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Heritage
Wednesday, June 18th, 2008 by GetawayBC.com
Historic Faces
Nicola Prairie, Penticton Indian Reserve # 3,Trout Creek Ranch, “The Flat,” West Summerland; many names over the years for Summerland; many historic places and faces.
For thousands of years the Okanagan First Nations called Nicola Prairie home and Indian Reserve # 3 was the home to the Pierre family. In 1812 fur traders developed a route to the north through Nicola Prairie. Fur traders on the Brigade Trail, gold miners along the Gold Rush Trail and cattlemen travelling the same route made their way north through the Valley. Many stopped at Priest Camp a settlement near Garnett Lake where Father Nobili founded St. Joseph’s Station in 1845.
In 1887 a trail called the Granite City Wagon Trail linked the Similkameen Valley with the Okanagan and Storehouse Point (Crescent Beach) received supplies from the lake boats. These goods were taken over the trail to the gold mines of the Similkameen.
In the late 1800s the region was still cattle country and young men like George Barclay, E.R. Faulder many more boys from Harrow School in England made their way to the Valley, for a new life…and a little adventure. Some people had already decided that this was a fine place to settle. In 1887 the James Gartrell family travelled from Ontario and started the first commercial orchard in the district.
Meanwhile, the Canadian Pacific Railway was looking for land in BC to develop their own source of fruit for CPR hotels and dining cars. Sir Thomas Shaughnessy, President of the CPR, developed a great love for BC and in 1902, having decided to make an investment; he formed the Summerland Development Company. He hired J. M Robinson to promote the new fruit ranching community and asked wealthy businessmen such as R.B. Angus and Sir Herbert Holt to invest. Prairie Valley in Summerland, where their properties were situated, was then called “Millionaire’s Row.”
A town site grew on the lakeshore where the sternwheelers docked and delivered people and supplies to the blossoming community and exported the fruits to market. It wasn’t long before the lakeside town ran out of growing room and homes and businesses began appearing up on “the Flat.” Developer James Ritchie promoted that area, West Summerland, the present-day town site.
In 1914 the Dominion Experimental Farm was established at Summerland to help the orchardists. A research ornamental garden was part of their studies and still blooms today! By 1916 the Kettle Valley Railway steamed through the region crossing the formidable Trout Creek Canyon with a steel girder bridge ― the largest on the line. A steam train is on the rails again.
Summerland has had its share of notable residents through the years. Renowned pastel artist, a very young Irvine Adams arrived in 1903 with his family. Photographer Mary Spencer, known for her shots of the infamous train robber Billy Miner, chose Summerland for her home in 1906. Robert Service’s poem gave notoriety to a man named Sam McGee and in 1909 Sam could be found living and working in Summerland. Many years later, Canadian playwright George Ryga would continue his work here, his former home now named in his honour. In 1992, Nicole Dunsdon, born and raised in Summerland was chosen the “last” Miss Canada.
The heroes of our community are the men, women and the families who worked and developed the district into a world-renowned fruit growing region and a strong, friendly community.
Discover more of our fascinating history at the Summerland Museum, 9521 Wharton Street.