Pacific, British Columbia

In 1909, Jens Anderson established a homestead.{{Cite web | url=https://www.gent.name/bc:towns:pacific:start |title=Pacific |website=www.gent.name}} Anderson Island in the Skeena identified the location.{{Cite web | url=http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/fgh:1912-05-11-01 |page=1 |title=Fort George Herald |date=11 May 1912 |website=pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca}} He sold most of his land to the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTP) and the balance to Charles William Digby Clifford. Apparently, Anderson, Clifford, and J.W. Patterson were partners in the Nicholl Hotel, of which Anderson was the proprietor.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/prj/1.0312070#p1z-3r0f:%22Nicholl%22 |page=2 |title=Prince Rupert Journal |date=9 Oct 1915 |website=library.ubc.ca}}

During the GTP construction, a camp was established at Mile 119, the future station site. In early February 1912, the eastward advance of the GTP rail head from Prince Rupert passed through this point{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/ominecaminer/1.0211769#p0z-3r0f:%22camp%22 |page=1 |title=Omineca Miner |date=3 Feb 1912 |website=library.ubc.ca}} and reached Mile 123.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/ominecaminer/1.0083341#p0z-3r0f:%22123%22 |page=1 |title=Omineca Miner |date=10 Feb 1912 |website=library.ubc.ca}}

In March, the Mile 119 divisional point was still unnamed.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/ominecaminer/1.0211766#p2z-4r0f:%22divisional%22 |page=3 |title=Omineca Miner |date=9 Mar 1912 |website=library.ubc.ca}} By April, Amundsen was proposed.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/ominecaminer/1.0082945#p6z-4r0f:%22Amundsen%22 |page=7 |title=Omineca Miner |date=13 Apr 1912 |website=library.ubc.ca}} By June, Nicholl had been chosen instead as the name.{{Cite web | url=http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/fgh:1912-06-01-06|page=6 |title=Fort George Herald |date=1 Jun 1912 |website=pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca}} George Alexander McNicholl was the GTP superintendent at Prince Rupert. By August, a steam shovel was clearing and grading the railyard site.{{Cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/dailycolonist57200uvic/page/n24/mode/1up?view=theater&q=Nicholl |page=24 |title=Daily Colonist |date=4 Aug 1912 | website=archive.org}}

In 1913, a GTP Plan 100‐155 station building was erected,{{cite book |last1=Bohi |first1=Charles W. |last2=Kozma |first2=Leslie S. |pages=121, 138, 142 |title=Canadian National's Western Stations |year=2002 |publisher=Fitzhenry & Whiteside | isbn=1550416324}} which included dining facilities. By early 1914, the station had been renamed as Pacific{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/prj/1.0311979#p2z-3r0f:%22all%22 |page=3 |title=Prince Rupert Journal |date=1 Feb 1914 |website=library.ubc.ca}} to avoid confusion with the Nichol station, east of Isle Pierre.

During the 1914/15 winter, a roundhouse, machine shop, and other divisional point facilities were built.{{Cite web | url=http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/pgp:1914-11-21-05b |page=5 |title=Prince George Post |date=21 Nov 1914 |website=pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca}} A turntable connected the 12-stall roundhouse (GTP Plan 120‐115) and a wye.{{cite web | url=https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=20270 |title=Pacific Roundhouse |website=www.historicplaces.ca}}

In 1920, a new roadmaster's office was completed{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/search/#lnd=1&query=%22roadmasters+office%22&ymd=1919-12-17&t=11779 |page=2 |title=Interior News |date=17 Dec 1919 |quote= | website=www.newspapers.com}} and train crew runs were shortened to terminate at Pacific.{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/search/#lnd=1&query=%22Endako+and+Pacific%22&ymd=1920-06-02&t=11779 |page=1 |title=Interior News |date=2 Jun 1920 |quote=Crews will now run from Smithers to Endako and Pacific and return on the next train. Extra repair men will be employed in the roundhouses at Pacific and Endako. | website=www.newspapers.com}}

