Keefers#Railways
{{Use Canadian English|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
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|pushpin_map_caption =Location of Keefers in British Columbia
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|subdivision_name2 = Fraser Canyon
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Keefers is a railway point in the lower Fraser Canyon area of southwestern British Columbia. The ghost town is on the west shore of the Fraser River and north of the mouth of the Nahatlatch River.{{BCGNIS|27636|Keefers (railway point)}} The locality is by rail about {{convert|50.8|mi|km|0|order=flip}} north of Hope and {{convert|15.9|mi|km|0|order=flip}} south of Lytton.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/chungtext/1.0362163#p5z-3r0f:%22Keefers%22 |page=6 (TT 70) |title=Timetable |date=28 Apr 1935 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
Name origin
George Alexander Keefer (1836–1912), surveyor and construction engineer, had charge of building the Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) between North Bend and Lytton.{{Cite web | url=https://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/collections/object/nptac-bca-02 |title=The Ties that Bind Canada |website=royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} During this period, he resided with his wife and children at his headquarters, namely the future Keefers.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/dbc/1.0346079#p2z-2r0f:%22Keefers%22 |page=3 |title=British Columbian |date=28 Jul 1883 |website=library.ubc.ca}}{{cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/chungpub/1.0056601#p334z-4r0f:%22quarters%22 |last=Fleming |first=Sandford |page=335 (317) |title=England and Canada. A summer tour between old and new Westminster |publisher=S. Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington |year=1884 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
Mining
In 1858, during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush, placer miners worked the river bars. Being forewarned that hostile First Nations intended to exterminate them, a party of 20 miners were retreating down the Fraser, when they came under attack at Mariners' Bar, just upstream from later Keefers. Five survivors, some seriously wounded, were able to escape. From that time, the location was known as Slaughter Flat.{{Cite web | url=https://arch.tnrl.ca/pages/search/index.html?browse=false&s=Keefers&f_pub=-1&f_year=1910&f_month=12&f_day=23 |page=A10 |title=Merritt Herald |date=23 Dec 1910 |website=arch.tnrl.ca}}
The goldrush also drew thousands of Chinese to the Fraser Canyon, who then remained in the area.{{Cite web | url=https://web.uvic.ca/vv/student/chinatown/Why%20Chinatown/firstwaveweb.html |title=The Gold Rush and the First Wave of Immigration |website=uvic.ca}} In the early 1880s, many were involved in building the CP, having accommodation at Keefers more permanent than found in the temporary camps. This Chinese village remained a notable feature well after construction was completed.{{cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcbooks/1.0222202#p66z-4r0f:%22Keefers%22 |last=Barneby |first=William Henry |page=67 (43) |title=The new far West and the old far East |publisher=Edward Stanford |year=1889 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
In the late 1890s, larger scale hydraulic mining took place in the vicinity.{{Cite web | url=https://arch.tnrl.ca/pages/search/index.html?browse=false&s=Keefers&f_pub=-1&f_year=1897&f_month=5&f_day=21 |page=A8 |title=Inland Sentinel |date=21 May 1897 |website=arch.tnrl.ca}} Over the following decades, small groups of prospectors worked the gravel bars{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0060038#p228z-3r0f:%22Keefer%22 |page=229 (K186) |title=Minister of Mines annual report, 1912 |website=library.ubc.ca}} and smaller scale mining continued in the surrounding hills.{{Cite web | url=https://arch.tnrl.ca/pages/search/index.html?browse=false&s=Keefers&f_pub=-1&f_year=1917&f_month=6&f_day=29 |page=A4 |title=Merritt Herald |date=29 Jun 1917 |website=arch.tnrl.ca}}
