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BC Historical Newspapers
Taylor, Dave
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• Th imilkameee Mrs. Allison j Memorial Number THIRTY SEVENTH YEAR; No. 9. PRINCETON, BRITISH COLUMBIA THURSDAY, 4th FEBRUARY, 1937. Two Dollars Per Annum. I fao'rt ! -■«•- Imilk OHN PALL ALLISON, Similka- bom in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, 6th January, 1825, of English parentage. His father was house surgeon to Leeds infirmary. He at' ended pub lie school in Leeds. His education was interrupted, at the age' of 12, by the removal of his family to Illinois. Following in his father's footsteps, he continued his studies, but when news of rich gold diggings in California caused a general furor, he dropped his books and went to make his stake—a forty-niner. He went overland. In California he mined for several years, but without any great success. Ever the rainbow that hoarded the treasure retreated, and news of a richer strike on the Praser saw many quit California. Of this mine! was John Air son, who, armed with a let'er of introduction to Governor j James Douglas, landed in Victoria early, in 1858. Victoria was then a trim little # JOHN FALL ALLISON Similkameen's Patriarch (now Vancouver, Wash.) was regional headquarters, and the main H.B. rustic settlement, still fundament ,M- j r0adway was up the Columbia in a ly an H. B. post, though it had re- huge crcle to Port st james and cently assumed the dignities of the the north6rn posts, a, vital trade capi'alof self-governing colony; and rou*e The formation 0f the rival the great Douglas, whose governor ship was dual, was half the trader, half the statesman. Alison's status and demeanor distinguished him, and the astute but kindly chief took a lively interest in him. Disappointed with his success on the mainland, Mr. Allison soon returned to Victoria. ££*», Douglas commiss'oned him to go ; into the Similkameen and examine Vancouver. Island. Douglas "vjp88 "north fork", ostensibly for gold, been at Fort VaxuKHsefe; '/-jjEBd to bring back a general report. ' Thus begen the first of the five phases of Similkameen's development: exploration. Wi+h all, as they unfolded, Mr. Allison was identified. First came the Hudson's Bay men, as traders and explorers, Mr. Allison indirectly in their service. Then the gold seekers—part, also, of Mr. Allison's quest. Then the cattle men, Mr. Allison joining the industry. Then the prospectors. The development of the Similkameen at large embraces all five, and Princeton, as the key point, is similarly involved. A cross-section of local development shows ramifi- cat ons of these, and some new f ac- I tore, coal, for example, at Blakeburn, farming in the One Mile, Five Mile and Otter valleys; lumbering at various points; mining at Hedley and Copper Mountain; fruit-growing at Keremeos after the advent of* the railway. And of course there are many attendant activities that took root in the development and finally contributed to it. A back-ground to the entire.pic. ture ist the Hudson's Bay Company. They had, to the sufficiency 0f their purpose, surveyed, and tapped the area long before its natural development began. Theirs were the first maps of the area. Their Brigade trail crossed the Hope mountains, ran through to Tulameen, down the Tulameen and Similkameen to Hedley, up Eighteen Mile creek and across '•he divide to the Okanagan. The thoroughness of the H. B. men warrants enthusiasm. For example, years after, Mr. Allison found a. section of upper Granite Creek ihat instantly called to mind California. No one, he thought could have been here. Then, turning round he saw blazes on a tree, and, examining them, this pencilled note: "Who finds this bar finds another California." Su«h was the keenness of the H B. Co. eye About the time our local story begins, the H B Co HISTORY faced a serious im- MAKES passe. The amalga- HISTORY mation with the North West Company gave it extensive activities in th© American north-west, as it now is. For many years this was disputed Astor company (1811) and the grad_ ual extension westward of U.S. influence were writing on the wall the shrewd KB. regional head, Dr. MoLoughlin, oould not fail to read. Realizing that the boundary dispute was rapidly reaching a head, and foreseeing its outcome, he established In 1843 -a new headquarters at Victoria, and the company bought , who had was sent, there. The Oregon Treaty of 1846 (the story goes that the British negotiator Packenham vainly tried to hook a salmon in the Columbia and gave the country to the U.S. in disgust) gave the H.B. Co. transport and property rights, but the officials realized how futile this would be, and began a thorough search for a new all-British route. Anderson's survey provided a trail over Manson Mountain. Soon, however, discovery of gold at Rock Creek and reports of a,strike in the Similkameen, precipitated a similar prob lem. Douglas sent Allison to the Similkameen to investigate the reported gold strike and also with an aim to locating a road to the Rock Creek diggings. Allison was by no means the first white man to visit the Similkameen. This honor probably goes to A. C. Anderson, chief geographer for the company. It is possible that some ; miners had ventured here by the time of Mr. Allison's visit, though his family says he told them that the miners, and the mysterious Blackfoot mining settlement some five miles above Princeton on the Similkameen river, came later. Allison followed the Brigade trail out of Hope as far as 25 Mile then branched up Cedar creek and followed the Roche and Similkameen through to Princeton. (An early map gives the name "Rogues" for Roche, but this is pro. bably an error. The Allisons say it was named after a horse). To Mr. Allison, the Roche appeared to answer the given description. He found gold at various points and also a large copper deposit which twenty years later he slaked as the Allison mine. -j%33 But when he arrived at the confluence he realized that a mistake had been made. The stream' he had supposed was the north fork was actually the east. In other words, he had been following the Roche and Similkameen rivers; the so- called north fork (Tulameen) actual ly being the west fork. Near the confluence he found coal. Continuing downstream he encountered, camped on a bench [ Chronicled By D»ve Taylor ] wife and family. They were sluicing on the river with good1 success. Mr. Allison was most deeply impressed, however, by the natural beauty of the valley. The hills that are now somewhat bare were covered with tall, silky grass that lilted in the breeze. . In 1859 Mr. Allison was sent to continue his investigations. His discoveries were even more phenomenal. He took back with him large nuggets of gold and1 a nugget of white metal the size of a. pigeon's egg, and samples of coal The metal, sent wifh the coal to Swansea for analysis, turned cut to be irridium, .which, with platinum and other rare metals is found in associa'ion with local placer gold. At this time—whether it resulted from or preceded Mr. Allison's ex plorations has not been definitely established—the Simlkameen placers had aroused considerable excitement, and a period of occupation was at hand. It was hardly a genuine settlement, however, for the gold-hungry adventurers soon turn, ed to new Eldoradoes, folded' their tents and! silently stole away from the Similkameen. Mr. Allison's objective was different. He was a sort cf local Douglas, the complete settler: explorer, patriarch, and business, man. -#- a pre-emption of approximately 10C0 acres at the forks of the two rivers—the eventual city. But, indeed fate was as obdurate against Mr. Allison as against Governor Douglas, for when actual sub-division began, Allison had dropped the upper pre-emption, then developed as a townsite, while Mrs. Allison and Hon. Edgar Dewdney championed a rival venture two miles down the river Jm But r'val claims of metropolitan superiority were far from his thou- Governor Douglas shaded in full ghts in 1860. Save for the none too Mr. Allison's admir- reliable Indians and the shiftless miners, there were no inhabitants, and the only solid link was the old Hudson's Bay organization. Neither, however, was there any A CITY IN PROSPECT ation of and confidence in, Princeton. Conceiving it the Queen City of the Interior of the future, when as yet only scanty lack of animation or optimism, for bands of semi-nomadic Indians and a ruunber 0f prominent men of the an occasional hand-miner, with a d.£y' including officers of the En MRS. SUSAN LOUISA ALLISON Mother of the Similkameen burrow jogging behind him were its sole inhabitants, he made plans for a modern city of architectural beauty wor hy of its setting, with racecourse, parks, terraces and foun. 1 tains. This metropolis was to be located on One Mile Creek, then known as Grave Yard. (The Indian grave yard was in the Hugh Hunter place; in former times the Indians burled their dead in slides.) No mining was ever done on One Mile creek, though there was early ac'ivity on the bar on the Bob Taylor ranch. Hon. E. N. B. Fiortman, an able government civil arclr'ect, drafted the plan and Sergeant McColl and a party of Royal Engineers actually laid out-:..the site^jlt comprised be- [tween 600~" an#- 700 acres, a square area, running back to Swan Lake. The monuments still stand—monument's of a dream as vast and vain as faibled Kublai Khan's Douglas selected' 'he name Princeton himself, honoring the Prince of Wales, later Edward VH, then visiting Canada (but never the West) Meanwhile Mr.- Allison's private enterprise took on practical manifes tations. He secured from Douglas nether of-Similkainnieeini Comes Home to Rest .territory, and if anything, British above the river, Johnny McDougall claims were better. Fort Vancouver a Hudson's Bay half-breed, and his A LIFE that all but spanned a century, and, for the Similkameen that knew and honored it best, linked past and present, ended beautifully in a Vancouver nursing home on Monday, 1st February, and on Friday Mrs. Susan Louisa Allison*returned to the Similkameen to rest in the vale she.loved, the land of her labors-. No sorrow need be felt in the passing of Mrs. Allisom. Her's was a beautiful life, full and rounded: a life of labor and of love, where the constant threat of the untamed elements established real values. Her's was a double mother's joy: she lived to see a family and a community grow up about her. "Mother of the Similkameen", she •rejoiced in that dual felicity. And, realizing with a calm and kindly philosophy, the truth of life and of nature, she neitner regretted nor opposed the inevitable, but accepted her decline with placid assurance Few lives could hold more of e:^perience than her's. She was born, Susan Louisa Moir, in far-off Colombo, Ceylon, 18th August, 1845, daughter of an emigrant tea-planter. From her father she inherited a poise and refinement, nurtured by a girlhood spent in Old England, that all the rigors of pioneering in the wilderness could not disturb or dismay. She arrived in Hope, with her foster-father and her family, via Panama and Victoria, in 1860. For a time she assisted her mother in the conduct of a pioneer school there, and inv 1867 accompanied John Fall Allison as his bride to his new-found empire of Similkameen. Here, save for a sojourn in the Okanagan in the seventies, she lived until declining health forced her to seek the milder climate of the Coast In 1929. In a land where doctors were an unknown luxury, she reared fourteen children, and ministered to the needs of the valley, at large. When the century turned, and obsolescent shaded into modern, she became an authority on the early story of the Interior, and wrote copiously. She will be best remembered for her understanding of the native Indian, nowhere better illustrated than in her poem, of the "H'awatha" pattern, "Incowmasket." The funeral Friday was in simple appropriateness. Bearing the tributes of the entire community, she went to rest in the land of her labors, in the fanrly plot on the wind-swept slope of Castle Rock, at the side of her husband, called thirty years before. A service was- held in Vancouver Wednesday, conducted bv Rev. R. Herbison, formerly of Princeton. Rev. J. C. Goodfellow officiated at a local service in St. Paul's, and at the grave-side. Pall-bearers, selected to represent the Dominion and Provincial Governments and old timers, included: E. J Rotherham, C. Nichols, A. Gould, S. R. Gibson, p. W. Gregory and P. Russell. gineers from Col. Moody down, and Edgar Dewdney (later Lieutenant- Governor) and a Mr. Young took out pre-emptions, which, however, they did not occupy, and soon abandoned. 