Golden, BC
Golden is funny place to be born. At least I’ve always thought so. Besides I never lived there nor did I ever have any desire to do so. Golden is a beautiful picturesque small town nestled in lovely green valley right next to the towering Rocky Mountains. I just happened to be born there.
During the winters bitterly cold temperatures and snow are constant companions for the families living in the Columbia Valley. December of 1931 was no exception with snow storms inflicting the Valley with its worst. There was already a heavy blanket of snow along with frigid temperatures. Wisely Mom was bundled up sometime in early December and driven the fifty torturous miles north to Golden in her 1928 Model A Ford. Mom stayed with her sister, my Auntie Eva and her husband, Uncle Bill Henderson while she waited for me to arrive. Fortunately Mom knew what to expect as she had already been through it 4 1/2 years earlier with the birth of my older sister, Phyllis.
Meanwhile Mom’s sister, Ella (aka La La) happily took over at Brisco, serving as chief cook, house sitter and babysitter at the Watkins’ home. It was a fortunate choice as La had a wonderful relationship with Phyll. She was also a very good cook so Dad and Phyll were well fed and well looked after while Mom was away.
Auntie Eva and Uncle Bill lived on the outskirts of Golden right on the main road going south towards Brisco. It was a modest two bedroom wood framed house with a path (to the outhouse). By my calculation the Henderson’s already had three children, cousins Billy, Bruce & Kay.
The Golden Hospital was in a rather small but attractive white building within walking distance of the Henderson home. It looked more like a large house in the country then a town hospital. There it sat in the middle of a snow covered field surrounded by snow laden trees. The shortest day of the year was rapidly approaching so the daylight hours were short and the nights long and dark.
The heavy snow continued to fall on December 16 closing down the road between Brisco, and Golden. I can just see Mom calmly announcing that it was time for the baby to arrive. Then, following a short flurry of activity making their way along a narrow path and through the stormy night to the Hospital. Much to Mom’s relief, I’m sure I arrived 3:30 AM on December 17th. Born in the night and have been a night person ever since. So began the first of my life’s adventures. Having thought about this over the years I’ve formed a mental picture of what happened at home that morning. The telephone rang and Dad answered it. A tense silence fell over the room while La and Phyll stood awaiting for the news. “Hello. Yes, Eva.” Dad said in a strained voice. Phyll and La now hung on every word. Dad’s face suddenly relaxed as he exclaimed, “Wonderful, that’s good news.” Covering the speaker he said “It’s a boy!” La let out a whoop grabbed Phyll in a giant hug and swung her around. “It’s a boy! You have a baby brother!” La shouted as they continued to dance around our dining room. all the while Dad is straining to hear what is being said on the telephone.
The Department of Highway’s truck with the snowplow on the front sat in our driveway. In darkness of the early morning Dad warmed up the engine, lowered the plow, drove on to the highway and headed north. The road was completely covered with snow with little or no signs of tire tracks. Fortunately Dad had driven this road many times before. Still it was a difficult and slow job as he painstakingly plowed his way along the narrow, twisting snow clogged road towards Golden.
People living in the isolated farm houses and small villages along the way knew that Dad would be coming by with the snowplow and opening up road. Just as soon as the road was plowed they joined in behind him. By the time he reached Golden there was a strain of various kinds of vehicles behind him, all anxious to get to town.
When Dad finally arrived in Golden he was tired but excited. He parked the truck and headed towards the hospital where he saw me for the first time. Mom and Dad soon agreed on a name for me and I was soon registered at the local Government Office as Edward Lloyd Watkins. I was to be called Teddy. I was the third generation Edward in the Canadian Watkins family. Lloyd was after my Uncle Lloyd whose name was Walter William Lloyd George[1]. Uncle Lloyd was Dad’s youngest brother.
n 1807, David Thompson first crossed over the Rocky Mountains and traveled along the Blaeberry River to the future site of Golden. In search of the Columbia River and, ultimately, a passage to the Pacific Ocean, it was Thompson’s sense of exploration that led him here. Thompson’s travels took him to the junction of the legendary Columbia and Kicking Horse Rivers.
FIRST SETTLEMENTIt took 75 years of men with visions of homes, families and prosperity to come along.
The first settlement was established in 1882 and was just one building and simply called “The Cache”, the site was used by Major A.B. Rogers as a base camp for his survey crew who were searching for a route through the Selkirk Mountains for the Canadian Pacific Railway’s transcontinental railway.
