Due to the amount of material, there are 5 North Bend pages: Highline Houses, the Harry Lee house, the North Bend store/CPR Hotel, the Mountain Hotel and this one.

From Janice Bruton, 2024.  I am the youngest stepdaughter of Jerry Woslynuk Sr.  His full name was Earnest Gerald Wolsynuck and he was the eldest son of Nic and Annie Wolsynuck/Walsynuk.  Nic was murdered eating his lunch in a line cabin or watchman's cabin – not sure what it was called – in December 1932.  He worked for the railway company.  He had 5 children as well as step children from his wife's first marriage, she was a widow from Keefers.  His, Nic's eldest child - daughter Bernice, passed in 2022!

Nic came from Galicia, Austria in 1908.  When he landed in Canada, his names changed in spellings and to this day we don't know the original spelling but I am still on the hunt.  He made his way to Lytton where he enlisted in WWI.  He was stationed in France, was injured and discharged.  He moved to North Bend where he married Annie Eliza Phumfrey (spelling also changed a lot) née Leeming.  She was a widow with children.  They married in Nic's home in North Bend on Oct 18, 1923.  He was murdered in a watchman's cabin 3 miles west of North Bend on December 14, 1932.  The door was locked from the outside and he was shot in the head through a window.

Nic and his wife Annie

Vancouver Sun, December 16, 1932

Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, December 16, 1932

Edmonton Journal December 21, 1932

From Deborah St. Jean, daughter of Ada Burgess - St. Jean, (Maple Ridge), 2022:
My grandmother and some of her siblings were born in Keefers, BC; children of Sarah Jane and Valentine Richmond. After a house fire there where they lost their youngest, Vera Angelina (3) to the fire, moved to North Bend. They lived in the house in the fork in the road. One fork goes high and one low around their house and property. When my grandmother, Margarette Richmond, was about 16 or so she worked in the train station coffee counter where she later met my grandfather, George Burgess, who worked for CPR. Margarette and George married in North Bend, and settled down into their own house in 1922, next to his parents who lived on the McKeown family farm. George's father, William (Bill) Burgess (his wife was Mary Jane McKeown), delivered fresh milk, eggs and fresh veggies, etc., by horse and wagon to the families in North Bend.
My mother, Ada Burgess, was born in the upper floor master bedroom (overlooking the fork in the road) in July 1923, and siblings as well, in the years after that. I believe the two story house is still there. George continued to work for the CPR for 50 years.
The Burgesses' and the McKeowns' and the Richmonds' children  all attended the North Bend elementary school.
The Burgesses', McKeowns and Richmonds, about 1935, moved down to the Lower Mainland.

William and Mary Jane McKeown Burgess






Ada Burgess, about 1920.

From Jorge de Seixas Azevedo, 2021: My parents were immigrants, they arrived from Portugal. My father started working at the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1958 to 1964/65. We lived in one of the CPR houses, which I think was one of the "highline houses". I am sending you two pictures taken in our garden in 1963.

From April Lewis, 2021: I visited North Bend yesterday and thought of my grandmother, Signe M. Petersen, born 1895, who emigrated to North Bend from Sweden around 1915 and worked as a housekeeper.  She later married Charles William Clingwall (originally Klingval) and they are both buried in Aldergrove. Any information would be greatly appreciated. (On behalf of Martin Vallner Clingwall, grandson).

From Larry Carlson, 2020: I knew Wendy Sahaydack  and remember the band they had I think my brother Dave Carlson May have played with the band but I am not absoluteley sure . I moved to north bend in 1948 I was one years old my dad Godfrey Carlson worked for his brother Almer Carlson in the red and white food store. My other uncle Andy Carlson ran the same store in Boston Bar that store is still there but the name has changed . I lived in North Bend from 1948 to 1968 gratuted in 1967 at hope secondary school I still miss the sound of the steam engines from when I was a kid then the Diesel engines came on line I rember the round house the ice house we used to snak in there on a hot summer day to cool off there were big blocks of ice they put them on the passenger cars for ice boxes in the restaurant car that was on the train all of that is long gone including my uncles store the hous where I grew up in I was an empty lot the elematary school is now a museum I plan to visit the north bend for the last time on Oct 1 2020. I am now 73 and have a lot of fond memories there.