1860 was certainly one of Princeton's rosiesh years. Miners flocked in. But its rapid growth was an illusion. By 1862 Cariboo had stolen its glamor as an Eldorado, and only a. few remained, while no one was attracted by the lesser lure of the land About this time the grassy ranges of the Similkameen THE CATTLE and South Okan- BARONS agan began to at tract the cattle men. They came in by the east, and it would appear probable that tlieir advent was independent of the Douglas inspiration. Certainly the pioneer was Frank Richter, who is credited with having taken up land, now the site of Cawston in 1860. Barcelo ('64) Sup- rement, Cawston C72), Daly (80's) and o'hers followed. Mr. Allison's intentions had been by no means uncertain as those of the other pre-emp/ors. He built a log cabin on his pre-emption and kept permanent residence. He had1 built his first cabin between the two rivers, somewhere near the present Garrison place, to 1859. In 1863 it burned, and, at this > time joining Silas E. Hayes in a cattle partnership, he built a new cabin just below the forks, on the west bank, about 200 yards below the W. H. Thomas place. A large rock, now in mid-stream, marks the approximate spot. Mrs. Allison's frequent references to this house and its successors as on the (Swan Lake) towntsite, are obviously eriors of terminology. The Allisons' romance warmed to that stage by September, 1867, the exact date probably between the 18th and 20th. Mrs. Allison and her mother had started a school—the first—at Hope. Mr. Allison wanted the elderly lady to accompany them to the Similkameen, but she had heard reports of its rigors and declined. The honeymoon trip was pleasant if unorthodox. The crossing took three days, with three jolly Indian Back-boys to do the work and prepare meals of grouse and venison). PAGE TWO * THE SIMILKAMEEN STAR. PRINCETON. B.C. THURSDAY, 4th FEB., '37. Hayes was an American from Maine, probably a cattleman. Whe. ther he induced Allison to try his hand, or whether Allison had already become interested is not certain. Allison later contended that the partnership was to embrace only their stock-raising activities, but no written agreement was made at the time. They were different types, Hayes apparently a bit of the Shy- lock, and they never seem to have become very warm friends. Hayes built a cabin alongside Allison's. At any rate, they started cut with some 70 head of Durhams. They used to graze the animals on the . Princeton range in the summer, driving them to the Okanagan for the winterj and of course to market at the Coast. Doubtless to see for himself the possibilities for a trade route, Governor Douglas himself visited the Similkameen in the summer of 1862. He had given orders for the building of a wagon-road from Hope to Fort Steele. Douglas himself was a great admirer of the Similkameen, and pictured its hills teeming with grain where the tall bunch grass then grew. The task of building the road fell to 'the Royal Engineers, and the 25 miles of road they finished is stj^il in use. Such was their work. It be- ' came early obvious that it would be a costly project, however, ana Douglas decided to impose a toll of %c per pound on all goods taken over it. Tolls were as unpopular then as now, and the town of Hope raised a storm of protest, a stormy session awaiting his return from the Similkameen. Douglas was no man to trifle with, and he promptly can. celled the entire project. Thus close —in 1862—was the realization of mi Hope-Princeton road and the southern transprovincial highway. Later, however, Douglas relaxed •and gave a contract to Moberley and Dewdney to build instead a good pack trail. The section from 25 Mile to Princeton Dewdney sub- Jet to Mr. Allison. Known as the Dewdney Trail, or Hope-Princeton Trail, is still in use (though the high way creepeth uncertainly) the only direct road between Coast and south ern Interior. It followed much the same route that Allison had taken on his first trip in 1858. Mr. Allison was a frequent visitor to the Coast, and had many acquaintances, among them Dewdney Moody's and Landvoight's. New Westminster was then, it will be noted, the metropolis of tbe main land. Victoria owed its its origin to political change, business acumen: New Westminster's origin was much more picturesque. The British government made up its mind to venture on a colonization plan and sent Co' Moody with a party of Engin. eers to build a city, to be called Derby. The actual spot designated was Fort Langley, but a site fourteen miles distant was selected as preferable. Queensbcro was the name assigned, but the good people of Victoria protested that their love for Her Majesty was absolute and sufficient, so the Queen herself tactfully suggested New Westminster. Vancouver sprang up as a sawmill town many years later. The early Cariboo excitement was , at this time (1865) at its height, and Hope (another H.B. outpost) had sprung up as the gateway alike to the Cariboo and the Interior. Mrs Allison, then (1860) 15-year old Susan Louisa Moir, had come out from England with her mother, sister and step-father, the magic spell of Fraser gold having infected the somewhat shiftless Thomas Glenny in London. Mrs. Allison tti- s'sts strongly that she was Scotch, though she was born (18th August, 1845) in Colombo, Ceylon, where her father was a tea-planter. By her profession, he was a fine and intelligent man. She in turn inherited artistic tastes that even the rigors of pioneer life in the rugged west ■could not disturb or dismay. Mrs. Allison's parents were Susan Louisa Meldem and Stra.tton Moir. Her sister (elder) was Jane Stratton Moir, later the wife of Governor Dewdneyi Mrs. Allison seems to have shared the popular aversion to step-fathers. Her infrequent references fo him are in marked contrast to the warm tributes she pays her father. But, at any rate," the step-father armed CHARLES EDWARD THOMAS Pioneer Business Man with letters of introduction to the Governor, they landed at Victoria in 1860, and, on Douglas' advice, proceeded, via Otter and Capt. Irving's -iver boat, to Hope. They had come by Panama, bring- lg with them belongings somewhat ingular in this wild new land, lcluded was a piano, one of the first n B.C. Years later this found its /ay to Princeton, but was taken to/ 'ancouver some half dozen years to. Life at Hope was pleasant enough. Mrs. Allison made friends easily, and there was much to be seen. The pack.trains regularly convoyed for Colville and Keremeos, and with her friends she enjoyed horse-back rides over the newly constructed road; little thinking that that same road was soon to be travelled farther, and not so lightly! ®^ Mrs. Allison was a great friend of Mrs. Landvoight's. The Landvoight's kept a store and it was at their place—it was natural that he should know them — Mrs.' Allison met her future husband. The ro-. mance soon flowered. Her sister had earlier been claimed by Edgar Dewd- ENTER, ney; that was the ROMANCE.^! first wedding in the tiny Hope church. "Mrs. Allison was not the first white woman to live in the valley. She tells herself of watching, as a girl at Hope, a Mrs. Marston leaving over the trail in I860 to join her husband, then mining at Princeton. She came on foot, accompanied by an Indian, with a few pots, a few chickens and a rocking chair, the latter salvaged by .the Allisons from the rude cabin which served as the Allisons' chicken house. Mr. Hayes drove the cattle to Westbank for the winter. Togethe- Mr. and Mrs. Ali'son spent a somewhat lonely, but cheery enough . winter. There was always plenty to be done, and resourcefulness had to count. Mrs. Allison, willingly assisted by her husband who fashioned chairs and dressers out cf old tea-boxes, deftly covered with wrapping paper and pink stuff, set about making the place a little more pleasing to the feminine eye, much to the disgust ,of Hayes. "But," she said, "I did not object to him sitting down in his shirt sleeves', and I do no see why he should object to my dressing for dinner." The nearest neighbor was the factor of the Keremeos post, McLean He had been an axe-man with the Boundary Survey party. Just when the first Hudson's Bay post was established at Keremeos is not certain, but McLean's building was erected in 1865. Probably it was the first. McLean seems to have been a brute of a man, of huge build. He is said to have had a string of hang ings to his credit. He later- went to Kamloops as district chief factor, and his four half-breed sons turned desperate marauders engaging the police in a pitched battle before they were finally rounded up after many killings. One old Indian remarked to the Allisons "Indian bad; Scotchman good. Add Scotchman to Indian, he no more good." In 1868 a Mr. Tait came in from the Coast to succeed Mr. McLean. Incidentally, he made the trip in a day: "breakfast at Hope, lunch at Princeton, supper at Keremeos." Riohter and Baxcelo had established at Keremeos. There wag a government customs house at Oso- ycos, with J. O. Haynes post-master and government representative. For as long as he could be expected to stay with one job, Bobby Stevenson was assistant to Mr. Haynes. Then a Mr. Lowe succeeded. Another resident was Theo Kruger, a Hanovarian, who had earlier mined on the Similkaimeen (Kruger s Bar). Lowe later bought the Richter ranch, Cawston townsite, and his widow, now in Victoria, retains local interests. Government men and geologists frequently came through the valley, and General Sherman, subduing the Indian uprisings in the American north-west, was an occasional visi. tor. He is supposed to have left a sword with Mrs. Allison as a mo- mento. The Indians had all gone into winter quarters when Mrs. Allison arrived, but in the spring they emerged in solemn parade. She had first seen them at Hope on the occasion of the first Empire Day celebration there (1860) and had been impressed by their fine appearance in contrast with the Flatheads or local tribes. The Indians were the Chuchuewa tribe, with harmless, dignified old Quinescoe (the bear hunter) as chief. They were of the Nicola family. A few years earlier a great chief had claimed jurisdiction over all the Indians from Kamloops to Koot- enay. They were not a particularly vicious tribe, but might WINNING THE easily have been INDIANS fired to the bloody hostility shown by their cousins across the line had they been angered. But fortunately more, judicious handling was the practice here, and they were at-first passive, then friendly. They were little more than children in their mentality, and their psychology had *-o be understood. They took notions, and then were always dangerous. Singularly successful in handling them, Mr. Allison used to say that they must be treated kindly, fairly, but the main thing was to keep the upper hand. Once when one had taken too much fire water and was making a nuisance of himself in the store, as he became ugly Mr. Allison acted first —with a sh°rt Pick handle. In time his fellows picked him up. He wore a scar ever after, but bore no resent ment. Something distinguishing to wear was the Indian's .piece de resistance. No price was too great, in cash or aught else. One paid a hundred dollars for a checked ensemble a white man was wearing* When Mrs. Dewdney was visiting, her guide sud. denly held her up and demanded her shoes. She persuaded him to be content with her leaving them for him when she left for Hope. More f.mused than angry, she kept her word, f^gfe It was the same with the little j boys who used to help Mrs. Allison with the washing. If they saw some thing they liked they would run to her and ask for it, and if successful would put it on wet and run about proudly displaying it . Quinescce's band numbered about two hunderd. They lived by trapping and hunting. Mrs. Allison soon won many friends among them-, especially the boys and the old men. A notable character among them was Ashnola John. It is very doubtful if he was of their tribe; he more probably was one of the Colville's. He was very strongly opinionated and liked to suppose himself a law unto himself, though normally amiable enough. On one occasion he took it upon himself — largely seconded by his countrymen—to release a prisoner during the course of his trial. Judge Haynes was no coward, but still less a fool, and averted bloodshed at the price of dignity. Another big factor in the winning of the Indians was the priests. Father Pandosy (i) and h's Catholic -brethren were real men of God, the extent Of whose good works,-in the unanimous opinion of old-tim ers, will never be realized. A little later churches of other denominations were active, just as usefully, none of the early churchmen more, glamorous than the Anglican "Father Pat" (Irwin.) Pioneer justice was well tempered by mercy, and little by jurisprudence. It was necessarily so. On the whole, the Similkameen was remarkably free from crime. Criminals escaping from justice in the south often came here. As long as they .behaved, they were not disturbed. There were no extradition laws m those days. Mr. Haynes of Osoyoos wa.3 magistrate. Mr. Allison was appointed Justice of the Peace in 1876. There were no constables, and it was customary to put a prisoner in charge of anyone who might be passing. Princeton had its post office, but the service was hardly overburden- THOMAS "JUDGE" MURPHY A Picturesque Pioneer ing—twice a year, to be exact. Mr. Allison had the post-office in conjunction with his store. The semi-ahnual post, over the Hope Trail, brought the mail for Similkameen, Osoyoos, Rock Creek and Kootenay. When a special letter had to be despached between mails, an Indian was hired to make the trip, his fee being from $50 to $1C0, according to the season. In 1867 the carrier was James Wardle of Hope. He was succeeded by a man named Johnstone. After the C.P.R. was built, the mail was brought in from ©pence's Bridge, once a month at first. Game and fish abounded, and with roots—there were several used as food, such as the wild potato and onion, and1 a. variety of rose—comprised the main sources of food supply, especially for the Indians. The Allison boys say it was an easy matter to lassoo deer in the spring, when they were seen in bands of many hundreds. At the higher altitudes mountain sheep were common, and he lakes teemed with ducks and fish. The Indians took liberally but wisely. They protected the increase. It was the wanton destruction of the early whites that brought the game famine. The boys remember early settlers feeding deer by the hundreds to their pigs, and killing them to scores for the hides, which brought a few cents each. Wolfe lake teemed with fish, and was a favorite Indian spot. When the V.V.