100 YEARS AGO
April 19, 1919
Auto route to coast
F.W. Anderson, M.P.P. representative of the Kamloops district … has made a special study of the roads in British Columbia, and especially of the proposed routes connecting the interior with Vancouver. With regard to the coast-interior route he says “Good authorities claim that the Dominion government should build, at its own expense, the road from Hope to Spences Bridge. The reason is that the Cariboo road, constructed by the crown colony of British Columbia, was destroyed in 1883 by the Dominion government when the railway was built from Yale to Savona… There is at present road connection between Vancouver and Hope, a distance of 100 miles, thirteen miles of this, from Hope, would need some alteration and improvement. The only portion through which there is no road is from Yale to China Bar, 20 miles in length. From China Bar to Lytton it was possible to drive in 1912, the Indians use the road yet. The section from Lytton to Spences Bridge, 22 miles, would require general renewal, as this road was also destroyed when the Dominion government built the C.P.R.
Local and Otherwise
The Ashcroft Journal has installed a near-new printing press, and has now one of the most up-to-date plants, of its size, in the interior of British Columbia. The boys say that all we require now is an up-to-date editor. Now that we have put in a new press, and producing a cleaner and clearer sheet, the Journal is really WORTH $2.00 a year, so send in your subscriptions.
Work on the new fire hall [Ashcroft] was begun this week. Robert Stoddart is the contractor in charge of the work. The building is being erected on the site of the old one that was destroyed by fire in 1916. It is being built by local public subscription.
April 26, 1919
Many acres being reclaimed near Ashcroft
Thursday afternoon of last week marked a stage in the completion of the Ashcroft Irrigated Lands Company’s undertaking to irrigate that large and valuable tract of land known as the old mill flat. For years this land, through lack of water, has lain idle, baked by the hot winds and summer suns, and edged in literally by the Bonaparte and Thompson rivers… Quite a number of spectators were on hand to view the opening of the new water way, when a portion of the Bonaparte river entered its new artificial channel at the Cache Creek dam. As a result of this initial achievement it is now possible to cultivate on the east bench by gravity system, 700 acres of rich arable land. At the time of writing 300 acres of virgin soil lies seeded with beans, alfalfa, and potatoes… When complete [the work] will mean the converting of a large unproductive area into one of the largest and most profitable ranching properties in this district.
75 YEARS AGO
April 13, 1944
Ashcroft boys meet in Italy
In a letter received recently by Mr. And Mrs. Nick Tofin from their son, Jim, in Italy, he says: “Today I met Lloyd Cumming in our own camp. It was rather odd as there were many coming and going past in front of the shop. Lloyd walked past and had to walk in front of me because of a truck in the way. I did not notice him until he stood before me. We just stared at each other for a minute, then I quit working. Lloyd looks very well, but acts like an older man, and like the rest of us is anxious to get back home. Says he never got any cigarettes for two years, but got a parcel last week from his sister the first in a long time. He is anxious for news from home, and says he feels he is practically a stranger.” And so it’s not such a big world after all, and the boys are no more anxious to get home than we are to have them back.
Clinton raises $1056 in Red Cross drive
To date this Cariboo town has collected $1056.90 in the special Red Cross campaign. Contributions exceed last year’s total and is almost 300 per cent of the quota. An interesting subscription is that of $25 sent in by the Canim Lake Indian Reserve, at a dance put on by the Indians.
April 20, 1944
Work to start on Hell’s Gate fishery project soon
Full authority to proceed with the work of removing barriers in the Fraser River at Hell’s Gate canyon to enable salmon to reach their spawning grounds in the upper reaches of the watershed, has been granted [to] the International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission… The fishway to be constructed is expected to allow the salmon to reach the waters above the canyon by a series of short jumps into levelled basins, instead of having to make two or three leaps of 15 feet or more… Work on the fishway is expected to commence immediately the spring freshet is over. This is likely to be earlier than usual this summer on account of the lack of snow in the interior.
