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Cedarvale, British Columbia

Cedarvale or Meanskinisht is an unincorporated community in the Skeena region of west central British Columbia. Concentrated on the southeastern shore of the Skeena River, no direct link exists to the portion on the northwestern shore.[1] On BC Highway 16, the locality is by road about 130 kilometres (81 mi) northwest of Smithers and 75 kilometres (47 mi) northeast of Terrace.

Cedarvale
Cedarvale
Location of Cedarvale in British Columbia
Coordinates: 55°01′09″N 128°19′50″W / 55.01917°N 128.33056°W / 55.01917; -128.33056
Country Canada
Province British Columbia
RegionSkeena
Regional districtKitimat–Stikine
Time zoneUTC-8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
Area codes250, 778, 236, & 672
Highways Hwy 16 (TCH)
WaterwaysSkeena River

Name origin edit

Prior to the arrival of Europeans, the settlement on the northwest shore was called Gitlusec.[2] The later mission settlement was named Meanskinisht (with variations such as Minskinish), which means "under the pitch pines". The subsequent general community was called Cedarvale, which alluded to the cedars growing around the former landing.[3]

Mission and First Nations edit

In 1888, Rev. Robert Tomlinson and his First Nations followers founded the hamlet on opposite banks of the river.[4]

Supplied by flumes from the creek, a water-powered sawmill was installed on the northwest shore.[5] Being the only mill in the district, timber was produced both for local demand[6] and for as far away as Hazelton.[7]

During the first few years, the group depended upon canoe transport to obtain supplies from the coast. In 1891, the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) S.S. Caledonia began a service from the coast to Hazelton.[8] Prior to the arrival of the railway, such steamboats called at the landing,[9] where cordwood was stacked for their boilers.[10][11]

The strict Sabbath observance at the mission meant that even minor activities, which could be considered as work, were not permitted on Sundays. Such strict rules for members prompted outsiders to facetiously call the place "Holy City"[3] or "Little Heaven".[10]

 
Rev. R. Tomlinson and family, c.1890.

Obligatory were church attendance, school attendance for children, and renouncing First Nations traditions. Work activities included farming, assisting in the general store, handling the government mail contract, and employment in the sawmill. The latter closed in 1913, when the site was expropriated for the railway right-of-way. Tomlinson died that year.[4] He was an Anglican missionary, who emphasized the importance of discipline. An example was placing the jail, which was much used for even non-criminal transgressions, next to the church.[12]

Just beyond the northern boundary of the reserve lies the cemetery and former site of the two mission churches. Erected in 1891, the first was a pioneer-style log structure. In 1907, the replacement was a wooden Gothic-style building with stained glass windows.[4]

In 1906, the schoolhouse burned down. From 1907, Indian Affairs funded the teacher's salary. From 1914, the Missionary Society of the Methodist Church took charge of the mission and the day school. In 1924, the school closed.[13]

In 1951, fire destroyed the church.[14]

In 2013, the cemetery was designated a national historic site.[4]

East of Cedarvale proper on the east shore, Koonwats 7 is a Gitwangak reserve.[15]

Railway edit

During the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTP) construction, a camp was established just south of the Meanskinisht sawmill.[16]

In late February 1912, the eastward advance of the GTP rail head from Prince Rupert passed through Cedarvale and reached Mile 143.[17] The next month, the court awarded Rev. R. Tomlinson $4,500 for the GTP right-of-way expropriation of the Meanskinisht mission land on the northwest shore. The amount was close to the original offer, but legal costs consumed the greater part, leaving the owner thousands of dollars worse off.[18]

The standard-design Plan 100‐152 (Bohi's Type E) station building was erected that year, but the station was initially called Hollwood.[19] The HBC intended to operate a steamer from this point upstream during railway construction.[20] By mid-1913, the station had been renamed as Cedarvale.[21]

In 1924, a section foreman died from injuries sustained when his speeder ran into a rockslide about 9 kilometres (6 mi) west.[22]

In 1925, another section foreman died when his speeder crashed into an approaching train at Ritchie.[23]

In 1936, a foot caught between two drawbars at Cedarvale was badly crushed.[24]

During World War II, the Canadian National Railway (CN) installed telegraph repeater stations at Prince George, Burns Lake, Woodcock and Prince Rupert.[25]

Around 1956, when CN built repeater stations at Terrace and Smithers to improve CN telegraph services, the Woodcock facility closed.[26]

In 1957, the locomotive and two cars of a westbound passenger train derailed near Woodcock.[27]

The Cedarvale station premises were vacated in the mid-1980s and the salvageable buildings offered for sale in 1987.[28]

During the lengthening of the Cedarvale passing track in 2012, Gitlusec artifacts were discovered.[29] The passing track is 2.1 kilometres (6,855 ft).[30]

A trackside signpost marks the Cedarvale flag stop for Via Rail's Jasper – Prince Rupert train.[31]

Train Timetables (Regular stop or Flag stop)
Mile 1914 1923 1932 1943 1950 1960 1971 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020
[32] [33] [34] [35] [32] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43]
Pacific 1638.5 Reg. Reg. Reg. Reg. Reg. Flag Flag Flag Flag Flag Flag Flag
Dorreen 1632.4 Flag Reg. Flag Flag Flag Flag Flag Flag Flag Flag Flag Flag
Ritchie 1625.9 Flag Reg. Flag Flag Flag Flag Flag
Cedarvale 1617.5 Flag Reg. Reg. Reg. Reg. Both Flag Flag Flag Flag Flag Flag
Woodcock 1612.0 Flag Reg. Reg. Reg. Reg. Flag Flag Flag
Kitwanga 1604.5 Both Reg. Reg. Reg. Reg. Reg. Reg. Reg. Flag Flag Flag Flag
Andimaul 1599.8 Flag Reg. Flag Flag Flag

Ferry edit

Since the mission community straddled both sides of the Skeena, the mission canoes provided an informal ferry service from the 1890s.[44]