From Brian McLeod, 2016: I spent most of my summers up in North Bend.  My uncle was the head dispatcher and lived in the big white house at the top of the entrance road. It was a CPR house right next to the school. I remember the Red and White store, couple of churches, and of course the yard. I was there when North Bend got it’s swimming pool just up the hill from the roundhouse. I have a lot of good memories of North Bend and I thought I would say hello. Oh yes not to forget the ferry across the river—scared the heck out of me. Anyway thanks for all you have done for our North Bend. I usually make a couple of trips a year back to her.

From Terry Fisher, 2016: I added some info to your Harry Lee house page back in 2007. I was just revisiting your North Bend page and noted a few requests for info.

"Raoul Duke, 2015: was wondering whereabouts the hobo camp was and any info on bo's in the area would be appreciated, thank you."

The site is North of the town on the south side of the railway. There is not much left there. The shacks were all burnt down over the years as the Hobos passed or moved on. It can be accessed easily buy parking near Dads place. (Cliff Fisher's) To get there cross the river to North Bend, turn right just before the railway and follow the road as it branches east toward the river and up a slight hill to the river. Parking here Follow the river bank edge north along the river, there is a nice trail takes you all the way too  the 2nd creek north of town or the east end of the CPR North Bend Yard. Note you will pass the remains of the old CPR Powder shack along the way, about 100 meters south of the railway wye. Once you drop down onto the lower bench's of the river you cross a parcel of private land so please treat it with respect! the trail continues up river on the left side past the fellow's garden. there are a few steep hills one drops you off the upper bench where you park down too near to the water level. The other climbs back up to the upper bench once you cross the 1st creek bridge. This is a nice way to spend a few hours on a spring or warm summer day! Watch for the wild orchids along the way! April through mid May most years. Six different Orchids identified so far, Rattle Snake, Twin Leaf, Spotted and Striped Red and Yellow Coral Root, Calypso and Mountain Lady Slipper!

First Creek Bridge

Mountain Lady Slippers

Cliff Fisher with the native orchids

Old powder shack

Snow plow

On a different note. I read a comment by a lady by the name of Yvonne Gowen wondering where her great uncle Beau Gowen lived.
 
Dad often talks about "old Beaudy Gowen" and has some very interesting stories to relate. If she gets back in touch with the website here we can connect.

From Raoul Duke, 2015: was wondering whereabouts the hobo camp was and any info on bo's in the area would be appreciated, thank you.

From Patrick Wheelhouse, 2015: My Grand Mother and Father are from North Bend, my great uncle Elmer as well, I so hoped I could find a picture of June Carlson and Godfrey Carlson,  I was only 2 when I lived a summer in North Bend with my Grand Parents, did return and go to school there in grade 5 if I remember correctly. What a wonderful community it was, I so loved the ferry across the river to Boston Bar, always exciting for a child, my brother was terrified but not me. My Uncle Elmer worked the store for many years on North Bend and my Grandfather ran the bottle depot from his home just a few houses down the street. I believe my Grandmother June worked cleaning the CPR bunkhouses. Wonderful memories of North Bend, your pictures brought back a lot of memories for me.

From LD Lawn Care, 2014:

Unknown photographer, date c. 1920?

***

From Larry Turner, 2014: My parents moved to North Bend in 1958 , I was born in May 1959 and as a child I grew up exploring the great history surrounding the Fraser Canyon until leaving in the winter of 1987. Boston Bar originated in the 1860s downstream approx. 3 miles just south of the Westerlund farm between the existing CPR tracks and the river. The river bar by that name is across the Fraser River from the mouth of Anderson creek. When the CPR railroad was built in the 1880s North Bend was created and the town of Boston Bar was moved to the east side of the river just north of the confluence of the Fraser and Anderson creek. This put the town next to the Caribou Trail. Due to flooding that occurred in the years after Boston Bar was moved further north to higher ground.

On a different note. I read a comment by a lady by the name of Yvonne Gowen wondering where her great uncle Beau Gowen lived. Can you put me in touch with her?

From Rob Dumont, 2014: I am looking for information on a sawmill that operated in North Bend, BC in the 1940s and early 1950s. I believe the name of the sawmill was Kitsilano Sawmills. I believe it was located about 5 km north of where the old aerial ferry was located.

From Dave Hills, 2014: Would you happen to have any contacts for a museum or maybe historical society in the North Bend area? Reason being my Grandfather was stationed there in the Mounted Police, sometime between about 1905 and 1925, or thereabouts. I'd like to find out if there are any surviving service records or perhaps photographs of him in the archives.

