THE CEMETERY:
We discovered the Pretty Family Cemetery while staying at the
nearby Fenn Lodge. The Cemetery was founded on the Pretty Family
Estate (90 acres of which is now owned by Fenn Lodge). It is fine
to visit the well maintained cemetery for historical interest if
you are respectful. The cache itself is hidden on public land
nearby, in deference to the private nature of the site.
THE CACHE:
This is a lock-n-lock cache with a logbook, pencil, and small trade
items but the great location and the history is the real reward of
this cache. GPS might be a bit bouncy here so use the hint if
required and remember the cache is not in the cemetery.
INTERESTING TOMBSTONES/PERSONS:
On the west side of Harrison River, an area called "Pretty Flats"
is where scores of bald eagles congregate every winter to feed on
decaying salmon. This remarkable area is named after lumber baron
Charles Fenn Pretty, who traveled to British Columbia from Ontario
in 1890 and soon made a fortune and a name for himself.
Pretty started building homes in New Westminster, but his focus
shifted to the Fraser River salmon runs, when he opened a fish
cannery in Queensbrough (now part of New Westminster). The salmon
business lead to an interest in the large salmon runs in the
Harrison River. Pretty began trading with the Chehalis First Nation
and developed a deep interest in the Harrison area. Even today
fishing remains a significant recreational draw to this incredible
area.
The real money was in timber though. Pretty acquired large
amounts of timber land around Harrison and commenced logging it. It
was for this venture that Pretty became most famous and very
wealthy as a major player in British Columbia’s emerging timber
industry.
Pretty built Fenn Lodge in 1891 (named after his father). The
lodge was used to entertain friends and business associates from
Vancouver. A fire destroyed the original lodge, but Pretty
constructed the present lodge in 1903 to replace the lost building.
Still a unique property over 100 years later, it is now a bed and
breakfast (linked at the top of the page). Other former Pretty
Family property includes the nearby Sandpiper Golf Course and
Rowena’s Inn on the River. Rowena’s also operates a high end
restaurant.
You may feel like you are stepping back a hundred years when
exploring the Pretty Estate properties as they each showcase the
history very nicely.
THE RULES: (Slightly different than for other caches in the
series due to the location of this cache)
1. This location is exempt from the regular "no night caching"
rule because it is somewhat isolated and finding the cache does not
require going into the graveyard at all.
2. RESPECT the locations, other visitors, and that the cemetery
itself is private property.
3. If you visit the cemetery itself, leave it better than you
found it. CITO and tidy up fallen flowers.
4. Don’t post written or photo spoilers
5. Help create a good reputation for Geocaching so that we can
continue to use these interesting locations.
THE SERIES:
Never hide a cache in a cemetery without specific permission
from the land manager. Please do not use the BC Spirit Quest name
for a cache without getting written consent from us first to
prevent confusion. Credit for the idea to SixDogTeam, Half-Canadian
and the other Spirit Quest series hiders. Thank-you and enjoy the
history.