Although funded for the 1913–14 year[45] and anticipated in 1916,[46] the commencement of the subsidised seasonal ferry seems to have been in 1917.[47]

In 1929–30, a new 4.5-tonne; 4.5-long-ton (5-short-ton) reaction ferry was installed.[48]

In the 1936 flood, the ferry sustained light damage, the ferry house lifted and floated amongst the trees, and the approach bridge across the Skeena River channel washed out.[49]

The new 9.1-tonne; 8.9-long-ton (10-short-ton) reaction ferry constructed for Cedarvale in 1946–47[50] appears to have been installed instead at Kitwanga the next year.[51]

In 1948, the 21-metre (68 ft) King truss bridge across the channel on the road to the Cedarvale ferry washed out.[49]

In 1960–61, both cable towers were reconstructed.[52]

Installed in 1963–64 were new landing pontoons and a basket-type aerial passenger ferry using the existing cable during winter.[53]

In 1965–66, separate towers were erected for the aerial basket ferry. A new residence and equipment shed were built.[54]

The ferry remained at two-car capacity[55] until 1973, when a larger four-car ferry was installed.[56]

In 1975, the main cable snapped, which left the loaded ferry stranded 61 metres (200 ft) from shore.[57] Apparently, the excessive weight of a dump truck, loader and two cars brought down the two towers, breaking the cable.[10] A helicopter rescued the five people aboard.[58] The ferry stayed out of service the rest of the season.[59]

The aerial ferry remained in use, but it is unclear if the reaction ferry was restored.[60] In 1978, all ferry service was discontinued.[61]

Main road edit

During 1931–1941, a series of 2-to-6-kilometre (1 to 4 mi) stretches were built on the Usk–Cedarvale road.[62]

Completion of the Pacific–Cedarvale section opened the Prince Rupert–Prince George highway in 1944, primarily to military traffic.[63]

In 1958, when a Prince Rupert–Prince George bus service was inaugurated, Cedarvale was a scheduled stop.[64] This stop existed at least until the mid-1960s.[65][66] In later years, Kitwanga has been the nearest stop.

In 1966, the 64-kilometre (40 mi) Terrace–Cedarvale section of highway still remained unpaved.[67]

In 1970, Usk–Cedarvale widening and paving were completed.[68]

General community edit

A.S. Gray was the foreman for wagon road construction. In 1907, he obtained his pre-emption,[69] where he planted fruit trees, harvested wheat, and sold vegetables from his garden to the railway construction camp.[16] Within a few years, he was known as the "potato king".[70]

Opened in 1910, the post office was called Cedarvale, which provided the new name for the locality.[71] Mrs. J.W. Graham was the inaugural postmaster 1910–1918.[72] Her husband operated a significant poultry farm.[73]

In 1918–19, the school opened on the northwest shore,[74] followed by the general store about a year later.[75]

During the early 1920s, a downturn in lumber activity closed the school for three years.[76] In 1926–27, a new school building was erected.[77] At this time, mining, trapping, and logging sustained this poor and scattered community.[78]

During World War II, Japan launched the Fu-Go balloon bombs. One balloon became suspended between three big trees near Cedarvale. The explosives beneath the huge canopy were successfully defused.[79]

On the southeast shore, a small general store, café, and gas bar existed, adjacent to the northern tip of the island.[80]

The one-room school[81] was augmented in 1954–55, when the vacant Skeena Crossing building was moved to Cedarvale.[82]

Cedarvale Elementary appears to have closed in 1975.[83]

The store/post office on the northwest shore closed in the mid-1990s and only a collapsed building remains.[10][84]

Maps edit

  • "Standard Oil BC map". www.davidrumsey.com. 1937.
  • "Shell BC map". www.davidrumsey.com. 1956.

See also edit

Ritchie edit

West of Cedarvale, Ritchie was named by the GTP in the early 1910s. The specific person honored is subject to speculation. One suggestion was George Hamilton Ritchie, a sternwheeler captain on the Skeena.[85] Another is Joseph Frederick Nelson Ritchie, a government land surveyor.[86] Equally as plausible is John Henderson Ritchie,[87] a GTP construction engineer involved in the project, who died in 1911.[88]

During the 1910s and 1920s, the nearest post office was by rail about 5 kilometres (3 mi) south at Lorne Creek.[89]

In the early 1990s, the Skeena Watershed Management Authority established a fish landing site at Ritchie for DFO monitoring.[90]

Woodcock edit

East of Cedarvale, the former community was an impoverished mountainous farming and mining settlement.[91] Named after William Henry Woodcock, the community now comprises a small scattered population.[92]

In 1920, the Cassiar Farm and Stock Co purchased 142 hectares (350 acres), began land clearing, planted crops, and initiated a dairy farm.[93] In 1923, Robert McKay purchased a two-thirds interest in the venture called the Cassiar Northern Ranch, where 100 dairy cows would supply the Prince Rupert market.[94] Renamed Woodcock Dairies, the bank foreclosed on the farm in 1925 and auctioned off the assets.[95][96]

The school opened in 1923[97][98] and closed in 1945.[99]

Woodcock Airport is an abandoned RCAF runway.

Climate edit

Cedarvale has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb) with cold, snowy winters and warm summers.

