Penny, British Columbia

A trackside signpost marks the flag stop for Via Rail's Jasper – Prince Rupert train.{{cite web| url=http://www.viarail.ca/en/stations/rockies-and-pacific/Penny| title=Penny flag stop| website=www.viarail.ca}} The immediate Via Rail stops are Longworth to the northwest and Bend to the southeast.

Penny lies at mile 69.5, Fraser Subdivision.{{cite web |url=http://www.cwrailway.ca/cnrha.ca/Timetables/Mountain%20Region/BC%20North%20Division/Fraser.pdf | page=79 |title=1977 Timetable |website=www.cwrailway.ca}} Previously designated as Mile 159 during the line's construction, it was the area headquarters for Foley, Welch and Stewart, the prime contractor.Fort George Herald, 17 May 1913{{cite web| url=https://www.gent-family.com/GrandTrunkPacific/grandtrunkpacificcontractors.html | title=Engineer's camps c.1913 | website=www.gent.ca}}Diary of Ada Adelia Sykes The Siems-Carey headquarters,Fort George Herald, 21 Jun 1913 and a work camp existed at Mile 160. Mr. Flannigan, a contractor at this camp, who considered all the camps maintained exceptional sanitary conditions, complained of IWW agitators seeking better wages and camp conditions.Fort George Herald, 12 Apr 1913 The government sanitary inspector, who described camp conditions as fair, destroyed 20,000 lbs. of beef at about Mile 160, and bacon unfit for human consumption at other camps. He advised contractors to stop dumping garbage into the Fraser River.Fort George Herald, 31 May 1913 Soon after, typhoid and diphtheria cases filled the medical outpost. In one 10-day period, the facility treated five victims of dump-car accidents, and the latest patient from Camp 162 had been cut in two.Fort George Herald, 7 Jun 1913 The Miles 160 and 162 camps were both large, and a hospital was mentioned at Mile 160.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=2}} The true location of the hospital was likely Mile 73 (formerly around Mile 162.5).

Not a planned station on the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (the Canadian National Railway after nationalization), Penny remained absent from the 1916 timetable.{{cite book | page=74 |title=Waghorn's Guide |year=1916 |publisher=The Guide Co. Ltd.}} Exclusion from the 1919{{cite book | page=875 |title=The Official Guide |year=1919 |publisher=The National Railway Publication Company}} and 1921{{Cite web | url=http://cprr.org/Museum/Books/I_ACCEPT_the_User_Agreement/Official_Rail_Guide_1921.pdf#page=980 |page=950|title =The Official Guide |year=1921 |website=www.cprr.org}} Official Guides probably reflects that only the employee timetables initially listed it as a footnote. Mention in the 1918 BC towns directory,{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1918/Wrigley%27s_British_Columbia_Directory |title = 1918 BC Directory|website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}} and on a c.1919 map,{{cite web| url=http://maps.library.utoronto.ca/datapub/digital/G_R_3572_C4P3_1911.jpg| title=Map of the Central Section of British Columbia / Shewing the Country Served by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway |website=www.utoronto.ca}} suggest a 1917 or 1918 opening date for the station.

The settlement developed between Lindup to its northwest, and Guilford to its southeast. The name, a surname that emerged by the beginning of the 13th century,{{cite web| url=http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Penny | title=Last name: Penny | website=www.surnamedb.com}} was selected for unknown reasons.Prince George Citizen, 27 Jan 1984 (44) Commonly claimed as an English place name on the list prepared by Josiah Wedgwood (submitted at the request of William P. Hinton, the railway's general manager),Prince George Citizen, 27 May 1957 no such location existed in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, the name Penny, in use by 1914, predated the station by at least three years. Formerly it was known just as the Engineers' Camp.

Trains sometimes struck straying livestock,Prince George Citizen, 15 Jun 1944 but slowed to a crawl if sighted in time.Prince George Citizen, 25 Apr 2000 A passenger shelter likely existed prior to replacement in 1927 by a converted section tool house from Miworth. In 1947, the latter burned to the ground.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=38}} Transported the {{convert|5.5|mi|km}} by railway flatcar,Prince George Citizen: 4 Sep 1947, 16 Oct 1947 & 8 Jul 1989 Lindup exchanged its standard-design Plan 100-152 (Bohi's Type E){{Cite web | url=http://www.oil-electric.com/2008/09/type-e-mythology.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090101162602/http://www.oil-electric.com/2008/09/type-e-mythology.html | url-status=usurped | archive-date=January 1, 2009 | title=Type "E" Mythology|website=www.oil-electric.com}}{{Cite web | url=https://www.michaelkluckner.com/bciw10gtp.html |title = Vanishing BC GTP Railway stations|website=www.michaelkluckner.com}} station building for Penny's Plan 110-101 converted sectionmen's bunkhouse.{{cite book |last1=Bohi |first1=Charles W. |last2=Kozma |first2=Leslie S. |pages=[https://archive.org/details/canadiannational0000bohi/page/121 121, 136 & 141] |title=Canadian National's Western Stations |year=2002 |publisher=Fitzhenry & Whiteside |isbn=1550416324 |url=https://archive.org/details/canadiannational0000bohi/page/121 }} The CNR appointed the first station agent at this time.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=37}}

A burned out journal box on a freight car immobilized a train at Penny for seven hours in 1955.Prince George Citizen, 1 Sep 1955 During the 1960s, 18 cars derailed from an eastbound 98-car freight train in the vicinity, which delayed the westbound passenger train for three hours.Prince George Citizen: 14 & 15 Dec 1961 In another incident, a head-on collision with a bull moose, just outside Penny, derailed 23 cars of a westbound 50-car freight train.Prince George Citizen, 17 Jan 1967

In 1970, CNR closed its section shop.Prince George Citizen, 24 Jun 1970 Isolated communities, like Penny, suffered when the Prince George–McBride way freight ceased operations in 1977.Prince George Citizen, 25 Jul 1977 The next year, Penny was one of the 11 communities between Prince Rupert and the Alberta border, where the CNR replaced its agent-operator positionPrince George Citizen: 2 & 8 Aug 1978 with a resident serving as CN Express agent.Prince George Citizen: 3 Oct 1978 & 13 Mar 1980

The deep snow of the 1981/82 winter near Penny caused hundreds of collisions between moose and trains.Prince George Citizen: 15 & 17 Sep 1982 By this time, the station was boarded up apart from a small waiting room.Prince George Citizen, 23 Jan 1985 In 1988, an ice bridge was built across the Fraser River to carry the station by flatbed truck to its new home, the Prince George Railway & Forestry Museum.Prince George Citizen: 11 & 12 Feb 1988 Using a raft 18 months earlier, volunteers transported a heritage railway speeder shed and tool shed from Penny to that site.Prince George Citizen: 19 & 21 Jul 1986

The remaining passenger shelter was removed in 1996.Prince George Free Press, 21 Jan 1996

{{Aligned table |cols=8|class=wikitable|col1align=left |col2align=center |col3align=center|col4align=center|col5align=center|col6align=center|col7align=center|col8align=center|row1header=y

| Siding | Mile No. | 1922 | 1933 | 1943 | 1960 | 1965–72 | 1977–92 |

(Capacity Length) | | Cars | Cars | Cars | Cars | Cars | Feet |

Penny | 69.2 | 54 | | | | | |

Penny | 69.4 | | 53 | | | | |

Penny | 69.5 | | | 46 | 52 | 54 | 2,530 }}

{{Aligned table |cols=9|class=wikitable|col1align=left |col2align=center |col3align=center|col4align=center|col5align=center|col6align=center|col7align=center|col8align=center|col9align=center|row1header=y

| Other Tracks | Mile No. | 1920 | 1922 | 1933 | 1943 | 1960 | 1965 | 1968 |

(Capacity Length) | | Cars | Cars | Cars | Cars | Cars | Cars | Cars |

Unknown | 68.4 | Unknown | | | | | | |

Red Mountain Lumber | 68.9 | Unknown | Unknown | | | | | |

Penny Lumber | 69.2 | | Unknown | | | | | |

Penny | 69.5 | | | | | | 20 | 20 |

Red Mountain Lumber | 69.9 | | | 21 | | | | |

Penny Sawmills | 69.9 | | | | 19 | | | |

Penny Spruce Sales | 69.9 | | | | | 41 | | |

Penny Forest Products | 69.9 | | | | | | 42 | |

Eagle Lake Sawmills | 69.9 | | | | | | | 42 }}

{{hidden|The sketch map shows locations of various existing and demolished properties, together with former occupants.|File:PennyMapRev.pdf
Contents are a composite of source data.{{sfn|Saville|2000|pp=prologue map, 9 & 10}}{{sfn|May|2000|p=prologue map}} Clarence & Olga Boudreau's five properties are now owned by their children. {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #Boudreau family)}}. Larry has the former 108-acre Victor Mellows farm on the river. Immediately north, Dan has the former 153-acre Ole Mellos square property, of which 25 acres is north of the track. Jen has the former N. Pedersen 43-acre pentagonal farm, where her parents lived. Maxine has the farm owned by her grandparents. Jody (daughter of Diane Louise) has the former J. Dufour farm. The latter two are each 160 acres and square, with southern boundaries at the same latitude as Dan's one.{{sfn|Saville|2000|pp=prologue map & 7}} In addition to the mill accommodation, forestry, CNR and private dwellings existed.{{Cite web | url=https://search.nbca.unbc.ca/uploads/r/northern-bc-archives-special-collections-1/5/e/9/5e95a5e4e0a44535434df7d7cd9d1a9c87901ab986ba3bbaefc7f3b7200f0246/2017.06.2.68_Trolian_Sandra__OCR_.pdf#page=8 | last=Trolian |first=Sandra |title =Upper Fraser Historical Geography Project Transcript |year=2000 | page=2 |website=www.nbca.unbc.ca}}}}

