Ferndale, British Columbia#CarlsonFam

{{overly detailed|date=January 2020}}

Initially, the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTP) planned following the Fraser River between Willow River and Hansard. About {{convert|5|mi|km|spell=in}} north of the Willow River confluence, heavy grades exist in the Giscome Rapids country. To find an alternative route, a survey party in the 1906 winter reviewed the possibility of a Prince George-Ferndale alignment, south along the Willow, across the divide, and east to follow the Bear River to its confluence south of Hansard. Subsequently, the surveyors discovered the superior shortcut via Eagle (Eaglet) Lake and Aleza Lake.Prince George Post, 31 Jul 1915

Consequently, the booklet's claim that political pressure caused the GTP to abandon the Ferndale route is false.{{sfn|Perry|1958|pp=1 & 3}} In fact, the GTP regularly ignored government directives.{{cite book |last=Leonard |first=Frank |title=A Thousand Blunders: The Grand Trunk Pacific Railway and Northern British Columbia |year=1996 |publisher=UBC Press | isbn=9780774805322}} The chartered CB&WR through the Willow River settlement proposed a line along the Willow River that never eventuated. Consequently, most of the early investors abandoned their properties. Apparently on speculation, Lord Londonderry had equally unwisely acquired a parcel of land{{sfn|Perry|1958|p=3}} {{small|(E side of Upper Fraser Rd, N of Ferndale Rd)}}.{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}} This would be Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 6th Marquess of Londonderry (1852–1915), and Charles Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 7th Marquess of Londonderry (1878–1949).

Although listed as pioneer settlers,{{sfn|Perry|1958|p=1}} Tom Sullivan, Elmer Cahoun, Mr. Bushell, George Teats, Bob McRorrie, and Ivor and Harry Guest, may have owned speculative properties, but no evidence of residence is apparent. Thomas Sullivan (1873–1951){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/a40a0c8f-9c15-44b5-b8f4-72124d0e7d03 |title =Death Certificate (Thomas SULLIVAN)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} owned land north of the Fraser River near Salmon River.Prince George Citizen: 9 Aug 1928 & 11 Jan 1951 Marcus Elmer Cahoon (1885–1957),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/a4b49e7f-56ba-457b-b387-704e53682135 |title =Death Certificate (Marcus Elmer CAHOON)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} a Public Works Department driver, who no doubt included the locality in his assigned duties,Prince George Citizen: 2 Sep 1926 & 4 Apr 1957 married{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/d2948144-323c-44ea-b9b2-749188a5c4d6 |title =Marriage Certificate (CAHOON/STEWART)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Mary Isabella Stewart (1890–1969){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/6605795a-dc9e-4104-8e67-bec39d043ce0 |title =Death Certificate (Mary Isabella CAHOON)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} in 1915.Prince George Citizen: 20 May 1965, 23 May 1969 & 1 Jun 1985

Ivor B. Guest (1886–1980),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/8dda53f3-a0d9-4c72-bfce-abc5824aae69 |title =Death Certificate (Ivor Bertie GUEST)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} and his brother Harry (1882–1973),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/17236e29-4407-49f0-b498-6c8397640a3b |title =Death Certificate (Harry Bruce GUEST)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} arrived in South Fort George in 1911. During the 1912 summer, Ivor worked for the forestry service as a fire warden along the Crooked River. The following winter he broke trail for Kidd's Emmet Baxter (Shorty) Haynes' dog team taking mail, food, and whisky, to the GTP construction camps. Ivor operated a trading post at McLeod Lake 1914–20, interrupted by almost three years army service. A keen amateur photographer, he ran a photography supply, fishing tackle and stationery store in Prince George 1922–75.Fort George Herald, 5 Oct 1912Prince George Leader,18 Aug 1922Prince George Citizen: 27 Aug 1919, 9 Sep 1921, 6 Aug 1959, 5 Mar 1975, 15 Sep 1978, 8 Mar 1979 & 18 Dec 1980 He married Mary Elizabeth Howes (1895–1979

{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/27d96aee-0273-4825-93b5-c97c8c997371 |title =Death Certificate (Mary Howes GUEST)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} in 1923.Prince George Citizen: 13 Feb 1923, 12 May 1965 & 24 Jul 1979 Harry B. Guest married Augusta Freida Grossman (c.1892–?) in 1915.{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/4e59b1cb-beba-4a4d-b884-892799183f17 |title =Marriage Certificate (GUEST/GROSSMAN)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} He was connected with the pharmaceutical trade,Prince George Post, 5 Jun 1915 and became a partner in the Prince George Drug Co. 1917–31.Prince George Citizen, 28 Sep 1939 As coroner for the region throughout the 1920s,Prince George Leader, 15 Apr 1921Prince George Citizen: 31 Dec 1925 & 10 Jan 1929 he no doubt examined cases in the vicinity. Harry's family relocated to Vancouver in the early 1930s.Prince George Citizen, 16 Nov 1933

Arden Pickering, E.C. Perry and Fritz Bertschi appear to be the only bona fide Ferndale pioneers on the list.{{anchor|PickeringFam}} Leaving his family at Wardner, George Pickering took up a quarter section preemption {{small|(E of Upper Fraser Rd, S side of Perry Rd)}}{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}} in 1910, but died in 1913.Fort George Herald, 19 Apr 1913image: https://cnc.bc.ca/services/library/cnc-press/chamberland/contents Chapter 22: Willow River Area, 1st, 2nd and 3rd slides left of centre The following year, Arden (1889–1979),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/748561ce-69d7-40c9-8e47-1f8445fad8fd |title =Death Certificate (Arden Cecil PICKERING)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} his son, moved onto the farm. In 1921, he married{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/ae34fcb9-4e3a-46b9-8200-b0f576efb373 |title =Marriage Certificate (PICKERING/MUMA)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Ettie Muma (1899–1974).{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/c4ae232f-f6a3-496d-8c30-fe3c08e66ce9 |title =Death Certificate (Ettie PICKERING)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Their children were Cecil (1922–74),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/4a1e2546-7fdb-4e0b-807c-688ce01a2b7f |title =Death Certificate (Cecil Benjamin PICKERING)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} William (Bill) (1924–84),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/0631db26-8a25-41e7-b917-1077f13cd7a4 |title =Death Certificate (William Everett PICKERING)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} George (1926–27),Prince George Citizen, 10 Nov 1927 Earl, Len (probably 1929–2004),{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2113191 |title=Cemetery Project (Len H. PICKERING)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} Clara, Dorothy {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #PerryFam)}}, L. Gordon (Gordie) (1936–2012),Prince George Citizen, 3 Jul 2012 Nina (probably 1937–2004),{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2113179 |title=Cemetery Project (Nina Doreen VENABLES)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} Howard (1939–64),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/5d42bb63-949d-4dd6-a770-dfb0194e0bac |title =Death Certificate (Howard Arden PICKERING)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} and Shirley. The absence of nearby schooling for the older children prompted the move to Mud River around 1929,{{sfn|Perry|1958|p=1}}{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=202}}Prince George Citizen: 27 Jun 1940, 15 Jun 1944 & 3 Jul 2012 but the family relocated to Prince George in 1950.{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=205}}Prince George Citizen, 21 Apr 1960

The outbreak of World War I, and the decreased availability of capital, delayed the development of the high-grade gold, silver and copper ore seams discovered near Ferndale by William Bonner around 1913. A decade later, the Snowshoe partnership, managed by Bonner, drilled exploratory shafts that showed promising results.Prince George Citizen: 15 Nov 1923, 14 Feb 1924 & 10 Apr 1924 A similar exercise at other sites equally encouraged another syndicate and the Bertschi brothers.Prince George Citizen, 17 Jul 1924 In default for his 1927–30 financial contributions, Bonner forfeited his interest in the claim.Prince George Citizen: 5 Jun 1930 to 7 Aug 1930 By 1936, Alexander (Alex) Hutchison (1879–1961){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/82d9f169-105f-4e2a-9a0a-6d26938c5b64 |title =Death Certificate (Alexander HUTCHISON)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 18 Sep 1961 was also in default.Prince George Citizen: 19 Mar 1936 to 18 Jun 1936 At that time, Alex was in the cordwood business.Prince George Citizen: 4 Jul 1935, 15 Aug 1935, 12 Nov 1936 & 7 Oct 1937 {{anchor|BertschiFam}}

Albert Fredrick Bertschi (1889–1971){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/5e20550d-29f1-4a9b-8706-147c0c4bfbbf |title =Death Certificate (Albert Fredrick BERTSCHI)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} was a B.X. riverboat engineer from 1914. He married{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/11703cd1-156b-4901-ac86-cc35903e77bb |title =Marriage Certificate (BERTSCHI/BRUEGGER)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Emma Bruegger (1896–1959),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/64b30f3a-98ef-4c82-a2e6-40e9695a307d |title =Death Certificate (Emma BERTSCHI)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} and settled in 1920Prince George Citizen: 9 Mar 1944, 3 Jun 1959 & 11 Mar 1971 {{small|(about {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} W of Upper Fraser Rd on Shelley Rd E)}}.Prince George Citizen, 24 Jul 1930 He operated the first horse-driven sawmill in the area.{{sfn|Perry|1958|p=4}} The improved section of their 160-acre farm comprised hay and poultry.Prince George Citizen: 9 to 23 Apr 1925; 23 Sep 1926 to 7 Oct 1926; 17 to 31 Mar 1927; & 7 to 21 Mar 1929

Longtime city worker Louis (1882–1951){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/cf785a40-a629-48d1-b3b6-4714651f5d95 |title =Death Certificate (Louis STRUGALA)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 8 Feb 1951 & Eveline (1900–88){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/ecf508a3-557e-4d9a-bafa-59f8f84c2931 |title =Death Certificate (Mary Eveline STRUGALA)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 23 Mar 1988 Strugala lived in Prince George from about 1919.Prince George Citizen: 9 Feb 1923 & 1 Aug 1929 Their children were Robert (1925–41), who died of pneumonia,Prince George Citizen: 9 & 23 Jan 1941 Dorothy (1927–77),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/8951ff7a-f307-4a2c-b2a6-f52f78e2a18c |title =Death Certificate (Dorothy Jane STRUGALA)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 8 Nov 1977 and Carol (1936–?).Prince George Citizen, 2 Jun 2016 The Strugala farm was on Shelley Road N. about {{convert|4|mi|km}} from the Bertschi property.{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=373}} Louis was acquitted at trial for the 1931 shooting at and wounding straying Bertschi horses that ate his oat crop.Prince George Citizen, 19 Nov 1931

