This site is mainly about Powell River, British Columbia.
Powell River has been around since the turn of the century, and began its days as a Lumber Town. The history behind Powell River is not long, nor glamorous but it has its interesting parts, having the first medical care plan, first telephone in British Columbia, also has the shortest river in the world, among other things.
Most if this history has been recorded however it has been in the last decade that I have noticed the remaining visual and verbal history has slowly been lost. Logging has been Powell Rivers main industry since its begining and the surrounding area is largly second growth and some now going onto the third growth. The things being lost are irreplacable, and although it would be nice to save it all, its impossible due to many things
In this Blog I hope others will help capture other pieces of the history surrounding Powell River by emailing myself and share stories they know of people, places and things in the areas wilderness. I have been noticing many places have still visible railroad beds, old logging equipment, homesteads and other artifacts that a large majority of people can not see. Their are clubs that venture into the wilderness, business and contractors and everyday normal people who take time to see the beauty of what Powell River has to offer.
It is surprising when one person tells me a story they heard about this item once seen at this location in abouts say 1950’s, and today it is still there, so if you know of stories, or know of lost artifacts, or interesting things you find, please take the time to help record the information as this site is not only decitated to the retrieval of this information, this information will also be passed along to the local Powell River Historic Museum, the Powell River Forestry Museum, and other places who would like the information.
Anything posted here is valuable information, and its always nice if items can be located, in the future these area’s will be logged and they will most certainly be destroyed and buried, so at some point in time, it may be smart to go retrieve them and bring them back to Powell River so all others can see them, but until then, others can visit them where they are located and tell their own stories.
Due to a large amount of spam this site no longer allows people to register, so if you have any information you wish to share about lost artifacts or places you once visited please contact myself at docoldfart@hotmail.com.
I wish to thank some people who have helped me with research, and to locate items here, Teedie and Debbie from the Powell River Historic Museum,
Doug McGregor with his good memory and great story tellings of the history,
Pat Haist who since arriving in Powell River has been a driving force for me to continue this venture,
Andy McLoed who has joined in some adventures of relic finding
Memorable history here! Always happy to heard interesting history such as that about Powell River destruction story. And got information that Powell River Historic Museum. Actually the post overall informative. Thanks for informing!
Here is one more picture of the one house in the Valley from the front side
Just upstream of the Powell River to Wildwood bridge, on the Powell River side, there was a sunken boom boat when I was a kid. When the lake was low there was about 40 feet of water over it. Maybe 50-100 yards max upstream of the bridge.
At Dodd lake the old Japanese dump from logging was just to the right of the roadway where it crosses the river towards Beaver Lake. There used to be all sorts of Prince Albert tobacco cans and medecine/opium bottles there.
Also about 50 yards out in the Dodd lake to the left side of the old pilings was an old canvas kayak in the shallows, maybe 15 ft down or less.
At the site of the Rainbow Lodge, up powell lake, there were several houses, and an old japanese shingle slide from up the mountain down to the waters edge. Used to be all sorts of shattered Japanese pottery, and a lot of good exotic wine/ bottles. The story was not all the japs were sent inland from Powell River. A small group lived up there for the war.
I doubt there is much of Billy Goat Smiths place up the head of Powell Lake, left. he had the biggest shakes I ever saw, clear cedar 2-3 ft wide by 15-20 ft long on his barn. he also had trails going all over the hills and up the valley the behind his place. When they raised the dam and flooded the Lake with the second dam it floded the old community of Anderson? at the head of the lake on the north west side. Tried a few times to find it on low water but never had any luck. There was a story about barrel(s) of whiskey being buried there prior to the flooding. No luck there either.
But on low water there was the remains of the old dam just upstream from the current dam, we used to fly fish down there.
Powell River was a great place to grow up, or remain forever a kid.