125 YEARS AGO: JAN. 13, 1900
Dance (1): The first dance of the Thursdays’ Club turned out to be a great success, there being 16 couples present. It is the first of a series of fortnightly social reunions of the young people of Ashcroft, and we are sure all that were present on Thursday evening last had a most enjoyable time and will eagerly look forward to the next one. The music furnished by the orchestra was all that could be desired.
Dance (2): A pleasant impromptu dance was given by the ladies of the Ashcroft Hotel last week, Wednesday night. A large number of invited guests enjoyed themselves greatly. There was good music, and late in the morning a bountiful lunch was served. All attending the party voted it the pleasantest of the season.
Productive Visit: Henry Harvey, of the well-known firm of Harvey Bailey & Co., returned on Monday from a visit of some days’ duration at Victoria. It is rumoured that Mr. Harvey did not spend all of his time in the purchase of goods for his house. Well, the Scriptures say “it is not good for man to be alone,” and the well-known proverb says it is “never too late to mend.”
Good Stock: Messrs. Harvey Bailey & Co.’s store is so crowded with complete lines of standard groceries, clothing, hardware, dress goods, etc., that they are unable to show in the main store the splendid line of crockery ware, including dishes and bedroom sets, which they carry, but if you just mention it they will be delighted to show you these goods.
Warm Weather: No curling and no skating this week. People will begin to talk about putting in their garden seeds if this weather continues long.
100 YEARS AGO: JAN. 10, 1924
Work To Begin Soon: Marking the start of provincial highway construction, a camp has been opened at Popkum. A second will be started at Laidlaw. Three new stretches of highway are planned for this year. They are being started as weather permits and as surveys are completed. The first of these is at Jones Hill and the second through the Sumas reclamation area. The third is the 50-mile scenic highway through the newly-created National Park in the Fraser Canyon. It will connect Yale and Lytton, and run through a wild country claimed to be unequalled across the continent for natural beauty. It is expected to be opened in 1925. Survey parties are at work along the new Sumas road, a cut-off from an already existing rock road. The detour over Vedder Mountain will be eliminated, and soon tourists in flocks will be able to enjoy the beautiful drive through the Fraser Valley to Hope without suffering the present rough and dangerous road around Jones Hill. When the Canyon extension is put through, an unsurpassed scenic route to the Thompson River will be open.
T.G. McBride, MP, In Ashcroft; Federal Member For Cariboo Hears Board Of Trade Questions: T.G. McBride, MP for Cariboo in the Federal House, met the Ashcroft and District Board of Trade at its regular monthly meeting. The meeting evolved itself into a question bureau, touching many matters of vital importance to Ashcroft and district and the province generally. Among the questions taken up with the member were drilling for alkali deposits in the soda lakes in the vicinity of Ashcroft and in the Lillooet district; telephone communication between the coast and the interior; beautifying of the grounds of the Ashcroft public building [now the museum]; Oriental immigration; northern mails to Prince George and vicinity, which at present go in via Calgary and Edmonton; local mails on the C.N.R.; trans-provincial highway; and the Fraser Canyon national park. The Ashcroft board of trade was unanimous when it came to a vote in favour of the government creating a national preserve of that part of the province. Mr. McBride assured the meeting that he would use every effort to secure legislation and support in all the above matters, although he held out little hope for telephone communications with the coast at present owing to the high financial condition of the government at this time.
St. Alban’s Sunday School Party: St. Alban’s Sunday School party was held in the community hall after the Clinton-Ashcroft hockey match on Jan. 3. All the children were there and had the time of their young lives. The tea was a gorgeous affair — not that the children gorged themselves, however.
75 YEARS AGO: JAN. 12, 1975
Snow Plow Busy On Trans-Canada: On Wednesday Messrs. O’Brien and Dillon, who operate the four-wheel-drive snowplow from Lillooet, cleaned the snowdrifts from the highway from Lillooet to main Cariboo Road, down to Cache Creek through to Ashcroft Manor and on to Spences Bridge on the Trans-Canada Highway. They commenced early Wednesday morning and carried on the clearing late at night to keep roads open for the travelling public.
An Appreciation: Just an appreciation to Mr. Allcock, public works general foreman, Lillooet, and our Public Works road crews. We are indeed fortunate in having such a splendid body of cooperative men to look after our roads. We particularly wish to commend Messrs. O’Brien and Dillon of the Lillooet headquarters staff for their long arduous hours in a four-wheel-drive snow plow: 48 hours without sleep. They came over and opened the Trans-Canada highway, rescuing members of snowed-in cars during Dec. 31 to Jan. 2, when heavy snow and wind drifted over the right of way.
