[BCMA] The Provincial Govt. has ordered the destruction of all unauthorized cabins on Crown Land, regardless of age or historical significance.

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

The following is a reply to the Government of B.C. on behalf of the Granite
Creek Preservation Society and serves as a warning to all Museums and
Societies in the Provence.


July 10, 2018



Mr. Mark Messmer

Chief Gold Commissioner

P.O. Box 9322

Stn. Provincial Government

Victoria, B.C.

V8W 9N3



Dear Mr. Messmer:



It has been brought to our attention that the Provincial Government has
ordered that all unauthorized cabins on Crown Land are to be destroyed
regardless of their age or historical significance.



The Heritage Conservation Act states a “*heritage object*” means *whether
designated or not*, personal property that has *heritage value to* British
Columbia, *a community* or an aboriginal people.  The same act states
a *"heritage
site"* means, *whether designated or not, land,* including land covered by
water, that has *heritage value to* British Columbia, *a community* or an
aboriginal people.  “*Heritage Value*” means the historical, cultural,
aesthetic, scientific or education worth or usefulness of a site or object.



The Granite Creek Preservation Society has been working since 2013 to
educate the public on the rich history of the area dating back to 1885.  We
wish to inform you that there are many cabins that our organization feels
have heritage value.  It would be a travesty to demolish these buildings.



Below are just a few examples of local cabins of significance to the
Community of Coalmont and the Granite Creek Preservation Society:

1.         Above Granite Creek, 4km. upstream of the town site - Near Judge
Thomas Murphy’s tunnel which dates back to 1886.  It was occupied by Joe
Delprato, coal and gold miner, during the 1940’s, but built much earlier.  It
has an outbuilding containing a wood-fired water heater for the outdoor
bathtub, and also a garden area.  It has been used continuously as a Placer
Cabin during work programs for over a century.

2.         On Collins Gulch - At the site of the 3rd Coal Mine in the area,
run by Columbia Coal and Coke ca 1912.  This predates the Blakeburn mines.  It
was used by Bill Frew, coal and gold miner, during the 1940’s and 1950’s
who mined coal there.  He was one of the last residents at Granite Creek in
the 1950’s.

3.         On Olivine Creek – This was a long time Placer gold location
used during work programs by several miners.  It is located at a bridge
over Olivine Creek and is accessible from both sides of the creek on a
popular ATV trail.  This cabin is known affectionately as “Ken’s Kitchen”.

4.         Upper Granite Creek Area – This cabin is at the site of the
horse powered “Arrastra” used to grind rock to extract gold which is the
source of the name for Arrastra Creek.  Remains of the ancient Arrastra are
nearby.

5.         On the Tulameen River, 2 km. downstream of Granite Creek - The
“Johnsen  Cabin”, is a log cabin over 100 years old that has been used for
Placer mining through the decades.  Michael Kluckner has done two
watercolours of it, which can be viewed at https://www.michaelkluckner.co
m/bciw2tulameen.html

6.         At Lodestone Lake - This log cabin was used during the Blakeburn
days and was enjoyed by the miners as a holiday retreat.  It is right on
the shore of Lodestone Lake and located near the site of Camp #4 on the
historic HBC Brigade Trail.  Many names and initials are carved into the
logs commemorating those who have enjoyed it or used it for emergency
shelter.

With the stroke of a pen the government is needlessly wiping out the mining
history of Coalmont, Granite Creek and Blakeburn.  We understand the need
to prevent squatters from building new cabins on Crown Land.   However,
historic cabins such as those mentioned above have provided shelter not
only to those who built them perhaps a century ago, but also for people
stranded or lost over the decades since.  They provide a glimpse of the
past and how our ancestors carved out a piece of the wilderness to survive.
 There is nothing quite so exciting as coming upon a century old cabin in
the bush, some of which are still in occasional use today, providing the
necessary shelter for placer miners just as they needed a century ago.  There
is absolutely no reason to tear down these valuable, historic structures.  They
should remain on site as a legacy to the prospectors who built them.

The Granite Creek Preservation Society looks forward to hearing from you
soon regarding this matter.  We trust you will agree that it would be a
miscarriage of justice to wipe out these historical treasures for no reason,
 and you will do everything possible to see that this order is rescinded
for all cabins built prior to the B.C. Centennial in 1958.

Sincerely,



George Elliott

Chairman

Granite Creek Preservation Society
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