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AGRICULTURE
Chilliwack Agricultural Society
The Chilliwack Agricultural Society was founded in 1873, the first of many groups formed to assist the agricultural community. Without these groups many social, economic and cultural advances made within the community would not have been possible. Nurturing the agricultural community are a number of organizations. Most can claim scientific or educational goals as their reasons to exist. Underlying all of the groups though is a sense of community, the need to work together, to be part of something larger than the individual. Many of these groups remain vital forces within the community.
The dairy industry has always been the backbone of Chilliwack’s agricultural past. As we enter the new century this is changing but dairy farms remain dominant. The story of the dairy industry is over 130 years old and is partially documented in this section.
The first dairy farms in Chilliwack were located in Sumas, now Greendale. As early as 1865 James and Chester Chadsey were shipping butter to the gold fields in the Cariboo area selling butter for $1.00 a pound.
As the dairy industry developed an organized distribution system emerged. Two creameries were established in the Chilliwack area and both were successful ventures. Edenbank Creamery, based in Sardis, was built by A.C. Wells in 1885 and became British Columbia’s first co-operative in 1896. Members received payment based on the butterfat content of the milk.
Its competitor, the Chilliwack Creamery, began production in1902. This creamery was first located at the corner of Young Road and Cheam Avenue but later moved further along Young Road to Creamery Road. The onset of the creamery operations was an indicator of the strengthening dairy industry in the Chilliwack Valley.
The arrival of the British Columbia Electric Railway in 1910 allowed farmers to ship milk directly to Vancouver, eliminating slower transportation by paddlewheel boats. By 1911, Edenbank had expanded to include a wholesale enterprise at City Market, Main Street in Vancouver.
A third organization, the Fraser Valley Milk Producers’ Association, formed in 1917, eventually became the sole co-operative marketing and producing organization for the industry.
Although the earlier creameries are no longer in operation, reminders of their existence remain. Creamery Road, located off Young Road, is named after the Chilliwack Creamery. The Edenbank Trade Store built around 1907 is located on Vedder Road. These historical sites are reminders of not only the growth of the dairy industry but also the achievements of the early settlers in the valley.
Prior to the establishment of the Fraser Valley Milk Producers’ Association, the Chilliwack Creamery, on the corner of Young Street and Cheam Avenue, was responsible for the co-operative marketing of dairy products produced by Fraser Valley farmers. The proposal for the new creamery, opened in June 1902, originated when the dairy farmers of the Upper Settlement (Cheam District) wanted to have a creamery in their own district. At a meeting at Cheam, farmers from the Upper settlement and the Central District decided that a creamery built in a central location would be beneficial to all parties concerned. The Chilliwack Creamery Association decided to approach Edenbank Creamery, located in Sardis, with an offer to amalgamate. To their dismay they were refused and the President of the CCA, Thomas R. Whitley voiced his organization’s discouragement.
"I now appeal to the farmers who have not expressed their intention of joining us…if you will stand together with us and support the only creamery of the town that can ever consolidate our interest, the waste of money that must result from division and opposition must cease.” [Chilliwack Progress, May 28, 1902]
The new creamery established connections for marketing and had strong support from the farmers on Prairie Central, Chilliwack Central, the entire district adjacent to Camp and Hope Slough and a large majority of Sumas.
On February 5, 1908, the Chilliwack Creamery Co. Ltd. held a special meeting at the courthouse. The meeting considered enlarging the present site or building a new Creamery at a new location. When the first creamery was built the plan was made so additions could be made to handle growth for the next twenty years. “The building had been made up-to-date at the time with a proper septic tank system as advised by leading dairy companies in Ontario.” The drainage system had been a total nuisance and the only way to solve the problem would be to dig a drainage canal to the Semiault Creek, an expensive and time-consuming job. Therefore, the best solution was to rebuild to a new site. Three sites were suggested at the meeting: “one was upon the Hope Slough north of the town, another, was upon the Hope Slough above the Little Mountain, and the third was at the Young Road where it joined the Semiault Creek.” The last suggested site was chosen because it was outside the corporation limits, had access to gravel and sand, if they decided to build the new building of cement, and drainage was better at the Semiault then at the Hope Slough that was subject to spring freshets.
The second Chilliwack Creamery building was constructed about one mile south of the original building near Semiault Creek on a one and a quarter acre purchased from J. McCutcheon for $500.00. The contract had been given to R. H. Brock for the completion of the building measuring 78’ x 38’ with a couple of wings on each end, one for a storeroom and the other for boiler and engine, at a cost of $4890.00. The building had 5 ½ feet of concrete cement wall and cement floor. The remainder of the frame was completed with timber. In addition to the creamery, a cottage was built on the site for the manager and his family. At the time of construction, it was suggested to build a cold storage but this was not done until August, 1914 when an ice making plant was installed for $6000.00. With the ice plant installed, the creamery could supply local vendors with ice cream. In the Chilliwack Progress, August 14, 1912, the ice cream was advertised “from the very onset the ice cream made at the creamery was pronounced tip top, the freezing being just right and flavouring perfect to a cultivated taste.”
Two years later, due to increased demand, the Chilliwack Creamery Association decided to deliver cream, milk and ice daily throughout the city. It was a perfect solution especially for the housewife who only had to make known her wants and get anything including any quantity of ice, hard frozen and clear.
In March 1918, the Fraser Valley Milk Producers’ Association absorbed the Chilliwack Creamery Association. In this voluntary liquidation of the CCA., a trade was made to the producing shareholders of the CCA whereby they would take stock in the FVMPA of the equivalent value. However, any non-producing members of the CCA were paid out in cash and it was ratified that only producers could, in the future, become members of the FMPMA At the time of liquidation, the FMPMA had leased the CCA premises for the last year and held an option to purchase the founding body.
The second creamery was converted into a slaughterhouse, possibly known as the Chilliwack Meat Factory, and this business became the subject of a complaint to municipal council in 1941. Local residents petitioned the council and claimed that the building was a nuisance and a menace to public health. Dr. Robert McCaffrey, the Medical Health Officer, concurred with the petitioners and recommended that the building be closed. Both Mr. R. H. Bohart, the property owner and Mr. S. Dyson presented arguments, through their lawyer Mr. Sturdy, that their facility had been authorized and approved for use as a slaughterhouse. Mr. Bohart had spent a considerable amount of money in reconstructing the creamery as a slaughterhouse, however, it was admitted by their representative that the building did not comply with the regulations that governed the distance of slaughterhouses from roadways and residential properties. The property owners were granted three weeks in which to relocate their slaughterhouse business.
The Fraser Valley Milk Producers' Association
Prior to 1913 individual milk producers were facing what some described as "chaotic milk marketing conditions." These difficulties in finding markets for their fluid milk came to a head in 1913, and "out of the turmoil emerged a policy...a policy forced out of necessity and based on co-operation."
One of the first acts of co-operation was the formation of the Lower Mainland Milk and Cream Shippers Association, with representation from throughout the valley. About the same time the Provincial Government passed legislation designed to assist in the development of co-operatives, called the Agricultural Associations Act. According to a 40th Anniversary history of the Fraser Valley Milk Producers’ Association (FVMPA) (1917-1957), "On June 18th, 1913, a group of farmers representative of every district in the valley, met in New Westminster and took out a charter under this Act to organize a dairy marketing co-operative”.
A financial depression in 1913, combined with the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, resulted in a delay in the start of operations. The FMPMA officially started business on February 16, 1917, with the sole purpose of acting as distributor for milk produced by its members. "At first the FMPMA was only a bargaining agency, dealing directly with the distributors who formerly dealt with individual farms." From there the FMPMA grew to include milk delivery on May 1, 1919, as well as milk processing.
Most dairy farmers in the Chilliwack area in the 1920s through to the 1950s had small herds, generally between 20 and 30 cows. No producers, regardless of how much milk they shipped, were denied membership as long as they agreed to the rules and regulation of the establishment.
In June, 1925, the FMPMA constructed a utility plant at Sardis, "to consolidate under one roof the manufacture of butter, powdered milk and cottage cheese." The FMPMA utility plant was a Sardis landmark, and handled the surplus milk of the Association and dairy industry for 60 years. The Sardis plant was closed in the spring of 1986, with the majority of its functions taken over by the Dairyland plant in Abbotsford.
Today, the Fraser Valley Milk Producers’ Co‑operative Association has a membership of 700 farms in British Columbia. This company that originally was only a valley operation is now in B.C. and Alberta. Today it is a significant factor in the economy of Chilliwack.
Chilliwack Artificial Insemination Club
The Chilliwack Dairy Herd Improvement Club was formed on April 18, 1944, and changed its name to Chilliwack Artificial Insemination Club on September 5 of that year. The purpose of the club was to provide artificial insemination services to local dairy cattle breeders; in order to improve the four cattle breeds, Holsteins, Ayrshire, Jersey and Guernsey, used by local dairy farmers.
The Club began with an initial membership of 39 farmers, and that number grew quickly with the acceptance of artificial insemination [AI]. Risk of death and injury to farmers, as well as expensive livestock, were constant hazards of the breeding process, and AI offered safety to farmers. AI helped reduce the infection rate for cows, and led to improvements in breeding stock by selectively breeding for higher butterfat and milk production.
The AI Club traces its origins back to 1939, when the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation broadcast a radio program called the Canadian Farm Forum. The East Chilliwack Farm Forum was created in response to information presented in this program, and this East Chilliwack group formed the core of what would became the AI club.
