trade history have been produc ample, Mackie takes issue with James Gibson’s mate in which education and literature flourished. tive areas of scholarship since the 1970s: A.J. Ray, contention that American interests withdrew from Evlyn’s father, a liberal Baptist minister, encour Jennifer Brown, Sylvia Van Kirk, and others have the northwest coast as the sea otter trade declined; aged her to see women as important as men in examined the fur trade in the interior and northern in contrast, Mackie argues that extensive capital God’s eyes. Deprived by tuberculosis of his wife regions of Canada, while Barry Gough and James resources, assertive shipping practices, and experi and son when Evlyn was only twelve, he treated Gibson have provided insight into British marine enced personnel allowed the HBC to out-compete his daughter as an intellectual equal and devoted activity and the American and Russian coastal fur Americans. Similarly, Mackie contradicts A.J. Ray’s himself to her upbringing. As a result, his pretty, trades, respectively. There has been, unfortunately, assertion that the HBC diversified its economic ac precocious daughter entered Horton Collegial little scholarship into the fur trade and commercial tivities only after 1870 in the Columbia District, at Academy at the impressionable age of fourteen and enterprises of the Columbia District, a region that least, this date is pushed back to the 1820s. This was exposed to the idealistic social evangelism and had reached its greatest territorial extent by 1843 well-researched and important work is accompa “women’s pride” prevalent in that institution. In stretching from Sacramento to Stikine and Taku, nied by a series of excellent maps and reproduc deed, her graduating speech was entitled “dux and from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific coast tions. femina facti” which she translated as “woman, the An excellent contribution to the field, Trading Be Brian Gobbeti, leader of the deed, or, a woman leads the way”. In yond the Mountains serves to extend the Brian Gobbett is it she pointed out, in a tone which presaged historiography of this subject a graduate student her at the University of Alberta. own future, that “We may fairly expect that with In 1832 the Boston merchant, Nathaniel Wyeth, her enlarged privileges of education and her wise lamented the Hudson’s Bay Company’s (HBC) use of the ballot, she (the educated woman) will in control of the coastal trade. He spoke with admira A Woman of Influence: Evlyn Fenwick Farris. future become the leader of the social life of the tion of “The more economical methods of the Brit Sylvie McClean. Victoria, BC. Sono Nis Press. nations”. This was pretty heady rhetoric for a six ish”, and suggested — prophetically as it turned out 1997. 270 p. illus. $22.95. teen year old. It is not surprising that she continued — that the HBC would be defeated only by diplo SyMe McClean has written a scrupulously de on to Acadia University where her father taught, matic manoeuvres. This anecdote illustrates tailed and absorbing biography of the Evlyn Farris, a and where she earned both economic fascinating a BA and MA with domination of the lower Columbia by woman who evolved from being an ide honours, the NBC in a region where American traders had alistic young girl in the Maritimes to an occasion Like many women of her time her options after equal rights of access and trade. Mackie meticu ally formidable woman of considerable backroom graduation were fairly limited. She temporarily lously traces the origins and development of this power in British Columbia. Her influence on the chose teaching as a career, but, in fact, her real superior position, and the emergence of the idea development of B.C. in the early part of the cen career decision had been made during her last year of a transcontinental commerce that sought to con tury has largely been ignored by historians, per as an undergraduate at Acadia, when fate, in the nect the Canadian colonies to the Pacific and be haps because of her own self-effacement, which form of the dashing J. Wallace de Beque Farris, yond. was characteristic of many women of her period, a crossed her path. Although he was not her equal While the earliest commercial visions and ven period when brilliance and assertiveness were con as a student and was only a junior, he was a fine tures originated with Alexander Dalrymple, Alex sidered unwomanly attributes. Born at a time when debater and the captain of the football team. It was ander Mackenzie, and the North West Company, not only men, but also women, believed that the not insignificant that Evlyn’s graduating oration was it was only after the merger with the HBC in 1821 sexes had been assigned to separate spheres by entitled “The Welcome of its Heroes, the Truest that a more comprehensive commercial develop natural and divine laws, itis not surprising that Farris Test of an Epoch.” She was drawn to Wallace, an ment began in earnest Under George Simpson, refrained from basking in the political limelight and honoured athlete and budding politician, in spite the HBC expanded upon established resources, preferred to stand in the shade of her husband’s of the reservations of her father and her friends. trade routes, and labour supplies in pursuing two accomplishments. Though this was clearly a love match, goals: first, the extension of the fur trade, and, sec The reconstitution of the life of a circumspect ______

