125 YEARS AGO: MAY 26, 1900
Missing Man: J. Hollingsworth, barber at Clinton, is missing. The only information that the Journal can get of him is that he went out riding near Clinton and, not returning for some days, search was made for him, which resulted in finding the horse tied up but no trace of Hollingsworth.
Court News: Dave Wiggins was given a speedy trial before Judge Cornwall for stealing $80 from Jackman, and was sentenced to six months imprisonment. Jimmy Cisco, for stealing from the C.P.R. station at Spences Bridge, got two years.
Fine Building: The Oddfellows hall, since it has been painted, is the finest looking public building in Ashcroft. The town will be still further improved when the court house and other public buildings receive like treatment.
No Race: The race between “Crawford” and the Nicola horse did not take place, owing to the non-appearance of the Nicola horse.
100 YEARS AGO: MAY 23, 1925
Annual 24th Of May Picnic Postponed: The annual 24th of May school picnic has been postponed owing to the abnormal plague of mosquitoes that has visited the picnic grounds on the Bonaparte. Arrangements for the holiday will be made at a later date.
Cariboo Stages Leave Ashcroft: The Okanogan-Cariboo Trail Association last Saturday carried off third prize at the annual apple blossom festival at Wenatchee, Washington, with its entry, in the community float class, of one of the old Cariboo stage coaches, which made the run between 150-Mile House and Barkerville. Two of these coaches were recently purchased by the association, one to be used for advertising purposes on all suitable occasions on the British Columbia side of the line, and the other for display in the towns on the Chelan-Okanogan, or State Highway No. 10. The coach used at Wenatchee was taken from Ashcroft to Okanogan, Washington by truck, after which it was hauled by a four-horse team to Wenatchee, where it attracted much attention in the parade. The coach carried advertising for the Okanogan-Cariboo Trail and the Okanogan Rodeo. The trail association aims not only to turn as many tourists as possible from the Sunset Highway into the interior of British Columbia this season, but also to carry on preparatory work for next year, when the Fraser Canyon road will be open, providing a loop route for tourists from the Coast through the Interior district of British Columbia and Washington.
Barkerville Road: The Barkerville road is fast clearing up for wheel traffic, and is expected to be open for autos in two weeks or so. The snow is all gone off the road except between Slough Creek and Stanley, which includes the Devil’s Canyon.
Clinton School: A fine new two-room school is being built in Clinton to accommodate the increasing number of children.
Business Expands: Mr. Hoag went on a business trip to the coast Saturday. On his return he will open, in connection with his barber shop, an ice cream, candy, and soft drink stand in the Payne Hall [Clinton].
Mosquitoes: The mosquito season opened up this week, bigger and better than ever.
Garden Fete: Zion’s annual garden fete meets on Friday, June 12 in the court house grounds (by kind permission), 3:30 to 7 p.m. Strawberries and cream, strawberry short cake, ice cream, sandwiches, and tea.
Swimming: The swimming season is upon us, and several of the local fish had their first dip in the Bonaparte on Sunday.
75 YEARS AGO: MAY 25, 1950
Archdeacon Pugh Buried At Lytton: Lytton Indians carried to the grave a friend who spent most of his 50 years as priest working among them. He was Venerable Edward William Wynn Pugh, from the Anglican Archdeacon of Yale and Lytton, who died in Vancouver last Friday. The friendly Welshman was 80 years of age. He first came to Canada in 1889, returning to England to study for the priesthood the next year. From 1902 to 1909 he worked with the late Archdeacon Small in the Indian mission at Lytton and succeeded him as Archdeacon of Yale. In 1914 he became superintendent of Indian missions in the diocese of Cariboo and Archdeacon of Lytton. He retired in 1927. . . The body was taken to Lytton to rest overnight at St. Barnabas church, with burial service on Thursday at St. Mary and St. Paul, the Indian church. Burial was in Lytton cemetery, site of the first church and in a plot reserved for mission workers. The casket was lowered beside those of the late Mrs. Pugh, and Archdeacon Small. Pallbearers at Lytton were members of the Indian congregation. The late Mrs. Pugh worked at Lytton mission hospital prior to her marriage, and continued her work among Indians for many years. One of the archdeacon’s achievements was translation into the Indian language of many hymns and prayers. He preached to the Indians in their own tongue.
