125 YEARS AGO: MAY 12, 1900
Quesnel, Not Quesnelle: Postmaster, Ashcroft: I am directed to inform you that it having been represented to this department by the Geographic Board that the correct spelling of the name “Quesnelle” in use in British Columbia in the name of the Quesnelle and Quesnelle Forks post offices is “Quesnel” it has been decided to change the spelling of the names of the post offices in question accordingly, dating from June 1 next. Yours truly, W.H. Dorman, Post Office Inspector.
Mail Service: Editor, Ashcroft Journal: I see by the Lillooet Prospector they are making a great cry about not having a mail coming from Lytton. They are getting two mails a week now. How many do they want? There was a time when we were glad to get one a week. Two a week satisfies settlers on Hat Creek and Pavilion, and the west side of the Fraser River opposite, and there are nearly as many there as in Lillooet.
Saddlery: S.G. Fladgate is showing some very nice cowboy saddles received in his new stock. He is already doing a good business, which will no doubt increase when he moves to the new store about to be erected for him.
Oddfellows Hall: W. Morgan has secured the contract for the painting of the Oddfellows’ Hall. The new colours which he has brought to this town of dark colours will give the hall a bright appearance.
100 YEARS AGO: MAY 9, 1925
Road To Loon Lake: A road to Loon Lake, which had been broached at the last Ashcroft Board of Trade meeting, was again brought forward. Settlers in that section have petitioned the government for road accommodation via Scotty Creek, and the secretary was instructed to endorse the petition in the name of the Board. It is estimated that about $5,000 would be sufficient to complete a good road to Loon Lake.
Boston Bar Is Hostile; Petitions Provincial Government To Follow Old Route: At a meeting of the citizens of Boston Bar held Monday, the following resolution was unanimously adopted. “Whereas, in view of the fact that operations for the construction of the Provincial Fraser Canyon Highway had until a few days ago been proceeding through Boston Bar and it has since been rumoured it is now to be changed and detoured via North Bend by means of two bridges across the Fraser River four miles east of Boston Bar at an enormous extra expense, probably totalling $300,000 as an initial cost, and an expensive upkeep each succeeding year; And whereas this meeting of citizens assembled consider this action as simply a political move and a wanton waste of public monies, to serve the handful of faithful followers in North Bend; And whereas the settlers in the district surrounding Boston Bar, having no means to reach markets and their children to secure schooling on account of no roads, and looked upon the coming of the provincial highway as a remedy for their existing circumstances; And whereas the Provincial Government engineers have completed their survey of the highway through Boston Bar, a distance of some 12 miles, so that if the road is not detoured it will mean money thrown away; Therefore be it resolved that the Provincial Government be petitioned to proceed with the original proposed route through Boston Bar without any detour or further delay, thus avoiding any further waste of public funds.”
Spring Cleaning: The cleaning epidemic has reached Ashcroft, and the ladies (God bless ’em) have made the various homes uninhabitable for friend husband.
Weather: The thermometer registered about 80 in the shade for a few days this week, and although this is not hot for Ashcroft, coming just in the wake of some raw weather, it made most of us sit up and take notice.
75 YEARS AGO: MAY 11, 1950
Clinton: This warm spell is certainly raising the level of the creeks. Clinton Creek was overflowing the road at Robertson’s store on Thursday morning. The pressure was relieved by turning water into irrigation ditches. Harry Key on the Bonaparte is reported to have lost a cow on account of high water there.
Public Health: Owing to the danger of floods with possible contamination of your water supplies, we suggest typhoid fever inoculations for everyone over the age of 18 months. For those who have never had these inoculations we suggest three doses at intervals of one week. For those who have previously had typhoid inoculations we suggest one small booster dose. Clinics for this purpose will be held in Ashcroft, Clinton, and Lytton.
Slide Blocks Highway: A tremendous slide of rock blocked the Trans-Canada Highway 15 miles west of Lytton on Friday morning, May 5, at the point where the Emil Anderson Construction Company is working. All traffic was tied up as men worked on hour after hour to clear the road. Traffic was resumed in the early hours of the morning.