The Chilliwack Progress for May 19, 1943, announced "Artificial Insemination tried here Monday". The article goes on to describe how Lindell Jersey Farms, home farm of A.E. Dumvill, was the scene of the first use of this new technology. The author acknowledged that "It's a step that may lead to one of the largest and most fundamental changes the dairy industry has seen for some time. "
The AI Club opened for business on January 19, 1945, with T.G. "Tully" McLean hired as the Manager-Technician. The business started with a Holstein bull obtained through a federal government loan, an Ayshire bull loaned by L.E. Porter, a Guernsey bull loaned by Harold W. German, and a Jersey bull loaned by H. Creber. By 1950, the Club acquired property on MacDonald Road on Fairfield Island, and operated at that location until 1986. Volunteer labour, provided by club members, ensured that barns, pens, yards, a small office, and a lab, were constructed and available for opening day in 1945.
The Chilliwack Progress, September 21, 1945, stated "First test tube calves born here". The first calf born as the result of this new technique, was "Ashley Test Tube", a purebred Guernsey calf owned by Harold W. German. The second calf born was a Jersey calf owned by Russell Creber.
By 1961 the name of the group changed to Chilliwack Artificial Insemination Centre, and by 1970 the unit changed from the production of semen to the purchasing of semen. This switch to working with frozen semen only allowed the Centre to affiliate with breeders throughout Ontario and western Canada.
The impact of AI technology on the dairy industry can be seen in a comparison of milk production and butterfat between 1913 and 1973. In 1913 cow testing revealed an average of 6,670 pounds of milk and 193 pounds of butterfat per cow. By 1973, that average had risen to 13,440 pounds of milk and 503 pounds of butterfat per cow, increase of approximately 101% for volume and 160% for butterfat.
In 1979, Joan Sawchuk became the first woman in British Columbia to obtain a license to inseminate cattle. In 1981, the Chilliwack AI Centre inseminated a record number of 18,397 cows. In the years following 1981 there were fewer dairy herds, higher interest rates, and farmers were acquiring the ability to store semen and impregnate cows. As a result, in 1986 the Chilliwack and Milner (near Abbotsford) Centres amalgamated, and the Chilliwack Centre was closed. (Core information from Down Country Roads, 1993, published by the Chilliwack Museum and Historical Society)
The Chilliwack Cow Testing Association (now called the Dairy Herd Improvement Association) was the result of a meeting of several farmers and Henry Rive, Dairy Commissioner, Department of Agriculture, Victoria, early in 1913. This was the first to be formed in British Columbia.
The purpose of the Association was to weigh and measure the amount of butterfat in each cow’s milk. By testing monthly, farmers were able to chart the productivity of each cow. Improvements in breeding stock, feeding programs and other factors related to the health of cows resulted from these measurements.
Revenue received from milk is based on the percentage of butterfat as higher butterfat content produces greater profits for farmers.
In 1953, the Cow Testing association changed its name to the Chilliwack Dairy Herd Improvement Association. Today the DHIA continues its important role by measuring the productivity of milk producing cows.
Nurturing the agricultural community are a number of organizations. Most can claim scientific or educational goals as their reasons to exist. Underlying all of the groups though is a sense of community, the need to work together, to be part of something larger than the individual. Many of these groups remain vital forces within the community.
The Atchelitz Farmers Institute was organized in 1925 and the meetings are held in the farmers Institute Hall on Lickman Road. The membership peaked in its early years at between fifty and sixty members. The Institute ordered stumping powder, purchased timothy seed that was distributed in bulk, and coal was sold for home heating because of the bulk buying power of the group.
Ryder Lake’s Farmers Institute whose first aim was "to improve conditions of Rural Life, so that settlement may be permanent and prosperous", and later "to promote social intercourse, mutual helpfulness and the diffusion of knowledge and to make new settlers welcome" was formed in 1941
The Farmers Institute in East Chilliwack was incorporated on January 16, 1973, with a large membership of active farmers. This group has spearheaded many initiatives including bulk buying, drainage projects and other agriculturally related activities.
Chilliwack Women's Institutes: "For Home and Country"
The mandate of Women's Institutes includes educating members and assisting various health and educational causes. Women's Institutes were the links that allowed rural women to network together and, through various activities, grow, learn and provide valuable social, cultural and economic services to their local, provincial and national communities. British Columbia's first branches formed in 1909 and on October 29, 1909, the Chilliwack Women's Institute was formed in what would become the Hopeline District of Women's Institutes. Hopeline District is located in the eastern Fraser Valley. Its northern border being the southern bank of the Fraser River, bordered just west of Abbotsford, near the Canada-U.S.A. Border to the south, and as far east as Hope.The Chilliwack branch records were destroyed in a fire in 1928. Apart from the hall from which they generated rental revenue, they were engaged in fundraising and sponsorships. The first Guides and Brownies were sponsored by them and the group assisted with the school soup service. They were active in developing the first library and their members were among the first to donate to the Community Chest fund. Active with seniors, they organized a Darby and Joan Club that held monthly social meetings. They received the first trophy awarded at the Chilliwack Fair for Women's Institute exhibits and in 1949 sent six girls and a representative to the Pacific National Exhibition to demonstrate weaving. The group has been most interested in assisting in health requirements and sponsored, outside of Chilliwack, a Public Health nurse for Hope. Other ventures included supporting, tuberculosis chest x-rays, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, the Solarium formerly located at Mill Bay on Vancouver Island, Chilliwack Hospital, Valley Haven Hospital, Crippled Children's Hospital, the Medical Centre, Polio Fund, child welfare and helped establish a blood bank for local doctors and contributed to the European Flood Relief fund. The group, as well, has ably assisted other local organizations and circulated, in 1947, a resolution to ask for voting rights for British Columbia First Nations' people.
The second local institute formed was at Upper Sumas in 1913 that, in 1923, saw half of its membership leave to form the Huntingdon WI They formed a junior branch in 1950 that joined with the senior branch in 1956. Medical assistance was given to local individuals that required assistance and cash donations to families in distress. Other initiatives included providing a room at the hospital with furnishings and sponsoring a better reading program at a school. Like all Women's Institutes the Upper Sumas WI, made significant contributions to the war effort and during the Second World War sent over 3,200 pounds of clothing. Partnered with Huntingdon WI they shipped over 600 pounds of canned fruit and jam overseas.
Atchelitz Women's Institute began in 1914. The organization helped build the Atchelitz Community Hall, owned by the Atchelitz Farmers Institute, by assisting in the building's remodeling and painting. During its early years, the institute gave to the hospital, on a monthly basis, foodstuffs such as fruit and bread. Atchelitz sponsored home nursing classes and were affiliated to the Local Council of Women and the Senior Hospital Auxiliary.
The Cannor Women's Institute, formed in 1922, drew its name from the Canadian National Railroad and their activities focused upon flower exhibitions, concerts and co-operative marketing. In addition to assisting with health projects, they welcomed new Canadians and helped assist a children's home in Korea. The group met at the Methodist Church and its records were lost in the 1948 Flood.
Camp River Women's Institute amalgamated, in 1945, with the Rosedale Women's Institute. They had been formed in 1927 and were active in efforts that women should have the right to hold office in civic organizations without being property owners. The group contributed to public heath ventures and for many years maintained a park adjacent to Camp River Road.
Formerly the Community Ladies' Aid from 1922-1929, East Chilliwack Women's Institute formed in 1929. To fund the construction of a hall a car raffle was organized and the group became the first in British Columbia to build and own their own hall that was opened in March, 1930. The organization contributed, items towards the war effort, created a school bursary, exhibited at the Pacific National Exhibition and at other events.
Ryder Lake formed a Women's Institute in 1935 and apart from helping with the war effort and providing individuals that required assistance, they helped with many community facilities including the hospital and school. They provided exhibits for the Pacific National Exhibition and assisted 4-H Clubs. During the 1954 British Empire Games they provided a food booth at the Vedder Canal where spectators watched rowing events.
On March 3, 1943 Rosedale Women's Institute was formed and they took an active role in contributing to the war effort. After the war, they assisted an English girl through school. In 1945, Camp River Women's Institute amalgamated with Rosedale WI. With other branches in the Hopeline District, the Rosedale WI helped furnish a room in the Chilliwack General Hospital. In 1948, during the flood, the organization worked with several other women's organizations in preparing meals for the workers on the dykes. Beginning in 1956, they sponsored Rosedale Boy Scouts. Charitable contributions were given by the organization to the Canadian Red Cross, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, the Crippled Children's Hospital, Salvation Army and during the Second World War, the Milk for Britain Fund
Promontory Heights Women's Institute was organized in April 1952 and their activities have focused on celebrations for those about to be married and to providing seniors with birthday cakes when they reach 75 and for each year afterwards. They have contributed to the furnishings of a room at Chilliwack Hospital and every fall enter an exhibit in the Chilliwack Fair.
