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BIRCH RIVER HISTORY CAPTIVATES AUDIENCEBirch River and the Railraod, Birch River trails, streams and place names, St. Aldhelms Anglican Parish, Dr. and Mrs, Boon’s homestead days, and Birch River W jJk such were -' the topics which captivated an audience of 90 persons last Saturday evening at Birch River Legion Hall. The presentations were given by flv| local persons, guest speakers at a general meeting of Swan Valley Historical Society. Organised by Ray Mullaney, it was the first time the Society had met in Krch River.Following a short business meeting conducted by President Ed Dobbyn, Rev. Thelma Tanner introduced the speakers in turn. /The Canadian Northern Railroad reached the point where the Village of Birch River stands today in July or early August of 1903, explained Mr. Chuck Wellman. The river was just a clear sparkling mountain stream casually spanned by a trestle bridge and surrounded by birch trees, spruce, black and white poplar, and jackpine. No roads, no communication except by horse, but plenty of mosquitoes and other bugs plagued the area. Mr. Wellman told the story of oneHome, Leisure ShewDebuts FridayUnder sponsorship of the Rotary Club, the first Home and Leisure Show ever held in Swan River will make its debut on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 10, Uth and 12th.Space will be ai a premium iaSwan River Centennial Arena when some 13 local businessmen place on display a wide variety of vehicles and home products designed for leisure living. It will provide excellent opportunity for young and old to inspect and ask questions about the latest models of travel and camper trailers, van and truck campers, cars, station wagons, boats, outboard motors, hoat-trailers, motorcycles, bicycles, organs, garden tractors and lawn mowers, plus many more products related to the theme. One display will feature a unique new system of self-insulating forms for concrete basements and walls, ideal for the do-it-yourself Workman or contractors^On Friday and Saturday, the arena will be open from 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., and on Sunday from £30P.m. to 9:00 p.m. There is no admission charge.Brandon U Sends Orientation TeamBrandon University is pleased to announce that Swan Valley is one of various communities being visited during the summer of 1974 as apart of the ’’Community Orientation Series of Brandon University. Under direction of Mr. Gary L. Howard, Head Coach of Basketball at Brandon University, a team of U students is aow visiting Swan River, Birch River and Benito for a two week period. May 6 to 17 inclusive.Members of the team have been trained in their respective areas and •111 be conducting high quality workshops in Basketball and Music skills. The team is equipped with three tnowledgabl* information officers •hose specific purpose is to provide information on Brandon University ind the many other aspects of University life, such as living in resid-ince, etc. In addition to an lathe Ricbets, who arrived from Kansas just ahead of the raiirced in June, 1903. They built a log house and barn on their homestead south' and east of what is now known as Antler Corner. From a hen and one setting of eggs, their flock increased over the years to 500 bens which provided eggs and meat for themselves and neighbours. A salt spring near their front door attracted moose which Mrs. Ricbet shot with her Winchester rifle. In a space of 14 years, Mrs. Richet and her nine children cleared and broke some 60 acres, but the {arm was sole in 1917 to pay the taxes.Fish Town siding, five miles north of Birch River was built on the railroad in 1905 to accomodate loading of fish from Swan Lake. The T A. Burrow’s Lumber Co. brought in saws in 1910 and produced millions', and millions of board feet of lumber to be transported out by railroad before the mills closed in 1920, but many workers remained to settle the area.The first railroad Mr.Lamb, arrived in 1921. He was succeeded by Messr's. Shepherd, Bloudoff, Jones, Brown, Stanley and finally to the speaker, Mr. Wellman in 1951.An oldtimer of Lensfcood district and fire ranger throughout arch River area, Mr. Ross McKay gave a humorous but fact filled account of trails, streams and place names. He gave a colorful description of Flat Rock Point and little Salt Spring on Swan Lake, and Duck Bay Road, a pack trail between Dock Bay and Swan Lake built about 200 years ago to carry game meat to people starving in the south. Mr. McKay mentioned the roost marvelous woodland cover which at one time graced the crest, the slopes and benchlands of the Kettle ifilis, south of Swan Lake. This forest bad, unfortunately, gone up in smoke. Another feature of interest in Swan Lake is a small limestone reef, not one hundred feet long, but it accomodates up to 300 nests of the Artie tern.While making a trip through the Mils to Broken Stove Lake at the headwaters of the Pelican River in 1943, Mr. McKay came face to face with the biggest bear he had ever seen. It came boiling out of the undergrowth towards lam. What does one do in a situation like this?wav* yourai ms and make a few wild outlandish jumps, not away tut towards the object of your attention. Withttese words, he described how he gave the animal an excuse to stop, and think. It did just that! The bruin then angled off and when 50 ft. away, stood up and with nothing else to do, traded stares with the ranger for a few seconds in complete silence. Both then resumed thair way along the trail, but in opposite directions.Mention was made of other points of interest, Plum Lake (now Heatly Lake) where a Mr. Plumm lost Us fife; Peily Trail along which i*y such places as Elm Park just north of Lenswood which is one of the most beautiful natural parksiaSwan River Valley but its giant Elms have since succumbed to axe and plow;also a campsite along the Swan Id wknown as The Kettles. It was hire that early travellers met with a view of iron and copper kettles of various sizes, hanging from tree branches; the Village of Lenswood with its salt grass flats; Stoss Crossing where York boats net oxen trains and goods were exchanged. Some of the York boats were made from lumber tint had bean whip sawed at Stony Crossing, f(Continued on Page t)
Newspaper Details
Swan Valley Star and Times
Swan River, Manitoba, CA
Thu, May 09, 1974
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Kurtis R.
CA 09 Oct 2017
Other Publications Near Swan River, Manitoba
Swan River Star
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