The Bertschi children were Rosabelle (Rose) (c.1925–2016),Prince George Citizen, 1 Jun 2016 Arnold Louis (Louie) (1927–2016),{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2529023 |title=Cemetery Project (Arnold Louis BERTSCHI)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 10 Aug 2016 Albert Frederick (1931–2011),Prince George Citizen, 22 Oct 2011 Charles (Charlie) Henry (1934–2015),{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2529273 |title=Cemetery Project (Charles Henry BERTSCHI)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} and Margaret.Prince George Citizen: 29 Jun 1944 & 29 Nov 1956image: https://cnc.bc.ca/services/library/cnc-press/chamberland/contents Chapter 21: Shelley and Ferndale Areas, 2nd to 5th slides left of centre Over time, Louie and Albert Fred assumed more responsibility for the farm, and Albert Fred and Charlie for the logging operation. Louie and Charlie never married.Prince George Citizen: 31 Oct 1946 & 16 Jan 2015 In the early 1940s, the family produced railway ties,Prince George Citizen, 17 Dec 1942 and had a logging camp on the property.Prince George Citizen, 21 Oct 1943 In 1944, A.F. Bertschi Sr. had a severe heart attack,Prince George Citizen, 23 Mar 1944 and Rose left for Vancouver.Prince George Citizen, 14 Dec 1944 Five years later, she married Henry Gray Munro.Prince George Citizen, 7 Jul 1949 By this time, the farm had pigsPrince George Citizen: 13 Oct 1949, 14 Jun 1951 & 17 Dec 1951 and a dairy herd.Prince George Citizen: 22 Jun 1950 & 13 Sep 1951 Emma's butter and cheese were unrivaled.Prince George Citizen, 7 Sep 1950

In 1952, Louie suffered a facial injury at one of the local mills, requiring a short hospital stay.Prince George Citizen, 25 Dec 1952 The next year, Bertschi Sr. advertised the farm for sale.Prince George Citizen: 26 Oct 1953 to 2 Nov 1953 The couple moved to Prince George in 1954.Prince George Citizen, 3 Jun 1959

Louie continued managing the farm at least until the early 1960s.Prince George Citizen: 24 Oct 1958 & 13 Nov 1961

In 1963, Albert Fred married Fern Elizabeth Adams.Prince George Citizen, 21 May 1963 The period of operation of the small Bertschi Bros.' sawmill included the 1950s,Prince George Citizen, 11 Oct 1955 the 1970s (manufacturing cabins),Prince George Citizen: 9 Jan 1973; & 18 Apr 1973 to 31 Aug 1973 and the 1990s (log homes).Prince George Citizen, 6 Feb 1996

{{anchor|PerryFam}}Edwin C. (1880–1927){{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2521221 |title=Cemetery Project (Edwin C. PERRY)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 15 Sep 1927 & Frances A. (1880–1974){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/39466721-5d6e-451e-9aef-c0538b63ae8d |title =Death Certificate (Frances Ann PERRY)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 19 Jun 1974 Perry purchased their property {{small|(about {{convert|7|mi|km|spell=in}} E of Upper Fraser Rd, on S side of Perry Rd)}}{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}}Prince George Citizen, 4 Apr 1946image: https://cnc.bc.ca/services/library/cnc-press/chamberland/contents Chapter 22: Willow River Area, 5th and 6th slides left of centre in 1914,{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=394}} but the family initially resided a few years in Prince George,Prince George Citizen, 27 Oct 1965 while Edwin was alone at the homestead. On one occasion during this period, Edwin disappeared for six months while he tracked, but failed to retrieve, an expensive pair of newly obtained horses that had escaped.{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=395}} Their children were Lila (c.1907–?),Prince George Citizen: 5 Jun 1915, 9 Apr 1919, 7 Oct 1921 & 13 Mar 1924 Myles (1914–?),{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=394}} and John (1918–2017).{{Cite web | url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/princegeorgecitizen/obituary.aspx?n=john-commodore-perry&pid=185611874 |title =Obituary (John Commodore PERRY)|website=www.legacy.com}} John was the first baby born to Caucasians in the locality.{{sfn|Perry|1958|p=1}} During the Great Depression, the brothers made their living mining gold, and guiding and packing miners up the Willow River. They also had an episode with a newly purchased purebred bull that escaped by plunging into the flooded Willow River. They pursued the animal {{convert|7|mi|km|spell=in}} downstream, and after a long struggle, led it to their parked wagon south of Giscome.{{sfn|Walski|1985|p=20–25}}{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|pp=395–397}} In 1936, a cow moose attacked and twice tossed John, who was fencing on the farm. The animal then followed and cornered him in a shed, from which he finally escaped with bruises and scratches.Prince George Citizen, 11 Jun 1936

Myles married{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/a360f01c-4603-4ca0-97e2-3f8555ee5f7d |title =Marriage Certificate (PERRY/GODDARD)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Margaret Goddard (1914–1993), who had arrived in 1937 as the schoolteacher, and remained actively involved in community projects.Prince George Citizen: 14 Sep 1939, 5 May 1986 & 29 Dec 1993{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1937/British_Columbia_and_Yukon_Directory |title = 1937 BC Directory|website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}} John married Mona Calhoun in 1940,Prince George Citizen, 15 Aug 1940 but divorced in 1945.Prince George Citizen: 31 May 1945 & 7 Jun 1945 In 1942, the brothers tracked and killed a young grizzly that had feasted on more than 25 of their chickens.Prince George Citizen, 23 Apr 1942 In 1939, John and Myles purchased a decrepit small sawmill. The two-cylinder tractor motor, sourced to be the power unit, regularly caught fire. A few years later, they purchased a small sawmill from Carl William Strom of Willow River,{{sfn|Perry|2000|pp=4–5}} which cleared the trees on the family farm by the Willow River.Prince George Citizen: 24 Sep 1942 & 4 Apr 1946 Available timber stands determined later relocations.Prince George Citizen: 29 Jun 1944 & 11 Oct 1945 In 1951, John married Dorothy Pickering.Prince George Citizen: 27 Sep 1951; & 4 & 15 Oct 1951 {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #PickeringFam)}} That year, he suffered a serious back injury, requiring an eight-month hospital stay,Prince George Citizen: 31 Dec 1951 & 31 Jul 1952 which left him crippled.{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=399}} At its peak, the 8,000–9,000 feet capacity sawmill{{sfn|Perry|2000|p=3}} remained in use until 1964,{{sfn|Perry|2000|pp=5–6}} after which it became more profitable to sell raw logs rather than rough-cut lumber to the large operators.{{sfn|Perry|2000|pp=8–9}} The Perry Bros.' loggingPrince George Citizen: 28 Oct 1964, 10 Dec 1976 & 21 Jun 1979 and ranchPrince George Citizen: 21 Jun 1971, 2 Jun 1976, 10 Jun 1981 & 24 May 1986 operated into the 1990s.Prince George Citizen: 5 May 1986, 24 Jun 1988 & 29 Dec 1993 They still held TSLs (Timber Sales Licences) in 1999.{{sfn|Perry|2000|p=8}}

Ottiso (Otis) (1873–1955){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/1217b653-b9a0-49d8-96e1-8fd8a832889e |title =Death Certificate (Ottis Wilington PARISO)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 29 Aug 1955 & Laura (1874–1961){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/71fdb3e8-adf3-4030-b1f1-6697fbe15808 |title =Death Certificate (Laura May PARISO)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Pariso farmed {{small|(W of Upper Fraser Rd, N of Ferndale Rd)}} {{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}} from 1920 until their retirement around 1945. Their son Leo died at five. In 1920, daughter Muriel Mildred (1898–1987){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/045f73b3-53aa-4f02-b553-c91092ef5eb0 |title =Death Certificate (Muriel Mildred EDMARK)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} married{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/26da504a-51b5-4f29-b165-97468f106f8f |title =Marriage Certificate (GRIESE/PARISO)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Herman G. Griese (1892–1940) of Shelley,Prince George Citizen: 4 Jun 1952, 14 Oct 1943, 4 Oct 1945 & 28 Jul 1961 and later married Per Arvid Edmark (1893–1979).{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/7ee3d076-9064-41cc-8b21-abd01fee4de1 |title =Death Certificate (Per Arvid EDMARK)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 24 Apr 1952

Chris Cron (1876–1961){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/197f2fc2-c43e-42d9-8fce-a633524937e8 |title =Death Certificate (Christian Henry Cron)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} farmed from the 1920s until the 1950s.{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1927/Wrigley%27s_British_Columbia_Directory |title = 1927 BC Directory|website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}}Prince George Citizen: 17 Dec 1942, 13 May 1943, 23 Nov 1944, 5 Jul 1951 & 13 Jun 1955{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1954/Prince_George_City_and_Northern_British_Columbia_Directory |title = 1954 BC Directory|website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}}image: https://cnc.bc.ca/services/library/cnc-press/chamberland/contents Chapter 21: Shelley and Ferndale Areas, 6th slide left of centre He hauled his harvested hay to Shelley for rail freighting to the Upper Fraser mill for feeding their logging horses.{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=375}}

Brothers Levi (1879–1947){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/e0283c98-938e-4516-bd04-4b2ad88d1881 |title =Death Certificate (Levi GRAHAM)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} and William J.E. (1880–1950){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/5a02cf5b-b47c-411b-8c01-8dbcb6113a3e |title =Death Certificate (William Joseph Edman GRAHAM)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Graham, whose spouses were sisters,Prince George Leader, 26 Aug 1921 held a preemption {{small|(immediately E of the Shelley Rd and Highway 16 junction)}}.{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}} However, their focus was largely in Prince George, where Levi ran extensive business enterprises, and William was assistantPrince George Star, 30 Jan 1917Prince George Citizen: 10 Dec 1919 & 10 Dec 1925 and later fire chief.Prince George Citizen, 30 Nov 1950

Andres (c.1859–1930){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Genealogy/Results?search=Search&as.type_death=true&as.registration_num=1930-09-448686 |title =Death Certificate (Andrew PIPKE)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} & Otilia (Tillie) (1867–1940)Prince George Citizen, 19 Sep 1940 Pipke settled in Prince George in 1915, and assumedly soon after, acquired their farming property in Ferndale. Their children were Tillie (1891–1959),{{Cite web | url=http://sites.rootsweb.com/~cansacem/nb_RST.html |title =Saskatchewan Cemeteries Project (Tillie STEFFENHAGEN)|website=www.rootsweb.com }} two daughters who became Mmes. Shepherd and Kemp, Reinhold (1897–1957),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/6f3e52f8-c4d9-4b82-bc98-a0e114e0ba85 |title =Death Certificate (Reinhold PIPKE)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Ludwig (Louie) (1905–92), and Wanda (1909–2000).{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/c29b26da-089c-43fc-9df5-59729a6f2fb8 |title =Marriage Certificate (HOUGHTALING/PIPKE)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 26 May 2000

Alverino Perkoni Wassil (1892–1959),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/8a10ef54-1ae3-4f38-ad87-a39ecd89dc98 |title =Death Certificate (Albert WASSIL)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} a.k.a. Albert Peter Wassil, Alvin Peter Wassil and Charles Wassil, apparently resided from 1914, but appears not to have been part of the early Caucasian social set. Initial reports on his death misidentified him as his brother Peter. He purchased the Pipke property in 1928Prince George Citizen: 23 Apr 1942; 3, 23 & 31 Mar 1959; & 5 May 1959 {{small|(E side of Upper Fraser Rd, N of Perry Rd)}}.{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}} Apart from his World War II enlistment, Pius Vosylius (1884–1961),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/313231f3-2958-4122-a0cd-cde89c013585 |title =Death Certificate (Pius VOSYLIUS)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} a.k.a. Peter (Pete) Wassil, resided from 1929 until his final illness.Prince George Citizen: 21 & 25 Aug 1961 Selling his property {{small|(E of Upper Fraser Rd, N of Ferndale Rd)}}{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}} to Alan MacDonald, Pete moved to the former C. Cowell residence in 1957.Prince George Citizen, 16 May 1957 His estate included another property {{small|(W of Giscome Rd, S of Highway 16)}}.Prince George Citizen, 3 Jan 1962 {{anchor|NehringFam}}