Climate data for Cedarvale, British Columbia
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 11.0
(51.8)
12.0
(53.6)
18.0
(64.4)
26.5
(79.7)
35.0
(95.0)
35.5
(95.9)
35.0
(95.0)
37.0
(98.6)
31.1
(88.0)
21.0
(69.8)
13.9
(57.0)
11.5
(52.7)
37.0
(98.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) −2.0
(28.4)
0.9
(33.6)
7.2
(45.0)
12.9
(55.2)
17.3
(63.1)
20.7
(69.3)
23.3
(73.9)
22.9
(73.2)
17.2
(63.0)
10.1
(50.2)
2.2
(36.0)
−1.8
(28.8)
10.9
(51.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) −4.9
(23.2)
−2.8
(27.0)
2.3
(36.1)
6.8
(44.2)
10.9
(51.6)
14.4
(57.9)
16.9
(62.4)
16.6
(61.9)
12.1
(53.8)
6.5
(43.7)
−0.4
(31.3)
−4.6
(23.7)
6.2
(43.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −7.8
(18.0)
−6.4
(20.5)
−2.7
(27.1)
0.6
(33.1)
4.6
(40.3)
8.1
(46.6)
10.4
(50.7)
10.2
(50.4)
7.0
(44.6)
2.9
(37.2)
−3.0
(26.6)
−7.3
(18.9)
1.4
(34.5)
Record low °C (°F) −33.5
(−28.3)
−30.0
(−22.0)
−22.8
(−9.0)
−10.0
(14.0)
−5.0
(23.0)
−0.5
(31.1)
3.9
(39.0)
2.0
(35.6)
−2.5
(27.5)
−19.0
(−2.2)
−30.0
(−22.0)
−33.0
(−27.4)
−33.5
(−28.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 112.8
(4.44)
60.0
(2.36)
39.6
(1.56)
32.1
(1.26)
39.3
(1.55)
48.1
(1.89)
38.9
(1.53)
46.6
(1.83)
80.7
(3.18)
126.6
(4.98)
92.0
(3.62)
108.6
(4.28)
825.2
(32.49)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 34.3
(1.35)
25.0
(0.98)
23.8
(0.94)
29.7
(1.17)
39.3
(1.55)
48.1
(1.89)
38.9
(1.53)
46.6
(1.83)
80.7
(3.18)
123.7
(4.87)
50.5
(1.99)
36.4
(1.43)
577.0
(22.72)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 78.4
(30.9)
35.0
(13.8)
15.8
(6.2)
2.4
(0.9)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
0
(0)
2.9
(1.1)
41.5
(16.3)
72.2
(28.4)
248.2
(97.7)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.2 mm) 17.5 13.7 12.4 12.6 13.4 13.1 12.8 12.5 17.0 19.5 18.2 18.7 181.3
Average rainy days (≥ 0.2 mm) 6.5 6.8 8.6 11.9 13.4 13.1 12.8 12.5 17.0 19.1 11.2 7.6 140.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.2 cm) 13.2 8.8 5.2 1.2 0.05 0 0 0 0 1.2 10.2 13.8 53.7
Source: Environment Canada[100]

