Construction of the Second Narrows Ironworkers Memorial Bridge nearly 60 years ago had a significant impact on the geography of North Vancouver’s Lower Lynnmour area, and in particular the lower Seymour River.
Until late in the 19th century, the Seymour followed a much different course than the one we see today, flowing nearly due west through what is now the driving range, then turning back south-eastward in the area of the Phibbs Transit Exchange and into Second Narrows beside the railway tracks.
In the 1890s, a major flood in the Seymour River created the now-familiar channel that runs a more direct southwesterly route to Burrard Inlet. Surrounded by two forks of the Seymour, this newly-created island was named Cutter Island, most likely for a local tug boat captain, J Cutter.
The local Swedish community had a great impact on Cutter Island (aka Cutter’s Island on some maps) as it became settled. Several residences were built, as well as a park. A rest home facility was added in the 1940s, and popular Swedish Park featured a dance hall with an octagonal bandstand that was named Lind Bowl. A self-storage facility now occupies some of the former park land.
Construction of the access roadways at the north end of the 2nd Narrows Bridge required some rather drastic measures, by today's standards. Naturally, all the available land was expropriated, however in order to finish construction quickly and within budget, it was decided that the original western fork of the Seymour River had to be filled in. The island called Cutter ceased to exist in 1956 when it was reattached to the mainland. It's hard to imagine considering something like that today!
The exit ramp designed to bring traffic westbound onto Main Street was built, and it completely encircled the Swedish Rest Home buildings, making their continued use impractical. But instead of simply bulldozing these now-isolated structures, the provincial highways department moved in and used them as office space until 2000, when they were finally torn down.
Today, the island’s legacy is kept alive in nearby Cutter Island Park. When you come to this park, don't expect a traditional suburban grassy recreation space. Instead, you will see a “natural” area with obscure pathways that wind through the underbrush, as well as a few squatters’ camps. I would not recommend anyone try to go deep into the park alone or at night.(Many thanks to NV Archives and the Demolition Mama website for maps and historical information on this area.)
Fortunately, to find this cache you don’t even have to go into the park at all. In fact, you barely leave the pavement. Please be aware of muggles and be extra stealthy. I have often seen people who just sit in their parked cars here. And before I forget, this area also seems to be the centre of the Japanese Knotweed universe. I mean there’s LOTS of Japanese Knotweed. Everywhere you look, you see more Japanese Knotweed. Ten feet tall, in thick groves, with pathways like tunnels cut right through the middle! Sheesh!
IMPORTANT NOTE: While the cache itself is NOT hidden on Squamish Band land, any road or trail that gets you to GZ is private property so please respect the Band's wishes by visiting the area only during the clearly posted hours.