&E. was building in, a eou- ple of Italians dynamited it. For forty years the Similkameen was without a doctor. Naturally, one of Mrs. Allison^ most vivid memories was the birth of her first child, Edgar. The birth was premature. There was not a helping hand in sight, but the task of mid-wife fell to Suzanne, a, stolid Indian. The Indian mother was strong and hardened to suffering and crude surgery, and Suzanne had very little patience. However, eased by liberal doses of rum and castor oil, the only medicines of the day, the event came off successfully. The winter of 1871-2 Mr. and Mrs. Allison spent at Hope, where Wil- ford was born. Hayes went east to visit his folks in Maine, and brought in a breeding bull from California,' only to have it die at Nine Mile. Illustrating his spirit, Mr. Allison took the family's savings of $1400 and forthwith set out for another The following winter was spent at Keremeos, .where the H.B. place had been rented by the Lowe's of Osoyoos, and turned into a piggery, with Mr. and Mrs. Tom Coles (grand parents of Mrs. Hayward) as caretakers. The Allison's sub-rented from Lowe, who was a frequent visitor. By this time Hayes and Allison had taken up cattle SOJOURN IN raising seriously and OKANAGAN had begun to winter their herds in the Okanagan. The next fall (1873) it was decided to move to the Okan. pgan range. At this time the family numbered three. The destination was a point on the west shore, opposite Okanagan Mission (Kelowna), approximating J the present site of Westbank. The route was down the Similkameen up Keremeos creek, and via Yellow and Dog Lakes, much the same as that of the present road. Mrs. Allison was much impressed by the beauty of the lake, and the Indians, who had never seen such a large body of water, stood in speechless awe. Hayes already had a cabin. Mr. Allison built a comfortable log house The Allison's called the place Sun- nyside. The Mission was established by the church in 1859 or 1860. Fred Brent had a flour mill and Eli Le- quimme a trading post. Tom Ellis was established at the lower end of the lake (about 1869.) In the spring of 1875 an epidemic of la grippe levelled the natives. Mrs Allison's kindly ministrations saved many. That summer there was a little Indian war, and for days Mrs. Allison stood guard with an old Navy revolver .while the natives did their frenzied war dances nearby. In the summer of 1875 Mrs; Allison, left alone with her bropd, had an experience with the notorious Mc Lean's. With Nick Hare, an . assoc- ^RINJCETON\j £J rules, ^^hie 1io;pe —* J33?iaace±o3a (J>ev«i=ey) ^5rail THURSDAY, 4th FEB., '37. * THE SIMILKAMEEN STAR. PRINCETON, B.C. PAGE THREE iate, and Frosty Nose, a bad Indian the four brothers were riding past. Ignorant of their identity, Mrs. Allison ran out to greet them. Suspecting a trap, one of the brothers took aim a.t Edgar. Hare knocked the gun down. Mr. Allison had frequently to drive to the Coast. He had cut a short trail through to Similkameen via Trout Creek, In 1877, returning from a drive, he suffered an accident. He awoke on the ground, having been thrown from his horse. He had been unconscious thirty hours. He was never the same. In 1877 Dr. G. M. Dawson of the Dominion Geological Survey made a reconnaissance, an event that had an important bearing on the development of the mineral resources. Caimsell of course did even better work thirty years later. In 1878 Hayes and Allison dissolved partnership, following a lawsuit. They had never had a written agreement They divided their interests and Hayes left. The partnership, Allison contended, concerned only their cattle dealings, but Hayes claimed half of everything. His children say he lost $7,000 by the decision. The winter had been the most se\ ere the Okanagan had known, and many cattle were lost.Mr. Allison decided he could not keep up two places, and sold his Okanagan-1 holdings to John Phillips. Sadly the little cavalcade returned to the Similkameen. Returning home they found the snow had caved in the roof, and everything was in a mess, so they camped in the milkhouse until repass oould be effected. Mr. Allison pre-empted the old Princeton townsite, which had just been cancelled; this gave Allison some 5000 acres, and he contracted to graze Haynes' and Graves' cattle. He also bought the Luard property, near China Creek, and the Lindsay plac^. This kept him busy on the range and left Mrs. Allison to take charge of the store, a task she did not relish. • i By this time two young English- i men, Barrtogton Price and Nichol. | son had established (1874) a flour mill ait Keremeos. They were sporty t young Oxford men, with a strong | affinity for rum. Manuel Barcelo, with commendable industry, had pu^ in a flour mill in the early 60's but it was a crude affair. Price and Nicholson had a much better plant, and performed a real service, for packing n flour was difficult. In the fall of 1880 there was an earthquake It was not THE REDMEN serious, but it awed REFORM the superstitious Indians, who were inclined to be as naughty as they dared, and yet in mortal fear of the spirits. They sent for .(he priests, built a church, and were baptised by the score. Most of the men gave up their extra wives. An American Indian named Moses planned an abortive rebellion against the whites. Across the border there were many skirmishes, ■ and some of the blue overcoats of the massacred American soldiers found their way to the Similkameen, having been traded among the neighboring tribes. In 1881 a drink-crazed constable ran amok in the woods near Nine Mile, and was finally rescued and treated in the Allison home. He brought the first infection, probably scarlet fever. All the children were ill, two girls especially so, until two darling dolls prescribed by "Doctor" Cawston worked magic. The river rose rapidly in 1881, and carried off the Allisons' scow, by which they ••had crossed the river. They were thus at the mercy of old Shlawalakin, whose price fqr his dug-out* canoe was from 50c to $5, according to his mood. His daughter Sally had just married her fifth husband, with the usual exchange of gifts. This time it had not been very profitable, and Shlawalakin wag in a devastating humor. On one occasion he forced two helpless whites to strip off half their clothes and give them to him before he would bring them across—in their underwear. They had to buy new clothes at Allison's. Despite the prospects of profit by such sales, Allison decided it had gone far enough, and built a. new scow, offering a ferry service at a fixed rate of fifty cents. In 1882 "Princeton" was obliterat- J ed by fire. For the second time flames devoured the All son home I and as was usual disaster pounced during Mr. Allison's absence. It was early on the morning of 1st April, and its fierceness, togeth'er with Mrs. Allison's excitement accounted for almost everything in the store and dwelling. Necessity defeated dismay. The little family held the fort in the old Hayes cabin, which was supposed to be haunted; baked flour-and-water scones on flat stones, and survived on roots, fish and grouse (Will was a dead shot with a stone) until Price and Cawston sent up some food and clothes, and Mr. Allison returned.. Mr. Le- quimme sent a bundle over from Okanagan Mission, but the carrier, toelieving charity begins at home, appropriated It. But that d'd lessen Mrs. Allison's gratitude. Values were real, in those pioneer days, moneys appeal stricJy limited. *,$'£$£ Mr. Allison built a temporary shelter with logs from an old bridge. The winter was spent (with the catlle) ait Joe Linton's place near the border. That year Mrs. Allison first met A- E. Howse, who, young and good looking, had just been a,p_ pointed Indian agent. In June, 1883 the first interest was shown in Similkameen lode mining. Capt. Nichols and a guide, Fergus- son visited from San Francisco. The engineer soon left, but Fergusson took samples to the Coast, and interested E. G. Prior and others. Mr. Allison would not sell his interest but after his death it was taken over by J. O. Coulthard, Sr. who bought Price's flour mill and greatly improved it. Two Cornish miners, Gill and Mitchell, came in to develop the property in 1888. The year 1884 is notable for the h'ige snowfall. About six feet came in one fall. The Indians told the Allison boys that the last "big snow" came when they were boys. (The next was 21st January, 1935.) By this time (1880) the Chinese had made his appearance in the Similkameen. In increasing numbers he was to be found panning along the rivers, never making more The Allisons' Home at Sunnyside (now Westbank) in the Okanagan than his non-committal "twb-bittee" That summer, 1883, a number of Chinese under the name of the Qiiong Yuen Company began to work the benches at what is now China Creek. They did well, so well that a rival company, the Lee Mun's grew avaricious and drove them off. The Quong Yuens appealed" to Mr. Allison, who hired a couple of cowboys as deputies and re-instated the Quong Yuen's. The Lee Mun's, supported by some whites, sued Allison. He disregarded the summons, disdaining such "nonsense." It cost him sonie $1400 and induced him tp accept the position of gold commissioner offered him by Fremier Rob ■ son. He held office only a few months Mr. Allison, meanwhile, was building a new house and store. The work was spread over some time. Many a jest turns out to be truth so powerful it con. THE JOKE founds its author. THAT MADE So it was with the FORTUNES finding of gold on Granite Creek, according to the popular story. At this time there were many cow boys around Princeton, in the employ of Mr. Allison and others. It is legend that a cowboy loves his- joke. In tlie summer of that year three of the cowboys re'urned from the Orovllle country thoroughly elated. "Things won't be dull any more,'' they chortled. Sure enough in a few days a stream of men with mining outfits started from down the valley. "Where is -the gold rush?" they querier" The Allison's could only tell them they had been deceived, but they continued on up the Tulameen, where the Chinese had done some min'ng. They were mostly cowboys, and among them was one Johnny Chance, the incarnation of laziness., While the others looked for gold, he loafed. They made him cook, but he won that duel. Finally, in disgust, they sent him off with a gun to look for rrouse. He wandered to the bank of Granite Creek, and promptly dozed off. When he awoke the sun was low in the west. He scooped up the water to drink or ba'he, and in the slanting rays something sparkled. He snatched it up—a nugget. He saw an other. In a few minutes he had a tiny fortune in his buckskin purse, and1 ambled off to camp to become a hero. Th s was 5th July, 1885. Granite Creek started a new chapter in local history. From the four winds they came, especially from the C.P.R construction. In a few months Granite Creek teemed with people and the air was filled.with the music of grinding wa'er-wheels. Never was there a wilder camp, its sixteen saloons putting Klondyke to shame. Its short but pulsing story is drama enough, - but is outside the formative stream of Similkameen history. The excitement began to the fall of 1885, but the main activity was in the summer of 1886. Mr. Allison handled the' first recordings, but was not enthusiastic about the job, and soon George Tun-' s'-all " arrived, and. the gold com. missioner's office was moved to Gran i'e Creek. He was a behemoth of a man, with a commanding demeanor, and a strong affinity for crisp ham. It is related of, him how, to Kamloops, a Chinese prisoner escaped from his custody and h3 promptly locked up another in his stead, -vjrt^jj Granite Creek excitement was soon over, though it made many men rich. The teeming camp soon became a shadow that mixed with the silence of the hills though a few stayed on, and some, having made their stakes, looked for a spot to seftle down. Then, too. the. province at large was rapidly being built up, and the Nicola and Aspen Grove sections were attracting. Mr. Jack Thynne came in about this time and Otter valley began to draw permanent settlers. Mr. Thynne is believed to be a cousin of S. D. Sands, and both are declared to be of a noble English family. In passing it should be noted that the wide wilderness of the north-west held much fascination for the monied English, and real-estate salesmen of more enthusiasm' than integrity sold many a potential "estate' that turned out to be the side of a mountain. The arable valleys adjacent to JIM WALLACE Proprietor of Princeton's first hotel Princeton also began to fill up, with the arrival of C. Summers, Luke I Gibson, Al. Oelrich, the Martin's, ■ Schisler's, Hagerman's and others. I Jamieson, a local Indian, opened the first store; next was Blair who had a bus ness at Coutlee. Fox. j crowle P. Cook, an English banker, I who first pedalled bread into Granite, 1 became a partner with Mr. j Blair in 1886. He became one of the best known men in the district. W. C. Thomson and Mr. Woodward of Nicola also operated stores at Granite, and A. E. Howse had a store there for about a year in . 