Railways
In August 1883, the northward advance of the CP rail head from Yale passed through Keefers toward a temporary terminus at the Cisco Bridge.{{Cite web | url=https://arch.tnrl.ca/pages/search/index.html?browse=false&s=Keefers&f_pub=-1&f_year=1884&f_month=4&f_day=3 |page=A3 |title=Inland Sentinel |date=3 Apr 1884 |website=arch.tnrl.ca}}
File:Keefers Train Station (CP) 1885.jpg
A few miles north of Keefers during construction, a contractor's locomotive struck a rockslide, derailed, fell, and slid down toward the river, but neither the crew were injured nor the locomotive damaged.{{cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcbooks/1.0222603#p188z-5r0f:%22Keefer%22 |last=Anstey |first=Arthur |page=189 (179) |title=The romance of British Columbia |publisher=W. J. Gage & Co |year=1927 |website=library.ubc.ca}} After CP construction ended, the Skuzzy was berthed at Keefers until its machinery was removed in 1884.{{cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcbooks/1.0230524#p122z-4r0f:%22Keefer%22 |last=Wade |first=Mark Sweeten |page=123 (119) |title=The Thompson country |publisher=Inland Sentinel Print |year=1907 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
In 1885, about {{convert|3|mi|km|0|order=flip}} north, a locomotive derailed at the edge of a steep drop.{{Cite web | url=https://www3.vpl.ca/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll?AC=GET_RECORD&XC=http://www3.vpl.ca/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fwww3.vpl.ca%2Fspe%2FhistPhotos%2Fphotos-search.htm&TN=PHOTOS&SN=AUTO20294&SE=28117&RN=83&MR=0&TR=100000&TX=1000&ES=0&CS=1&XP=&RF=briefweb&EF=&DF=Full+Photo&RL=0&EL=0&DL=0&NP=255&ID=&MF=&MQ=&TI=0&DT=&ST=0&IR=10615&NR=0&NB=0&SV=0&SS=0&BG=&FG=&QS=&OEX=ISO-8859-1&OEH=ISO-8859-1 |title=Image: Keefers Railroad Accident |website=www3.vpl.ca}}
In 1888, a train struck a nightwatchman, crushing his hands and splintering his forearm.{{Cite web | url=https://arch.tnrl.ca/pages/search/index.html?browse=false&s=Keefers&f_pub=-1&f_year=1888&f_month=9&f_day=22 |page=A5 |title=Inland Sentinel |date=22 Sep 1888 |website=arch.tnrl.ca}}
In 1892, a passing train struck a plank on the station platform, which inflicted a fatal blow upon a carpenter at work.{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/vancouver-daily-world-instantly-killed/145743105 |page=5 |title=Vancouver Daily World |date=26 Jul 1892 | website=www.newspapers.com}}
During the erection of a large stone arch{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcbooks/1.0385868#p189z-4r0f:%22Keefer%22 |page=190 (18) |title=Mining Record, 1896 |website=library.ubc.ca}} a few miles to the south in 1895, the mast of a derrick broke and fell, fatally injuring a member of the masonry crew.{{Cite web | url=https://arch.tnrl.ca/pages/search/index.html?browse=false&s=Keefers&f_pub=-1&f_year=1895&f_month=4&f_day=26 |page=A5 |title=Inland Sentinel |date=26 Apr 1895 |website=arch.tnrl.ca}}
In 1903, the engineer of an eastbound passenger train braked on sighting a massive washout ahead. The crew jumped to safety at the last moment before the locomotive and tender rolled {{convert|400|ft|m|0|order=flip}} down an embankment to the river edge.{{Cite web | url=https://arch.tnrl.ca/pages/search/index.html?browse=false&s=Keefers&f_pub=-1&f_year=1903&f_month=11&f_day=3 |page=A4 |title=Inland Sentinel |date=3 Nov 1903 |website=arch.tnrl.ca}}
In 1907, a freight train struck a boulder and derailed, but the crew escaped serious injury.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/nwdn/1.0317101#p3z-3r0f:%22Keefer%22 |page=4 |title=Daily News |date=5 Jun 1907 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
On watching a landslide destroy the track in 1911, a watchman mounted his speeder, rushed toward an oncoming passenger train, signalled it to halt, threw his speeder from the track, and saved the passing locomotive from reaching the slide area.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/mherald/1.0310805#p0z-3r0f:%22Keefer%22 |page=1 |title=Mail Herald |date=18 Mar 1911 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