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which equalled her own and in which she could on the claimof ProfessorHenry Angusin hisauto interestinghow often inwritingofthe earlydoctors play a role.Her concept of marriagewas similarto biographythat EvlynFarrishad threatened to have he comments on theirattending to both the physi Milton’s“He forGod only,she forGod in him”. him firedwhen he summed up the positionof the cal and the spiritualneeds of their patients. Aftera suitablewait in which Evlyntaught very Arts facultyduring the Lampman hearing on the He has set a commendable precedent in writing successfullyand Wallacefinished his law studies, situation. She supports this with the fact that An a chapter on the doctor’swifealmosteverytime he they marriedand cameoutto B.C.wheretheylived gus was under the impression Evlynwas a mem writes about one of these early practitioners,and modestly and frugallyin the WestEnd. Evlynwas ber of the Board at the time when, in fact,she was in several instances the women are more remark initiallylonely,her upbringinginthe Maritimeswas only a member of the UBCSenate. However, she ablethan theirhusbands. Twoof the chapters have differentfrom the almostfrontierlifeof B.C. and was more generally known as a Board member been givenover to colleagueswho knew the sub she was tieddown withbabies whileher husband and wassittingbesidethe Presidentduringthe hear jects better than the author did, and in two more was out in the world. However, she graduallybe ing.Furthermore, the storywas wellknown on the he has shared the writing. gan to directher considerableenergiesto improv campus and ProfessorAngus,who was the soul of The WrinchMemorialHospitalin Hazelton has ing the position of women in society.To this end accuracy,once described itvividlyto thisreviewer been in existence for nearly a hundred years but she foundedthe UniversityWomen’sClub of Van “she hissed at me as I was leaving:‘I’llsee you get the account in Dr. Lee’s book is the best capsule couver, joined the Liberalparty and began to use fired” summary I have read of the lifeof the remarkable her husband, who had become attorney-general Asidefromthisquibble,there isverylittleto criti man forwhom it was named in the mid twenties. in 1917 in the LiberalgovernmentofB.C., to fash cizeabout this splendid book except perhaps that Horace Cooper Wrinch(1866-1939) was an hon ion legislationwhichcould help women’scauses. is does not take EvlynFarristo the end of her life. ours graduate from the Ontario AgriculturalCol Evlyn’smain influencewas to be in the area of McClean is no muckraker. It is of course difficult lege and a successfulfarmer when he decided to highereducation. Rallyingmembers ofthe Univer forany biographerwho has receivedthe confidence retrain as a medical missionaryat the turn of the sityWomen’sClub and the Liberalparty and even and trust of relativesto record the less attractive century. He opened the firstHazelton Hospitalin her Baptist connections, she promoted the crea side of her subject,and the lastdays of EvlynFarris 1904 complete with gardens and a dairy farm to tion ofa provincialuniversity.Asusualshe worked were sad indeed as she and her familycoped with support the enterprise.A trainingschoolfornurses behind the scenes and was particularlypleased her growinglossof memory and rationalthinking. operated forthe next 28 years, by which time the when in 1908 the new UniversityActprovidedthat However, since it is unlikelythat another biogra second hospital had been built (1930). The third women students should have equalityof privilege phy of her achievements willever be written (who and present structure opened in 1977. withmen students.She spearheaded a driveto get woulddare tryto improveon thiscompetent book) Stories of some of the early doctors are some everywoman inthe UniversityWomen’s Clubreg it would have been more satisfactoryto bring its what shadowy, but good mini-biographiesare pre isteredas a votingmember of the UniversityCon subject’slifeto a conclusion. sented of Dr. RossStone of Vanderhoof,Dr.Cane vocation and she herself was elected by the The Sono Nis Press has made a splendid pro Ewertand Dr. EdwinLynch of Prince George, Dr. Convocationto be one of onlytwo women mem duction of this important biography. It is hand