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ "Cedarvale (community)". BC Geographical Names.
  2. ^ "Interior News". www.newspapers.com. 3 Mar 1993. p. 23.
  3. ^ a b British Columbia Place Names. 1997 , p. 41, at Google Books
  4. ^ a b c d "Meanskinisht Cemetery". www.historicplaces.ca.
  5. ^ Tomlinson & Young 1991, p. 285.
  6. ^ Tomlinson & Young 1991, p. 287.
  7. ^ Tomlinson & Young 1991, p. 288.
  8. ^ Clayton, Daniel Wright (1989). Geographies of the lower Skeena, 1830–1920. library.ubc.ca (MA). p. 149 (140).
  9. ^ "Daily Colonist". archive.org. 17 Dec 1967. p. 54.
  10. ^ a b c d "Cedarvale-Meanskinisht". www.gent.name.
  11. ^ Tomlinson & Young 1991, p. 302.
  12. ^ "Proceedings of the Supreme Court of British Columbia". library.ubc.ca. 12 Apr 1989. pp. 39–40 (15351–15352).
  13. ^ "Babine Agency – Meanskinisht School – General Administration" (PDF). indiandayschools.org. pp. 10, 11, 45, 95.
  14. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 23 Jul 1951. p. 9.
  15. ^ "Koonwats 7 (reserve)". BC Geographical Names.
  16. ^ a b "Omineca Herald". library.ubc.ca. 2 Apr 1910. p. 1.
  17. ^ "Omineca Herald". library.ubc.ca. 1 Mar 1912. p. 1.
  18. ^ "Omineca Miner". library.ubc.ca. 16 Mar 1912. p. 6.
  19. ^ "Daily Colonist". archive.org. 4 Aug 1912. p. 24.
  20. ^ "Victoria Daily Times". www.newspapers.com. 5 Jul 1912. p. 8. In a short time, the Hudson's Bay Company will operate the steamer "Port Simpson," connecting with the G.T.P. trains, probably at Hollwood.
  21. ^ "Vancouver Daily World". www.newspapers.com. 4 Jun 1913. p. 9. Close connection at Prince Rupert with Grand Trunk Pacific trains for Tyee, Terrace, Cedarvale, Hazelton.
  22. ^ "Interior News". www.newspapers.com. 20 Aug 1924. p. 1. Mike Scanzusa, section foreman at Ritchie, died in the Hazelton hospital…as a result of injuries received when he ran into a rock slide at the mouth of a tunnel three miles east of Ritchie…
  23. ^ "Interior News". www.newspapers.com. 16 Dec 1925. p. 1. Joseph Studal, section foreman at Ritchie met a sudden and horrible death on Saturday. With other members of his crew…he started home on a speeder, but when nearing a bend one of the men observed the smoke of an approaching train…Finding the train right upon them the other members of the crew jumped clear of the track, but the foreman was caught by the engine.
  24. ^ "Interior News". www.newspapers.com. 19 Aug 1936. p. 6. …at Cedarvale, Wilfred Abel had a foot badly crushed when caught between two draw bars.
  25. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 21 Mar 1946. p. 1.
  26. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 3 Oct 1955. p. 1.
  27. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 2 May 1957. p. 3.
  28. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 2 Jul 1987. p. 19.
  29. ^ "Terrace Standard". issuu.com. 16 Jan 2013. p. A12.
  30. ^ "CN Bulkley Subdivision" (PDF). www.cwrailway.ca.
  31. ^ "Cedarvale train station". www.viarail.ca.
  32. ^ a b "Timetable" (PDF). streamlinermemories.info. 28 Apr 1943. p. 62 (TT226).
  33. ^ Timetable. 1 Mar 1914. p. 15 (TT14).
  34. ^ "Official Guide". timetableworld.com. Oct 1923. p. 1049 (TT160).
  35. ^ Timetable. Jan 1932. p. 58 (TT226).
  36. ^ "Timetable". www.scribd.com. 30 Apr 1950. p. 59 (TT226).
  37. ^ "Timetable" (PDF). streamlinermemories.info. 30 Oct 1960. p. 54 (TT139).
  38. ^ "Timetable" (PDF). streamlinermemories.info. 1 Feb 1971. p. 27 (TT59).
  39. ^ "Timetable". pre.timetableworld.com. 3 Feb 1980. p. 41 (TT57).
  40. ^ "Timetable". pre.timetableworld.com. 15 Jan 1990. p. 42.
  41. ^ "Timetable". pre.timetableworld.com. 16 Jan 2000. p. 104.
  42. ^ "Timetable". pre.timetableworld.com. 1 Jun 2010. p. 42.
  43. ^ "Timetable" (PDF). www.viarail.ca. 5 Jul 2020. p. 17 (28).
  44. ^ Tomlinson & Young 1991, p. 311.
  45. ^ Minister of Public Works annual report, 1913–14. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 135 (Q133).
  46. ^ "Prince Rupert Journal". library.ubc.ca. 28 Mar 1916. p. 1.
  47. ^ Clapp, Frank A. (1991). Ministry of Transportation and Highways, Lake and River Ferries. Ministry of Transportation and Highways. p. 18. ISBN 0-7726-1364-8.
  48. ^ Minister of Public Works annual report, 1929–30. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 64 (T38).
  49. ^ a b Septer, D. Flooding and Landslide Events Northern British Columbia 1820–2006 (PDF). www.gov.bc.ca (Report). pp. 34, 50.
  50. ^ Minister of Public Works annual report, 1946–47. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 45 (P27).
  51. ^ Minister of Public Works annual report, 1947–48. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 45 (N29).
  52. ^ Minister of Highways annual report, 1960–61. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. I93.
  53. ^ Minister of Highways annual report, 1963–64. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. C104.
  54. ^ Minister of Highways annual report, 1965–66. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. C105.
  55. ^ "Interior News". www.newspapers.com. 16 Sep 1970. p. 19.
  56. ^ "Interior News". www.newspapers.com. 23 May 1973. p. 5.
  57. ^ "Interior News". www.newspapers.com. 9 Jul 1975. p. 1. This main cable of the ferry at Cedarvale…broke…sending the ferry down the Skeena River with passengers and vehicles aboard. The cable eventually caught in a pulley, halting the ferry about 200 feet from shore.
  58. ^ "Vancouver Sun". www.newspapers.com. 10 Jul 1975. p. 13.
  59. ^ "Interior News". www.newspapers.com. 26 Nov 1975. p. 3. …The Cedarvale ferry (which went out of service this summer)…
  60. ^ Ministry of Highways and Public Works annual report, 1976–77. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. B132.
  61. ^ "Interior News". www.newspapers.com. 30 Aug 1978. p. 26. The passenger cable ferry service at Cedarvale, B.C., will be discontinued effective 5 p.m. on Friday, September 1, 1978
  62. ^ Minister of Public Works annual report, 1931–32. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. M11.
    Minister of Public Works annual report, 1936–37. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 33 (X23).
    Minister of Public Works annual report, 1938–39. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 39 (Z29).
    Minister of Public Works annual report, 1940–41. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 47 (O37).
  63. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 10 Aug 1944. p. 1.
  64. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 13 Jun 1958. p. 12.
  65. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 29 Nov 1963. p. 48.
  66. ^ "Interior News". www.newspapers.com. 11 May 1966. p. 9.
  67. ^ "Daily Colonist". archive.org. 3 Aug 1966. p. 26.
  68. ^ Parkin, Tom (Mar 1971). "BC Road Runner" (PDF). www2.gov.bc.ca. Vol. 8, no. 1. p. 9.
  69. ^ "Omineca Herald". library.ubc.ca. 17 Sep 1910. p. 8.
  70. ^ "Omineca Miner". library.ubc.ca. 23 May 1914. p. 1.
  71. ^ "Omineca Herald". library.ubc.ca. 16 Jul 1910. p. 1.
  72. ^ "Postmasters". www.bac-lac.gc.ca.
  73. ^ "Omineca Herald". library.ubc.ca. 16 Sep 1911. p. 6.
  74. ^ Public Schools annual report, 1918–19. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. A35.
  75. ^ "1920 BC Directory". www.bccd.vpl.ca.
  76. ^ Stortz 1988, p. 114 (102).
  77. ^ Public Schools annual report, 1926–27. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 42 (M40).
  78. ^ Stortz 1988, p. 128 (116).
  79. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 5 Mar 1994. p. 54.
  80. ^ "Proceedings of the Supreme Court of British Columbia". library.ubc.ca. 15 Jun 1987. p. 14 (1230).
  81. ^ "Province". www.newspapers.com. 31 May 1954. p. 26. CEDERVALE RURAL SCHOOL..One Room..Twenty (20) pupils Grades I–VIII..One Teacher.
  82. ^ Public Schools annual report, 1954–55. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. EE76.
  83. ^ "Interior News". www.newspapers.com. 24 Sep 1975. p. 3. This year the Fair was held in the Cedarvale school grounds.
  84. ^ "Smithers Interior News". issuu.com. 11 Apr 2012. p. B7.
  85. ^ "Ritchie (railway point)". BC Geographical Names.
  86. ^ "Ritchie Station". www.gent.name.
  87. ^ "Daily Colonist". archive.org. 26 Sep 1911. p. 7.
  88. ^ "Daily Colonist". archive.org. 23 Sep 1911. p. 7.
  89. ^ "1918 BC Directory". www.bccd.vpl.ca.
  90. ^ "Interior News". www.newspapers.com. 28 Jul 1993. p. 6.
  91. ^ Stortz 1988, p. 109 (97).
  92. ^ "Woodcock (locality)". BC Geographical Names.
  93. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 7 May 1920. p. 1.
  94. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 29 Nov 1923. p. 1.
  95. ^ "Anyox Herald". library.ubc.ca. 10 Jan 1925. p. 4.
  96. ^ "Woodcock". www.gent.name.
  97. ^ Stortz 1988, p. 84 (72).
  98. ^ Public Schools annual report, 1922–23. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. F9.
  99. ^ Public Schools annual report, 1945–46. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 276 (Y272).
  100. ^ "Canadian Climate Normals 1971-2000". Environment Canada. Retrieved 20 Nov 2012.

