In 1949 comes a push for Ashcroft to pursue incorporation

125 YEARS AGO: MAY 27, 1899

Letter: “The B.C. Mining Journal comes to us this week under a new name, the Ashcroft Journal. It commences its fifth year with the last issue, which is newsy, clean, bright, and dignified as have been all the numbers received at this office in the past. Evidently the people of Ashcroft and its surroundings know a good newspaper man and how to appreciate him by the way they support brother Reynolds’ efforts to give them a paper.”

Kamloops: We believe that before another years rolls around Kamloops will be a well known and prosperous mining camp. With the Pothook, the Iron Mask, and the Cherry Creek mines so far advanced that they are known absolutely to be valuable, and many other properties looking well so far as they are developed, Kamloops has every reason to expect to be counted among the prosperous mining towns of British Columbia in the near future.

[Palmer Mountain Prospector]

Notice To Prospectors: We are requested by Mr. Walter Langley to say to any prospectors visiting the Oregon Jack creek section, from which Mr. Langley has a flume leading toward his ranch, that he asks them to kindly refrain from walking in the flume, as some have thoughtlessly done, as it is likely to do damage to the bottom and cause a leakage.

Smoking Concert: A pleasant smoking concert was given on Wednesday night by [Journal editor] Dr. F.S. Reynolds at his home and was largely attended by the male population of Ashcroft, who took the house and held it against all comers until the small hours of the night were well registered. Smoking, eating, singing, and story telling was the program.

Champagne Consumption: Twenty-one bottles of champagne in a morning by a small party is not a bad record. It was made in Ashcroft one day this week and was not a noisy day either.

Weather Report: Bountiful rains of late have made the surrounding ranches look a hundred per cent better, and trees and gardens in Ashcroft have been much improved by the late rains… J.T. Wilkinson reports the roads as impassable above Quesnelle and not good into the Forks.

100 YEARS AGO: MAY 24, 1924

Billboards: Just at the time when other sections of the province and other countries have signed the death warrant of the billboard, the town of Ashcroft has been invaded by that eyesore system of advertising merchandise. It would seem that the march of civilization is driving the billboard further back into the interior, even as it drives wolves back into the forests. Evidently the plastering of fences and sides of buildings with advertising signs took place in Ashcroft without a voice being raised against it. Of course, in an unorganized [unincorporated] town like Ashcroft, the people are more or less helpless in such a matter; and, although objectors may be laughed at for their sentiment in connection with glaring advertisements on fences and buildings, such decorations are certainly very cheapening to the town of Ashcroft.

No Official Highway: Speaking in Kamloops on Monday, Premier Oliver stated that there appeared to be in some quarters a misunderstanding of the announcement of the trans-provincial highway route, due to local jealousies. Kamloops was not sidetracked, he declared. The highway would emerge from the mountain pass at Spences Bridge, a point from which there was connection with all sections of the Interior. The consideration was the needs of B.C. as a whole, the object being to connect up all the trunk roads of the province in one fine system, giving the best possible service to all.

Road Work: Some good work has been done on the Cariboo road between Ashcroft and Clinton during the past few weeks. Many ancient holes have been filled up, and in places they have the constituency of a pavement.

Hot Spell: During the past few weeks the interior of the province is suffering from an unprecedented dry and hot spell for this time of the year. Although creeks and rivers are running high, little of the water is being stored for future use.

75 YEARS AGO: MAY 26, 1949

Ashcroft To Incorporate: The next regular meeting of the Ashcroft and District Board of Trade will be held on Thursday, and all interested in the incorporation of Ashcroft are invited to attend. Three members of the Board of Trade have been taking a survey of the population of the village this week, and will report at the regular meeting. Other members of a committee set up are gathering information and data to be presented to the meeting for discussion, such as boundaries, procedure, petition, etc. There has been considerable agitation for the past year or two to get the town incorporated, and thus put it on a par with other villages in the province. It was felt that Ashcroft has grown in such proportions, that an authoritative hand is needed to govern and help undertake the progress that is creeping into all interior towns. There were a few who objected, we understand, to incorporation, on the presumption that taxes would go sky-high. But when it was explained that men like themselves would govern the affairs, and that only through a plebiscite could huge amounts of monies be spent, the feeling has somewhat landed in favour of corporation.

Modern Auto Court For Ashcroft: Mr. G. Greatrix, who purchased the flats [where the River Inn and Legacy Park are now located] from L.W. Cumming some time ago, has his dad Mr. J.E. Greatrix on the ground with carpenters, erecting cabins. Mr. Greatrix cleared the flats of houses and had it bulldozed last year in readiness for the auto court, and we understand, owing to not being able to find a contractor, could not commence building operations. Mr. Greatrix, Sr. is an expert auto court builder, and has had years of experience, and when finished there will be about 24 duplex cabins, and single cottages, all stuccoed and plastered, and modern in every way. As time goes on the grounds will be landscaped with rockeries, trees, and shrubs. This is welcome news to Ashcroft.

Good Turn Out For School Sports; Good Weather And No Mosquitoes Favour Picnic: “The 24th of May is the Queen’s Birthday, if we don’t get a holiday we’ll all run away.” This was a rhyme we used to sing in the old days, but today it is almost forgotten. However, at the historic event this year good weather attended the event, and the children went into the sports with a true 24th of May spirit.

50 YEARS AGO: MAY 23, 1974

Please Warn Children: Children have been observed crawling between and under railroad cars on CPR property. These children are on their way to school and are living on the Mesa Vista Subdivision. If the train began to move as the children were crawling under, they wouldn’t have a chance. Parents are asked to warn the children of the danger and to see that they do not go near the railway at any time.

Ashcroft Pool: Water time is here and the long-awaited opening of the newly-renovated Ashcroft pool has happened, with all the prospects for a good season of swimming and associated water sports. However, the pool is in need of three or four mothers who could donate four hours of their time two or three times a week to act as cashiers.

No Ghosts For 85 Years: Ashcroft is not that bad a place yet, as has been publicized. We have been here 85 years, and have yet to become a ghost town, as a few would have us think.