WilliamsWrightofAlexisCreek, Dr.GeorgeSansun bers of the Senate of the new Universityof British somely printed by the MorrissPrintingCompany ofClintonand Ashcroft,and Dr.Dundas Heraldof Columbia.She was disappointed,however, when and it contains a number of appealing familypho 150 Mile House. Of interest is a note that Dr. the government appointed onlymen to the Board. tographs.SylvieMcCleanisan accomplishedwriter Sansun’s sisterin law, TrixieCampbellof Victoria, In spiteofsetbacksshe began to take an interestin and this biography enlightens us on the lifeof a was an excellent singer and an annual visitor to Universitypolitics.Seeing them as a segregationof Canadian woman of great distinctionwho contrib Ashcroftwhere she always gave a concert. Later women she opposed in particularthe creation of uted a great deal to the development of education she would be known as the grandmother of Ian coursesin home economicsand domesticscience. in BritishColumbia. Tyson,of Ian and Sylviafame. By 1917, shortly after Wallace’sappointment as Laurenda Daniells Byfarthe best portraitto emerge fromthisbook Attorney-General,Evlynachieved her ambitionto ArchivistEmerita, Universityof British is that of Dr. Gerald Rumsey “Paddy” Baker, in a become a member of the Board of Governors of Columbia chapter aptly titled “Quesnel and its 40 year love UBC. affairwithDr. Paddy Baker.” Few smalltown doc As a member of the Board she was able to ex Scalpels and Buggywhips: Medical Pioneers torsanywherewilldepartthisearthwiththeirnames tend her influenceconsiderably,partlyby promot of Central B.C. Eldon Lee, withJack Mckenzie attached to a hospital,an extended care unit, and ing the University in speeches and in being a and AlHolley.Surrey, HeritageHouse, 1997. 160 a schoolinthe same community.Dr.AlexHawley, traditional hostess and partly by working behind p., $16.95. the Quesnel-bom surgeon who spent his career the scenes with the Liberal government. She Books by or about doctors have had a spotty practisingin his home town, is quoted saying “Dr. reached her zenithin thiswork, becoming a close record in B.C., but it appears that Dr. Lee has a Baker never tired. Never tired.” Dr. Lee relates a friend tothe Universitypresident Klinckand jeal winner with this account of the early practitioners seriesofanecdotes attestingto the legendaryrepu ouslyguardingthe rightsof women to higheredu in north central B.C. tationof Dr.Bakerin hisprofessionand in hisavo cation. However, as time went by she became Dr. Lee is himselfsomething of the genre be is cationsofhuntingand fishing.However, he gropes increasingly conservative, even to the extent of writingabout Born in California,he moved with forwords tryingto explain away how this famous changing her Baptistvalues forthose of the more hisfamilyat an earlyage to a ranch in the Williams man could have cast aside an ideal Cariboo wife fashionable Anglican church. Eventually she re Lake area, and on completinghisschoolingjoined fora nubileupstart twenty-fiveyears hisjunior. treated into her familyand retired from public of the RCAFwhere he became a bomber pilot On Dr. Baker’sreputation sufferedonly mildlysince fice. return to civilianlifehe studied medicinein Seattle it was recognized that, after all, he was only hu SylvieMcCleanhas created an absorbingexpo and worked for a time at the Wrinch Memorial man.” sition of the life of an extraordinary woman. Hospitalin Hazelton.He then did graduate studies One assumes that any reviewer is going toin McClean’sanalysisof the Universitypoliticsof the in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K., and for thirty dulge in a littlenit-picking,but fortunatelythere is twenties and thirtiesthrows considerable lighton years was the only obstetricianand gynaecologist littlefor me to criticize.Every time I see the name the near disastrous period when the University in Prince George, servinga vast area. “MountRocherDeboulle”itisspelt differently. For nearlycollapsedafteratrociouscuts were made to He is a man of omnivorous interest including the record Akriggand Akrigguse the above ver its budget in 1932 and the various facultieswere recreational flying,classicalGreek studies, fiction sion. (page 46). There is an Albert College in set at odds against each other. Her discussionof and non-fictionwriting,and a continuingparticipa Belleville,Ontario, where Dr. Wrinchtook hispre this period which was stillmaking elderlyprofes tioninthe activitiesof hischurch. Despitehismany med studies, but I can sors weep in the 1970s is quite brilliantI question accomplishments he writes with an earthy touch, only one of her conclusions.McCleancasts doubt betraying something of his roots in the land. It is BOOKSH ELF