Around Your Hi-School (By L. Louie): The first public performance of the Ashcroft High School Orchestra is staged for May 24, when the orchestra will play for the annual dance. It should be a treat, as well as a novelty. All members have been practising very diligently, so it will be worth your while to come, if even just to take in the music. The orchestra consists of 13 pieces. There are eight girls and five boys. Tickets will be 75 cents each. Doughnuts and coffee will be served at the snack bar. The program will consist of modern waltzes, fox trots, one steps, polkas, circle one steps, French Minuet, Heel Toe Polka, Schottisches, Three Steps, old-time waltzes; in fact, anything that the public desires. So, for an evening of dancing to first class music, attend the May 24 dance. We guarantee everyone the best of fun.
C.N.R. Freight Train Has Wreck Near “Bridge”: A C.N.R. train, west-bound, ran into a rock slide six miles west of Spences Bridge in the early hours of Friday morning, May 5. The engine plunged a hundred feet down over the bank and came to rest with its front end in the river. Three box cars were derailed along with the engine and tender. Two of the cars went over the bank, but the third still stood on its wheels at the top of the bank. Miraculously, no one was hurt. The train carried a carload of pigs, a number of which were killed, and cattle. Cattle and pigs were seen continuing their journey to the coast on foot, proceeding calmly through the tunnels en route to their destination, presumably Vancouver. The accident occurred between the first and second of the three tunnels west of the Bridge.
50 YEARS AGO: MAY 7, 1975
Thompson View Manor Society: An organizational meeting will be held Thursday, May 15. This society is being organized with the object of constructing and operating a personal care unit for Senior Citizens on the hospital grounds. An election of a Board of Directors and officers will take place at their meeting. This Society is being spearheaded by the Ashcroft and District Lions Club, with the assistance of Ashcroft and District Hospital Board, South Cariboo Kinsmen Club, Royal Canadian Legion Branch 113, and O.A.P.O. Ashcroft Branch, plus any other group or individuals wishing to participate.
Ashcroft Pool Being Repaired: Contractors from Vancouver are presently repairing the Ashcroft swimming pool, and it is hoped it will be ready for the 1975 season by June 1. The walls are being cleaned and waterproofed, which it is hoped will alleviate the problem of leakage. It took a considerable time to clean out the bottom of the pool, as there had been a lot of rubble thrown into it during the winter months.
Break-ins: Sometime during Monday night or early Tuesday morning, the Purity Feed at Ashcroft was broken into. We understand a saddle and driving equipment was stolen. During the same period the North End Shell at Cache Creek was entered and the cash register taken.
Ashcroft RCMP Detachment Weekly Report: It has been noticed that there is an improvement in manner on the part of local dirt bike riders. We have had fewer complaints at the police office, and very few violations have been seen. Last week a local youth was riding his dirt bike through a gateway near the Rodeo grounds and drove on the regular trail, not noticing a nylon string that someone had strung across the road at head level. The youth hit the string with his face. In 1974 a youth was killed in Langley when someone tied a string over his cycle path in a similar manner. This type of action, although possibly not intending injury, can and has resulted in injury and death. It is strongly suggested that if you have relatives or friends riding, please advise them to beware of such things, as it could be much more serious the next time.
Loon Lake News (1): A meeting was held at the Loon Lake Hall on April 28 between the residents of Loon Lake and the cattlemen of the District. It seems there have been problems arising from the cattle being dumped on the Loon Lake Road. The cattle then wander and get into people’s yards and eat the gardens and flowers. It seems this year the problem has been solved. To prevent this the cattlemen are not dumping the cows on the road, and as an extra precaution they are going to put a rider on the road. All anyone having trouble with the cows has to do is get hold of the rider and he will see that the cows are removed. In return for this all the cattlemen ask is that the people leave the cows alone and try not to harass them. A special thanks goes out to the cattlemen for their help in this matter. The people of Loon Lake appreciate it very much.
Loon Lake News (2): There will be a Tupperware Party at the Loon Lake Hall on Sunday, May 11 at 3 p.m. Proceeds to go to the Hall. Everyone Welcome!