In an attempt to outdo a camp to the east, which called itself "Silver City", the name "Golden City" was chosen. The gold mining industry wasn't panning out to meet optimistic expectations and soon the term "City" became a little too pretentious for most and the town became known simply as Golden.
CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAYGolden would simply not exist without the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). In fact, the railway’s presence helped establish Golden’s place in Canada. As the CPR constructed its cross-country network of rails, it used Golden as a base camp as it extended further into the western part of B.C.
The railway was completed in 1885 and Golden soon became a prominent stop on the line. The CPR also paved the way for the Trans-Canada Highway, which helped to transform the area from a forest outpost to a true community.
STEAMBOAT ERAOn May 8, 1886, Captain Frank P Armstrong, launched the steamboat "The Duchess” at Golden. Departing from the Columbia Lake she was charged with transporting supplies for Golden and the never-ending appetites of the busy CPR crew.
However exciting, it was a short lived era, for the construction of the southbound CPR tracks in 1914 executed the quick demise of the romantic era of steamboat transportation.
SWISS GUIDESThe CPR recognized that many travellers through Golden would want to stay, explore and discover the incredible area for themselves. To this end, the CPR hired professional Swiss guides to assist in providing connections to this compelling yet rugged landscape. In 1899, Eduard Feuz Sr. and Christian Haesler came to Canada from Switzerland to serve as mountain guides. In 1911, the CPR built homes in Golden for their sons, Edward Feuz Jr. and Christian Haesler Jr., and their fellow guides, naming it the ‘Swiss Village’, or ‘Edelweiss.’
Mountaineering activity in the region attracted international visitors, including Alpine Club of Canada members, who based their mountain explorations from Golden.
The Swiss Village is situated 1.5 kilometres west of Golden.
Read Swiss Guides Shaping Mountain Culture by Ilona Spaar. courtesy of the Consulate General of Switzerland Vancouver
FORESTSFor well over a century, Golden’s fortunes have been linked with the forestry industry; sawmills have come and gone, been burned down and rebuilt and are wrapped in a list of owners as long as a Douglas Fir log - where the health of the industry went, so went Golden’s well being.
The forest industry was initiated with the building of the CPR Railroads, which required 3000 railroad ties per mile. There was also demand for buildings, bridges, trestles and snowsheds, some of which took huge quantities of large timber.
KICKING HORSE'S ORIGINSIn 1858, the Imperial Government sent John Palliser out to find a feasible route from the Prairies through the mountains so it could extend the railway. A geologist, named Sir James Hector, was among those on the expedition team. Following a string of bad events, Hector ended up stumbling upon the Kicking Horse Pass. As the story goes, he was camped out at the Great Divide when one of the team's pack horses got loose and crossed the river. Sir James jumped into the water and swam after it, eventually rounding the horse up. While trying to tie it to a tree near his horse, the two animals became enraged and started fighting. During the ruckus, Sir James suffered a vicious kick from his own steed. The sheer force broke three of his ribs and knocked him out. In fact, he was unconscious for so long, his three Native guides were convinced he was dead and decided to bury him. As they were carrying Sir James's lifeless body to a grave some distance away, he suddenly came to. When he was well enough to move around, he explored the valley and eventually discovered the pass that became the route through the mountains. The pass and the river were dubbed "Kicking Horse" in his honour.
While in Golden, visit the Golden Museum’s permanent and new exhibits. Call 250.344.5169 or visit www.goldenbcmuseum.com.
Key Historical Dates for Golden, BC
During the winters bitterly cold temperatures and snow are constant companions for the families living in the Columbia Valley. December of 1931 was no exception with snow storms inflicting the Valley with its worst. There was already a heavy blanket of snow along with frigid temperatures. Wisely Mom was bundled up sometime in early December and driven the fifty torturous miles north to Golden in her 1928 Model A Ford. Mom stayed with her sister, my Auntie Eva and her husband, Uncle Bill Henderson while she waited for me to arrive. Fortunately Mom knew what to expect as she had already been through it 4 1/2 years earlier with the birth of my older sister, Phyllis.
Meanwhile Mom’s sister, Ella (aka La La) happily took over at Brisco, serving as chief cook, house sitter and babysitter at the Watkins’ home. It was a fortunate choice as La had a wonderful relationship with Phyll. She was also a very good cook so Dad and Phyll were well fed and well looked after while Mom was away.