1896, with T. C. Reveley in charge Mr. J. J. Malone says he was the sixteenth man to reach Granite and i tlie late John Amberty was next. D. McKay continued to operate a hotel for some years and sold out I to Mrs. A. James in 1900. Charlie DeBarro and Jack Thynne later J opened a hotel at Otter Flat (Tula meen, 1900). It was for years one cf the best known landmarks of the upper country. ¥%&*, Ifi'PwIi The year «1885, indeed is a convenient dividing po nt in Similkameen history. After that its graph can no longer be drawn in a single line, and naturally angles are introduced that are much less romantic. The purpose of this effort has been to give a clear and accurate picture up to this point, and for tbe present we will only round it off by tracing it in broad strokes to its ultimate conclusions. The story of the Allisons by no means ends here, but from this point they are of,, the Similkameen rather than entirely it. As 1884 was the year of the "big snow" so was 1894 the year of the "big flood." It happened in the us ual way. There was a fairly heavy fall that winter in the hills, and a very late spring. Then in mid-June it grew suddenly hot. It stayed hot for several days, and every .stream in the country—the condition was general—ran wild. Poor Mrs. Allison! The river took half the house and carried it far down the stream. Mrs. Daly tells of its being deposited in Keremeos. The waters swirled under the remaining half, but there, at a silly angle and in a most precarious predicament, it remained, wjiile the family took to the barn. The Chinese stayed on at Granite Creek and a few prospectors began to appear, though it was not till the middle nineties that prospecting became really active. Bobby Stevenson, who earlier had been contractor for the Granite Creek-Princeton road, took in a portable sawmill and operated a monitor on Granite Creek, but without much success. It is notable, however, that a man was killed on the project. Hand work continued on Granite Creek and also the other tributaries of the upper Tulameen, which of course were worked in the BEGINNING OF LODE MINING '85 rush as well as Granite. More than one large scale placer operation was attempted in the Similkameen in the early 90's. In 1893 a, Vancouver syndicate headed by Charles F. Hope and with W. C. Mc Dougall and W. J. Waterman engag. ed, started a hydraulicing operation but encountered difficulties, in handling the gravel. In 1895, under the Anglo-American Company, Capt. S. T. Scott, manager, a much more ambitious undertaking was' started at the mouth of Whipsaw. A long flume was constructed, the White House hotel built, and a bridge built over the river, but here again technical d faculties were encountered. The most successful effort was that undertaken by Mr. W. J. Waterman on the Freeman ranch, three miles above the town, using an ingenious gate device. The Vermilion Forks Mining and Development Co. took it over but failed to convert it to a large scale operation. Mr. Allison's two original claims opposite the mouth of Friday Creek were developed to some extent and were crown granted about 1888 From that time intermittent prospecting was done on Friday Creek. Jameson's romantic discovery of Copper Mountain dates to 1888, but no claims were located until the advent from Grand Forks of R. A "Sun se ' Brown who allowed them' to lapse and then re.staked them in 1896. Copper was found about the same time on Kennedy Mountain. Mr. Tunstall continued at Granite Creek for some months, but eventually turned over some of his duties to Hugh Hunter, who, after clerking for A. E. Howse at Nicola had worked for Mr. Tunstall. In 1895 a young Englishman S. D. Sands, Who later married Rose Allison took up the flat between the forks, present site of Princeton, which Mr. Allison voluntarily abandoned to him, and subdivided it as a townsite. At that time, however, there was only Ah Tuck's (one of the old Chinese miners here since the 80's) Boarding Reuse (on the Tulameen river where the Similkameen Garage stands), Cook's and Allison's stores and a few miners' cabins. • But a wave of prosperity was at hand. Such was the stage that the Grea"t Dramatist set for the exit of the principal char- PASSING OF A acter to the local PATRIARCH play. He hardly lived to see the consolidation of Douglas' dream of a metropolis, which indeed was at hand. Not, of course a city of spires and parks on. Swan lake, but a busy cluster of frame and log shanties where people prepared for a future carved from the bowels of the hills rather than gleaned off their grassy slopes: a pulsing little city of destiny that rose to become his monu, ment. mf- Mr Allison was never a strong man. Of less than medium build, he was wiry and active, with long side-whiskers, and a bare patriarchal forehead. *yg His experiences had taken him to strange places and through many trials, mental and physical. A fall from the roof of his new building, i his family 'believes, hastened the I end. It was not his lot to linger in the mellow sunshine of retirement and survey his work, as did his companion in all this toil. He died after about a month's illness in the fall of 1897. There are many misfortunes in the failure to mark local- events of historic import, but- surely none more rueful that the carelessness in marking the date of his passing. Certainly the information on his tomb-stone is faulty; - Preliminary to documentary search Vf" PAGE FOUR * THE SIMILKAMEEN STAR, PRINCETON, B.C. THURSDAY, 4th FEB., '37. which is required to qualify everything that is herein recorded, we can tentatively establish, as with the same diligent care as in other matters, thait the correct date of Mr. Allison's passing was 28th November, 1897. With true patriarchal vision he had desired that his resting place should be the wind-swept crest of Castle Rock, a point about a full mile down the river from his old home, a silent sentinel commanding a superb view of the upper valley. In the early days it was known as Allison Mountain. But it was bitter cold, and the snow was deep. It was the nonchalant but practical Sands who suggested that it would be better to establish the family graveyard on the lower slope, and here the patriarch went, henceforth to play his part in silence. It was a happy accident that gave modern Princeton its start. An English syndicate, looking for an in. vestment, dispatched Mr. Arthur Hickling on find one in the Ross- land camip, then in its hey-day. But the plums had all been picked. However, fate contrived that Mr. Hickling should meet Mr. W. J. Waterman, whom we last saw in a mining venture on the Similkaimeen in 1895. Mr. Waterman, though temporarily beleaguered, shared that enthusiasm for the Similkameen that had fired James Douglas and John Fall Allison. He had temporarily set himself up as a mining engineer to Vancouver, and was to Ross- THE BIRTH iand in the course OF AN of business. He sug- EMPIRE gested that if Mr. Hickling \ wanted a real investment, he come with him. to the Similkameen. Mr. Hickling came, and1 henceforth was a disciple of the Similkameen) and the money that was intended for Rossland came to give Princeton its greatest fillip to that time. Mr. Hickling made a deal with Sands for the townsite and a new survey was made and lots immediately offered for sale (1898). Mr. Hickling became first resident manager but Mr. Waterman soon succeeded. He in turn was succeeded by his brother Mr. Ernest Waterman. This survey was the first lecorded from the Similkameen and was registered as Map 37. It included a triangular section between the Forks and Harold avenue. Additional parcels were added later. And now a word aboift the early surveyors: the part they play in the development of a new land is not to be passed over lightly. Barring a little work in the extreme soutn by members of the Boundary Survey party of 1856, the firSffc worit .was done by the Engineers. Mr. P. W. Gregory, who has handled the bulk of this work since his arrival in 1910 •has an excellent collection of originals and copies of maps, including some made by the Engineers, and, having often had occasion to check their work, says it was, considering, remarkably accurate. Most of the early survey work was done by J. H. Heaslip, R. H. Parkinson, R. H. Lee and F. W. Groves. One of the most interesting of the early plans available illustrates a story that must be set aside until its date can be established. It is the record of a survey by Coriel, supporting a petition-, evidently by cattlemen, for the setting up of a huge expanse of grazing commonage, extending approximately from Ash- note, to the Del Young ranch, and some two miles on either side of the BRITISH t COLUMBIA s Seek cf.Mili v r 2!_3». I i / i / AL8EKTA j | /Saskatchewan .' I. ! . i MANITOBA ' fc/ 5 ■ / ONTARIO ® LI 11 i i ftOUTt OF TRAMS • CAAAOA TELEPHONE SYSTEM SHOWING TERMINAL AMD REPEATER P6USTS This map illustrates Princeton's geographical importance. Dotted line indicates route of air route, phone line. Summer In Similkameen 'Twas summer in Similkameen When first she came long years ag6; Flower-starred its valleys, velvet green, Green hooded mountains, capped with snow He sought the river's yellow gold Who first surveyed Similkameen; He found an Eden, wealth untold, And summoned Eve to be his queen. She laid aside her wedding garland, Took up her task with brow serene; A woman's hand subdued the land, Queen Mother of Similkameen. The rhodendron knew her tread, Her smile dissolved the Indian's spleen; In vain no traveller's weary head Sought slumber in Similkameen. Where from its red-walled canyon's shock Toils thunder-ridden Tulameen To loose its burden, Castle Rock Stands sentinel o'er Similkameen. There on its wind-swept southern side Whereon he sleeps the crags between The patriarch hath called his bride Once more to their Similkameen. Where In-cow-mas-ket's shadow creeps, They bear her now to join our dean, In calm serenity to keep Soft vigil o'er Similkameen. river. No such reserve was evei made The Vermilion Forks Co. (the name often applied to Princeton, though never the official name) in addition to the Townsite, took over several coal and mineral leases. Mr. Allison had found an outcropping of. coal on his first visit, and for years the Allison's had drawn on it for domestic supply. They started a small tunnel in the sidehill near the Copper Mountain bridge. Eventually the mine took fire and caved, j The Vermilion Forks Company j opened its first mine on the flat j south of the town, now used as a rifle range. It came into production early in the new century. A syndicate of local men had been organized to develop a colliery even before the townsite company came, but it did not get very far. Princeton began to fill up rapidly and by 1900 there must have been 500 population, more or less permanent. Several business places came into being. Up to that time you could count the business places on- one hand. There was Quong Yuen's Chinese store on China creek (Charlie Asp had not yet arrived to claim the place and drive them out, which he did, in no uncertain manner), and, just beyond the Forks, Allison's. Princeton's "business center" nestled close to the river, on the town side of the present Tulameen bridge On the south side of Bridge street was a, Chinese store, which, having ejeced the squatter-proprietor on taking over the pre-emption, S. D. Sands occupied for a short time in 1895, then sold to Charlie Thomas, who had come from Nicola and Granite Creek. Sands, who had arrived in 1891, then occupied an old cabin near the Ewart residence. Next to this, where the old Similkameen Garage stands, a store was opened in the middle nineties by W. C. McDougall, soon after taken over by F. P. Cook. On the flat below the bridge was Ah Tucks restaurant and bearding house. In 1901 W. S. Wilson built a- new store for C. E. Thomas (file familiar Thomas store). There is a touch of romance In the story of the first hotel. The idea had birth in the brain of Captain Harvey Copp, associated with Capt Scott to the Anglo-American placer venture in 1895. Without financial resources, he laboriously prepared the logs and started his building. There