John G. Nehring (1860–1946),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/a8260507-46bb-4a88-8d3a-4a854cb83b2c |title =Death Certificate (John Gottlieb NEHRING)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 9 May 1946 {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #JKarpicius)}} and his teenage son Ralph (1896–1989),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/15143604-c9b3-46fb-b490-756981033290 |title =Death Certificate (Ralph Rudolph NEHRING)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2524646 |title=Cemetery Project (Ralph NEHRING)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} arrived at Prince George by scow{{Cite web | url=http://fhnas.ca/scow-boats-heavy-haulers-athabasca-river-alberta-canada/ |title =Image: Athabasca scow boats|website=www.fhnas.ca}} in 1913. John's wife, Ernesyna (1864–1958){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/66f746f9-e259-4396-b003-ba4a3a7d2458 |title =Death Certificate (Ernesyna NEHRING)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} followed a short time later by stagecoach.Prince George Citizen: 4 & 6 Oct 1989 They settled at Ferndale around 1920.Prince George Citizen, 19 Jan 1984 In 1921, reports of Ralph's death in Seattle proved a misidentification,Prince George Leader, 22 Jul 1921 unlike a sibling who had died in the prior year.Prince George Leader, 15 Jul 1921 John established a sawmill in 1922, powered by a traction engine.{{sfn|Perry|1958|p=4}} Sons, Walter (1907–51){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/c08b3ab9-8514-4905-acc3-cd0480bf9be5 |title =Death Certificate (Walter NEHRING)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 4 Jun 1951 and Robert (1905–1928){{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2528354 |title=Cemetery Project (Robert NEHRING)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 6 Sep 1928 were outstanding hockey players.Prince George Citizen: 4 Mar 1926, 17 Feb 1927, 1 Feb 1940, 16 Mar 1950, 4 Jun 1951 & 19 Jan 1984 Ralph married Elizabeth Schlitt (1910–2008){{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2524647 |title=Cemetery Project (Elizabeth NEHRING)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} in 1929.Prince George Citizen, 4 Oct 1989 John sold the mill {{small|(E of Giscome Rd, S of Highway 16)}}{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}}Prince George Citizen, 2 May 1988 (60) in 1941 to John H. Evensen {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #JEvensen)}}, but his son Walter remained in the mill's employment until called up for active service.Prince George Citizen: 18 Mar 1943 & 23 Dec 2011 In 1946, Ralph and Walter operated a sawmill on their farm.Prince George Citizen, 29 Aug 1946 Ralph's son Wilfrid Nehring and Ollie Florrel operated a mill.Prince George Citizen, 29 May 1952 While later working at Evergreen Sawmill, Wilfrid sustained a critical head injury when a saw ejected a piece of machinery.Prince George Citizen, 6 Jan 1961

During the 1920s and early 1930s, Peter (Pete) (1886–1953){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/105d1810-a20a-4860-9de1-0a8eb81839c4 |title =Death Certificate (Peter KRAWCHUK)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} & Alexandria (c.1886–1964){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/69499772-da8a-4fac-8d60-8979a2268032 |title =Death Certificate (Alexandria KRAWCHUK)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Krawchuk (Krowchuk alternate spelling), who ran a mixed farmPrince George Citizen, 30 Aug 1934 {{small|(immediately E of the Shelley Rd and Highway 16 junction)}}, cleared only a small portion of their quarter section.{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|pp=357–358}}image: https://cnc.bc.ca/services/library/cnc-press/chamberland/contents Chapter 20: Blackburn, Tabor Lake and Foreman Flats, 12th and 13th slides left of centre Nick Kostuka received a one-year sentence for assaulting Alexandria.Prince George Citizen, 13 Aug 1931 {{anchor|ZilkieFam}}

Matilda Zilkie and Margaret Cowell were sisters. Charles (Charlie) W. (1880–1974){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/8b161c29-ccda-4e01-83ca-4b6089a0e7b2 |title =Death Certificate (Charles ZILKIE)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 25 Apr 1974 & Matilda S. (1898–1980){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/85d0220d-cbd7-4123-8ed8-8b291143e930 |title =Death Certificate (Matilda Susan ZILKIE)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Zilkie settled in 1929, acquiring 90 acres from the Cowells{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=380}} {{small|(E side of Upper Fraser Rd, S of Ferndale Rd)}}.{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}} Their children were Caroline, Anne (c.1921–?), C. William (Bill) (1923–2012),{{Cite web | url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/timescolonist/obituary.aspx?n=charles-william-zilkie-bill&pid=157846800&fhid=11406 |title =Obituary (Charles William ZILKIE)|website=www.legacy.com}} Rose, Emily (1929–?),{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=381}} and Frederick (Fred) (1931–2016).{{Cite web | url=https://memoryleaf.net/frederick-zilkie |title =Obituary (Fred ZILKIE)|website=www.memoryleaf.net}} Assumedly, Caroline died in infancy.image: https://cnc.bc.ca/services/library/cnc-press/chamberland/contents Chapter 21: Shelley and Ferndale Areas, 11th to 16th slides right of centre In 1938, Anne married{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/ba9704c8-2631-466f-a276-21884b6b6e44 |title =Marriage Certificate (MANDRUK/ZILKIE)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Monte Mandruk.Prince George Citizen, 3 Mar 1938 {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #MMandruk)}} In 1943, a bear killed one of Charlie's pigs,Prince George Citizen, 14 Oct 1943 and two of his horses died on the highway.Prince George Citizen, 11 Nov 1943 Bill enlisted.Prince George Citizen: 6 May 1943, 17 Jun 1943, 23 Mar 1944, 11 Oct 1945, 8 Nov 1945 & 25 Apr 1946 Around 1944, Rose married Leslie Aiken (1916–96).{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/3db4f04d-6f84-4e52-b9a8-ac4bb4ded995 |title =Death Certificate (Leslie Johnson AIKEN)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen: 16 Nov 1944 & 15 Nov 1945 Bill married Eileen in 1946, Emily married Mathew Handford in 1949Prince George Citizen, 17 Nov 1949 {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #HandfordFam)}}, and Fred married Doreen in 1961.Prince George Citizen, 24 Oct 1961 Only, Anne and Emily, who married locals, remained in Ferndale on marriage. After Fred left around 1960,Prince George Citizen: 10 Jul 1958 & 31 Mar 1959 only the Zilkie seniors remained throughout the 1960s.Prince George Citizen, 9 Sep 1969 Matilda probably left after Charlie's death.Prince George Citizen, 7 May 1980 {{anchor|CowellFam}}

William (Bill) C. (1892–1969){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/6363c2dd-e0e0-4cb1-a8cf-206a9678817d |title =Death Certificate (William Samuel COWELL)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} & Margaret

(1899–1970){{Cite web | url=https://newspapers.com/clip/5275784/maggie_elvina_cowell_obituary_9_dec |title =Obituary (Maggie Elvina COWELL)|website=www. newspapers.com}} Cowell settled on their 360-acre farm{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=380}} {{small|(W side of Upper Fraser Rd, S of Ferndale Rd)}} {{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}} in the late 1920s. Their children were Charles (Charlie), George (1923–?), Nellie, and S. Catherine (Kate or Kaye)

(c.1921–2009).{{Cite web | url=https://saobserver.net/obituaries/susan-catherine-kaye-hubensky |title =Obituary (Catherine HUBENSKY)|website=www.saobserver.net}}Prince George Citizen: 21 Oct 1948, 4 Oct 1951, 10 Jul 1958 & 30 Apr 1969image: https://cnc.bc.ca/services/library/cnc-press/chamberland/contents Chapter 21: Shelley and Ferndale Areas, 11th to 13th slides left of centre Charlie played the accordion at dances.Prince George Citizen, 22 Dec 1938 On marrying Robert Bean, Nellie moved to Sardis.Prince George Citizen: 14 Oct 1954 & 11 Jul 1955 Catherine married{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/c1b8e1e8-55fd-496b-ac84-ef33849f9545 |title =Marriage Certificate (HUBENSKY/COWELL)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Alexander (Alex) Hubensky (1919–58),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/54b56b92-1b78-4669-87e0-0c8ea568e085 |title =Death Certificate (Alexander HUBENSKY)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 25 Jul 1940 presumably the son of Alexander & Margaret. {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #HubenskyFam)}} The newlyweds lived at Aleza Lake,Prince George Citizen: 27 Jul 1944, 28 Feb 1946, 15 Aug 1946 & 15 May 1947 and then Sardis.Prince George Citizen: 3 Aug 1950 & 5 Jul 1951 In 1960, after Alex's death during the Rogers Pass highway construction, Catherine settled in Salmon Arm.

From 1943, Martin Majerickimage: https://cnc.bc.ca/services/library/cnc-press/chamberland/contents Chapter 21: Shelley and Ferndale Areas, 2nd slide right of centre (Majerik, Majorek, Myeric or Myric alternate spellings) operated a sawmill on the Cowell property.Prince George Citizen: 24 Jun 1943 & 15 Jun 1944 When a wrench slipped, he seriously injured his hand and lost one finger.Prince George Citizen, 16 Sep 1943 Bill Cowell likely logged, because a birch log injured and pinned him for several hours.Prince George Citizen, 8 Apr 1943 A 1945 fire destroyed the cookhouse.Prince George Citizen, 18 Oct 1945 The following year, the mill relocated {{small|(W side of Upper Fraser Rd at S-bend, immediately N of Shelley Rd E)}}.{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}}Prince George Citizen, 6 Jun 1946 A falling tree killed Karl Kovach (1909–58),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/b35caf17-fd4a-4897-b437-f1ecd1d2898e |title =Death Certificate (Karl KOVACH)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} a teamster for the Majerick mill.Prince George Citizen, 15 Jan 1958 {{anchor|C&GCowell}}

Both Charlie and George Cowell were wounded during World War II,Prince George Citizen: 31 Aug 1944, 21 Sep 1944 & 21 Oct 1948 and George required multiple hospital stays and a leg amputation.Prince George Citizen: 5 Apr 1945, 15 May 1947, 12 Jun 1947, 21 Oct 1948 & 12 Jun 1952 Margaret and George composed many songs, some of which CKPG radio played.Prince George Citizen, 21 Oct 1948 In 1949, after Charlie shot an 80-pound cougar in Russell Hubensky's barn, they discovered Charlie's partly devoured dog.Prince George Citizen, 24 Feb 1949 While at the Evensen sawmill the following year, George seriously hurt his arm when an engine he was cranking backfired.Prince George Citizen, 2 Mar 1950 In the early 1950s, Charlie and George operated a sawmill,Prince George Citizen: 25 Jan 1951 & 22 Feb 1951 where Charlie injured his shoulder.Prince George Citizen, 21 Jul 1952 Bill Cowell and Allan Wickum {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #WickumFam)}} also had a millPrince George Citizen: 2 & 30 Aug 1951; & 8 Nov 1951 {{small|(possibly on Allan’s property on W side of Upper Fraser Rd, N of Shelley Rd E)}},{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}} before Allan joined the Evergreen Sawmills.Prince George Citizen, 9 Feb 1953 The last to relocate were Bill & Margaret in the mid-1960s.Prince George Citizen, 30 Apr 1969