From Peter Skobin, 2014: our family lived in North Bend from 1949 till 1958. We live in the Bahamas and would like to be at this year's May day celebrations. Can you send me more info also would like to see the museum in the old school.

From Michael Gordon, 2013: My great Uncle George Robertson Gordon (my grandfather's oldest brother) arrived in North Bend in 1885 "merchandizing" before settling in Granville (Vancouver in 1886). This is an excerpt from his biographical entry in Volume III of British Columbia: From the earliest times to the present (SJ Clarke, 1914):

George Robertson Gordon, financial agent at Vancouver, devoting his time largely to his duties as executor of several estates and also to the handling of private interests, was born at Goderich, Ontario, September 1, 1861. His par ents, James and Mary Ann (Gordon) Gordon, were both natives of Ireland, the former born in County Fermanagh and the latter in County Armagh. The father learned the carpenter's trade there and in 1855 crossed the Atlantic to the new world, becoming a resident of Goderich, Ontario, where for thirty-five years he conducted business as a contractor. He filled the offices of town assessor and building inspector for a number of years and passed away in Goderich in 1892, at the age of sixty-seven years. His wife arrived in Canada in early womanhood and they were married in Hamilton. She passed away a number of years before her husband, dying in 1875, at the age of forty-two.

At the usual age George R. Gordon began his education as a public-school student in his native city and passed through consecutive grades to the high school, from which he was graduated before entering mercantile circles in 1876, at the age of fifteen. He was first employed as a clerk in a general store in his home town, spending his time in that way until 1881, when he removed westward to Manitoba. Owing to ill health while in that province, he soon returned to the east and remained in Ontario until 1884, when he located at Spences Bridge, British Columbia, remaining there for a year. In 1885 he embarked in merchandising at North Bend, British Columbia, in partnership with E. Johnston, but in the spring of 1886 sold out to his partner and came to Vancouver, which was then a small and unimportant town, known as Granville. Here he has resided continuously since and with the growth of the city has been closely associated, watching its development from early days and taking active part in its progress. He began merchandising here in March, 1886, but was burned out by the fire which occurred on the I3th of June of that year. Nothing daunted by this calamity, however, he secured another stock of goods and was soon again engaged in business, in which he continued until 1900, winning a substantial measure of success through all the intervening years, for his trade increased with the growth of the city, his straightforward and honorable business methods securing him a gratifying patronage. With the opening year of the century he closed out his business and turned his attention to other pursuits becoming secretary of the Terminal City Building Society, the City of Vancouver Building Society and the Burrard Building Society, the last named being the only one of the three now in existence. He resigned his position as secretary in 1911 and at the present time is executor of several estates, while his private interests also make large claim upon his attention and energies. He is the holder of much valuable business and residential property in Vancouver and is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and twelve acres at Langley, British Columbia, which is devoted to the production of fruit, the raising of stock and poultry and to dairy interests, each branch of the business bringing to him a substantial return.

From Dan Clark, 2013: I'm  the GGGrandson of Thomas Clark, the CPR station agent at Yale 1901 - 1911 (at least). I believe he was the station master at Lytton around 1916, since his son John Godfrey Clark homesteaded at the mouth of the Stein River. I think John Godfrey took over as the station master.
 
Another of Thomas's sons, William Samuel Clark, was at Keefer's Village in the 1911 Census. I'm wondering where Keefer's Village was (is this the same as North Bend)? Is there anything left of Keefer's Village? [Editor's note: Keefer's was up the line, i.e. north, on the same side of the river; it's mentioned elsewhere on this site on the Harry Lee page] I wonder what William Samuel might have been doing there? Logging?

Do you know if there are CPR records that I could use as a resource to find out more about Thomas, John Godfrey and other Clarks who worked on the railroad (George Campbell was the telegraph operator in Yale in 1911).
 
I'm also wondering if any of William Samual Clark's family stayed in the Boston Bar/Keefers area or if they homesteaded anywhere along the river? Eventually he moved to Burnaby where he died in 1944.

From Charlotte (McKenzie) Senger, 2012: Happened to discover the North Bend history and although I lived there for only a year (1959-60) I still remember my classmates of grade eleven and wonder where they are today. I read the note from Kay Henderson (Wiebe). She listed her siblings and one of them (Doug) was in school with me.  She might know some of the others that I met that year, as well.......don't wish to be nosy.......... just at the age when you think a lot about the past. 