References edit

  • Tomlinson, George; Young, Judith (1991). Challenge the Wilderness: A Family Saga of Robert and Alice Tomlinson, Pioneer Medical Missionaries. Great Northwest Wilderness Books. ISBN 0-937708-34-8.
  • Stortz, Paul James (1988). The Rural School Problem in British Columbia in the 1920s. library.ubc.ca (MA).

cedarvale, british, columbia, cedarvale, meanskinisht, unincorporated, community, skeena, region, west, central, british, columbia, concentrated, southeastern, shore, skeena, river, direct, link, exists, portion, northwestern, shore, highway, locality, road, a. Cedarvale or Meanskinisht is an unincorporated community in the Skeena region of west central British Columbia Concentrated on the southeastern shore of the Skeena River no direct link exists to the portion on the northwestern shore 1 On BC Highway 16 the locality is by road about 130 kilometres 81 mi northwest of Smithers and 75 kilometres 47 mi northeast of Terrace CedarvaleCedarvaleLocation of Cedarvale in British ColumbiaCoordinates 55 01 09 N 128 19 50 W 55 01917 N 128 33056 W 55 01917 128 33056Country CanadaProvince British ColumbiaRegionSkeenaRegional districtKitimat StikineTime zoneUTC 8 PST Summer DST UTC 7 PDT Area codes250 778 236 amp 672HighwaysHwy 16 TCH WaterwaysSkeena River Contents 1 Name origin 2 Mission and First Nations 3 Railway 4 Ferry 5 Main road 6 General community 7 Maps 8 See also 9 Ritchie 10 Woodcock 11 Climate 12 Footnotes 13 ReferencesName origin editPrior to the arrival of Europeans the settlement on the northwest shore was called Gitlusec 2 The later mission settlement was named Meanskinisht with variations such as Minskinish which means under the pitch pines The subsequent general community was called Cedarvale which alluded to the cedars growing around the former landing 3 Mission and First Nations editIn 1888 Rev Robert Tomlinson and his First Nations followers founded the hamlet on opposite banks of the river 4 Supplied by flumes from the creek a water powered sawmill was installed on the northwest shore 5 Being the only mill in the district timber was produced both for local demand 6 and for as far away as Hazelton 7 During the first few years the group depended upon canoe transport to obtain supplies from the coast In 1891 the Hudson s Bay Company HBC S S Caledonia began a service from the coast to Hazelton 8 Prior to the arrival of the railway such steamboats called at the landing 9 where cordwood was stacked for their boilers 10 11 The strict Sabbath observance at the mission meant that even minor activities which could be considered as work were not permitted on Sundays Such strict rules for members prompted outsiders to facetiously call the place Holy City 3 or Little Heaven 10 nbsp Rev R Tomlinson and family c 1890 Obligatory were church attendance school attendance for children and renouncing First Nations traditions Work activities included farming assisting in the general store handling the government mail contract and employment in the sawmill The latter closed in 1913 when the site was expropriated for the railway right of way Tomlinson died that year 4 He was an Anglican missionary who emphasized the importance of discipline An example was placing the jail which was much used for even non criminal transgressions next to the church 12 Just beyond the northern boundary of the reserve lies the cemetery and former site of the two mission churches Erected in 1891 the first was a pioneer style log structure In 1907 the replacement was a wooden Gothic style building with stained glass windows 4 In 1906 the schoolhouse burned down From 1907 Indian Affairs funded the teacher s salary From 1914 the Missionary Society of the Methodist Church took charge of the mission and the day school In 1924 the school closed 13 In 1951 fire destroyed the church 14 In 2013 the cemetery was designated a national historic site 4 East of Cedarvale proper on the east shore Koonwats 7 is a Gitwangak reserve 15 Railway editDuring the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway GTP construction a camp was established just south of the Meanskinisht sawmill 16 In late February 1912 the eastward advance of the GTP rail head from Prince Rupert passed through Cedarvale and reached Mile 143 17 The next month the court awarded Rev R Tomlinson 4 500 for the GTP right of way expropriation of the Meanskinisht mission land on the northwest shore The amount was close to the original offer but legal costs consumed the greater part leaving the owner thousands of dollars worse off 18 The standard design Plan 100 152 Bohi s Type E station building was erected that year but the station was initially called Hollwood 19 The HBC intended to operate a steamer from this point upstream during railway construction 20 By mid 1913 the station had been renamed as Cedarvale 21 In 1924 a section foreman died from injuries sustained when his speeder ran into a rockslide about 9 kilometres 6 mi west 22 In 1925 another section foreman died when his speeder crashed into an approaching train at Ritchie 23 In 1936 a foot caught between two drawbars at Cedarvale was badly crushed 24 During World War II the Canadian National Railway CN installed telegraph repeater stations at