1

Bay St. in Nakusp had been the commercial centre from its beginning in 1892. It wasn't a pleasant thoroughfare, it was usually thick with mud or laden with dust. Almost all the people lived up town forcing then to negotiate a lengthy set of stairs to get mail and or do any shopping. There always was the question as to why such an industrial area was chosen to be the focal point of this town. One could say the transportation system of both boat and train had some influence. Moving goods from the waterfront up a steep hill to Broadway using only horse power, could be onerous and costly. As well, until someone set a trend by moving to Broadway, there was no will to break away from the rest. Some felt this was about to change in 1910.

2

Bay Street
circa 1910
Nakusp, British Columbia, Canada

3

Tom Abriel, the most influential man in Nakusp, was an ardent conservative; he invited Premier, Richard McBride to visit the town. His intention was to persuade McBride to have a courthouse built in Nakusp on Broadway. Done under the auspices of the local Board of Trade, the purpose was to establish a courtroom jail, and government office to better deal with law, licenses and permits. On completion, there was little doubt such a building would initiate more interest in upper town.

4

Conservative Party
1909
Nakusp, British Columbia, Canada

5

Tom Abriel was getting his way. There was no justification for criticism on any front because Tom put his money where his mouth was. At the same time the government building was being erected, he spent a great sum constructing a large hall, that he called the Opera House. Both were handsome buildings and it was hoped others would follow suit to make uptown the downtown.

6

Abriel's Office
1910
Nakusp, British Columbia, Canada

7

Crescent Bay Orchards being developed by Hammond Brothers, after a period of near dormancy, got new life when the company hired a Lardeau contractor named Vipond, to do extensive clearing. Reacting to the recent expansion of Glenbank and Brouse, the company started the project knowing its timber resources would pay handsomely. Vipond's work produced over 50,000 ties along with a substantial number of poles and logs.

8

Crescent Bay Map
1910
Nakusp BC (Crescent Bay)

9

Since 1906, when the Genelle mill burned, the Nakusp Board of Trade sought a replacement in hopes of getting a good industrial base re-established in the town. After obtaining the rights to the old Genelle site, an eastern entrepreneur, Richard Quance joined with Victor Carlson, of BC, to rebuild at this favorable location. Richard did the books while Vic ran the mill. The spin offs monetarily were large.

10

Carlson Sleigh Logging
1910
Nakusp, BC (Glenbank)

11

Rev. Stephen L. Phillimore whose father was Lord Chief of Justice of England, for reasons difficult to fathom, chose to come to Nakusp to take the position of pastor at the Anglican Church. With the help of two orphans, Phillimore put great effort into helping build churches and visiting all the parishes along the lake. To get around, he had a beautiful launch sent out from England that he named, "Victory". In spite of his wealth, he was a very unpretentious man who drank in the natural beauty of the Arrow Lakes and the love of its people.

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Phillimore Launch
1916
Demars, Arrow Lake

13

Always approachable, Fred asked Rev. Phillimore if he could accompany him on his trip in the "Victory" to Arrow Park. It would be an opportunity to see development in the area so widely talked about in recent days. One topic was the Arrow Lakes Orchards Company's decision to increase sales by engaging a stump-puller in the narrows below Nakusp. Offering land that was partially or fully cleared could bring a strong response from settlers not used to the heavy work attached to clearing a dense forest.

14

Land Donkey
1910
Arrow Lakes Narrows