history

Dick Brown at 16. (Submitted photo)

Victoria man surprised to learn he authored 1966 note in B.C. beach time capsule

Letter found 56 years later by Rathtrevor Beach tourists

Dick Brown at 16. (Submitted photo)
Getting from Summerland to Penticton in the early years was no easy task. The first road to Penticton was the Brigade Trail, now known was Shingle Creek Road. For a while, it was known as “The Back Road to Penticton.” When the railway was being built on the upper bench above Okanagan Lake, there was a road. In 1913, the road along the lake was constructed. Three workers were killed when a silt cliff collapsed. This was done, prior to lake levels being regulated, so this road was subject to flooding. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)

Travelling through the history of transportation in the South Okanagan

Boats and trains were once dominant forms of travel

Getting from Summerland to Penticton in the early years was no easy task. The first road to Penticton was the Brigade Trail, now known was Shingle Creek Road. For a while, it was known as “The Back Road to Penticton.” When the railway was being built on the upper bench above Okanagan Lake, there was a road. In 1913, the road along the lake was constructed. Three workers were killed when a silt cliff collapsed. This was done, prior to lake levels being regulated, so this road was subject to flooding. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)
Leah discovered a small glass cream bottle that contained a note written more than 50 years ago. (Submitted photo)

B.C. family discovers 56-year-old message in bottle on Vancouver Island beach

Buried treasure inadvertently dug out of 4-foot deep hole in sand

Leah discovered a small glass cream bottle that contained a note written more than 50 years ago. (Submitted photo)
The white building in the centre of this photograph was a slaughter house operated by Laurie Woodworth (1877-1916). He supplied meat to the railway camps when the Kettle Valley Railway was being built. To the right of the building is the Woodworth Gulch, used to drive cattle. The entrance to the gulch can be found at the base of Milne Road, close to Giants Head Road. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)

Summerland had a slaughterhouse on side of mountain

Site was first used as a skating rink, then converted to a slaughterhouse

The white building in the centre of this photograph was a slaughter house operated by Laurie Woodworth (1877-1916). He supplied meat to the railway camps when the Kettle Valley Railway was being built. To the right of the building is the Woodworth Gulch, used to drive cattle. The entrance to the gulch can be found at the base of Milne Road, close to Giants Head Road. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)
Editors of Okanagan Women’s Voices – Dr. Jeannette Armstrong, Dr. Lally Grauer and Dr. Janet MacArthur – present an online panel discussion June 16. (Contributed)

Okanagan women’s voices speak up for Indigenous History Month

Museum’s Reading for Reconciliation Series

Editors of Okanagan Women’s Voices – Dr. Jeannette Armstrong, Dr. Lally Grauer and Dr. Janet MacArthur – present an online panel discussion June 16. (Contributed)
The Summerland Action Festival has included a parade in past years. This photo is from the 2000 Summerland Action Festival. (Summerland Review file photo)

Summerland Action Festival began 40 years ago

Annual festival was first held in June 1982 and included activities and musical entertainers

The Summerland Action Festival has included a parade in past years. This photo is from the 2000 Summerland Action Festival. (Summerland Review file photo)
In 1911 , the final location of the route of the Kettle Valley Railway was still undetermined. Some people speculated that the route of the railway would go through Garnet Valley and then into Meadow Valley. A number of developments were considered. J.M. Robinson contemplated the townsite of Appledale, another was Meadowland. But the most ambitious plan was by Ralph Deans ( 1873-1916). His proposal included almost 1,000 acres (405 hectares) of land and a hydroelectric dam at the mouth of the Trout Creek Canyon. The proposed dam would capture all of the Trout Creek canyon water before being lost to the gravels at Faulder. (Summerland Museum photos)

Okanagan communities were created in anticipation of railway

Appledale and Meadowland near Summerland were set up in early 1900s

In 1911 , the final location of the route of the Kettle Valley Railway was still undetermined. Some people speculated that the route of the railway would go through Garnet Valley and then into Meadow Valley. A number of developments were considered. J.M. Robinson contemplated the townsite of Appledale, another was Meadowland. But the most ambitious plan was by Ralph Deans ( 1873-1916). His proposal included almost 1,000 acres (405 hectares) of land and a hydroelectric dam at the mouth of the Trout Creek Canyon. The proposed dam would capture all of the Trout Creek canyon water before being lost to the gravels at Faulder. (Summerland Museum photos)
Families filled the South Okanagan Event Centre May 27-29, 2022 for Jurassic Quest (Brittany Webster - Black Press)

Roaring crowds for animatronic dinos at Penticton’s Jurassic Quest

Kids were able to enjoy bounce houses, ride dinosaurs, and meet a baby dino

  • May 30, 2022
Families filled the South Okanagan Event Centre May 27-29, 2022 for Jurassic Quest (Brittany Webster - Black Press)
The earliest record of wine production in the Okanagan Valley dates back to Father Pandosy’s Okanagan Mission in 1859. British Columbia had provincial prohibition of alcoholic beverages from 1917 to 1921. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)

Winery donates tasting fees to Summerland Museum

Museum has provided Back Door Winery with information about prohibition era in Canada

The earliest record of wine production in the Okanagan Valley dates back to Father Pandosy’s Okanagan Mission in 1859. British Columbia had provincial prohibition of alcoholic beverages from 1917 to 1921. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)
Pharis and Jason Romero filmed their latest video with Rick Magnell in the historic 153 Mile Store. (Rick Magnell video capture)

VIDEO: Juno-award winning folk duo showcase B.C. history in new song

Video filmed in historic 153 Mile Store was the ‘perfect place’

