I am upstairs in my room and trying to put something together for my news.
I don’t really know where to start.
We are all faced with the worst disaster that we have known in the Lakes District.
Not only does it effect the town proper Burns Lake, it effects us all. Mills can be rebuilt but hurt bodies and loss of lives can never be the same.
I heard one person remark it was fortunate that there were not more injuries and deaths. I guess we can look at it that way and feel fortunate.
The Babine mill has been the lifeblood of Burns Lake and district for many years and something else will no doubt take its place.
Time will tell. It will take time to realize what has happened and why?
In an old paper dated June 26, 1974 there is a write about our local mill and it says…’ Mill site rezoned
At a public hearing before the regional board meeting rezoning was approved for the site of the new mill for Burns Lake.
Babine Forest Products has applied to have land at the east end of Burns Lake rezoned from Rural II to Industrial II.
Babine Forest Products general manager, George Richards was at the meeting and that “Hopefully work on the site would begin around July.”
So as you see our mill has been around a lot of years supporting this community, let’s just hope they rebuild and continue on helping our community.
Just talking to my friend and close neighbour as he had worked almost a lifetime at the Babine mill, he tells me 27 years.
Right after he got out of high school he went to work at the Babine mill. I understand there are a number who spent their lifetime working at the mill so it is like losing an old friend.
Weather
The cold snap is behind us and let’s hope this will be the last. Lots of folks are still fighting frozen water lines.
I would guess that the light snow fall in the early winter has driven the frost down as deep as the water lines… any walking paths and traffic will also drive the frost down.
Frozen lake
Yes, the lake is frozen. We had hopes it might be one of those winters the lake stayed open but no such luck.
But still be careful out there.
One good thing about it is when the lake is frozen over we don’t have the steam and the fog so we can see the sun which is great.
Visitors
What a pleasant surprise last weekend to have Dennis and Rose Jaycox from Cecil Lake stop in for a visit.
They brought their daughter Julia and her two children Ethan and Rowan. They visited their grandparents Fred and Mary Gruen at Takysie Lake. Dennis took the service on Sunday.
It was like old times to have Dennis there as speaker as he was pastor at the Grassy Plains gospel church for many years.
Olden days
It’s very interesting to have an Observer at hand dated Jan. 6, 1927. The Observer was the name of the Burns Lake paper at that time.
This is now 85 years ago.
There is a notice on the front page; the Burns Lake Hardware are increasing their stock for their customers, let us know your requirement, owners R. Lowe and J.S. Brown.
There is also a notice; come to the Lakes District, Burns Lake the centre, 316 miles east of Prince Rupert, altitude 2,300 feet.
Tourists see the Lakes District next. Lots of other interesting stuff on this front page.
There is also a write up on Mr. and Mrs. Faye Short which is also very interesting. Maybe the family would like to get a copy.
The cost of the Observer per year was $2.50 for the weekly paper.
The closing statement is the Short brothers ran a very successful stage, taxy and liver business in Burns Lake for a number of years.
The Shorts, John and Faye, were postmasters at the Francois Lake post office from January 1921 to October 1922. Then John McLean took over the office for two years.
In another issue Oct. 13, 1927 there were dry goods for sale at these prices: flour, Purity or Five Roses, 98lb sack $5.10, flour, Purity or five Roses, 49lb sack $2.60, Graham and whole wheat flour, 49lb sack $2.55.
Sugar (100lb sacks only) $8.25, sugar (50lb sacks only) $4.25.
Malkins, Nabob and Braid’s best coffee 1lb 70 cents.
Aylmer pure strawberry jam 4lb tin 70 cents.
Regular dollar soda biscuits, wooden boxes 65 cents.
Royal City or Quaker tomatoes, 2 1/2’s, case $4.45, Royal City or Quaker tomatoes, 2’s, case $3.70.
Quaker cornflakes eight packages for $1.00 and Empress jelly powders three packages for 25 cents.
Sad news
As I look through our local paper and I just think… can things get any worse? Also as I look through the obituaries and I notice so many of my friends have left us.
They were such wonderful friends. They have all left a mark in our community and they will be missed.
Little joke
I read this little joke from reader’s Digest and thought I would share it with you all.
Ricky was ten when my husband and I were expecting our fifth child.
We called a family conference, and encouraged the kids to voice their opinions about the new addition. Our daughter hoped for a sister, while two of the boys wished for another sparring partner.
Ricky, though, had one concern: “Now how are we going to share a dozen doughnuts?”
Better I close up for now.
Take care and always remember God loves you and so do I.
