The Goodfellow name goes back a long time in this area. Our own Chris Goodfellow, who now lives here with his wife Penny, is the grandson of Reverend John C. Goodfellow. He writes us to say thanks to the people behind the recent placement of signs marking Goodfellow Creek on the Hope Princeton highway in Manning Park. This honor of his grandfather was particularly facilitated by Area `H` Director, Brad Hope and Ms. Anne Hazlewood, Area Manager, Department of Transportation and Infrastructure.
The creek was named after Reverend John C. Goodfellow D.D. (1890-1968) in the early 1950`s by then-park ranger Robert Boyd. John Goodfellow resided in Princeton for many years and served as United Church Minister at St. Paul`s United from 1927 until his retirement in 1958. He was very active in the community with a special interest in local history, working closely with the BC Historical Society. In 1958 `The Story of Similkameen` was published and, although now out of print, his work is still considered to be an accurate and well documented account of the valley`s timeline and events. The connection to Manning Park stems from a boys group that Rev. Goodfellow mentored through the church and each year he would lead them on a hike over the Dewdney Trail to Hope. He completed this nineteen times from 1927 to 1946. Goodfellow Creek was always a favourite stop for a drink of water by John Goodfellow in his later years, and it was surely reminiscent of his many hikes over the mountains there.
~ Chris Goodfellow (grandson)
It’s definitely the last of fall when there’s snow that sticks. However, this doesn’t even come close to reaching the record of 24.1cm on this same October day in 1945 and there’s still a few warmer days to come.
On the south side of the bridge at the end of Betts you will now see a new sign. To the left is the old Blakeburn Road sign, but on the right, bearing what Coalmontians and the Smart family believe to be the rightful name – SMART ROAD.
As well as curious visitors and newcomers, there were quite a few old-timers such as Evelyn McCallum (left) and Edith Rice, pictured below. Evelyn is one of our local historians for the Princeton area and was recently awarded the first honorary life membership of the Princeton and District Museum and Archives. Edith we all know here. She has a long history in this area, including coming to Coalmont in the 40s and working the Roany Creek Ranch. There were many others from the old days, too numerous to mention, but it was fantastic to have them all here.
In the early evening the party slowed down as people went home, or continued on to the dance in Tulameen. The clean-up was quickly accomplished by enthusiastic volunteers such as Bob Reid, and in fact the whole affair really was a community effort. This was certainly a day to remember. §
It was June the 6th 1911 when the Columbia Coal and Coke Company registered the town plan in Kelowna. After getting off to a rocky start because of the intervening First World War, Coalmont took off and, as advertised, became “the centre of the coal and mining belt and the hub of business enterprise in the Tulameen valley”. Our little town thrived until the mine (by then in Blakeburn) closed in 1940. We nearly became a ghost town, but we’re still here!
Tom Stout passed away on the last weekend of January and we send our condolences to family and friends.
If you “dig history” it’s time to join the Princeton Museum Society. Our Museum has undergone many transformations over the decades – from its early years in a log cabin to the building it is in today on Vermilion Avenue. Until now, the Museum has shared its accommodation with the Library but all that is about to change. This year the Library moved to a new location and now the Museum is ready to undergo a major face-lift. What was the old Library, will become the Gloria Stout Wing named in honour of Mrs. Stout who left a generous bequest to the Museum she loved. 
In Her Words is a collection of selected works of Susan Louisa Allison (née Moir), Mother of the Similkameen. Her poetry and stories (some of which were written under the pen name of Stratton Moir) recount Indian legends told to her in the 1800’s when she ventured into the British Columbia interior with her new husband, John Fall Allison. Many of Susan Allison’s works have disappeared over time. With the assistance of members of her family and the Princeton Museum, this collection of lost writings has been carefully preserved. Included are: “In-Cow-Mas-Ket” and “Quin-Is-Coe”. This book has been prepared in celebration of Princeton, B.C.’s 150th birthday and the proceeds will benefit the Princeton and District Museum and Archives. 
BC Day is a statuary holiday and happens every year on the first monday of August. Everyone heads out to the country and has a roaring time enjoying this wonderful province.
So, a lot of water has gone under the bridge, and here we are with a new name, a new flag, and a couple of days off work. Life is good. Enjoy your holiday!