as the lower one shows typical Skeena smoke me love of the land is reflected on every page, even isn’t a note of self pity in any of the letters. Jack houses (with no smoke) and the upper one tiny those devoted to the extrication of sundry vehicles Shelford was an extraordinary man. cabins, albeit with lots of smoke. Throughout the from gumbo, ice and snow. His reference to the Shelford’s description of the death and destruc book listing of temperatures in Fahrenheit below hearty characters who shared the Chilcotin experi tion around him in the Hoer War, including a photo zero is awkward. (page 144). Perhaps the use of ence with him, brought back old memories for the of a shelter for wounded and dying men that was Celsius would be simpler nowadays. writer, who lived in Williams Lake in the early 60’s little more than a filthy abandoned building, the These are minutiae. Most of us will find a new and had friends in the Chilcotin. The country was brief but telling description of campaigns waged in anecdote or two about an old doctor we have so remote in those days, messages were heard daily the style of the Macedonian phalanx against a wily known or heard about. The book is an overdue over the radio, conveyed from town to the far-flung Boer adversary with incredibly effective tactical skills, volume in the annals of B.C. folk history, and popu inhabitants of Nerniah Valley, or Chezacut, or some is told with subdued passion. lar medical history in particular. other outpost thata child was ready to be discharged There are maps of South Africa, Alaska and Adam C. Waldie, M.D., from the hospital, or a part for a tractor was waiting northern B.C. to help the reader along, but I was a Vancouver, B.C. for a rancher at so and so’s, and so on. People in little disappointed that there weren’t more photo the Chilcotin depended upon one another, and graphs, particularly in the period of homesteading Chilcotin Diary; Forty Years of Adventure. Will everyone knew everyone as the saying goes. Those at Ootsa Lake, where Jack Shelford eventually set D. Jenkins Sr. Surrey, Hancock House, 1997.270 names on the radio became familiar. Like family tled with his wife Safie. They married in 1915. p. illus. $19.95 members. Jenkins’ mention of Olaf Satre brought The book is in two sections, the first being the It is somewhat brave when a writer nearing the back memories of that rancher’s remarkable recov Boer War period. The transition from War to Wil century-mark in age has his face on the front cover ery of a derelict ranch near which derness is smoothly edited. of a book. But the tough reflective face of the ad he and wife Louise and family worked hard to make Some of the sections of the book leave haunting venturer has stamped itself inexorably on Jenkins’ a Nordic style dream. Satre died some years ago, images. A forest fire, for example, when stamped patrician head, and I looked forward to reading this but a son, Sven, continued to live in the Chilcotin, ing moose, bear and terrified birds, some with their biographical account of life in the Chilcofin before and was killed by a grizzly only recently. feathers on fire, flee from an inferno that threat clear-cut logging and the exercises of NATO forces Jenkins sense of humour emerges now and ened Shelford’s building and possessions. Shelford broke the sound barrier in the hitherto vast silence then. His description of herding some loans on Lit explains to his father in his letters, how the Alaska of the remote valleys and mountains of a region tle Eagle Lake, for example. But the pathos is there government introduced reindeer farming to the that has become legendary. too, when he describes the heart rending struggles Inuit, revealing a strong humanitarian concern for God knows why some people want to stare of wildlife to survive the savage Chilcotin winters. the indigenous people. In fact, Shelford’s respect down the wilderness. The same people climb All in all, I found Jenkins’ book a very interesting for the native Indian skills, some of which served mountains most of us are content to experience read. If I have any criticism at all, it is the question him well in the years that followed, is evident and within the cozy confines of home and hearth, watch ing of the inclusion of the chapter dealing with ex gratifying to read, when the prevailing prejudices ing the Knowledge Network. But wilderness might plorer Alexander Mackenzie, and the chapter of the day held native culture and peoples in much be a misnomer in the case of the Chilcolin, and dealing with Mel Rothenberger’s excellent book, less respect. certainly in the present day Chilcotin, if adventur Chilcotin Wars. In my opinion these sections de I enjoyed the book Even the meticulous account ing purists like writer Edward Hoagland have any tract somewhat from Will Jenkins’ entertaining per of building cabins, boats and a barge, clearly ac thing to say about it And Hoagland did say a lot sonal story. tivities that challenged and brought out the best in about the wilderness in his book, Notes From The Esther Darlington young Jack Shelford. But perhaps the horror of Century Before, a book some people feel is the the Hoer War had prepared Jack well for the formi best book about B.C. ever written, and Hoagland From War To Wilderness. Cyril Shelford. Vic dable challenge of survival in the North American is from New York City. But if fights with gri1y bears, toria, Shelford Publishing, 4210 Kincaid St., Victo Wilderness. travel and travail over the roughest of mud roads ria, B.C. V8X 4K6 1997. 