125 YEARS AGO: APRIL 15, 1899
Gold At Ashcroft: The Thompson river bed along by Ashcroft has been located for dredging purposes within the past few days, and we have promise of dredging being undertaken in the near future. There is gold in the river bed, and along the bars hundreds of Indians and Chinamen rock every season. May the parties make a success, say we.
Water Works: A splendid lot of machinery for the Ashcroft water works has arrived from the Wm. Hamilton Manufacturing Co. of Peterborough, Ont. It is a portion of the immense pumping plant to be installed on the Bonaparte for pumping water onto Boston flat and the surrounding section. The capacity of the first pump installed will be about 9,000 gallons per minute, elevated about 20 feet by electric power. This equals between 700 and 800 miners’ inches of water and is a small river in itself.
Metropolitan Opera Co.: That which promises to be the society event of the season is the coming of that superior organization, The Metropolitan Opera Co., numbering 30 people. This is the first opportunity our music-loving public have had to see comic opera, and the company appear here on their way east to Winnipeg. They have just finished a week’s engagement at Vancouver, their second visit there in two months, and have this open date. It is not often our citizens are favoured with a treat like this, and it will no doubt be a welcome event to all.
Boardwalk: A new seven-foot plank walk is in contemplation, down three blocks of Brink Street. It will much improve the street and should be done by all means.
Gone Fishing: Trout fishing is now the order of the day and good catches are reported. The Thompson River rainbow trout are caught weighing from ½ pound to as high as nine pounds, are gamey and of splendid flavour. It is yet early in the season for good sport.
100 YEARS AGO: APRIL 12, 1924
Draw Tourists Into Cariboo And Okanagan: Historic Cariboo and the famous Okanagan valley are featured in the activities of a new highway association which has been created recently. This organization comprises the towns of the American Okanagan and in the Canadian Okanagan, as well as Kamloops and the Cariboo. Similkameen and Nicola points are invited to join. Energies of the association are devoted towards attracting tourists up from Wenatchee and inducing them to travel through the Okanagan and its Canadian sister Okanagan into the Cariboo country and back south by way of Kamloops, Merritt, and Penticton. A heavy flow of tourists is expected this year.
Ashcroft Tourist Camp: The question of a Tourist Camp for autoists during the coming season was taken up at the recent Board of Trade meeting, and it was decided to have two camps: one for short stops being Potlatch Park, located in the heart of the town and convenient to both business and residential sections; the other, intended for those wishing a longer stay and suburban surroundings, being Bonaparte Park located in an ideal situation on the north bank of the Bonaparte River and adjacent to the main highway. Looking up stream is the somewhat ancient and picturesque traffic bridge and the beautiful Bonaparte Canyon, which even local residents never tire of looking at, while downstream a short distance below the Camp the Bonaparte enters the fast-flowing Thompson River, the home of the famous Thompson River trout. On the higher ground, on a level with the highway, the ground is laid out for the parking of cars, while on a lower bench leading down to the river, the ground is laid out for tent sites. On the flat opposite the camp on the south bank it is intended to make a clean up and lay out a ball ground, where athletic sports may be indulged in. As the camp and grounds are within easy reach of Ashcroft, it is hoped the citizens generally will take an interest in the place and help make the stay of visiting tourists one of pleasure and kindly remembrance.
Fire Risk: As the summer season approaches, the fire risk increases, and it was pointed out that although representations had been made to the government as to the fire risk on the Ashcroft bridge, nothing had as yet been done in the matter. The Secretary [of the Board of Trade] was instructed to draw the department’s attention to the necessity of having the water system carried on the bridge and requesting immediate action in the matter.
City In Grip Of Epidemic: An outbreak of measles in Prince George has assumed the dimensions of an epidemic, and it has been found necessary to close all but two rooms in the city schools. Previous to closing, as many as 50 per cent of the pupils of some rooms were absent.
75 YEARS AGO: APRIL 14, 1949
Board Of Trade Plans Museum: There was a good attendance at the Board of Trade meeting held last week. After an encouraging talk on the possibilities of relocating the museum [above the Journal office] collected and supervised by R.D. Cumming, a committee was formed to look into locations for a site for the erection of a museum, library, and Board of Trade office with sanitation facilities combined.
New Road? The road on the east side of the Thompson River from Spences Bridge to Savona was discussed at length, and it was pointed out that the route would shorten the distance approximately 21 miles. It is hoped that the Trans-Canada route will follow this side.
Local Items: Mr. N.T. Cooper and Mr. Throckaid of Deadman Creek were business visitors in town Monday. They were making inquiries about a bulldozer to bulldoze Deadman Creek before high water, as last year’s flood changed course and flooded valuable land.
Collision: Bill Evans, while coming home from Kamloops Sunday, collided with a deer on the Savona hill, upsetting his motor bike and receiving several bruises. The deer evidently was not hurt as it disappeared. Bill is now going around all bandaged up and limping.
Clinton Pro Rec Dance A Success: The Pro Rec hard times dance last Friday was a most successful event, a large crowd attending. It was nice to see several cars from the Lone Butte district. Prizes for the most suitably dressed were won by Betty Kostering, who was daintily attired in flour sacks, and Bob McLaughlin, whose garments seemed to “have had it”! They had certainly seen better days long ago! Many variety dances lent zest to a very enjoyable evening. The Pro Rec funds benefited to the tune of $100.10 net. It was music by the Clinton Musicmakers.
50 YEARS AGO: APRIL 11, 1974
Vandalism At Ashcroft Swimming Pool Causes Extensive Damage: The Ashcroft swimming pool is being subjected to senseless vandalism the past few years. After the pool was drained this spring by Village crews, rocks as big as footballs and bigger littered the bottom of the pool. Not content with this, the guilty party broke into the washrooms and messed them up; broke all the transit windows, and damaged the springboard and other parts of the pool. It is estimated it will cost between $2,000 and $3,000 to fix it up. Just exactly what senseless idiot would do such a thing, when the facility was built purposely for them to enjoy during swimming season. Is this the thanks the Village, taxpayers, and others who helped build the pool deserve for their efforts? Or doesn’t anyone care any more? The stampede buildings were damaged and the arena broken into and damaged, and we hear of windows being broken. When and who is going to stop it? It has been suggested a night patrol be put on and curfew installed.
Day Care Centre Goes Ahead: A day care centre for three- to six-year-old children will open its doors this spring. The Board of Directors of the Ashcroft-Cache Creek Day Care Society has been advised that their application for provincial groups has been approved. Some 1,400 square feet of the Community Resources Building [now the Ashcroft village office building] will get a face-lift, and the space will eventually accommodate up to 25 pre-school children. The Day Care centre is not simply a babysitting service for working mothers. Under the direction of trained staff, the Centre will provide a wide variety of educational and socializing experiences.
Historical Society? Anyone interested in the history of Ashcroft? Perhaps you have some facts from “way back when”. A Historical Society could benefit our community immensely by creating a renewed interest in Ashcroft’s contribution to the history of our province.
Madhatters’ Tea: The Madhatters’ tea and bake sale on Friday afternoon last by the O.O.R.P. at the Elks Hall drew some real snazzy hats on display. They were made out of egg cartons, metallic pie plates, oven mats, and had just about everything but the kitchen sink on them. Even so, they were very attractive. Mrs. D. McLaughlin awarded the prize to Mrs. Anne Zabotel, who had made a dainty white straw with a small top and double brim with pink rosettes between the brims, dainty and lovely for spring.