Vedder Women's Institute was formed February 4, 1954 in the home of Mrs. Beatrice Leslie. Fundraisers included rummage sales, raffles, spring teas, and in the fall, fairs and bazaars. Monies raised at these events were donated to such causes and facilities as Children's Hospital, Queen Alexandra Hospital, and a local school bursary. The group made hundreds of quilts that were raffled or sold in efforts to raise funding for worthy projects
The Chilliwack Agricultural Society
The Chilliwack Fairgrounds, home to many civic facilities, is located on land once known as the Chilliwack Prairie. According to early observers this was “covered with hazel brush” (R.E. Gosnell, A History of British Columbia, compiled by the Lewis Publishing Company, Hall Binding Company, p. 508); “…uneven and on most knolls was a clump of either nut hazel or birch” (Horatio Webb, Chilliwack Progress, June 25, 1958, second section, p. 3); “…great tall green rushes, would grow and be green all winter long, along the edges of these streams that were running around in this low boggy place, and the cattle were just rolling fat there” ( Orchard, Imbert, Floodland and Forest, Sound Heritage Series, B.C. Provincial Archives, 1983, James Kipp, p. 16); “…the prairie though small in comparison to the ones on the other side of the mountains is most lovely, covered with flowers and strawberries and even in this early period of the year, the grass is nearly up to the waist.” (Stanley, George F.G. ed, Mapping the Frontier: Charles Wilson’s Diary of the Survey of the 49th parallel, 1858-1862, University of Washington Press, Seattle, 1970.
Isaac Kipp (1839 – 1921) pre-empted part of this prairie land lots 29 and 30, around 1862. Part of Lot 29 eventually became the Fairgrounds. By 1866, along with partners Jonathan Reece and Henry Kipp, they had cultivated 350 acres, fenced with 40,000 rails, built sheds and barns, cut 165 tons of hay, pastured 340 head of cattle and 20 horses, manufactured 1,500 pounds of cheese and cultivated corn, potatoes, turnips and other garden vegetables (Orchard, p. 15). In a few short years, the land was transformed, an incredible feat performed with crude technologies. This work, on the land that is the Fairground site, represents the beginning of Chilliwack’s long association with agricultural pursuits.
The history of Chilliwack Fairs, and the Agricultural Society are linked to the Kipp pre-emptions. The Chilliwack Agricultural Society was formed in 1873 and fairs soon followed. Early fairs were held on the farms of members, Jonathan Reece and Henry Kipp, Isaac’s brother. Purchases of land from Isaac Kipp in 1884 and 1887 established the first Fairgrounds – the block bounded by Wellington, Mary, Princess and Edward Streets (Chilliwack Fair History, Down Country Roads, Chilliwack Museum and Historical Society, nd, p.9).The Agricultural Society and the City purchased land from Williams Hodgins for the Fair at its next site in 1909. The following year the Chilliwack Progress, September 28, 1910, reported that “the three day exhibition will go on record as the most successful display of the products of the rich Chilliwack valley, one of the richest section of the Fraser River Valley.”
The success was attributed to the drawing power of the “speeding” or horse racing events. These events took place on the newly completed “splendid half-mile” racetrack.
The 1910 Fair had other attractions as well. The Chilliwack team who beat Rosedale 5 to 1 won the Parsons and Reynolds baseball trophy. Soccer and football matches were also featured. In field sports, an assortment of running races were held while G.W. Bowden won the men’s pillow fighting contest and H. Nelems won the boys, under 15, contest.
The Agricultural Society, however, noted that the primary objects of the exhibition were educational. “The agricultural society, they said, is an educational institution organized for the purpose of promoting and encouraging the breeding of live stock and the exhibition of grain, fruit, etc.” (Chilliwack Progress, July 27, 1910). Great emphasis was therefore placed on this aspect of the Fair. “In no one district in Canada of a like size could better stock be found,” reported the Chilliwack Progress, September, 28, 1910.
The site expanded in 1935 when the City sold a group of lots on Corbould Street to the Agricultural Society.
The last fair at this site is scheduled to take place in 2000. The fair is once again on the move, this time to make way for new public and private developments.
The Chilliwack Plowing Society
The first plowing match in Chilliwack was held in 1873 on Jonathan Reece's farm, a feature of the first agricultural fair. Horatio Webb was one of the prime movers in organizing this event. The match drew five contestants, vying for first, second, and third place money of $2.50, $2.00 and $1.00. Webb, incidentally, won the first match. Chilliwack, in 1873, was a small agricultural settlement with slightly over 100 people (excluding First Nation’s people) scattered throughout the area.
After 1873, plowing matches were held intermittently until 1922 when the B.C. Department of Agriculture encouraged the formation of plowing societies in British Columbia. A number were formed in several areas throughout the Lower Fraser Valley. Chilliwack is the only community that still runs plowing competitions.
In the first plowing matches, the plowers were responsible for plowing a plot that was ½ acre plot, 660 feet by 33 feet. It took all day to plow this land. To-day, plowers are responsible for a plot that is 200 feet by 33 feet taking 3 or 4 hours to complete.
It was Tom Hickman who said that it was an enthusiastic team that represented 60% of the plowing effort, with the remaining 40% being the skill level of the plower
Since 1922, Chilliwack has been the centre for plowing matches. Many champions have come out of these competitions. In 1931, before tractors were introduced to the matches, 67 horse teams participated, a total that has not been matched. In the 1920s and 1930s, plowers could travel the plow circuit to attend several Fraser Valley matches. Ted Mitchell first demonstrated tractor plowing in 1939. In 1943, Graham Mitchell won the first tractor competition with a single furrow plow. By 1949 tractor plowing was a regular feature of plowing matches.
In 1948, the annual plowing match was held on the Thomson Brother's farm. This farm was bound by Chilliwack Central Road, Young Road, and Brooks Avenue. In the 1950s this farm became the Green Acres subdivision.
Count Van Rechteren organized the first international competition in 1942. Competitors from Lynden, Washington, which was a predominantly Dutch community, participated in this event. Bill Dyble and Archie Stevenson represented Chilliwack in this event.
Until 1973 or 1974, plowing matches were always held on Wednesdays, coinciding with store closures in Chilliwack. The original matches were held in November but that changed to April when better weather prevails.
Areas of East Chilliwack were once known as the garden of the community. The rich peat bogs, once drained, provided some of the richest agricultural land in the Province. Even today, peas, raspberries, cauliflower, corn, broccoli and brussel sprouts are important. The history of the fruit and vegetable industry however dates to before the turn of the century.
The early settlers, unfamiliar with the geographical terrain, attempted to grow many varieties of fruit. This attempt at mixed farming proved an economic alternative to the stock and dairy industries. In 1891, the Fraser Valley Fruit Canning Company emerged. By 1893, over 26,000 fruit trees existed (mainly apples and pears). With approximately 218 farms in the Chilliwack area, it is quite evident that fruit growing was a popular enterprise.
By the turn of the century, Chilliwack fruit was being shipped to eastern markets. Several attempts to develop co-operative canning and marketing operations can be traced to the early 1900s. The Fruit Growers Association and the Chilliwack Canning and Preserving Company were short-lived enterprises that attempted to deal with these important aspects of the industry.
The East Chilliwack Fruit Growers’ Co-operative (now Agro Pacific Industries) started in 1948. Mennonite growers dealing with distribution and marketing concerns organized this co-operative.
Over the last half century the fruit industry has declined in importance in Chilliwack, the victim of competitive world markets and diseases that have affected fruit crops.
Chilliwack Canning and Preserving Company Limited
Before Chilliwack had its own fruit cannery all products grown in the Chilliwack Valley were shipped to the New Westminster Canning Company. In November, 1907, meetings held at the Chilliwack Courthouse considered a proposition to build a fruit cannery in the Chilliwack. Three months later, in February, 1908, delegates from the New Westminster Canning Company attended another meeting and proposed that a new company should be formed, the Chilliwack Canning and Preserving Company. The New Westminster Company would hold a 20% interest.
One of the main reasons the New Westminster Canning Company came to Chilliwack was the lack of transportation facilities. Fruit, lying at river landings for days waiting to be shipped, perished before reaching the New Westminster Canning Company and had to be destroyed.
One of the suggested sites for a canning company was the old Chilliwack Creamery building located at the corner of Cheam Avenue and Young Street. The building was for sale and the site was centrally located and close to the Great Northern Railway
The cannery promised to be an asset for all the different fruit growers and hoped to employ a large number of people for a good portion of the year. On February 19, 1908 the Chilliwack Progress described the numerous fruits and vegetables that would be processed. “Everything in the line of fruit, peas, beans and corn will be canned besides the pickling of onions, cucumbers, cauliflower and tomatoes and the manufacture of jellies and jams and the evaporating of apples and the drying of prunes.”
The canning company made significant alterations to the old creamery. The main building was enlarged, and other buildings were added to the site including a warehouse, storerooms, a new boiler room and an evaporating plant.
During the first year of operation the company created a fine product label that was described, in the local newspaper, as a work of art. “Large juicy strawberries that tempt the people to buy, will be pictured on the one side of the can and a miniature map of the Lower Fraser Valley with the new B. C. Electric Railway line from Vancouver to Chilliwack. Once the company’s goods are upon the market, these labels should do more to advertise Chilliwack and its geographical position than all the real estate literature that has been in circulation for the past year.” [Chilliwack Progress, July 8, 1908 p.4] By July 15, 1908 the company had canned $3000.00 worth of fruit.
Not all years however were profitable for the Chilliwack Cannery. In 1910, the cannery was faced with a loss of $4356.65, due to glutted markets and smaller companies selling off old stock. However, the cannery re-gained the trust of the fruit growers and had a net profit in 1911 of $2576.71.
