Lorne Creek

Lorne Creek BC

Unincorporated Mining Camp Area.
Railway Point on the GTP Railroad, between Usk and Pacific

Had a Telegraph Office ca 1910
52 miles below Hazelton on the Skeena River
103 miles from the mouth of the Skeena

Latitude- 54º 52' 51“ N
Longitude- 128º 23' 14” W

Henry “Harry” McDame discovered Gold here in 1884
a Bahamas born, Black Prospector.
b- 1826 Bahamas
d- 1900? in some sources, in Juneau Free Press there is an article
he was buried Oct 1, 1887, but how is he in 1889 directory below?
Harry, John Robert Giscombe, and others, formed “The Discovery Company” in the Cassiar area.
I believe one of the partners was Charles B. Smith.
all 3 names above were black men.

John Giscombe was born in Jamaica, age 45 in 1881
Charles Smith was born in USA, age 48 in 1881, all in Cassiar area.
McDame came to BC in 1858.
1881 shown age 55, African (Black), miner in Cassiar district.
1889 directory shows him as a miner at Lorne Creek
(see bio link bottom of page below)

John Robert Giscombe
b- 1832, Enfield, St. Mary, Jamaica
d- June 24, 1907 at 201 Johnson st., in Victoria BC, age 75
Charles B. Smith
b- ca 1831 (1833?) in USA
shown a widower in 1891 in Cassiar/Stikeen, age 60
d-
Source in 1899, a Mr. Bertram Tennyson, nephew of the poet, met who he described as a Mulatto, C. B. Smith, who had been mining on a river bar back of Dease lake, for 42 years.

July 29, 1884
Reported a man named Jerry, (O'Brien? see below) took out $600 in Gold in 2 days from Lone (Lorne) Creek.

On Lost Gulch, a short distance above Lorne Creek, Harry McDame and J. O'Brien took out $1300 in 3 hours.
One piece of gold was worth $87, in 1884.
The Gulch is 15 miles long.

Placer Mining and Hydraulic Mining, took place here in early part of the century, after this find.

1901
Dr. Horace Cooper Wrinch
b- Jan 6, 1866 in Kirby, Essex, England
d- Oct 19, 1939 in Vancouver, BC, age 73
a Doctor of Hazelton fame, was in Lorne Creek,
with his wife Alice Jane Breckon Wrinch. (1869-1923)
as well as Robert Tomlinson Sr., wife Alice,
2 sons, and 3 daughters were here as well.
Thomas Thornhill was here also in 1901.

ca 1902
Large dam with 32 ft head was built by Dry Hill claim on the Creek. Frank E. Holt was Manager. They built their own sawmill to cut wood for the Flume.

Aug 1902,
Hardscrabble Hydraulic Gold Mines Ltd. working here.
William J. Pascoe- Secretary of the Company (see below)
They also built a dam 75 ft long on the creek.
They had 875 ft of flume.
Company incorporated Dec 28, 1903.
Capital $90,000 in 3 cent shares.
Thomas Furlong and W. J. McGuirk were working the placer ground.

July 1904
2 hydraulic companies working in the area.
Mr. Frank E. Holt had 20 men building a 3 mile flume to the Dry Hill property
They spent $20,000 in 1903 on the property, Looking for gold deposits.
Dry Hill Hydraulic Mining Company- Whatcom WA, USA
Certificates of Registration were issued for this company in 1903. Capital $10,000 in one cent shares.
Provincial Head Office in Vancouver
Sir Charles Hibbert Tupper K.C. was their attorney. He became Solicitor General of Canada
2nd son of Sir Charles Tupper, Father of Confederation.
Oliver Perry Brown records for this Co. in WA archives
He was a lawyer in Bellingham.
He obviously had an interest in this company as well.