Pharis and Jason Romero filmed their latest video with Rick Magnell in the historic 153 Mile Store. (Rick Magnell video capture)
In 1911, Tommy Young rented this building in Summerland from Judge Wellington C. Kelley, for a Flour and Feed store. By 1912, he had purchased the building from Kelley and expanded his facilities. Today, this site is Summerland’s Municipal Hall parking lot. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)

Young was a Summerland entrepreneur

In the early 1900s, Tommy Young launched numerous ventures

In 1911, Tommy Young rented this building in Summerland from Judge Wellington C. Kelley, for a Flour and Feed store. By 1912, he had purchased the building from Kelley and expanded his facilities. Today, this site is Summerland’s Municipal Hall parking lot. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)
Nanaimo’s No. 1 mine. (Submitted photo)

May 3, 1887: Remembering 150 lives lost in B.C.’s worst-ever mining disaster

City of Nanaimo lowering flags to commemorate Esplanade Mine explosion that killed 150

Nanaimo’s No. 1 mine. (Submitted photo)
Traffic in 1915 was not the same as it is today. This picture shows the edge of what is now Summerland’s Main Street. At that time, the majority of transportation was done by horse-drawn wagons rather than gasoline-powered cars and trucks. Electric vehicle charging stations at public spots in downtown Summerland did not exist until nearly a century later. The first charging stations opened in April, 2013. The house in the background is the Alex Steven home, which still overlooks the downtown core. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)

Summerland has been transititioning its transportation

Horse-drawn wagons, automobiles and now electric vehicles used on streets in community

Traffic in 1915 was not the same as it is today. This picture shows the edge of what is now Summerland’s Main Street. At that time, the majority of transportation was done by horse-drawn wagons rather than gasoline-powered cars and trucks. Electric vehicle charging stations at public spots in downtown Summerland did not exist until nearly a century later. The first charging stations opened in April, 2013. The house in the background is the Alex Steven home, which still overlooks the downtown core. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)
In the late 19th century, William Hespeler played a key role in bringing immigrants from eastern Europe to Canada. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)

Former Summerland landowner brought immigrants from eastern Europe

Hespeler Road is named after William Hespeler

In the late 19th century, William Hespeler played a key role in bringing immigrants from eastern Europe to Canada. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)
Ellison Hall in Summerland was officially opened in 1911 by provincial government cabinet minister Price Ellison. The building was located in what is now Peach Orchard Park. Ellison was the provincial minister of finance in Premier Richard McBride’s cabinet. The building was used for the Summerland Fall Fair, flower shows, drama presentations and a few municipal council meetings. It was demolished in 1955. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum.)

Hall in Summerland was named after former provincial cabinet minister

Price Ellison was once British Columbia’s Minister of Finance

Ellison Hall in Summerland was officially opened in 1911 by provincial government cabinet minister Price Ellison. The building was located in what is now Peach Orchard Park. Ellison was the provincial minister of finance in Premier Richard McBride’s cabinet. The building was used for the Summerland Fall Fair, flower shows, drama presentations and a few municipal council meetings. It was demolished in 1955. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum.)
Volunteers are organizing to purchase and preserve Golden’s Swiss Village. (RE/MAX Golden)

Golden’s Swiss Village Foundation crowdfunds to save property

The Swiss Edelweiss Village Foundation has temporarily secured the property

Volunteers are organizing to purchase and preserve Golden’s Swiss Village. (RE/MAX Golden)
This 1910 photograph shows the first Cadillac in the Okanagan Valley. The driver was Summerland pioneer James Ritchie and in the back seat was Summerland’s first teacher, Ken Hogg. Minnie Smith was technically Summerland’s first teacher, but she could not start the 1904 to 1905 school year and Hogg was the substitute teacher. Cadillacs were first made in 1902. Electric starters for the car didn’t appear until 1912, so a crank was required. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)

First Cadillac in the Okanagan was owned by Summerland’s reeve

James Ritchie was also instrumental in bringing rail transportation to the community

This 1910 photograph shows the first Cadillac in the Okanagan Valley. The driver was Summerland pioneer James Ritchie and in the back seat was Summerland’s first teacher, Ken Hogg. Minnie Smith was technically Summerland’s first teacher, but she could not start the 1904 to 1905 school year and Hogg was the substitute teacher. Cadillacs were first made in 1902. Electric starters for the car didn’t appear until 1912, so a crank was required. (Photo courtesy of the Summerland Museum)
Neskonlith knowledge keeper Louis Thomas and Salmon Arm Arts Centre supporter Dolores Mori take time for a chat on March 25, 2022 as Thomas speaks about the significance of the Good Spirit Box which contains digital recordings of Secwépemc creation stories or Chiptekwilah. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)

Good Spirit Box shares digital recordings of Secwépemc creation stories

Stories from Neskonlith, Splatsin provide guidance regarding relationship to the land

Neskonlith knowledge keeper Louis Thomas and Salmon Arm Arts Centre supporter Dolores Mori take time for a chat on March 25, 2022 as Thomas speaks about the significance of the Good Spirit Box which contains digital recordings of Secwépemc creation stories or Chiptekwilah. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)
Lake Country boat landmark destroyed in fire April 1, 2021

Iconic Highway 97 boat will not be replaced following fire

The historic blue and white boat was destroyed in a fire April 2021 near Lake Country

  • Mar 30, 2022
Lake Country boat landmark destroyed in fire April 1, 2021
The construction crew of the Vernon Courthouse in 1911, prior to the completion in 1914. (Vernon Photo Co./Greater Vernon Museum and Archives)

Okanagan history preserved online

Historial documents, photos available to public through partnerships

The construction crew of the Vernon Courthouse in 1911, prior to the completion in 1914. (Vernon Photo Co./Greater Vernon Museum and Archives)