was some difficulty in getting a licence, and by the time the mat° ■ter had been straightened cut Jim Wallace came in from Granite Creek and, on the site of the present Princeton Garage completed a log hotel while Copp was vainly laboring. Ccpp's brainchild was still-born and the Model Livery is the evidence of his disappointment. Later a verandah and balcony were added to the Princeton. It opened for business early in 1897. Ferhaps the man who showed the most commendable enterprise, however, was John Henry Jackson a former Nelson hotelman. While yet Princeton's future was but a myth he built on the site now housing the Princeton Hotel. In the winter cf 1898-99 he cut and hauled more than 300 logs, erecting an imposing building of logs and mill lumber, two and a half stories high, 70 by 27 feet. There had been many rustic bridges slung over the Tulameen, only to be dashed away by high water. The first permanent bridge was bu'lt.in 1885, and just seventeen years lator George Goldsborough, for the government, replaced it with a much more solid bit of engineering About the same time, the Similkameen was spanned near the present location, when a wagon road was built to the thriving Copper Mountain camp (1905: first to Voigt camp, extended later.) "Sunset" Brown carried out some W. H. HOLMES In Coalmont District since 1886 development work on some dozen claims in the late COPPER nineties and inter- MOUNTAIN ested an Eastern syndicate. In 1898 and 1899 there was a great influx of prospectors and the remaining areas of Copper Mountain, Kennedy Mountain, Friday Creek and Combination camp were staked. Interest was keen and considerable money was spent. Voigt's Camp on Wolf Creek Was located at this time by Emil Voigt, a refractory German-Swiss and with government aid he built a road from Princeton in 1905. The Sunset was developed bylhe South Yale Copper Co., a subsidiary of the B.C. Copper Co., who acquired it early in the century from the original syndicate. The first recording of a mineral claim in camp Hedley dates to 1894 when, acting for CAMP Hon. E. Dewdney HEDLEY and associates Jas. Reardon and Chas. Allison staked three claims on the ground of the subsequent Nickel Elate holdings. They were allowed to lapse. In 1897 Mr. R. R. Hedley, manager of the Hall Mines Smelter at Nelson and Mr. Paul Johnson, an official of the Greenwood smelter, grub-staked Pete Scott to prospect in the Hedley district. He staked the War Horse, King and Princeton. A. Jacobson and C. Johnson, backed by W. Y. Williams, superintendent of the Granby mines, located the Copper Cliff and Mound, also in 1897. In the summer of 1898, Wcolaston, an Englishman of good birth, and Arundell, another Englishman, who had been an assayer to Nevada, crossed over from Camp McKinney and prospected on Nickel Plate. The H.B. trail had run by the place for years. At the south corner cf the Nickel Plate claim, in an old burn, they found (according to Mr. G. Cahill, who was camped near them at the time) a capping of red oxide. They panned it, and found colors (indicating free gold). They took samples at a little greater depth and Mr. Cahill sent them to Mr. John R. Toole, manager of the Marcus Daly property in Montana, having been commissioned to report any. such discoveries, Cahill's version— there are conflicting ones—is that Toole wired M. K. Rodgers to meet Arundell and Woolaston in Victoria in the fall of 1898. They were staying at the Blackfriars hotel. Rogers came to the Similkameen with them and bonded for $60,000 the Nickel Plate, Bull-dog, Sunnyside and Copper Field. Cahill and Yates, for the new owners, built a cabin on the Sunnyside and a crew of about 20 men went to work early in January 1900. The same year, a road was built via Green -Mountain to Penticton, 28 miles, and equipment was brought in over the C.P.R. to Sica- mous and down the lake. The first hotel built in Hedley was the well known Hackney House, built in 1900 by David Hackney on the site1 of Tree% Garage. Hedley grew rapidly and was well established by 1903. In 1900 Indian reserves were established with engineer Devereaux in charge of surveying. The Princeton reserve ran back from the Knighton ranch. By this time the railway fever had supplanted the gold enthusiam. Everyone was spec- RAILWAY ulating on the choice RUMBLINGS of route, and real estate was brisk. J. H. Jackson had led the narade. At one time there were four rival candidates for franchises through the Similkameen, but the choice narrowed down to two, Jim Hill's, Great Northern, under the local name Vancouver, Victoria and Eastern, and the Columbia and Western, brainchild of J. J. Warren and the C.P.R. It is a glamorous chapter, fraught with disappointments. James Kennedy and James Hislop, engineers for the G.N. and C.P.R. respectively, appeared in the .Sim. ilkameen on survey work a few weeks apart to the spring of 1902.' The G. N. had started building cut of Mar- cus, Wash., the year before. There was great rivalry, and local sympathies, it must be admitted, were with the American venture. The adyent of the railway precipitated a real battle for the site of the local settlement As so often happens, the town went on growing, quite oblivious to all the strife, but it was furious while it lasted. Hon. Edgar Dewdney, who had been to turn a minister in the Federal parliament and lieutenant- governor cf the province, conceived a plan to capitalize on the advent of the railway. Hie made deal with Mrs. Allison whereby he gained title to the old Luard holdings, known as Lot 1, Princeton, an area about a mile square, on both sides of the river at the J. J. Taylor ranch. He had contrived to interest the Columbia and Western' in establishing a divisional point there, and he erected a bridge and a log hotel and widely advertised his townsite. Mrs. Allison started a small school in 19C0, and the proposed townsite was subdivided. But Dewdney's stone never gathered moss. Few people took lots, and that railway did not come. But it was a good fight while it lasted, and was debated on the floor of the House at Victoria. The papers covering the transfer THURSDAY; 4th FEB., '37. THE SIMILKAMEEN STAR, PRINCETON, B.C PAGE FIVE iiiiiiiruiiiniiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiriiiTiiTiiMrHnritiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiMiHiiiiinnmiTinmiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitinHitimiHiiiitiiimiii # THE SIMILKAMEEN STAR A Community Paper published weekly in the interests of a united Similkameen DAVE TAYLOR, PRINTER, EDITOR, PUBUISHEh UllinillllllllllllllllltlllltlllllltllllllllllllllllllTllllllllllllllllllMllllltJIIIIIIIIIIllllIlllllllllllllllllllllHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII PRINCETON B.C. THURSDAY, 4th FEBRUARY. 19S7 Health Insurance VjyHILE the Provincial Medical Association and the government are wrangling about health insuraece (and matters have come to a stage where one side or other may be needing it) Similkameen is demonstrating the principle in practice. With the storm at its height, and the bulging Vancouver General groaning at the f orebordings. directors of Princeton's quasi - public hospital are preparing to present another favorable balance sheet at Wednesday's annual meeting and have announced the award of a contract for the building of a nurses'- home, a worthy addition > an institution that already reflects great credit on its community. What is the secret of successful administration of hospital affairs in the Similkameen, almost universally one of the most difficult services to perform, from point of finance? The legendary formula of our healthful climate, Five Roses, and the early morning trains aside, and supplemented by an admitted ! ffi- oiency in administration (for surely others are ffi. oient too), it seems to us that the happy condition of local hospital affairs devolves from A happy combination of circumstances and economic practice which is not so far in principle from Health Insurance; only ours is natural; it has not been tampered with bv politicians, and accordingly it works. In the ultimate, the secret of the hospital's success in an admittedly difficult undertaking will be found in the principle of consolidation; "many a mickle makes a muckle." The Similkameen is largely dependent on the mining industry, and adequate hospitalization is an essential attribute. Such provisions as the Compensation Act and the local accident and benevolent funds are essentially group insurance, and by this example there is no doubt of their wisdom Hedley, Copper Mountain, Blakeburn have con- ributed equally with- Princeton in the up-building of the hospital, and they share the advantages of consolidation: a service that no hospital nurtured singly could afford. The point illustrates the essential difference between justifiable community consciousness and short-sighted localism. It suggests a principle •that might well be expanded in the up-building »f a better Similkameen for us all. &• Out Of Galilee TT IS an old observation that a prophet is without honor in his own land, and Similkameen, even as any other community this side of Utopia is ant at times to slip into the fallacy of contempt inspired by over-familiarity, and to imagine that no good thing can come out of Galilee. It is an expensive and unfortunate failing, for after all we have to live in Galilee, and that state of mind we build up often leads us to discriminations which, affecting .those we h.ive to depend on, ultimately affect ourselves. So it is that, occasionally, because he has the interests of his work-and those among whom he Works at heart, a workman has to take arms in self defease; not because he languishes for praise, but because, by arid large, he is able to do just as much for his fellows as his fellows will allow him. Of all the caterers to human tastes, there is none who must bear the cudgels of village 'criticism more than the purveyor of literature; and of all literary artisans the most castigated 18 he who merchandises the commonest of literary wares, that closest to its critical choir, the community newspaper. In the earliest days of our national literature Spenser had to defend his art; Wordsworth had to serve a pound of justification with every ounce of his new-fashioned verse. Even the gentle Keats was driven to arms, and that peer of periodicalists, Mark Twain, did not stint from shifting his pen from ink to acid when the occasion demanded. About the last thing this incumbent would choose or consent to is to place himself on the village operating table, in helpless unconsciousness while the natives—bless 'em—probed his traits hereditary and acquired to see what made him tick. His work is another matter. So this analysis is quite impersonal; for his work can succeed only as it satisfies, and in promoting this voluntary inquisition he does it as a workman only, impervious to personal assessment. H3 simply regards his job as custodian of the local press as—-within the limits of local concern—the most important to the world, and, far from resenting criticism, invites it, and from all angles. He feels, however, .hat if criticism is sought, you might as well seek the best. Nor is he under any illusions as to the audience he has to satisfy. He realizes that a local paper must please a local public, and places a far greater value on tlie reactions of common folks at home than of experts who like what it is conventional to like. But he does stress the importance of an intelligent standard pi values as against a medley of strictly individual whims and prejudices, which it is obviously impossible to satisfy. He .presents the views of experts in satisfac^cu of his basic contention that he is working along the right lines, and the rest is pretty well beyond his control. It is thereafter a problem of simple mathematics, the more you multiply the right effort, the better th-3 result. The answer is better support. Our shortcomings we appreciate only too well, nor have we any desire to camouflage them; we only suggest that .some of the shortcomings that appear to be in us are really in our critics, and it takes two sides to make a bargain. Nor do we feel tnat we have any special burden or complaint; what applies to our case touches every similar service hereabouts: a sub-conscious and unjust disdain for local effort where a confidant and kindly interest would pay bigger dividends. Don't you think so, when 1-ou stop to think? Believe us, for we are sincere when we say t-hat no one more than ourselves is anxious to make our service better, and better yet; no one has worked harder in "ins effort than we; nor are we in any sense discouraged. Criticism? We thrive on it! By all means let us have your views, and beyond that, let us lave your interest, intelligent interest. No one realizes more than we what a long way we have to go; no one is more grateful of your support, and by that we simply mean intelligent interest. This is our only point; we seek no glory to your eyes, but, being very frank about our own self-assessment, decided to take stock of our efforts. We can assure you that many of the local verdicts were not nearly so