Trapper Fred Rankin (1879–1964),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/26ade3a3-187e-47e2-84a8-6c36c4f49dfd |title =Death Certificate (Fred RANKIN)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1922/Wrigley%27s_British_Columbia_Directory |title = 1922 BC Directory|website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}} a keen astronomer and resident 1939–1964, who arrived in the district in 1910, had a cabin near the creek bearing his name{{sfn|PRC|1995|pp=1 & 153–154}} {{convert|1/2|mi|km|spell=in|1}} west of Red Mountain Creek). Resident Charles Hartsell (1862–1937){{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2527126 |title=Cemetery Project (Charles HARTSELL)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 27 May 1937{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1920/Wrigley%27s_British_Columbia_Directory |title = 1920 BC Directory|website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}} was possibly the companion who mistook him for a moose and accidentally shot him in the arm a few miles from Penny in 1919.Prince George Citizen, 8 Oct 1919 Onufry Lewoniuk (c.1904–1933),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Genealogy/Results?search=Search&as.type_death=true&as.registration_num=1933-09-495660 |title =Death Certificate (O. LEWONIUK)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} who was staying with the pair while trapping and hunting at Slim Lake about {{convert|9|mi|km|spell=in}} southwest of Penny, died of exposure to the cold at the lake edge.Prince George Citizen, 4 Jan 1934

John (Jack) Evans (1866–1948),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/241d4d64-dd29-4327-9957-b6993155c5a0 |title =Death Certificate (John William EVANS)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} a homesteader, had {{convert|100|mi|km|adj=on}} trapline through Penny in 1912/13.Prince George Citizen, 9 Aug 1995 He paddled and poled to Tête Jaune in 1897, continued to Fort George in 1905, and later settled near Penny.Prince George Citizen, 9 Feb 1939 A regular contributor to the Red Cross,Prince George Citizen: 30 Jul 1942, 12 Nov 1942, 14 Jan 1943, 11 Mar 1943, 20 May 1943, 15 Jul 1943, 19 Aug 1943, 7 Oct 1943, 17 Feb 1944, 25 May 1944, 20 Jul 1944, 12 Oct 1944, 21 Dec 1944, 22 Feb 1945, 5 & 26 Apr 1945, & 7 Mar 1946 he lived alone in his cabin, which was about {{convert|2|mi|km|spell=in}} upstream and across the river. Famed for his horticulture, he was especially popular with the local children for his candy treats.Prince George Citizen: 10 Jan 1946, 15 Jan 1948, 22 Jan 1948, & 12 Feb 1948{{sfn|PRC|1995|pp=103–104}} {{anchor|SykesFam}}

Benjamin (Ben) (1883–1955){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/5bad224f-10af-4382-8f23-2dc1fe908abf |title =Death Certificate (Benjamin Silas SYKES)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} & Adelia (Ada) (1886–1977){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/5e1adb0a-0ba2-46c3-b0e0-e8d3f06cb50a |title =Death Certificate (Ada Adelia SYKES)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Sykes had relocated from Slim Creek by 1918. Their children were Bessie (1906–43),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/1a241d35-216a-42c7-87a4-91b36231ac3e |title =Marriage Certificate (DAVIS/SYKES)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Genealogy/Results?search=Search&as.type_death=true&as.registration_num=1943-09-634780 |title =Death Certificate (Bessie Rebecca DAVIS)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} David (1909–31),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/bde30fbc-1e04-4a5c-954f-d1fcb61a78ca |title =Marriage Certificate (SYKES/FOLLIS)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Genealogy/Results?search=Search&as.type_death=true&as.registration_num=1931-09-460328 |title =Death Certificate (David Benj SYKES)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Alice (c.1911–2003),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy//bf725791-1d83-4a9b-879f-8e9098f395f8 |title =Marriage Certificate (MARRINGTON/SYKES)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}{{Cite web | url=https://www.abbynews.com/obituaries/alice-marrington |title =Obituary (Alice MARRINGTON)|website=www.abbynews.com}} Mary (1913–?), Thelma (1915–?), Marjory (1918–?),{{Cite web | url=http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?app=Census1921&op=img&id=e002868787 |title =1921 Census|website=www.bac-lac.gc.ca}} Leona (1922–80),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/6092d35d-e74b-44dc-87b5-275fa40e819a |title =Death Certificate (Leona Blanche WARDS)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} and Faye Lucille (c.1923–2003).{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/9e9ce72a-c3ef-4e9f-97a5-26f2bdb07ece |title =Marriage Certificate (KANOPSKI/SYKES)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}{{Cite web | url=https://www.abbynews.com/obituaries/faye-kanopski |title =Obituary (Faye KANOPSKI)|website=www.abbynews.com}} When the family left in 1924, the school closed owing to insufficient pupils.{{sfn|PRC|1995|pp=165–168}}

By 1921, the recognized guides for big game hunters in the Penny area were B. T. Sykes,Prince George Citizen, 12 Oct 1920 C. Hartsell and J. R. Norboe (c.1853–1921) (Narboe alternate spelling).Prince George Citizen, 13 Sep 1921 Ben had guided with John Norboe,Prince George Citizen, 3 Sep 1919 who died of a seizure in

Nels Pedersen's house {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #Community)}}. John's brother Mac drowned that year at Eaglet Lake, but was misreported as Slim Lake.Prince George Citizen, 18 Jan 1921 {{anchor|RSpurr}}

A. Roy Spurr (1885–1954),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/95435e6a-923f-4d6f-9aa1-28dd58374cc4 |title =Death Certificate (Albert Roy SPURR)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} who arrived at the Tête Jaune railhead in 1911, was a fur trader, who operated a store, café and accommodation, and provided a bookkeeping service, at camps during the railway construction. Using his savings, he opened a sawmill at Penny in 1917,Fort George Herald: 9 Nov 1912 & 13 Sep 1913Prince George Citizen, 16 Aug 1954 later buying out his partners. The mill lay south of the village on the riverbank. As early as the 1920s, fellow lumber operators recognized his sawmilling and business expertise and sought his advice.{{cite book |last=Drushka |first=Ken| page=83 |title= Tie Hackers to Timber Harvesters |year=1998 |publisher=Harbour Publishing | isbn=9781550171891}} Spurr's Red Mountain Lumber Co and the Penny Lumber Co. were both in operation by 1918,Prince George Citizen: 2, 16 & 23 Aug 1918; & 1 May 1924 but a later misconception that the former opened years later possibly inspired the questionable claim that Spurr also had an ownership interest in the latter.{{sfn|PRC|1995|pp=2 & 21}}

In bankruptcy by 1921,Prince George Citizen: 7 & 11 Jan 1921; & 1, 8, 15 & 22 Mar 1921 the assets of the Penny Lumber were acquired by company president, George H. Lipsett (1866–1955).{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/ac43f1ef-d47e-4c7c-88c5-9cb39e9eafc9 |title =Death Certificate (George Humphries LIPSETT)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}{{Cite web | url=http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?app=Census1921&op=img&id=e002868788 |title =1921 Census|website=www.bac-lac.gc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 1 May 1924 Located south of the CNR track on Rankin Creek,{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=22}} it operated as Penny Lumber,Prince George Citizen: 30 Aug 1921 & 28 Oct 1921 and then as G.H. Lipsett Lumber,Prince George Citizen, 3 Jun 1926 until fire totally destroyed the mill in 1926.Prince George Citizen, 10 Jun 1926

The narrow strip of accessible spruce forest bordering the railway that stretched some {{convert|100|mi|km}} east of Prince George was known as the East Line.{{sfn|Hak|1986|p=14}} In the 1920s, with logging limited to the winter and fall seasons to facilitate the hauling of logs over snow and ice, loggers were transient. However, year round work existed in sawmill towns such as Giscome, Aleza Lake, Hutton, Penny, and Longworth.{{sfn|Hak|1986|p=137}} Injuries and death were common in sawmills and logging camps. Sawyer Laughlin McKenzie (1856–1923){{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2517454 |title=Cemetery Project (L.W. McKenzie)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} was killed when a saw severed his body from head to hips at the Red Mountain Lumber Co.Prince George Citizen, 19 Jul 1923

The proceeds from selling Red Mountain Lumber Co. during the 1928Prince George Citizen, 8 Nov 1928 boom year provided Spurr with the funds to acquire other mills at bargain prices during the Great Depression.{{sfn|Hak|1986|p=98}} The purchasers, who were owners of Cranbrook Sawmills, dismantled their mill at Otway, and either sold or relocated the machinery to Penny.Prince George Citizen, 2 May 1988(56) Like other sawmills during 1930–32, the Penny mill, then owned by the Joseph Campbell and John (Jack) Myers (1881–1960){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/642b367f-57a3-487c-a47c-5f7fad00a289 |title =Death Certificate (John Prince MYERS)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} partnership,{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1930/Wrigley%27s_British_Columbia_Directory |title = 1930 BC Directory|website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 2 May 1988(57) scarcely operated.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=2}} In 1932, fire completely destroyed the sawmill and yard lumber.Prince George Citizen, 25 Aug 1932 At the time, Newlands, Snowshoe and Sinclair Mills were the only ones sawing, the latter having a big logging camp at Penny.Prince George Citizen, 11 Aug 1932

During the 1920s, W. Langmuir was the district forester.Prince George Citizen, 17 Feb 1922 The forest ranger, residing in Penny for the Penny Ranger District covered an area that stretched from Dewey to Rider. His dispersed field staff,Prince George Citizen: 26 Aug 1937, 27 Apr 1944 & 26 May 1949 which were seasonal from spring to fall, travelled by boat or speeder.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=19}} In 1948, two forestry speeders carrying 17 men to a forest fire at Loos collided near Bend. While the two most seriously injured went by freight train to Prince George, an amphibian plane later landed on the river at Penny to fly five of the less seriously injured for medical treatment.Prince George Citizen, 24 Jun 1948 The ranger position was eliminated in the mid-1960s.Prince George Citizen, 9 Oct 1964{{anchor|CEJaeck}}

In 1933 Myers bought out his partner,{{sfn|Hak|1986|p=84}} and the following year rebuilt the Red Mountain Lumber Co. mill.Prince George Citizen, 10 May 1934 In 1940, the 50,000-foot per shift capacity sawmill was again destroyed by fire, but the planing mill and processed lumber piles escaped conflagration.Prince George Citizen, 12 Sep 1940 Fulfilling his prior commitment,Prince George Citizen, 29 Aug 1940 Myers sold the mill to John F. McMillan and C. Earl Jaeck (1904–52), formerly at Bend,{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/16d8dd9f-5fcd-4757-9a3b-0cff459a9c26 |title =Death Certificate (Charles Earl JAECK)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 21 Nov 1940 who changed the name to the Penny Sawmills.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=21}} Jaeck died in a train/truck collision.Prince George Citizen, 28 Apr 1952 {{anchor|RMcGillivray}}

