125 YEARS AGO: JUNE 30, 1900
The Ashcroft Cure: Alex McArthur, one of Barkerville’s old and respected residents, is sojourning in Ashcroft for a few days, trying the efficacy of hot sun baths which he can get at any degree for his rheumatic trouble. . . Mr. and Mrs. James Walker came down from Clinton last Saturday. Mr. Walker has been suffering quite severely from rheumatism, but is now improving slowly and able to walk about.
Imperial Limited: The C.P.R. are equipping their trains with electric light. Monday night’s Imperial Limited engine was lighted with electricity, the headlight being the most powerful ever seen on an engine here. . . Citizens generally turn out in force to meet the Imperial Limited eastbound. The small boys need to be a little better looked after, however, or there is liable to be a serious accident.
Black Eye: W.C. Morgan has for the past few days been carrying around a black eye. “Billy” claims that it was the result of missing a fly ball while practising the other night, but there are some who have their doubts.
New Manse: The building committee appointed by the congregation of the Presbyterian church have awarded the contract for the erection of a manse to D. Johnson. The price is understood to be about $800, not including the painting. It will be a six-roomed cottage and will be built on Bancroft Street beside the church.
Chicken Record: The 16 chicken man must throw up the sponge. Thirteen chickens from 12 eggs is now reported, which of course settles the 16 to 1 record.
100 YEARS AGO: JUNE 27, 1925
Canyon Highway Will Not Detour: There will be no detour to the North Bend community in the Fraser Canyon highway now under construction, according to Mr. Fred Elkins, manager of the Automobile Club of British Columbia. The club [asked Hon. W.H. Sutherland, minister of public works] for a definite answer as to the government’s intention regarding the detour, which the people of North Bend had proposed. The minister answered that there would be no change in the plans which would cause any delay by a detour to North Bend. Mr. S.M. Ward of North Bend declares there is a misapprehension regarding the detour, which the people of North Bend want. Mr. Ward denies emphatically that the detour would add to the cost or delay construction of the highway.
Weather: During the past week, Ashcroft and district has experienced one of the most intense hot spells that are in the habit of visiting the dry belt about this time of the year, the thermometer registering at times around the 100 mark in the shade. Several parties from Ashcroft visited Kelly Lake on Sunday, where they enjoyed fishing and picnicking in the cool shades along the lake. A few auto parties went to Hat Creek on Sunday, and enjoyed the cool of the higher elevation there.
75 YEARS AGO: JUNE 29, 1950
Old Time Dance Goes Over Big: About $240 was donated to the Aquatic Club to help fill up the swimming pool last week, when the whole town turned out to the “hoe down” dance in the McRae Alfalfa and Feed Mill building kindly loaned by Mr. A.D. McRae and his son Teddy. Johnson Cannon and Mrs. Newton, who came from Mission City to play for the old time dance, started the music at about 9 p.m. and kept ’er going continuously without any intermission, not even for a minute, until 2 a.m. The floor was packed, and if there ever was an old time dance enjoyed, this was. Mr. F. Smith was emcee for the evening, and the ladies of Ashcroft brought sandwiches. The coffee was “brewed” at the Bloom Cafe, and the Gateway Hotel donated milk.
Going To Have Swimming Soon: Ashcroft is going to have a swimming pool, and there is going to be swimming in it by the first of August, so get your swimming briefs out and get ready for the grand opening. About 20 people in Ashcroft have loaned or donated $100 each to the Board of Trade special committee and others, to complete the pool. They need five more willing citizens to reach their objective. However, they are not waiting for the five to come forward: the Aquatic Club is going ahead immediately with plans to finish the pool.
Savona: Sunday dawned bright and warm for the first Savona, Walhachin and District Board of Trade’s annual picnic. The 150 present spent the glorious day by Tunkwa Lake playing various games. Horseshoes were popular with the men all day, also a good baseball game. The children went boat riding, played softball with the mothers, and ate. So much free ice cream and pop. There were hot dogs, and tea and coffee for everyone. About nine entered the fish derby.
The Need For Nurses: Shortage of hospital space in many parts of Canada has hampered the extension of health services, but the construction of new hospitals and additions to present hospital buildings are expected to soon lessen this difficulty. There is, however, another problem which has been brought to the attention of the public by Dr. Charlotte Whitton, C.B.E. This is the serious shortage of nurses, which has been felt for some time now, and which she predicts will become even more acute in the future unless some action is taken. At the present time there are only about 750 nurses graduating each year. Not only the increased number of hospital beds, but the inevitable extension of medical social services throughout the country, will create a need for many more nurses than are now available.
50 YEARS AGO: JUNE 25, 1975
Body Of Suspect Found: RCMP have identified a body taken from the Fraser River at Pitt Meadows as that of Brian Ross Blanchard, 31, wanted in connection with the attempted armed hold-up of a bank car near Lytton June 12, and the murder of one of the robbers. Blanchard’s naked body was found Friday morning at the junction of the Pitt and Fraser Rivers. It was identified by fingerprints. Staff-Sgt. Ron Evans said this morning that the discovery was no great surprise to investigators, as there had been a strong feeling that Blanchard had attempted to cross the river at the hold-up scene to escape police. Tracker dogs traced him to the riverbank near where the bandits’ vehicle crashed, but no trace was found anywhere on the other side. Police assumed Blanchard was swept away in the river and drowned. He would have had to go through Hell's Gate before being found eight days later. Brian Sutherland, 24, was found with a broken leg and two bullets in his chest in the overturned van which tried to run down a Bank of Nova Scotia courier car.
Specified Areas For Complex Discussed: About 25 invited people attended a meeting on Tuesday evening to study specified areas of Ashcroft, Cache Creek, Upper Hat, 16 Mile, Walhachin, Bethlehem Copper, and all lands within this radius for the purpose of the defined area forming a tax base within the Regional District to support a total recreation facility. Village Clerk John Spanier introduced the idea of the recreation complex to serve the areas shown, and stated we should be farsighted enough in our planning to provide facilities to last the district for future years, with everyone sharing capital and operational costs. Ashcroft has over $300,000 (insurance from arena fire), and with the available grants could build a new arena on its own, but would rather act on a sharing basis for a total facility with room for expansion later on. Cache Creek made it clear they wished to stay on their own. It was suggested a neutral zone be chosen for the facility, such as Boston Flats, which didn’t get much support from either council. A good part of the meeting was spent in “nit picking,” which did not improve the purpose for which the meeting was called. “We need an affirmative attitude to the project, not a negative one” was stated. After an hour or more of bickering it was decided to form a committee of six persons: one from each council represented and one each from surrounding areas, taking in the Indian Bands if they wished to participate.
Sneak Thieves: A camper pickup circulated on the Mesa on Thursday night, robbing campers, cars, and trailers. It was pushed when approaching properties to kill the noise, and rocks were thrown into driveways to detect dogs. If no dog barked, they entered and took anything of value, plus car parts.