In 1912, during the construction of the Canadian Northern Railway (CNoR) on the east side of the river, a massive landslide destroyed a tunnel.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/nelsondaily/1.0385014#p0z-3r0f:%22Keefer%22 |page=1 |title=Daily News |date=26 Nov 1912 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
In November 1913, the eastward advance of the CNoR rail head almost reached the shore opposite Keefers.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/delttime/1.0079624#p3z-3r0f:%22Keefer%22 |page=4 |title=Delta Times |date=29 Nov 1913 |website=library.ubc.ca}} Inkitsaph{{BCGNIS|1761|Inkitsaph (railway point)}} was the station at that location.{{Cite web | url=http://streamlinermemories.info/CAN/CN56-9TT.pdf#page=54|page=54 (TT136) |title=Timetable |date=30 Sep 1956 |website=www.streamlinermemories.info}}
In 1916, passengers desperate for food on a snowbound CNoR train, walked across the frozen river to the small Keefer general store.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/gvchinook/1.0315525#p1z-3r0f:%22Keefer%22 |page=2 |title=Saturday Chinook |date=5 Feb 1916 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
While a westbound freight train was winding around the high rocky cliffs near Keefers in 1929, a bullet crashed through the caboose window.{{Cite web | url=https://arch.tnrl.ca/pages/search/index.html?browse=false&s=Keefers&f_pub=-1&f_year=1929&f_month=11&f_day=1 |page=A1 |title=Kamloops Sentinel |date=1 Nov 1929 |website=arch.tnrl.ca}}
During the 1939 royal tour of Canada, the westbound royal train stayed overnight at Keefers.{{Cite web | url=https://arch.tnrl.ca/pages/search/index.html?browse=false&s=Keefers&f_pub=-1&f_year=1939&f_month=6&f_day=2 |page=A2 |title=Merritt Herald |date=2 Jun 1939 |website=arch.tnrl.ca}} The lack of any road access would have enhanced security,{{Cite web | url=https://arch.tnrl.ca/pages/search/index.html?browse=false&s=Keefers&f_pub=-1&f_year=1937&f_month=5&f_day=14 |page=A2 |title=Merritt Herald |date=14 May 1937 |website=arch.tnrl.ca}} and the trackside garden was picturesque.{{Cite web | url=https://arch.tnrl.ca/pages/search/index.html?browse=false&s=Keefers&f_pub=-1&f_year=1934&f_month=10&f_day=30 |page=A5 |title=Kamloops Sentinel |date=30 Oct 1934 |website=arch.tnrl.ca}}
{{Cite web | url=https://arch.tnrl.ca/pages/search/index.html?browse=false&s=Keefers&f_pub=-1&f_year=1945&f_month=11&f_day=2 |page=A3 |title=Merritt Herald |date=2 Nov 1945 |website=arch.tnrl.ca}}
In 1953, a truck driver died when a locomotive struck his truck.{{Cite web | url=https://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/70d7c5cf-de5b-4846-9651-922a42d431c3 |title=Death Certificate (Charles Reynolds SUMNER)|website=royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}
In 1956, when a freighthopper fell, the freight car wheels severed his head, legs, and arms.{{Cite web | url=https://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/f8999bd2-dfab-422b-a584-27320f24a81a |title=Death Certificate (Robert James DUNBAR)|website=royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}
Built in 1884, the standard-design (Bohi's Type 5) single-storey station building with gable roof and dormers was destroyed in 1964.{{cite book|last1=Bohi |first1=Charles W. |last2=Kozma |first2=Leslie S. |page=130 |title=Canadian Pacific's Western Depots |publisher=South Platte Press |year=1993 |isbn=0-942035-25-9}} The passing track is {{convert|7986|ft|m|0|order=flip}} in length.{{Cite web | url=http://www.okthepk.ca/foamerFiles/25thompson.htm |title=CP Thompson Subdivision |website=www.okthepk.ca}}
In 2007, a Canadian National Railway (CN) locomotive derailed on striking a landslide near Inkitsaph.{{Cite web | url=http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/rail/2009/r09v0235/r09v0235.pdf#page=17 |page=17 |title=Railway Investigation Report |date=17 Nov 2009 |website=www.tsb.gc.ca}}
General community
