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CALL NUMBER: T0314:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-23 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Alfred Joseph Drinkell tells some stories about the history of the Dog Creek area of the Cariboo, from 1860 to 1914. Drinkell discusses his arrival in BC in 1911. He describes the ranches he worked at around Ashcroft, Joseph Smith's place, and his financial problems and life before he came to BC. He tells anecdotes about Judge Begbie. He tells a story about Samsome, a local doctor, and the legendary packer Jean Caux ("Cataline").

TRACK 2: Drinkell relates the story of Cataline's last trip and describes many trails in the area. He speaks of Joy Sim, a Chinese doctor, and pioneer medicine. He discusses some of Cataline's packers: Robbins, Wiggins Dan Smith, and the first settlers in the area. He describes the Hudson's Bay Trail, freighting, roads in the area, stories about Phil Grinder of Jesmond, a local school teacher, and educated people.

CALL NUMBER: T0314:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-23 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Drinkell describes the early days of Ashcroft, the Chinese in the area, two anecdotes: the Wright of the Dog Creek Ferry and the Stobie of the Gang Ranch. He offers the background of the Gang Ranch and describes cattle drives, the Duke Of York, a Barkerville bartender, and local Indians.

TRACK 2: Drinkell discusses cowboys, social life and Christmas. Then he mentions Indian-White relationships and a story about Indians and the law. He discusses the Chilcotin and Shuswap Indians, problems with the reserve system, Chinese settlers in the Dog Creek area, and the importance of Chinese in the area. Finally, Drinkell tells the story of five Indian women who killed themselves over a white man, and how nails and gold dust were used as money.

Footage. A travel film presenting outdoor attractions and community life along the highways linking the Fraser Canyon to Clinton and Lillooet. Featured are swimming, fishing, hiking, sightseeing, motoring through the Fraser Canyon and accommodations such as hotels, resorts and auto courts. Community subjects include children clowning and swimming, ranching, railway trains, a covered wagon, native basketry for sale, building and students at St. George's Indian Residential School (Lytton), abandoned roadhouses, and the towns of Lytton, Spences Bridge, Ashcroft, Clinton and Lillooet. In the last sequence on the reel, townsfolk in Lillooet extract a vintage automobile from an old garage, push it onto the town’s main street, and start it up.

CALL NUMBER: T0552:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Ashcroft, B.C., 1897-1951 PERIOD COVERED: 1897-1951 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Gibson tells story of his grandfather, Charles Henry Gibson, who came to Ashcroft in 1897. Discusses his grandfather's career as an entrepreneur and rancher; he was one of the leading citizens of early Ashcroft. Father was educated in private school in Victoria. Mother's family described. Family ranches sold out in 1951. Relations between Chinese and Indians. TRACK 2: Gibson learned Chinese as a child. The Chinese in the agricultural economy of Ashcroft. Chinese life and customs described. Cataline described. Cataline as a businessman. Experiences of Gibson's maternal grandfather, Francis Webb, as a stipendiary magistrate in Ashcroft. (The voice of Dr. John Roberts is also heard.)

CALL NUMBER: T0552:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Ashcroft, B.C., 1897-1951 PERIOD COVERED: 1897-1951 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1976 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: More on Cataline and Judge Henry Castillou. Gibson family suit against the CPR over water rights. Social life in Ashcroft. Leading citizens of Ashcroft. Fraternal orders. TRACK 2: blank. (End of interview) (The voice of Dr. John Roberts is also heard.)

The item is an audio recording of an interview with Gilbert Forbes in 1976.
T0330:0001 track 1: Mr. Forbes discusses his background: born in 1889 at 100 Mile House; father was a rancher; moved to 122 Mile (Lac La Hache) in 1893; family ran the 122 Mile House as a ranch and a stopping house on the Cariboo road. The operation of a stopping house. School. Worked for Bank of British North America in Ashcroft, ca. 1906-08. Worked with Frank Swannell survey party, 1908. Experiences while working with Swannell in Nechako region. T0330:0001 track 2: More about surveying with Swannell. Worked on mining construction, 1909-10. Mining camp conditions. Trip to South America, 1912-13. Anecdotes about Forbes' trip in Argentina, Bermuda and the United States and his return to Lac La Hache, 1913. Anecdote about the death of "Bugs" at Lac La Hache, 1906.