Prince George Burns Lake Woodcock and Prince Rupert 25 Around 1956 when CN built repeater stations at Terrace and Smithers to improve CN telegraph services the Woodcock facility closed 26 In 1957 the locomotive and two cars of a westbound passenger train derailed near Woodcock 27 The Cedarvale station premises were vacated in the mid 1980s and the salvageable buildings offered for sale in 1987 28 During the lengthening of the Cedarvale passing track in 2012 Gitlusec artifacts were discovered 29 The passing track is 2 1 kilometres 6 855 ft 30 A trackside signpost marks the Cedarvale flag stop for Via Rail s Jasper Prince Rupert train 31 Train Timetables Regular stop or Flag stop Mile 1914 1923 1932 1943 1950 1960 1971 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 32 33 34 35 32 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 Pacific 1638 5 Reg Reg Reg Reg Reg Flag Flag Flag Flag Flag Flag FlagDorreen 1632 4 Flag Reg Flag Flag Flag Flag Flag Flag Flag Flag Flag FlagRitchie 1625 9 Flag Reg Flag Flag Flag Flag FlagCedarvale 1617 5 Flag Reg Reg Reg Reg Both Flag Flag Flag Flag Flag FlagWoodcock 1612 0 Flag Reg Reg Reg Reg Flag Flag FlagKitwanga 1604 5 Both Reg Reg Reg Reg Reg Reg Reg Flag Flag Flag FlagAndimaul 1599 8 Flag Reg Flag Flag FlagFerry editSince the mission community straddled both sides of the Skeena the mission canoes provided an informal ferry service from the 1890s 44 Although funded for the 1913 14 year 45 and anticipated in 1916 46 the commencement of the subsidised seasonal ferry seems to have been in 1917 47 In 1929 30 a new 4 5 tonne 4 5 long ton 5 short ton reaction ferry was installed 48 In the 1936 flood the ferry sustained light damage the ferry house lifted and floated amongst the trees and the approach bridge across the Skeena River channel washed out 49 The new 9 1 tonne 8 9 long ton 10 short ton reaction ferry constructed for Cedarvale in 1946 47 50 appears to have been installed instead at Kitwanga the next year 51 In 1948 the 21 metre 68 ft King truss bridge across the channel on the road to the Cedarvale ferry washed out 49 In 1960 61 both cable towers were reconstructed 52 Installed in 1963 64 were new landing pontoons and a basket type aerial passenger ferry using the existing cable during winter 53 In 1965 66 separate towers were erected for the aerial basket ferry A new residence and equipment shed were built 54 The ferry remained at two car capacity 55 until 1973 when a larger four car ferry was installed 56 In 1975 the main cable snapped which left the loaded ferry stranded 61 metres 200 ft from shore 57 Apparently the excessive weight of a dump truck loader and two cars brought down the two towers breaking the cable 10 A helicopter rescued the five people aboard 58 The ferry stayed out of service the rest of the season 59 The aerial ferry remained in use but it is unclear if the reaction ferry was restored 60 In 1978 all ferry service was discontinued 61 Main road editDuring 1931 1941 a series of 2 to 6 kilometre 1 to 4 mi stretches were built on the Usk Cedarvale road 62 Completion of the Pacific Cedarvale section opened the Prince Rupert Prince George highway in 1944 primarily to military traffic 63 In 1958 when a Prince Rupert Prince George bus service was inaugurated Cedarvale was a scheduled stop 64 This stop existed at least until the mid 1960s 65 66 In later years Kitwanga has been the nearest stop In 1966 the 64 kilometre 40 mi Terrace Cedarvale section of highway still remained unpaved 67 In 1970 Usk Cedarvale widening and paving were completed 68 General community editA S Gray was the foreman for wagon road construction In 1907 he obtained his pre emption 69 where he planted fruit trees harvested wheat and sold vegetables from his garden to the railway construction camp 16 Within a few years he was known as the potato king 70 Opened in 1910 the post office was called Cedarvale which provided the new name for the locality 71 Mrs J W Graham was the inaugural postmaster 1910 1918 72 Her husband operated a significant poultry farm 73 In 1918 19 the school opened on the northwest shore 74 followed by the general store about a year later 75 During the early 1920s a downturn in lumber activity closed the school for three years 76 In 1926 27 a new school building was erected 77 At this time mining trapping and logging sustained this poor and scattered community 78 During World War II Japan launched the Fu Go balloon bombs One balloon became suspended between three big trees near Cedarvale The explosives beneath the huge canopy were successfully defused 79 On the southeast shore a small general store cafe and gas bar existed adjacent to the northern tip of the island 80 The one room school 81 was augmented in 1954 55 when the vacant Skeena Crossing building was moved to Cedarvale 82 Cedarvale Elementary appears to have closed in 1975 83 The store post office on the northwest shore closed in the mid 1990s and only a collapsed building remains 10 84 Maps edit Standard Oil BC map www davidrumsey com 1937 Shell BC map www davidrumsey com 1956 See also editList of Inland Ferries in British ColumbiaRitchie editWest of Cedarvale Ritchie was named by the GTP in the early 1910s The specific person honored is