As the cannery experienced growth some alterations were made to improve its efficiency in the handling of goods. The warehouse was increased in size and a railway spur was made from the factory running north to the B. C. Electric Railway Station that was located where Salish Park is today. More up-to-date machinery was added to the factory and ventilators were installed to provide better health for the workers. In the Chilliwack Progress June14, 1911, the cannery was described as having the reputation for being the neatest and cleanest on the coast.In 1916, however, the cannery hit upon hard times. Mr. W. A. Banks bought the Chilliwack Cannery from the liquidator. Mr. Banks, who represented a large Vancouver company, brought in up-to-date plant equipment and renamed it the Chilliwack Evaporating and Packing Company. The war years were difficult for the cannery and by April, 1918 it shut down. Stocks of raw vegetables, that were still on hand, were sold at low prices.
In January, 1921, the cannery was sold to Mr. Kurt A. Boyd who wanted to specialize in the processing of jam and small fruit. Mr. Boyd said he would start out on a fairly small scale and expand according to demand. By June, an ad in the Chilliwack Progress asked for fruit picked on the green side because the cannery would not be processing that year. Instead, all fruit would be shipped to other markets. It is not clear how long Mr. Boyd stayed with the cannery. By 1924 the cannery was sold to Mr. Robert James Banford who started a feed and grain business at this corner.
In the early 20th century one of Chilliwack's major agricultural products was tree fruits. But in the 1920s the Okanagan area, with it's sunny climate, was beginning to supplant the Fraser Valley orchardists. The Chilliwack producers now had a problem, what would they do with their market surplus? The solution came from Harry Hipwell, a druggist who headed the Chilliwack Board of Trade, now the Chilliwack Chamber of Commerce. He came up with the idea of a Cherry Carnival. The idea was enthusiastically backed and Chilliwack's first annual carnival, held July 15-16, 1927, it was advertised as far as Vancouver. The British Columbia Electric Railway Company gave a special, reduced-fare train to transport people from Vancouver and other communities to Chilliwack on the days of the event.
The Cherry Carnival festivities included First Nation canoe races and dances, a Scottish dance contest, horse racing, auto races, lacrosse and basketball games and a foot race between Mayor J.H. Ashwell of the City of Chilliwack and Reeve W.M. Wells of the Township of Chilliwhack. At the fairgrounds there were a number of attractions like a merry-go-round, a leather throated man who swallowed nails, and a petrified man. At the end of the day there were two dances, one at the Legion and the other at the Athletic Hall. The highlight of the carnival was the crowning of the first Cherry Carnival Queen, Miss Ellen Grafton who represented the Chilliwack Athletic Association.
The Cherry Carnival was deemed a huge success. During the two days of the carnival Chilliwack sold more cherries than in any other year in the valley's history. According to the Vancouver Daily Province (July 3, 1950), "An estimated 10,000 people lined Chilliwack streets to watch the mile-long parade."
These were the heydeys of the Carnival. However declining attendance through the early 1950s led to the end of the Cherry Carnival. Competition from other events and the loss of cherry trees, because of fungal diseases, were factors in the eventful end of the carnival. From 1927-1955 the Chilliwack Cherry Carnival was one of the Fraser Valley's most important festivals.
Agricultural education has interested generations of Chilliwack residents and schools have played a huge role in advancing the industry.
The concept of school gardens was developed by the Chilliwack Agricultural Society when, in 1904, the Society sponsored a school competition for the annual Chilliwack Fair. All work prepared for the exhibit had to be the work of the school children and not of their parents. During its first year, Cheam School won top prize in a group of at least 10 schools. In 1905, the exhibit was repeated and Chilliwack Central School took top prize. The competition continued until 1908, when the Fair was cancelled for that year and in 1909 could not be held as the Fair was in the process of relocating.
In 1910, the Chilliwack Fair returned but without any school competition and it was not until 1915 when six schools competed that school gardens became a feature. This was the result of a proposal by the Education Department and both the City and rural school boards decided, as a result, to introduce agricultural instruction in the Valley.
In April 1915, illustrated lectures were prepared for parents at various locations in the district. Eventually it was hoped that the "cultivation of school gardens will be made compulsory in the regular curriculum." [Chilliwack Progress March 18, 1915, p.1]. To assist with the development of the program, an agricultural specialist was made available from the Agricultural Science Department.
It may be surprising that the intention of the program was not to teach students, "how to hoe, dig or to pull weeds, or even how to grow vegetables though it may contribute to efficiency in these things." [Chilliwack Progress September 2, 1915. P.1] The purpose was rather an extrapolation of these apparent tasks, "to provide the basis for problems in arithmetic, objects for drawing, subjects for composition and illustrations for history and geography…it provides an opportunity for the development of the faculty of observation, the power to see things definitely, to reach right conclusions with reference to the observations, and to make correct mental notes…to state the right color, the exact length, the exact shape and position…the spirit of enquiry is encouraged and the drudgery of practical Agriculture is at least partially displaced by a new and intelligent interest in the principles which underline it."
Originally school gardens were located at the various schools until 1925 when the plan was changed and students cultivated their gardens at home. In 1939, under the direction of Neil MacGregor a new program was developed that had senior and junior divisions and points awarded included not only Fair exhibits but, as well, summer inspection marks as well. Vegetables grown included potatoes, parsnips, carrots and beets. Potatoes were eventually dropped due to the need to handle dangerous chemicals and in 1945 replaced by onions. A further change was made when the Fair changed from a September exhibition to August and parsnips and onions were not ready for harvesting. These were replaced, and the garden next incorporated corn, beets, carrots and beans and for seniors the addition of cucumbers.
In 1945, flowers were added to balance the program. Many changes were made to the varieties grown and the seeds were paid for by the School Board. About 1971 seeds were supplied by the East Chilliwack Co-op. At times, seeds for vegetables were supplied by seed companies, the school board and by the students themselves.
Summer inspections necessitated the hiring of someone to physically conduct the two inspections. Each inspection took between seven and ten days and involved much driving. Eventually two teachers were employed on a twelve-month basis to conduct the inspections.
In 2000, school gardens continue to be promoted from Kindergarten through Grade 12. The program's aims include, "to give students hands-on experience to enhance science, math, language arts, drawing, planning and follow-through skills, appreciation and respect of the environment, involvement in a potential future career, and even earn recognition through awards." [Chilliwack Times March 7, 2000, p. 11]
In 1915, provincial interest in the development of vocational instruction, in addition to academic instruction, resulted in the creation of an agricultural program in Chilliwack. In collaboration with the British Columbia Department of Education and the municipal and city boards, an agricultural specialist was hired to teach the new program.
April 1916 marked the beginning of agricultural courses taught as part of local curriculum. In Chilliwack, the instructor, Mr. J.C. Readey, taught agriculture at Chilliwack High School and travelled to the elementary schools to speak on related topics and to assist with the development of school gardens. At the high school, a garden plot of about a 1/2-acre was established and, in 1917, a greenhouse was built.
In 1925, Mr. Readey resigned and Fred Welland was appointed the new agriculture teacher. Although the board had considered dropping agriculture courses at this time, they were persuaded to continue but dropped its sponsorship of the school gardens program at the schools. Instead, the board would supply seeds to elementary school students who could use them in gardens at home. As a result, Mr. Welland did not have to make the many frequent visits as Mr. Readey had in examination of his student's work. Mr. Welland continued in the position until 1931.
Through the early 1930s, the school gardens program underwent many changes as new instructors came and went. It was not until 1935 when Neill MacGregor was hired to teach agriculture that the program remained consistent for some time. In 1938, the school garden program became of interest to Mr. MacGregor and, in 1939, became part of what he taught. Several changes were made to better administer the program and as the Fair dates changed from September to August different varieties of flowers and vegetables were introduced to make the program successful.
However, although the school garden program ran successfully when Mr. MacGregor served overseas with the Royal Canadian Air Force, the agricultural program did not. MacGregor had been interested in the American Vocational Agricultural program, and introduced some of its methods to the local curriculum. Of specific interest was the establishment, in 1939, of a supervised farming program and in 1941 the creation of a 10 acre school farm. Although a suitable replacement teacher was able to maintain what had been established, the replacement's replacement did not share the same interest in the program, and the program declined in popularity. As a result, Neil MacGregor upon his return from overseas, took on the job to re-establish the program and bring it back to its former standards. New features included farm mechanics with courses in tractors and arc welding.
Throughout the late 1940s and early 1950s, there was great interest in Practical Education Programs across Canada. The delivery of these programs received further incentive when the Canadian Research Committee on Practical Education was formed in 1947. By 1949, the Dominion-Provincial Government Agreement Act for Vocational Training and Agricultural Education, made grants available to support agricultural programs up to 50% of their cost. At the same time as growth in the field was encouraging, money became available to build vocational training facilities. Changes in Chilliwack meant that a new high school was required and in 1949, work began on a new high school with Vocational-Agricultural facilities for the students.
A new Agriculture-Farm Mechanics building was constructed as was a root cellar and greenhouse. In addition, the school obtained a complete set of equipment for both the agriculture and farm mechanics sections. A reference library acquired many of the latest in agricultural textbooks and the Canadian Legion Agriculture booklet series was obtained. Other reference materials were gathered from colleges and the Department of Agriculture.
Another program that was adapted for use in Chilliwack was Future Farmers of Canada, based on its American equivalent. Introduced in 1950, the program was established at several B.C schools and held a provincial convention that eventually met over Easter. One convention was held in Chilliwack in 1954. The organization was a "club" that encouraged youth interested in the success of the future farm and the inherent values associated with agricultural work. Club activities included demonstrations, public speaking, father and son banquets as well mechanics, crops, livestock and other activities associated with farming.