T0330:0002 track 1: Worked on his father's ranch at 122 Mile House, 1913-22. Freight hauling on the Cariboo Road declines after 1919. Worked at Cedar Creek gold mine, 1922-23. Gold mining in the Cariboo region. Ranched and had a trap line during the Depression. Building with logs. Ranched during the 1940s.
T0330:0002 track 2: Brief account of activities in 1950s. Early freighters on the Cariboo Road described. Anecdotes about the teamsters on the Cariboo Road. Anecdotes about gambling. Preachers. (End of interview)

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): A Chilcotin pioneer RECORDED: [location unknown], [196-] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Gabriel (Gay) Bayliff recalls how his father settled at the Chilancoh Ranch near Alexis Creek in the Chilcotin, and early days in the area. His father came from England, ca. 1880. Early work on ranches. Teaming up with Norman Lee to start ranch. Bull Canyon. Mother's medical experiences and riding skill. Polo teams. Cattle drives to Ashcroft. Stores in Ashcroft. Railway survey through the Chilcotin. Chinese labourers. Changes in the Chilcotin. [TRACK 2: blank.]

CALL NUMBER: T0368:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-27 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Gabriel T.L. Bayliff talks about his father's experiences in the Chilcotin and various aspects of life in the region. The interview begins with a discussion about how Bayliff's father came to BC and his early experiences on ranches in the Nicola Valley. He worked for Bill Roper at Cherry Creek. His father wrote a paper on ranching. Mr. Bayliff describes the people of the Chilcotin. His father teamed up with Norman Lee to start a ranch in 1887. There is talk of the local Indians, Alexis Creek, Ashcroft, his parent's marriage and his mother's reaction to the country, the Hamilton family and young British people in the area.

TRACK 2: Mr. Bayliff discusses play and work, travel and the mail service. He mentions Benny Franklin, a well-known early settler. He goes on to discuss the acquisition of land, Graham and his ranch at Tatla Lake, gold prospecting, stories about Chinese settlers, Becher's stopping house at Riske Creek and his father's experience on a pack train.

CALL NUMBER: T0368:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-27 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Bayliff comments on Norman Lee's ranch near Redstone. He explains the place names of: Bull Canyon, Chilco and Chezacut. He discusses the Indian battle at Bull Canyon and "Salu's leap". He talks about people killed by Chilcotin Indians, the Hance family, and purchases of local cattle during the building of the Grand Trunk Pacific. [TRACK 2: blank.]

The Hat Creek Ranch was formed in 1910 by Charles Gottfried Doering when he purchased the McCosh, O'Hara and original Hat Creek Ranches and amalgamated them. The ranch, which was located in the Bonaparte Valley near Ashcroft, was a cattle and horse-breeding, as well as an agricultural centre. Hotel Hat Creek was also situated on the ranch and was operated by Doering.

In addition to his ranching interests, Doering was involved in the brewing industry and associated hotel trade. He was president of the British Columbia Breweries, Ltd., which was incorporated in 1911 following an amalgamation of three other breweries. Until prohibition in 1917, he was also involved in the operation of several Vancouver hotels.

Business records of the Hat Creek Ranch, including account books and land, water and livestock records, and of British Columbia Breweries and Hotel Hat Creek. The business records reflect the day-to-day business operations of Hat Creek Ranch and, to a lesser degree, Hat Creek Hotel, first under Doering and later under John Basil Jackson. There are also records related to land transactions, grazing leases, water rights applications and breeding. Also included is correspondence regarding Doering's brewery and non-local hotel interests which deals primarily with the windup of British Columbia Breweries, Ltd., and his divestiture of his hotels.

CALL NUMBER: T0362:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-28 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Hugh Cornwall tells the story of his grandfather, Clement F. Cornwall, who settled in Ashcroft in 1862, including his early days on the ranch, hunting coyotes with hounds, and Ashcroft Manor serving as a stopping house. His grandfather was a politician and Lieutenant Governor of BC. There is more on the operation of the ranch at Ashcroft, which Hugh's father managed after 1910. Markets for cattle changed. More on Ashcroft Manor. TRACK 2: The Ashcroft estate burned down in the late 1930s. Cornwall comments on the veracity of historical accounts.

CALL NUMBER: T0362:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-07-28 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: The Cornwalls of Ashcroft are described, as is the naming of Cache Creek. The McLean boys are described -- Allen McLean, Charlie McLean, Archie McLean, and Alex Hare. The Cornwalls are described in terms of fox-hunting, law and order, and the gold rush. Finally, Cornwall describes Barkerville during its boom days. [TRACK 2: blank.]