In 1922, while attempting to board an eastbound Canadian National Railway (CN) freight train, a freighthopper slipped beneath the wheels, which ran over his legs.{{Cite web | url=http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/pgc:1922-04-21-03 |page=3 |title=Prince George Citizen |date=21 Apr 1922 |website=pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca}}

In 1923, two freight cars derailed.{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/search/#lnd=1&query=%22when+two+cars+jumped%22&ymd=1923-03-14&t=11779 |page=8 |title=Interior News |date=14 Mar 1923 |quote=…freight…met grief near Pacific, when two cars jumped the track... | website=www.newspapers.com}}

In 1929, a CN worker broke his ribs when he fell from a trestle.{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/search/#lnd=1&query=%22planking+when+he+slipped%22&ymd=1929-09-18&t=11779 |page=8 |title=Interior News |date=18 Sep 1929 |quote=Jack McCawley…at Pacific…fell from a trestle...removing some of the planking when he slipped and fell twenty feet to the ground. He suffered a fractured jaw and several broken ribs… | website=www.newspapers.com}}

In 1933, an eastbound passenger train, and the relief train sent to assist, both derailed west of Pacific.{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/search/#lnd=1&query=%22both+derailed%22&ymd=1933-11-15&t=11779 |page=4 |title=Interior News |date=15 Nov 1933 |quote=The eastbound train from Rupert and a relief train sent to its assistance were both derailed at a point west of Pacific and necessitated the sending of the Smithers relief train to clear the line. | website=www.newspapers.com}}

In 1934, fire destroyed the two-storey station.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/nelsondaily/1.0405916#p0z-2r0f:%22station%22 |page=1 |title=Nelson Daily News |date=26 Jun 1934 |website=library.ubc.ca}} The next year, a GTP Plan 100‐277 station building was erected. The station restaurant existed at least until the 1940s.{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/search/#lnd=1&query=%22restaurant+at+Pacific%22&ymd=1940-07-24&t=11779 |page=1 |title=Interior News |date=24 Jul 1940 |quote= | website=www.newspapers.com}}

In 1947, the bridge and building foreman suffered fatal injuries when thrown from a speeder, which struck a fallen rock just west of Dorreen.{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/search/#lnd=1&query=%22Doreen%22&ymd=1947-01-15&t=11779 |page=1 |title=Interior News |date=15 Jan 1947 |quote=R.C. Falkus, Bridge and Building Foreman…suffered fatal injuries…when he was thrown from a speeder when it struck a rock on the track just west of Doreen near Pacific. | website=www.newspapers.com}}

In 1950, one of the largest dynamite blasts in BC at the time occurred when {{convert|122500|lb|kg|order=flip}} of explosives were detonated at the CN pit to produce rock for grade construction.{{Cite web | url=http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository/pgc:1950-04-27-02 |page=2 |title=Prince George Citizen |date=27 Apr 1950 |website=pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca}}

In 1953, 11 cars of a westbound freight train derailed to the west.{{Cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/search/#lnd=1&query=%22Pacific%22&ymd=1953-12-03&t=11779 |page=1 |title=Interior News |date=3 Dec 1953 |quote=…eleven cars of a west bound freight left the track about four and a half miles west of Pacific. | website=www.newspapers.com}}

In 1959, the divisional point was transferred to Terrace and the roundhouse demolished. All that remains of the structure are a concrete foundation, loose discarded bricks, and some railway track. In 2013, the roundhouse was designated a national historic site.

The passing track is {{convert|12477|ft|km|1|order=flip}}.{{Cite web | url=http://www.cwrailway.ca/cnrha.ca/Timetables%2007/Mountain/Bulkley.pdf |title=CN Bulkley Subdivision |website=www.cwrailway.ca}}

A trackside signpost marks the Pacific flag stop for Via Rail's Jasper–Prince Rupert train.{{cite web| url=https://www.viarail.ca/en/explore-our-destinations/stations/rockies-and-pacific/Pacific | title=Pacific train station | website=www.viarail.ca}}

In May 1912, the GTP townsite lots were readying for sale. Being the first divisional point east of Prince Rupert, rapid growth was anticipated.

