125 YEARS AGO: NOV. 11, 1899
War News: The Ashcroft Hotel management has shown its enterprise by having daily [Boer] war bulletins posted in the reading room, where the latest war news can be obtained at any old time.
Protect Shade Trees; Editor Journal—Sir: I notice an item in your valuable paper asking whether it were necessary to mulch shade trees for the winter that had just been set out. I would say do it by all means, as well as all other trees and shrubs. When trees are set out the earth is not generally well settled around the roots, and the severe frosts of winter are very apt to injure the small fibrous roots. A mulch of any coarse litter will do. Well rotted manure is the best, as it will not heat. Fresh horse manure should not be used, as it may heat and kill the tree. I would say it will do no harm to leave it around the trees through the summer, if in a dry locality, especially if it is taken off and the soil loosened up and then the mulch replaced again. I am yours truly, Thos. G. Earl.
Boston Flats: The large pipe soon to be installed by the Ashcroft Water, Electric and Improvement Co. to convey the water from the heavy pump at the power house on the Bonaparte to the level of the ditch head on Boston Flats, was made by the Albion Iron Works of Victoria. The 22-inch pipe referred to is now at the depot and is regarded as a particularly well-finished lot.
Church Giving: Voluntary collections were taken in the Presbyterian church last Sunday morning and evening for the purposes of the church, which amounted to $37.60. This affords ample evidence of the value of voluntary giving over the unfortunate system of begging.
100 YEARS AGO: NOV. 8, 1924
Lytton News: The government telephone gang is in town giving the telephone system the once over. . . The surveyors for the Trans-Provincial Highway are now located at Lytton, having moved from Thompson Siding a few days ago. . . The first snow of the season fell on November the 1st.
Strayed: Strayed to my place this last two winters one 4-year-old roan mule steer branded Y Y right hip, left ear cropped. If not claimed within thirty days will be sold to pay expenses. Bert Andrews, 70 Mile House.
Weather: The first severe frost of the season [at Ashcroft] fell on Tuesday night, when about an inch of ice was formed on water. The snow reached within a hundred feet of the town flat, and at Cornwall’s and Crossley’s several inches fell.
75 YEARS AGO: NOV. 10, 1949
Epidemic: An epidemic of measles and chicken pox is playing havoc with the youngsters in town, and one by one they are missing school for a few days.
Xmas Tree Cutting: Christmas trees are being cut at Barnes Lake, Highland Valley, and up the Cariboo Road as far as Clinton and are being sorted out into sizes in readiness for shipment at the C.N. station. The trees will be shipped for distribution in Eastern Canada and the United States. Weather being favourable, they hope to cut about 35,000 trees, which means a large financial income for this district. The work is being carried out under the supervision of Bob Ayers, who has been looking after this district for the company buying the trees.
Across The River: Mr. Lorne Holgate has started the building rolling across the river on his property [now North Ashcroft], and has erected a building which he is living in until he builds a new residence next spring. Mr. F.A. Rogers is also building a new home over there. This is good news to Ashcroft.
Lillooet: The Lillooet public works crew have been busy with shovel and three trucks, laying gravel on the Marble Canyon road, and have made a real good job of it. The work is in charge of Dan Fraser. The government has built a new road from Pavilion down to the government ferry on the Fraser.
New Home For Grocery: Gateway Groceteria has moved to its new location in the modern-renovated Ting building, from the Rowse block. They are now open for business in the new premises.
Childrens’ Bazaar Huge Success: On Friday, Nov. 4 the Grade 7 and 8 students of Lady Byng school in Ashcroft held a bazaar in the community hall in aid of the Junior Red Cross and for playground equipment. The sum of $70 was realized and the pupils are very happy about the whole thing. A lot of very nice things were on display and were soon disposed of. There was also a showing of art, a pioneer kitchen, and a Bastille, all made by the pupils.
Around Your Hi-School (by L. Louie): You may be mad about Ladd [movie star Alan Ladd] but I think the high school population has gone mad about plaid! The football fields look like a checker board, what with bright plaid jackets galore. In fact, the fad for plaid is so great, the boys have adopted plaid caps, too! And, to keep up with the boys, the girls are wearing plaid skirts to go with their jackets. We have noted that our principal is keeping up with the fashion, too, for he has been displaying a plaid tie.
50 YEARS AGO: NOV. 6, 1974
New Health Service For Ashcroft And Cache Creek: There is a new health service for the Ashcroft-Cache Creek area: HOME CARE — a daily nursing service provided by the branch office of the South Central Health Unit at Ashcroft. This service will be provided by the addition of two Registered Nurses, who will visit homes needing nursing care, upon referral of their family physician. It has long been felt that there was a real need in this community for nursing care in the homes, a direct service which requires adequate nursing time over and above other public health duties. The types of nursing service will be Acute Care and Chronic Care. Hours of service will be 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, seven days a week. In addition to visiting homes, the Home Care nurse will be in attendance at the hospital every morning, to look after follow-up where needed.
Ashcroft Karate Club: The Ashcroft Karate Club is under the instruction of Mr. Akio Kanamaru. It will be accepting applications until next week. All persons must be 15 years or older. The sessions are held at the old high school that has now become the elementary school, on the south side of town [Copper Vale School, where Villa Fronterra is now located]. The times of these classes are from 7 to 8:30 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday for those interested persons.
Hallowe’en At Walhachin: The Hallowe’en party held Wednesday night was very successful in spite of the chilly rain and breeze. Because the Memorial Hall was unheated till Chuck Ivey arrived to start a fire in the furnace, it was actually colder inside than out where our small friends prowled, searching for the traditional treats.
Roads At Walhachin: I am sure the hospitable people of Walhachin will be very proud to know that the Walhachin party was chosen by some of our guests as a safe place for their children. I hope everyone will remember that the smaller children, the pre-schoolers, have the road for their only playground, so please respect the signs which designate the road as a playground and drive slowly. Please don’t forget Walhachin has a reputation as a safe place for children.
Hallowe’en In Ashcroft: Hallowe’en was relatively quiet in Ashcroft. There was the usual egg throwing bit which everyone deplored as a waste. However, as one older student remarked, “If the government can do it, why not us?” [A reference to the “rotten egg scandal” of 1974, when the recently-created Canadian Egg Marketing Agency failed to properly store millions of eggs, resulting in them going rotten and having to be thrown away. The debacle caused debates between the federal government and industry stakeholders, and anger from the public at a time of sharply rising food prices.]