250 p., illus. $19.95. The letters cease about the time of Jack and Safle with ruts and potholes more than a foot deep, and The present romance blossoming between the Shelford’s forging of a ranch and homestead in the a few hamlets and ranches spread wide apart over media and the public in the realm of personal jour northern British Columbia wilderness. Arthur a territory as large or larger than some European nal writing and oral reminiscing is one of the most Shelford, Jack’s brother, who accompanied Jack countries is sufficient evidence of “wilderness”, the pleasant and illuminating circumstances we are into the Ootsa Lake country when the brothers were Chilcotin still qualifies. experiencing on the eve of the millennium. looking for suitable land to ranch and farm, wrote a Jenkins’ book is filled with snapshots from the Cyril Shelford has published an extraordinary fascinating account of their pioneer life in the Oosta family album and numerous sensitive drawings of collection of letters written by his father Jack Lake country that in some measure, continues the wild animals, birds, and the landscape around Lit Shelford to family in England during the Hoer War Shelford wilderness saga. Arthur’s story was pub tle Eagle Lake, where the author and his wife and the years that followed when Shelford took lished in Volume 2 of Pioneer Days in British Mildred settled in the mid 50’s. The text is written himself to the pristine wilderness of North America Columbia, 1975, Heritage House Publications. in a spritely, professional style because Jenkins was to help him forget the horror of one the bloodiest Esther Darlington, a journalist and worked on the Vancouver Sun and wars in the last century. The letters might be one of Esther Darlington lives in Cache Creek. other newspapers before retiring. He charts the the finest accounts of life on the Alaskan frontier family’s discovery of the Chilcotin in the mid 30’s, that has ever been published. If that seems a little Kiondike Paradise: Culture in the Wilderness. and the couple’s eventual decision to settle perma hyperbole, consider that a good deal of material CR. Porter. Surrey, B.C., Hancock House Pub nently there in 1954. In those days, a party of that has been written about Alaska and northern lishers, 1997. 173 p., illus. $19.95, paperback. Chilcotin Indians camped along the Chilcolin Road, B.C. has been in the form of melodrama. Robert The book’s title is misleading with the paradise hobbled horses nearby and a campfire cook-out Service poetry, and the novels of Jack London Ben-My-Chree, Manx-Gaelic for ‘Girl of My Heart,’ was a common sight The country was still as pris come to mind. Jack Shelford’s letters deal with the located in northern British Columbia close to 400 tine a wilderness as one could imagine, before log mundane toil of survival. They are written with miles southeast of the Klondike. Two stories are ging trucks roared up and down a paved highway matter-of-fact detail, but detail that springs to life as intertwined, that of the Partridges who established every few minutes, and the Indians complained that it unfolds the on-going learning and cathartic proc it and that of the author who first saw it in 1938, fell the sonic boom of diving jet bombers was scaring ess of acquiring new skills, building shelters, trap under its spell and would return in 1972 as the away the game, mining their trap lines, and de ping game, hunting to keep from starving to death, new owner of priving them of income. using his carpentry skills to supplement his income Jenkins’ descriptive writing is lyrical and his genu from trapping, fishing, and woodcutting. And there BOOKSH ELF