CALL NUMBER: T0415:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], [1965?] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Irwin McDonald describes his father, Archie Roy McDonald, who came from the Isle of Skye in Scotland, and moved in turn to Colorado, Montana, Mexico and BC, chasing mining drives; some anecdotes about his father's trip to BC; Colville; silver mines; his father and mother; his mother's death when he was three; school in Spokane; the Kootenays, and who discovered several sites there; buying land in Strom, Alberta; several characters and anecdotes; his siblings; Nelson; a boat trip to Kootenay Landing and train ride to Cranbrook; distant relatives from Ontario named Stuart; McCullough and his purchase of land in BC. TRACK 2: Mr. McDonald continues by describing the winter of 1907 in Alberta and the subsequent sale of the ranch in Alberta; they moved to Edmonton and then to BC with a few pack horses, leaving Edmonton on May 15. He describes the trip in great detail.

CALL NUMBER: T0415:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], [1965?] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. McDonald continues discussing a man named Swift and more anecdotes about their journey; Jasper House, Tete Jaune Cache; Canoe River; more on the journey. He explains that they were trying to go to the Cariboo down the Thompson River, not really knowing what to expect or where they were exactly going to land, and not hitting the Cariboo Road until 70 Mile House. They got to Clinton soon after. TRACK 2: Mr. McDonald talks about 70 Mile House; building a house and barn; supplies; ranching. He describes Ashcroft.

RECORDED: [location unknown], [195-?] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Jack Cornwall and Mr. Bert Collins recall the Ashcroft - Cache Creek area from 1860 to 1900: Mr. Cornwall describes Ashcroft to 1900; his father Henry Pennant, and his uncle, Clement Francis, who came in 1861; the Cornwalls and the Cornwall estate; the Cariboo Road; camels; a trip to Victoria in the early 1880s; early ranchers and cattle drives. Then Mr. Collins discusses Cataline (the packer Jean Caux) and how Cache Creek got its name. [TRACK 2: blank.]

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-12-03 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. James Robertson remembers life as a rancher and as a freighter. Mr. Robertson describes how he came from Scotland to Banff in 1904; his work on the Canadian Pacific Railway; the Gang Ranch from 1905 to 1907; Vancouver in 1907; more on the Gang Ranch; the Dog Creek Ranch (the Joseph place); more about the Gang Ranch to 1910; other ranches; a strike at the Gang Ranch; J.D. Prentice, Managing Director, Western Canadian Ranching Co.; owners of the Gang Ranch; fishing; 100 Mile House, Benjamin "Benjy" McNeil of the 105 Mile Ranch; and the BX Stage. TRACK 2: Mr. Robertson continues about the BX Stage; "Drummers", traveling salesmen; his own freighting business; Ashcroft in 1910; Horsefly in 1915; Cataline, Miocene; and the Cariboo Road from 1911 to 1914.

CALL NUMBER: T0006:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Leslie Leighton : life in the Cariboo PERIOD COVERED: 1860-1920 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-06-01 SUMMARY: Mr. Leslie Leighton talks about his father's and his own experiences in the Cariboo and Fraser-Thompson regions, 1860-1920. TRACK 1: Family background, mother's side (Uren). Town of Savona c.1870. Fat;her's background: a telegrapher who worked for Collins Overland Telegraph. A Chinese telegrapher. Mother's family. Ranch at Savona. Discussion of early rodeos, c.1905. Breaking horses. Ashcroft and Savona. "Stage Billy". Roads in Barkerville area. TRACK 2: Barkerville and people there, ca.1900: Andrew Kelly, John Bowron, George Turnstall, other old-timers. Stage business. Beginnings of Inland Express Company. Roads. People on the stage coaches. Other towns in the Cariboo. General comments.

CALL NUMBER: T0006:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Leslie Leighton : Walhachin and other memories of the Fraser-Thompson area PERIOD COVERED: 1894-1920 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-06-01 SUMMARY: Mr. Leslie Leighton talks about the development of Walhachin and other recollections of his experiences in the Fraser-Thompson area, 1894-1920. TRACK 1: Cataline (Jean Caux), a well-known packer. Chinese miners. Mining in area. The story of Walhachin and the Walhachin irrigation flume. The decline of Walhachin. Involvement of the Marquis of Anglesey. Anecdotes about Alphonse Foucault. Freight wagons and jerkline teams. More on Foucault and various exploits. More on Walhachin flume. Memory of first CPR train through Ashcroft. Story about Sir William Mackenzie's daughter Ethel and her husband. [TRACK 2: blank.]