1904
They installed a monitor here. Mr. Holt took $5,000 worth of gold out in 50 hours.

1905 Charles Barnes- Miner (he was there in 1898 as well)
David McArthur- Miner
William Knox Speer- Miner (he was there in 1898 as well)
C. Smith- Miner

Cuthbert R. Reynard- Miner
b- Mar 6, 1868 in BC
d- June 15, 1905 drowned, Skeena River
son of Rev. John Stephen “James” Reynard,
b- Nov 24, 1828 Sculcoates, now Hull, England
d- June 11, 1875 Saanich BC
and Mary Page Reynard, nee Densham,
b- Mar 24, 1839, Morchard Bishop, Devonshire, England
d- Apr 26, 1933, Vancouver BC
1901 Reynard family in Saanich BC

Cuthbert's siblings-
a) George Herbert Densham Reynard, b-June 1860 -d- ?

b) John Stephen Reynard, 1862-1898

c) Eva Mary Reynard, 1865-1936

d) Arthur Tallis Cleveland Reynard, 1870-1943

e) Marmaduke Charles Reynard, 1872-1926

f) Catherine Gertrud Reynard, 1974-1963 (see Reynard Family link below)

Mr. Cuthbert Reynard drowned in the Skeena River, with 6 others, ca June 15, 1905,
others missing and presumed drowned:

• John F. Fultz, Mining Engineer of Louisville KY
• Charles Stewart- Miner of Lorne Creek
• ? Mills- Miner of Bellingham WA
• ? Johnson- Miner of Bellingham WA
• Fred Slight- Miner of Bellingham WA
• William Ward - Cook from Bellingham WA

these 7 men were all in a canoe that overturned attempting to cross the Skeena, at Skeena Canyon, 30 miles below Lorne Creek

so far one suspect, for Frank E. Holt

Frank E. Holt,
b- Dec 24, 1859, in USA
d-
immigrated in 1896
1901 in Victoria shown as a Contractor, age 41
still shown in a 1953 BC Voters list

William John Pascoe
b- Dec 12, 1866 in Grass Valley, Nevada Co., CA, USA
d- Probably California but not verified
son of John Pascoe (1835-1909) b- England
shown as a miner in Grass Valley Nevada, CA, in 1870
and Sarah Jane James (1842-1880) b- England
Immigrated in 1898 to BC
Gold Miner in Rossland BC in 1901
1910 he was a Land Broker in Vancouver
1930 in Oakland, Alameda CA., USA
wife- Cornelia Anne “Lenia?” “Nina?” Pascoe, nee Dell
b- Sept 3, 1871 in Pacheco, CA, USA
d- Jan 9, 1944 in Coquitlam BC
daughter of Walter K. Dell and Isabel S. Dell, both born in NY state

son- Chester Middleton Pascoe
b- Dec 31, 1891 in Coulee City, Douglas Co., WA., USA
d- Jan 12, 1960 Contra Costa, CA, USA
WWI Draft enlistment form, Sept 1925,
age shown b- 1892, living at Barker Hotel, Seattle,
occupation, Shipyard, for Pascoe Co.,
his father living at Royal Alex. Apts, Vancouver BC
WWII Draft enlistment form
b- 1891, age 50, Self employed, Yacht Harbour, Martinez, Contra Costa, CA.
Clerk age 21 when he married
married Myrtle Jefferson Mackenzie, May 17, 1912 in Vancouver BC
b- Campbellton, NB
age 19 when she married
daughter of Alexander MacKenzie, and Elizabeth Glover
Chester's wife in 1940
Florence A. Pascoe,
b- Abt 1894 in Canada, (age 46 in 1940)
1940 living at 3890 Glendora Dr, Martinez, Contra Costa, CA.
1935 Florence and Chester were in Vancouver BC

son- William James Pascoe
b- June 13, 1893 in Conconully, Okanogan Co, WA., USA
shown b- June 7 in some records, like SIN.
but WA birth records say 13., mother age 24, father 27.
d- Apr 18, 1964 in San Francisco, CA
July 11, 1924 he was travelling from Vancouver to San Francisco
via Detroit Michigan and the CPR
father lived at 50 Vernon St. Oakland Ca in July 11, 1924
brother Chester at Pascoe Wharf, Vancouver BC
1930 with his parents, shown as a Gold Miner

siblings
Sarah J. Pascoe
b- abt 1863, Wisconsin

Matilda G. Pascoe
b- abt 1867 in CA

Emanuel Pascoe
b- abt 1869 in CA

1910

Miners

• James Brown

George E. Charlton d- Apr 5, 1943 in Hazelton, age 75, (same guy?)

