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Page last updated December 18, 2014

© Michael Kluckner

I wasn't able to find out anything about this set of 3 identical houses on Ramage Road, just north of Kamloops on Highway 5 along the North Thompson River, immediately south of the abandoned prison and just a few feet from the CN mainline. I just thought it was a picturesque scene . . . . but were they built by the railway, or the government for workers at the prison, or none of the above? Does anybody know something about these places? HELP! Note from Rod Ramage: I do not know anything about these three houses, however, the name Ramage likely comes from my great-grandfather Stephen Hill Ramage who lived at Hefley Creek in about the 1920's.... or possibly from my grandfather Roderick Alphus Ramage who also lived at Rayleigh in the 1920's - 1930's before moving into Kamloops. My father Stephen Alphus Ramage lived in this area as a young boy, and then in Kamloops for most of his life. I remember stories about the family living in the Hefley Creek - Rayleigh area.... but I do not remember anything about this location with the houses. Note to Rod Ramage from Sheryl Klinick, 2010: My Mom grew up in Rayleigh Mt & went to school at Heffley Creek.  She is just starting to use a computer, so I am sending this message to you from her.  My name is Sheryl.  As she isn’t used to the computer yet she would like to write you a letter.  Mom knew your grandparents & possibly your father she lived in that area until about 1936.  She also can tell you about the houses that are on your web site & where they were.  Did your Dad go to Heffley Creek School?  And if so what year.  Also did he know the Hett family & the Doug Palmer family?  The Army bought Mom’s parents property in about 1936 & turned it into the Army base that in the end became the prison in the 80’s.  I hope this helps & Mom would like to hear from you.  You can email her at this address, but she would rather write you a letter & tell you all about the area & Mom loves history.  Or you can email me at sheryl.klinick@shaw.ca . Note from Lauralee Cook, 2010: My husband was surprised to find your beautiful painting while on the internet. The three houses you painted are not identical ... two only. There is a lot of history on this little piece of property for sure. I have taken some time to search out the best I could so far and now have some more pieces to the puzzle. Here is some of what is and what was. But to take you back there is one little house that is not in your painting, and perhaps is the most important of all.. Here is what we know:   My husband and I currently own the property on which the three houses you painted are located. There are actually 8 houses in all. We have found some history of the property but it all begins with the little log house which is currently the oldest house in Kamloops and was built in 1860's. The property was first owned by John McIver. He came to Kamloops to work for the Hudson's Bay Company but only owned the property for a short time then sold it to John Armour. The property at that time extended to the old correctional site, the property north of the houses' property and also 7-0 Ranch. The 7-0 brand then was registered to John Armour. We found some history on the family, such as losing two sons in the North Thompson river and Mrs Armour selling her butter at the local store where, when they ran out of hers, they would pass off other ones as hers because it was so good. Mrs Armour claimed it was because she milked her own cows with a tender hand. We believe the rock building on the property may have been her dairy then.   We believe the other houses were brought to the property for the army, probably when it was purchased from Sheryl Klinick's great grandparents in 1936. We were told it is probably where the officers lived; the jail property would have been the barracks and the 7-0 ranch is where they would have kept the horses etc. The property was probably subdivided when the railway came through. Later I believe the railroad used it and where the name "Dog Patch" came from and is still commonly phrased after the the comic strip after a place in the US. There is still evidence of a cave-like structure where they would have kept wood, coal and where they filled with water.   After that I know it was used by the City of Kamloops for their workers and then assume it was sold privately again. We purchased the property in 2001 and in 2002 requested the name of the road be Ramage Rd, for reasons of having no name it was of emergency concern to have it named and because McIver and Armour are already taken, we have a friend whose family lived on Strawberry hill whose name was Ramage and were told when he moved to the Heffley area that is when the Heffley school opened since then they would have enough students. I am not sure at what time this was but heard that the Armour Family had a school built on the property ... so not sure if that would have been the first Heffley school. The info on the Ramage family escapes me ... but he worked in the railway yard in Kamloops.  Note from Monica Palmer, 2010: I am Doug Palmer’s granddaughter.  I spoke with my father regarding the houses you were questioning.     •    Mr. Kerr built one of the houses – it is no longer standing.  It would have been opposite the three in the picture just below the highway.     •    The bulk of the houses were built by one of the owners after the war to rent them out.     •    Page Two – note to Rod Ramage from Sheryl Klinick – My father believed it was the Air Force Base that purchased your parents' property.  There is a quarter section on top of Strawberry Heights that was Ramages (Rod).  Ted Swaton owned it then and Doug Palmer traded Swaton's land for it in the 1940’s.   If you have further questions please feel free to email.  Both my father (Jim) and uncle (Bill) are still alive.