125 YEARS AGO: SEPT. 9, 1899
No Dumping: All persons are warned not to dump refuse or garbage on vacant lots in the townsite or on the alleys adjacent to it. It will be no excuse that someone does it unknown to the parties he is working for. Tin cans and garbage are neither ornamental nor beneficial on another man's property. Take warning or expect a prosecution.
Good Fishing: Fishing in the Thompson has been better of late, and good catches of rainbow trout are reported nearly every day. Dr. Clark and Arthur Bailey went out fishing the fore part of the week, a few miles up the Thompson, and in a few hours caught and brought to town 60 fine trout. They weighed from one to four-and-a-half pounds each and were fine fish. . . Dr. Clark yesterday accomplished the said to be impossible feat of taking a salmon with a fly in the Thompson River, Ashcroft.
Similkameen Wagon Road: Strong pressure is, by all interested in the development of the Similkameen district, being brought to bear on the Provincial Government, with a view to secure the completion of a good wagon road between Hope and Princeton. A centre link of about 30 miles of track there remains to be built at an approximate cost of $25,000, when with some necessary repairs to the sections of road already constructed near Hope and Princeton, respectively, a good highway of about 65 miles would connect the two points.
Weather: The weather has somewhat improved for the past few days and haying is progressing, but still under difficulties. The amount of rain a "dry belt" is receiving this season is astonishing. Never within the history of the province has there been such a ceaseless downpour of rain as has occurred this season, and much damage has been done to the hay crop, some still lying out that has been cut for the past six weeks. Fears are expressed that the grain crop will also suffer if the weather does not improve soon.
100 YEARS AGO: SEPT. 6, 1924
A New Industry; Tomatoes Shipped From Here Best That Ever Went To Coast: It has been proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that Ashcroft and other districts in the vicinity can grow better tomatoes than elsewhere in the province. This has been known for many years, but they have never been grown commercially until this summer. The Dry Belt Farmers' Exchange of Ashcroft is busy just now, shipping tomatoes in car lots from Ashcroft and Walhachin sidings. They have shipped five cars up to date, and next week expect to load and ship two each day. It is estimated that 60 cars will be handled between the two points this season. Mr. R. Whitelaw, president of the National Canners, Vancouver, was in Ashcroft on Monday looking over the situation. There are 500 acres available here for the production of material for his cannery including tomatoes, peas, beans, corn, etc., and he figures on putting in a plant next spring, and is at present making arrangements for the machinery. He says the tomatoes that are reaching Vancouver from this point are the best that ever reached the coast, and it is on this basis that a cannery will be built in Ashcroft. He estimates that it would require 75 employees to operate the plant during the season. The matter of a site has not yet been decided upon.
The Trans-Provincial Highway: One of the most important government projects ever undertaken by the Oliver administration is the completing of the Trans-Provincial Highway between Hope and the Interior. The link will cost about $1,000,000, with an additional $250,000 required for the big steel bridge across the Fraser at Spuzzum. Every section of British Columbia will profit through the completion of the Trans-Provincial Highway. The road will provide a main artery across the province, linking up practically all districts with the main Trans-Canada Highway. Returns through increased tourist travel should pay for the work many times over within 10 years.
Fire At Eight-Mile; One Horse Burned To Death And Much Farm Machinery Destroyed: Fire broke out on Sunday night about 10 o'clock in the main barn at Eight Mile Creek, the property of Mr. Mark McAbee. The origin of the fire is unknown, although it is supposed to have been the result of a bush-tail rat gnawing matches, which had been left inside the eave in the loft. Efforts were made to control the flames, but little headway could be made owing to the intense heat. Besides the building and a small quantity of hay in the loft, the loss is heavy in farm implements and other valuable articles. One horse was burned to death, the fire having gone so far that it was impossible to rescue the animal. The Eight Mile Creek Ranch is about 12 miles from Ashcroft on the Cache Creek-Savona wagon road, and is one of the largest farms in this neighbourhood.
75 YEARS AGO: SEPT. 8, 1949
Ashcroft Celebrations Well Attended: Ashcroft Elks celebrated Labour Day on Monday with various entertainments, and crowds from all surrounding villages attended. . . The barrel roll contest was won by Neil Glover, guessing eight hours, 18 minutes, 23 seconds (first) and C. Fenton, Pavilion, who guessed eight hours, 18 minutes, 44 seconds (second). The actual time it took the barrel to run from Savona bridge to Ashcroft bridge was eight hours, 18 minutes, 17 seconds.
Game Checks: A game warden has been stationed at Cache Creek checking cars and drivers for hunting and fishing licences. So far several guns have been taken owing to no licence, and some for having loaded rifles in the car. So be sure you get that licence before carrying a gun or fishing rod and DON'T CARRY A LOADED GUN IN THE CAR. This is against the law. And anyway it isn't safe.
Train Wreck Salvage: Messrs. Gallagher and Cameron of Spences Bridge and Ashcroft hope to salvage considerable wheat, rye, oats, and coal from the two recent wrecks on the CPR and CNR. They have practically all the spilled grain and coal sacked, and will offer it for sale at a considerable saving. This is a splendid opportunity to stock up on winter fuel and stock feed.
Clinton: Speeding on the new highway is taking on an alarming aspect, the accident toll is mounting. On Sunday four cattle were injured and had to be destroyed, not all at one time or by one motorist but separately. They were all near the 70-Mile House.
Weather: The long spell of extreme heat was broken a few days ago by a shower of rain that lasted only a few minutes, then the weather went back to its old tricks. It may be said that the recent heat wave reminds old timers of the summers in Ashcroft and the dry belt generally in the good old days.
50 YEARS AGO: SEPT. 4, 1974
Arena Name Chosen: The name chosen for our arena at a meeting held last evening was "The Drylands Arena". The name had been proposed by Mrs. G. Lintott. Season tickets per person will be $10, which will guarantee 20 hours of skating each week.
Govt. Okays $5 Million Sawmill For Clinton: The Hon. Robert Williams announced today that he is prepared to accept the bid submitted by Ainsworth Lumber Co. Ltd. which proposes the establishment of a new sawmill complex 11 miles northeast of Clinton. Ainsworth's proposal will entail an estimated expenditure of $5,700,000. The new complex will employ 123 people in manufacturing and 75 in logging. The mill is designed to produce 46 million board feet of dimension lumber and 40,000 units of chips annually commencing August 1975.
Walhachin: The quarry is becoming quite secretive about their major blasts, the last one surely was not scheduled 24 hours ahead of time. Seemingly the idea was to send the school bus around in lieu of the usual 24-hour notice. It was unfortunate, since CFJC had expressed interest in the blasts. I am very sure the television coverage would be less than flattering to the two companies involved.
Boston Bar-North Bend Ferry Closing: The aerial ferry operating over the Fraser River between Boston Bar and North Bend will be shut down for about 30 days starting Sept. 4. Temporary closure of the unique ferry service is necessary to permit extensive renovations and improvements to the drive machinery, cable towers, carriage, and landings. The aim is to increase the efficiency of the operation. The ferry, which has only a one-car capacity, carried 76,000 vehicles over the river in the 1972–73 fiscal year. The Department of Highways will provide a substitute service for foot passengers only during daylight and dusk hours by means of water transport starting at 6:30 a.m. daily.