From Joan Blakeborough, 2012: Here is the poster for our May Day Celebrations. Also I have a note for one of your contributors, Charlotte Granewall.  I have the early school teachers and auditors list. On it for 1913-1914--1914-1915 her uncle Abraham was the school auditor. I thought she might not have this information, and would like it for her records.

Note from Arlana Nickel, 2010: I have come across some more photos pertaining to North Bend BC and was wondering if they could be put on the Vanishing BC site.  These are photos that have people identified.  I just thought they might help people researching their family history.

Unless otherwise noted, the photographs below are by Aida Abray Snowden and were submitted by Arlana Nickel.

Go to more general correspondence about North Bend

Pearl Snowden, aged 5 in 1919, as May Queen with a crown of mock-orange blossoms. She lives today in Kamloops. Sister Bonnie, directly behind her with the small crown, was the "crowner" as she received the second number of votes.

Can anyone add names to any of the other children?

Bonnie and Pearl Snowden about 1916 with Caroline, the Snowdens' "mother's helper," a native girl from the Nlaka'pamux nation. According to a family story, the North Bend policeman, a Mr. Wyatt, crawled through her bedroom window one night and impregnated her. In the ensuing scandal, Bill Snowden was initially blamed, and the provincial police moved Wyatt on to another posting. And Caroline was let go, returning presumably to her family. Mr. Wyatt, the jailer, was a married man. They lived at the back of the jailhouse located to the right of the Snowden home not far from the Anglican Church.

Subsequently, a woman named Corinne, who had a native mother and a Portuguese father, lived with the family for many years.

[I wonder whether anyone can turn up more detail on this tale?]

From Judy Downie (2017): Caroline (1898–1982) was the daughter of Maggie Pearson (1874–1960), a Halkomelem-speaking woman who was the mixed-race marriage between Suzanna Baraut and Edward Pearson. Caroline assumed the name Mickelson when her mother married Charles Mickelson in Yale in 1913. The child of her and "Wyatt" the provincial policeman was Roderick Charles Mickelson (1917–2000), my [Judy Downie's] father; he was raised by his grandparents and not acknowledged by his mother. Caroline married in 1929 and raised two children in a little house in North Burnaby.

(From MK: Judy Downie came to a talk I gave in Chilliwack and told me the story. The trauma of her grandmother's rape apparently affected her father's life deeply, as his mother was unable to accept and love him.)

New Year's Party in North Bend, late 1940s. Back row, l to r: Bert Green, Milt Morrow, Jack Sahaydak, Bill Barry, Cy Muschik; Middle: Dolly Brown, Paul Sharp, Harry Cooper; Front: Ralph Baird, Kelly Robertson, Bob Ireland, A.B. Baird, Mike Gorik; Front and centre: Buster Grant. Photo from Wendy Sahaydak.

Note from Em W: My name is emily, my mother's maiden name is Laura Brown. Ilive about two and a half hours from North Bend and today my grandfather Ed (or Trigger) Brown took me up to his childhood hometown of north bend. He showed my brother and I the house that he lived in when he was a boy. It was very old and we went inside to where he showed me where his sister slept, where the deck was and where everything else was when he lived there. I got quite interested in the old house and did some research, then I saw your site. The house in the pictures you have are pictures of my grandfathe'rs house. Then i saw the picture of the people in the house....and i saw my great-grndfather Dolly Brown.

Note from Charlotte Granewall: My great uncle Abraham Crosson lived in North Bend 1910-1919. He was a switchman for the CPR. His wife Madeline and Uncle Abe took in my father and his 3 siblings when my grandmother died in 1911. My dad lived there for two years. Several weeks ago my husband and I visited North Bend to see what is there as I am working on my Crosson family tree. I believe my family lived in one of the CPR homes "highline houses." The only photo I have of that time is this 1911 school photograph of North Bend School. In the photo are my aunt, Winnifred Charlotte Crosson age 7/8, and my uncle Stanley Thomas Crosson age 5/6. My father Jack Crosson would have been 3/4 at the time and too young for school.

Note from Arlana Nickel: North Bend school children -- My mother, Bonnie Snowden is directly in front of the teacher and her sister, Pearl Snowden is the fifth from the left in the front row. The girl on the far right is Aida Southwell. None other are identified, however my Aunt Pearl may be able to identify the teacher and possibly some others. This picture, I believe would've been taken about 1920 or 1921.