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-10-28 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Mary Baker discusses her father, Henry Steffans, who was from Switzerland and had a store in Lytton, then went to farm in the Nicola Valley; Mary's visits to an aunt and uncle Charlie McGillivray on the Cariboo Road; the Lytton Hotel and store fire; anecdotes about characters around Lytton; the Lorings. TRACK 2: Mrs. Baker discusses other settlers around Lytton; life on her father's Nicola Valley ranch; Ashcroft from 1907 to 1914; her husband Fred Baker, who came to Canada from England and ran a freighting business.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-10-29 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Alan Parker describes his background, joining the British Army at seventeen years of age; the circumstances under which he came to Canada in 1921 on a cattle boat directly to a ranching company; he came from the north of England to Canada when he was twenty-one; came to Gang Ranch near Kamloops [sic]; he describes the ranch, his work on the ranch; the winter of 1921; Mr. Pinchbeck from Williams Lake; Charlie Rossiter; the land around Kamloops; Perry Ranch; A.W. Stobie; more on Gang Ranch; some anecdotes about things that happened on the ranch. TRACK 2: Mrs. Parker describes her; grandfather, Henry Cornwall, who came to BC to look for farmlands; came through Pemberton Meadows and Lillooet before arriving in Ashcroft on horseback; she came to BC in 1937; she was born in Kamloops; Cornwall Lodge is described in great detail; her grandfather and her family; how they came to Canada; how her mother met her father; Bill Roper of the Cherry Creek Ranch, a description of the Cherry Creek Ranch, anecdotes about Cherry Creek Ranch; the Drake family. Then Mr. Alan Parker describes the Cornwall family; anecdotes about hunting; Ashcroft Manor; J.B. Layton; the Cameron family; more on the history of Ashcroft Mano; United Air Transport at Ashcroft; Chinese in the area.

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Recollections of Mrs. Nellie Baker PERIOD COVERED: 1900-1920 RECORDED: Quesnel (B.C.), [196-] SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Nellie Baker of Quesnel talks with Bjorn Bjornson about some of her experiences. Childhood on father's ranch near Ashcroft. Married 1907 [sic]. Comments on Mormons of Salt Lake City. Experiences with husband, a doctor in the Quesnel area. Horse racing. [TRACK 2: blank.]

CALL NUMBER: T0376:0001 RECORDED: Quesnel (B.C.), 1964-07-19 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Nellie Baker talks about her experiences in the Cache Creek, Ashcroft and Quesnel area, 1890 to 1910. Mrs. Baker speaks about her father coming to BC in 1864 and the story of her father and mother coming to Chilcotin in 1884 before buying Bonaparte Ranch near Cache Creek, where Nelly was born. She describes activity along the Cariboo Road; wagons, stages, stopping places and drivers. She speaks about life at the Cache Creek boarding school and her relations with the native children.

TRACK 2: She moved to a ranch between Spences Bridge and Ashcroft where she used to capture wild horses. She discusses the Little Mountain slide at Spences Bridge as well as the sheep and cattle on her father's ranch. She discusses her life after she was married in Ashcroft, as well as pack trains, memories of the famous packer Jean Caux ("Cataline"), Quesnel in 1910, and activity in the area. She mentions that her husband was a doctor.

CALL NUMBER: T0376:0002 RECORDED: Quesnel (B.C.), 1964-07-19 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Baker discusses her traveling and her experiences working with her husband in the area west of Quesnel. She describes the social life and recreation of Wells and Barkerville; working outdoors, a story about eating wild parsnips, and rattlesnakes. She comments on bars and liquor and her upbringing and adventures on her father's ranch near Ashcroft. She talks about her marriage in 1907, the Mormons in Salt Lake City, more experiences with her husband, and horse racing. [TRACK 2: blank.]

SUMMARY: The program includes the history and description of Cache Creek; the origins of Ashcroft; and brief description of early Ashcroft. The story of the journey of the Clippendale family from England to Ashcroft. Impressions of Ashcroft in 1910; attitudes toward English immigrants; growing up on a ranch near Ashcroft. The voices heard includes: Dorothy Goldrick, Nellie Baker, Mary Baker, and Vince Gresty.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Percy Hance talks about some aspects of life around Hanceville in the Chilcotin, 1870 to 1920. Mr. Hance tells the story of how his father, Orlando Thomas Hance, came to the Chilcotin, started a store, took up land, built a mill and met his wife, Percy's mother. Hance discusses Indians in the area, a story about George Meyers, his father's fur trade and his store. Mr. Hance describes other early ranches in Chilcotin, Becher's at Riske Creek, Christmas in Hanceville, winters, childhood, names of settlers in the area, a story about a remittance man, round-ups, and changes in range land.

TRACK 2: Mr. Hance describes cattle, dances and social events. Then Hance discusses driving the mail, Indians at Anahim Lake and at Hanceville, cattle drives to Ashcroft. Finally, Mr. Hance describes how he used to keep the jail, and law and order in Chilcotin.