Deadman Creek Isolated: In olden days before the auto, when snow storms blocked the road with snow drifts, it didn’t matter, because we just hitched old Dobbin to the sleigh and rode over it all. But in these modern times, all of us haven’t an old Dobbin to fall back on, and the truck or car is useless trying to go through drifts, so it means isolation. This is the case up Deadman Creek. Since the first snowstorm two weeks ago residents have been unable to get out owing to the road being blocked by snow drifts. Residents who have no horse or sleigh are like the teddy bear “hibernating” until such time as public works plows the road out. We shudder to think what would happen if a serious accident or illness occurred up there. [The “Dobbin” reference is from the popular song “Put On Your Old Grey Bonnet” (written in 1909 and sung by various artists through the 1940s), which contains the lyrics “Put on your old grey bonnet with the blue ribbon on it / While I hitch old Dobbin to the shay”.]
Huge Selling Out Sale At Clinton: At Clinton Mr. J. Steinberg, manager, is selling out the entire stock of the former Clinton Hardware store. The sale opens on Saturday, and there are unheard of bargains, such as four quarts of paint for $1.
Around Your Hi-School (By L. Louie): Cold weather doesn’t dampen the spirits of the faithful old “Lady Byngers”. Despite frigid temperatures outside and inside, we trudge to school. This is rather exaggeration, perhaps, but nevertheless, it has been rather uncomfortable attending classes these first few days. The downstairs rooms are too cold, so all four grades (9–12) are in one room. This creates minor difficulties, but all is going well, and no cases of pneumonia have been reported yet.
Much Interest In Art School: Classes in oil painting, water colour, theatre design, and make-up began on Monday evening under the direction of Mr. C. Robinson of the University Extension Services at the Lady Byng School. Twenty-one persons are taking the courses, the majority trying oil painting. Classes are being held both afternoon and evening, and good attendances are turning out in spite of the cold weather. This is Ashcroft’s first attempt at Adult Education classes. It is hoped there will be enough interest shown to warrant the effort made by those responsible for the organization work, and that it may result in further courses being established.
N.H.L. Sport Notes; Left-Hand Shots Predominate: Only three of the 11 leading goal getters after the first 61 games of the season fired the puck from the right-hand side. All the rest were left-handed shots. Those propelling the puck from the right side were Ted Kennedy, Gordie Howe, and Johnny Peirson. The left-hand shots were Maurice Richard, Ted Lindsay, Metro Prystal, Gaye Stewart, Max Bentley, Paul Ronty, Sid Abel, and Bert Olmstead.
50 YEARS AGO: JAN. 8, 1975
Tingley Street To Be Widened: That controversial pole left in the centre of Tingley Street when it was upgraded and surfaced will no longer hold the centre spot. The Village of Ashcroft council, with Alderman Ron Yates, chairman of the Public Works Committee, has worked out what they hope will be a solution to the problem of that blankety-blank pole. Instead of moving the pole they have decided to move the street another 15 feet toward the swimming pool side, thus widening the street and hopefully improving drivers’ ability to see over the short steep grade approaching it. Perhaps filling in and building up the grade to a more gradual climb might help too.
Less Game: Whether we care to believe it or not, game is getting steadily scarcer in this section of the South Cariboo, both game birds and animals. Very few grouse were taken compared even to last year, and if you got a deer or moose you were just plain lucky.
Spences Bridge: A request to anyone who sees the Rocky Mountain Sheep grazing alongside the road to leave them alone. This is their winter feed and anyone chasing them to get a closer look is molesting them. Signs will appear for prosecution to protect these animals, so beware.
Loon Lake: We wish to urge the residents of the area to make good use of the new library service at the Loon Lake hall. Hours on Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. Remember this service is available to all residents of the area, and if you don’t read much, there should be “how to” and bird books, or in whatever field your interest lies.
RCMP Ashcroft Detachment Report: The local detachment experienced a very quiet Christmas and New Year’s holiday, and have seen little crime in the area. The extensive patrols by members of the detachment resulted in eight drinking drivers being charged over the Christmas holidays, and it would appear that our warnings to the drivers prior to the holidays were not heeded. We are pleased to note that vandalism and minor crime in the Ashcroft area has decreased considerably with the opening of the Drylands Arena, and the Arena Commission has our full support for programs they are running. In our opinion this recreational facility is a definite asset to the community.