Michael (Mike) Kiss arrived in the 1930s. After retiring as a mill worker, he devoted his attention to his farm {{small|(W of Upper Fraser Rd, S side of Ferndale Rd)}},{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}} where he grew exceptional strawberries.Prince George Citizen, 31 Aug 1953 His final mention was 1967.Prince George Citizen, 20 Jun 1967image: https://cnc.bc.ca/services/library/cnc-press/chamberland/contents Chapter 21: Shelley and Ferndale Areas, centre slide and 3rd and 5th slides to right

Herman Karges (1904–89){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/76f73b09-f3e5-48ab-8cb0-b0889af865e2 |title =Death Certificate (Herman KARGES)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 9 Feb 1989 arrived by the early 1930s.Prince George Citizen, 10 Jul 1958 Daniel (Dan) (1888–1976){{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2519155 |title=Cemetery Project (Daniel MORRIS)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} & Helena (Lena) (1895–1981){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/55fb4342-7d58-4ad2-bb48-f67e34625f66 |title =Death Certificate (Lena MORRIS)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Morris spent the earlier years of their married life in lumber camps east of Prince George.Prince George Citizen, 5 Jan 1981 Sons Andrew (Andy) (1926–99),Prince George Citizen, 15 Dec 1999 and William (Bill) (1927–96),{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2523488 |title=Cemetery Project (William MORRIS)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 16 Apr 1996 worked in their father's logging camps. During the later 1940s, Dan, in partnership with Jim Burke, logged and milled on the Karges' farm one mile west of the highway.Prince George Citizen: 10 Jan 1946, 14 Jul 1949 & 15 Dec 1999 This appears distinct from the other Karges' property {{small|(E side of Upper Fraser Rd, N of Perry Rd)}}.{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}}Prince George Citizen, 20 Mar 1947 Andy sustained serious lacerations to his foot at this time.Prince George Citizen, 7 Mar 1946

Jacob (1905–85){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/7b8cf5e7-04de-4772-a5cd-cb996151761a |title =Death Certificate (Jacob PANKEW)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 22 Oct 1985 & Anne (1907–72){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/aea546a1-f197-4005-b33b-2d567049497d |title =Death Certificate (Annie PANKEW)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 13 Sep 1972 Pankew purchased the Krawchuk farm in 1937,Prince George Citizen, 11 Nov 1937image: https://cnc.bc.ca/services/library/cnc-press/chamberland/contents Chapter 20: Blackburn, Tabor Lake and Foreman Flats, 13th to 15th slides left of centre where they developed a dairy herd,Prince George Citizen, 8 Sep 1949 and grew hay.Prince George Citizen, 8 Jul 1964 He operated a sawmill during the 1960s,Prince George Citizen: 25 Feb 1963, 30 Aug 1963, 27 Aug 1964 & 26 Aug 1965 which had a good safety record for both logging and milling.Prince George Citizen, 24 May 1963 In 1964, an inebriated Jacob crashed his pickup truck head on into a parked BC Hydro truck displaying flashing warning lights. Being his second conviction for impaired driving, he received an 11-day jail term.Prince George Citizen, 29 Dec 1964 The family relocated to Fort Nelson in 1966.Prince George Citizen, 16 Dec 1966{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=358}} Son Victor (1936–2009),{{Cite web | url=https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/princegeorgecitizen/obituary.aspx?n=victor-roy-pankew&pid=128502987 |title =Obituary (Victor PANKEW)|website=www.legacy.com}} a millwright, returned to the farm permanently in the 1980s.{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=359}}Prince George Citizen: 2 Apr 1982 & 6 Aug 1988 {{anchor|JKarpicius}}

John Karpicius (1900–88){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/5ea1098a-321c-406b-b04a-1b4b07fc0423 |title =Death Certificate (John KARPICIUS)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} farmed from the late 1930s {{small|(W side of Upper Fraser Rd, S of Ferndale Rd)}},{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}} and worked as a tie cutter. In 1939, he began logging birch trees for warplane veneer production.Prince George Citizen: 11 Nov 1937, 28 May 1942 & 6 Aug 1988 In 1940, both he and John G. Nehring, {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #NehringFam)}} were found responsible for owning dogs that had killed or injured their counterparts' sheep and for shooting at those dogs. In 1944, Karpicius trucked lumber from the Martin Myric mill.Prince George Citizen, 15 Jun 1944 Later that year while logging, he sustained two cracked ribs from a falling tree.Prince George Citizen, 9 Nov 1944 The next year he went into partnership with Martin Schefer (1888–1975){{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2521778 |title=Cemetery Project (Martin SCHEFER)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 23 Dec 1975 (Schafer or Schaefer alternate spellings) {{small|(W of Upper Fraser Rd, S of Ferndale Rd)}}{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}} in setting up the Ferndale Lumber Co.Prince George Citizen: 21 Jun 1945, 12 Jul 1945 & 9 Jun 1949 Robert McComber from Willow River suffered a hand injury while operating the edger. Becoming one of the more significant operations,Prince George Citizen: 9 Jun 1949, 20 Dec 1951 & 29 May 1952 the company had up to three portable sawmills.Prince George Citizen: 20 Mar 1947, 5 Jun 1947 & 8 Aug 1988 In 1952, the sheriff seized the company assets, because of outstanding creditors' accounts, income tax and workers' compensation premiums.Prince George Citizen: 20 Nov 1952 to 1 Dec 1952 Thereafter, Karpicius returned to transporting lumber. The next year, the brakes failed on his fully loaded lumber truck. The collision with another truck caused extensive damage, but only minor injuries.Prince George Citizen, 23 Feb 1953 In 1961, his loaded truck overturned during overnight fog.Prince George Citizen, 24 Mar 1961 Following his retirement in 1966, he continued to prospect in the region and maintain a farm.Prince George Citizen, 6 Aug 1988 His absence from the 1958 and 1967 early resident lists suggests he arrived after 1933 and was not around in 1968.Prince George Citizen: 10 Jul 1958 & 26 Jun 1967 His brother Anthony (Tony) Karpicius (1918–85),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/19c05f92-b524-4322-bfcd-f86deb8fd62e |title =Death Certificate (Anthonas KARPICIUS)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} also a resident, worked in the forest industry and left a $56,000 bequest for a forestry scholarship.Prince George Citizen: 2 Nov 1950, 13 Feb 1985 & 7 Jun 1991 {{anchor|MMandruk}}

After their wedding, M. Monte Mandruk (1914–63){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/1d6b798f-423e-4d30-a36b-0c293e0c8b68 |title =Death Certificate (Mike Monte MANDRUK)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} & Anne M. Zilkie {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #ZilkieFam)}} lived and farmed in Ferndale, except for two years at Shelley. Monte fractured his toePrince George Citizen, 1 Mar 1945 while working on their 40-acre propertyPrince George Citizen, 11 Oct 1945 {{small|(E side of Upper Fraser Rd, S of Ferndale Rd)}}.{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}} In 1949, Monte begun operating his new sawmill,Prince George Citizen, 14 Jul 1949 moving it in successive years.Prince George Citizen: 3 Aug 1950, 25 Jun 1951 & 21 Aug 1952 In 1953, he went to work for Central Sawmills. They relocated to Courtenay in 1956.Prince George Citizen, 13 Jun 1963 Monte drowned in Georgia StraitPrince George Citizen, 18 Nov 1963 with a fishing companion, but despite an intensive search, their bodies were never found.{{Cite web | url=http://archive.org/stream/dailycolonist19631106#page/n27/mode/1up/search/mandruk |title =The Daily Colonist, 6 Nov 1963|website=www.archive.org}} {{anchor|WickumFam}}

Chester A. (1902–91){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/97e30513-4200-4a52-a2bd-6a702a740b8b |title =Death Certificate (Chester Allan WICKUM)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} & Alice M. (1908–83){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/e9de1523-686f-4c77-83a5-8cc0808b7d8d |title =Death Certificate (Alice Mary WICKUM)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Wickum settled in 1939.Prince George Citizen: 25 Nov 1977, 30 Aug 1983 & 11 May 1991 Their children were Allan (1928–?)Prince George Citizen: 13 Apr 1944 & 9 Nov 1944 {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #C&GCowell)}}, Mervin (1930–2016),{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2529164 |title=Cemetery Project (Mervin Murry WICKUM)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 12 May 2016 Joyce, Elizabeth (Betty), Barry (1932–46),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/125b0299-7c8b-4d93-97a7-a69ed9930c96 |title =Death Certificate (Barry Clifton WICKUM)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Boyd,Prince George Citizen, 29 Jun 1944 and William (Bill) (1937–89).{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2524632 |title=Cemetery Project (William C. WICKUM)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}}Prince George Citizen: 18 Oct 1951 & 5 Dec 1989 Their farm {{small|(W of Upper Fraser Rd, N of Ferndale Rd)}}{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}} included pigs.Prince George Citizen, 31 Aug 1944 In 1946, when a stone-boat tilted on a sharp turn, a water barrel on board toppled. The startled horses bolted and completely turned over the stone-boat, fatally fracturing 13-year-old Barry's skull. While harnessing a team to attend his grandson's funeral, William Thomas Carson (1877–1946),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/5d8760a7-c6d8-4f32-9373-c2b0f932cffe |title =Death Certificate (William Thomas CARSON)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} a local farmer, suffered a lethal heart attack.Prince George Citizen: 3 Oct 1946 & 25 Sep 1947 Afterward, his wife, Mary Elizabeth Carson (1880–1962){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/d2a29319-9a88-47f8-879b-8a8b686545f8 |title =Death Certificate (Mary Elizabeth CARSON)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} relocated.Prince George Citizen, 9 Aug 1962 In 1953, Joyce M. married C. William (Bill) Straub and left.Prince George Citizen, 27 Apr 1953 A year later, Elizabeth married Harvey Sims.Prince George Citizen, 8 Apr 1954 In 1956, Mervin married Marguerite (Marg).Prince George Citizen, 8 Aug 1996 Chester became the pound keeper for the area in 1958, relocating the pound to his property.Prince George Citizen, 20 May 1958 Boyd married Aldene Watson (1940–2004){{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2529438 |title=Cemetery Project (Aldene Marie WICKUM)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} around 1959.{{Cite web | url=https://www.vernonmorningstar.com/obituaries/aldene-marie-wickum |title =Obituary (Aldene Marie WICKUM)|website=www.vernonmorningstar.com}} On retiring in 1962, Chester and Alice moved to Willow River.Prince George Citizen, 25 Nov 1977 In 1964, William C. Wickum married Marie Claudette Dellemare and the couple remained.Prince George Citizen, 8 Jan 1964 By 1967, Boyd was the only family member at Ferndale,Prince George Citizen, 26 Jun 1967 and he left sometime before 1977. {{anchor|JEvensen}}

