125 YEARS AGO: JUNE 23, 1900
Wrecked Pump: As the result of a flaw in the casting, the big irrigating pump at the Ashcroft Water, Electric and Improvement Co.’s power house is a wreck. The company have another pump on the way, which will arrive before the crops they have been irrigating will suffer any for water.
New House: J. B. Bryson will erect a cottage on his corner lot next to T. McCosh’s on Brink Street. This is one of the best building sites in town.
Entertainment: Egbert’s Ragtime Specialty Company will give a performance in the Town Hall tonight consisting of farce comedies, music, etc. One of their principal attractions is the Aluminum Chimes, producing the sweetest music. This company carry their own scenery, and should give an entertaining performance.
Chicken Surprise: Sixteen chickens from 16 eggs is certainly getting full value from both eggs and hen. A local fancier has done this, and would like to hear from anyone who can beat it.
100 YEARS AGO: JUNE 20, 1925
Cannery News: The tomato plants on Boston Flat look to be in good condition. The cut worms have destroyed a few, which have been replaced. Appearance promise a good crop. The work of renovating the building for the new cannery is progressing rapidly. Some inside painting is being done, the base for the engine has been laid, and the engineer has arrived to take charge of installing.
Zion Annual Garden Fete: This annual event, held under the auspices of the Ladies Guild, took place last Friday afternoon in the Community Hall. The weather clerk, it seems that day, had the interests of so many clients to consider that he was sorely taxed as to what was the best kind of weather to produce. At all events, the final verdict being indoors, the ladies decided to transfer their affections and their tempting delicacies to the hall. Here daintily appointed tables, adorned with bowls of fragrant summer blooms, were set out in inviting array. By twos and threes the guests began to arrive, and soon the hall was alive with the hum of many voices. Speedily the tables became the centres of merry groups bent on regaling their palates with teas and sandwiches, strawberry shortcake, ice cream, and many other good things. The willing and winsome waitresses had a busy time and everyone, as usual, had a most delightful afternoon.
Walhachin News: The ladies of the United Church got up a very enjoyable whist drive last Saturday in the Bungalow. It was well attended, with 50 people being present. Savona was well represented. The first prizes were won by Mrs. Cooney and Mr. Stephens, and the booby by Mr. Graham and Mr. T. Wilson, the latter playing as a lady. Ice cream was sold, and with the admission charge the nice total of $41.50 was realized. Court whist was played instead of the usual whist, and everyone seemed to enjoy the change.
75 YEARS AGO: JUNE 22, 1950
Radio Range Station Will Not Be Moved: Last week a report came out in a paper circulating here that the Ashcroft Radio Range Station [at Ashcroft Manor] will be moved within a year, so the Ashcroft Board of Trade got busy and wired our local M.P, E.D. Fulton at Ottawa, and the following reply was received: “Deputy Minister advises no decision made to move Ashcroft Radio Range Station. Question of provision of adequate radio facilities for scheduled commercial airline operations for Kamloops airport has been and is still under negotiation but understand not necessary move Ashcroft Station for this purpose. Will report further as further information received. E.D. Fulton.” [Ed. note: Kamloops Airport was originally known, and is still referred to, as Fulton Field, in honour of E.D. Fulton’s brother John “Moose” Fulton, a Kamloopsian who loved hunting and fishing (hence his nickname) and who was a decorated airman during World War II. He served as the first commanding officer of the RCAF’s 419 Squadron, and was beloved by his men, who referred to themselves as “Moosemen.” He flew numerous combat missions, and in late July 1942 his plane was shot down as he was returning to England; he and his crew were never found. His dedication to his men led to 419 Squadron becoming known as “Moose Squadron”: the only Canadian squadron to be named after a person.]
Ashcroft Goes All Out To Finish Swimming Pool: Ashcroft is responding to the plea of the citizens to get the swimming pool filled up within the next few weeks with water for swimming. Organizations are backing the drive for funds and several citizens who have been elected to an independent committee have been working overtime arousing interest in the town, so it looks as though we are going to have swimming soon.
New Ball Diamond: Sunday was opening day for the new ball diamond on the Peters place across the Thompson in North Ashcroft. The field has been levelled and a backstop erected and is in fairly good shape — except for the dust. There is lots and lots of room for batting flies for home runs, etc. In all, an ideal set-up for a ball diamond.
Weather In The Interior: During the past week the weather around Ashcroft has been extremely warm, the thermometer registering around 95 in the shade. The Thompson River is running high, but on Sunday last was still five feet below the 1948 level [1948 saw severe flooding in the region during freshet]. The Bonaparte is pretty grimy from Hat Creek down, but above Hat Creek it is clean water and just about normal high. Hat Creek is very muddy, and was held back at Jackson’s [now Hat Creek Ranch] by tree branches accumulation damming it up until the dam was cleared away.