Vocational-Agricultural programs continued at Chilliwack High School until changes to grade levels in association with particular school levels, such as Junior High School and Senior High School were changed. Originally, high school had been a five year program, grades 8-12, reduced to a two year, grades 11-12 program, thereby losing three years of instruction time. By Fall of 1968 the program was finished although agricultural curriculum was revised for BC classrooms in 1977-78.
As a result of heavy enlistment in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, there occurred a shortage of available labourers for farm work. Some solution was found amongst the returned soldiers and Mr. Carey of the local Exemption Tribunal promoted the employment of returned soldiers locally. Concern was raised that some farmers' sons were not actually, "honestly engaged in the production of food". Major General S. C. Mewburn, the Canadian Minister of Defence, pledged to the Canadian farming community that if their sons had not been exempted and were called up, he would see to it that they would be honourably discharged providing they could prove that they were honestly producing foodstuffs.
One solution that did occur in the local area was tied to a national initiative introduced, in 1918, and known as Soldiers of the Soil. The program actively sought out volunteer male youth for work on Canadian farms to assist farmers in achieving greater wartime production of foodstuffs. On October 14, 1918, the 61 boys that had been employed by local farmers gathered together, with parents and friends, at City Hall to be presented with their badges; a distinctive lapel insignia. Reverend G.A. Reynolds chaired the meeting and presentation. Mr. F.B. Stacey, M.P. presented the badges and a speech, as did Principal P.H. Sheffield and Reverend G.H. McGill of the Baptist Church, Kitsilano, Vancouver. Although the Food Board organized the SOS program, it was probably administered by the Canadian Standard Efficiency Training for Boys Program, a topic that was the focus of Reverend McGill's presentation. McGill also spoke that it was with regret that the boys and girls, that were not part of the SOS program, but had been engaged in the berry fields and orchards during the summer of 1918 had not been similarly honoured.
The Canadian Standard Efficiency Training [or Tests] program for boys was developed in response to the wartime emergency. The youth under the program were taught that they would have to assume the responsibility of leadership roles in community due to the permanent loss of Canadian young men overseas. The program incorporated education, physical, religious and service development towards attaining its goals.
The boys were paid between $15.00 to $40.00 per month and the differences in pay scale were not reported upon in terms of what was done for higher pay. Most of the boys were from the Chilliwack District but it was further reported that the employment of city boys, locally, had resulted in the city lads favorably changing their view on farm work as an occupation.
The presentation ceremony was reported in the Chilliwack Progress for October 24, 1918:
"In recognition of having 'stayed with the job' until the finish the 61 boys who undertook to do a man's work on the farms of the Chilliwack valley during the season now ending, under the well known 'Sons [sic'
of the Soil' movement, were on Tuesday night last week, presented with badges of service. While the boys, of course, have received their wages, and in many cases, good wages, for the duties they performed during the summer, yet these badges are something more, something that each boy can keep as a tangible recognition of having stepped into the breach caused in the ranks of agricultural workers by the army's demand on the man power of the country." Some 22,385 boys were enrolled in SOS across Canada, of which 20,431 were assigned to farms, 1800 of these youths worked in British Columbia.Junior Farm Clubs and 4-H Clubs
In Canada during the early 1900s, there was a need to actively engage youth in the development of agricultural products and rural lifestyles. As a result, in 1913, the first Boys and Girls Clubs were formed in Canada to include youth between 10 and 18 years of age and later changed to include 21 years. The Canadian Farmers Institute established the regulations that governed these early clubs with supervision provided by the Department of Agriculture. By 1918, clubs had been established in all provinces and in British Columbia were known as Junior Farm Clubs. Chilliwack's first youth club had been established in 1921, when Mr. John Ker formed the first Jersey Calf Club that was not registered with the Department of Agriculture.
The first registered Junior Farm Clubs were organized in the Fraser Valley in the spring of 1929 under the Department of Agriculture. Mr. R. G Sutton was appointed District Agriculturist, headquartered at New Westminster and oversaw their activities. Initially four clubs were formed in the Fraser Valley, and of these clubs, a swine club was formed in Chilliwack with eight members sponsored by the local fair association.
The Jersey Calf Club was formed in Chilliwack in the same year, and sponsored by the Jersey Breeders Association. In 1930, a short-lived Beef Club was organized but folded after only one year, until in 1955 when Oliver Wells started a new club. Several dairy breed clubs existed in the area and each organization had large memberships.
In June 1946, a District Agriculturist was appointed for Chilliwack and Mr. Arthur E. Donald was selected for the position. At the same time as the creation of this new position, clubs in the Fraser Valley were divided into two supervised areas, but remained closely connected and mutual cooperation benefited both groups. Field days and meetings were opportunities for both groups to meet and visit with each other thereby sharing with each other their communications on local events and developments.
Fraser Valley judging teams provided many teams representing British Columbia at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. The first judging team was sent to Toronto in 1931, and of these teams, ten teams were sent from Chilliwack.
Prior to 1948, a Junior Farm Club grant existed that assisted the owners of the top four calves from every club locality in the Fraser Valley to attend the Chilliwack Fair. In 1948, the Dominion grant that supported both boys' and girls' work was lost to all fairs and as a result, there was no outside competition at the 1948 Chilliwack Fair. Organizers however, encouraged the club's continued success by promoting its usefulness and importance to the member's parents. By providing cooperative learning opportunities between parents and children, it was intended that the spirit that drove these clubs would continue. Parents could provide encouragement and ensure that rules were followed and that club work would be completed in a satisfactory manner.
In 1951, the Junior Farm Clubs name, "Canadian Boys' and Girls' Clubs" was changed to 4-H, a name that was adopted across Canada. The emblem adopted by the new, but same movement was a four-leaf clover representing good luck and achievement with an "H" within each leaf. Each letter represented a portion of the club's creed, "Head, Heart, Hands and Health."
Chilliwack, organized under the new banner, held an organizational meeting later in 1951 that would see the creation of the first junior 4-H council in the province. Throughout the 1950s, there was an increase in the number of new clubs formed as, sewing, tractor, poultry, lamb and cooking clubs were created. During the 1960s a change was made to the age range of children within the clubs, and changed from 9 to 19. In addition, the 4-H movement continued its innovations by developing dress revues, judging rallies, camping and exchanges between clubs. By 1971, light horses were accepted as 4-H projects and became so popular that five Chilliwack clubs developed. Towards the end of the 1970s, both a goat and a dog club were formed.
The legacy of the older 'Junior Farm Clubs' and it antecedent club, "4-H" is their advocacy in training youth in the arts of citizenship, a role they remain committed to developing and promoting at the many agricultural fairs that remain in existence today.
Processing feed and grains has involved a number of companies in Chilliwack. Most were small family owned operations, in keeping with the traditions of the community. In more recent years, the smaller companies have closed as the larger agri-businesses have come to dominate the markets.
Brackman - Ker Feed & Milling Company
The Brackman - Ker Feed & Milling Company acquired their Chilliwack branches in 1928 when the three locations of the Chilliwack Producers’ Exchange were purchased.
The Producers’ Exchange was established in June 1913 when the association first elected its directors. Four main areas were developed and directors represented East Chilliwack, Rosedale and Camp Slough, Chilliwack, Sardis and Promontory and South Sumas. Their first president was George Israel Thornton, vice-president Ernest Arthur Orr and secretary-treasurer Chauncey Erwin Eckert. At the time of their formation the organization hoped that every producer in the Chilliwack Valley would join the association. The board itself would attempt to develop markets for local produce and to supply stock foods at cost to its members.
At the time of the Chilliwack Producers’ Exchange takeover, the British Columbia branches of the Brackman - Kerr Company, were managed by Mr. F.B. Gibbs. Both Mr. Gibbs and Mr. H.M. Streight, superintendent of the mainland branches of the company assisted in the sales negotiation of the Chilliwack Producers’ Exchange. With the acquisition of the three Chilliwack plants the Brackman - Ker holdings in the province of British Columbia rose to 20 plants. Amalgamated with Western Canada Flour Mills the company had branches across Canada including grain elevators, flour mills and feed mills.
During the conversion from the Chilliwack Producer’s Exchange to Brackman - Ker, several retail goods were discontinued. The new business eliminated the sale of drygoods, hardware and shoes. Instead they concentrated on the sale of flour and feed, poultry and stock supplies, fertilizers and sprays.
On September 14, 1934, fire broke out at 12:30 A.M. and in its wake the fire claimed the Sardis branch of the Brackman - Ker Milling Company and the freight shed of the B.C. Electric Railway. The total loss amounted to $6500 but all was covered by insurance. The Brackman - Ker Company soon rebuilt their premises
The Brackman - Ker Milling Company originated prior to 1878 when Henry Brackman and James Milne formed a partnership. Brackman had been a successful miner during the gold rush in the Cariboo. Together with James Milne, a Scottish miller, they built their first mill in North Saanich on Vancouver Island. In 1878, they started to manufacture oatmeal, however, the partnership was short lived and the company was dissolved in 1879. In 1880, David Russell Ker first became associated with Henry Brackman and by 1881 they formed a partnership. The partnership of Brackman - Ker was very successful and by 1886 prosperity allowed for the construction of warehouses and offices in Victoria that became the company's business centre. By 1914, after David Russel Ker had become the principal owner, upon the death of Henry Brackman in 1903, the annual business had increased from $25,000 per annum to $5,000,000 per year.