Thomas H. McCubbin was the inaugural postmaster 1913–1939.{{cite web |url=https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=posoffposmas&IdNumber=28328 |title=Postmasters (Pacific) |website=www.bac-lac.gc.ca}} He was also a deputy mining recorder and notary public. Pacific was the headquarters for the mining district of Lorne, Fiddler, Chindemash, Hardscrabble, Carpenter, Legate, and Oliver creeks, where a number of small mining operations were located.{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/title/1916/Northern_British_Columbia_Index_and_Guide.html |title=1916 Northern BC Directory |website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}}

In 1916–17, the school opened.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0059923#p42z-3r0f:%22Pacific%22 |page=A43 |title=Public Schools annual report, 1916–17 |website=library.ubc.ca}} McCubbin ran the general store.{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/title/1918/Wrigley%27s_British_Columbia_Directory.html |title=1918 BC Directory |website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}}

In the mid-1920s, Nel Thompson opened a pool hall,{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/title/1925/Wrigley_Henderson_Amalgamated_British_Columbia_Directory.html |title=1925 BC Directory |website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}} later built the community hall, and resided until the early 1970s.{{Cite web | url=https://arcabc.ca/islandora/object/terrace%3A74456#page/4/mode/2up |page=5 |title=Terrace Standard |date=27 Feb 2002 | website=arcabc.ca}}

In 1956–57, the school closed,{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0354527#p98z-3r0f:%22Pacific%22 |page=X99 |title=Public Schools annual report, 1956–57 |website=library.ubc.ca}} followed by the post office in 1958. After the divisional point moved, the remaining residents largely departed Pacific, leaving the buildings vacant.

In summer 1977, hippies gathered, including Bob Haspeck. The next summer, nine bought most of the town to create a small colony, which lasted until 1981. In 1994, Haspeck returned to be the sole permanent resident. Within a few years, the remnants of the community hall, general store and Nicholl Hotel were either collapsed or burned timber, and the schoolhouse was barely standing.

In 2006, Haspeck died of a heart attack in a hut at Pacific.{{Cite web | url=https://arcabc.ca/islandora/object/terrace%3A80961 |page=16 |title=Terrace Standard |date=8 Nov 2006 | website=arcabc.ca}}

In 1916, the subsidised seasonal ferry was established.{{Cite web | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/ominecaminer/1.0211818#p1z-3r0f:%22ferry%22 |page=2 |title=Omineca Miner |date=22 Jan 1916 |website=library.ubc.ca}}{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0059452#p88z-3r0f:%22Pacific%22 |page=B89 |title=Minister of Public Works annual report, 1916–17 |website=library.ubc.ca}}

The government replaced the rowboat{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0225920#p71z-3r0f: |page=72 (C40) |title=Minister of Public Works annual report, 1922–23 |website=library.ubc.ca}} in 1922–23 with a scow{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0225863#p60z-3r0f: |page=61 (L38) |title=Minister of Public Works annual report, 1923–24 |website=library.ubc.ca}} of the reaction ferry type.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0300610#p53z-3r0f: |page=54 (G50) |title=Minister of Public Works annual report, 1930–31 |website=library.ubc.ca}}

During the 1936 flood, the ferry buildings were lost, as was the bridge across the slough behind the station.{{cite report | url=https://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wsd/public_safety/flood/pdfs_word/floods_landslides_north.pdf#page=34 |last=Septer |first=D. |page=34 |title=Flooding and Landslide Events Northern British Columbia 1820–2006 |website=www.gov.bc.ca}}

In 1946–47, the ferry service reverted to a rowboat.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0339918#p44z-4r0f:%22rowboat%22 |page=45 (P27) |title=Minister of Public Works annual report, 1946–47 |website=library.ubc.ca}}

In 1949, the service was discontinued.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0342772#p161z-4r0f:%22Pacific%22 |page=Q162 |title=Minister of Public Works annual report, 1949–50 |website=library.ubc.ca}}