In 1941, Elizabeth (1906–91){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/2c4af414-2a12-46b4-a52c-2670bc222f3e |title =Death Certificate (Elizabeth Forrest McGILLIVRAY)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} (né Coats of Longworth, C. Earl Jaeck's cousin) & Rory (Roy) R.M. McGillivray (1903–94), formerly at Bend,{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/70f287d4-2b0e-42da-8242-cf3f45de1af0 |title =Death Certificate (Rory Roderick McClennan McGILLIVRAY)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 8 Jun 1994 relocated with children S.T. Michael (1930–2015) and Barbara (1935–2015),Prince George Citizen: 16 Jul 1942, 11 Mar 2015 & 8 Jan 2016 when Roy became general manager at the Penny mill.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=127}} Elizabeth headed the local Red Cross fundraising effort during World War II.Prince George Citizen: 4 Jun 1942 & 18 Jan 1945

In 1942, a new dry kiln was installed,Prince George Citizen, 21 May 1942 and several new homes and bunkhouses were constructed on the mill site to accommodate the demand from running two shifts.Prince George Citizen, 27 Aug 1942 Since the homes mostly lacked indoor plumbing, outhouses were the norm and water came from a tap at the end of the road.{{sfn|May|2000|p=9}} The following year, fire destroyed the planing mill boiler room,Prince George Citizen, 22 Jul 1943 putting it out of operation for 6 weeks.Prince George Citizen, 9 Sep 1943 This may have been the occasion when a passing CNR locomotive rescued part of the building.Prince George Citizen, 27 Jan 1984 (40) {{anchor|StandardForest}} In 1945, labour shortages closed one logging camp.Prince George Citizen, 30 Aug 1945 The company name changed again to Standard Tie and Timber, when Standard Forest Products acquired the mill in late 1945 or early 1946.Prince George Citizen, 22 Aug 1946 After an absence, Roy McGillivray returnedPrince George Citizen: 3 Jan 1946 & 17 Apr 1947 as general manager.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=21}}Prince George Citizen: 28 Oct 1948, 9 Aug 1951 & 27 Nov 1952 The family relocated to Prince George in 1953.Prince George Citizen: 21 Mar 1929, 28 May 1953, & 22 Jan 1991 On cremation, Roy's ashes were scattered in the Fraser at Penny.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=172}}

In 1947, the large bunkhouse was constructed at Penny.Prince George Citizen, 12 Jun 1947 The following year, the mill burned down,Prince George Citizen, 7 Oct 1948 and a portable mill set up at the mouth of the Red Mountain Creek was used until the old mill was rebuilt.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=21}}Prince George Citizen: 16 Dec 1948 & 3 Mar 1949 In 1952, renamed as the Penny Spruce Mills,Prince George Citizen, 3 Mar 1952 the Totem Pole group, controlled by the Thurston family, purchased the operations, which included the bunkhouse and 35 family residences.Prince George Citizen, 27 Nov 1952 Leboe Bros. of Crescent Spur provided mainly fir logs from the Goat River area, which were floated down the Fraser to the mill.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=27}}

The mill, which employed about 120 during summer and 45 in winter, plus 40 at the logging camps,{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=28}} was one of the hardest hit by the strike of 1953.Prince George Citizen, 22 Oct 1953 In 1955, the mill cookhouse burned to the ground.Prince George Citizen, 29 Sep 1955 Closed in 1958,{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=3}} after the Bank of Montreal called the operating loan,{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=28}} the 100,000-foot capacity sawmill, steam and diesel power plants, 78-man bunkhouse, cookhouse, company houses, machine shop, garage, tractor house and various equipment were soon auctioned by court order.Prince George Citizen, 16 Oct 1959

During the 1940s–50s, as many as three sawmills operated in the area.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=22}}Prince George Citizen, 2 May 1985 The main mill, bought by Eagle Lake Lumber of Giscome, was renamed Penny Forest Products,Prince George Citizen: 12 Apr 1961 & 24 May 1961 and continued as a much smaller operation.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=3}} In 1963, fire destroyed the mill and powerhouse, with only part of the trimmer left standing.Prince George Citizen, 22 Mar 1963 Fire damage and outdated equipment made the investment in a rebuild unrealistic.{{sfn|Boudreau|2000|pp=Interview #5: 2–3}} Subsequently, Gordon Geddes ran portable mills until all sawmilling activity ceased in 1965.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=22}}Prince George Citizen, 19 Aug 1995 Northwood inherited the defunct Penny mill when it acquired the Eagle Lake mill in 1966.Prince George Citizen: 10 Aug 1973 & 30 Jun 1988 Long abandoned, the beehive burner, one of the largest in BC's history, still stands.Prince George Citizen, 25 Aug 1995

The back-to-the-land movement peaked in the 1970s, with two tree planting companies and fire suppression crews based in Penny.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=4}} The movement largely comprised hippies, many U.S. draft dodgers, who temporarily settled along the East Line. In addition to occupying vacant houses, a commune existed by the river, which locals called "Buffalo Wallow".{{sfn|Saville|2000|pp=1, 2, & 20–21}}

Population estimates were 25 (Rev. W.J. Patton)Prince George Citizen, 26 Aug 1958 and 50–85 (Wrigley) for 1918, 200 by 1920, 100 by 1928,{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1928/Wrigley%27s_British_Columbia_Directory |title = 1928 BC Directory|website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}} 100 by 1934, 203 for 1943 and 1944, and 200 for 1948.Prince George Citizen, 17 Oct 1946{{sfn|PRC|1995|pp=177–183}} The population peaked in 1957/58 at 675, which included the logging camps.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=3}}

Commonly, the postmaster in such towns was also a storeowner. Nels Pedersen (c.1885–?), the first postmaster 1916–19,{{cite web|url= https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/postal-heritage-philately/post-offices-postmasters/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=17982&| title=Postmasters|website=www.bac-lac.gc.ca}} ran a general store 1914–27 as a sole proprietorship or in partnership as Johnston & Pedersen.Prince George Citizen: 8 Oct 1920, 18 Jan 1921, 30 Oct 1924 & 17 Jul 1941 Thomas B. (1877–1952){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/6bfffc1c-5402-458b-816f-e69438425e51 |title =Death Certificate (Thomas Bell WALL)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} & Betty Fae (c.1885–1945){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Genealogy/Results?search=Search&as.type_death=true&as.registration_num=1945-09-669322 |title =Death Certificate (Betty Fae WALL)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Wall were storeowners,{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1921/Wrigley%27s_British_Columbia_Directory |title = 1921 BC Directory|website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 14 Feb 1922Prince George Leader, 8 Mar 1923 and she was postmaster 1919–25. William Birt and Joseph Melling purchased this store, with Birt as postmaster 1926–28.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=66}}{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1926/Wrigley%27s_British_Columbia_Directory |title = 1926 BC Directory|website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}}

Samuel (Sam) (1895–1940){{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2528022 |title=Cemetery Project (Samuel MICHAYLENKO)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} & Annie (1890–1931){{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2525575 |title=Cemetery Project (Annie MICHAYLENKO)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} Michaylenko,{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1925/Wrigley_Henderson_Amalgamated_BC_Directory |title = 1925 BC Directory|website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}} who arrived as the CNR section foreman around 1919–20, operated a store 1929–31, and apparently applied to be postmaster. Their children were Nettie (1921–?), William (Bill) (1923–58),Prince George Citizen, 11 Jun 1958 Helen (1925–?),Prince George Citizen: 4 Jan 1945 & 12 Jul 1951 Joseph (Joe) (1926–99),Prince George Citizen: 4 Oct 1945 & 9 Jun 1999 Florence (1928–?),Prince George Citizen: 22 Aug 1946 & 5 Mar 1953 Jessie (1930–?), and Magdelina (1931–?). When Annie died, Sam assumed responsibility for the children, except Magdelina, whom the Hinsbergers adopted. When Sam died,Prince George Citizen, 23 May 1940 Nettie cared for her siblings.Prince George Citizen, 6 Nov 1941 On adulthood, the children left Penny.{{sfn|PRC|1995|pp=140–142}} {{anchor|MellosFam}}

Siblings Ole (1882–1956),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/5f342b3c-c042-48fc-8bd5-dc07eaf5d4f1 |title =Death Certificate (Ole MELLOS)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Halvor (1891–1973),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/ec196a37-6d6c-4a39-b44e-e44c2867ed23 |title =Death Certificate (Halvor MELLOS)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 31 Oct 1973 and Ingeborg L. (1884–1952){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/1d084d52-102d-4083-af6b-d22d0efc0bb2 |title =Death Certificate (Ingeborg K. MELLOS)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 26 Jun 1952 Mellos relocated from neighbouring Guilford in 1927.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=132}} While the brothers developed a farm,Prince George Citizen: 22 & 29 Aug 1929, 5 Sep 1929, & 5 Oct 1933

Ingeborg purchased the Pedersen general store, and was postmaster 1929–38. In 1929, Halvor Mellos formed the Mellos & Johnson Logging Co.{{Cite web | url=https://bccd.vpl.ca/index.php/browse/title/1929/Wrigley%27s_BC_Directory |title = 1929 BC Directory|website=www.bccd.vpl.ca}} Halvor, who became Ingeborg's business partner, was postmaster 1938–48. Together, they purchased the Bert and Melling store and sold their original property.{{sfn|PRC|1995|pp=63 & 132}}

In 1932, Halvor married{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/2f169e42-26d6-4a3a-935b-1569efb056f0 |title =Marriage Certificate (MELLOS/HAUGEN)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 14 Jul 1932 Anna Marie Haugen (1908–2008),{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2520500 |title=Cemetery Project (Anna Marie MELLOS)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} who arrived in 1930.{{sfn|Mellos|2000|p=1}} They raised their own daughter, Katherine, and niece Kathleen Johnson, after the death of Ole's wife Emma (c.1897–1942).{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=132}}Prince George Citizen: 12 Nov 1942, 10 Dec 1953 & 6 Oct 1955 A 1936 fire destroyed their hotel and store. Recently constructed and equipped with all modern conveniences, it was the most popular accommodation between Longworth and McBride.Prince George Citizen, 30 Jul 1936 Their private hydro plant supplied electricity,Prince George Citizen, 15 Jun 1933 and unlike most properties relying upon wells, they had running water.{{sfn|Mellos|2000|pp=6 & 10}} Buying the bunkhouse buildings at the abandoned relief camp {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #Relief programs during the Great Depression)}}, and transporting the wood by flatcar, Halvor rebuilt his house, storage and general store.{{sfn|Mellows|2000|pp=2–4}}