David Russell Ker was the son of the Honourable Robert and Jessie Ker. Robert Ker had been the Auditor General for the province of British Columbia between 1867 - 1879. His son David was educated at collegiate schools in Victoria and had prepared for his interests in the milling business by working at milling companies in Victoria and San Francisco. David Russel Ker died in Saanich July 13, 1923. By 1965 the Brackman - Ker Milling Company had become a division of Maple Leaf Mills.
Various businesses associated with the agriculture of the Fraser Valley were located at the corner of Cheam Avenue and Young Street. The first business was the Chilliwack Creamery that opened in June, 1902. When the creamery relocated, the Chilliwack Canning and Preserving Company bought the old creamery building in 1908. The cannery lasted until the early 1920s when Mr. Robert James Banford bought the property to start a feed and grain store. The feed and grain store led the way to the big Buckerfield’s building that burned down in April 1998.
Robert James Banford was born in Chilliwack, May 15, 1875. “Bob” worked, in semi-retirement, until five years prior to his death at the age of 80, January 9, 1956. For nine years, during the early 1900s, he and his partner, Mr. William Barritt, ran a butcher shop. During his 20 years in the meat business Bob Banford also operated the City Meat Market for Pat Burns. In 1924, Banford became involved in the feed business and his first location was at the corner of Cheam Avenue and Young Street. An ad in the Chilliwack Progress in March 1924, announced the new location. “We are in a position now to supply you with feed of all kinds at lowest cash prices. Custom grinding done at $2.00 per ton. The store is located in the old evaporator building.”
At the Banford feed store a full line of Vernon & Buckerfield’s goods were handled and included that company’s Diamond Brand Feeds. These feeds included chick starter, chick scratch, growing mash, pullet mash, laying meal, egg maker and other poultry necessities. The firm also carried seed grains, grass seeds, and fertilizers as well as dairy supplies. The firm advertised in the Chilliwack Progress March 29, 1928, P.9 that the same supplies could also be obtained at J. A. Burgess’ Store in East Chilliwack.
In May 1928, Mr. Banford sold his business to Buckerfield's Ltd. Banford remained in the feed business and opened another flour and feed store in Sardis that he operated until the 1930s. On January 21, 1932, a fire completely destroyed the Banford feed mill and warehouse. Other adjoining buildings like the Community Hall and the Sardis B. C. Electric Railway Station had a narrow escape. The fire originated from a short circuit in the grinding machine that had been running steadily that day. The loss was estimated at $6200.00.
Although, Buckerfield's bought Banford's business the new company leased the property. E. Buckerfield and Fred Vernon founded the Buckerfield's organization in 1919. In 1926, Buckerfield bought out Vernon and incorporated Buckerfield's Ltd. The company was well known among Fraser Valley farmers. Prior to Buckerfields’ move to Chilliwack the Vancouver company built a modern mill purely for the production of its Diamond Brand Feeds.
Suggestions for a new Buckerfield’s building were made in August 1945. The Todd Construction Co. was the contractor for the $40,000.00 building. The building included a modern air-conditioned office and showroom measuring 80' by 200', and a warehouse that measured 32' x 42' and 65 feet high. Included with the building were fifteen bins with a total capacity of 700 tons of bulk grain. The B. C. Electric Railway brought shipment straight to the bins via the railway spur that had been put in when the Chilliwack Cannery was still in operation. Special devices were constructed for elevating the supplies into the bins. At first, the plan had been to use local lumber for the building but due to forest fires in the region, the lumber had to be brought in from Vancouver. Local men did all the construction of the building that was completed by mid-October 1945.
Buckerfield’s remained in Chilliwack until April 30, 1998 when the business was destroyed by fire. The company did not wish to rebuild. Instead, privately owned local companies continue to sell Buckerfield's brand feed.
In May 1950, Chilliwack's oldest building located on Mill Street and owned by Boyd's Ltd. was torn down. Originally constructed as a gristmill it became a flour and feed store for many years. Several different owners operated the business at the corner of Mill and Wellington but during its existence the building had occupied two prior locations.
In 1879, James Chadsey first assembled the heavy timbers of the gristmill at Miller's Landing and used wooden pegs instead of nails in the building's construction. In August 1880, Chilliwack Municipal Council, called a special meeting to deliberate on a petition that requested a grant of $500.00 to move the gristmill to Centreville. Fifty-eight people had signed the petition and it was decided that a by-law would be necessary to grant the bonus of $500.00 to Mr. Chadsey. The bonus would be granted if Mr. Chadsey agreed to maintain the mill, "…in good running order, and when good wheat is furnished at the mill to grind it, and make a good quality of flour as can be made at any other mill for a period of five years. The price to be charged not to exceed $6 per ton and for chopping coarse grain the price not to exceed $4 per ton and to have the mill ready for grinding on or before the first of Dec. 1880". [Chilliwack Council Minutes, August 14, 1880 p. 177]. On August 28, 1880, By Law No. 28, the "Grist Mill Bonus By Law 1880" was passed.
At first the building was located near the site of the present Chilliwack United Church between Yale and Main and along Spadina Avenue. Unfortunately, as the Chilliwack Progress newspaper was not established until 1891, no local story or other details have been recorded that describe the move of the mill in 1880. Even in 1891, when the building may have been moved to the corner of Mill and Wellington Streets, and the Progress was in operation, no story appears. However, in April 1891, it is recorded in the newspaper that James Chadsey had removed the machinery from the grist mill. The building and grounds had been purchased by S. A. Cawley to be used as an implement and hardware store. By September 1891, Cawley’s new business, on the corner of Mill and Wellington, and opposite his old location. The store carried a complete stock of hardware, implements, paints and oils.
The first owner to use the gristmill as a feed business was J.L.Denholm who was born in Brant County, Ontario in 1862. He came to Chilliwack in 1892 and managed the 300-acre Fairfield Island farm owned by William DeWolfe and J. Howe Bent. Denholm acquired a tract of this farmland for himself and built his "Fairbanke" home here. At this location Denholm carried out an extensive livestock business and in 1895 opened the flour and feed store in the gristmill. For a while Denholm operated the business on his own, then with his brother-in-law, C.A. Uhley and finally partnered with Thomas H. Jackson in 1905.
Together Denholm & Jackson offered both wholesale and retail goods as well as harvesting machinery, wagons, buggies and democrats. Apart from supplying cream separators, incubators and brooders Denholm & Jackson purchased local livestock and farm produce. In particular Mr. Denholm was instrumental in developing the Chilliwack Valley hog industry. He moved to Victoria after selling his business and continued in the livestock trade with former Chilliwack Mayor, Robinson F. Waddington.
The Denholm & Jackson partnership, dissolved July 6, 1910, was sold to A. M. Rockwell and Company. In 1913, the Rockwell business took on two new partners, W.R. Theal and a Mr. Davison. Both Theal and Rockwell were born at River Hebert, Nova Scotia and may have known each other prior to their arrival in Chilliwack. In 1914 Rockwell, Theal & Davison built a grain elevator and feed mill on their property that fronted the B.C. Electric Railway track alongside their warehouse. In building the elevator the company was careful to consider expansion whereby they could add to the original 45' height of the elevator. They also planned its construction should it become necessary to move the elevator to the Canadian National Railway tracks at any time in the future. The firm remained unchanged until 1929 when Rockwell and Davison disposed of their interests to their former business partner, W.R. Theal and to Kurt A. Boyd.
The new partnership of Theal & Boyd continued with the established connections of the former business to two of Canada's largest milling companies, the Ogilvie Milling Co. and Lake of the Woods. As well, they offered farm machinery from International Harvester and DeLaval dairy supplies. The firm continued to operate until just prior to the Second World War when in 1939 Kurt Boyd became the sole owner. In 1950, the feed business was relocated to Main Street.
During its last few weeks of existence A. Weightman used the Chadsey gristmill as an egg grading station. At the time of the grist mill’s demolition, in May 1950, Kurt Boyd had no plans for the vacant property.
The Chilliwack Producers' Exchange
The Chilliwack Producers' Exchange was established in June 1913 when the association elected its first directors. Four main areas were developed, the directors representing East Chilliwack, Rosedale and Camp Slough; Chilliwack; Sardis and Promontory; and South Sumas. Their first president was George Israel Thornton, vice-president Ernest Arthur Orr and secretary-treasurer Chauncey Erwin Eckert. At the time of its formation, the organization hoped that every producer in the Chilliwack Valley would join the new association. The board itself would attempt to develop markets for local produce and to supply stock foods at cost to its members.
The Chilliwack Producers' Exchange held its last annual meeting in February 1928, when it was announced that, subject to shareholders approval, the business would be sold to a new company. A record year of income was made for the Chilliwack Producers' Exchange in 1927. Gross sales had mounted to $240,000 with a net profit of $8863.55. The sale was therefore not due to poor management but that larger interests were intent on buying the established business. To curb any concern for the future, it was pointed out that the new company would continue to sell feed as cheaply as the Chilliwack Producers' Exchange.
In March 1928, the Brackman - Ker Feed & Milling Company purchased the three locations of the Chilliwack Producers' Exchange. At the time of the new company's expansion into Chilliwack, the British Columbia branches of the Brackman & Ker Company, were managed by Mr. F.B. Gibbs. Both Mr. Gibbs and Mr. H.M. Streight, superintendent of the mainland branches of the company, assisted in the sales negotiations of the Chilliwack Producers' Exchange. With the acquisition of the three Chilliwack plants the Brackman - Ker holdings in the province of British Columbia rose to 20 plants. Amalgamated with Western Canada Flour Mills the Brackman - Ker Company had branches across Canada including grain elevators, flour and feed mills.