Rush but had remained in the Bennett to Neil Sutherland. University of Toronto Press, 1997. and for the next half hour his conversation con region involved in shipping and lumbering enter 327 p. Notes, index, illus. $21.95 paperback, sisted of such exclamations as, “Fred Thirkell, eh? prises. About 1911, a lode gold discovery made $55.00 Cloth. well, well” or “Look at this” or “I remember It by Stanley McLellan, a miner and prospector they Remembering the 50’s; Growing Up in West was a delight to witness his obvious pleasure. Pleas had grubstaked, would bring them to the head of ern Canada. Lorraine Blashill. Orca Book Pub ure, the authors claim, was a major reason for pro ’s Taku Arm, some 75 miles by water lishers, 1997. 167 p. illus. $26.95. ducing the book: their pleasure “in researching, from the settlement of Carcross. Their Ben-My It comes as a shock to find that one’s own child compiling and presenting the material” and the Chree prospect lay high up on the mountainside hood has become a topic for history. Neil Suther reader’s pleasure “in reading about and viewing and the equipment and supplies required to de land was born in 1931, Lorraine Blashill in 1945, pictures produced during the years when Vancou velop it were freighted to the landing below where so they have written their own history as well as ver came of age as a city.” the Partridges were living on a houseboat The ven mine, and they have written it in two extremely Eighty-four lithographed postcards, most dated ture ended in disaster in 1912 when a slide de different modes. between 1901 and 1910, have been enlarged to stroyed the cookhouse at the mine killing McLellan Sutherland deploys the scholarly apparatus ap picture-book size. As the authors point out, a sig and his wife. propriate to a Professor Emeritus of Educational nificant percentage of these pictures will not be Mining was abandoned but the Partridges stayed Studies at the University of British Columbia. While found in any public archival collection. Each image on, enchanted with the setting on the eastern flank his title claims all of English Canada, his research occupies a full page, with the facing page devoted of the glacier-draped Boundary Ranges. Living focuses on two Vancouver neighbourhoods, Ce to facts and commentary. A map identifies sites of there year around they and Ludwig Swanson, an dar Cottage and Kerrisdale, and on the rural com buildings, both the survivors and those which have employee, worked together to develop the build munity of Evelyn in the Bulkley Valley. With been razed. For these latter, a thread of regret runs ings and gardens. These plus the Partridges’ hospi socio-historical theories to test, he insists on ano through the book. We have been careless with our tality soon became legendary and Ben-My-Chree nymity for his interviewees, erasing identifying de architectural heritage. The second Hotel Vancou drew visitors from all over the world. Among well- tails so scrupulously that they emerge on his pages ver, called here “Vancouver’s most elegant build known names in the visitors book were those of as supporting quotations rather than personalities. ing.. . probably the most sumptuous building ever Teddy Roosevelt; Edward, Prince of Wales, and Then, sometimes uncomfortably, he tests their com built in Vancouver,” was replaced after only twenty- Lord Byng of Vimy at the time Canada’s Gover ments against the published testimony of such well- three years. The authors lament, “Had the old Hotel nor General. known contemporaries as Mordecai Richler, Vancouver survived into our own times, it would The White Pass and Yukon Company with their Maureen Forrester, Roy Daniells and Stuart Keate. probably be internationally regarded as one of the transportation monopoly, an enemy in mining days, Blashill takes the opposite tack, blithely eschew world’s great hotels.” now became an ally in building up the tourist traf ing editing, organisation or verification. The book Everyone will choose their favourite vignettes. I fic. In later years their magnificent sternwheeler has several sections, in which the same people com like the picture of the St. Alice Hotel bus with an Tutshi would make three trips a week to Ben-My ment on different aspects of childhood in the 50’s. abandoned bicycle at the roadside; the description Chree, leaving Carcross at noon and steaming up Unfortunately, without even a table of contents, let of the tramcar with two toilets and a watercooler; a Tagish Lake to arrive in the early evening. Passen alone an index, this structure is lost amidst the ram vista of “my” beloved Hycroft as a gorgeous debu gers not staying over were treated to a guided tour bling and often repetitious reminiscences. Her ter tante of a building; and the view of the corner of of the gardens and at the homestead offered re ritory is Manitoba and points west Main and Hastings with the new Carnegie Library freshments including home-made rhubarb wine. Blashill at least seems to have enjoyed both liv made of Gabriola sandstone on one side and in Then, entertained by Otto’s stories and Kate’s or ing and reliving her childhood, “our good old days.” the upper opposite corner “the feet and legs of gan music, they would reboard the Tutshi and ar On the other hand, I worried about Sutherland: he someone whom we can only suppose to be a B.C. rive back in Carcross the following morning. After wonders if Richler exaggerates the importance of Electric lineman.” Otto’s death in 1930 and Kate’s a few months later, comic books or if this is an east/west variation, con The postcards came from New