Greenwood: Meeting Point of the Waters
BY: BG EDITOR
Greenwood, B.C., c. 1900
Mar 31, 2018 — GREENWOOD, BC (BG)
The following article, which appeared in the 1904 Holiday Edition of the Phoenix Pioneer and Boundary Mining Journal[1], offers a beautifully written description of the growing city of Greenwood, "the meeting point of the waters from the mountains, the meeting place of the roads which seek their valleys".
"FEW men have done as much for the place of their adoption as did Robert Wood for the city of Greenwood — that prettily located incorporated town so advantageously situated in the valley of Boundary creek. Mr. Wood has been aptly called the father of Greenwood, and the name is well applied, for, since he first came into the almost uninhabited Boundary district in the fall of 1895, having journeyed from Armstrong, in the Okanagan country, and established Greenwood, Mr. Wood has been steadily and untiringly working for the building up of Greenwood.
Mr. Wood literally hewed his way in the primeval forest in building Greenwood, and, as may be surmised, it was no easy task in those days. When promising mines were located in every direction around Greenwood, form one to fifteen miles distant, Mr. Wood and his friends were the first to see the wisdom of building trails and wagon roads to the various camps, thereby securing a profitable trade for the enterprising Greenwood merchants.
And so Greenwood grew and waxed strong. When the iron horse was heard snorting in the distance, getting ready to cross the range from the Columbia river, Greenwood grew even faster than before, and prosperity shone on it in large degree. This was in 1898 and 1899. The C. P. R. began its work of blasting its rocky way into the Boundary in the former year, and in the fall of 1899 the first trains were run into Greenwood. For years the railway had been promised and at last it was a reality, and Greenwood thrived mightily as the direct result.
In the meantime many of the mere prospects had been extensively developed, and some of them had the right to claim the name of mines, ready to begin steady ore shipments when the steel monster should reach the dumps. Some of the mines were low grade, and required many men to develop them; and then again there were scores of high grade properties that gave the greatest promise — a promise which in increasing numbers is being verified today. It was the day of progress and growth.
In July, 1897, the municipality of the city of Greenwood was formed, and the place began to take on metropolitan airs by grading streets, building sidewalks, securing water and light systems, etc. The first assessment roll of the new city showed a valuation of $211,035, while that for this year was six or seven times as large. Debentures were issued for making improvements, and so well were they taken care of that many thousands of dollars worth have already been called in and cancelled. As an instance of business sagacity on the part of the mayor and aldermen of Greenwood, early this year there was an opportunity to buy in some of the debentures at something like 65 cents on the dollar, and it was arranged. Later in the year it was thought wise to issue $15,000 in new debentures to improve the water system, and these debentures were sold at 95 cents in Toronto.
Greenwood is provincial government headquarters for Greenwood (formerly Kettle river) mining division, and the gold commissioner and mining recorder, William G. McMynn, resides here. A couple of years ago, the government erected a substantial court house in Greenwood at a cost of $20,000, Mr. McMynn being registrar for both supreme and county courts. An illustration of the building will be noted here.
No city or town in the Boundary has better banking facilities than Greenwood. When the railway graders were blasting their way to Greenwood, three great chartered banks had a friendly race to see which could first open a branch in Greenwood. Almost simultaneously the Bank of Montreal, the Bank of British North America and the Canadian Bank of Commerce were doing business in the Boundary creek mining and trading centre.
In other ways Greenwood is favored better than many places. A fine public school building has been built, with ample accommodation for years to come, while five religious denominations have edifices of their own. Fraternal and secret orders are also well represented with strong branches, and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace are doing good work in a well equipped hospital.
Greenwood Townsite, c. 1897
BC Archives #A-05083 (colourized)
In common with all places in the Boundary, Greenwood felt the quiet times that followed the completion of the C P.R. into the Boundary. As in all new places, many came into the country on a "shoestring," hoping to make good in the boom that was on. The quiet times eliminated this class, legitimate mining became more and more in vogue, and it was found that the mines were even better and richer than many of the argonauts of the district had dreamed, and dividends were paid. With its happy location, at the confluence of several creeks, which were naturally followed by roads and trails from contiguous mines, Greenwood's old-timers stayed with the place and gradually received the reward which they so richly earned.
The men who laid the foundations of Greenwood appear to have been gifted with a prescience in the matter of its location. Midway in the valley of Boundary creek, between the divide at Eholt and the beautiful Kettle River valley where Boundary creek flows into the Kettle, it challenges a rival geographically. Long ago nature made it the objective point of descent from the mountain ranges on either side — mountain ranges filled with vast resources of gold and silver and copper. Obeying nature's law, here the streams from the mountain ranges flow into Boundary creek. Through the heart of the city Twin creek comes down from the east. One mile north of the city Providence creek follows its course from the east into the valley. A half mile further on Eholt creek pours a generous flood into the valley. At the southern limits Copper creek comes out of the west through a pass which leads by easy grade to Deadwood and Copper camps beyond.
A half mile further south Lind creek pours its pure waters into the valley. Along the courses of all these streams Nature decreed the future travel of the district. And so today up the valley of Boundary creek to Kimberly camp, up the valley of Eholt creek to Summit camp, up Providence creek to Providence camp, up Twin creek to Phoenix camp, up Copper creek to Deadwood and Copper camps, Lind creek to Wellington camp, down Boundary creek to Smith's camp, the traveller takes his way. In the paths of pioneer and prospector the highways of the freighter, whether by team or railway, have been laid. Greenwood is the meeting point of the waters from the mountains, the meeting place of the roads which seek their valleys. "
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