During the conversion from Chilliwack Producers' Exchange to Brackman - Ker, several retail goods were discontinued. The new business eliminated the sale of dry-goods, hardware and shoes. Instead, they concentrated on the sale of flour and feed, poultry and stock supplies, fertilizers and sprays.
The Brackman - Ker Milling Company had originated prior to 1878 when Henry Brackman and James Milne formed a partnership. Brackman had been a successful miner during the gold rush in the Cariboo. Together with James Milne, a Scottish miller, they built their first mill in North Saanich on Vancouver Island. In 1878, they started to manufacture oatmeal, however, the partnership was short lived and the company was dissolved in 1879. In 1880, David Russell Ker became associated with Henry Brackman and by 1881, they formed a partnership. Brackman - Ker was very successful and by 1886, prosperity allowed for the construction of warehouses and offices in the company's business center of Victoria. By 1914, after David Russel Ker had become the principal owner, upon the death of Henry Brackman in 1903, the annual business had increased from $25,000 per annum to $5,000,000 per year.
David Russell Ker was the son of the Honourable Robert and Jessie Ker. Robert Ker had been the auditor general for the province of British Columbia between 1867 - 1879. His son David was educated at collegiate schools in Victoria and had prepared for his interests in the milling business by working at milling companies in Victoria and San Francisco. David Russel Ker died in Saanich July 13, 1923. By 1965 the Brackman - Ker Milling Company had become a division of Maple Leaf Mills.
East Chilliwack Fruit Growers Co-operative Association
The East Chilliwack Fruit Growers Co-operative Association began when 23 farmers joined together to pool market their raspberries and incorporated on February 17, 1947. According to Henry Dick in his historical overview in the East Chilliwack Agricultural Co-op : 50 years of service 1947 to 1997, there was a major migration of prairie farmers to East Chilliwack between 1944 and 1946. Mr. Dick described these newcomers as "conscientious citizens who brought with them an inherent work ethic." He goes on to observe that "By adding poultry and hog raising and the planting of family-sized raspberry and strawberry acreages to the community's mainstay of dairy farming, they launched the area's mixed farming and bolstered their incomes."
The first year of operation, 1947, was a success, with post-war Great Britain purchasing the entire production of 300 tons of raspberries. The following year, 1948, was an entirely different story. Britain was no longer dependant on Canada for its raspberry imports, and the financial return to the grower decreased by 50%. Changes in the sale of its product, resulted in a change of approach. "The solution was to expand the co-op's operating base by entering the feed supply business, a move that was compatible with the mixed farm operation of its members."
In 1953, the Co-op purchased a feed plant in the City of Chilliwack at a cost of $35,000. By 1960 the Co-op had constructed a state of the art feed manufacturing plant, that "was one of the first all steel feed mill structures in all of Canada." The Co-op, that began with a $973.00 investment in 1947, grew to the point where, by 1997, they had annual sales in excess of $100 million. Shortly after their 50th Anniversary in 1997, Co-op members "approved a restructuring proposal to exchange co-operative shares for corporation shares", and with that decision a new company Agro Pacific Industries Ltd. was formed.
With heavy enlistment in the Canadian Armed Forces during the Second World war a repeat of shortages in the farm labour force occurred. Similar to the First World War when shortages also existed, Chilliwack responded to the need with a variety of different projects.
In 1942, the British Columbia government considered bringing in agricultural workers from Alberta to alleviate the problem. In BC, 10,000 Japanese-Canadians produced 85% of the province's berry crop and with the attack on Pearl Harbor, British Columbia responded to a possible threat of Japanese invasion by interning the B.C. Japanese-Canadian population. The result was that in order to harvest these crops, 5,000 workers had to be found.
It was proposed that the “outside” workers [out of province], would first start in the Okanagan and pick the already ripened strawberries. They would then shift to picking raspberries, loganberries, hops and, afterwards, return to the Okanagan to pick fruit.
Dairymen were in short supply in the Fraser Valley and many small herds were given up, as it was not feasible to operate. Subsequently these herds were butchered or sold as Valley farmers struggled to locate an estimated 250 dairymen.
Although school children were considered as an alternative for picking berries, farmers did not consider this a satisfactory solution as they felt the children would find the work tedious. However, the provincial government did allow leading students the opportunity to leave school at the beginning of June to work in agriculture for the summer. Housewives, and daughters who had finished school, were considered as potential volunteers. By June 1943, the Chilliwack War Agricultural Production Committee was placing high school students with individual farmers. The charge for their labour was 40 cents an hour and in one local project the students set up 750,000 bean poles in one week.
In June 1942, the labour shortage was considered critical and the conscription of non-essential labourers became another alternative. These workers would be drawn from the work force not considered essential to the war effort.
City businessmen organized a "Save the Crops" campaign for hoeing and haying. Both business owners and their employees hoped to provide some relief for Chilliwack farmers. Weeks of rain had choked the cornfields with weeds and help was required for haying and silo-filling. The project was initiated at a Rotary Club Luncheon in late June 1942, and the resultant committee met with service club leaders, Kinsmen, Rotary, the Agricultural Association, Board of Trade and the local Legion branch. Under the guidance of Mayor T.T. McCammon the committee agreed to secure the office of the Board of Trade where farmers could phone to request labour assistance and to organize city volunteers.
Wages were set at a minimum of 35 cents an hour, and volunteers were encouraged to bring their own hoe or hay fork. It was further suggested that the wages paid would be donated to war charities. Both men and women worked hoeing the fields and men were further sought for haying.
A year later, the situation was acute and another volunteer program, "Field Fighters" was established. Volunteers were recruited from girls, 16 or over and boys, 15 or over. In addition, it was the program's desire that any able-bodied person register with the program to work healthfully over vacation periods. Similar help was required, as in 1942, to pick berries, harvest vegetables, hoe corn and other field crops and to assist with farm chores. Crop value in Chilliwack was estimated at $1,000,000 and the promoter's wrote, "every pound of food saved in harvest adds weight to the United Nations cause."
It was thought that workers in this campaign could earn up to $5.00 per day and transportation to and from the farms was provided. Registration for the program and other details could be obtained from the Chilliwack War Production Committee c/o the Board of Trade Office, Chilliwack. Chilliwack's radio station, CHWK assisted the program with details at 7:45 PM every Monday night on "Help Wanted".
The arrival of A-6 Canadian Engineers Training Centre to Chilliwack, in 1942, provided a bonus in 1943 when the army camp supplied off-duty soldiers to assist with haying. Any soldiers on 24, 48 or 96 hour passes who wished to work, could be made available. School buses were arranged to transport the men to the farms at a cost of 25 cents per man payable by the farmer. If there were not enough requests for labour that would fill the bus, the farmer could report to the camp to obtain the men. Arrangements were made by the farmers who requested the labourers before 5:00 PM on the day before. The farmer first obtained an authorization slip from the Board of Trade that would be presented at the camp upon his arrival. Off-duty soldiers would start work after 5:00 PM and were paid 50 cents an hour and board. William Robertson of Rosedale was hired as a full-time placement officer, with headquarters at the Board of Trade, to facilitate the farm labour placement program. On July 20, 1943, local farmers employed over thirty soldiers to assist in the hayfields. Requests were made from Sardis, Rosedale and East Chilliwack with most farmers requesting four men.
Soldiers were not the only resource for farm labour and conscientious objectors were employed on local dairy farms in June 1943 for the first time. The first three men employed as permanent labour assisted with haying, hoeing and milking. Two of these men came from the conscientious objector's camp near the Chilliwack River and a third from the Green Timbers Forestry Camp. The dairymen paid $50.00 per month to the Chilliwack War Agricultural Production Committee, and further provided the men with board. The wage however was broken down into $25.00 to the employee and $25.00 sent to Selective Service that was then sent to the Red Cross.
However, there were times when farm labour could provide as a pool to other work forces. Shortages of labour in high priority war industries led the Dominion-Provincial Emergency Farm Labour Service to actively seek out farmers, ranchers and agricultural workers who could be spared to work in these priority industries during the winter months. Applications could also be sent to the Department of Agriculture, National Selective Service Offices.
The shortages in farm labour might be best evidenced by the dairy farm of Peter Mundreon of Chilliwack Central Road. By 1944, Mundreon's farm had been severely affected as his nine sons had joined the armed forces. He and his wife and daughter sold the farm and moved to Vancouver where Mr. Mundreon worked for the National Harbour Board.
Victory Gardens and slogans such as "Dig for Victory" actively promoted the need for farm labour and encouraged individuals to make up food shortages by becoming their own gardener. It was programs such as these and labour initiatives across Canada that the crops were brought in and families were able to become their own grocer. This however, was only one area of agriculture that was effected by the war effort. Progress was made throughout the war years in the care of animals and standards for the production of foodstuffs to the military. The farmer was the "Captain" in Canada's land army, and the home front of importance to the maintenance of stable morale both at home and overseas.
The hop growing industry had a 100-year association with Chilliwack. Hops are used in the brewing industry and provide beer with its distinctive taste.