John H. Evensen (Evenson alternate spelling) (1910–2011){{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2528476 |title=Cemetery Project (John Henry EVENSEN)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} and his nephew Alfred Johnson {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #JohnsonFam)}} in 1941 purchased the Nehring {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #NehringFam)}} sawmill {{small|(E of Giscome Rd, S of Highway 16)}},{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}}Prince George Citizen, 23 Dec 2011 but Alfred enlisted. Unlike the numerous small sawmills, the Evensen mill became one of more significant operations.Prince George Citizen: 9 Jun 1949, 20 Dec 1951 & 26 Jun 1952 A 1943 fire largely destroyed the Evensen mill,Prince George Citizen, 23 Dec 1943 and Lyman Colebank (1898–1966){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/8722624a-d811-43ac-9dbb-11516ff6d4f7 |title =Death Certificate (Lyman Thomas COLEBANK)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} sustained a serious foot injury from a rolling log at the logging camp.Prince George Citizen: 22 Apr 1943 & 26 Aug 1943 Margaret E. Macdonald (1920–97),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/42e157d6-4cbb-4818-b8ea-0ba3ec318a54 |title =Death Certificate (Margaret Elizabeth TURVEY)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} a teacher at the school,Prince George Citizen, 8 Feb 1997 married Evensen in 1944,Prince George Citizen, 13 Jul 1944 but the marriage did not last. The company sported a team in the sawmill softball league.Prince George Citizen: 17 Aug 1950 & 25 Jun 1953 In 1953, the mill built a new cookhousePrince George Citizen, 13 Jul 1953 for the residents of its small houses and bunkhouses.{{sfn|Perry|2000|p=17}} The next year, Gisela Eva Kohler (1924–2005){{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2528912 |title=Cemetery Project (Gisela JOHNSON)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} married Alfred and they resided near the mill.Prince George Citizen, 1 Sep 2015 A 1961 forest fire threatened the mill and its timber stand.Prince George Citizen, 9 Aug 1961 The mill, operating at the foot of the Tabor Mountain Ski Hill,{{sfn|Perry|2000|p=2}} permanently closed about this time.{{sfn|Perry|2000|p=17}} The partners sold the equipment in 1969 and moved away.Prince George Citizen: 23 Dec 2011 & 1 Sep 2015 {{anchor|JohnsonFam}}

Alvilda Nystrom and Laila Johnson were sisters to John H. Evensen. Erick (Eric) (1892–1978){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/ee2bc3dd-b12d-46ad-84d3-53087a393b8c |title =Death Certificate (Erick JOHNSON)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2521710 |title=Cemetery Project (Erick P. JOHNSON)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 14 Mar 1978 & Laila (1898–1973){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/7f45731d-6b14-4288-8245-3d00fea6b29c |title =Death Certificate (Laila JOHNSON)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen: 19 & 29 Nov 1973 Johnson with children Alfred (Fred) (1921–2015){{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2528787 |title=Cemetery Project (Alfred JOHNSON)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #JEvensen)}}, Albin Erling (Melvin) (1927–2010),{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2522167 |title=Cemetery Project (Albin Erling JOHNSON)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 1 Apr 2010 and Rena, arrived at the Evensen camp in 1943.Prince George Citizen: 16 Sep 1943, 14 Oct 1943 & 4 Nov 1943 Children Ruth, Rubin and Einar (1924–97){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/95c8ff32-f1fd-4edc-b431-8914163452b1 |title =Death Certificate (Einar Eric JOHNSON)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 28 Oct 1997 remained in Saskatchewan.Prince George Citizen, 9 Mar 1944 At harvest time, the family visited the farm,Prince George Citizen: 29 Jun 1944 & 7 Sep 1944 after which Einar joined them at the Evensen sawmill for three months.Prince George Citizen: 9 Nov 1944 & 8 Feb 1945 Settled in Prince George, he married Selma Florell (1926–2012) in 1947.Prince George Citizen: 1 May 1947, 22 Apr 1997 & 1 Sep 2012 After Melvin suffered a painful eye injury when struck by a branch while logging,Prince George Citizen, 11 Jan 1945 he relocated to Vancouver.Prince George Citizen, 5 Apr 1945 By this time, all except Alfred had left the district.Prince George Citizen, 10 Mar 1952

Henry and Arthur Nystrom were brothers. Henry (c.1898–?){{Cite web | url=http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?app=Census1921&op=img&id=e003115919 |title =1921 Census|website=www.bac-lac.gc.ca}} & Alvilda (1905–83){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/45f4ebd6-d547-4ee9-806c-5037f0a3ef55 |title =Death Certificate (Alvilda NYSTROM)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 6 Jun 1983 Nystrom, accompanied by children Jeanette, Lloyd, Amy, Raymond, James, and Norman (1929–90),{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2521141 |title=Cemetery Project (Norman Leslie NYSTROM)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 26 Oct 1990 arrived at the Evensen camp in 1943.Prince George Citizen: 4 May 1953, 4 Nov 1943, 16 Mar 1944 & 13 Apr 1944 Soon after, Violet, the eldest, moved from Saskatoon to Prince George.Prince George Citizen, 13 Apr 1944 At harvest time, Alvilda and Lloyd visited the farm.Prince George Citizen: 4 May 1944, 29 Jun 1944 & 9 Nov 1944 That winter, Violet joined the family as the Evensen camp cook. During the 1950s, Lloyd joined the army,Prince George Citizen: 8 Nov 1951 & 26 Jun 1952 and Alvilda was cook at the North Star Sawmills. When Henry injured his back, son Raymond assumed his job.Prince George Citizen, 8 Jan 1953

Arthur (Art) M. (1903–57){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/5799357a-bf2a-4340-957e-5e4261fa2474 |title =Death Certificate (Arthur Melvin NYSTROM)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} & Gladys (1906–85){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/cb52fda0-1852-4f40-bd50-7ebe8dffbdb6 |title =Death Certificate (Gladys Beatrice NYSTROM)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 9 Apr 1985 Nystrom, with children Adrienne (1927–2001),{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2526571 |title=Cemetery Project (Adrienne P. MacDONALD)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 31 Jan 2001 Beryl, and Sidney (1929–95),{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2519803 |title=Cemetery Project (Sidney R. NYSTROM)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 23 May 1995 came to Prince George in 1946. Art was engaged in the Ferndale sawmill.Prince George Citizen, 28 Oct 1957 In 1948, Adrienne married Alan H. MacDonald (1925–2005),{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2526572 |title=Cemetery Project (Alan H. MacDonald)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} an Evensen Sawmill worker,Prince George Citizen, 20 May 1948 and they remained active in the community.Prince George Citizen: 25 Jun 1951, 30 Aug 1951, 31 Dec 1951, 28 Feb 1952, 20 Mar 1952 & 12 Mar 1953 Alan started his own mill,Prince George Citizen: 4 Dec 1952, 13 Jul 1953 & 6 Aug 1953 known as the A.H.M. Sawmill. Sidney, who also worked at the Evensen mill, was an asset to the softball team.Prince George Citizen, 17 Aug 1950 Later, he joined Alan's mill,Prince George Citizen, 4 Dec 1952 and married.Prince George Citizen, 18 Feb 1958 In 1956, Beryl M. married Dennis M. Olsen and remained in Prince George.Prince George Citizen, 29 Nov 1956

In 1942, H.H. Abbott and Otto Killman (1907–76){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/24fb1b8f-0807-40f3-8d3e-f1eb3bddee19 |title =Death Certificate (Otto William KILLMAN)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} opened the Abbott & Killman sawmill near Ferndale.Prince George Citizen: 9 Jul 1942 & 13 Aug 1942 {{anchor|HSjokvist}} The following year, Mr. Danielson suffered facial injuries at the mill.Prince George Citizen, 1 Apr 1943

When a 1942 fire destroyed the small mill owned by Oscar Nordeen and Hjalmar Sjokvist (c.1898–1943){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Genealogy/Results?search=Search&as.type_death=true&as.registration_num=1943-09-623311 |title =Death Certificate (Hjalmar SJOKVIST)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 7 May 1942 {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #GSjokvist)}}, the latter's replacement mill near Ferndale had teething problems and breakdowns. A plank ejected by the head saw struck Sjokvist on the forehead, killing him instantly.Prince George Citizen: 1 & 29 Apr 1943 & 6 May 1943 Nordeen temporarily managed the operation,Prince George Citizen, 13 May 1943 until Leonard Proppe (1903–82){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/be0ebf09-b1c8-4e07-af3e-9190624d9d80 |title =Death Certificate (Leonard PROPPE)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} took over,Prince George Citizen, 17 Jun 1943 and Nordeen returned to trucking lumber.

William (Bill) E. (1905–80){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/ca1ee517-6497-45f5-ad6c-d6633554c0a8 |title =Death Certificate (William Ernest KIRSCHKE)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} & Angelina (1909–78){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/d6c89270-17d0-44cf-945c-c48f72f3d33b |title =Death Certificate (Angelina KIRSCHKE)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Kirschke lived in Prince George. In 1943, Bill established the Six Mile Lake Sawmill, near the lake.Prince George Citizen: 10 May 1945, 28 May 1953, 28 Sep 1978 & 11 Sep 1980 Much of the logging was in the Ferndale area.Prince George Citizen: 14 Oct 1943, 15 Jun 1944 & 9 May 1946 During unloading from a sleigh, a falling log fatally crushed Grant Cameron (c.1910–1950).{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/5ab8983b-0d72-445d-96ae-92bfa569521d |title =Death Certificate (Grant Peter CAMERON)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 9 Feb 1950 Six years later, the bush crew won logging and safety awards.Prince George Citizen, 22 May 1956 Around 1959, the couple moved to Six Mile (Tabor) Lake.Prince George Citizen: 28 Jul 1959, 5 Jul 1960 & 7 Oct 1960 The widespread 1961 forest fire destroyed a company timber stand. At one point 80 firefighters were based at the sawmill.Prince George Citizen, 10 Aug 1961 The following year, the couple retired to White Rock.Prince George Citizen, 11 Sep 1980 Their son, Gerald (Gerry) (1941–94){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/e42fb4e5-48f4-43a7-ae06-354e912f062e |title =Death Certificate (Gerald John KIRSCHKE)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} was later a partner in the venture.Prince George Citizen: 15 Jun 1979, 26 Apr 1982 & 21 May 1994 {{anchor|HubenskyFam}}

Alexander (Alex) (1897–1981){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/52dac43a-83d7-49bd-9b71-54fb02f0f6f3 |title =Death Certificate (Alexander HUBENSKY)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 19 Jan 1981 & Margaret (1898–1984){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/72fc6d86-5fee-4433-8927-fafb8eb26572 |title =Death Certificate (Margaret HUBENSKY)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 6 Feb 1984 Hubensky (Hubenski alternate spelling) {{small|(W side of Upper Fraser Rd, N of Perry Rd)}},{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}} {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #CowellFam)}} with daughters Alice (1920–2003){{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2520261 |title=Cemetery Project (Alice WOLCZUK)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} and Eunice (1923–98),{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2520271 |title=Cemetery Project (Eunice WOLCZUK)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 28 Sep 1998 arrived in 1944.Prince George Citizen: 27 Jul 1944 & 11 Jun 1969 Alice married George Wolczuk (1914–79){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/b69047f5-063e-491c-aa8c-0a1841febef2 |title =Death Certificate (George WOLCZUK)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 19 Apr 1979 {{small|(E of Upper Fraser Rd, N side of Perry Rd)}},{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}} and Eunice married Joseph (Joe) Wolczuk (1916–90).{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/2b903193-db67-4b67-bd00-b7e40c6a8293 |title =Death Certificate (Joseph WOLCZUK)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 26 Jun 1990 They lived in Prince George. In the late 1940s, the Wolczuk brothers began Central Sawmills near Ferndale. In 1950, the mill, which burned down, took only three weeks to rebuild. This fairly significant operation was on the Hubensky farm,Prince George Citizen, 29 Jun 1950 and was a.k.a. as the Hubensky sawmill.Prince George Citizen: 10 Nov 1952 & 4 Dec 1952 In 1951, Joe received babbit burns requiring hospital treatment.Prince George Citizen, 17 Sep 1951 Two years later, George broke his foot. The enterprise moved with available timber limits.Prince George Citizen: 30 Nov 1950, 12 Jun 1952 & 25 Dec 1952 Around 1950, George and Alice began a small greenhouse in the Ferndale area. Selling the mill in 1957, the couple started a well-known Prince George nursery.Prince George Citizen: 4 May 1966 & 19 Apr 1979 {{anchor|PChurch}}

In 1944, Percy (1903–74){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/21f2d9b1-f37e-4402-99ea-5c507d3b99bf |title =Death Certificate (Percy Stephen CHURCH)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 20 Aug 1974 & Dorothy (1909–80){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/341e3ba5-3a52-446b-a9bb-ea454ac2bb00 |title =Death Certificate (Dorothy CHURCH)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Church arrived and opened a sawmill.Prince George Citizen: 15 Jun 1944, 1 Apr 1980 & 1 May 1993 Within a few years, the operations expanded to Willow River.

