125 YEARS AGO: AUG. 26, 1899
Nicola: It has been raining nearly every day for the past week or 10 days, and we are beginning to think that the coast people have exchanged climate with us. The wet weather has greatly hindered the farmers in their farming operations, and the hay and grain will be considerably injured in consequence. . . There have been several cases of la grippe [influenza] since the wet weather set in, but all are progressing favourably under the skilful treatment of Dr. Sutton.
Impromptu Lake: Some two weeks ago a lake in front of the Ashcroft Hotel was visited by a couple of seagulls. Now we have a wild duck amusing himself in the pond. All we need now is a polar bear and a whale to open a national park.
Poor Streets: The streets of Ashcroft require the attention of the authorities. It is next to impossible to drive a loaded freight wagon through some of them without difficulty.
A Safe, Pleasant Passage: Miss Soues, daughter of F. Soues, Government agent in Clinton, who left on a trip across the Atlantic a few weeks ago, arrived in London in perfect safety, after a pleasant journey by land as well as by water. The young lady, although alone, and not much experienced in travelling, was a great favourite on board. She took part in all the entertainments, and a leading part in a concert in aid of the fund for sailors and orphans. The captain was particularly kind to her during the voyage. Upon landing at Liverpool she was met by relatives from London, and by noon of that day was with them in the great metropolis. That afternoon she attended a fashionable garden party, and the young lady from British Columbia's mountains took it all in, cool and collected. The Duchess of Marlborough, she says, was a good-looking and well-dressed lady and appeared to be very popular with all present.
100 YEAR AGO: AUG. 23, 1924
New Bridge: The new bridge over the Bonaparte at the old mill was finished last week and is now ready for traffic.
No Ball: The baseball game that was to take place at Cache Creek last week was called off owing to the shortage of Ashcroft players. They say they like fishing better than baseball. . . Another party of fishermen visited Big Bar Lake again on Sunday. They report the fishing better than ever.
Clinton Clippings: Haying is at a standstill here, owing to the very wet weather there has been for the past 10 days. A large portion of the crop is still unharvested. . . A big washout is reported on the road between Canoe Creek and Churn Creek bridge. It is estimated that it will take about a week to open the road for traffic. . . Fishing is reported very good at Big Bar Lake, but if you want to catch the big 'uns, don't overlook Kelly Lake.
Harold Clark Has Narrow Escape; Accidentally Shot When He Stumbled On Hornets' Nest: (Quesnel) Care of the flock was the first thing Harold Clark of Pavilion Mountain, employed as a sheep herder by the 105-Mile House Ranch, thought of after being shot in the abdomen with a .22 rifle. While grazing his sheep in the hills back of Lac La Hache, he stumbled upon a hornets' nest, and in his subsequent wild plunging through the brush to escape the maddened insects, the rifle he carried with which to obtain an occasional rabbit for food was discharged, the bullet entering his right side. He thought at first that he had been stung, as he had run into hornets before in the Lillooet country, and that when the bullet struck him he was congratulating himself on the gentleness of the Cariboo brand of hornets. In his excitement he had not heard the gun go off. Discovering the wound a few minutes afterwards, he rounded up his flocks, corralled them safely, and made his way out to the Cariboo road, where he knew the regular auto-stage would be passing at a certain hour, and after telephoning his employer what had happened, came on in to see the doctor. The bullet was successfully removed, and although his injuries are not serious, the patient will be confined to the hospital for some little time.
Thou Shalt Not Love While Driving A Car: (Port Coquitlam) The charge of driving to the common danger appears to be comprehensive in its application, and includes the loving driver as well as the reckless. At any rate, a young man driving an automobile through the town with one hand on the steering wheel while his other encircled the waist of a fair young lady, was mulcted [fined] for $10 by the magistrate for his affectionate demonstration.
75 YEARS AGO: AUG. 25, 1949
Cannery Operating: The appetizing smells of tomatoes cooking in Ashcroft indicates the local cannery is in operation. The whistle blows at intervals and Ashcroft has taken on the sound and appearance of an industrious town. Local truckmen are hauling tomatoes from the fields to the cannery, which is putting up tomato juice, etc.
Spend Labour Day In Ashcroft: Labour Day in Ashcroft will be one grand gala event for young and old. Besides the Barrel Roll which will be held during the day, there will be children's foot and bicycle races, and a midway where prizes galore will be given to the lucky ones. Something doing all day long, including softball games. Another attraction on Labour Day will be the Soap Box Derby on the Ashcroft hill, when there will be $82 in prizes. All boys should get busy and get their soap box car ready and get in on this big prize money. There will be a huge dance in the evening to wind up events. So come one, come all to Ashcroft on Labour Day.
New Site For Savona School: Negotiations for a new site for Savona School is in progress. The proposed site is west of the Savona Hotel. A new location for Savona's school is made necessary by the relocating of the Trans-Canada Highway through Savona, a project on which the provincial public works department is expected to start soon.
Busy Business: About the busiest spot in this part of the Interior is the TU Auto Camp at Cache Creek. One parking there to observe passing cars finds visitors from all over the continent, going north, east, and south.
Spences Bridge: As we near the end of August, the country hereabouts takes on the usual fall appearance, leaves on certain trees turning colour, crops such as apples and tomatoes being harvested, and some folk predict an early fall. . . A cougar was sighted on the highway between here and Big Horn Court one night last week. . . Mr. V. Hammond shot and killed a bear which has been helping itself to his apple tree for some time.
50 YEARS AGO: AUG. 22, 1974
Len Marchand Replies To Blasting At Walhachin: How many residents received a letter from Len Marchand, MP Kamloops-Cariboo, dated Feb. 28 from which the following excerpt is taken? "I am not sure how much further I can go because I was informed that the blasting took place with the permission of all the residents. Great care was taken so that everyone was moved out of their homes while the blast took place. I was also informed that if the people did not all move out the blasting would not have been done." Both humans and their pets are having trouble with reddened and teary eyes which seems traceable to the blasts and dust everyone is so enthusiastic about.
Government Office Will Be Relocated: We understand the Court House staff will be housed in a section of the Safety Mart store, also Family Court personnel will share the space for the present. What has happened to the plans for a new court house for Ashcroft?
Cache Creek Fire Department: Fire Chief Don Fehr advised council of the following in connection with the fire department rushing to fires. 1) The police had warned the fire department about going through stop signs and exceeding the speed limit unless they were escorted by RCMP. 2) All fire vehicles should have fire department identification and window stickers. The office will attend to purchasing stickers.
Proposed Upper Hat Creek Coal Fields: Plans are proceeding for a thermal plant and the production of any by-products from coal extracted from Upper Hat Creek. Officials have been in the area the past two weeks. Residents are wondering just when they will be given notice to vacate their ranches and homes.
Loon Lake Fire: Fast actions by Frank Lacey and his crew put a fire out above Wells Park resort at Loon Lake Sunday afternoon. The fire, which was in two stumps, was thought to be started by children playing with matches. The speed and efficiency of the boys showed the value of the firefighting technique which they have been working at this past two weeks for the forestry. The rain Sunday night came as a great relief for the residents of the highly-wooded country surrounding Loon Lake.