For many years, Anna Mellos managed their rooming house{{sfn|PRC|1995|pp=96, 105 & 133}} close to the store, which catered to short-term stays.{{sfn|May|2000|p=8}} After selling the store, Halvor performed odd jobs in the community.{{sfn|May|2000|p=20}} On Katherine's marriage to Jack Clements in 1953, the couple remained in Prince George.Prince George Citizen: 10 Dec 1953 & 18 Nov 1954 Although Kathleen married William Isfan at Penny in 1955, the couple were never residents.Prince George Citizen: 6 Oct 1955 & 24 Jan 1957 Anna resided in Penny 1930–95. {{anchor|MellowsFam}}

In 1935, the widowed Victor Mellows (1898–1994),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/576cd189-5248-44b3-86c6-8053f9b2e03d |title =Death Certificate (Victor MELLOWS)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} his mother Anna (1862–1943),Prince George Citizen, 19 Aug 1943{{sfn|PRC|1995|pp=134–135}} and three sons Arne, Ivar and Oscar settled in Penny. Victor initially farmed, then worked at the sawmill. After Ivar and Oscar had left, Victor relocated in 1956.Prince George Citizen: 19 Mar 1953, 25 Mar 1954, 29 Mar 1956, 26 Apr 1956 & 30 Jul 1994 Returning from World War II,Prince George Citizen, 4 Oct 1945 Arne Mellows marriedPrince George Citizen, 5 Sep 1946 Carrie Benson (1923–2012) from Bend.Prince George Citizen, 12 Dec 2012

Their children raised in Penny were Karen,Prince George Citizen, 15 Mar 1951 Lloyd,Prince George Citizen, 14 May 1953 and Craig.Prince George Citizen, 10 Jan 1955

In 1948, Arne, and brother-in-law Carl A. Benson (1928–2015) from Bend,Prince George Citizen, 4 Dec 2015 bought the Mellos' store, trading as Penny Merchants,Prince George Citizen, 27 May 1948 and then as Penny Mercantile Co.Prince George Citizen, 26 May 1960 The following year, Carl sold his share to Oscar.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=81}} Two years later, Arne installed a gas pump for the increasing number of vehicles.Prince George Citizen, 12 Jul 1951 Formerly, fuel came by rail in barrels. Arne was postmaster 1948–65, at which time the store closed permanently,{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=64}} and the family departed for Prince George.Prince George Citizen: 21 Jul 1986 & 12 Dec 2012

Jack Taylor opened a coffee shop in his pool hall,Prince George Citizen, 10 May 1951 and sold the business to Mr. & Mrs. C. Kirkwood.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=66}}Prince George Citizen: 6 Mar 1952 & 12 May 1952

Philippe (1900–84){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/3afa574b-b082-4aaf-a610-9fd994e88c1b |title =Death Certificate (Phillippe Joseph MICHAUD)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 16 Jan 1984 & Anna (1905–83){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/ae04d143-6e6f-4686-9e7c-15177e714629 |title =Death Certificate (Marie Anna MICHAUD)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 4 Feb 1983 Michaud, who resided 1952–61, opened the Dew Drop Inn, a coffee shop, poolroom and accommodation for boarders. Their children were Roland, Emile, René, Gisele, Madeleine, Fernande (c.1936–2008),{{Cite web | url=https://edmontonjournal.remembering.ca/obituary/fern-saiko-1065857033 |title =Obituary (Fern SAIKO) |website=www.edmontonjournal.ca}} Gilberte, Philip, Lorraine (1942– ),{{Cite web | url=http://www.halls-vallees.com/1391.html |title = Kin (Lorraine MICHAUD)|website=www.halls-vallees.com}} Louis, Louise, and Jeannie.{{sfn|PRC|1995|pp=136–140}} Emile, who married Helen Bechtel,Prince George Citizen, 6 Sep 1951 raised three children there.Prince George Citizen: 17 Jul 1952 & 14 May 1956 He stayed 1946–60Prince George Citizen, 26 Sep 1960 and subsequently remarried. Other adult siblings came and went.Prince George Citizen, 19 Jul 1956 Fernande (Fern) marriedPrince George Citizen, 2 Jul 1953 Mike Saiko (1927–98){{Cite web | url=https://billiongraves.com/grave/Michael-Saiko/8657446 |title =Grave & kin (Michael SAIKO)|website=www.billiongraves.com}} a local,Prince George Citizen: 13 & 27 May 1948, 28 Jul 1949, 13 Apr 1950, 22 Jun 1950, 23 Nov 1950, 14 Dec 1950, 18 Feb 1952, 19 Jan 1956 & 18 Mar 1957 and their daughter was born in Penny. Gilberte married James (Jim) Kruger,Prince George Citizen, 30 Sep 1954 and moved away.Prince George Citizen: 19 Jul 1956 & 25 Apr 1957 René, who played violin, suffered work and sports injuries.Prince George Citizen: 6 Mar 1952 & 19 Mar 1953 Coming and going, he married Teena Teichroeb in 1959. Lorraine married Richmond Lozeau,Prince George Citizen, 8 Sep 1959 and moved away. Philip (Phil), who played guitar and sang,Prince George Citizen, 22 Apr 1954 remained longer in Penny. Gisele married Bertil Stavely (c.1934–2014),{{Cite web | url=http://www.yourlifemoments.ca/sitepages/obituary.asp?oid=850667 |title =Obituary (Bertil Joseph STAVELY) |website=www.yourlifemoments.ca}} and their three children were born while at Penny. Philippe, Anna and their three youngest left in 1961.{{sfn|PRC|1995|pp=136–140}}

The first school, held in an old bunkhouse behind the sawmill, opened in 1920 or 1921, with Miss H. Thomas (possibly 1903–?){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/cd106956-0e24-4d3e-984d-325dcad73e24 |title =Marriage Certificate (MUIR/THOMAS)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} filling in until the arrival of Mrs. L.O. Cameron as the inaugural teacher.{{cite book |last1=Hall |first1=Barbara |last2=Nellis |first2=Kris |title=School District No. 57 (Prince George) historical memories. (Volume II): people, places, programs & services |year=2012 |publisher=Prince George Retired Teachers' Association, Education Heritage Committee }} Owing to low student numbers, it closed 1925–29. A one-room school was built as a replacement in 1930.{{sfn|PRC|1995|pp=2 & 46}} To facilitate a second teacher,Prince George Citizen, 12 Aug 1943 it was remodelled as two classrooms in 1943.Prince George Citizen: 15 Jul 1943 & 19 Aug 1943 The following year, a teacherage was built on the school grounds,Prince George Citizen, 14 Sep 1944 with propane lighting added in 1955.Prince George Citizen, 8 Dec 1955

The last of the three facilities, a two-room school opened for the 1953/54 year,Prince George Citizen, 24 Sep 1953 with propane lighting added in 1954.Prince George Citizen, 2 Dec 1954 The former building was moved off the grounds.Prince George Citizen, 20 Oct 1955 The school closed for six years during the 1970s, but students taking correspondence courses continued to use a classroom.Prince George Citizen: 19 May 1972 & 16 Feb 1977 It reopened in 1977 with 13 students.Prince George Citizen, 16 Sep 1977 Enrolment for 1945–50 in Grades 1–9 was 27–32, 1953–60 in Grades 1–8 was 31–51, 1963–70 in Grades 1–7 was 6–34, 1970–78 in Grades K–7 was 7–13,Prince George Citizen: 2 Sep 1960 & 23 Oct 1963 and 1981–84 in Grades K–7 was 10–12.Prince George Citizen: 4 Sep 1981, 20 Oct 1982, 21 Apr 1983 & 25 Oct 1984 Having only seven students, the school closed permanently in 1985,Prince George Citizen, 22 May 1985 with the building ultimately removed.

The community club, formed in 1932,Prince George Citizen, 23 Jun 1932 held functions for nine years in the sawmill cookhouse.{{sfn|PRC|1995|pp=9 & 229}} The community hall was built in 1941.Prince George Citizen: 18 Sep 1941; & 4 & 25 Dec 1941 The building, severely damaged by heavy snow in 1946,Prince George Citizen, 7 Mar 1946 was repaired and an electrical generator installed two years later.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=9}} The hall hosted country artists, professional entertainers, movie screenings and many weddings.Prince George Citizen: 7 Oct 1948, 21 Sep 1950, 26 Jul 1951, 15 Nov 1951, 22 May 1952, 9 Sep 1954 & 25 Jul 1977 {{anchor|JHumphreys}}

John E. (1906–87){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/9db9f4ac-adec-4381-9583-c66eddcbf5c9 |title =Death Certificate (John Edward HUMPHREYS)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} & Jean (1909–96){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/8ce53bd9-a1b1-477b-9fd3-f748255209c5 |title =Death Certificate (Jean HUMPHREYS)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 2 Apr 1996 Humphreys arrived in late 1946{{sfn|Humphreys_b|2000|p=1}} or early 1947. To fill individual customer orders, John, as shipper, coordinated product through the planer mill and into boxcars for delivery. Their children were John A. (1932–2006),{{sfn|Humphreys_a|2000|p=1}}Prince George Citizen, 13 Oct 2016 Jean (1933–2002),Prince George Citizen, 9 Mar 2002 James (Jim) (1940–2011),Prince George Citizen, 16 Mar 2011 and Jerry (1945– ).Prince George Citizen, 21 Jan 1954 John Jr. married Margaret Boudreau. {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #MBoudreau)}} Jean Jr. left,Prince George Citizen, 24 Apr 1952 trained as a nurse,Prince George Citizen: 30 Dec 1952, 7 Apr 1953, 27 May 1954 & 30 May 1955 and married Arne May.Prince George Citizen, 29 Dec 1959 John Sr. rented and showed movies in the community hall. The Friday night screenings were weekly in the summer and biweekly in the winter.{{sfn|Humphreys_b|2000|pp=2–3}}Prince George Citizen: 12 Aug 1948, 26 Jan 1950, 1 Sep 1955, 9 Jan 1956, & 12 Feb 1987 Admission was 50 cents.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=175}} Active in the social life,Prince George Citizen: 11 May 1950, 9 Aug 1951, 7 Aug 1952, 28 May 1953, 26 Apr 1956, & 2 May 1957 Jean Sr., a registered nurse,Prince George Citizen, 9 Sep 1948 delivered 14 of the community babies.{{sfn|PRC|1995|pp=107–109}} On buying the Dome Creek store, they left in 1957 {{small|(1947 a misprint)}}.Prince George Citizen: 27 Jun 1957 & 12 Feb 1987{{sfn|Humphreys_b|2000|pp=1–3}} After boarding away for high school,{{sfn|Humphreys_b|2000|p=3}}Prince George Citizen: 28 Oct 1954, 21 Apr 1955, 22 Dec 1955, 5 Apr 1956 & 25 Apr 1957 Jim joined his parents at Dome Creek.Prince George Citizen: 18 Jun 1958 & 22 Oct 1958