• Joseph Dunn
• Thomas Fayne
• Abram Lapp
• John Leonard
• Henry McArthur
• Hector McLeod
• William McDonald
• Cuthbert B. Reynold

Mine Owners
Alexander Henderson

Donald McDougall
- Representative, Dry Hill Hydraulic Mining Co.

Madden & Hambly- Yellow Peril Mine
(see Madden and Hambly Bio 's below)

Daniel W. Sutherland
b- ca 1875
d- Feb 4, 1910 at Lorne Creek, age 35

Government Sub- Mining Recorder Frank E. Holt (see above)

Rancher
William Leonard

Dominion Government Telegraph
George L. Martin- Operator

Hotel
James Franklin Dean

Timber and Real Estate
Charles E. Carpenter

Carpenter
John L. McIntosh

Master Mariner
Capt. William Francis Madden - Steamer Captain

Misc
Charles Taylor

1916

GTP Railroad

• B. Strain- Section Man
• J. Gettigan- Section Hand
• D. A. McPhee- Bridge Man (Railroad?)

Telegraph

Angus John Morrison- Telegraph Operator
b- Nov 25, 1872 in South Gut, Cape Breton
d- Dec 11, 1942 in St. Anns, Cape Breton
married Catherine Ann “Katie” MacIntosh in Moosomin SK
b- Dec 31, 1876 in Port Hawkesbury, Cape Breton
d- June 2, 1927 in St. Anns, Cape Breton

5 children:
son- Rev. Allister Evan Morrison
b- Apr 4, 1910 in Prince Rupert BC
d- Dec 17, 1986 in Halifax

son- John K. D. Morrison
b- Aug 23, 1911 in Prince Rupert BC
d- June 7, 1968, St. Anns Cape Breton

daughter- Annabelle Morrison
b- Aug 21, 1913 in Prince Rupert BC
d- Aug 1992, Montreal Quebec

Stillborn Morrison

daughter- Margaret “Peggy” Morrison
b- 1916 at Lorne Creek BC
d- 1989 Truro NS
married Arthur J. McLeod,
b- 1915 Lorne Creek BC
d- 1982 at NS

Miner

• Peter McNichol
• J. W. McPherson
• James Richey
• W. H. Tuttle

Prospector
J. Quinn

Farmer
A. C. Beatty

Howard A. Dotterer,
b- ca 1870
d- Nov 27, 1915 at Lorne Creek, age 45
He left the cabin he was in, hosting a breakfast with a neighbour. He never returned and wasn't found right away, and was assumed buried under snow.

George Hambly
b- Oct 8, 1856, ON
d- June 16, 1949, Home for the Aged, Port Coquitlam BC, age 92
Permanent Residence shown as Doreen BC, 50 years in BC, single.
son of Samuel Hambly and Jane Richards, b- born in England
located at Hambly Landing in 1911
July 29, 1910 he was building a hotel at Hambly Landing
I believe he was a miner that had a lease on the Sally Mine at Beaverdell, Nov 1915. Once the train went thru, the sternwheelers quit, and these landings, and hotels became extinct.

John Hampson
b- Oct 10, 1872 Bolton, Lancashire, England
d- ?
enlisted in WWI, Mar 30, 1916 in Prince Rupert BC,
occupation- Rancher, Reg # 704101
Canadian Infantry, Army, 102nd Batt.
wife- Mary Jane Hampson, next of kin
living at 27 Hobson St., Bolton, Lancashire, England

Paul G. Ludwig
b- Saxony, Germany
d-
son of Henry R. Ludwig, a Merchant, and Christina Schultz
married age 43 in Lorne Creek, Nov 25, 1915 at his house
Caroline Van Heurck, age 42, widow,
b- Antwerp Belgium
daughter of John Van Heurck, a Tailor, and Mary Caers