April 27, 1944
Superfluity Shop at Clinton May 24
The Clinton Red Cross is planning another Superfluity Shop for May 24… It is hoped that as spring cleaning gets under way, that oddity will be brought to light and stored-away articles that have been put away as “they might come in useful some day.” Well, that day has come: given to the Superfluity Shop it will mean money in the cash register to aid service men on the front line and prisoners-of-war in enemy camps.
50 YEARS AGO
April 17, 1969
Cache Creek Park vote April 18
A plebiscite regarding the acquisition of 6.68 acres of land for a park site will be held on Friday, April 18 at the Village Office at Cache Creek. If you are on the voters list for the Village of Cache Creek and interested in its administration, use your franchise, it’s free. VOTE ANY WAY YOU LIKE—BUT VOTE!
Cache Creek news
Cache Creek is taking on a new look for spring. The Tastee Freez was moved from the Esso property to McAbee’s Chevron Service last week. The Sandman Motel building will soon be in operation at the rate it is going, and will be an added attraction to the village.
April 24, 1969
Cache Creek Park By-law passes
Results of the Park By-law vote held Friday, April 18 are as follows. Yes: 43. No: 14. 69% for. Ballots used 62, electors qualified 183, spoiled ballots 5.
May 1, 1969
Skeleton found
A skeleton found Tuesday morning on the Casadio Lot Site about a mile east of Cache Creek, is believed to be of Indian extraction. A spear head was also found among the old bones. [Note: A picture of the skull and spear head appeared on the front page of the May 8 issue of The Journal.]
At Gateway Super Market, Ashcroft: Scotties facial tissues, box of 100: 3 for 49 cents. Beans & pork, 14 oz. tins: 2 for 29 cents. Bacon, sliced, 1 lb.: 69 cents. Dutch Dairy butter, 1 lb.: 71 cents. Florida grapefruit: 12 for 99 cents. Bulk wieners, 2 lbs.: 89 cents.
Fire season starts May 1
The 1969 forest fire season starts today. L.F. Swannell, Chief Forester for the B.C. Forest Service, reports resources of the service are ready to combat fires anywhere in the province. More than 750 trained forest protection personnel (in 106 Ranger Districts) will be ready to organize and direct firefighting operations. Specially trained and equipped initial attack crews will be stationed at strategic locations throughout the province, and arrangements have been made for the use of aircraft to assist in spotting and fighting the blazes, and to transport personnel and equipment. Last year there were 1,647 forest fires in B.C. and they burned about 33,800 acres [13,678 hectares] with timber and other losses of about $680,000.
25 YEARS AGO
April 19, 1994
Suggestion prompts meet with OAPO
A letter from the OAPO, suggesting a use for the old Coppervale School site, prompted Ashcroft Mayor Andy Kormendy to seek an opportunity to address the group. Council reviewed a letter from Branch #111 of the OAPO at the April 11 Council meeting. OAPO President Ron Sheppard stated in the letter that the old school property had been discussed by the group. “It was the consensus of opinion that it would make an ideal Senior Citizen Mobile Home Park, within walking distance of shopping and the Medical Centre.” Sheppard went on to say that the property could accommodate a large number of homes which seniors could move into quickly without the worry of grass cutting, gardening etc. Mayor Kormendy pointed out that Council was presently encouraging people to consider the site for various purposes. “We’ve put out an opportunity for a business plan for the site and at this point it is under negotiation.”
April 26, 1994
Firehall funded
The Corporation of the Village of Cache Creek has received approval of a $100,000 BC 21 Community Projects award to construct a two-bay firehall. “BC 21 funds will be used to replace the existing one-bay hall, now inadequate to meet the community’s needs,” said [Yale-Lillooet MLA Harry] Lali. “The hall will house training and office facilities for approximately 25 volunteer firefighters, and serve residents of Cache Creek and surrounding area. The volunteer firefighters’ association has shown tremendous support through its numerous fundraising activities to help finance the new firehall.”
“The proposed hall will more than adequately serve the fire protection needs of the community well into the 21st century,” said Village Mayor John Ranta.
editorial@accjournal.ca
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