George Abray's 13th Birthday photo  taken Sept. 1915 by Aida Abray Snowden

Along with a lot of the others, this picture was taken by Aida Abray Snowden, George Abray's sister.  She has numbered the names on the back of the photo:
Back row, left to right: Lawrence Lyons (in white shirt), George Lundy, Leonard Smith, Ted Flan, unknown, Fred Bylow (in dark suit)
Front row, left to right: Vinny Ferkins (in dark shirt), George Lyons, Lawrence Lundy, George Abray (birthday boy), Earle Luithwaite, Joe Richmond
Sitting in chair is Bonnie Snowden, age 3, Aida Abray Snowden's daughter

From Joan Blakeborough, 2011: I run the history room/museum in North Bend, located in the old school. The bottom half of the school is now a thrift store and the upper floor is a seniors drop-in centre and my history/museum. Our small newsletter published monthly is called the UpDate. Our web page address is www.bostonbarbc.net The site contains a lot of our history, local celebrations  and contacts.

Note from Crystal Kimber, North Bend, 2010: I was writing the Fraser Canyon Express for almost 10 years. The paper is no longer in print but retains an online presence. 

The Fraser Canyon Express Online- https://sites.google.com/site/crystalkimber/

Note from Eithne C Farr, Cork, Ireland, 2010: I have recently been going through some correspondence belonging to my late grandfather and found a letter from his uncle Edward Farr sent in 1918. I wonder would any for the correspondents on your page know any thing about descendants etc.  He was originally from Dunmanway in County CORK, Ireland. Both my grandfather and his uncle were named Edward Farr.

Note from Daniel Keyes, 2010: I am a cultural studies professor who is studying a series of pageants titled “From Wilderness to Wonderland” that the province commission and had local communities perform for its 3 centennials (1958, 1967-68, 1971) and I found a document in the BC royal archives indicating that on the 23 of June 1958, the community of North Bend performed a pageant titled “The Story of David Thompson.”  I would be very interested to read newspaper account of this performance, see if it was restages later, of find ephemera associated with it, since it would seem to a local variant on what the BC government had in mind.

Note from Judy Kosolofski: I am the manager of a Thrift Store "Simply The Best Thrift Store" in Kamloops BC and I came across a portfolio of "treasures". The "treasures" belonged to a Muriel Paffard which include several report cards and her personal art work. One example is a 1927/28 montly report for grade one "Div. II North Bend Public School, Province of British Columbia" for Muriel Paffard.  The teacher was a D. M. Morton, signed by her parent a W. E. Paffard. Do you have any information regarding this family? 

Note from Kevin Todd: I am trying to find information on Adeline Irene Watson (née Burton). She married Judson Hume Cole Watson in North Bend July 3 1912. I am wondering if she taught school at North Bend?

Note from Mandi Kerr-Fountain: I grew up in Boston Bar and lived there till I was 18-- I am now 30, a little bit after the timeline that you are researching ... I do, however wonder if my grandmother would be of help to any of the people listed on the site. I will copy out the website-sans pictures and see if she, Mary Rankin-Chalmers can help with any things or if she has some pictures of Boston Bar/North Bend of that era in the Fraser Canyon. My grandfather was the Superintendant of the road back then and I wonder if there is any connections between when they lived in Boston Bar and the times that you all are researching.  I love to hear her stories still and as she has just turned 86 I believe that her history and the things that she has seen should be taken down before too much longer...

Note about Keefers from Sharon Blythe... My mother, Jerry Nickerson-(Kirkland), taught school in Keefers from Setember of 1952 to June of 1954. The old school had only one room, and she had to take in a 5 year old so that there would be 10 studemts, just enough to keep the school open. She boarded with a lovely lady named Elsie Hannah, who had a son named John. My sister and I , at 10 years of age, would be put on the CP Rail train at Haig Station near Hope by our grandmother, and traveled to Keefers on weekends. We always stayed with a charming Italian named Tony and his lovely Japanese wife, Mary. There were dances held in the old school. An old timer who had a huge goiter kept the wind-up gramaphone wound, and the RR workers of all nationalities taught my sister and I how to old time waltz, shawteesh and polka. In 1953 the new pre-fab school was built, which had a teacherage. That building is now located near the Fraser Canyon hospital and is used for continuing education.