Capt. William Francis Madden

• A. F. Michal
• D. McPherson
• J. F. Smith
• C. A. Taylor

Carpenter
W. J. Claverly
D. Sutherland

Unknown occupation
John Burns
C. E. Carpenter
John Doyle
C. Valle

1923
Population 20

Name of Office: Lorne Creek
Federal Electoral District: Skeena (BC)

Office Opened - Jan 4, 1913
Closed- Dec 1, 1918

Re-opened- Sept 1, 1919
Closed- July 15, 1921

Re-opened Apr 1, 1923
Closed Mar 31, 1927

Postmaster Information:

This reproduction is NOT represented as an official version of the materials reproduced, nor as having been made in affiliation with,
or with the endorsement of the National Archives of Canada. The source of this material is the National Archives of Canada

First Postmaster- Mrs. K. M. Morrison
b-
d-
wife of A. J. Morrison, telegraph operator? see above
Katie MacIntosh Morrison?

Edward John P. Evans
b- ca 1862
d- June 6, 1918 in Hazelton, age 56

Lulu May Lamb, nee Shaw
b- May 12, 1883 in Michigan, USA
d- Mar 20, 1966 Florence Nightingale Private Hospital, Surrey BC, age 82
She immigrated in 1901 to Canada
daughter of Charles Edgar Shaw and Jerusha Woodruff
Lulu's husband- Robert Lorne Lamb
b- ca 1879 in ON
d- bef 1966
Farmer in Fiddler Creek in 1921
3 sons:
Gordon Lorne Lamb
b- ca 1912 in SK
Robert Garfield “Gary” Lamb
b- ca 1913 in SK
Stanley Wilson “Stan” Lamb
b- ca 1915 in SK
Family in Fiddler Creek in 1921

Per Jim Lamb, Lulu's grandson, it was in a log house which was burnt down later by the CNR

Photos above and below, courtesy Jim Lamb, Grandson of Lulu Lamb
Photos taken by Lulu, from a trunk full of her archive material.
Info re: pictures and his family below, courtesy Jim Lamb

The log building (Lorne Creek Post Office) is on DL 832 along the Skeena River running west from the actual Lorne Creek.
The sign over the door states “Lorne Creek PO”.
Charles E. Carpenter applied for a pre-emption on April 15, 1902
and was granted Patent June 2, 1908.
The farm was known as the Lorne Creek Farm, and from time to time also the Post Office.
The PO eventually moved to Doreen.
The buildings were built by the contractor, as part of the GTP construction camp.
The GTP officially open in 1914.
“From the other family pictures I have, and other research it would appear the Lamb’s rented this farm from 1921 to 1925 or part of the time. Whether Carpenter still owned it at the time the Lambs showed up is unknown. I have not done a title search. About 1925 Charles Leake and their mostly older children rented the farm. Charles and his wife were older folks. School aged children of the Leake’s and Lambs had to walk to Doreen to attend school. I believe the Leakes were from Melfort and may have known the Lambs also from Melfort. In any event the property immediately to the west being DL 909 was purchased by Robert Lamb’s father John Lamb of Pathlow Saskatchewan, near Melfort. John held legal title, not his son Robert. John Lamb, my great grandfather, bought the property from John Picant of Prince Rupert. I have done a title search on DL 909. My grandfather Robert probably rented this property from his father and it stayed in the Lamb hands until the 1950s.”

This picture is the mail bag post in front of the log house
where the GTP train would throw the incoming mail onto the ground
and pickup outgoing from the arm on the post.
Man in photo was Theodore Thorne “Ham” Hamilton, the CNR telegrapher and Station Agent, from Endako BC, on a visit to Lorne Creek.
b- Apr 10, 1890 Bobcaygeon ON
d- Aug 3, 1959

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EXT Links Note- Not my sites

Henry McDame Bio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_McDame

Reynard Family info / pictures
http://www.edlerfolkart.com/trip-to-the-gold-rush-town-barkerville-bc.html

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