Editor, The Times:
In praise of volunteers….
Upper Clearwater Community Hall has a long history of volunteers, beginning with its origins in the 1930s. Jack Hymers donated the land, and the hall was built with timber that had been killed in the wildfire of 1926. The men of the valley provided volunteer labor. Since the builders had work commitments of their own as well, construction of the hall took two years.
Henry Johnson in his book Memories of a Depression Homestead writes: “On the third of June (1938), we had our house-warming and dance. When we closed the door after the dance, we owned the hall debt-free.”
The hall became the centre for community events, busy year-round.
Present-day volunteers have again gone to work on the hall, their refurbishing and renovations making it once more a warm and welcoming place for community events. We would like to thank these generous and hard-working valley residents for the fine job they have done, making our wonderful old hall once again the heart of our community.
The value of volunteers was again made clear at the Sept. 10 Wells Gray Day. When we offered to help with the dinner for Wells Gray Day participants, we had no idea how big the event would be. We are so very grateful for the volunteers who helped to set up the hall, those who brought the delicious variety of vegetables, salads, and desserts, and those who came back the next morning to help clean up. We could never have “fed the multitudes” without your generous help. Thank you!
Clara Ritcey and Ellen Ferguson