Adeline B. Crawford of Willow River, who owned a farm, rented out a house on the property {{small|(E of Upper Fraser Rd, second property back from school)}}.{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}} A new sawmill opened on the farm in 1947.Prince George Citizen, 5 Jun 1947 {{anchor|HandfordFam}}

Arthur J. (1881–1972){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/b9b9f373-d18f-41b7-b268-600ea2cdc30e |title =Death Certificate (Arthur John HANDFORD)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 2 May 1972 & Margaret E. (1890–1975){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/b84b0157-64c3-4e5f-ace7-b663a82be44b |title =Death Certificate (Margaret Emily Jane HANDFORD)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 22 Oct 1975 Handford of Willow River settled {{small|(E of Upper Fraser Rd, S of Perry Rd)}}{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}} in 1946. Their children were Laura (1920-2005),{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2521245 |title=Cemetery Project (Laura Merle STROM)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} John (1921–94),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/a81fc073-fa54-41d2-80fa-eb484cbf39fc |title =Death Certificate (John Owens HANDFORD)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 15 Mar 1994 Mathew (1922–75),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/d6c37f46-dd96-41e0-bf5c-80af062e504b |title =Death Certificate (Matthew Caleb HANDFORD)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Grace (c.1924–1927),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Genealogy/Results?search=Search&as.type_death=true&as.registration_num=1927-09-394269 |title =Death Certificate (Margaret Grace HANDFORD)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Mabel (1926–70),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/907901a0-fc48-433d-ab7a-4b1a96862f5c |title =Death Certificate (Mabel Hughine HODSON)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} and Kelso (1928–?). John married Ilse Blanke (1919–91).{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/70b1e3d5-878c-4a44-bb67-f17e275888ca |title =Death Certificate (Ilse Anna HANDFORD)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} In 1946, Arthur and his sons established Handford SawmillsPrince George Citizen: 5 & 19 May 1949; & 30 Nov 1950 on their Ferndale property, their new home. Mabel married Wesley Hodson of Vancouver.Prince George Citizen, 5 Aug 1948 Mathew married Emily B. Zilkie, youngest daughter of Charles & Matilda Zilkie. {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #ZilkieFam)}} In 1951, Kelso married Beatrice (Betty) Sood.Prince George Citizen, 15 Feb 1951 The mill relocated the next year.Prince George Citizen, 12 Jun 1952 In 1955, Arthur & Margaret moved to Prince George.Prince George Citizen, 24 Nov 1955{{sfn|Walski|1985|p=31–32}} With the mill relocations being farther away, their children followed. The final mention of their respective families as residents was 1951 for John,Prince George Citizen, 29 Oct 1951 and 1957 for KelsoPrince George Citizen, 24 Dec 1957 and MathewPrince George Citizen, 25 Apr 1957 (assuming Emily was a guest at the centennial banquet the following year). Subsequently, operating at various sites north of Prince George, the mill burned to the ground in 1965,Prince George Citizen, 28 Jul 1965 and Mathew died in a logging accident a decade later.Prince George Citizen, 14 Mar 1975 Kelso suffered spinal injuries in a single-vehicle accident in 1989.Prince George Citizen: 7 & 8 Dec 1989

A 1951 forest fire came close to the North Star mill, which operated during the early 1950s.Prince George Citizen: 8 Nov 1951, 20 Mar 1952, 29 May 1952, 21 Jul 1952 & 4 Dec 1952 Other mills at the time, of which the ownership is unclear, were G. & F. Sawmills, C. & W. Sawmills,Prince George Citizen: 20 Mar 1952, 15 May 1952, 21 Jul 1952, 21 Aug 1952 & 10 Nov 1952 and Evergreen Sawmills.Prince George Citizen: 15 May 1952, 21 Aug 1952 & 6 Jan 1961 The 15–20 smaller sawmills in operation were rarely a financial success, many lasting only one or two seasons.{{sfn|Perry|2000|pp=3–4, 18 & 20}} Billy Shyminski, who sustained a head injury at a local logging camp, spent several months in a Vancouver hospital,Prince George Citizen, 26 Jun 1952 and required further treatment. Pete Tonesschuk's (Tanesschuk or Tonesschuck alternate spellings) head injury required several hospital stays.Prince George Citizen: 30 Dec 1954, 10 Jan 1955, 21 Apr 1955 & 13 Jun 1957

A fire at John Kupka's mill destroyed lumber and logs, but a neighbour pulled away the power unit and edger with a tractor.Prince George Citizen, 24 Oct 1955 {{anchor|Fortin}}

Franklin (Frank) R. (1927–2019){{Cite web | url=https://www.columbiavalleypioneer.com/obituaries/frank-fortin |title =Obituary (Frank FORTIN)|website=www.columbiavalleypioneer.com}} & Lorraine G. (1930–2015){{Cite web | url=https://saobserver.net/obituaries/lorraine-gwenyth-fortin |title =Obituary (Lorraine Gwenyth FORTIN)|website=www.saobserver.net}} Fortin, with daughter Mary Ellen, arrived in the early 1950s.Prince George Citizen: 18 Nov 1948, 16 Dec 1948, 25 Feb 1952, 6 Nov 1952, 12 Mar 1953 & 13 Jun 1955 He established Fortin Sawmills, which relocated in 1959 to southeast of Guilford.Prince George Citizen, 24 Aug 1959

The school opened in 1931, with

Mrs. Helen Hansen (1907–78), later at Hansard,{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/65d1371c-8cce-4bd9-919c-f355d8236173 |title =Death Certificate (Helen HANSEN)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} teaching the eight pupils. Governed by the Ferndale School Board 1931–46, School District 57 assumed responsibility thereafter.{{sfn|Perry|1958|p=4}}{{cite book |last1=Hall |first1=Barbara.|last2=Pallo |first2=Rose |title=School District No. 57 (Prince George) historical memories. (Volume I): people, places, programs & services |year=2010 |publisher=Prince George Retired Teachers' Association, Education Heritage Committee | isbn=}}image: https://cnc.bc.ca/services/library/cnc-press/chamberland/contents Chapter 21: Shelley and Ferndale Areas, 9th and 10th slides right of centre

At the close of term in 1934, despite the cold water, teacher Miss Betty Davis swam across the river at Shelley.Prince George Citizen, 5 Jul 1934 During the latter 1930s, Thompson, Ferndale, Tabor Creek and Cale Creek held an annual interschool athletic competition.Prince George Citizen: 7 Jun 1934, 11 Jun 1936, 10 Jun 1937, 9 Jun 1938, 15 Jun 1939 & 20 Jun 1940 The school was the venue for community dances.Prince George Citizen: 24 Nov 1938, 22 Dec 1938, 1 Apr 1943 & 12 Oct 1944 During World War II many were in aid of the Red Cross,Prince George Citizen: 8 Apr 1943, 3 Feb 1944, 9 & 29 Mar 1944 & 8 Feb 1945 with dances continuing after the war.Prince George Citizen: 8 Nov 1945, 3 Apr 1947 & 15 May 1947 The teacherage stood beside the school {{small|(E side of Upper Fraser Rd at S-bend, S of Shelley Rd E)}}.{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}} {{anchor|CarlsonFam}}

When Christian Carlson (1854–1917) and Ovidia Baarlie (1872–1933),{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2521252 |title=Cemetery Project (Ovidia CARLSON)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 5 Oct 1933 Evangelical Lutherans, married in 1895, theirs was the first marriage of a Caucasian couple at Bella Coola.{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/a758b83f-19e3-4a80-9443-1a7590df09a7 |title =Marriage Certificate (CARLSON/BAARLIE)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Their children were Victor (Vic) J. (1897–?),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Genealogy/Results?search=Search&as.type_birth=true&as.registration_num=1897-09-009859 |title =Death Certificate (Victor Joseph CARLSON)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Carl S. (1899–1974),{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2521251 |title=Cemetery Project (Carl Sigvald CARLSON)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} Harold M. (1903–29),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Genealogy/Results?search=Search&as.type_birth=true&as.registration_num=1903-09-013252 |title =Death Certificate (Harold Magnus CARLSON)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Earl B. (c.1907–1937),Prince George Citizen, 19 Aug 1937 Orville C. (1908–2001),{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2348043 |title=Cemetery Project (Orville C. CARLSON)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} and Alfred E. (1910–86).{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2521250 |title=Cemetery Project (Alfred Edgar CARLSON)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}}{{Cite web | url=http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?app=Census1921&op=img&id=e002874243 |title =1921 Census|website=www.bac-lac.gc.ca}}

