VALLEY HISTORY AND THE WINDERMERE VALLEY MUSEUM BOX 2315, INVERMERE, V0A IK0 May 2017 250-342-9769 Canadian adventure. The Walkers departed from England in April of 1913 aboard The Empress of Ire- land. They landed in Montreal and traveled west to Golden, British Columbia on the Canadian Pacific Railway. There they were met by Basil G. Hamilton and traveled by Cadillac with him to Wilmer. The Walker family lived in a house in Wilmer for the summer of 1913. Upon dis- covering that the land they purchased was not suitable for farming, Arthur negotiated a trade with the company and by the fall of 1913 they had settled into their new home. Their farm was the Ben Able Farm located by Able Creek in Invermere. A large pro- portion of the Walker farm was given over to potato production. The entire family worked to produce prize winning potatoes, Katharine Lucy Walker which placed first at the PNE. (Kitty 1935) Katharine, fondly known as Kitty, em- On December 27, 1904 in Claxby Pluck- braced her new life in the Valley and left the acre, Linconshire England twins were born. prim and proper ways of her English home Katharine Lucy 1904-1986 and Basil behind. The mountains were the first thing George Coleman 1904-1978. Their parents that captured her imagination when she ar- were Emily Jane Walker (nee Hensman) rived in the Columbia Valley. Kitty had a 1871-1937 and Arthur Joseph Walker 1863- lifelong love of the outdoors. Her favorite 1929. There were already three children in was a hike up Castle Rock with friends and the Walker family, Arthur John Turney siblings. In her early years, Kitty was often 1899-1981 (Jack), Margaret Ellen 1900- found on the back of a horse taking a ride to 1958 (Margaret Fuller) and Cecil Thomas Fairmont and the Dutch Creek Hoodoos. Hensman 1903-1978 (Tom). After She also loved to bicycle with her family Katharine’s family arrived in the Columbia and friends. Kitty, George, Tom and Marga- Valley her youngest sister Elizabeth Mary ret attended the new, two room school in 1913-1947 (Beth Campsall) was born. Invermere which was completed in 1913. Arthur Joseph Walker was a gentleman Susie Nixon was a dearly loved childhood farmer in England who was excited by the friend of Kitty’s and they remained good promotional material from the Columbia friends all their lives. As a teen, Kitty Valley Irrigated Fruitland's Ltd. Crop failure worked at Blakley’s Hotel in Radium Hot two years in a row on their farm in England Springs. At the age of nineteen, Kitty left caused Arthur and Emily to look for a new the Columbia Valley for the first time since place to raise their family. They purchased a she arrived. She traveled to the coast and piece of land northwest of Wilmer from the took a Children’s Nurse course at Vancou- Fruitland's Company and set off on their ver General Hospital in 1923. Kitty spent Page 1 many years working for families in Victoria Autumns Call before commencing her contract with the By Kitty Walker 1922 Count and Countess de Suzannet of Paris, When it is Autumn in the Valley France. She lived in Victoria and France with When leaves begin to fall, the family until 1935. Katharine loved the six And young coyotes are yapping to their par- de Suzannet children and the adventure that ents thrilling call, traveling back and forth from Victoria to That’s the time I long to go France brought. To where the heart forever lurks In 1936 Kitty returned to live the remain- Where the Columbia River runs through the der of her life with her family in Invermere. Rockies and Selkirks. Life was not always easy, especially during Where the leaves start turning yellow and the depression years of the thirties, but she berries on the hill always made the best of what she had. Kitty With dear old Bruno striving, his mouth with was a creator; whether it was a Fall Fair float them to fill. or hand knit and sewn clothing for herself That’s the time I long to be in those moun- and her family or costumes or toys, she was tains by the river always making something. Over the years With nature’s wondrous works forever and Kitty not only raised her two daughters Sybl forever. and Sylvia, but also took into her care forty- Where the sky above is blue and air so clear eight foster children. They never forgot her and still, and over the years she received visits from And piercing wild goose calls sounding over many of them. In addition to raising these vale and hill. children, Kitty also did laundry for the Min- That’s where the spirit rests in the hills and eral King Mine. by the river Kitty spent many hours with her seven With coyotes, bears and geese and Autumn’s