Around Your Hi-School (By L. Louie): The May 24 dance, sponsored by the Ashcroft High School orchestra, was definitely a success. The gay mood of the dance was attributed in part to the lavishly decorated hall. The orchestra kept the crowd happy with a program of all types of dances — novelty as well as standard. We were pleased to see that so many of the parents and Ashcroft citizens turned out to show us a little support. The many visitors were most welcome and we hope they enjoyed themselves. Coffee and doughnuts were served. The orchestra (all 13 of them) wish to extend their sincere thanks to all who helped in any way, regardless of how trivial. We hope you all had the enjoyable evening that we promised you, and perhaps we’ll be able to have another dance soon.
Clinton Clippings: About 50, adults and children, took advantage of the opportunity to receive typhoid inoculations last week. About half of these were booster doses. It is understood that, in proportion to population, this was a considerably larger number than in other centres.
Gas Line To B.C. “Means Boom”: Purchasing agents from three of the largest public utility corporations on the west coast agreed that the proposed natural gas pipeline from Alberta would be the major economic development of the decade for the Pacific Northwest. They estimated the giant pipeline likely would cost a staggering $113,784,000.
50 YEARS AGO: MAY 21, 1975
Plans For 30 Unit O.A.P. Home Heard: The inaugural meeting of the Thompson View Manor Society was held on Thursday evening last in the Legion basement, Ashcroft. The society has been registered under the Societies Act. The hospital, Regional District, Human Resources Department and Health Department have recognized the need for a facility for pensioners, which it is planned will be built on the hospital grounds in Ashcroft. A 30-unit home is planned. The local Lions Club have spearheaded the plan and have been holding various money-raising projects. Several plans have been studied, with visits to existing homes, but no actual plans have been adopted to date. Additional committees will be set up to study financing, furnishings, etc. It was stated grants were available to cover at least 50 per cent of the cost of the project.
Clinton Council Seeks Refinery: Clinton village council sent a telegram Wednesday to Premier Barrett expressing unanimous enthusiasm for the possible location of a provincial oil refinery in the Clinton area. Other sites being considered for the refinery are Surrey and Merritt. Clinton Mayor Grethyll Adams said Wednesday that council was satisfied after the meeting [with B.C. Petroleum Corp. officials] that the refinery would not be detrimental to the area’s environment. The proposed 500-acre site is on 772 square miles of Crown land about 12 miles northeast of Clinton. Mayor Adams said council was told the refinery is to be completed by 1978. She said construction of the project would involve up to 2,000 workers, generating a monthly payroll of $1 million to $2 million. “When completed, the refinery would employ 300 people on a payroll of $3 million annually,” she said. Mayor Adams said the refinery would bring immense social and economic benefits to the area. She said Grade 11 and 12 students currently have to travel 32 miles to Ashcroft each day because there are no school facilities for them in Clinton. The nearest hospital is also at Ashcroft. The economic boom that would be created by a refinery, she said, would enable Clinton to finance such facilities, as well as provide lacking recreational needs. The village has a population of 905.
Rock Hounds Meet At Cache Creek: David Hall, councillor, pinch-hitting for Mayor Art MacLean of Cache Creek, welcomed several hundreds of lapidarists (rock hounds to you) who gathered at Cache Creek last weekend, holding their social events at the Cache Creek Community Hall. The gathering spent four days in our area and came mainly from B.C. points, although several were from Alberta and U.S.A. Field trips were made every day into several areas in the district to gather their gems, such as Back Valley, Upper Hat, Scotty Creek, Savona Mountain, and the Deadman Creek Valley. A gem show was set up in the hall which was open to the public. Educational tours were also enjoyed to the Ashcroft and Clinton museums. The Painted Chasm at 57 Mile also drew a lot of visitors. We have a varied wealth of desired gems to offer in the district. Jasper, agate, and petrified wood are to be found at Upper Hat Creek. Amethyst, Drusy quartz, and Selenite crystals are up Scotty Creek. Green opals are on Savona Mountain, and moss and tube agate, Natrolite crystals, the carmel opal, agate, jasper, and wood in float are all to be found in areas of Back Valley. Deadman Creek offers prospecting opportunities.
Weather: Well, the holiday weekend is over, so maybe our weather will improve. What a weekend! Rain, hail, snow, cold wind, not much sunshine. Wonder how our bedding plants will make out; sure hope they don’t get frozen. The picnickers in the area started going home on Sunday, and who can blame them. They needed their long johns and jackets here.