Badminton was popular.Prince George Citizen: 25 Dec 1941, 10 Jan 1946, 7 Mar 1946, 20 May 1948, 16 Sep 1948 & 3 Nov 1949 The hall was a venue for community dances during World War II,Prince George Citizen: 25 Dec 1941, 5 Feb 1942, 2 Apr 1942, 14 May 1942, 3 Jun 1943, 9 Dec 1943, 6 Jan 1944, 6 Jul 1944, 26 Oct 1944, 4 & 21 Dec 1944, 22 Mar 1945 & 24 May 1945 when many were in aid of the Red Cross.Prince George Citizen: 16 & 23 Apr 1942, 4 Jun 1942, 16 Jul 1942, 25 Mar 1943, 23 Mar 1944, 20 Jul 1944 & 5 Jul 1945 The post-war dancesPrince George Citizen: 7 Mar 1946, 16 May 1946, 31 Jul 1947, 13 Nov 1947, 20 & 27 May 1948, 8 Jul 1948, 16 Sep 1948, 6 Jan 1949, 3 & 24 Mar 1949, 2 Jun 1949, 13 Oct 1949, 6 Jul 1950, 14 Dec 1950, 11 Jan 1951, 22 Feb 1951, 6 Sep 1951, 8 Nov 1951, 7 Jan 1954, 13 Jan 1955, 2 Jun 1955 & 28 Mar 1957{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=17}} often attracted visitors from surrounding communities.Prince George Citizen: 6 Sep 1945, 18 Jul 1946, 5 Sep 1946, 4 Sep 1947, 15 Jan 1948, 5 & 26 Aug 1948, & 14 Jul 1955, The hall, falling into disuse during the 1960s, was renovated in 1971 and used for badminton during the 1970s–1980s.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=10}}

In his role as rector of All Saints Anglican, McBride, Rev. Duncan Cameron regularly conducted Sunday evening services in the Penny schoolhouse,Prince George Citizen: 27 Mar 1947; 1 May 1947; 12 Jun 1947 (Bishop); 24 Jul 1947; 21 Aug 1947; 16 Oct 1947; 13 Nov 1947; 15 Jan 1948; 12 & 26 Feb 1948; 22 Apr 1948, 27 May 1948; 3 & 17 Jun 1948; 8 Jul 1948; 23 Sep 1948; 7 & 21 Oct 1948; 4 & 18 Nov 1948; 2, 16 & 30 Dec 1948; 27 Jan 1949; 10 & 24 Feb 1949; 3, 10 & 24 Mar 1949; 7 & 21 Apr 1949; 5 & 19 May 1949; 9 Jun 1949; 20 Oct 1949; 17 Nov 1949; 1, 15 & 29 Dec 1949; 12 Jan 1950; 16 Feb 1950; 16, 23 & 30 Mar 1950; 13 & 27 Apr 1950; 4 May 1950; 8 & 15 Jun 1950; 27 Jul 1950; 19 Oct 1950; 9 Nov 1950; 11 & 25 Jan 1951; 8 Feb 1951; 29 Mar 1951; 12 & 26 Apr 1951; 3 & 24 May 1951; & 23 Aug 1951; as did his predecessor, Rev. J.J. Cowan, each month.Prince George Citizen: 3 Nov 1938; & 2 & 30 Oct 1941 A Sunday school commenced in 1946.Prince George Citizen, 15 Aug 1946 St. Paul's United Church, McBride, also held evening services in the Penny school.Prince George Citizen: 24 Jun 1948, 8 Jul 1948, 7 Oct 1954, 6 Oct 1955, 1 Mar 1956, 29 Nov 1956 & 28 Mar 1957 The priest came from Giscome each month to St. James Catholic Church, which opened in 1954. Formerly, their services were conducted in the school,Prince George Citizen: 24 Jun 1948 & 2 Jul 1953 with Catholic, Anglican and United alternating weeks. The deconsecrated Catholic building became a residence.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=7}}

When the mill closed, most of the population left. Some abandoned their privately owned houses, which had become worthless.{{sfn|Boudreau|2000|pp=Interview #5: 3 & 11}}

The Penny cemetery, 200–300 feet along the side road where the boat ramp road makes a right angle bend,{{sfn|Humphreys_a|2000|pp=Supplementary Notes}} is on land provided by Halvor Mellos.{{sfn|Mellos|2000|p=13}} Volunteer male labour produced the coffins and dug the graves, and the women prepared the bodies.{{sfn|Boudreau|2000|p=Summary: 7}}

A homecoming reunion for former residents occurred August 18–20, 1995,Prince George Citizen: 9, 19 & 21 Aug 1995 for which the book covering the community's history was compiled.Prince George Citizen, 5 Feb 1996 At the time, the permanent population of 11 was meagre in relation to the 36 dwellings.Prince George Citizen, 22 Oct 1999

Joseph (Joe) (1889–1969){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/ed96ad4c-c51f-4f37-b4df-a429ff588f9c |title =Death Certificate (Joseph Edward BOUDREAU)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} & Bessie (1894–1983){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/9df5c61e-fd16-4b52-a434-7e0de00b3905 |title =Death Certificate (Bessie May BOUDREAU)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Boudreau arrived in 1923. They built a house on their preemption in 1928. Joe was a trapper and logger,Prince George Citizen: 19 Aug 1995{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=83}} who could play the violin. Bessie, an avid gardener, who delivered many of the community's babies,Prince George Citizen, 26 Aug 1983 could play the piano, flute and harp. Their children were M. Isabelle (1923–2001),Prince George Citizen, 11 Apr 2001 Eveline (1925–98),Prince George Citizen, 24 Nov 1998 Joseph E. (Joe Jr.) (1929–91),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/4f8146a9-a52c-4d80-9a43-4f4b1acb60bf |title =Death Certificate (Joseph Edward BOUDREAU)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 28 May 1991 Clarence (1931– ),Prince George Citizen, 16 Feb 2016 E. Jack (1933–2018),Prince George Citizen, 25 Jan 2018 Margaret (1934– ), and June. The family made their own entertainment, singing and playing musical instruments, and the community attended these gatherings at their place.{{sfn|Litnosky|2000|p=15}}

M. Isabelle left, but returned for her wedding to Peter Motiuk (1920–88).{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/c7e38d85-313d-4fce-8691-3632fcbc48ec |title =Death Certificate (Peter William MOTIUK)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen: 19 Nov 1951 & 17 Aug 1988 Never residing as a couple in Penny, their children were Patricia (Pat) and Cary.{{sfn|PRC|1995|pp=84–85}} Isabelle provided a home away from home to family members who came to Prince George for high school.

Eveline marriedPrince George Citizen, 21 Mar 1946 resident Jack McKinley (1924–2017),Prince George Citizen, 10 May 2017 a talented Prince George piano player. They supplied the music for many events.Prince George Citizen: 8 Apr 1948, 8 Jul 1948, 26 Aug 1948, 2 Dec 1948, 30 Mar 1950, 28 May 1953, 18 Feb 1954, 9 Jun 2016 & 13 Oct 2016 Their children raised in Penny were Gail,Prince George Citizen: 3 Apr 1947 & 11 May 1950 Barry,Prince George Citizen, 25 Aug 1949 and Rocky L.,Prince George Citizen, 7 Jun 1956 with Melody and Charlene born after the family left in 1956.Prince George Citizen: 21 Jun 1956 & 9 Jun 2016

Josie married William F. (Bud) Proctor in 1946. Months earlier, Bud, a local logger, suffered a skull fracture when struck by a falling tree.Prince George Citizen, 3 Jan 1946 Josie and daughter SandraPrince George Citizen, 19 Dec 1946 spent part of 1947 with Bud in Merritt.Prince George Citizen: 17 Jul 1947 & 13 Nov 1947 Josie returned to Penny prior to the birth of son Dwayne.Prince George Citizen: 15 Jan 1948 & 12 Feb 1948 Tragically, 20-month-old Sandra, died of accidental ingestion of gasoline. Janet A.Prince George Citizen: 28 Apr 1949 & 9 Jun 1949 and J. MarkPrince George Citizen, 7 Jul 1955 were born subsequently. In 1956, Josie left permanently to work in Prince George.Prince George Citizen, 3 May 1956 Remarried,Prince George Citizen, 2 May 1957 she and Marcien Fisher, of Penny,Prince George Citizen: 19 & 26 Oct 1950, 9 Nov 1950, 17 Jul 1952, 2 Jul 1953 & 30 Sep 1954 had three children.Prince George Citizen: 3 Mar 1960, 21 Mar 1963 & 5 May 1966

Joe Jr. married Edith (Penny) Lammle (1934–2011)Prince George Citizen, 9 Nov 2011 at Penny.Prince George Citizen, 21 Sep 1950 Their children raised there were Rhoda,Prince George Citizen, 17 Jul 1952 Donna (1953–2009),Prince George Citizen: 14 Dec 1953 & 9 Nov 2011 Judy,Prince George Citizen, 27 Feb 1956 and William. Joe, a sawfiler then millwright, departed with his family to pursue other work opportunities.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=85}}