grandchildren and there was nothing better clear crisp weather. than doing crafts, playing bingo or sleeping ************************************ under the stars with their Gran. She was al- Highways in the Valley ways looking for and finding the best in peo- 1800-1822…..Indian trails followed the Co- ple. Kitty had a warm heart and cherished all lumbia River. of her relationships. Tracy Williams and 1884….. Pack horses and pack trains brought Lillian Gee were two of Kitty’s close friends. supplies to miners. Kitty was a life long member of the Angli- 1887…..the B.C. Government Department of can Church and a member of the Anglican Highways was widening and improving the Women’s Church Guild. She was also a Indian Trails to wagon roads. Settlers were member of the Windermere Valley Historical pouring in and were using the wagon road Society. In her elder years, Kitty lived in from Galbraith’s Ferry ( Fort Steele ) to Ca- Lakeview Manor and was a member of the nal Flat. Invermere Seniors’ group. 1893…..Regular stage coach and freight ser- Those who knew Kitty will remember her vice was established from Golden to Fort for her bright smile, sense of humour and Steele. great laughs. 1896-1900…..Wagon roads were built to the On October 11, 1986, Kitty was the last mines and to the Benches. member of the pioneer Walker family to pass 1912…..Car travel had begun with regular away. service from the Invermere Hotel to Golden. This accommodated travelers on the train. ( By Sylvia Walker and Dianna Tegart ) 1914…..Mail and freight were carried by Kimpton Stage drivers. 1912-1923…..The Banff-Windermere High- way was built during these years. Page 2 “Yesterday” which our world today races along. from an article written by C.D. Ellis One evening in Athalmer, in the crowd 1944 temporarily, like birds resting, were Isaac 1885– The golden spike had been driven at Noland, Erick Sundin and Gus Leh- Craigelachie. Regina, Moose Jaw, Medicine man…..blue eyes and fair hair betrayed Hat and Calgary were the only settlements their Scandinavian ancestry. where law and order had been established in When the credit of the customer or the the West by the NWMP. This was the era patience of the hotel proprietor played out, into which Windermere was born. Other it was necessary for the thirsty to walk 3 than the CPR mainline, links with other set- miles to Wilmer or canoe the same distance tlements were by Red River Cart, pack train up the lake to Windermere. Daily such ex- or boat. peditions came and went. Among the throng on the platform of the Windermere, the oldest settlement , the newly completed CPR could be found Isaac oldest hotel and the best known proprietor Noland. He was a large man; his body in Jim Stoddart, was the most respectable. seemed muscled with steel. The number of There, like at a bank, one kept face. ties or timbers he could cut and hew was Among those who live hard and fearless- legendary. He wore a harness fitted to his ly, tragedies frequently occur. Isaac Noland, head and shoulders and often delivered the long since past his prime of his tie-hacking trees he cut to the road himself. days on the construction of the CPR, Isaac enjoyed a drink when it was availa- worked in lumber camps. On pay day, ble and because of his size, no one dared drink affected him more and more. In the refuse him ! middle of one of his worst sprees, Paddy The railway being completed, the work- Ryan and Tenas Bob arrived. It seemed a men went into business in new settlements; hopeless job to sober up Isaac so the boys, took up homesteads; followed logging and Tenas and Paddy, were persuaded to take sawmill crews and found growing markets him out to their ranch with a jug of ‘sober- for their products. up-elixir’. Slowly climbing the steep hill Isaac Noland and a number of others out of Athalmer, the horses rested frequent- worked in Golden but when the Columbia ly. At one point Isaac was being sick River Lumber Company moved up the val- through the spokes of the hind wheel. The ley, Noland followed. At the same time, horses started up suddenly and caught his miners and prospectors were leaving Wild head in the revolving wheel, breaking his Horse Creek and coming here seeking their neck. fortunes. Loggers, miners, speculators Isaac was duly and respectfully laid out. came and went. Laborers drifted in, grub- Neil Patterson made the coffin. Ordinarily staked, drank, gambled and drifted away. the box was uncovered but this time a heavy Intoxication, the only common relaxation, cashmere shawl, a standard trading item in change or escape, was indulged to the para- the local store, was tacked on top.