The "farm boat", would, occasionally make a departure from it's work duties, be cleaned up and used to transport it's owners to social events. A popular destination was Sicamous.
Sicamous has a long history of social activity, being first inhabited in the 1800s by the Secwepemc nation. In this area they were called the Schickamoos, with the Narrows between the Shuswap Lake and Mara being known as a "meeting place of Indians". Upon the driving of the Last Spike of the CPR rail at Craigellachie in 1885 Sicamous became home to settlers, arriving primarily at first from Finland.
The people of Ferme Fleur de Lys benefited from the various services and activities available in Sicamous. A store and jail were constructed in 1892, and a post office in 1904. The first school was constructed in 1908. In the early 1900s the CPR added to their famous chain of hotels by constructing the gorgeous Sicamous Hotel. The hotel was Tudor style with 75 rooms and a large elegant dining room. The hotel was demolished in 1964. It was in this hotel that Augustin, Renee, Edmond and other locals attended the wildly popular dances. Renee became known as the "Black Widow" at these events due to a very becoming black dress she wore combined with her love of dance.
Dressed up to attend the popular dances at the Hotel Sicamous. Edmond and friends moored in front of the Hotel Bellevue where the store and post office were also located.
The Hotel Bellevue, circa 1910 from the Bedford Collection. Photographer Rex Lingford. Credits to www.oldphotos.ca
The Hotel Bellevue with the surrounding business area; general store, post office and boat houses. Circa 1910, photographer Rex Lingford from the Bedford Collection. Credit to www.oldphotos.ca
The CPR Sicamous Hotel, circa 1929, Wilson Collection. Credits to www.oldphotos.ca
Sicamous has a long history of social activity, being first inhabited in the 1800s by the Secwepemc nation. In this area they were called the Schickamoos, with the Narrows between the Shuswap Lake and Mara being known as a "meeting place of Indians". Upon the driving of the Last Spike of the CPR rail at Craigellachie in 1885 Sicamous became home to settlers, arriving primarily at first from Finland.
The people of Ferme Fleur de Lys benefited from the various services and activities available in Sicamous. A store and jail were constructed in 1892, and a post office in 1904. The first school was constructed in 1908. In the early 1900s the CPR added to their famous chain of hotels by constructing the gorgeous Sicamous Hotel. The hotel was Tudor style with 75 rooms and a large elegant dining room. The hotel was demolished in 1964. It was in this hotel that Augustin, Renee, Edmond and other locals attended the wildly popular dances. Renee became known as the "Black Widow" at these events due to a very becoming black dress she wore combined with her love of dance.
Posts