Clarence married Olga Horn (1932– ),Prince George Citizen: 26 Jul 1951 & 16 Feb 2016 one of the two teachers who had arrived for the 1950/51 school year.Prince George Citizen, 21 Dec 1950 Their children Dan,Prince George Citizen: 6 Mar 1952 & 24 Sep 1953 Diane Louise (1954–2009),Prince George Citizen: 21 Oct 1954, 19 Aug 1995 & 28 Dec 2009 Larry,Prince George Citizen, 15 Nov 1956 Maxine, and Jenny, attended the Penny school, as well as three of the grandchildren.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=106}} Dan has authored five books,{{Cite web | url=https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/riskbuster |title = Dan Boudreau biography |website=www.smashwords.com}} When 15, Clarence joined his father and older brother in driving their horse team that hauled logs for milling. In 1956, he bought a Caterpillar D6 to clear their land for potato farming.Prince George Citizen: 17 May 1956 & 16 May 1957 When cattle ranching proved unprofitable, he focused on logging, land clearing and snowplowing. He was fire warden for many years, and ran (1980–1996)Prince George Citizen, 19 Feb 2013 the salmon hatchery (1980–2006) located on their property.Prince George Citizen: 25 May 1985, 10 Apr 1987 & 16 Feb 2016 In retirement, he voluntarily maintained the Longworth–Penny road with his Cat D6, and remained a resident for nearly 80 years. During the 1970s, when the school closed temporarily, Olga supervised the correspondence course children.Prince George Citizen, 24 Jun1970 Although away from teaching while raising her children, she did substitute when needed. She worked in, and did the bookkeeping for, the hatchery. She also kept a large garden and canned the produce. They acquired their first electricity generator in 1982. Diane Louise is the most recent burial at the cemetery. Clarence, having resided for 80 years, the couple left in 2011. {{anchor|JBoudreau}}

E. Jack and ex-wife, Andreen E. Spoklie (1942–2015), had two children, Kelly and Kim.,Prince George Citizen, 20 Oct 2015 Jack worked various jobs in the mill and in driving logs down the river.{{sfn|Boudreau|2000|pp=Interview #5: 6–7}} In 1967, residents protested the closure of their post-office and it reopened after six weeks.Prince George Citizen: 30 Jun 1967, 7 Jul 1967 & 24 Aug 1967 Jack was postmaster 1967–76,{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=66}}Prince George Citizen, 21 Aug 1967 chair of the citizens committee,Prince George Citizen, 22 Sep 1970 and remained a resident.Prince George Citizen, 19 Sep 1977 He left in 1976.{{sfn|Boudreau|2000|p=Interview #5: 1}} He finished his career elsewhere as a licensed scaler, an industrial first-aid attendant, and forest firefighter mostly with the Ministry of Forests.{{sfn|Boudreau|2000|p=Interview #5: 7}} In 1999 on retirement, he wrote the first of his 10 published books on the region's history and personalities. {{anchor|MBoudreau}}

Margaret married loggerPrince George Citizen, 3 Feb 1955 John A. Humphreys.Prince George Citizen, 19 Nov 1951 {{Crossreference|selfref=no|(see #JHumphreys)}} Their children were David J., James (Jim) C.,Prince George Citizen: 6 Feb 1956 & 7 Jun 1956 and Allan. By 16, Margaret could harness and work her father's horse team. Starting work at 15, John spent about 15 years at the lumber camps or the mill.{{sfn|Humphreys_a|2000|pp=Supplementary Notes}} The family left in 1965.

June Boudreau worked briefly in Prince George, before marrying William (Bill) Benedict (1928–2013), and having children JuliePrince George Citizen, 30 Jul 1958 (died of SIDS at six months), Shirley (Allannah), Darlene, and Wayne. The Penny station was busy for most of Bill's tenure as CNR station agent 1954–65, but the family departed after sawmilling activity ceased. In 1993, he returned to live in Penny for a number of years,{{sfn|PRC|1995|pp=39 & 78–80}} and his ashes were spread at the cemetery. Remarried, June Vandermark has been a prolific writer of letters to the editor, which criticize mainline religious,Prince George Citizen: 27 Mar 1986, 18 Sep 1986, 24 Jul 1997, 12 Jan 1999, 19 Aug 2000, 15 & 21 Dec 2000, 21 Jul 2001, 8 Aug 2002, 27 Jan 2010, 1 & 2 Feb 2010, 20 Oct 2010, 30 Nov 2010, 27 Sep 2011, 27 Aug 2012, 25 Nov 2015 & 19 Apr 2016, environmental,Prince George Citizen: 30 Nov 1985, 21 Jan 1991 & 21 Jan 2002 and sundry matters.Prince George Citizen: 1 Feb 1983, 24 Jul 1984, 24 Jun 1985, 22 Jul 1993, 31 Jan 1994, 6 Mar 1995 & 23 Feb 2000

Joseph Pastor (1896–1982){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/16a12f28-6053-4eaa-9253-28558de62c74 |title =Death Certificate (Joseph PASTOR)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 22 Nov 1982 settled in 1934. His wife Mary (1900–84),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/c2adda1f-0d01-4213-be87-c62e8eb7b5bd |title =Death Certificate (Mary Elizabeth PASTOR)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} and children Mary E. (1920–86),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/8b302eda-f562-450d-b9b0-9470e51dcb3b |title =Death Certificate (Mary Elizabeth FRENKEL)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Theresa (Terry) M. (1921–84),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/bf507ab4-77e4-4119-b9e0-b5d52566f594 |title =Death Certificate (Theresa Mary LOUSIER)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} and Joseph (Joe) (1925–2006),{{Cite web | url=https://www.ominecaexpress.com/obituaries/joseph-john-joe-pastor |title =Obituary (Joseph John PASTOR) |website=www.ominecaexpress.com}} joined him from Hungary.Prince George Citizen: 22 Nov 1982 & 10 Apr 1984 Although he worked in the sawmillPrince George Citizen, 27 Jan 1944 during the earlier years, the farmPrince George Citizen: 3 Oct 1940, 10 Sep 1942, 1 Apr 1948, 27 Mar 1947, 19 May 1955, 17 Jun 1957, 12 Dec 1957 & 4 Aug 1959 was his primary involvement. Mary Sr. delivered milk, cream, butter and cheese to residents.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=150}} On retiring in 1973, they left.Prince George Citizen, 21 Jun 1979

Joseph was also a hunting guide, who had been shot during World War I and the bullet was removed from his elbow in 1944.Prince George Citizen, 23 Mar 1944 His Hungarian friend, Joseph Kobra (1902–65),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/b9b4ade3-32a1-4961-baba-39ea360633de |title =Death Certificate (Joseph KOBRA)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} a sometime Penny resident since the 1940s,Prince George Citizen: 2 Nov 1944, 26 Jul 1945 & 4 Apr 1957Boudreau, Clarence & Olga. (2003). Into the Mists of Time. Self-published. p. 59 followed him from Lindup, remaining in the Penny/Lindup area for 40 years.Prince George Citizen, 29 Jan 1965

In 1937, Mary married{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/b647016c-a201-4daa-8b22-2dc2ca5738d1 |title =Marriage Certificate (FRENKEL/PASTOR)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Gustof (Gus) Frenkel (1905–83),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/a2b465d5-2e14-4b6f-82b9-3ec1f640dec2 |title =Death Certificate (Gustof FRENKEL)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} but they never resided as a couple in Penny. Their children were John, Margaret, Sheila and Marie.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=150}}Prince George Citizen: 14 Oct 1937, 15 Nov 1983, 30 Dec 1986 & 7 Apr 2016

In 1943, Terry married{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/829a1203-847c-48ff-8327-4966f8853b0d |title =Marriage Certificate (LOUSIER/PASTOR)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} J. Earl Lousier (1924–2011).Prince George Citizen: 4 Nov 1943, 9 Dec 1943, 28 Aug 1984 & 26 Feb 2011 Initially a sawmill blade tooth setter, Earl became a sawyer after two years. Danny, their son, was born in Penny,Prince George Citizen, 31 Aug 1944 with Theresa (Terry) Ann, Bonita (Bonnie), and Lorraine born after the family left in 1952.Prince George Citizen, 21 Feb 1952{{sfn|PRC|1995|pp=119–123 & 150}}

During the mid-1940s, a Scout troop and Wolf Cub pack operated. Charles (Charlie) Adcock, the CNR section foreman, was scoutmaster, and Earl Lousier was his assistant. Thurston Berg led the Cubs.Prince George Citizen: 31 May 1945, 14 & 21 Jun 1945, 2 Aug 1945, 8 Nov 1945, 3 Jan 1946 & 7 Mar 1946 On Charlie's transfer, Larry Willington became scoutmaster and Alice Sinclair had taken charge of the cubs,Prince George Citizen, 1 May 1947 but these activities soon folded.Prince George Citizen, 9 Oct 1952

In 1946, Joe Jr. marriedPrince George Citizen, 8 Aug 1946 Marie Jopp (1924–2014).{{Cite web | url=https://www.ominecaexpress.com/obituaries/marie-elizabeth-pastor |title =Obituary (Marie Elizabeth PASTOR) |website=www.ominecaexpress.com}} Joe, who played trumpet at the dances,{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=123}} months earlier had lost two toes in a logging accident. Marie was one of the two teachers for the 1944/45 to 1946/47 school years, after which she was available as a substitute.Prince George Citizen: 5 Jul 1945 & 18 Sep 1947 During the mid-to-late 1940s, she led the Girl Guides,Prince George Citizen: 21 Jun 1945 & 15 May 1947 who were involved in a range of events.Prince George Citizen: 5 Apr 1945, 24 & 31 May 1945, 5 Jul 1945, 16 Aug 1945, 7 Mar 1946, 7 Aug 1947 & 12 Feb 1948{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=211}} In 1950, Marie was briefly confined to hospital in Prince George with suspected polio,Prince George Citizen, 16 Oct 1950 before convalescing at home.Prince George Citizen, 9 Nov 1950 Their children raised in Penny were Gary (1948– ),Prince George Citizen, 5 Feb 1948 Richard (Ritchie) (1949–2004),Prince George Citizen, 17 Nov 1949 Shirley (1961– ),Prince George Citizen, 16 Aug 1951 Stewart (1953–93),Prince George Citizen: 15 Jun 1953 & 1 Jun 1993 and Terry-Lynn (1955– ),Prince George Citizen, 10 Feb 1955 with Ronnie born after the family left in 1955.Prince George Citizen, 1 Dec 1955{{sfn|PRC|1995|pp=109–110 & 150}}

In 1952, Mrs. R. Clark and Mrs. A. Ward are recorded as teachers for the Girl Guides and Brownies,Prince George Citizen, 30 Dec 1952 the latter company having been recently organized, but these groups are not mentioned after 1953.Prince George Citizen: 19 Mar 1953 & 27 Apr 1953