Auntie Eva and Uncle Bill lived on the outskirts of Golden right on the main road going south towards Brisco. It was a modest two bedroom wood framed house with a path (to the outhouse). By my calculation the Henderson’s already had three children, cousins Billy, Bruce & Kay.
The Golden Hospital was in a rather small but attractive white building within walking distance of the Henderson home. It looked more like a large house in the country then a town hospital. There it sat in the middle of a snow covered field surrounded by snow laden trees. The shortest day of the year was rapidly approaching so the daylight hours were short and the nights long and dark.
The heavy snow continued to fall on December 16 closing down the road between Brisco, and Golden. I can just see Mom calmly announcing that it was time for the baby to arrive. Then, following a short flurry of activity making their way along a narrow path and through the stormy night to the Hospital. Much to Mom’s relief, I’m sure I arrived 3:30 AM on December 17th. Born in the night and have been a night person ever since. So began the first of my life’s adventures. Having thought about this over the years I’ve formed a mental picture of what happened at home that morning. The telephone rang and Dad answered it. A tense silence fell over the room while La and Phyll stood awaiting for the news. “Hello. Yes, Eva.” Dad said in a strained voice. Phyll and La now hung on every word. Dad’s face suddenly relaxed as he exclaimed, “Wonderful, that’s good news.” Covering the speaker he said “It’s a boy!” La let out a whoop grabbed Phyll in a giant hug and swung her around. “It’s a boy! You have a baby brother!” La shouted as they continued to dance around our dining room. all the while Dad is straining to hear what is being said on the telephone.
The Department of Highway’s truck with the snowplow on the front sat in our driveway. In darkness of the early morning Dad warmed up the engine, lowered the plow, drove on to the highway and headed north. The road was completely covered with snow with little or no signs of tire tracks. Fortunately Dad had driven this road many times before. Still it was a difficult and slow job as he painstakingly plowed his way along the narrow, twisting snow clogged road towards Golden.
People living in the isolated farm houses and small villages along the way knew that Dad would be coming by with the snowplow and opening up road. Just as soon as the road was plowed they joined in behind him. By the time he reached Golden there was a strain of various kinds of vehicles behind him, all anxious to get to town.
When Dad finally arrived in Golden he was tired but excited. He parked the truck and headed towards the hospital where he saw me for the first time. Mom and Dad soon agreed on a name for me and I was soon registered at the local Government Office as Edward Lloyd Watkins. I was to be called Teddy. I was the third generation Edward in the Canadian Watkins family. Lloyd was after my Uncle Lloyd whose name was Walter William Lloyd George[1]. Uncle Lloyd was Dad’s youngest brother.
n 1807, David Thompson first crossed over the Rocky Mountains and traveled along the Blaeberry River to the future site of Golden. In search of the Columbia River and, ultimately, a passage to the Pacific Ocean, it was Thompson’s sense of exploration that led him here. Thompson’s travels took him to the junction of the legendary Columbia and Kicking Horse Rivers.
FIRST SETTLEMENTIt took 75 years of men with visions of homes, families and prosperity to come along.
The first settlement was established in 1882 and was just one building and simply called “The Cache”, the site was used by Major A.B. Rogers as a base camp for his survey crew who were searching for a route through the Selkirk Mountains for the Canadian Pacific Railway’s transcontinental railway.
In an attempt to outdo a camp to the east, which called itself "Silver City", the name "Golden City" was chosen. The gold mining industry wasn't panning out to meet optimistic expectations and soon the term "City" became a little too pretentious for most and the town became known simply as Golden.
CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAYGolden would simply not exist without the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). In fact, the railway’s presence helped establish Golden’s place in Canada. As the CPR constructed its cross-country network of rails, it used Golden as a base camp as it extended further into the western part of B.C.
The railway was completed in 1885 and Golden soon became a prominent stop on the line. The CPR also paved the way for the Trans-Canada Highway, which helped to transform the area from a forest outpost to a true community.
STEAMBOAT ERAOn May 8, 1886, Captain Frank P Armstrong, launched the steamboat "The Duchess” at Golden. Departing from the Columbia Lake she was charged with transporting supplies for Golden and the never-ending appetites of the busy CPR crew.
However exciting, it was a short lived era, for the construction of the southbound CPR tracks in 1914 executed the quick demise of the romantic era of steamboat transportation.
