125 YEARS AGO: JAN. 27, 1900
Dance: A very pleasant dance was given at the Cargile House on Tuesday night. Quite a number of town people were present and several from up the road. Supper was served.
Traveller: Mr. R. Carson of Pavilion came in last night, accompanied by three of his children, who are going to the coast. Mr. Carson reports everything all right on the mountain but considers a little snow would do good.
Business Locals: Amongst a late shipment of groceries, Messrs. Harvey and Bailey have received a splendid cereal, “Breakfast Gem,” made from wheat. They have also a nice lot of pickled olives. F.W. Foster has an extra fine assortment of canned goods, pickles, honey, and maple syrup that is genuine.
Low Crime: In reply to a reader in Vancouver of the article “A Glorious Climate,” appearing in last week’s issue of this paper, who enquired if the climate of Ashcroft would cure kleptomania, as quite a number were thus afflicted in that city: we have to say that this disease, whether mild or acute, has not been experimented with here. In the common acceptation of the word, there is no room for that class of patient in Ashcroft, inasmuch as the climate is too “warm” for crooks, pickpockets, and bunco men. It can be recommended to our reader friend in the moist city by the sea as a safe remedy for any form of inanity.
100 YEARS AGO: JAN. 24, 1925
Masons’ First Annual Ball: The first annual ball of the local branch of the Masonic Order took place last evening in the community hall. The entertainment also included dining in the lower room. Refreshments were served and the affair proved one that will be long remembered by the people of Ashcroft, not only owing to the enjoyment, but to the courtesy shown by the Masonic Lodge as well. Music for the dance was supplied by a Kamloops orchestra.
Walhachin: Judging by the number of people from here due to attend the first annual ball given by the Zarthan Lodge in Ashcroft as we go to press, there will be one of the biggest crowds on record there. So every time we tread on our partner’s toes, we’ll hope she will blame it on the crowd.
“Old Bom” Dead: “Old Bom," a Chinese who has spent the greater part of his life in the interior of British Columbia, died a few days ago in his cabin. The funeral took place at the local Chinese cemetery. Old Bom was for many years employed by the late Doc English, and in his death a familiar figure has been removed from the streets of Ashcroft.
Coast Interior Telephone: The matter of a telephone from the coast to the interior has been put up to the department of telegraphs. At a meeting held in Kamloops a few days ago attended by Mr. C.E. Gooding, district superintendent, Ashcroft, Mr. Gooding was asked to secure particulars and estimates of cost of line from this point to connect with existing lines in the Fraser Valley. This looks like business, and in all probability the new line will follow the Fraser Canyon highway.
Clinton Clippings: The skating party given at the rink on Thursday evening last was well attended and very much enjoyed by those present. Hot coffee and lunch were serve à la carte.
Ice Harvest: The ice harvest is in full swing in Ashcroft. A number of businessmen, including the P. Burns meat market and Tom Belshaw’s ice cream parlour, are filling their larders.
Subscriptions: The Ashcroft Journal has sent out several hundred subscription statements. If you receive one, respond immediately, because “we need the money.”
75 YEARS AGO: JAN. 26, 1950
Skating Rink: The floodlights are now up and operating, and the public have been enjoying night skating. The skating rink has been a godsend to the children of the town, and they have been enjoying many hours of clean outdoor recreation. It is hoped all parents will buy their children tickets, because there is expense to operating the rink and must be paid. A one year fee for children over seven is $1; adults, $2; family tickets $3. Those not wishing to pay for a ticket must pay 25¢ each time they skate. The children have been skating since before Christmas, and now that the skating rink has been revived it is hoped that everyone in Ashcroft will help carry it on each year. So let’s all get behind the efforts of the willing, and maybe we can have curling next year along with skating.
Around Your Hi-School (By L. Louie): Four brand new floodlights are now in operation at our rink. They are quite effective, but not quite adequate for hockey games. The girls have recruited enough players for two teams, and are going to try their hand at the game which has been classed as a real “he-man’s” game! The boys have expressed their opinion with snickers and jeering, but we are determined to carry on!
Clinton Hockey: Two hockey games were played here this week. On Friday evening the Lac La Hache team lost to the Clinton men’s team 5–4. It was a hard-fought, exciting game with only one penalty. On Sunday evening Clinton’s men’s team played Kamloops Falcons, the best intermediate team in that city. They battled every inch of the way to a score of 3–1 in favour of Kamloops. There was a big turnout to watch and cheer each game. The coffee stall was a most popular spot, as were the stoves which were surrounded by crowds lined up six deep to warm their feet between periods.
