The Similkameen first nations used the cave as a refuge from storms and the cold long before the first settlers came to the valley. After gold was discovered in the Similkameen region the cave became the Princeton’s first hotel. In 1907 the Hedley City and Princeton Brewing moved from Hedley to Princeton. In 1936 United Distilleries bought the brewery and it was renamed The Princeton Brewing Company. Between 1936 and 1958 the brewery had several expansions. The brewery site included the Vermillion cave, which was used as a storage room for the ageing of the beer. The huge sandstone cave could hold 24 rails cars full of beer. Hence the locally know name “The beer cave”.
The coordinates have brought you to the beer cave. Look at the large sandstone cliff. There is a wall attached to the cliff which is all that is left of the Princeton Brewing Company. Where is the cave?
In the edition of the Daily Province Newspaper Jan 23, 1946 the people of Princeton and BC would learn that Hwy 3 (Hope – Princeton Highway) would be built and the beer cave was in the way of the west entrance to Princeton. The cave was demolished to make way for a road. The Hope – Princeton Highway opened on Nov 2, 1949.
The town of Princeton sits on an area of sedimentary rock from the Eocene period, 34 to 56 million years ago. Sedimentary rock is the consolidation of loose sediment that has collected in layers. The area to the east of Princeton down the Similkameen valley is from the upper Triassic period, 200 to 228 million years ago. This area’s rock is mostly basaltic volcanic rock.
SANDSTONE
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock made up of sand size minerals or rocks. Sandstone comes in many different colours. The most common are brown, white, red, grey and yellow. Sandstone beds often form cliffs and stand out from the surrounding area. Sandstone creation happens in two stages. Stage one: layer upon layer of sand gathers together in an area. Stage two: Pressure from above compacts the sand and precipitation of minerals within the spaces between the sand cements them together. The common cementing minerals are silica and calcium carbonate. Sandstone coloring comes from the minerals mixed in the sand. For example, terracotta comes from having iron oxide mixed in the sandstone.
Sandstone caves are shallow caves that form at the base of cliffs, carved out by water and wind. The water loosens the natural cement holding the sand particles together, then the moving water and wind carry away the grains of sand. From the historical accounts the Vermillion cave was larger than a normal sandstone cave.
Logging requirements:
In an email answer the following questions:
1) What is the approximate height of the cliff?
2) Look at the hills and bluffs that surround Princeton. Describe what makes this cliff different from the surrounding area?
Logs will be deleted with in two weeks if an email is not received.