THE BLAKLEY FAMILY Years
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VALLEY HISTORY AND THE WINDERMERE VALLEY MUSEUM BOX 2315, INVERMERE, V0A IK0 342-9769 May 2003 the F.P. Armstrong. But that did not end John Blakleys career with boats. During the First World War he worked with the cross channel supply transport from England with the Royal Engineers and later operated a river transport boat on the Ti- gress in the Far East carrying men and supplies for the Mesopotamia Campaign. ( Then he took flying lessons and served with the Royal Flying Corps) He did a lot of flying in the next 10 THE BLAKLEY FAMILY years. Even owning his own plane when he re- turned to the Valley. But once a river man al- ways a river man and in the Second World War One of the display cases in the Windermere the captain was back in harness, this time as a District Historical Museum was donated by the river pilot for the U.S. army boats in northern Blakley Family of Radium Hot Springs in Alberta and Northwest Territories. memory of Alexander and Barbara Blakley When the war was over , Captain Blakley ( pictured above) and Captain John S. Blakley, came back to the Columbia .Operating a tourist early Columbia River pilots. The Blakley name resort with his wife and being postmaster at Ra- in the valley dates back to 1898. dium Hot Springs served their term as occupa- That year, Alexander Blakley came west. He tions but John Blakley was a boatman and was an experienced engineer on the Great couldn‟t keep off the river. Lakes. He came to Golden to captain the stern- With his sons, Captain Blakley built a stern- wheelers that plied the Columbia from Golden wheeler, 54 feet long with a 100 horsepower to Invermere. He built the Selkirk, the Pert and engine, named The Radium Queen. For 33 years the Isabel. the shrill whistle of the steamboats had been John Blakley came west in 1887, a boy of gone from The Columbia but the hills echoed 10. He had been with his Dad on the Great once again when the Radium Queen‟s whistle Lakes and when he came to Golden he naturally shrilled on hunting trips and week-end trips accompanied him on the Columbia River trips. with the Blakley family. By 1911, at the age of 22, he was a captain in John had married Jessie Weston from Gold- his own right taking command of his first river en in 1916 and their first son Jock was born boat, The Selkirk, which he had rented from when he was overseas. His son Herb was born H.E.Forster, a well known Wilmer rancher. in 1921 and Blair was born in 1924. By 1929 he Two years later Alexander Blakley was was extremely active in his flying career. He drowned, a victim of the river he knew so purchased a Gypsy Moth, but because of blind- well .Young John took over command of the ness in one eye he was unable to operate a com- Riverboats but the next year brought an end to mercial license. He then hired other pilots to fly the saga of the paddle-wheelers with the shrill for him and started his business of selling rides. whistle of the engine of the Kootenay Central For $5.00 you went up, around and down and Railway proclaiming heavy competition. he became well known for landing in many In 1914 Captain Blakley operated one of the fields throughout B.C. last of the commercial steamboats on the river, Jessie Blakley ran the Hotel while her hus- placed within it a photo of Friday‟s flag raising. band John developed his interest in flying and Messages from Rev. Aubrey Small and Rev. also turned it into a profitable living. In the R.D. Kimmitt were read and presented. early days the hot pools were used by certain E. Adams of the Imperial Bank of Invermere people trying to clear their heads, as well by placed a penny, nickel, dime, quarter, 50 cent local road working crews and Natives but its piece, a dollar bill and a centennial dollar in the reputation as a health resort was spreading. Pre- capsule. viously only the Natives had believed in its cu- Four David Thompson stamps, first day issue rative powers. Now , the Blakleys felt that the 1947 were also placed within. benefits to be gained from the hot pools was the Following the presentation the capsule was most important aspect. sealed with moisture proof cement and lowered In the early 1930‟s , Captain Blakley made into a small cement vault in the step. the first unofficial non-stop flight from Alberta A detailed account of the capsule and its sit- to Vancouver and back, with only one refueling uation and plan for unsealing have been sent to stop. In those days he was operating a garage in the