subject to speculation One suggestion was George Hamilton Ritchie a sternwheeler captain on the Skeena 85 Another is Joseph Frederick Nelson Ritchie a government land surveyor 86 Equally as plausible is John Henderson Ritchie 87 a GTP construction engineer involved in the project who died in 1911 88 During the 1910s and 1920s the nearest post office was by rail about 5 kilometres 3 mi south at Lorne Creek 89 In the early 1990s the Skeena Watershed Management Authority established a fish landing site at Ritchie for DFO monitoring 90 Woodcock editEast of Cedarvale the former community was an impoverished mountainous farming and mining settlement 91 Named after William Henry Woodcock the community now comprises a small scattered population 92 In 1920 the Cassiar Farm and Stock Co purchased 142 hectares 350 acres began land clearing planted crops and initiated a dairy farm 93 In 1923 Robert McKay purchased a two thirds interest in the venture called the Cassiar Northern Ranch where 100 dairy cows would supply the Prince Rupert market 94 Renamed Woodcock Dairies the bank foreclosed on the farm in 1925 and auctioned off the assets 95 96 The school opened in 1923 97 98 and closed in 1945 99 Woodcock Airport is an abandoned RCAF runway Climate editCedarvale has a humid continental climate Koppen climate classification Dfb with cold snowy winters and warm summers Climate data for Cedarvale British ColumbiaMonth Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high C F 11 0 51 8 12 0 53 6 18 0 64 4 26 5 79 7 35 0 95 0 35 5 95 9 35 0 95 0 37 0 98 6 31 1 88 0 21 0 69 8 13 9 57 0 11 5 52 7 37 0 98 6 Mean daily maximum C F 2 0 28 4 0 9 33 6 7 2 45 0 12 9 55 2 17 3 63 1 20 7 69 3 23 3 73 9 22 9 73 2 17 2 63 0 10 1 50 2 2 2 36 0 1 8 28 8 10 9 51 6 Daily mean C F 4 9 23 2 2 8 27 0 2 3 36 1 6 8 44 2 10 9 51 6 14 4 57 9 16 9 62 4 16 6 61 9 12 1 53 8 6 5 43 7 0 4 31 3 4 6 23 7 6 2 43 2 Mean daily minimum C F 7 8 18 0 6 4 20 5 2 7 27 1 0 6 33 1 4 6 40 3 8 1 46 6 10 4 50 7 10 2 50 4 7 0 44 6 2 9 37 2 3 0 26 6 7 3 18 9 1 4 34 5 Record low C F 33 5 28 3 30 0 22 0 22 8 9 0 10 0 14 0 5 0 23 0 0 5 31 1 3 9 39 0 2 0 35 6 2 5 27 5 19 0 2 2 30 0 22 0 33 0 27 4 33 5 28 3 Average precipitation mm inches 112 8 4 44 60 0 2 36 39 6 1 56 32 1 1 26 39 3 1 55 48 1 1 89 38 9 1 53 46 6 1 83 80 7 3 18 126 6 4 98 92 0 3 62 108 6 4 28 825 2 32 49 Average rainfall mm inches 34 3 1 35 25 0 0 98 23 8 0 94 29 7 1 17 39 3 1 55 48 1 1 89 38 9 1 53 46 6 1 83 80 7 3 18 123 7 4 87 50 5 1 99 36 4 1 43 577 0 22 72 Average snowfall cm inches 78 4 30 9 35 0 13 8 15 8 6 2 2 4 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 9 1 1 41 5 16 3 72 2 28 4 248 2 97 7 Average precipitation days 0 2 mm 17 5 13 7 12 4 12 6 13 4 13 1 12 8 12 5 17 0 19 5 18 2 18 7 181 3Average rainy days 0 2 mm 6 5 6 8 8 6 11 9 13 4 13 1 12 8 12 5 17 0 19 1 11 2 7 6 140 5Average snowy days 0 2 cm 13 2 8 8 5 2 1 2 0 05 0 0 0 0 1 2 10 2 13 8 53 7Source Environment Canada 100 Footnotes edit Cedarvale community BC Geographical Names Interior News www newspapers com 3 Mar 1993 p 23 a b British Columbia Place Names 1997 p 41 at Google Books a b c d Meanskinisht Cemetery www historicplaces ca Tomlinson amp Young 1991 p 285 Tomlinson amp Young 1991 p 287 Tomlinson amp Young 1991 p 288 Clayton Daniel Wright 1989 Geographies of the lower Skeena 1830 1920 library ubc ca MA p 149 140 Daily Colonist archive org 17 Dec 1967 p 54 a b c d Cedarvale Meanskinisht www gent name Tomlinson amp Young 1991 p 302 Proceedings of the Supreme Court of British Columbia library ubc ca 12 Apr 1989 pp 39 40 15351 15352 Babine Agency Meanskinisht School General Administration PDF indiandayschools org pp 10 11 45 95 Prince George Citizen pgnewspapers pgpl ca 23 Jul 1951 p 9 Koonwats 7 reserve BC Geographical Names a b Omineca Herald library ubc ca 2 Apr 1910 p 1 Omineca Herald library ubc ca 1 Mar 1912 p 1 Omineca Miner library ubc ca 16 Mar 1912 p 6 Daily Colonist archive org 4 Aug 1912 p 24 Victoria Daily Times www newspapers com 5 Jul 1912 p 8 In a short time the Hudson s Bay Company will operate the steamer Port Simpson connecting with the G T P trains probably at Hollwood Vancouver Daily World www newspapers com 4 Jun 1913 p 9 Close connection at Prince Rupert with Grand Trunk Pacific trains for Tyee Terrace Cedarvale Hazelton Interior News www newspapers com 20 Aug 1924 p 1 Mike Scanzusa section foreman at Ritchie died in the Hazelton hospital as a result of injuries received when he ran into a rock slide at the mouth of a tunnel three miles east of Ritchie Interior News www newspapers com 16 Dec 1925 p 1 Joseph Studal section foreman at Ritchie met a sudden and horrible death on Saturday With other members of his crew he started home on a speeder but when nearing a bend one of the men observed the smoke of an approaching train Finding the train right upon them the other members of the crew jumped clear of the track but the foreman was caught by the engine Interior News www newspapers com 19 Aug 1936 p 6 at Cedarvale Wilfred Abel had a foot badly crushed when caught between two draw bars Prince George Citizen pgnewspapers pgpl ca 21 Mar 1946 p 1 Prince George Citizen pgnewspapers pgpl ca 3 Oct 1955 p 1 Prince George Citizen pgnewspapers pgpl ca 2 May 