complimentary. Some of the criticism was sane and sound, and has been taken to heart. Some, as we have said, we felt was not in keeping with fair and intelligent standards, an,d it is because we think that an appreciation of such standards is prerequisite that we give you the^e returns, so that we can work together with a better understanding, in mutual appreciation of a fair and desirable standard to aspire to. The rest, we repeat, is a matter of support, and as much in your hands as in ours: Mr. Hugh Savage (Past President Canadian Weekly Newspaper Assn., Fublisher Duncan "Leader", recent winner Class A Canadian award; donor Savage cup and competition judge, Class B weeklies)—You really honor me oy asking me to- comment on your work. I think you have done amazingly well and set a record which is unique in B.C. The Star reveals journalistic ability of much promise. The paper is bright and attractive. Its use of cuts is most commendable. "There are not many men who can combine journalistic and editorial gifts with executive business ability and commercial acumen. You have been further endowed in that you have, to a remarkable degree, added -the ability to be a printer. That you have done this by 'self help' is a remarkable feat. I certainly congratulate you." j "Your job work samples (our foreman says) show a good knowledge of typographic principles, unusually good equipment, sound judgment and commendoble initiative of design. The menu cover is an especally artistic effort. A little more time might be spent in makeready. (Here follows" technical criticism.) Randolph Woodford, (Director of Education, International Typographical Union)— "An unusually good all round performance, with specialized knowledge beyond requirements." H. A. Nicholson, (Editor, Printer -and Publisher)— "It is remarkable what a man with a few fonts of type and ideas can do. The wonder to me is how you manage to sQueeze it all into one life-time." H. I. Hunt (Christain Science Monitor, recognized as^one of the world's leading newspapers)—"A standard well above its class." J. E. Allen (Linotype Typographic Service^ "Good •display and type harmony. Marked originality." R. S. Mansfield (Department of Journalism, University of Washington)—"An excellent knowledge of journalistic and typographic .principles." Dr. Thorlief Larsen, (Department cf English, University of B-C.)—"The editorial I thought excellent, the point of view very sound, and the article itself very well written. You should do more of that sort of thing."' Dr. W. N. Sage (Department of History, University of B.C.)—"Your articles on Similkameen history are a notable contribution. How you find time for the research midst all your work I can only marvel at." J A SHORT HISTORY OF SIMILKAMEEN [ Continued from Page Four ] are still held by the Allison estate, but the $7,000 involved was never paid. Early to 1899 Tom Hunter of Nicola set up a sawmill in Princeton. A few months later A. fe Howse brought in his outfit from Nicola,, and, with Mr. Richardson to charge of operations set it up near the Orange Hall. It was fed from logs felled in clearing the townsite, and later taken to China Creek. . Al. stone hauled the logs. Martin and Harris started a mill at Martin's lake, but it was an early failure. Keremeos, though it had been a grazing center since the 60's, owed its start as a town KEREMEOS to the railway excitement, It had been an Indian encampment (the gap that the wind comes through) and a Hudson's Bay post, and some prospecting had been done around Olalla. ' The first settlement was at Keremeos Center, near the Tweddle ranch. After the the Railway built in (1906) a Winnipeg land syndicate promoted settlement, and an Irrigation system was installed. A cannery was started in 1907. Lower down the river, the Cawston benches had been acquired from Frank Richter by Mr. W. Lowe. About 1907 Mrs. Lowe made a deal with the Similkameen Fruit Lands Ltd„ who promoted settlement but failed, and Mrs. Lowe retained title on the strength of a mortgage which was finally taken over by the B.C. government in 1934. Many matters of local concern were thrashed out at a. notable gathering in Princeton 0n 20th September, 1900, the first political meet, ing in Similkameen of whicn there is record. It was held over .toe Thomas store. Denis Murphy, now an eminent Justice, was member of the Legislature for West Yale, and he gave an account of his stewardship before a critical audience With "Judge" Tom Murphy as chairman. Mr1 Murphy said that as he had promised, virtually the whole allotment for the district would be spent on public works in and tributary to Princeton. Mr. Arthur Hickling and Mr. E. Barr Hall championed the cause of Princeton, Mr. H. Keith was spokesman for the rival Allison.' The member promised a school and courthouse and a road to Keremeos, as well as support for the G.N. charter as against the C.P.R. The meeting was highly pleased and gave him a great demonstration, Mr. Howse proposing a vote of confidence and "For He's A Jolly Good Fellow." It was a notable meeting: (1). The court house was built, work commencing the same year. Mr. Hugh Hunter was transferred from Granite Creek to Princeton to be government agent. Incorporating many other offices such as constable (for a few months), gold commissioner, registrar of county court, etc he continued till 1927. Subsequent in cumbents: Mr. Beech, L. A. Dodd and C. Nichols. (2.) Shortly after the member's visit. Gordon Murdoch, secretary of the advocatory committee, received notice from Superintendent of Education Alexander Robinson that an assisted school would be provided in Princeton. A subscription was duly floated and on Monday, 4th February, 1901, the first regularly constituted school opened in the. re-modelled Townsite building with Miss Sophia Dunlop of Victoria as teacher and "a few pupils present." HIS HONOR JUDGE D. MURPHY Was local M.L.A. forty years ago In 1905 a school building was erected. In 1907 it was succeeded by a modern four roomed building, the "old school", built by J. D. Brass. C. E. Thomas was secretary of the first school board. This was not, however, the first vestige of education in Similkameen. That in reality goes back to the early days of the Al- EARLY lisons for Mrs. Al. EDUCATION lison, a woman of ace omplishments. tells of instructing her brood in the rudiments of the Three RTs, with what literary and academic direction as her choice buf necessarily modest library allowed. Edgar was sent to Lome College (Bishop Sillitoe's) at New Westmnster. Louisa was the guest of her aunt and uncle Dewd ney in Ottawa and attended school there. Although Mrs. Allison (Memoirs) speaks vaguely cf a school long before, it is hard to establish the connection. She says the first teacher was a young Englishman who "did not realize the school was not run by either the government or church and only lasted a year." She also mentions a Miss McLean; but the family insists none of them ever attended such a school. They were probably private tutors. Actually, the first bona-fide school was promoted by the citizens, with classes in the Harris-Mcintosh hall, early in 1900, It functioned only a few months, the teacher, Miss Jes- i sie Murray of Nicola (she had two brothers in Princeton at the time) leaving in September, 1900. Mrs. Allison did s*-art a school, but it was in 1900, as a frank inducement to settlement in the Allison townsite. It was a small building on the Goldsborough place. Mrs. Allison herself taught for a time and Miss Emily Hagerman later took Pioneers Stay yet awhile, 'ere on ye go As darkling in the twlight's glow Against the purpling western sky The legions of the past file by. Their colors drooped, they leave the light To mix again with endless night; Brooding o'er this arena vast Hovers the passion of the past. And now the roll of muffled drums Tempers the striding pendulums, And sends a-ringing down the years The measured tread of pioneers, -■-XT. I - .r*i*&& PAGE SIX THE SIMILKAMEEN STAR, PRINCETON, B.C. THURSDAY, 4th FEB., '37 PIONEER JUSTICE over these duties. (3). The Keremeos road became a reality within a few months. D.st- rict Foreman Arthur Stevenson of Kamloops came over and R, H. Parkinson made the survey in the winter of 1900. Golds-borough and Bromley were foremen and the wage scale was $2.50 per day The first lawyer J. C. Mcintosh, came to Princeton a' the suggestion of Mr. Howse. ^ith an assayer, Harris, he built the two storey block -now occupied by the Travellers' Cafe He matched his wits against too shrewd opposition, and left rather inauspiciously, leaving blood in the eyes of several of the boys in the game. He turned over the deeds to Mr. A. E. Howse. He "later became a supreme court judge. The hall upstairs was the official public gathering place until the (W. H.) Thomas Hall was built. Here is a published summary of Princeton's business section in 1900: four general stores, two hotels, two butcher shops, two livery stables, two blacksmith shops, assay office, restaurant, two laundries, government office, doctors (Dr. Whillans was the first), lawyers (first lawyer J. C. Mcintosh), newspaper office (The Star, established 31st March, 1900, J. Anderson, publisher, financed by A. E. Howse), real estate and surveyors' offices, three sawmills'. In January, 1900 R. H. Lee of Kamloops surveyed Otter Flat Town site, the present town of Tulameen. Modern jurisprudence had its origins in the Similkameen early in the century. Judge Haynes adminis. tered justice in the early days and Mr. Allison became a J-P. in 1876. The first police court case of which there is record in Princeton makes colorful reading. It seems that the well known Charlie Asp, who by common consent was recognized as a bit of a "character" even after many years of "civilization'1', developed a temper brought on by fire-water, and appeared wild-eyed and beserk with an ancient revolver, which he brandished in the general direction of gentle "Tink" French. He was disarmed by Kit Summers and Charlie Re.eley, but, at the persuasion of Jim Wallace, allowed to ?o home. He later appeared at Tink's with a long butcher knife protruding from his sleeve. The newly appointed justices of the peace C. E. Thomas and W. J. Waterman, to save expense, dispensed with several prescribed formalities, and the whole affair seems to have been an amicable get-together. Charlie was fined $25.00 (probably because there was no jail) and a guardian angel came forward to pay it, much to the disgust of the constitutionally minded local editor. It seems hardly likely this was actually the first test of justice hereabouts, for it is known that Capt. Scott was a J.P., and some old timers insist that he piesided, at leas'- at Granite Creek. There was a constable-there in the 90's by •the name of Swan, and Hugh Hunter recalls the burglary of the Thorn son store, when one of the twc bandit was shot and wounded by special constable W. H. Holmes, and later sent to prison. Granite had a log gaol. Mr. E. Waterman, who succeeded his brother as magistrate in 1902, recalls the trials of those days before there was a jail: It was customary to incarcerate a prisoner in the blacksmith shop, or tie him up to a tree. One night a half-breed, Marshall, held for larceny, escaped ' and forced a Chinaman cabined up the river to file off his' hand-cuffs. In 1902 the citizens petitioned for a jail and shortly afterwards received an indignant letter from Tom Ellis- demanding to know why the people of Princeton asked for a jail in Penticton: a confusion of names that still persists; Ronald Hewat appears about 1903 as regular constable. Judge Spinks held first session of County Court at Princeton 17th February, 1900, in the Harris-Mcintosh hall, With "routine business only." The Board of Trade came into existence in a left-handed fashion. A public meeting was held to discuss railway policies, 18th Novembei, 19C3 and at its renewal the following week a motion, retroactive, was put through, incorporating the body into The Allison Family §■§ imOJiiiid JOHN AMBERTY One of the first at Granite Creek a board of trade. C. E. Thomas was chairman and J. M. Wright secretary. A charter was not taken out | until 1912. About 1904 a picturesque figure unostentatiously appeared in Princeton. He was tall and straight, wi'h a soft tread a quiet frontier dignity and a winning smile and open heart. He won easy access to the best society, was adored by the kiddies and blessed by many a grateful indigent. He made his headquarters at the ranch of an old acquaintance of the south. He would disappear for a few days, then turn up without comment; but he always had plenty of money; there was a certain respectable aloofness about him, and his manner was unimpeachable. It was a -rude shock to the Similkameen to awake one morning in early May, 1906, to realize, hope against hope that its idol was the internationally sought train bandit, Bill Miner, caught near Kamloops after a slip-up in the Ducks job. He had, two years before, quietly slipped out to engineer the daring Mission robbery. Edwards (Bill Miner) and two associated, Bill Dunn, who had been foreman at the Allison ranch, and Louis Colquhoun, a recent arrival from. Grand Forks, were given long terms, but Miner escaped to add many lurid chapters to the adventures of "the Robin Hood of the Similkameen." The Government Telephone built into Similkameen from Nicola (Mc Lean, foreman) in 1905. A townsite was surveyed at Ash- nola to 1905 for D. R. Young, who organized the Similkameen Valley Coal Cq , an abortive effort. In 1905 J. J. Malone, who since digging at Granite Creek as a curly haired youth in '86 had thriven in Nelson, and became one of the first' mayors of that city, came bacK to the Similkameen, with R. E. Gos- nell, a partner in the Nelson Brewing Co. In mid-November construction was started on the Princeton Brewery and about a year later they bought out the Hedley brewery which L. Sherbauer had started on the fiver at the Brewery hill. The Princeton Brewery came into production September, 1907, . with Gus Johnson manager. In 1905, precipitated by Emil Voigt an enquiry was held into the administration of his office by Government Agent Hunter. He was given a cleau bill of health. Mr. E. Waterman defended Mr. Hunter with this gem of testimony: "I have found him honorable and efficient, and at times courteous.". Although the Brigade Trail passed by as early as the 50's, the Granite Creek excitement TULAMEEN was the first Coal- DISTRICT mont knew, and after '■hat wild but spo radic burst the s lence of the hills once more encompassed if. Some placer mining continued on the various creeks, and in the 90's Summit Camp was prospected. F. P. Cook's store continued in business^—wfiat 'here was of it—at Granite and a townsi'e was lad out at Tulameen in 1900. '$km But it was the d'scovery oi coal by Bonthrong in Colilns' Gulch in 1909 that laid he basis of modern Coalmont. Collins* Gulch honors a famous over'and expedition up the 1. Edgar Moir-Now ranching near Sardis. Married. Married three times. 