Westminster, the White Pass purchased the land from the gov fuses the names of NI-IL teams (omitting Les Abbotsford and Squamish, as well as Vancouver. ernment, a detail that the Partridges had never got Canadiens altogether!), and doubts the social sig This book is indeed a pleasure. around to. The company continued to operate Ben nificance of birthday parties. Phyllis Reeve, My-Chree, initially with the Swansons in charge, But from time to time, Sutherland piles up his Phyllis Reeve sends postcards from until it was finally shut down in 1955 and the Tutshi evidence so profusely that the reader may forget Gabriola Island. taken out of service the following year. the theories and begin to add personal memories. In 1971 the author purchased Ben-My-Chree “Was it quite like that?” Most of the time, Suther from the White Pass fulfilling a dream that dated land’s account is close enough. Near the end, in Also Noted: back to his 1938 visit as a teen-age steward on the the chapter “children in the Culture of Childhood,” Wild, Wacky, Wonderful British Columbia; Tutshi. The final pages of the book describe the this reader was crowded with memories and al answers to questions you never thought to ask. Eric family’s trips to it, the building of a new cabin and most ready to put myself in historical context Newsome. Victoria, Orca, 1997. 128 p., illus. relics from the past discovered in the decaying build In that experience lies the value of these books: $9.95. Answers questions and provides scores of ings. Reluctantly the property was sold again in the as record, witness and stimulus. After reading my little-known facts about this province’s past recognition, denial, vague dissatisfac late 1980’s after family conferences concluded that way through Recollections of a Homesteader’s Daughter. a benefit to the tion, and only a little nostalgia, I recalled childhood it would be a burden rather than Margorie (Barr) Pratt Cobble Hill, B.C., The Au younger generation. as neither the best of times, as Blashill’s respond thor, 1997. 122 p., illus. $15.00 About profusely illustrated, with photos ents would have it, nor the worst, as Sutherland The book is homesteading days in Saskatchewan. Available from both the Partridges’ time and later coloured may have wanted to prove. from Maijorie Barr Pratt, 3697 Marine Vista, Cob collection, com Phyllis Reeve, ones from the author’s personal ble Hill, B.C. VOR ILl. plementing the description of what was surely an Phyllis Reeve is younger than Sutherland and unusual paradise. older than BlashilL Orca’s Family and More Northwest Coast Lewis Green, Stories. Robert James Challenger. Surrey, B.C., Lewis Green has spent many years in the Postcards from the Past; Edwardian images Heritage House, 1997. 48 p., illus. $9.95. A col north as a geologist. of Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. Fred lection of Westcoast fables from Victoria. Thirkelt and Bob Scullion. Heritage House, 1996. Growing Up: Childhood in English Canada 176 p. Bibliography, index, illus. $24.95. from the Great War to the Age of Television. A visiting friend found this book in my living room

40 B.C. Historical News - Summer 1998 MEMBER SOCIETIES Member Societies and their Secretaries are responsible for seeing that the correct address for their society is up to date. Please send any change to both the Treasurer and the Editor at the addresses inside the back cover. The Annual Return as at October 31 should include telephone numbers for contact.

MEMBERS’ DUES for the current year were paid by the following Societies: Alberni District Historical Society Box 284, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 7M7 Alder Grove Heritage Society 3190 - 271 St. Aldergrove, B.C. V4W 3H7 Anderson Lake Historical Society Box 40, D’Arcy,B.C. VON1LO Historical Society RR#i, Site 1C, Comp 27, Nakusp, B.C. VOG 1RO Atlin Historical Society Box 111, Atlin, B.C. VOW lAO Boundary Historical Society Box 580, Grand Forks, B.C. VOH1HO Bowen Island Historians Box 97, Bowen Island, B.C. VON1GO Burnaby Historical Society 6501 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby, B.C. V5G 3T6 Chemainus Valley Historical Society Box 172, Chemainus, B.C. VOR 1KO Cowichan Historical Society RD. Box 1014, Duncan, B.C. V9L 3Y2 District 69 Historical Society Box 1452, Parksville, B.C. V9P 2H4 East Kootenay Historical Association RD. Box 74, Cranbrook, B.C. Vi C 4H6 Gulf Islands Branch, BCHF do A. Loveridge, S.22, C.1 1, RR#1, Galiano. VON 1P0 Hedley Heritage Society Box 218, Hedley, B.C. VOX 1KO Kamloops Museum Association 207 Seymour Street, Kamloops, B.C. V2C 2E7 Koksilah School Historical Society 5203 Trans Canada Highway, Koksilah, B.C. VOR 2CO Kootenay Museum & Historical Society 402 Anderson Street, Nelson, B.C. Vi L 3Y3 Lantzville Historical Society do Box 274, Lantzville, B.C. VOR 2HO Nanaimo Historical Society RD. Box 933, Station A, Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 5N2 Nicola Valley Musuem & Archives RD. Box 1262, Merritt, B.C. V1K 1B8 North Shore Historical Society 1541 Merlynn Crescent, North Vancouver, B.C. V7J 2X9 North Shuswap Historical Society Box 317, Celista, B.C. VOE 1LO Princeton & District Museum & Archives Box 281, Princeton, B.C. VOXiWO Qualicum Beach Historical & Museum Society 587 Beach Road, Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 1K7 Salt Spring Island Historical Society 129 McPhillips Avenue, Salt Spring Island, B.C. V8K 2T6 Sidney & North Saanich Historical Society 10840 Innwood Rd. North Saanich, B.C. V8L 5H9 Silvery Slocan Historical Society Box 301, New Denver, B.C. VOG 1SO Surrey Historical Society Box 34003 5790 - 175th Street Surrey, B.C. V3S 8C4 Texada Island Historical Society Box 122, Van Anda, B.C. VON3K0 Trail Historical Society RD. Box 405, Trail, B.C. Vi R 4L7 Vancouver Historical Society RD. Box 3071, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 3X6 Victoria Historical Society RD. Box 43035, Victoria North, Victoria, B.C. V8X 3G2 AFFILIATED GROUPS

Kootenay Lake Historical Society Box 537, Kaslo, B.C. VOG 1MO Lasqueti Island Historical Society do R Forbes, Lasqueti Island, B.C. VOR 2JO Nanaimo and District Museum Society 100 Cameron Road, Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2Xi Dkanagan Historical Society Box 313, Vernon, B.C. V1T 6M3

SUBSCRIPTIONS I BACK ISSUES Published winter, spring, summer and fall by British Columbia Historical Federation RO. Box 5254, Station B Victoria, B.C. V8R 6N4 A Charitable Society recognized under the Income TaxAct. Institutional subscriptions $16 peryear Individual (non-members) $12 peryear Members of Member Societies $10 peryear For addresses outside Canada, add $5peryear Back issues of the British Columbia Historical News are available in microform from Micromedia Limited, 20 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario M5C 2N8, phone (416) 362-5211, fax (416) 362-6161, toll free 1-800-387-2689. This publication is indexed in the Canadian Index published by Micromedia. Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index. Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement No. 1245716.

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BC HISTORICAL FEDERATION WRITING COMPETITION

The British Columbia Historical Federation invites submissions of books for the sixteenth annual Com petition for Writers of B.C. History. Any book presenting any facet of B.C. history, published in 1998, is eligible. This may be a community history biography record of a project or an organization or personal recollections giving a glimpse of the past Names dates and places with relevant maps or pictures turn a story into history The judges are looking for quality presentations especially if fresh material is included with appropriate illustrations, careful proofreading, an adequate index, table of contents and bibliography, fromfirst-time writ- ers as well as established authors. NOTE: Reprints or revisions of books are not eligible. The Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Historical Writing will be awarded to an individual writer whose book contributes significantly to the recorded history of British Columbia. Other awards will be made as recommended by the judges to valuable books prepared by groups or individuals. All entries receive considerable publicity. Winners will receive a Certificate of Merit, a monetary award and an invitation to the BCHF annual conference to be held in Merritt in May 1999. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS: All books must have been published in 1998 and should be submit- ted as soon as possible after publication. Two copies of each book should be submitted. Books entered be- come property of the B.C. Historical Federation. Please state name, address and telephone number of sender, the selling price of all editions of the book, and the address from which it may be purchased, if the reader has to shop by mail.If by mail, please include shipping and handling costs if applicable. SEND TO: B.C. Historical Writing Competition do P. McGeachie 7953 Rosewood Street, Burnaby, B.C. V5E 2H4 DEADLINE: December 31, 1998.

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There is also an award for the Best Article published each year in the B. C.Historical News magazine. This is directed to amateur historians or students. Articles should be no more than 3,000 words, typed double spaced, accompanied by photographs if available, and substantiated with footnotes where applicable. (Pho tographs should be accompanied with information re: the source, permission to publish, archival number if applicable, and a brief caption. Photos will be returned to the writer.) Please send articles directly to: The Editor, B.C. Historical News, P.O. Box 105,Wasa, B.C.VOB2K0