<div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0px 0cm;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;background:white"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background:white">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.</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0px 0cm;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;background:white"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background:white"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0px 0cm;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;background:white"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background:white">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.</span><span> </span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background:white">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<span> </span><a href="mailto:richard.linzey@gov.bc.ca" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)">richard.linzey@gov.bc.ca</a></span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0px 0cm;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background:white"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0px 0cm;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial"><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(34,34,34);background:white">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.</span></p><br><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><div class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><font size="2">Paul Gravett</font></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><font size="2">Executive Director</font></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><font size="2">Heritage BC</font></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><font size="2"> </font></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><font size="2">604-816-4183</font></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><font size="2"> </font></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><font size="2"><img src="https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1C6J83ggsR3zXBzoRfZe-NxE4kSPYstQW&revid=0B9pOs8l8DU-3S20wMFhvNm1VZUFqa3kwZ3l2VS8zdHVaVHY4PQ" width="96" height="31"></font></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><font size="2"><br></font></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><font size="2">1459 Barclay Street</font></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><font size="2">Vancouver, BC V6G 1J6</font></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><font size="2"><a href="http://www.heritagebc.ca/" style="color:rgb(149,79,114)" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">www.heritagebc.ca</span></a></font></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><font size="2"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Heritage-BC/191841050874008" style="color:rgb(149,79,114)" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">Facebook: Heritage BC</span></a></font></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><font size="2"><a href="https://twitter.com/heritagebcanada" style="color:rgb(149,79,114)" target="_blank"><span style="color:blue">Twitter: @HeritageBCanada</span></a></font></p><p style="margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><font size="2"> </font></p></div></div></div></div></div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On 11 July 2018 at 09:49, Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv. <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:bcma@lists.vifa.ca" target="_blank">bcma@lists.vifa.ca</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">
<p class="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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.<wbr>michaelkluckner.com/<wbr>bciw2tulameen.html</font></span></a></span></font><span lang="EN-US"></span></p><p class="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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="m_7744139361943847439gmail-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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