During 1934, Orville and Vic, based in Prince George, were involved in the Sunday School Mission of BC, which included work in the Six Mile (Tabor) area.Prince George Citizen, 4 Oct 1934 Earl left Prince George that year to be a missionary in China, with Orville following the next year. Earl succumbed to typhus.Prince George Citizen: 1 Jul 1937, 19 Aug 1937, 2 Sep 1937 & 12 May 1938 & 5 Jun 1947{{Cite web | url=https://omf.org/blog/2019/04/30/gods-mission-to-the-lisu |title =Mission to the Lisu|website=www.omf.org}} Meanwhile, Vic, who moved to Ferndale {{small|(W of Upper Fraser Rd, N of Highway 16)}},{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}} held Sunday school and church services at Shelley school every Sunday evening.Prince George Citizen, 22 Jul 1937 Carl, who appeared more humanitarian than evangelical, also resided at Ferndale,Prince George Citizen: 2 Sep 1937, 11 May 1939 & 6 Jul 1939 but left intermittently during the 1940s.Prince George Citizen: 22 Apr 1943 & 5 Apr 1945 In 1939, Vic opened and part-time pastored the Earl Carlson Memorial Church {{small|(W side of Upper Fraser Rd, S of Perry Rd)}}.{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}}Prince George Citizen: 7 & 14 Sep 1939; & 5 Oct 1939 to 1 May 1941 When the congregation became a Salvation Army outpost, Vic received the rank of sergeant.Prince George Citizen: 24 Apr 1941; & 8 May 1941 to 16 Oct 1941 This may be the group later called the Gospel Mission.Prince George Citizen: 1 Apr 1943; 23 Mar 1944; & 13 & 20 Apr 1944 Vic remained a sawmill workerPrince George Citizen, 29 Apr 1943 until he left with H. E. Mathias in 1944 to operate a sawmill at Chemainus.Prince George Citizen: 13 Apr 1944 & 9 Aug 1945 {{anchor|GSjokvist}} Alfred was a CNR section hand (track maintenance), who progressed to acting foreman,Prince George Citizen: 26 Mar 1942, 2 Jul 1942 & 6 Aug 1942 and then acting roadmaster.Prince George Citizen: 26 Apr 1945, 31 May 1945, 30 Aug 1945, 7 Aug 1947 & 8 Apr 1948

Mrs. Sjokvist (assumedly Grace Evelyn [1913–86], widow of Hjalmar){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/0fc1181d-49f9-46d2-a006-327a65b0a5c2 |title =Death Certificate (Grace Evelyn SJOKVIST)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #HSjokvist)}}, held a Sabbath school class every Saturday at her home.Prince George Citizen: 18 Mar 1943 & 8 Apr 1943 In 1944, the school acquired a radioPrince George Citizen, 12 Oct 1944 and implemented a hot lunch program. Teaching only one term, marriage took Miss Helen Maloff away.Prince George Citizen: 11 Oct 1945, 22 Nov 1945 & 17 Jan 1946 Her replacement in January 1946, Mrs. Grace A. Waters (c.1908–1946),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/68466265-4aac-49e7-ac2b-ebad09ab82fb |title =Death Certificate (Grace A. WATERS)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 10 Jan 1946 had an invalid husband and two sons in Vancouver. She befriended Joseph (Joe) Polak (1903–46),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/68d85c6d-e433-4180-bc2e-c528720c1617 |title =Death Certificate (Joseph POLAK)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} who homesteaded {{small|(E of Upper Fraser Rd, N of Perry Rd)}}{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}} near the Perrys, and worked at the Majerick mill.{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=385}} She ended this friendship for unspecified reasons. A week later, he fatally stabbed her in the chest at the teacherage while her eight-year-old son Charles remained asleep in a bedroom. Within hours, outside a neighbour's farmhouse, Joe committed suicide with a rifle bullet to the head.

Although land had been set aside for a community hall,Prince George Citizen, 4 May 1939 fundraising for the building began a decade later.Prince George Citizen, 18 Nov 1948 Mrs. Gross' coffee shop, which existed for only five months owing to lack of business,Prince George Citizen: 10 Feb 1949 & 14 Jul 1949 did host a community dance.Prince George Citizen, 7 Apr 1949 The building later became Herman Karges' barn.{{sfn|Perry|1958|p=4}}image: https://cnc.bc.ca/services/library/cnc-press/chamberland/contents Chapter 21: Shelley and Ferndale Areas, 1st slide right of centre The former Perry Bros.' small cookhouse, moved to the site {{small|(W side of Upper Fraser Rd, N of Perry Rd)}} to become the first community hall.{{sfn|Perry|2000|p=1}} Opened in 1949, renovations involved much voluntary effort.Prince George Citizen: 8 Sep 1949, 6 Oct 1949 & 1 Dec 1949 This hall and its successor became the venue for regular dances, usually with music provided by a local band.Prince George Citizen: 2 & 30 Mar 1950, 3 Jun 1950, 27 Jul 1950, 16 Oct 1950; 2, 16 & 30 Nov 1950; 21 Dec 1950….30 Jan 1958, 20 Nov 1958….21 Feb 1962, 25 May 1962, 20 Jul 1962, 24 Aug 1962, 13 Sep 1962, 7 Nov 1962, 6 Dec 1962….31 Jan 1966, 31 Mar 1966, 6 May 1966, 2 Jun 1966, 5 Aug 1966, 1 Sep 1966, 4 Nov 1966, 2 & 30 Dec 1966….6 Feb 1970, 3 Apr 1970, 1 May 1970, 5 Jun 1970, 4 Sep 1970, 6 Nov 1970, 4 & 31 Dec 1970….5 Apr 1974, 6 Sep 1974, 8 Nov 1974, 31 Dec 1974….4 May 1978, 2 Jun 1978, 7 Jul 1978, 11 Aug 1978, 8 Sep 1978, 3 Nov 1978, 1 Dec 1978…. A bean supper preceded one dance each year.Prince George Citizen: 28 Feb 1952, 15 Oct 1953, 24 Oct 1955, 8 Oct 1957, 27 Oct 1960, 6 Oct 1961, 10 Oct 1962, 23 Oct 1963, 23 Oct 1964, 1 Oct 1965, 30 Sep 1966, 4 Oct 1968, 1 Oct 1969, 3 Nov 1972, 2 Nov 1973, 4 Oct 1974, 3 Oct 1975, 29 Sep 1976, 27 Sep 1977, 5 Oct 1978, 9 Nov 1979 & 6 Nov 1980 Card parties were also held.Prince George Citizen: 8 Nov 1951, 24 Nov 1955, 25 Apr 1957, 16 May 1957, 8 Oct 1957, 18 Feb 1958, 8 Apr 1960, 13 Oct 1960, 17 Nov 1960, 11 Jan 1961, 10 Mar 1961, 13 Apr 1961, 9 Mar 1962, 26 Oct 1962, 15 Feb 1963, 11 Apr 1963, 24 May 1963, 9 Oct 1963, 8 Nov 1963, 10 Jan 1964, 7 Feb 1964, 13 Mar 1964, 13 Apr 1964, 6 May 1964, 13 Nov 1964, 11 Dec 1964 & 12 Mar 1965

During the 1950s, Six Mile (Tabor) Lake was the venue for summer picnics that the community club organized.Prince George Citizen: 30 Aug 1951, 26 Jun 1952, 21 Aug 1952, 13 Jul 1953 & 8 Aug 1957

Vernon (Vern) C. (1919–88){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/cdd49bec-cb1d-486b-ab3e-1a259fda18c5 |title =Death Certificate (Vernon Charles SCOFIELD)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 30 Jan 1988 & Amy (1916–98){{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2522805 |title=Cemetery Project (Amy G. SCOFIELD)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 13 Aug 1998 Scofield (Schofield alternate spelling) and their two young sons became residents in the early 1950s.Prince George Citizen, 30 Aug 1951 Vernon suffered an eye injury while working in the bush,Prince George Citizen, 27 Sep 1951 and had hospital stays for other ailments.Prince George Citizen: 29 Oct 1951 & 4 Dec 1952, The couple were active in the community,Prince George Citizen: 28 Feb 1952, 21 Aug 1952, 25 Jun 1953 & 25 Mar 1963 but moved to Prince George months before their son's wedding.Prince George Citizen: 1 May 1968 & 23 Apr 1969 Philip Scofield (1933–2005){{Cite web | url=https://www.geni.com/people/Phillip-Scofield/6000000016678812314 |title =Family tree (Phillip SCOFIELD)|website=www.geni.com}} and Betty Scott were also residents at this time.Prince George Citizen: 30 Aug 1951 & 20 Mar 1952 Her father, John Fredrick Scott (1914–65),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/659cdd78-2f21-4e12-ae13-e448fc57cf2a |title =Death Certificate (John Fredrick SCOTT)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} and family resided 1945–56.Prince George Citizen, 6 Dec 1965 On their marriage in 1953,Prince George Citizen, 26 Feb 1953 Philip and Betty lived {{small|(E of Giscome Rd, immediately S of Highway 16)}} {{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}}Prince George Citizen: 23 Nov 1953 & 21 Apr 1955 Jean and John were their older children.Prince George Citizen: 29 Aug 1955 & 18 Dec 1961 When Betty's car exploded in 1961, daughters Judy (4) and Jo-Ann (2) sustained burns to face and arms,Prince George Citizen, 20 Sep 1961 that required skin grafts.Prince George Citizen: 8 & 18 Dec 1961 Russell (1909–94){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/90ad43eb-0b69-4b48-a899-63709eddae62 |title =Death Certificate (Russel Archie SCOFIELD)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} & Florence (1917–2009){{Cite web | url=https://castanet.net/obituaries/SCOFIELD,_Florence |title =Obituary (Florence Mildred SCOFIELD)|website=www.castanet.net}}{{Cite web | url=https://www.geni.com/people/Florence-Scofield/6000000016673231890 |title =Family tree (Florence SCOFIELD)|website=www.geni.com}} Scofield, Philip's parents, resided from 1956 to the early 1970s.Prince George Citizen: 6 Nov 1967, 12 May 1969, 10 Aug 1982 & 28 Oct 1992

Miss Mary S.W. Killingly, who commenced as teacher for 1950/51,Prince George Citizen: 17 Sep 1951 & 25 Aug 1952 was actively involved in community functions,Prince George Citizen: 30 Aug 1951, 31 Dec 1951, 7 Feb 1952 & 29 May 1952 where she would have met Raymond (Ray) C. Inkster.Prince George Citizen, 20 Mar 1952 Marrying in 1952,Prince George Citizen, 21 Aug 1952 they relocated to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan,Prince George Citizen, 25 Aug 1952 but resettled in DecemberPrince George Citizen: 4 & 25 Dec 1952 and resumed community involvement.Prince George Citizen: 13 Jul 1953, 15 Oct 1953, 24 Mar 1955 & 21 Apr 1955 In partnership with Clarence Lapp, the Inkster and Lapp sawmill {{small|(E of Upper Fraser Rd, S of Ferndale Rd)}}{{sfn|Chamberland|2006|p=391}} operated during the mid-1950s.Prince George Citizen: 22 Nov 1954 & 24 Mar 1955 Mrs. Charlotte LappPrince George Citizen, 24 Jun 1967 was community association president for 1955,Prince George Citizen, 24 Mar 1955 and teacher for the 1957/58 school year,Prince George Citizen: 20 Sep 1957 & 18 Feb 1958 before assuming the Willow River primary grades.Prince George Citizen, 8 Oct 1958

A BC Centennial project, the new community hallPrince George Citizen, 22 Sep 1955 was dedicated in 1958. Over 100 adults and children attended the centennial banquet. Pioneer scrolls acknowledged Mr. and Mrs. A.F. Bertschi, Albert and Louis Bertschi, Mr. and Mrs. W. Cowell, Mike Kiss, Mrs. Frances Perry, Pius Vosylius, and Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Zilkie. Albert and Louis Bertschi, George and Charles Cowell, Emily Handford, Herman Karges, Myles and John Perry, and Fred Zilkie, received a commemorative certificate acknowledging at least 25 years of residency.

In 1967, Mrs. F.A. Perry, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Zilkie, A.F. Bertschi, Mike Kiss, John Perry, Mr. and Mrs. Myles Perry, Louis Bertschi, Albert Bertschi and Boyd Wickum received a commemorative certificate acknowledging residency prior to 1940.