SWISS GUIDESThe CPR recognized that many travellers through Golden would want to stay, explore and discover the incredible area for themselves. To this end, the CPR hired professional Swiss guides to assist in providing connections to this compelling yet rugged landscape. In 1899, Eduard Feuz Sr. and Christian Haesler came to Canada from Switzerland to serve as mountain guides. In 1911, the CPR built homes in Golden for their sons, Edward Feuz Jr. and Christian Haesler Jr., and their fellow guides, naming it the ‘Swiss Village’, or ‘Edelweiss.’
Mountaineering activity in the region attracted international visitors, including Alpine Club of Canada members, who based their mountain explorations from Golden.
The Swiss Village is situated 1.5 kilometres west of Golden.
Read Swiss Guides Shaping Mountain Culture by Ilona Spaar. courtesy of the Consulate General of Switzerland Vancouver
FORESTSFor well over a century, Golden’s fortunes have been linked with the forestry industry; sawmills have come and gone, been burned down and rebuilt and are wrapped in a list of owners as long as a Douglas Fir log - where the health of the industry went, so went Golden’s well being.
The forest industry was initiated with the building of the CPR Railroads, which required 3000 railroad ties per mile. There was also demand for buildings, bridges, trestles and snowsheds, some of which took huge quantities of large timber.
KICKING HORSE'S ORIGINSIn 1858, the Imperial Government sent John Palliser out to find a feasible route from the Prairies through the mountains so it could extend the railway. A geologist, named Sir James Hector, was among those on the expedition team. Following a string of bad events, Hector ended up stumbling upon the Kicking Horse Pass. As the story goes, he was camped out at the Great Divide when one of the team's pack horses got loose and crossed the river. Sir James jumped into the water and swam after it, eventually rounding the horse up. While trying to tie it to a tree near his horse, the two animals became enraged and started fighting. During the ruckus, Sir James suffered a vicious kick from his own steed. The sheer force broke three of his ribs and knocked him out. In fact, he was unconscious for so long, his three Native guides were convinced he was dead and decided to bury him. As they were carrying Sir James's lifeless body to a grave some distance away, he suddenly came to. When he was well enough to move around, he explored the valley and eventually discovered the pass that became the route through the mountains. The pass and the river were dubbed "Kicking Horse" in his honour.
While in Golden, visit the Golden Museum’s permanent and new exhibits. Call 250.344.5169 or visit www.goldenbcmuseum.com.
Key Historical Dates for Golden, BC
- 1807 - David Thompson crossed the Rocky Mountains and spent the summer surveying the Columbia River.
- 1858 - The Palliser Expedition was sent out by the Imperial Government and led by John Palliser to find a possible route through the mountains for a roadway.
- 1858 - Sir James Hector was kicked in the chest by his horse, which let to the naming of the Kicking Horse River.
- 1871 - Walter Moberly was sent out by the government to inspect Howse Pass and the Blaeberry for suitability for the railroad.
- 1882 - While working for the Canadian Pacific Railway and using information gathered by Walter Moberly, A.B. Rogers found the pass for the railroad.
- 1882 - Golden's first name was "The Cache," and was named as the result of Major Rogers caching his supplies here.
- 1883 - Baptiste Morigeau became the first merchant in Golden.
- 1885 - The last spike was driven on the Transcontinental Railway that would like Canada from ocean to ocean.
- 1886 - The first riverboat "Duchess" operates on the Columbia River.
- 1886 - Mike Carlin changed the name of his lumber camp from Carlin's Camp to "Silver City." Not to be outdone local citizens changed the name of "The Cache" to "Golden City."
- 1893 - The first hospital was built in Golden.
- 1899 - Canadian Pacific Railway brought the first Swiss Mountain Guides to Golden.
- 1899 - CPR moves its divisional headquarters from Donald to Revelstoke, which resulted in the demise of the once thriving metropolis of Donald.
- 1920 - Captain Armstrong piloted the last riverboat, "Nowitka," on the Columbia River.
- 1927 - Columbia River Lumber Company goes out of business as the result of a forest fire in 1926 that burned up their timber limits.
- 1927 - The Kicking Horse Trail is completed between Golden and Calgary.
- 1929 - Construction begins on the Big Bend Highway, which would finally be completed in 1940.
- 1948 - Golden Civic Centre opened on New Years Eve.
- 1957 - The Town of Golden is incorporated.
- 1962 - Trans Canada Highway is opened.
- 2000 - Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is opened.
- 2012 - Golden Civic Centre renovated and reopened on New Years Eve.