2. Robert Wilford—Married. Died 1926. Buried in family plot. 3. Beatrice—(Mrs. B. Bruce-Mitt- ford, London, Eng.) A nurse. Met husband, a newspaperman,' in Korea. He died on assignment in India during Great War. 4. Susan Louisa,—(Mrs. A. Johnstone, Princeton). Born 22nd June, 1874. To Ottawa, 1888. Marriec. 1902. 5. Rose Isabella — (Mrs. S. D. Sands). Died 1902. Husband in New Guinea and son Dickey in Navy. 6. John Stratton—Killed to Queen Charlotte Islands. Unmarried. 7. Caroline Elizabeth— (Mrs. W. H. Thomas, Princeton). Ranch on site of family home. 8. George Mortimer—Penticton B. C. Married. One of Similkameen's best known hillsmen and prospectors Born 1880. 9- Elfreda Flora— (Mrs. G. F. Holmes, Epsom, Surrey, England.) Husband was with Naval Reserve. IP. Alfred Edward—Rancher, One Mile. Married twice. 11. Grace—(Mrs> H. B Ihomas, Princeton. Born 17th November 1884 12. Harold Archibald Herbert Heald—Rancher and assistant forest ranger, Princeton. Born 25th December, 1885. 13. Aurelia Angela—(Mrs. J. Mc Diarmid, Princeton.). Husband died 1929. Born 1886. 14 Alice Olivia Ashwick— i.Mrs. A. Perkins, Vancouver, B.C.) Husband deceased. At this writing (February, 1937), there are 65 grand-children and 17 great-grandchildren. Brought Music to B.C. WHICH is the oldest piano in British Columbia? It is probably that dainty, beautiful, little instrument belonging to Mrs. S. L. Allison, Vancouver, a pioneer woman whose adventures in the Slimilkameen and whose literary talent have made her well known. Let her tell herself abewt this famous piano: "On April 6, 1857," she says, "my sister's sixteenth birthday. Yakima river in 1858, with Bobby Stevenson a member of the party.. The mine was developed by the Columbia Coal and Coke Co., with Winnipeg capital, in 1910, sold to McAvoy Trust Co., 1913, and Coalmont Collieries 1915. The railway reached Coalmont in 1911 and the aerial tramway was installed in 1920. The Princeton Water Works Co., Ltd., was organized in 1905, a subsidiary of the townsite. cempany. The system went into operation in October, 1910. The first fire brigade was organized in 1906. After several demises it was reorganized in 1930. Some notable fires: Tulameen Hotel and A. E. Howse. store, 2nd March, ',1904; Princeton (Wallace) Hotel, 11th March, 1911; G. N. Hote" 1st March, 1912; Copper Mtn. Bun} house, 18th March, 1928; Princetor Hotel, May 1930; Old Arena, 22nr' May, 1935. J. M. Wright soon came to guid< - the destinies of the Star. In 1905 h. MRS. S. L. ALLISON. she was taken by my mother and stepfather to choose a little piano for herself that she might practice on it without Using the grand. "There were a variety of makes to choose from—Chapels,- Colins, Birkenhead—but the one she liked was by William Evestaff, an old gentleman living in Sloan street, London. Hs personally supervised the manufacture of his pianos and gave the finishing touches himself. "Some people called him a crank; my sister liked him. He explained the double action to her and the other then modern improvements in his pianos. "I can remember when the piano came home it was put into a small room off the conservatory; the weather was still cold and there was a glowing fire that helped the twilight to Ifghten the room, which was furnished with dark oak> the hangings crimson, and my sister in all the glory of sweet sixteen, dressed in a cashmere gown that harmonized with the hangings. Her gowns were fashioned in mid- Victorian style, with wide sleeves that were opened at the shoulder • and a yard long. I remember her seated at the piano playing sweet. now old-fashioned, themes, such , as the girls of those days liked to play. It lives in my memory to this day as fresh as ever. "In 1860, when we made up onr minds to emigrate to B.~ C, she resolved to take the piano too, as it was small and easy to pack. It was shipped on a Hudson's Bay boat to come around the Horn, we ourselves travelling by Eoyal Mail route via Panama. We arrived in British Columbia in August, and the piano arrived in December, 1860. "The dear old piano was taken from the steamboat landing in Captain Irving's boat to Hope, thence by oxcart over a rough road through snags and stumps for a distance of two miles to Hopelands, where we lived, and great w»s the rejoicing when it arrived. I feel' sure that our two black cats, Smutty and Fusty, which we had brought from home recognized it, for they began rubbing themselves against it and purring. "Many a good musical evening we had that winter. When Judge Saunders and Annie Moresby were married, it was again taken to Hope by oxcart, and on other festive occasions served that same joyful purpose. "When my sister and Edgar Dewdney were married, It went once more by Captain Irving's boat down the Eraser to New Westminster, where it entertained many people. "Then, again, when my sister and her husband took up a place on the Cariboo Road and went there to live, it was left with my mother and myself at Hope, and when I married ray sister gave it to me, but there was no road fit to convey it over the mountains, so it was left with my mother until she went to Ottawa with my sister. "Then poor old piano's troubles began. It was used by the school children, was taken to saloon dances and generayy banged about until the wires were broken and finally one leg—then it was thrust into a leaky shed, where the poor thing remained until the Great Northern Railway was completed into Princeton. There it was again brought to me like a wounded warrior, and now it stands in my Vancouver home, bravely facing the yorld again. It still has the power of reflection, for its mirrors are perfect. "If it can think as well as reflect, it certainly has food for thought." THE WESTERN SCENE—PRE-RAILROAD The stagecoach driver was as proud al his charge as a- boghead on No. 3, but the passengers felt differently about it. -Those familiar with Moose Jaw can, by using their imaginations down CO years of time, locate the site of that thriving Western citiy in the teepee shown In illustration No. 2. The Hudson's Bay Company bastion at Alberni, V.I., was- built years before the Canadian Pad He charter was signed. The survey party, camped in the Selktrks, illustrates the first step in the great adventure found in the construction of the Canadian Pacific from ocean fo ocean, and the passing of the old order. »t„4.„. a.i. t» ~u * j ^ • , •»-, _t ,iv, ^i --* Note: the Bostion referred to is at Nanairao, not Alberni. THURSDAY, 4th FEB., '37. * THE SIMILKAMEEN STAR, PRINCETON, B.C. PAGE SEVEN UiisimtiimiMimississiimmimmifi Excerpts from In-cow-mas-ket By STRATTON MOIR [Mrs. S.L.Allison j Printed Bv Permission J>Y a rap;d flowing river In-cow.masket built his dwelling, Called it by the name Chu-rnv.-ewaa There h's kinsmen dwelt besi&e him In their circular mat houses, Made from bark of fragrant cedar. With him dwelt his aged ^randsire Now sightless, helpless and infirm; But his mental eyes were opened, Things he saw which ethers see not, And men loved him for his wisdom * * * In tbe lodge of In-cow-mas-kel Lived his young wife little f!';r.Chin She was famous for her beauty, For her lithe and slender figure, And for her large and lustrous eyes In-cow-mas-ket. gave her father Many horses, many kine, all For th\<: beauteous dark eyed rr.aiden But she loved not In_cow-m«-ket. She cherished not bis old w'-andsire. Thought of nothing but. he;- beauty, Cared for nothing but her rjleasure. * * * Autumn vying with the summer P°decks the mountains; and the hills With bright tints of many colors, Crimson sumac, golden maple. Mock summer sunset's brig-Test hue* Autumn mists besin to gather From out the marshv mountain fens Where the dams made by the beaver Block the cold snow-born mountain stream. From the noxious exhalations Oi the foul marshy mountain fen All unseen there rose a spirit That slowly draws the life from men While unconsciously they sleep. * .# * Where's- the sorrow like the sorrow That the poor crushed heart croaking feels When the form, once loved and cherished Is lonely mouldering in the tomb; Ana „n earth nc more we see it, Nor hear again the much loved vo'ce That ence made our sweetest music? Sem-min-at-coe's heart felt break- When she sadly left the -dleat Tin? Tomb where Hosachtem lay at rest. I- dreamless sleep beside his sires ^mg^srw^msm^rwrn^ss^^s Your Help \ Solicited j i jMUCH has heretofore been written and said of Similkameen history. Interesting and useful though such work has been, it has been fragmentary and incomplete, with large gaps and many obscurities. Our effort at this time has been to consolidate past efforts and cement them together; to fill in the gaps and present for the first time a. complete and composite story, on a foundation of historical accuracy as solid as,it has been possible to achieve under obvious limitations. No apology or recommendation is required for this undertaking. Few districts have so rich and romantic a background as Similkameen; few such local stories are so closely interwoven with the larger cloth of important economic and political history of , the country at large "No future is safe where the past is forgotten": history is the stairway that leads to the threshold of the present and the future. Our effort has been to draw a straight line from 1858 to the present time, to supply. a comprehensive and reliable reference with historic rather than histrionic values as our guide. _ Many sources have been examined, many conflicting versions checked, values carefully weighed and much that is interesting left out, because it did not contribute to our essential purpose. We have examined such original records as are available, have sifted through the library of past efforts, and above all have invoked the aid of many old ■timers and other authorities for whose assistance we are extremely . grateful,. While throughness and accur acy have been 0ur aims, we have hardly hoped to achieve them and before committing this work to permanent form we urgently solicit the co-operation of any and all who can assist. It is hardly necessary to say that we shall be glad to make such revisions corrections and extensions as our readers may be able to-Point out. We will be very grateful indeed for any information, or any interesting stories of old times and old timers. For any photos'or documents that you may be able to show us. We would especially like to secure a copy of Mrs. Allison's booklet "Incowmasket" and copies of the Keremeos Chronicle. fr- — The Star in 1902 says that Joe Wigmore is preparing to reorganize his minstrel troupe, and comments that Joe is a burnt rork artist of repute, with one of the best shows ever to nerform in these narts. The late R. A. "Sunset" Brown, dis coverer of Copper Mountain camp. Irish Was Irish, Even 30 Years Ago it THIS happened thirty years ago, so it can, "come in as history. But it is still a pretty good joke. And its authenticity is vouched for. A particularly Irish Irishman was industriously preparing a drill hole to blast at Nickjel Plate. Manager G. P. Jones came along and after sizing things up suggested mildly enough that it was not the best location for the shot. Without warning of the premature, explosion the impetuous Irishman threw down his hammer, and irately turning on the astonished