Around Your Hi-School (By L. Louie): Yes, we find school nearly over for another year (Hurrah). Except for a few exams on Friday and Monday, our year’s work is completed (?). What I mean to say is, we’ve put in another year! Next year we’ll be minus six familiar faces — the graduates. I hope there will be an “Around Your Hi-School Column” next year again, and in closing I would like to thank the Ashcroft Journal for the space we took each week. CHEERIO TILL NEXT FALL!!!
To Save Millions, Plan Rail Tunnels To Protect Track: A plan to save the railways millions of dollars in British Columbia during years of floods and heavy snows is under consideration. The Fraser Canyon is the trouble spot for Canadian National Railway, the tracks winding along the turbulent Fraser River. On the opposite side is the mainline of Canadian Pacific Railway. President Donald Gordon of the C.N.R., despite his few months in office, has studied the situation. He summed it up: “The trouble is the whole darned mountain comes down on top of us every high water.” . . . The plan, it is understood, calls for a series of long tunnels over which snow and flood waters and rock slides would roar into the Fraser. The job would cost from $150,000,000 to $175,000,000 and would take from 20 to 25 years to complete. It would mean the reconstruction of 42 miles of mainline through the toughest part of the canyon. Mr. Gordon hastens to say it will not be started this year or next. But it is of high importance for the future.
Pine Woods Lodge Opens: The summit of the Hope-Princeton Highway halfway point, and highest part of Manning Park, is the setting of the Parks Division of the B.C. Forest Service for the government’s newest project, called “Pine Woods Lodge.” The lodge is a solid log structure in a Swiss mountain chalet style. The roof has a very steep slant, designed to shed heavy winter snows. The lodge’s interior consists of a huge dining room, decorated in knotty pine and furnished in blonde Eastern hardwood maple. Adjoining this is the lounge with its huge cut stone fireplace, with a hand-carved panel above the mantel. Beside the fireplace are chairs, rugs, and carved writing desks with hand-carved lamps beside them. Leading from the lounge is a modern coffee shop to refresh tourists from all parts of the continent. This splendid building was started last fall and officially opened by senior Parks Board officials on June 3, and is well worth visiting.
50 YEARS AGO: JUNE 18, 1975
Police Hunt Bandit They Believe Killed Partner In Attempted Robbery: Police along the Fraser Valley have intensified their hunt for a murder-robbery suspect whom they believe shot and killed an accomplice who had broken his leg and was unable to flee the scene of an attempted hijacking of a bank courier car near Lytton on Thursday. RCMP identified the dead man as 24-year-old Daniel Brian Sutherland of Surrey, who was found in a stolen van at the bottom of a 15-foot ditch, dead from two bullet wounds in the chest. Staff-Sgt. A.W.J. Sparks of Kamloops RCMP said police are operating on the theory that Sutherland suffered a broken leg when the van was forced off the road by the bank car and that an accomplice did away with him to conceal his own identity. The pair had unsuccessfully tried to hijack the car carrying a Bank of Nova Scotia branch manager and two tellers en route from Lytton to Boston Bar to open a two-day-a-week branch there. They were transporting an estimated $20,000 in cash. The hijackers fired a number of shots at the car, but when the incident was all over the van landed in the ditch and the bank employees travelled on to call police. An intensive search Thursday by police dogs, roadblocks, a 30-man search team, and a helicopter failed to find the fugitive. The search resumed Friday. The bank car was heading to Boston Bar, and about five miles south of Lytton a white Ford van pulled out beside them and suddenly they were under fire. Sparks said four to six shots were fired from a rifle, most of them hitting the car’s body and flattening one tire. One of the tellers, Doris Loring, said Manager Garry Sapach stepped on the gas as the van passed and pulled in front of them. The car then rammed the van’s rear, forcing it to go broadside and down into the ditch. “We are all alright and we can thank God we had as quick-thinking a manager for a driver as we did,” Ms. Loring said. “He was fantastic.” The other teller, Mrs. Mary Oakman, said “Never would want it to happen again — that’s all I can say. It did seem like television, you know, to be chased and with the bullets flying — it just didn’t seem real. But I think we’re brainwashed by all the violence we see on TV anyway.”
Village Of Ashcroft: Alderperson Yates outlined he had received complaints of speeding on Tingley Street, and recommended that the Village install speed bumps on three locations on Tingley Street. Council reviewed excessive traffic speed on Government, Tingley, and Hill Streets and suggested that Alderperson Yates obtain prices of the speed bumps, and that the RCMP be contacted regarding an enforcement problem.