Weather In Ashcroft: The extreme cold revived itself and was again 32 below zero on Wednesday. There have been no trains since last Thursday. Owing to the blocking of both railways, the CPR and CNR, many stranded passengers were flown from Kamloops to Penticton, thence to Vancouver; 280 in all reached their destination via this airlift. Freight also reached its destination via this route. Mail is being sent to Quesnel via Greyhound and from there it is being flown to and from the coast. Roads are being kept open north on Cariboo No. 2, Trans-Canada from Lytton, Spences Bridge, Ashcroft, Cache Creek, Kamloops, east. We understand the Hope-Princeton is open. Ashcroft has seen 32 below zero before, cold blizzard winds, but 25 and three-quarters inches of snow in one winter must be a record, because that is the total measurement to date, and it is snowing out as we go to press.
Pipe Problems: Alf North and helpers of the Ashcroft Water, Electric, and Improvement Co. have been busy the past few weeks thawing out pipes. There are very few who have escaped frozen water pipes in town.
Emergency Radio Station Here: The Canadian section of the American Radio Relief Emergency Corps, composed of Amateur Radio Stations, has been organized in BC. for about a year. Stations across the province equipped with emergency apparatus to operate independently of the power mains are members of this corps. Harold M. Fryer’s own station, V57ALJ, is ready in case of disruption to all normal communication channels, to handle urgent traffic. In case of an emergency when there is no other method of sending messages, please contact Mr. Fryer. Third party greeting messages may be relayed by amateur radio at any time.
50 YEARS AGO: JAN. 22, 1975
Ashcroft-Cache Creek Citizens Of The Year: Mrs. Reta Fooks is the Ashcroft Citizen of the Year this year, and the Cache Creek Citizen of the Year is Bill Chernenkoff. Reta is well-known in the community. Over the years she has given countless hours of her time and energy, her talents and interest, and she has worked long hours at jobs that often go unnoticed or are taken for granted. In fact, she is one of the most outstanding service workers in the community. She founded the first Legion Ladies Auxiliary in Ashcroft in the early forties and has been president twice. Whenever and whatever help is needed, Reta has usually been around to contribute, and her good-humoured energetic self has been much appreciated over the years. Bill arrived in Cache Creek with his parents in 1956 and has worked in the area since then. A familiar face at most community “dos” over the years, he is as much at home calling Bingos or MC-ing a dance or floor show as he is in his present position as chairman of the school board. To newcomers of the area, Bill is probably best known for his work with boys in the Scouting movement, where he heads up three groups: Cubs, Scouts, and Ventures. [The awards were presented by the Kinsmen Club of South Cariboo.]
Derailment Near Spences Bridge: There was a train wreck about a mile south of Spences Bridge last Friday, when 10 cars and three robot engines left the track. Traffic was held up about three hours while a freight car and debris was pushed off the highway. Cars and trucks were backed up for more than a mile on each side of the wreck. Hydro crews were on the scene to replace about three snapped-off poles and string new wire. The freight cars dropped and rolled down a 50' embankment onto the side of the Trans-Canada. Two other freight cars were derailed about 300 feet from the other eight cars and the three robot engines. The wreck occurred about half-a-mile towards Spences Bridge, where two engineers lost their lives early last summer. The cause of the derailment is believed to be from a split rail. No injuries were reported.
Avalanche Cuts Road: In the Fraser Canyon, traffic was being convoyed today by snowplows and trucks between Hope and Yale because of a danger of snowslides. On Sunday four buses were trapped in the canyon by heavy snow for almost eight hours until the road was plowed out. The weather system dropped two feet of snow in the Fraser Canyon.
Quotes From Lytton: We have all heard about Cow Town (Chicago); well, Lytton should be named Dog Town. It is unbelievable that so many dogs are out on the loose. I have never seen a dog on a leash. It is a good thing that we don’t have mail delivery or the poor mail man would need a new seat of pants every day. Why doesn’t this City Council smarten up and do something about it.
Snowmobile Racing Goes Unisex For First Time: Move over, Billie Jean King! Women’s Lib has come to British Columbia snowmobile racing. For the first time ever, the girls are competing against the men on equal terms in B.C. Snow Vehicle Association-sanctioned Mark Ten Regional race-meets throughout the province. Midway through the season, at least three of the former “powder puff” competitors are all in the running for a “Unisex” B.C. total-points championship. Nancy Walter of Vernon, who seemed to be on her way to dominance in the 340 super stock class, was sidelined at least temporarily by an injury in the all-female “powder puff” event at last weekend’s meet in Vernon. “As far as I’m concerned, those female-tigers in the powder puff can be fiercer competitors than the men,” sighs Nancy. “We should call it the Powder Keg.”