John Kuz (1913–50){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/cec1efb7-4c5c-4e7e-be36-60ee46bb2109 |title =Death Certificate (John Harris KUZ)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} was the only Penny resident to die of polio. He had arrived in Penny in 1937, where his wife Anne

(probably 1917–2003) and baby Harold (probably 1937–2016){{Cite web | url=https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/vancouver-bc/harold-kuz-6957888 |title =Obituary (Harold Andrew KUZ)|website=www.dignitymemorial.com}} soon joined them. They were active in community life,Prince George Citizen: 4 Jun 1942, 1 Jul 1943, 24 May 1945, 17 Oct 1946 & 3 Nov 1949 and their subsequent children raised in Penny were Leona (1939– ),Prince George Citizen, 8 Jun 1939 M. Elaine (1943– ),Prince George Citizen, 4 Mar 1943 and John (1949– ). Initially a logger, John Sr. became a mill labourer, oiler, and finally millwright, where in 1943 he lost three toes in a mill accident.Prince George Citizen, 18 Jun 1942 In 1949, a 12-foot fall required a hospital visit.Prince George Citizen, 7 Jul 1949 On John's death in hospital at Prince George, public functions in Penny were cancelled and the school closed as a precaution, which was repeated during another polio outbreak two years later.Prince George Citizen, 3 Nov 1952 The community collected almost $1,100 for the family,Prince George Citizen, 19 Oct 1950 who left in 1951.{{sfn|PRC|1995|pp=110–112}}

In 1928, widower Frederick (Dick) R. Finer

(1884–1952){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/9d7d8059-59ba-4c51-accd-58661f7a98c8 |title =Death Certificate (Frederick Reginald FINER)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} arrived in Penny. The following year, his children Mabel (1914–2007),{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2526150 |title=Cemetery Project (Mabel J. RIGGS)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} Irene (1916–2002), and Allen (1918–2010), joined him. Mabel married{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/2d1f6982-7885-4779-bcb5-50b0a355db88 |title =Marriage Certificate (RIGGS/FINER)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Wilbert (Bert) Riggs (1912–99) of Longworth{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2526151 |title=Cemetery Project (Wilbert A. RIGGS)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} in 1932, where they homesteaded, before residing off and on in Penny from 1936. Bert was a logger, sawmill worker, and with Mabel, ran their small farm.

In 1937, Irene Finer left and marriedPrince George Citizen, 14 Oct 1937 N. Wilfrid Appleyard (c.1901–?).{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/bf0daefe-4e79-4ded-b9f2-3db32d233f33 |title =Marriage Certificate (APPLEYARD/FINER)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Allen R. Finer enlisted during World War II,Prince George Citizen: 6 Nov 1941 & 4 Jun 1942 was wounded,Prince George Citizen: 21 Oct 1943 & 18 Nov 1943 married,Prince George Citizen, 13 Sep 1945 and settled in Vancouver.Prince George Citizen: 18 Oct 1945 & 24 Jul 1947 His father soon followed.Prince George Citizen, 12 Jun 1952

In 1942, the Riggs resettled in Penny.Prince George Citizen, 4 Jun 1942 Their children were Clarence (1933–45),{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2529246 |title=Cemetery Project (Clarence George RIGGS)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} Lelia, Keith (1937– ),Prince George Citizen, 19 Aug 1937 Patricia (Pat) (1945– ),Prince George Citizen, 26 Apr 1945 and Juanita (Nita) (1947– ).Prince George Citizen, 17 Apr 1947 Clarence drowned at Guilford Lumber mill.Prince George Citizen, 19 Jul 1945 Mabel Riggs operated an iced confectionary booth from her front porch during the summertime.Prince George Citizen, 5 Aug 1948{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=95}} Bert Riggs was hospitalized several times,Prince George Citizen: 11 Dec 1947, 7 Sep 1950 & 6 Mar 1952 being evacuated by amphibian plane on one occasion.Prince George Citizen, 25 Jun 1951 After relocating to and from Prince George for a couple of years,Prince George Citizen: 28 Aug 1952, 24 Dec 1953 & 18 Feb 1954 the family, except Lelia,Prince George Citizen: 14 Oct 1954, 18 Nov 1954, 24 Mar 1955, 21 Jul 1955 & 5 Apr 1956 returned.Prince George Citizen, 6 May 1954 Keith left for work,Prince George Citizen, 5 Jul 1956 and Lelia I. married Lawrence B. Tindill. (1927–2003).{{Cite web | url=https://vancouversunandprovince.remembering.ca/obituary/lawrence-tindill-1065772619 |title =Obituary (Lawrence TINDILL)|website=www.vancouversunandprovince.ca}} Bert relocated for work in 1958, and Mabel, Pat and Nita joined him in 1963.Prince George Citizen, 21 Jan 1999{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=159}} Nita married David Solecki,Prince George Citizen, 6 Nov 1968 and Pat married Cornelius Evert (Casey) Van Beek.Prince George Citizen, 21 Nov 1968

During the 1927 forest fire, women and children were temporarily evacuated by special train to Dome Creek.

A sudden death in 1934 prompted an investigative visit by the coroner and a constable from Prince George.Prince George Citizen, 8 Nov 1934 {{anchor|EHooker}}

Logger G. Edward Hooker (1915–36), formerly at Bend,{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2203325 |title=Cemetery Project (George Edward HOOKER)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} slipped and drowned while breaking up a logjam. His body was found over seven months later downriver at Sinclair Mills.Prince George Citizen, 13 May 1937

In 1944 and 1945, the police arrested the offenders responsible for break and entries at the store.Prince George Citizen: 27 Jan 1944, 3 Feb 1944 & 3 May 1945

A rolling log fatally crushed William Gorrick (1915–48).{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/b7ebbb9f-63cb-45ab-8b38-95c11fbb1de6 |title =Death Certificate (William GORRICK)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}

Although limited mentions of houses burning to the ground,Prince George Citizen, 8 Jun 1950 it was likely a common occurrence.

In 1957, safecrackers stole $4,000 in cash from the store.Prince George Citizen: 25 & 28 Oct 1957

While hunting near Penny, Kalman Malzsencizky mistook his friend, Bela Bill Cservenka

(1927–65),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/1df91d99-655f-442b-9931-ec60a895cea6 |title =Death Certificate (Bela Tiboi CSERVENKA)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} for a moose and fatally shot him. First aid was administered immediately and after a boat trip back to the Pastor farm, where the victim died four hours after the incident.Prince George Citizen: 12 Oct 1965, & 19 & 21 Jan 1966 At his trial, Malzsencizky pleaded guilty to criminal negligence.Prince George Citizen, 12 May 1966 Schervenka's widow was awarded $60,719 in damages under the provincial Families Compensation Act.Prince George Citizen, 27 Feb 1968

A self-inflicted rifle wound took a hunter's life on the access road.{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/04423f0c-d7d9-4267-a41a-9ab0d20f3202 |title =Death Certificate (Kevin Jeffrey BRYAN)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/a12eade0-c99c-4147-929b-4d062bfd87be |title =Death Certificate (med) (Kevin Jeffrey BRYAN)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}}Prince George Citizen, 25 Aug 1994

In 1975, Imre Sorban fired shots at a boatload of people on the outskirts of Penny, forced another woman into a car, and later shot out two tires on the vehicle before he was subdued. Another victim sustained leg wounds from a shotgun blast. Midway through his trial, Sorban pleaded guilty to charges of carrying an offensive weapon and illegally confining another person.Prince George Citizen: 3 Oct 1975; & 2 & 3 Dec 1976

When ice jams upstream and downstream blocked the river during the 1980/81 winter, owners could not reach their cars parked on the west bank, and flooding submerged 13 vehicles and carried off several boats.Prince George Citizen: 19 & 22 Dec 1980 Though the townsite on higher ground was safe, houses in low-lying areas were flooded.Prince George Citizen, 18 Dec 1980

The Aleza Lake to Tête Jaune highway-construction relief project began in 1931. The seven camps between Aleza Lake and McBride housed 500 workers. Discontent in the camps prompted demands for increased wages, and strike action occurred in April and July 1932, at which time the workers departed for Prince George. In August 1932, the province redirected the men to these isolated locations, now designated as non-work relief camps. Camp 88, Penny,Prince George Citizen, 19 Oct 1933 was the largest of the group.{{sfn|Hak|1986|p=292}} On 19 November 1932, a physical confrontation with the camp foreman led to his replacement and a police investigation.Prince George Citizen, 24 Nov 1932 On 25 November 1932, police arrested three agitators from the camp for travelling without railway tickets and they received one-month prison sentences. By month end, the camp held its full complement of 108 men. The camp closed in October 1933.{{sfn|Hak|1986|p=296}} {{anchor|ChambersFam}}

The Penny location at about Mile 72 occupied the former GTP construction camp (formerly about Mile 162). In 1934, Edward (Ed) V. (1888–1951){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/0e4f3a83-1ffa-4a7a-b16b-2df07076d8c3 |title =Death Certificate (Edward Victor CHAMBERS)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} & Elsie (1904–95){{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/1be2c893-8116-48a0-9963-7892f2dc1383 |title =Death Certificate (Elsie Louise Christina HEGSTAD)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} Chambers moved from Lindup to the camp, where Ed was employed, and by 1936, he worked at a logging camp across the river. Their children were D. Bernice (c.1923–?),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/a7bab447-ee1e-48db-8d93-120da79b4008 |title =Marriage Certificate (GAGNON/CHAMBERS)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} James (Jim) (1924–?), Marie (possibly 1926–2010),{{Cite web | url=https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/vancouver-bc/marie-macneil-4427227 |title =Obituary (Marie Christina MacNEIL)|website=www.dignitymemorial.com}} Lillian Jean (c.1928–2002),Prince George Citizen, 13 Nov 2002 Charles Lindburgh (Lindy) (1929–79),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/a060e577-eeb6-487b-b52c-fbde6a141cc1 |title =Death Certificate (Charles Lindburgh CHAMBERS)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} M. Jean (1930–2012),{{Cite web | url=http://www.inmemoriam.ca/view-announcement-342363-jean-benton.html |title =Obituary (Jean BENTON)|website=www.inmemoriam.ca }} and Bette.

