Marilyn Boxwell
This week’s column focuses on the growth and development of Nakusp and surrounding area from the year 1892. This was when the area launched into an era of progressive construction including the birth of retail stores, a lumber mill and several hotels operating like the Leland Hotel located downtown and overlooking the waterfront.
Some fortunate members of the population were able to have their water supply piped directly into their private residences; however, those who were unwilling to pay for the service remained reliant on traditional sturdy buckets for that purpose.
This was the time when modern communications equipment began to arrive. It was in 1905 when the village installed a grounded system of five instruments in order to help keep locals in touch with one another. Huge orchards were planted in 1906 followed by new settlers who began to filter into the valley in order to work in the thriving forestry and agricultural industries.
It was in 1908 that the first cottage hospital was opened and staffed by resident Dr. Rossman, and Matron Kennedy. All seemed destined to remain on the road to growth and prosperity but as it turned out, this was not to be.
The mill and also several of the area hotels caught fire and burned down. Along with the start of World War I the economic decline of the area began to set in. Mines closed down and the economy slowed primarily due to the success of the Okanagan valley orchards, which gained a pricing advantage over the local growers. The first Nakusp and area Agricultural Fair which highlighted examples of fruit and vegetables grown in Nakusp, as well as baking and floral displays, equipment and by-products used at the time, took place in 1910 and, other than during the war years, continued on until the present day.
The final straw was to come in 1968. This was when BC Hydro placed the Keenleyside Dam in a location just outside of Castlegar. The result was the flooding out of many of the local farms and orchards. All-in-all, around 50 square miles of fertile valley bottom was lost and along with this, numerous communities and resource-rich homesteads sank underwater or had to be moved back or repositioned as a result of the raised lake level. It is a sad part in the history of this magnificent community.
Information concerning the above historical notes was supplied courtesy of the Nakusp and District Chamber of Commerce. The local Visitor Centre, operated by the Chamber, is located in the building adjacent to the public library.
