Anticipation is building for the opening of Ashcroft's first arena, with residents pouring in with name suggestions.
125 Years Ago: July 22, 1899
Clinton Racecourse: At a public meeting held in Clinton on the evening of the 18th, it was unanimously resolved to hold the races at a suitable time, to be determined later, probably between the Kamloops and Ashcroft fairs. The races, with large prizes at stake, will last two days. Balls will also be held, and a general good time is expected.
storm: A powerful storm pounded the Bonaparte Valley on Thursday, damaging ranches along Cache Creek. Jas Campbell's ranch was hit perhaps harder than any other. Irrigation ditches were filled with gravel and the road below the Cache Creek bluffs was badly washed out.
Daring feat: Harry Horney, watchman at Cherry Creek, performed a most remarkable feat. Though Cherry Creek is a torrent at flood time, he swam the river to secure the telegraph connection and warn the trains in each direction. This averted any possible accident. If the train had gone through the bridge, the consequences would have been disastrous. Mr. Horney is 70 years old, but a healthy and active man. The CPR will richly reward him for his loyalty.
Keep it clean: Why not remove the stones from the roads? Each property owner cares for his or her own property. The town would look much better if it wasn't littered with old boots, cans, etc.
100 Years Ago: July 19, 1924
camp site: Considering the fact that most out-of-town tourists who visit Ashcroft are there for a short time, rarely more than a few days, campgrounds should be located as close to town as possible. A campground adjacent to or within town is more convenient and serves the town's purposes than one several miles away. Ashcroft encourages tourists to camp here on their way inland for business, not sentimental reasons. The closer they are to the town's business district, the greater the opportunities for businessmen to come into contact with them. Old Potlatch Site [on Railway Avenue] This would be an ideal place for a campsite. Plant some trees and in a few years you will have an ideal campsite. Old factory site [on the Bonaparte River] It seems like we are scaring tourists away rather than welcoming them to our city.
Clinton City News: Hay making is popular in the area, and many ranchers report a shortage of hay workers.
Ashcroft Locals: Did you hear that Mrs. Ball, the telephone operator, went to sleep in church the other night, then woke up to hear the pastor announce hymn number 352, 352, and yelled, “The lines are busy”? Didn't you hear that? We didn't hear that either.
75 Years Ago: July 21, 1949
Clinton Athletic Association: Clinton had the appearance of a small metropolis on Saturday night, the streets were packed, 50 cars were parked uptown. The movie was sold out, a huge crowd poured into Pollard's Guest Ranch, the lodge hall was filled to capacity, and the largest number of people ever to attend a dance. The party was “in the mood” and there was never a dull moment until the dance ended with a rousing square dance late at night. A donation was collected at the entrance for the Clinton Athletic Association, with the proceeds going to the association. This procedure will be repeated every Saturday for the remainder of the summer. Come every Saturday night, have a good time, and help a good cause.
Ashcroft: Terry Johnson's big bulldozer dug the basement of the Canadian Legion Hall on Monday. The ground is fine gravel and sand, and to everyone's surprise, it worked well. Work on the cement forms is scheduled to begin on Monday.
Rainy weather: Heavy rain fell in Ashcroft and surrounding areas early Tuesday morning, and continued through the midday and overnight hours, cooling the air and soaking the ground, eliminating the need for irrigation.
Windy Weather: Considering how strong the winds were last Friday, Clinton was lucky to have very little damage from the storm. Further north, in the areas of 83 Mile and Watch Lake, Canim Lake and Forest Grove, all the telephone lines were down and roads were blocked by dozens of large trees. Somewhere in this area, lightning struck too close for comfort. Denny Smith was fishing with a friend on Canim Lake when he was caught in a ferocious wind and had a really unpleasant experience trying to get to shore without capsizing.
50 Years Ago: July 18, 1974
Arena interest grows: The “Name the Arena” contest is nearing a huge success. Entries are coming in more and more. The assurance that Babe Pratt of the Vancouver Hockey Club will attend the opening may also be a reason for the excitement. Contractors are now beginning construction of the ice floor. The sound system is expected to be up and running by August 1st. The building will undoubtedly open on October 5th, 1974, for a fun-filled winter's day. Mothers and fathers interested in forming an ice arena auxiliary should attend the Arena Committee meeting at the home of Marv Pierce on July 7th. It is whispered that on this eventful evening, some may even get naked.
$10,648 grant for Ashcroft seniors: Ashcroft Old Age Pensioners Chapter 111 has received a grant of $10,648 from the New Horizons program to equip and operate a drop-in center for seniors. The center is located in an old hospital building that was recently renovated. Led by S. Kincaid, the chapter plans to organize arts and crafts classes, choir and music programs, and weekly bingo and card games for its members and seniors in nearby Cache Creek and Spence Bridge.
BC Day August 5: Under the British Columbia Day Act, which received Royal Assent on May 3, the first Monday in August is now a legal holiday. In a letter to all mayors, Secretary of State Ernest Hall wrote, “We encourage you to set aside that day, and the rest of the week, as a time to honour our communities' pioneers and elders who contributed so much to the blessings we enjoy today.” Hall suggested that a civic proclamation on the purpose of British Columbia Day might be appropriate. The act notes that the colonial government of British Columbia was established by an Act of Parliament passed on August 2, 1858, and calls for an annual honouring of “the pioneers who built the Colony of British Columbia into the great province it is today.”