The family settled in Penny just before World War II, with the children spending varying periods of their adult lives there.{{sfn|PRC|1995|pp=90–95}} Ed remained until his death, and Elsie stayed.Prince George Citizen, 15 May 1955 Bernice married Len Gagnon (1909–59),{{Cite web | url=http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Image/Genealogy/fe54a275-39b8-455c-8d19-53fa96cd9d16 |title =Death Certificate (Leonard Louis Joseph GAGNON)|website=www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca}} who worked in the sawmill.Prince George Citizen: 17 Apr 1941, 27 Aug 1942, 15 Apr 1943, 28 Sep 1944, 13 Sep 1945, 11 Apr 1946, 3 Apr 1947, 6 May 1948, 30 Mar 1950, 16 Aug 1951, 19 Jun 1952, 2 Mar 1953, 18 Feb 1954, 16 Sep 1954, & 5 & 19 May 1955 James (Jim) E. enlisted 1942–46,Prince George Citizen, 3 Oct 1946 married Marion Hooker (1924–2002) of Bend,{{Cite web | url=http://geneofun.on.ca/names/photo/2203422 |title=Cemetery Project (Marion Margaret CHAMBERS)|website=www.geneofun.on.ca}} and settled in Vancouver.Prince George Citizen, 26 Sep 1946 Marie moved to Jasper,Prince George Citizen, 24 Jun 1943 and enlisted 1944–46. She lived in Vancouver and married J. McNeil.Prince George Citizen, 17 Jul 1947 Lillian Jean enlisted 1944–45, married Chester Whelen (c.1921–2012),{{Cite web | url=http://edmontonjournal.remembering.ca/obituary/chester-whelen-1065610252 |title =Obituary (Chester WHELEN)|website=www.edmontonjournal.ca}} and settled in Alberta,Prince George Citizen: 22 Aug 1946, 11 Dec 1947, 22 Jan 1948 & 26 Feb 1948 but later married Michael Kosteck. Lindy remained based in Penny,Prince George Citizen: 8 Apr 1954, 2 May 1957 & 11 Jul 1967 married Alice Taylor, but later moved.Prince George Citizen, 10 Aug 1979 M. Jean married local Charles (Charlie) F. Benton.Prince George Citizen: 7 Oct 1948, 11 May 1950, 10 Jan 1952 & 8 Apr 1954{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=82}} Bette left for Vancouver and married.Prince George Citizen, 10 Jan 1952

In 1947, Standard Tie and Timber graded a {{convert|1|mi|km|adj=on|spell=in}} road through the town. By 1951, there were 21 cars in the community, but still only one mile of road.Prince George Citizen, 9 Aug 1951 When Highway 16, linking Prince George and McBride, opened in 1969,Prince George Citizen, 22 May 1969 many residents parked their vehicles on the opposite bank of the Fraser River. In winter, the frozen river could usually be crossed by an ice bridge,Prince George Citizen: 5 Mar 1980 & 30 Dec 1986 but if the weather was unusually mild, the train provided the only access.Prince George Citizen, 23 Feb 1990 A proposal for a reaction ferry or bridge access divided the community.Prince George Citizen: 30 & 31 Jan 1980; 1, 7 18 & 29 Feb 1980; 5 Mar 1980; & 14 Jan 1981 In 1995, volunteers upgraded a {{convert|12|km|mi|adj=on}} logging road, and for the next 20 years, maintained this only road access to the community.Prince George Citizen: 9 Aug 1995 & 19 Feb 2013 In 2017, the province agreed to maintain the private road to Longworth for two years.Prince George Citizen, 12 Apr 2017 A replacement contract is under consideration.{{Cite web | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/penny-road-maintenance-1.4975670 | title=CBC News, 12 Jan 2019 |website=www.cbc.ca}}

From 1929, the CNR telephone lines opened for public usage, linking Dome Creek with Prince George.Prince George Citizen, 20 Jun 1929 Fifty years later, the CN lines from Giscome still served Penny's crank-style phonesPrince George Citizen: 8 Aug 1978 & 22 Dec 1980 on a party line.{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=172}} In the 1990s, the service continued to be erratic, because Telus could not justify the cost of dedicated lines for so few customers.Prince George Citizen: 9 Aug 1995 & 22 Oct 1999

Using a 150-foot wire strung between two 50-foot poles as an aerial, predominantly battery-powered radios received better reception from certain stations in Calgary or the U.S. west coast.{{Cite web | url=https://search.nbca.unbc.ca/uploads/r/northern-bc-archives-special-collections-1/2/b/6/2b64109c25b2859ae58efd839a40826c50a110ad57372915614f6ceb0927b7a4/2017.06.2.76_Wlasitz__OCR_.pdf#page=27 | last=Wlasitz |first=Steve & Helen |title =Upper Fraser Historical Geography Project Transcript |year=2000 | pages=25–27|website=www.nbca.unbc.ca}}{{sfn|Mellows|2000|pp=8–9}}

Some places had diesel or alternately powered generators.Prince George Citizen, 23 Mar 1950 Otherwise, oil or gas lamps provided light and wood-burning stoves heat.{{sfn|Litnosky|2000|p=14}}{{sfn|PRC|1995|pp=175 & 251}} Around 1950, the sawmill wired and supplied electricity to many company houses,{{sfn|Litnosky|2000|p=10}}{{sfn|PRC|1995|p=164}} which ceased when the mill closed. There are no BC Hydro transmission lines.{{sfn|May|2000|p=10}}

A new transmitter, installed by CKPG-TV on Mount Tabor in 1964, provided reception as far southeast as Longworth & Penny.Prince George Citizen: 27 Oct 1964 & 7 Dec 1964

Completed in 2014, the Telus cell tower near Dome Creek also serves over {{convert|16|km|mi}} of Highway 16 between Penny and Dome Mountain.{{Cite web | url=https://www.therockymountaingoat.com/2014/01/cell-service-expands-on-highway-16 |title =Rocky Mountain Goat, 6 Jan 2014 |website=www.therockymountaingoat.com|date =7 January 2014 }}

{{reflist}}

• {{BCGNIS|6972|Penny (community)}}
• {{cite web | url=http://pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca/fedora/repository |title =Prince George archival newspapers |website=www.pgpl.ca}}
• {{cite book |last=PRC |title=A Penny for Your Thoughts... |year=1995 |publisher=The Penny Reunion Committee }}
• {{Cite web | url=https://search.nbca.unbc.ca/uploads/r/northern-bc-archives-special-collections-1/d/d/b/ddb5a6a7d9a57055964ed04646963af61ab56c168cc6cacc6287904e7da63bed/2017.06.2.7_Boudreau_Jack_with_Diary_of_Adelia_Sykes__OCR_.pdf | last=Boudreau |first=Jack |title =Upper Fraser Historical Geography Project Transcript |year=2000 |website=www.nbca.unbc.ca }}
• {{Cite web | url=https://search.nbca.unbc.ca/uploads/r/northern-bc-archives-special-collections-1/4/4/3/4439989e5d9d2cf721c398564a6e595c34fdfd214dcbac833df69012069efcd2/2017.06.2.30_Humphreys_Jim_and_Dianne__OCR_.pdf | last=Humphreys_b |first=Jim & Dianne |title =Upper Fraser Historical Geography Project Transcript |year=2000 |website=www.nbca.unbc.ca }}
• {{Cite web | url=https://search.nbca.unbc.ca/uploads/r/northern-bc-archives-special-collections-1/c/a/6/ca68a606d464efb9cd7e30638d270031a37a6b79b03c83b664aac5357628a74f/2017.06.2.31_Humphreys_John__OCR_.pdf | last=Humphreys_a |first=John |title =Upper Fraser Historical Geography Project Transcript |year=2000 |website=www.nbca.unbc.ca }}
• {{Cite web | url=https://search.nbca.unbc.ca/uploads/r/northern-bc-archives-special-collections-1/8/0/d/80d5445a06b5c6264c00a341b4590da2d2a28edec51796aa991b19f135072346/2017.06.2.37_Litnosky_Victor__OCR_.pdf | last=Litnosky |first=Victor |title =Upper Fraser Historical Geography Project Transcript |year=2000 |website=www.nbca.unbc.ca }}
• {{Cite web | url=https://search.nbca.unbc.ca/uploads/r/northern-bc-archives-special-collections-1/5/4/c/54cd3597ef6df6046b125d266b2bcf14063fbc6ecf186f8dfef4362057961a56/2017.06.2.44_May_Jean_OCR_.pdf | last=May |first=Jean |title =Upper Fraser Historical Geography Project Transcript |year=2000 |website=www.nbca.unbc.ca }}
• {{Cite web | url=https://search.nbca.unbc.ca/uploads/r/northern-bc-archives-special-collections-1/6/a/0/6a037715b9746f4e20f8986224f58adcd252c5e8a07ea87d018e8a79a45d90a7/2017.06.2.47_Mellos_Anna__OCR_.pdf | last=Mellos |first=Anna |title =Upper Fraser Historical Geography Project Transcript |year=2000 |website=www.nbca.unbc.ca }}
• {{Cite web | url=https://search.nbca.unbc.ca/uploads/r/northern-bc-archives-special-collections-1/4/4/1/441abc2ff5aed6cd1067cd9b456826f53c69f9985c67fdbf93e392db66c9e247/2017.06.2.48__Mellows_Arne_and_Carrie__OCR_.pdf | last=Mellows |first=Arne & Carrie |title =Upper Fraser Historical Geography Project Transcript |year=2000 |website=www.nbca.unbc.ca }}
• {{Cite web | url=https://search.nbca.unbc.ca/uploads/r/northern-bc-archives-special-collections-1/b/c/3/bc391a672062c8bc4ef5f186d693b697662411e51837ea0727e21afefed50931/2017.06.2.61_Saville_Milly__OCR_.pdf | last=Saville |first=Milly |title =Upper Fraser Historical Geography Project Transcript |year=2000 |website=www.nbca.unbc.ca }}
• {{cite book |last=Olson |first=Raymond |title=Ghost Towns on the East Line |year=2014 |publisher=Self-published |isbn=9780986924316 }}
• {{Cite web | url=http://summit.sfu.ca/item/6364 |last=Hak |first=Gordon Hugh|title=On the Fringes: Capital and Labour in the Forest Economies of the Port Alberni and Prince George Districts, BC, 1910–1939 |year=1986 |website=www.summit.sfu.ca }}

Category:Robson Valley

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

Category:Populated places on the Fraser River

Category:Unincorporated settlements in British Columbia

Category:Grand Trunk Pacific Railway stations