manager, bellowed "Bejabers an' if ye doan't lo'.ke the way I'm doin' it ye can quit!" A group of Similkameen old timers: Holm, Mrs. J. Holm, J. J. Malone, W. Mrs. W. H. Holmes, J. J. Thynne, Russell, Mrs. J. J. Thynne, L. A. Dodd, Mrs. T. P. Rabbitt, J H. Holmes, P. Marquard, the late Mrs. F. P. Cook, Bert Irwin, Perley Where Are The Boys Of The Old Brigade? it MR. F. M. GILLESF1E, formerly "*■ post-master at Hedley, now residing in Long Beach, Cal., writes: "I was Post Master at Hedley for fifteen years, leaving in 1917," Mr. Gillespie says. The old post office building there is still my property. "While writing, will say a svoio o." two about the Hedley old timers who reside in Los Angeles county. "Tom Rotherham is doing weh at Burbank, running a hardware store and- hotel. "Charlie Oliver, one of the owners of the Nick o' Time group, now under lease to the Mascot Co., is enjoying a holiday just now, ana goiiig in for sea bathing in a large way. He makes his headquarters in Lang Beach, where he owns a residence. Fred Revely, who, by the way, had the distinction of buying the fh>st "Star" on the sfcteet in 1900 from Mrs. Jimmie Andeison, lives at Ridondo Beach, Cal. He is selling insurance—all kinds. SSxe coming down here he has been a very active Mason, holding the following offices, which, ot course, apply to the State of California: "Deputy Grand Lecturer (called Supt. in Canada), 21st district of Royal Arch Masons. "Line Officer, 9th Commanding, Knights Templar. "Past- Illustrious Master, Alpha Council of Royal and Select Masons "Past President of Triple Tan Association of Los Angeles, 28 chapters. " Just lately he has accepted the position of organizer, for a large d'stiict to the interests of the "Townsend Plan." "If it so happens that you do not know who Fred Revely is, ask Joe Wigmore or Joe Wilson." SIMILKAMEEN HISTORY [ Continued from Page Six ] found a rival in Major Atosley Me- graw, of the Hedley Gazette. J. A. Brown started the Keremeos "Chronicle" about 1906. The prize-pacxage of all was the Coalmont Courier (E. N. Clark) which ran for a few months in 1912. One by one they gave up the ghost and were incorporated with the Star. In the early days, after the time of the missionaries, Slmilkameen's religious needs were CHURCH ministered to by itin HISTORY erant preachers who came on a more or less regular schedule and held services in the Harris-Mcintosh Hall, school, and court-house.. For the Presbyterians Rev. Geo. Murray of Nicola was apparently the first, followed by Rev. R. A. Findlayson (1901), Rev. John Stuart (1902), Rev. A J. Fowlie (1904) and an unbroken list down to the time cf Union in 1925. St. Paul's church was built in the fall of 1920, dedicated by Dr. G. A. Wilson, 9th January, 1921. The record of Methodist activities was similar, with Rev. T. Neville and Rev. Lang among the early min_ isters. In 1912, during the cement plant excitement, a church was built and opened at East Princeton, Church of England had a similar history, but to it goes the honor of establishing the first local church, St. Cuthbert's being built in. the spring of 1905 and dedicated by- Ven. Dr. Pentreath 6th May, 1905. St. Peter's (Catholic) Church was built in 1919, result of the efforts of John A. Freeman. The first resident priest was Father Conan, O.IJM. There was great excitement to Princeton in the summer of 1910. A Mr. John George THE CEMENT appeared en the PLANT scene as organizer .for a huge scheme to build a plant to manufacture Portland cement. He started well by taking the church service, and a con siderable amount of stock was subscribed for locally. A huge plant was built, the venture capitalized at $500,000, and machinery installed, but it proved the greatest white elephant the Similkameen has known. An elaborate townsite of East Princeton was laid out, and some residences and a church built. SENATOR L. W. SHATFORD Former Similkameen MX.A. The Bank of Commerce established here in 1905, W. Hallamore, man, ager. At one time, for a few months, Princeton had four banks. The Princeton hospital was built in 1910 after a local fund had been well subscribed. In 1912 Princeton's first band was organized, with rooms over the P. W. Gregory office. A few years later Hedley organized a band. The march of steel into Similkameen was slow and hesitating. Keremeos welcomed its first train lith September, 1907. Be THE IRON tween Hedley and STEED Princeton the work ARRIVES was rushed and the first through train 0 1ST 3f p^e-^— : —r— p| PAGE EIGHT THE SIMILKAMEEN STAR, PRINCETON, B.C. THURSDAY, 4th FEB., '37. A SHORT HISTORY OF SIMILKAMEEN Last burvivor was greeted at Hedley and Princeton the same day, 23rd December, 1909. First freight came into Princeton 17th November preceding. The first freight out was two cars of ooal to the Hedley mill, 2Cth October. Previous shipments had been by wagon. ^&7'S By this time railway matters had smoothed out generally ana the Kettle Valley built in from Midway and over the Coquihalla. The G.N. had intended to go through to the Coast but built only as far as Tulameen and an arrangement was entered into whereby the Kettle Valley used G.N. track out of Princeton. The first Kettle Valley train steamed into Princeton from the East, 15th June, 1915. The One Mile Road to Mefritt was built in 1919-20. It would be very wrong to imagine that early life in the Similkameen was entirely a grim SPORT battle against the elements. Contrary- wise, Similkameen's hospitality and partiality towards sport have always been recognized. Sleighriding and skating in the charm of Similkameen's winter and the periodical hotel balls, with riding and hiking in the cheerful hills in the kindlier seasons were pleasures not to be passed over lightly even in & serious work; and we have the un.mpeach- able Perley's solemn word for it that stemming "he flowing tide has from time immemorial been the favorite indoor sport, at. which our champions can with equanimity meet all comers. The prowess of Luke Gib- sofa's thoroughbreds will not soon be forgotten, nor will the winged feet of Charlie Revely As becomes miners and cattlemen, the Similkameen has always been partial to celebrations. The first on record (though there probably were predecessors) is Victoria Day, 1900. Pr.nceton and Granite Creek both celebrated. Princeton has an unbroken line of Dominion Day celebrations from that year. The first regular celebration was held In Princeton 1st July, 1895, with the races on the flat by the Allison home, and most of the celebrating at Bill Manning's tent-roofed "dive" The first lower valley fete apparently was Labor Day, 1901, but there after local priority was religiously respected: Empire Day at Keremeos; -Dominion Day at Princeton, and Labor Day at Hedley. Rock drilling contests were a fascinating feature of early celebrations. The Princeton Racing and Ath- eltic Assn.. was organized 20th May 1905. "Baseball, hockey and lacrosse were contested in intra-valley rivalry, and there is a record of a football game between Keremeos and Princeton in 1901, which Mr. Twed- dle may remember. Until the Race Track grounds were built in 1913, celebrations were held down town. M seems that 4th July was cele- sforated only once, at Hedley in 1905, whereat the staunch British hearts rebelled. Of later years, all will remember the halcyon days of 1929. Dr. Lee Smith will probably be epitomized as the god-father of modern golf, baseball, and hockey, and, if modesty permit, a wee niche may be reserved for the writer who happened to arrive t an opportune time to con- gojidaw footbgll and basketball. So much for sport. Similkameen rallied loyally to the side of the Motherland in the Great War, and had a fine TBE WAR record of honors. AND- AFTER The story of the valley's contribution was told in full detail in a memorial issue of The Star, 11th November, 1937, and is a little off the course of local history. Sglg: In 1926 and subsequently refer- endums were held on the question of village incorporation, but the move was rejected. The war brought activity in the Copper market, and this resulted to the promotion of a large-scale venture at Copper Mountain. In 1925 the Granby Consolidated took over the property, a railway,spur from Princeton having been built in 1920, when the West Kootenay Power & Light Company also built into the SiimilkameeiL JAMES COPLAND. One of he last survivors of the Cariboo gold rush wh'ch followed th-' first discovery of gold in the Similkameen, and nipped the 1'cal excitement. He now res d?s in Rock Creek. new mines have joined Nickel Plate. At Princeton the Tulameen Coal Mine was opened in 1920, and operated to 1937, while the W. R. Wilson interests entered the field a year later. Two serious catastrophes have marred the post-war period, first the Copper Mtn. bunkhouse halo- caust, 18th March, 1928, when eleven men lost their. lives, and second, the Blakeburn (No. 4) Colliery explosion of 13th August, 1930, when forty-six miners perished. Similkameen will always recall those days of sorrow, with bowed head. Through all this progress and activity Mrs, S. L. Allison lived and loved; saw her family grow to be citizens of a busy community. Never did she lose her interest or" her love for the hills and valleys of her adopted home. Her THE PASSING mind bright and her OF MRS. memory clear, she ALLISON wrote and* told of many of her early ejqperiences, and, basking in the sunshine of honored age, graced the annual old-timers' banquets instituted in her honor in 1932. Unfil 1929 she continued, with frequent -visits to Vancouver, in residence here, but thereafter declining health kept her more, and more in the milder climate of the Coast. Revered, beloved, she lived to a ripe old age of ninety-two, and, pass ing peacefully into the restful shadows at a Vancouver nursing home, Monday, 1st February, 1937, was on Friday, 5th, committed to well won rest beside her husband in the little family plot on wind-swept Castle Rock, to sleep forever in her beloved Similkameen. -it- Operations were suspended in 1930 on a falling market, but as this is written a new and prosperous page is abpu to be turned in Similkameen history, with the re-opening at hand. It is interesting to note that Granby's first interest in Copper Mountain dates to 1905. when M. Y. Williams, Phoen x chief, took a bond on three claims. Nickel Plate's ore reserve played out in 1929 after twenty-five years of faithful supply, but this merely heralded a new and brighter chapter for Hedley as a concentrated search for ore resulted, and three WAKE W YOUR LIVER And You'll Jump Out of Bed in the Morning Rarin' to go The liver should pour out two pounds of liquid bile into your bowels daily. If this bile is not flowing freely, your food doesn't digest. It just.decays in the bowels. G.as bloats up your stomach, ifou get constipated. Harmful poisons go into the body,,and you feel sour, sunk and the world looks punk. A mare bowel movement doesn't always get at the cause. You need something that works on the liver as well. It takes those good, old Carter's Little Liver- Pills to get these two pounds of bile flowing freely and make you feel "up and up". Harmless and. gentle, they make the bile flow freely. They do the work of calomel but have no calomelor mercury in them. Ask for Carter's Little Liver Pills by name! Stubbornly refuse anything else. 25c. Embarrassing Moment it IN THE COURSE of chasing down * local history, one encounters many good yarns, replete with humor and human interest that would not look very well in print. This one is on the border-line. Stop right here if you are easily shocked. A lady of ill repute was hauled before the cadi. "What's your name?" demanded the magistrate, to full solemnity. The prisoner, with an expression half of surprise, half cf enticement, cooed sweetly, "Aw, Charlie, you know me!" The magistrate called a speedy recess. Of course this couldn't have happened in the Similkameen. ft First issue of the British Columbia Historical Quarterly organ of the B.C. Historical Assn. is just released. Congratulations Due? Call By Long Distance -it- l'l'"r" '"""""
@en, "Title changes in chronological order: Similkameen Star (1900-03-31 to 1900-07-28), The Similkameen Star (1900-08-04 to 1900-10-20), Similkameen Star (1900-10-27 to 1918-05-10), The Princeton Star (1918-05-17 to 1935-08-29), The Similkameen Star (1935-09-05 to 1939-12-28)."@en ; edm:hasType "Newspapers"@en ; dcterms:spatial "Princeton, B.C."@en, "Princeton"@en ; dcterms:identifier "Similkameen_Star_1937_02_04"@en ; edm:isShownAt "10.14288/1.0432340"@en ; dcterms:language "English"@en ; geo:lat "49.460278"@en ; geo:long "-120.507778"@en ; edm:provider "Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library"@en ; dcterms:publisher "Princeton : Dave Taylor"@en ; dcterms:rights "Images provided for research and reference use only. Permission to publish, copy, or otherwise use these images must be obtained from the Digitization Centre: http://digitize.library.ubc.ca/"@en ; dcterms:source "Original Format: Princeton and District Museum and Archives"@en ; dcterms:title "The Similkameen Star"@en ; dcterms:type "Text"@en ; dcterms:description ""@en .