Editorially speaking...
The clock is again ticking for Hope’s ca 1916 Canadian National Railway station.
Council’s decision to demolish the heritage-designated landmark, said to be structurally sound, was put on hold last month when the B.C. Ombudsman’s office intervened because the current Council is, in effect, going against both the municipal Heritage Designation Act.
I quote: “The building known as the Hope Canadian National Railway Station is hereby designated and protected as a municipal heritage site under the Heritage Conservation Act. Integrated Official Community Plan (Bylaw 1378) (2016): identifies in Policy 7.10.1 the District's goal to ‘encourage conservation and support the retention of significant heritage buildings and other historic resources under the British Columbia Heritage Conservation Act’ and identifies the Station House as one of those significant buildings...”
This will be the third go-round for the station house which was slated to be razed by the CN in the 1980s but was rescued when the community “rallied together in a Herculean effort to raise funds to move it. They bought the Station House from CN Rail for $1 and moved the Station House to its current home. For the next decade, it served as an arts and cultural centre to the community.
“In the late 1990s and 2000s, the Station House once again opened its doors to the community and became a hub for musicians. The Hope Station House Community Arts and Heritage Society hosted dinners with entertainment provided by local musicians.
“In 2015, stewardship of the Station House was transferred from the Hope Station House Community Arts and Heritage Society to the District of Hope under a good faith agreement that the District would preserve the building and celebrate its legacy in all future decisions regarding its management and/or development.”
One of only two surviving heritage structures in the Hope area, the 105-year-old station house awaits the latest edict from Hope Council which is to meet May 10th to, it’s believed, remove the heritage designation and proceed with demolition.
The station house’s defenders are still hoping to create a groundswell of support and change Council’s mind.
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Closer to home, a query (one that has arisen before) from Nigel Yonge who graciously consented to my sharing it with readers:
“Hi, Tom: ...I’m married to Cheryl Yonge (nee Painter), a fourth generation Cowichan girl whose great grandmother was a Richards. My wife’s father has always maintained that Richards Trail and Mount Richards in Westholme was named after the Richards family on his maternal side of the family.
“Yet, back in 2017, I read your piece in the Cowichan Valley Citizen which suggests otherwise. Thus, I always thought my father-in-law’s version was inaccurate. However, today, I saw a post on Facebook that offers another explanation to the naming of Richards Trail and Mount Richards. I’ve enclosed that post here, plus the excerpt from your original piece. Any chance you could shed light on this mystery?”
Here, with some minor edits, is the Facebook page Nigel refers to:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/660030330700447
Q: Does anyone know why it's called Richards Trail?
From: John Roy Fransen
From Julie: Named after my Great Grandfather Joseph Richards of North Cowichan
Joseph Richards 1831 – 1900. From Sithney, Helston, Cornwall, England. He came to Vancouver Island, 1866 bought 300 acres of land & cleared some of it into the farm called "Laureena" in the Cowichan Valley near Herd Rd & Rice Rd. He helped also build the Maple Bay wharf, the Methodist Church & worked on the road at Maple Bay to Somenos. In 1877, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1886, 1887, 1890 & 1891 Joseph served as Councillor of North Cowichan.
In 1878 he bought out Frederick Richardson's estate of 100 acres in Westholme plus [he] got 200 acres of adjoining Crown land, [and] named the farm "Penrose". Between the 2 farms Laureena & Penrose a cattle trail was made, later the trail became a road called Richards Trail then part [of the] Old Island Highway/Westholme Road) The farmhouse was built at Penrose & some of the family moved in 1895. Joseph (68 yrs old) died in Westholme, B.C., May 2 1900; he's buried in Maple Bay Methodist Pioneer Cemetery off Herd Rd.
Joseph & his wife had 5 boys & 4 girls so he had plenty of help to run the farms. "Richards Mountain" is also named after him...
From my Sept. 23, 2017 column in the Cowichan Valley Citizen (and from my book, A Place Called Cowichan: Historically Significant names of the Cowichan Valley: Colonial influence shows on Cowichan Valley maps
Admiral G.H. Richards, the modest map maker. —Wikipedia.
Speaking of admirals, we also have Mount Richards which, contrary to local lore, is named for Admiral Sir George Henry Richards, KCB, FRGS. This noted marine surveyor, hydrographer and Arctic navigator probably named more features on B.C. marine charts than any other single man in his years on this coast. He was incredibly modest, too, foregoing the opportunities to immortalize himself on our maps. The fact that we have Mount Richards and Port Hardy area has its Richards Channel, both as humble as the officer for whom they’re named, is the work of succeeding hydrographers.
Here’s my reply to Nigel: “After due contemplation I'm inclined to split the difference: Mt. Richards is named for the admiral—no ifs or buts, it's a matter of public record.
“As for Richards Trail, there's the obvious coincidence of names, but it's highly likely that the Trail takes its name from Joe Richards as it was common practice to name geographical landmarks for pioneer families in the immediate area. Because Richards Trail is so localized, it isn't listed in the B.C. Gazetteer whereas Mt. Richards is because it's a mountain.
“How ironic that a naval officer who made perhaps the largest single contribution to provincial mapmaking should be remembered by such a nondescript rock pile!”
Over and out until next week. —TW
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