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<p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600MsoNoSpacing" align="justify" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Georgia">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.</font></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600MsoNoSpacing" align="justify" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Georgia"><br></font></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600MsoNoSpacing" align="justify" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Georgia">July 10, 2018</font></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600MsoNoSpacing" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Georgia"></font></span> </p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600MsoNoSpacing" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Georgia">Mr. Mark Messmer</font></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600MsoNoSpacing" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Georgia">Chief Gold Commissioner</font></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600MsoNoSpacing" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Georgia">P.O. Box 9322</font></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600MsoNoSpacing" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Georgia">Stn. Provincial Government</font></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600MsoNoSpacing" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Georgia">Victoria, B.C.</font></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600MsoNoSpacing" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Georgia">V8W 9N3</font></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600MsoNoSpacing" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Georgia"></font></span> </p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600MsoNoSpacing" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Georgia">Dear Mr. Messmer:</font></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600MsoNoSpacing" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Georgia"></font></span> </p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600MsoNoSpacing" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Georgia">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.</font></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600MsoNoSpacing" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Georgia"></font></span> </p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600MsoNoSpacing" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Georgia">The Heritage Conservation Act states a “<b>heritage object</b>” means<span> </span><b>whether designated or not</b>, personal property that has<span> </span><b>heritage value to</b><span> </span>British Columbia,<span> </span><b>a community</b><span> </span>or an aboriginal people.<span> <span> </span></span>The same act states a<span> </span><strong><span>"heritage site"</span></strong><span> </span>means,<span> </span><b>whether designated or not, land,</b><span> </span>including land covered by water, that has<span> </span><b>heritage value to</b><span> </span>British Columbia,<span> </span><b>a community</b><span> </span>or an aboriginal people.<span> <span> </span></span>“<b>Heritage Value</b>” means the historical, cultural, aesthetic, scientific or education worth or usefulness of a site or object.</font></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600MsoNoSpacing" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Georgia"></font></span> </p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600MsoNoSpacing" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Georgia">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.<span> <span> </span></span>We wish to inform you that there are many cabins that our organization feels have heritage value.<span> <span> </span></span>It would be a travesty to demolish these buildings.<span> </span></font></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600MsoNoSpacing" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Georgia"></font></span> </p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600MsoNoSpacing" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Georgia">Below are just a few examples of local cabins of significance to the Community of Coalmont and the Granite Creek Preservation Society:</font></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600def" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:8.4pt 0in 8.4pt 0.5in;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US"><font face="Georgia">1.<span> <span> </span></span><span> <span> </span></span>Above Granite Creek, 4km. upstream of the town site - Near Judge Thomas Murphy’s tunnel which dates back to 1886.<span> <span> </span></span>It was occupied by Joe Delprato, coal and gold miner, during the 1940’s, but built much earlier.<span> <span> </span></span>It has an outbuilding containing a wood-fired water heater for the outdoor bathtub, and also a garden area.<span> </span><span> </span>It has been used continuously as a Placer Cabin during work programs for over a century.</font></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600def" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:8.4pt 0in 8.4pt 0.5in;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US"><font face="Georgia">2.<span> <span> </span></span><span> <span> </span></span>On Collins Gulch - At the site of the 3rd Coal Mine in the area, run by Columbia Coal and Coke ca 1912.<span> </span><span> </span>This predates the Blakeburn mines.<span> </span><span> </span>It was used by Bill Frew, coal and gold miner, during the 1940’s and 1950’s who mined coal there.<span> <span> </span></span>He was one of the last residents at Granite Creek in the 1950’s.</font></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600def" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:8.4pt 0in 8.4pt 0.5in;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US"><font face="Georgia">3.<span> <span> </span></span>On Olivine Creek – This was a long time Placer gold location used during work programs by several miners.<span> <span> </span></span>It is located at a bridge over Olivine Creek and is accessible from both sides of the creek on a popular ATV trail.<span> <span> </span></span>This cabin is known affectionately as “Ken’s Kitchen”.</font></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600def" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:8.4pt 0in 8.4pt 0.5in;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US"><font face="Georgia">4.<span> <span> </span></span>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.<span> <span> </span></span>Remains of the ancient Arrastra are nearby.</font></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600def" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:8.4pt 0in 8.4pt 0.5in;line-height:normal"><font face="Georgia"><span lang="EN-US">5.<span> <span> </span></span>On the Tulameen River, 2 km. downstream of Granite Creek - The “Johnsen<span> </span><span> </span>Cabin”, is a log cabin over 100 years old that has been used for Placer mining through the decades.<span> <span> </span></span></span><span lang="EN-US">Michael Kluckner has done two watercolours of it, which can be viewed at<span> </span><a title="https://www.michaelkluckner.com/bciw2tulameen.html" style="color:rgb(34,34,34)"><span><font color="#000000">https://www.michaelkluckner.co<wbr>m/bciw2tulameen.html</font></span></a></span></font><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600def" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:8.4pt 0in 8.4pt 0.5in;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US"><font face="Georgia">6.<span> <span> </span></span><span> <span> </span></span>At Lodestone Lake - This log cabin was used during the Blakeburn days and was enjoyed by the miners as a holiday retreat.<span> <span> </span></span>It is right on the shore of Lodestone Lake and located near the site of Camp #4 on the historic HBC Brigade Trail.<span> <span> </span></span>Many names and initials are carved into the logs commemorating those who have enjoyed it or used it for emergency shelter.</font></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600def" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-indent:0in;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:8.4pt 0in;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US"><font face="Georgia">With the stroke of a pen the government is needlessly wiping out the mining history of Coalmont, Granite Creek and Blakeburn.<span> <span> </span></span>We understand the need to prevent squatters from building new cabins on Crown Land.<span> <span> </span></span>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.<span> <span> </span></span>They provide a glimpse of the past and how our ancestors carved out a piece of the wilderness to survive.<span> <span> </span></span>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.<span> <span> </span></span>There is absolutely no reason to tear down these valuable, historic structures.<span> <span> </span></span>They should remain on site as a legacy to the prospectors who built them.<span> </span></font></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600def" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-indent:0in;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:8.4pt 0in;line-height:normal"><font face="Georgia"><span lang="EN-US">The Granite Creek Preservation Society looks forward to hearing from you soon regarding this matter.<span> <span> </span></span>We trust you will agree that it would be a miscarriage of justice to wipe out these historical treasures for no reason,<span> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">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.</span></font><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600def" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-indent:0in;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:8.4pt 0in;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US"><font face="Georgia">Sincerely,</font></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600def" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-indent:0in;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:8.4pt 0in;line-height:normal"><span lang="EN-US"><font face="Georgia"></font></span> </p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600MsoNoSpacing" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Georgia">George Elliott</font></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600MsoNoSpacing" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Georgia">Chairman</font></span></p><p class="gmail-m_-908264752070211587m_3707282416994713600MsoNoSpacing" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Calibri;font-size:16px;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span><font face="Georgia">Granite Creek Preservation Society</font></span></p>
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