In 1955, the teacherage received a new oil burner.Prince George Citizen, 8 Dec 1955 Student enrolments ranged 11–14 in the late 1940s, and 9–25 in the 1950s. When the school closed in 1960, because enrolment fell below 10, a bus transported students to Bonnet Hill School, but several parents complained about the schedule.Prince George Citizen: 2 Sep 1960 & 7 Dec 1960 The following year, the school building moved to Shelley.Prince George Citizen, 8 Dec 1961 Proposals five years later to rebuild the school did not proceed.Prince George Citizen: 29 Nov 1966 & 29 Nov 1967

From 1979, either the community association,Prince George Citizen: 5 Jul 1979, 3 Aug 1979, 5 Oct 1979, 7 & 29 Feb 1980, 21 Apr 1981, 20 Sep 1986, 10 Apr 1987, 17 Sep 1987, 12 Feb 1988, 13 Sep 1988, 27 Oct 1990, 26 Apr 1995, 19 Sep 1997, 18 Sep 1999, 28 Sep 2002 & 25 Sep 2015 or the volunteer fire department,Prince George Citizen: 15 Jun 1979, 10 Oct 1980, 6 Mar 1981, 19 Mar 1982, 23 Apr 1982, 28 May 1982, 9 Sep 1982, 10 Dec 1982, 25 Feb 1983, 21 Sep 1983, 21 Oct 1983, 23 Nov 1983, 27 Jan 1984, 15 Mar 1984, 25 May 1984, 27 Sep 1984, 15 Feb 1985, 1 May 1985, 20 Sep 1985, 13 Dec 1985, 14 Feb 1986, 25 Oct 1986, 13 Feb 1987, 23 Oct 1987, 28 Oct 1988, 27 Oct 1989, 26 Oct 1991, 30 Oct 1993, 28 Oct 1994 & 24 Oct 1997 hosted the fundraising community hall dances, which ultimately became an annual harvest dance and Halloween dance respectively.

During the 1980s, the 4-H youth club began.Prince George Citizen: 28 Aug 1981, 22 Jul 1997, 11 Aug 1997, 31 Oct 1997 & 14 Feb 2002 The annual "Snow Fever Days", a program of dogsled races, accompanied by side attractions and a dance at night, commenced,Prince George Citizen: 9, 10 & 15 Feb 1984; & 25 Jan 1985 but soon relocated to Tabor Lake.Prince George Citizen: 24 Jan 1986 & 8 Feb 1991

The RDFFG implemented house numbering in 1989.Prince George Citizen: 18 Feb 1989, 13 Jun 1989 & 8 Dec 1989 Zenmar Feeds, selling livestock feed, pet feed, and farm supplies, opened that year on Ferndale Road.Prince George Citizen, 13 May 2014

In 1937 while descending the hill at Ferndale School with a load of ties, Andy Iverson of Shelley lost control of his horse team. On crashing, he sustained cuts to his head and face.Prince George Citizen, 5 Aug 1937

During the early 1950s, breaking a taxi driver's jaw, during an assault at a Ferndale mill, cost passenger William Kraft six months hard labour.Prince George Citizen: 9 & 16 Feb 1950 Seven-year-old Harry Lacoursiere sustained severe bruises and cuts to his upper body when struck by log.Prince George Citizen, 5 Jul 1951 Stray horses in the district broke down fences, ruined gardens, and were a general nuisance.Prince George Citizen: 16 Aug 1951 & 22 Nov 1954 Juvenile vandalism and pilfering occurred in waves.Prince George Citizen: 16 Aug 1951, 10 Nov 1952, 17 Jul 1958 & 16 Oct 1989

Prince George lumber executive Ross Davis' (1918–65){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/6044b842-4da3-476a-808e-4d8625fdfb29 |title =Death Certificate (Ross Graham Davis)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} light plane went missing on a flight from Grande Prairie to Prince George. After some unsuccessful searches in the Monkman Pass, a helicopter pilot sighted the wreckage at that location. Meanwhile, false sightings prompted searches in the Ferndale area. On one ground search, private residents themselves became lost.Prince George Citizen: 12, 16 & 19 Jul 1965

In 1969, children suffered minor injuries when a school bus failed to take a curve on the icy road at the bottom of Ferndale Hill and flipped. The responding ambulance skidded and hit a pole on the same slippery surface.Prince George Citizen, 27 Nov 1969

When residents lost their possessions in houses that burned to the ground,Prince George Citizen: 5 Jul 1951, 13 Jun 1957 & 2 Dec 1985 the community rallied with aid.Prince George Citizen: 16 Aug 1951, 10 Mar 1952, 25 Dec 1952, 24 Dec 1957 & 13 Jan 1982 In 1980, a volunteer fire department started without government assistance. The fire chief parked at his place the 350-gallon capacity old fire truck donated by Prince George Pulp and Paper.Prince George Citizen, 16 May 1980 The department initially rejected offers to operate under the umbrella of the RDFFG, because of the burden it would place upon residents' property taxes.Prince George Citizen, 24 Jun 1980 In 1982, a site was cleared and a temporary shelter erected for the two fire trucks.Prince George Citizen: 9 Sep 1982 & 10 Dec 1982 A 1984 referendum voted in favour of a $200,000 loan for acquiring land, constructing a permanent fire hall and buying a fire truck and equipment. Repayment was from property taxes spread over a 20-year period.Prince George Citizen: 5 & 9 Jul 1984 1985 saw the acquisitions ordered,Prince George Citizen, 26 Jan 1985 and the construction contract awarded.Prince George Citizen, 19 Jul 1985 The British Columbia Lottery Corporation made a $40,000 grant for the fire hall.Prince George Citizen, 14 Nov 1985 The following year, policy conflicts within the department came to a head, resulting in the termination of the assistant chief and six members.Prince George Citizen, 8 May 1986 Volunteer firefighter David Peter Hryniuk (1942–95){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/d5921169-85ec-41fb-8ad8-9c5fffbf5bf1 |title =Death Certificate (David Peter HRYNIUK)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} died battling a fire at his own home.Prince George Citizen, 20 Feb 1995 He was deputy fire chief in the team of about 25 volunteers.Prince George Citizen, 8 Feb 1996 In 1997, the department installed their existing 1,500-gallon water tank on a new Freightliner chassis.Prince George Citizen, 2 Dec 1996 In 2001, the team acquired a new $310,000 pumper truck.Prince George Citizen, 19 Sep 2001{{Cite web | url=http://bcfiretrucks.com/?page_id=5234 |title =Ferndale-Tabor Fire Hall|website=www.bcfiretrucks.com}}

A 2012 case of a marijuana grow-operation, kidnapping at gunpoint, and torture for six days at a Ferndale house from which the victim escaped, fell apart when the presiding judge became ill and soon died. At the retrial, the victim was jailed for two years for refusing to testify a second time, and the alleged perpetrators, Michael Andrew Joseph Fitzgerald, Craig Anthony Niedermayer, and brothers Francois Christiaan Meerholz and Dillan Meerholz, walked free.Prince George Citizen: 18 & 19 Feb 2012; 21 Apr 2012; 18, 29 & 30 Jan 2013; 15 Feb 2013; 11 Apr 2013; 4, 16, 19, 20 Jul 2013; 29 Aug 2013; 7 Dec 2013; 12 Feb 2014; & 28 Nov 2014

A 2007 theft conviction triggered a later reprieved deportation order for Francois. Subsequent firearm charges were stayed, and driving-related ones earned 90 days in jail. Dillan faced charges of aggravated assault and assault causing bodily harm from a November 2009 incident.Prince George Citizen: 10 Feb 2011, 26 Mar 2011, 13 Aug 2011 & 24 Nov 2012 Niedermayer later faced trafficking and five firearms charges for a 2016 seizure by police.Prince George Citizen, 9 Apr 2016

A First Nations trail existed from Prince George via Six Mile (Tabor) Lake, which reached Willow River.{{sfn|Perry|1958|p=2}} The 1915 completion of a wagon road, terminating at the southern river bank,Prince George Herald, 27 Aug 1915 likely motivated residents Albert Fritz Bertschi {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #BertschiFam)}} and his brother Arnold Karl Bertschi (1883–1950){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy//5ce518ad-b30f-48a2-b87c-a7c0b60e39bd |title =Death Certificate (Arnold Karl BERTSCHI)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} to build a feeder road westward to Shelley (Shelley Road East). By the 1920s, there was also a trail to Foreman, possibly linking what is now Ferndale & Bertschi Roads.Prince George Citizen: 10 Nov 1922, 8 Jul 1926, 8 Jan 1951 & 9 Sep 1954 Summer grading and gravelling maintained the highway,Prince George Citizen: 17 Jun 1943, 15 Jun 1944 & 7 Jun 1951 which was generally good as far north as the turn-off to Shelley, after which it was fair.Prince George Citizen: 17 May 1945, 5 May 1949, 19 Apr 1951, 17 May 1951 & 21 May 1957 The paving from Prince George reached Ferndale in 1967 and extended beyond Willow River in 1968.Prince George Citizen: 7 Jul 1966, 26 Jul 1968 & 21 Oct 1968 The opening of the paved Blackburn bypass in 1977 reduced the travel distance by {{convert|2.2|km|mi}}.Prince George Citizen, 3 Aug 1977

In 1952, local firms Ferndale Lumber Co., Evensen Sawmills and Central Sawmills, installed radiotelephones at their premises. Television came to the Willow River area in 1961. In 1992, cell phone coverage reached the area.Prince George Citizen, 13 Oct 1992

In 1961 BC Hydro extended distribution lines from Six Mile (Tabor) Lake.Prince George Citizen: 16 Jun 1960 & 7 Feb 1961 The 1996 referendum to establish a natural gas service for the Ferndale areaPrince George Citizen, 24 May 1996 was assumedly successful, because it currently exists.{{Cite web | url=https://rdffg.bc.ca/services/community/utility-extensions |title =Utility Extensions |website=www.rdffg.bc.ca}}

{{reflist}}

• {{BCGNIS|11943|Ferndale (community)}}
• {{cite web | url=http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository |title =Prince George archival newspapers |website=www.pgpl.ca}}
• {{cite book |last=Perry |first=Margaret |title=The History of Ferndale |year=1958 |publisher=Ferndale Centennial Committee |isbn= }}
• {{cite book |last=Chamberland |first=June A. |title=From Broadaxe to Clay Chinking |year=2006 |publisher=CNC Press |isbn=0921087330 }}
• {{cite book |last=Walski |first=Eileen E. |title=Homemade Memories: A History of Willow River, BC. |year=1985 |publisher=Willow River Heritage Preservers and WRRA |isbn=0920739083 }}
• {{Cite web | url=https://search.nbca.unbc.ca/uploads/r/northern-bc-archives-special-collections-1/5/d/f/5df6c380e04a8d412d0a1a5cead8978f47594e6a6bb037a29ec9885fb7bc4637/2017.06.2.53_Perry__OCR_.pdf | last=Perry |first=C. Myles, John & Esther |title =Upper Fraser Historical Geography Project Transcript |year=2000 |website=www.nbca.unbc.ca }}

Category:Robson Valley

Category:Populated places in the Regional District of Fraser–Fort George