When you're out exploring sometimes you come across the most interesting things. Our friend Mike in Princeton, a fellow cacher, went with Jordy out exploring a few months ago to see what there was to see - when what to our wandering eyes should appear but an old abandoned cabin that now has the River Running through it - however it continues to stand.
Time tells stories, and the beauty of this one speaks for itself - inside you can still see the old magazines still resting there, and the lining on the shelves. If you look closely at the bottom of the picture you can see the trough where the water runs!
There are so many stories in the area, and BC's Rich history of mining, this one being in the Hedley area. Those that were willing to chance the risks could live the life they dreamed about. This land was originally owned by George Cahill who staked out the Mascot Mines, more to come on the location in part 2 - this is simply an interesting storey.
One of the stories that we have come upon (Ghost Towns & Mining Camps of British Columbia Volume 2 - Page 58) Tells a story that we'd like to share.
Manual Barcelo - Many pioneers palyed important roles in the development of the Keremeos Valley and the various townsites of this name. Among the more prominent was Manual Barcelo.
Born in Mexico in 1834, Barcel moved to TExas, thendrove a heard of cattle to California while still in his teens. Upon the discovery of gold in the Cariboo he joined the rush to British Columbia, and went to work for the Hudson's Bay Company as a packer, plying the brigade trails between Fort Hope, the Similkameen and the Kootenays. Before long he tried his hand at mining and, for a time, operated his own pack train between the newly developed mining camps.
He then returned to this first calling, the breeding of horses and cattle, and pre-empted a large tract of good grazing land in the Keremeos Valley. His ranch became known far and wide for its fine animals and the growing Barcelo family steadily prospered. At Upper Keremeos Manuel built a hotel and the beehive-shaped Dutch oven which became a landmark. Upon his death in 1912 Manuel left vast real estate holdings and a personal estate well in excess of $100,000, which in terms of today's spending power, made him the eqiuvalent of a millionaire.
It goes to show you that the profits to be made in this region were not depending on a lucky break at finindg the ore in the veins - but at being resourcesful.
We find this home so beautiful & we hope that you enjoy your trip here as much as we did!