The object of the harvest is the hop cone. At the base of the brachts or brachiols are the lupulin glands, which are microscopic ice creamed cone, shaped glands. It is the more than 200 active essential oils in the lupulin glands that are used in the brewing process to provide beer with its taste, smell, foam; and flavour and physical stability. An 1894 article in the Chilliwack Progress worded it as "a pleasantly scented flower whose destiny it is to flavour the beverage that inebriates and causes much grief when taken in excess, but which, under the title of John Barleycorn, cheerers and enlivens when taken in moderation." (Sept. 26, 1894).
The soil of the Fraser Valley, alluvial deposits, with a rich top layer underlain by a layer of gravel, provided the type of drainage needed to keep the sensitive hop roots dry. Other than this condition, according to Rick Knight, a former manager at the Haas Hop Company the plant is not particularly fussy.
The first attempts at hop growing in Sardis occurred around 1890. Theopholis Dumville and Adam Vedder were familiar with the work of three English growers in Agassiz who began experimenting with hop growing a few years earlier. However, they lacked familiarity with the needs of the crop and their attempts failed.
Henry Hulbert (1858-1931) was the first successful grower. Educated in England, Switzerland and Germany, this "aristocratic Englishman" became a tea tester and eventual owner of a tea and rubber plantation in Ceylon [Sri Lanka]. It is not clear why, but he left Ceylon in 1893 to travel back to England. His return journey took him to Vancouver where a visit with his brother-in-law, Dr. Duncan Bell-Irving, led him to the Fraser Valley. Impressed with what he saw, he purchased 50 acres of land in Sardis for a hop growing business. After his death, in 1931, his son, John, took over the business. However because of asthma he was unable to run the farm with any degree of success and the farm deteriorated. With John's death in 1944 the property was sold to the John I. Haas Company in 1944. This plot, located at the corner of Vedder and Higginson Road, operated as a hop farm until 1975.E. Clemens Horst, a German born American, entered the business in 1902. Horst had worked as a hop merchant throughout the 1890s in New York but by 1902 had moved to San Francisco to develop his interests in fruit growing and canning. He purchased part of Adam Vedder's property in 1902 and within a few years owned over 300 acres of land in Sardis. This land was located in the Knight and Vedder Road vicinity. He expanded to Agassiz so that by 1912 his operation, the B.C. Hop Company, dominated the industry. Horst was content to remain in California leaving the operation of his yards to competent managers. Horst died in 1940. His land was sold to Haas on 1954 because of the "high cost of hand-picking plus lower priced American hops" (Chilliwack Progress, Sept. 22, 1954).
During the mid 1920s John I. Haas, an American hop broker, and another American, Harry Ord, who had worked at Horst's Oregon hop growing operations joined the industry. Ord and his partners purchased 600 acres of newly drained land on the former Sumas Lake bed while Haas purchased about 100 acres on Evans Road in Sardis. Prohibition in the United States opened up the Canadian market for the American hop brokers whose businesses had been devastated by prohibition.Ord's death in 1956 resulted in the sale of his property to Haas in 1957. The consolidation of the industry in Sardis and Chilliwack was complete. Haas was now the only grower in the area. A combination of astute business practices and lack of heirs to take over the businesses that these unique entrepreneurs had started led to the industry’s consolidation.
The last hop crop was harvested in Chilliwack in 1997. A few years earlier Fred Haas, the son of John I. Haas had died. His will stipulated that his property be willed to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. The University sold this property and the former hop lands reverted to other farm uses. For more than 100 years, pickers would descend on Chilliwack for the yearly picking ritual. For generations of First Nations people, Japanese and Chinese workers, Mennonite families, East Asians and a host of other people, hop picking was a seasonal way of life.
H.M. Eddie & Sons Ltd.
Henry M. Eddie arrived in British Columbia in 1910 and first worked in the fruit industry at a farm in Haney. About the time of the First World War, he relocated to Chilliwack and worked first as a manager and then as Vice President of B.C. Nurseries in Sardis.In 1926, Mr. Eddie who supplied roses to BC Nurseries started to prepare his acres of roses for his own nursery business. In 1927, Eddie & Sons Ltd., was opened in partnership with his three sons. The firm operated at 789 Trans-Canada Highway, later 40939 West Yale.
From its outset, the original Eddie firm specialized in the development of roses and included a complete line of nursery stock. Even prior to venturing out on his own, Mr. Eddie was known as the "Rose King of Canada". His new business established his rose products, in particular, across Canada. In his first year, the business sold twice as many roses as he had previously done with BC Nurseries and still half a selling season remained.
Expansion occurred shortly after incorporation and the Eddie firm, bought acreage from P.C. Evans of Sumas Prairie and leased land from Arthur Zink. Eventually the Eddie firm, purchased 26 and a half acres from Mr. Zink. All of the land would be used as growing space and it was estimated that during the current growing season they would handle 500,000 plants. By August 1927, the Eddie rose gardens in Sardis were the largest of their kind in Canada with 18 acres in cultivation and other nursery items occupying 22 acres. Expansion was further undertaken in the United States through Washington and Oregon.
Eddies' did not specialize in one type of rose and initially grew over 300 varieties including old favorites and modern colourings. It was this blend of old and new that may have been the firm's hallmarks, and Mr. Eddie added further to the rose legacy by creating new and better plants. Not only did he conduct these activities with roses, but with fruit and other ornamental plants.
Eddie’s roses were in high demand and in 1938 a New York firm ordered 15,000 rose bushes. A short time later the T. Eaton Company of Winnipeg acquired 14,000 rose bushes for their markets, preferring to pay a higher price than for cheaper imported varieties.
The Chilliwack Board of Trade desired to turn Chilliwack into the "Rose District of British Columbia". It was thought that the best roses in Canada and the United States were being grown in Chilliwack and the Eddie company offered 1,000 free rose bushes to develop the slogan and objective. Plans were established to create a rose highway running the length of the district from the Vedder Canal to east of Rosedale. In April 1929, 450 climbing rose bushes were delivered to residents who lived along the Yale Highway. The Board of Trade canvassed property owners and then distributed the plants to the many residents who had agreed to plant and care for the roses.
During the 1930s, Eddies' created the "most perfect rose" known as the "Mrs. H.M. Eddie", the first Canadian rose to be patented in the United States. The rose was white with a cream centre, large, beautiful, and could endure for six to seven days after cutting. The rose became a feature in the National Rose Garden of Britain sometime after 1936 and was grown in Paris.
In February 1946, the Eddie firm acquired 80 acres on Lulu Island, near Steveston, as they were not able to expand growing operations in Chilliwack. Sixty acres of land were held be Eddies' in the Chilliwack District and at the time, it was thought that it would take two years for the firm to relocate its office and plantations.
It would appear, however, that the Chilliwack branch of Eddies' was eventually taken over by Murray & Wood who continued in business locally until circa 1977, when the firm became E.J. Murray & Son Nursery. By 1985, the firm was no longer listed in local directories.
Prior to the advent of veterinarian services, care of sick or injured animals was usually provided by the individual farmer. In addition, there were usually one or two individuals in the community who had developed a detailed knowledge of animal ailments, with home made remedies developed as treatments. Examples include boiling milk for calves suffering from scours, mustard plasters for kidney trouble and pneumonia, and a formaldehyde and water food bath for foot rot.
The first person with formal veterinarian training to practice in this area was George Edmund "Ed" Chadsey. Mr. Chadsey attended Guelph Veterinary College in 1893-1894, and in 1894 moved to Chilliwack to take over the management of a cheese factory located near the J. A. Evans farm. Ed Chadsey married Alma Kipp, and together they established a farm on the corner of Banford and Chilliwack Central Roads.
In May 1920, Dr. M.H. Milton, who had moved to this area from the prairies, joined Mr. Chadsey. Dr. Milton continued his practice from 1920 to 1960, and covered the area from Hope to Langley, and when called upon would cross the river to Agassiz. Dr. Milton established a practice of herd health contracts, where for $3.00 per week, he would make weekly visits to inspect and treat sick animals. Dr. Milton also worked out of his home on Woodbine Street, where he mixed most of his own medicines which made it cheaper for the farmer.
Several veterinarians from this area were pressed into extra service during the Fraser River flood of 1948. One of these was Dr. G.F.R. "Ted" Barton, who was born in Chilliwack in 1907, and graduated from Guelph Veterinary College in 1932. During the 1948 flood Dr. Barton helped to cope with area cattle, which were relocated to the rifle range on Promontory Road. Dr. Barton gained the respect and admiration of his colleagues and farmers for his dedication to sick animals, and was always alert to new methods and medicines that would improve herd health.
Topics
- Agriculture in Chilliwack
- Dairy
- Creameries
- Chilliwack CreamerY
- Fraser Valley Milk Producer's Association
- Chilliwack Artificial Insemination Club
- Cow Test Association
- Farmer's Institutes
- Chilliwack Women's Institutes
- Chilliwack Agricultural Society
- Chilliwack Plowing Society
- Fruits and Vegetables
- Fruit Grower's Association
- Chilliwack Canning and Preserving Company
- Cherry CarnivaL
- Youth and Agrculture
- School gardens
- Agriculture Instruction
- Soldiers of the Soil
- Junior Farm Clubs and 4H
- Feed and Mills
- Ker Feed and Milling Company
- Banford to Buckerfield's
- The Mill Street Mill
- Chilliwack Producer's Exchange
- East Chilliwack Fruit Growers Co-Op
- Second World War
- Hops
- H.M. Eddie and Sons Ltd.
- Veterinarians
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