THE AUG. 29, 2012 feature on the 100th anniversary of the Thornhill Mountain lookout and the work done to renovate the structure brought out a lot of information – including the name of its original builder.
His name was Thomas C.M. Turner, said Brenda De Jong, a granddaughter.
Turner was born in Beith, Scotland in 1891 and moved here following in his father’s footsteps, who arrived shortly after the turn of the 20th century.
Turner fought in the First World War with the Canadian military and reached the rank of corporal.
He met his wife Rose in London. After they married they sailed across the Atlantic and took a train to arrive back in Terrace.
It was then that Turner built the original lookout.
He was a carpenter by trade as was his father.
He also built the Old Williams Creek bridge, which was washed away in 1978.
Late in his career, he became the building inspector for Terrace. He died in 1956.
Still living in Terrace are three of his grandchildren, de Jong, her older brother, Brian Turner, and her cousin Gary Turner, as well as five great grandchildren and numerous great great grandchildren.
To build the Thornhill Mountain lookout, de Jong said her grandfather told her that all the lumber had to be carried up the hill by horse back.
“Back then, there was no other way to do it,” added Brian Turner.