G.A. Libby provided meals for travellers from the mid-1880s{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0061912#p39z-3r0f:%22Keefer%22 |page=40 (59) |title=Public Accounts, 1886–87 |website=library.ubc.ca}} and also accommodation by 1890.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0063281#p65z-3r0f:%22Keefer%22 |page=66 (99) |title=Public Accounts, 1890–91 |website=library.ubc.ca}} In addition, he ran a general store by that time.{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/title/1890/Henderson%27s_BC_Gazetteer_and_Directory.html |title=1890 BC Directory|website=bccd.vpl.ca}}
Taking over from Libby,{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0063519#p56z-3r0f:%22Keefer%22 |page=57 (49) |title=Public Accounts, 1892–93 |website=library.ubc.ca}} who had become section foreman,{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/title/1894/Williams%27_Official_BC_Directory.html |title=1894 BC Directory|website=bccd.vpl.ca}} James Hannah provided meals and accommodation from 1895.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0063753#p83z-3r0f:%22Keefer%22 |page=84 (80) |title=Public Accounts, 1894–95 |website=library.ubc.ca}} Hannah was the inaugural postmaster 1895–1914.{{cite web |url=https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=posoffposmas&IdNumber=28118 |title=Postmasters |website=www.bac-lac.gc.ca|date=25 November 2016 }}
When the school opened in 1899, Miss S. McAlpine was the inaugural teacher.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0064230#p38z-3r0f:%22Keefer%22 |pages=39, 67, 90 (219, xix, xlii) |title=Public Schools annual report, 1899–1900 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
The short-lived community{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/langmann/1.0422676?v=oc#p0z-6r0f |title=Image: Aerial View of Keefers, 1900 |website=library.ubc.ca}} had a population of 126 in 1900.{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/title/1901/Henderson%27s_BC_Gazetteer_and_Directory.html |title=1901 BC Directory|website=bccd.vpl.ca}} Hannah may have been selective in the guests offered accommodation.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/xindependen/1.0180467#p7z-3r0f:%22Keefer%22 |page=8 |title=Independent |date=8 Feb 1902 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
By the late 1910s, the local economy was mining, ranching and orchards. A small cemetery existed. The general store was well stocked, but the population had shrunk to about 25.{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/title/1918/Wrigley%27s_British_Columbia_Directory.html |title=1918 BC Directory|website=bccd.vpl.ca}}
The Hannah family remained as postmasters until 1953. That year, a portable replaced the former one-room school building and a teacherage was erected.{{cite web |url=https://www.michaelkluckner.com/bciw6nbphotos.html |title=North Bend |website=www.michaelkluckner.com}} The school closed in 1958.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0355436#p87z-3r0f |page=W88 |title=Public Schools annual report, 1957–58 |website=library.ubc.ca}} The post office closed in 1965, and the store assumedly closed around that time.
Ferry and road
At least during the 1890s, First Nations provided an informal canoe service which connected with the road on the east shore.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0063506#p46z-3r0f:%22ferry%22 |page=47 (45) |title=Public Accounts, 1891–92 |website=library.ubc.ca}}
Around 1960, a forest service road was built beyond Chaumox to provide vehicle access.{{Cite web | url=https://arch.tnrl.ca/pages/search/index.html?browse=false&s=Keefers&f_pub=-1&f_year=1964&f_month=2&f_day=19 |page=A7 |title=Merritt Herald |date=19 Feb 1964 |website=arch.tnrl.ca}}
Map
- {{Cite web | url=https://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/uploads/r/null/e/3/e/e3e9bb58a860e22b1e9f6c8a13e093f3a712b36c270d6e7aa9da9ff0217fc910/585dca94-5963-4487-bc83-5d14c172a53c-LEG1374.11.jpg |title=Department of Lands and Forests Map |year=1956 |website=searcharchives.vancouver.ca}}
See also
- Keefer (disambiguation)