• {{Cite web | url=https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/detail/RUMSEY~8~1~325740~90094661:1937-road-map-of-British-Columbia |title=Standard Oil BC map |year=1937 |website=www.davidrumsey.com}}
• {{Cite web | url=https://www.davidrumsey.com/luna/servlet/workspace/handleMediaPlayer;JSESSIONID=83caf6bd-5c13-4a2d-8744-65fde1e6d603?lunaMediaId=RUMSEY~8~1~212315~5500350 |title=Shell BC map |year=1956 |website=www.davidrumsey.com}}

Legate Creek marks the boundary between the Coastal Western Hemlock Zone and the Interior Cedar-Hemlock Zone. The latter includes species combinations unseen in other forest zones.{{Google books|gfvVBAAAQBAJ|The New B.C. Roadside Naturalist, 2013|page=131}}

The creek is a {{convert|14|mi|km|0|adj=on|order=flip}} swift mountain stream, which enters the Skeena from the east, across the river from Pacific. The influence of coastal rains allows small trees and shrubs to thrive. The dense vegetation and rugged topography made the limited early mining activity arduous. During the mid-1910s, about {{convert|4|mi|km|0|order=flip}} of good trail was built, which could handle ore sleighs during winter.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0059771#p115z-3r0f:%22Legate%22 |page=116 (K100) |title=Minister of Mines annual report, 1916 |website=library.ubc.ca}} By 1925, the ferry and an excellent {{convert|12|mi|km|0|adj=on|order=flip}} packhorse trail improved access.{{Cite report | url=https://open.library.ubc.ca/viewer/bcsessional/1.0228045#p142z-3r0f:%22Legate%22 |page=143 (A128) |title=Minister of Mines annual report, 1925 |website=library.ubc.ca}}

In 1978, 2004, and 2007, debris flows from the creek covered the highway. During the 2007 event, two people were buried alive.{{cite report | url=http://www.geohazard.ggl.ulaval.ca/evaluation/geertsesema.pdf#page=4 |last1=Geertsema |first1=Marten |last2=Schwab |first2=James W. |page=4 |title=Landslides and Linear Infrastructure in West-Central British Columbia |website=www.geohazard.ggl.ulaval.ca}} Their bodies were later recovered.{{Cite web | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/couple-s-bodies-recovered-from-b-c-slide-1.685623 |title=CBC News |date=6 Jun 2007 | website=arcabc.ca}}

In 2008, a Bell 206L helicopter was carrying a drill rig attached to a long line. After ascending the creek, the load became lodged in trees at the landing site. The spinning helicopter crashed and the pilot later died of his injuries.{{Cite report | url=https://tsb.gc.ca//eng/rapports-reports/aviation/2008/a08p0265/a08p0265.pdf |title=Accident Investigation Report A08P0265, 13 Aug 2008 |website=tsb.gc.ca}}

West of Pacific, Pitman{{BCGNIS|27585|Pitman (railway point)}} acknowledged William Pitman Lett Hinton, GTP vice-president and general manager.{{Cite web | url=https://www.gent.name/bc:towns:pitman:start |title=Pitman |website=www.gent.name}}

The post office operated 1911–1966.{{cite web |url=https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=posoffposmas&IdNumber=3574 |title=Postmasters (Pitman) |website=www.bac-lac.gc.ca}}

Immediately north, the single lane Skeena West Bridge was built by forestry interests to provide highway access to logging on the west side of the river.{{cite report | url=https://apps.nrs.gov.bc.ca/pub/aris/Report/28109.pdf/ |last=Bysouth |first=G.D. |page=4 (3) |title=Diamond Drill Report on the Carlson Claim Group |date=Jan 2006 |website=nrs.gov.bc.ca}}{{Cite web | url=https://www.terracestandard.com/sports/vqos |title=Terrace Standard |date=5 Apr 2011 |website=www.terracestandard.com}}

• List of Inland Ferries in British Columbia

{{reflist}}

Category:Skeena Country

Category:Ghost towns in British Columbia