Provincial Archives at Victoria. Radium, an airfield in Windermere ( on Kimp- ************************************** ton‟s land ) and a flying school in Vernon. Meanwhile, back at the Hotel, Jessie was “ Golden Star ” keeping the fires burning with sawdust fuel that January 28, 1938 cost $ 3.00 a truck load and guests such as And now for a report on one of the best….. Myrna Loy and Bing Crosby were being enter- with a capital “B”…… hockey games wit- tained. There was a story of Bing Crosby nearly nessed in the district for a long time, when the being turned away because of his unruly appear- “old timers” and the junior team of the district ance after a hunting trip of some duration. went into battle on Saturday, January 15, in In- The Blakley Family has a rich history in our vermere. Charlie Wolfe, in goal for the old tim- Valley. Jock, Herb and Blair raised their fami- ers, put up a great game. Charlie played senior lies here and many family members continue to amateur hockey in Alberta some years ago, and make the Valley their home. he and a hockey stick are quite at home togeth- ( Museum Archives ) er. R.G. Newton and Vaughan Kimpton, play- ing defense, skimmed over the ice like profes- ************************************** sionals. John Blakley had not played hockey for thirty years…….but secrets like that should- Time Capsule to be Opened in 2058 n‟t be divulged! Fred Foyston, W.H. Cleland ( Winn Weir– Valley Echo– 1958 ) and Rev. J.L. Clerihue were forwards, first line, and Percy Lake, John Blakley and Walter Elmes The time capsule sealed and buried Saturday were the second line. Foyston and Elmes got the evening at a ceremony in David Thompson Me- goals for the old timers in a resulting finish of morial Park ( Lions Clubhouse at the Cross- 5-2 in favor of the juniors. The junior team was roads ) will, it is hoped, make history. It will be composed of Johnnie Blake, goal; Jack Jones, opened at the 147th Annual Fall Fair in the year Frank Foyston, defense; Jim Ashworth, Dave 2058. McGuinness, Filmer Coy, first line; Carl Jones, The capsule was buried in a cement vault in Ralph Tobiason, Gordon Cleland, Herb the entrance step. It contains articles of local Blakley,second line. The older men certainly and historical interest presented by various showed the boys that they know what a hockey groups. stick is for! There were no chipped noses nor Hal Bavin, Windermere photographer, were any penalties inflicted. Danish settlers St. Michael’s Hostel Windermere, B.C. Dr. Gaddes sought the Danes to settle his Co- For Members of His Majesty‟s Forces lumbia Valley Orchards farms because he knew Operated By Lieut.-Col. and Mrs. A.K. Hemming they would be experienced at farming small par- cels of land. Situated on the Shores of Lake Windermere in The Lutheran Church was instrumental in get- beautiful surroundings and climate. Swimming in ting some of the families to Edgewater. warm Lake Windermere…. Boating, fishing and pony rides available at $1.00 / day. Hiking and Chris Carlsen came in 1926 to farm. Mountain climbing tours out your door! Rasmus Jensen came in 1928 to farm. Rest and Play in the Beautiful Rockies Elof Madsen came as a Master Carpenter. O.P. Nielsen came in 1928 and helped develop Rates– Transportation from Banff to Hostel and the Whitehouse in Edgewater. return, 100 miles of scenic drive. Helge Oxholm came in 1928 to farm with Jens For a party of 5 or more, meals and bed- and Wally Lautrup. He left in 1929. Per Person-$10.00 per week Peter and Astrid Jacobsen came in 1929 and For Reservations Apply farmed until 1937. Emil and Margie Johnson Mrs. A.K. Hemming bought their farm. Phone Banff –290 “ Big Paul” Christensen came in 1928 to farm. Gordon Ferguson bought his farm . ************************************* Martin Rasmussen bought the farm from the Hewitts in 1939. Earl Grey Cabin Sven Jensen arrived in 1928 and farmed until During the summer of 1908, Earl Grey, Governor 1932, when he returned to Denmark. General of Canada and a party made the trek from Viggo Pedersen came in 1928 and cleared land Argenta in the West Kootenay to Wilmer over the near Lautrups. Their home burned in 1933 and Earl Grey Pass. The following are excerpts from a they returned to Denmark. letter to Premier Richard McBride of British Co- “Little Paul” Christensen and wife Anna came lumbia: to farm in Edgewater in 1929. “ I am already considering whether it may not Big John Madsen and his cousin Little John be possible for me to bring Lady Grey and my Madsen also settled in the late twenties.