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

Mon Jul 16 16:28:11 PDT 2018

I read with interest and concern Granite Creek Preservation Society’s
letter to Mr. Mark Messmer, Chief Gold Commissioner. I had come across this
issue once before, but with different circumstances. In that case, the
owner wanted to move the heritage structure, which had been placed on the
Crown Land decades earlier.

The recent letter prompted me to contact Richard Linzey, Director of the
Heritage Branch, to seek clarification so that we may better understand the
issue. Richard kindly spoke with several of his colleagues and has found no
evidence of an order to destroy cabins and was assured that any
contemplated action affecting what may be an historic cabin would be
referred to his office, as has been the case in the past. Richard has
offered to follow up with the appropriate branch of government if specific
concerns remain - please email him on richard.linzey at gov.bc.ca

I am glad this concern was raised, so that we are more aware of issues
facing heritage sites. I am very thankful the Heritage Branch is diligent
in working across government departments to ensure the continued protection
of these and the myriad of other abandoned structures that tell the story
of BC’s natural resource legacies.

Paul Gravett

Executive Director

Heritage BC

604-816-4183

1459 Barclay Street

Vancouver, BC  V6G 1J6

www.heritagebc.ca

Facebook:  Heritage BC
<https://www.facebook.com/pages/Heritage-BC/191841050874008>

Twitter: @HeritageBCanada <https://twitter.com/heritagebcanada>

On 11 July 2018 at 09:49, Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv. <
bcma at lists.vifa.ca> wrote:

> 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.com/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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>
>
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