1957 p 3 Prince George Citizen pgnewspapers pgpl ca 2 Jul 1987 p 19 Terrace Standard issuu com 16 Jan 2013 p A12 CN Bulkley Subdivision PDF www cwrailway ca Cedarvale train station www viarail ca a b Timetable PDF streamlinermemories info 28 Apr 1943 p 62 TT226 Timetable 1 Mar 1914 p 15 TT14 Official Guide timetableworld com Oct 1923 p 1049 TT160 Timetable Jan 1932 p 58 TT226 Timetable www scribd com 30 Apr 1950 p 59 TT226 Timetable PDF streamlinermemories info 30 Oct 1960 p 54 TT139 Timetable PDF streamlinermemories info 1 Feb 1971 p 27 TT59 Timetable pre timetableworld com 3 Feb 1980 p 41 TT57 Timetable pre timetableworld com 15 Jan 1990 p 42 Timetable pre timetableworld com 16 Jan 2000 p 104 Timetable pre timetableworld com 1 Jun 2010 p 42 Timetable PDF www viarail ca 5 Jul 2020 p 17 28 Tomlinson amp Young 1991 p 311 Minister of Public Works annual report 1913 14 library ubc ca Report p 135 Q133 Prince Rupert Journal library ubc ca 28 Mar 1916 p 1 Clapp Frank A 1991 Ministry of Transportation and Highways Lake and River Ferries Ministry of Transportation and Highways p 18 ISBN 0 7726 1364 8 Minister of Public Works annual report 1929 30 library ubc ca Report p 64 T38 a b Septer D Flooding and Landslide Events Northern British Columbia 1820 2006 PDF www gov bc ca Report pp 34 50 Minister of Public Works annual report 1946 47 library ubc ca Report p 45 P27 Minister of Public Works annual report 1947 48 library ubc ca Report p 45 N29 Minister of Highways annual report 1960 61 library ubc ca Report p I93 Minister of Highways annual report 1963 64 library ubc ca Report p C104 Minister of Highways annual report 1965 66 library ubc ca Report p C105 Interior News www newspapers com 16 Sep 1970 p 19 Interior News www newspapers com 23 May 1973 p 5 Interior News www newspapers com 9 Jul 1975 p 1 This main cable of the ferry at Cedarvale broke sending the ferry down the Skeena River with passengers and vehicles aboard The cable eventually caught in a pulley halting the ferry about 200 feet from shore Vancouver Sun www newspapers com 10 Jul 1975 p 13 Interior News www newspapers com 26 Nov 1975 p 3 The Cedarvale ferry which went out of service this summer Ministry of Highways and Public Works annual report 1976 77 library ubc ca Report p B132 Interior News www newspapers com 30 Aug 1978 p 26 The passenger cable ferry service at Cedarvale B C will be discontinued effective 5 p m on Friday September 1 1978 Minister of Public Works annual report 1931 32 library ubc ca Report p M11 Minister of Public Works annual report 1936 37 library ubc ca Report p 33 X23 Minister of Public Works annual report 1938 39 library ubc ca Report p 39 Z29 Minister of Public Works annual report 1940 41 library ubc ca Report p 47 O37 Prince George Citizen pgnewspapers pgpl ca 10 Aug 1944 p 1 Prince George Citizen pgnewspapers pgpl ca 13 Jun 1958 p 12 Prince George Citizen pgnewspapers pgpl ca 29 Nov 1963 p 48 Interior News www newspapers com 11 May 1966 p 9 Daily Colonist archive org 3 Aug 1966 p 26 Parkin Tom Mar 1971 BC Road Runner PDF www2 gov bc ca Vol 8 no 1 p 9 Omineca Herald library ubc ca 17 Sep 1910 p 8 Omineca Miner library ubc ca 23 May 1914 p 1 Omineca Herald library ubc ca 16 Jul 1910 p 1 Postmasters www bac lac gc ca Omineca Herald library ubc ca 16 Sep 1911 p 6 Public Schools annual report 1918 19 library ubc ca Report p A35 1920 BC Directory www bccd vpl ca Stortz 1988 p 114 102 Public Schools annual report 1926 27 library ubc ca Report p 42 M40 Stortz 1988 p 128 116 Prince George Citizen pgnewspapers pgpl ca 5 Mar 1994 p 54 Proceedings of the Supreme Court of British Columbia library ubc ca 15 Jun 1987 p 14 1230 Province www newspapers com 31 May 1954 p 26 CEDERVALE RURAL SCHOOL One Room Twenty 20 pupils Grades I VIII One Teacher Public Schools annual report 1954 55 library ubc ca Report p EE76 Interior News www newspapers com 24 Sep 1975 p 3 This year the Fair was held in the Cedarvale school grounds Smithers Interior News issuu com 11 Apr 2012 p B7 Ritchie railway point BC Geographical Names Ritchie Station www gent name Daily Colonist archive org 26 Sep 1911 p 7 Daily Colonist archive org 23 Sep 1911 p 7 1918 BC Directory www bccd vpl ca Interior News www newspapers com 28 Jul 1993 p 6 Stortz 1988 p 109 97 Woodcock locality BC Geographical Names Prince George Citizen pgnewspapers pgpl ca 7 May 1920 p 1 Prince George Citizen pgnewspapers pgpl ca 29 Nov 1923 p 1 Anyox Herald library ubc ca 10 Jan 1925 p 4 Woodcock www gent name Stortz 1988 p 84 72 Public Schools annual report 1922 23 library ubc ca Report p F9 Public Schools annual report 1945 46 library ubc ca Report p 276 Y272 Canadian Climate Normals 1971 2000 Environment Canada Retrieved 20 Nov 2012 References editTomlinson George Young Judith 1991 Challenge the Wilderness A Family Saga of Robert and Alice Tomlinson Pioneer Medical Missionaries Great Northwest Wilderness Books ISBN 0 937708 34 8 Stortz Paul James 1988 The Rural School Problem in British Columbia in the 1920s library ubc ca MA Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cedarvale British Columbia amp oldid 1205110540 Current station, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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