Note from Antoinette de Wit: I am a very proud former resident of the Village of North Bend and have fond memories of my life there. My dad (Max DeWit) was a CPR man, working as the Wire Chief in the Telecommunications office beside the CPR Hotel. We lived on the Highline in House #2 ... it was a beautiful house, with a great big yard, where we planted seeds every year! Skunks took residence under our backyard shed and I'd look out at them from the second story bedroom window. Snakes were a popular sight and in those days I actually would pick them up by their tails! (not something I would like do now!) I did return to North Bend a couple of times before and after the building of the bridge. It was depressing and everything seemed smaller and overgrown. I am a writer now and I do eventually plan to return a third time to reflect on days gone by and recreate the memories. If people would like to share their 1959 to 1968 memories with me, please have them contact me through my personal email. I would love to hear from anyone who might remember me and they could remind me about certain things about me that I may not even remember! I would especially like to find my favourite teacher Carolyn Unruh who eventually married Ken or Doug Wilson. and furthermore:Further to my previous message, I have returned to North Bend twice, awe-inspired by the experience, and written a 3 part short story which has been published in the local newspaper entitled Fraser Canyon Express. The website unfortunately does not have access to back issues but the editor could provide them by request. I am also pleased to say that I located my favourite Grade 3 teacher "Miss Unruh" who became "Mrs. Wilson" and this journey into my past has been absolutely amazing. I intend to write and publish more stories. Again, if anyone remembers me and would like to trigger my memory about things and incidents between 1960 and 1968, I'd love to hear from them. toine1956@yahoo.ca .

Note from Dave Pearl: In searching the web for names of people who lived in Keefers, B.C., I am hoping you can direct me to anyone who lived or still lives in Keefers. I spent my childhood with my Uncle Henry who worked for the CPR in Keefers around 1935-39, coming from Calgary, Alberta.

Note from Kay Henderson (Wiebe): My family moved to NorthBend from Golden in 1957& lived in one of the "Highline" houses. My dad, George Wiebe (wife Kay) was roadmaster for the C.P.R.from 1957-1965 then moved & worked in Sicamous until his retirement. Most of the gentleman in the picture on your website are very familier to me Bert Green, Milt Morrow etc. & most lived in North Bend at the same time as my parents. I was already married when my family moved to North Bend but enjoyed many visits there so became very familier with all their friends including Nina & Elmer Carlson & their sons. My sister Donna was also a May Queen (& attended the reunion;) she married Ken Wilson son of Kay & Howard Wilson. A couple years ago my husband & I took a detour off the highway at Boston Bar to experience the "bridge" compared to the aerial ferry . The only part of our nostalgic side trip that never changed was the aroma of creosote.....& yes we found one of the highline houses open 'so just had to have a peak. Siblings who attended N/B school ; Dennis, Doug, Donna, Shirley, Bob.

Note from Leslie Jensen: My Grandmother, Caroline Mickelson was born in North Bend around 1900. She attended the North Bend school, she may be in the picture that Charlotte Granewall submitted for your web site. I think she would have been 10 or 11 years old. I believe my grandmother lived in North Bend until she was 20. I am now researching that part of my family history. My grandmother's mother was a First Nation's woman from the North Bend area, I am trying to find information about her, also.

Note from Dorothy Rowse: I grew up in North Bend and left in 1948. As of late there have been a few inquiries of family members trying to re-capture roots. I have 3 older sisters but I seem to be able to remember more than they can. I have only started on this search-- I have a cousin who grew up in Boston Bar, Maybe the two of us will start putting some of our memories down while there may be still a few more with some history left to relate. Wish I had done this before. Maybe some one else has. Perhaps you know.

"Note from Yvonne Gowen: We are compiling our family history, and have a mysterious relative we are trying to learn about. The family story is that he worked on a farm or ranch at North Bend, called Stadacona Farm. There is a creek in the Yale district named "Gowen Creek". We think this was named after him. His name was Hammond Gowen, nicknamed 'Beau Gowen'. He was born in 1871 and eventually died in Seattle, Washington in 1965. If you have ever heard of Stadacona Farm, or Gowen Creek please get in touch."

Note from me: Bill Young was writing a series of stories about North Bend in the Fraser Canyon Express.

From Joan Blakeborough: Next year [2003] the Boston Bar-North Bend Historical Society would like to have a Boston Bar North Bend community re-union at their May Day celebrations on May 24, 2003 weekend. Perhaps with your web page we can let others know about this. We are also working on the May Day Queens dating back to Mabel Smith in 1927 to the present. We have pictures of most of the Queens now but still need clarification on some dates and names. At the re-union we will have a slide show of the Queens as well as the albums for people to browze through.