The GCPS is a registered society dedicated to preserving the history, site, and memory of Granite Creek, BC. Membership is open to all.


GUEST BOOK

Welcome to the Granite Creek guest book. Feel free to leave a note for us, and all to see. It is nice to hear from people who have been to Granite or even just have a love of this place and its history. Of course, we are always hoping to hear from someone (you?) with a historical connection, or who can offer some interesting anecdote.    (click here to become a member)






Comment:
I visited in summer 2021 and really enjoyed the history and reading about the town! I'm just now starting a project and I needed to research a "local" landmark/history site and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity! Thank you for the access to the photos as that really helped as well!

Admin reply: Hi Fiona: We are so happy that you are able to use some of the information and photos to help with your project! :-) We love to hear when our site is able to help others.

Regards,
Diane


Added: April 6, 2023
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Comment:
I visited on Oct. 2nd/2022 and enjoyed the self-guided tour and the information signs. A very special spot. The sensitive dedication and protection of the cemetery is very nice to see. Peaceful spot. Many thanks to the volunteers.

Admin reply: Thank you for your kind words. We are glad you enjoyed your visit.


Added: October 3, 2022
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Comment:
Visited Coalmont and Granite Creek Cemetery a couple of years ago as my great-great grandfather is Foxcrowle Percival Cook's gravesite is there and was able to learn a lot of my family history. Foxcrowle Percival's daughter Adeline (my great-grandmother) married Wes Rossiter (my great-grandfather) so it was really interesting to see both sides of the family (Cook and Rossiter) have grave sites in Granite Creek cemetery and see how the families are connected by this area of British Columbia.

Admin reply: Hello Lisa:
Thank you so much for signing our guestbook. Foxcrowle Cook was one of the most important pioneers in this area. His tenacity kept the town of Granite Creek running during the gold rush and after the fire of 1907. As I am sure you know, he had stores in Granite Creek, Coalmont and Princeton. He donated generously to various causes in the area and was a valued citizen who was responsible (with others) for the building of the Anglican Church in Coalmont (no longer here). If he were alive today he is someone I would really want to know. How lucky for you to be his great-great-granddaughter! You are part of a very important family in Similkameen!


Added: August 20, 2019
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Comment:
I am so happy to have found your excellent website.Thank you for all the work you have done to preserve this history.

My great-grandfather Archibald Irwin was the mining recorder at Granite Creek 1886-1889. He was married to Eleanor Woodward and they lived for a time in Granite Creek. I had previously provided the photo of Archibald and Eleanor that is included in Diane Sterne's book and also on this website. The photo was likely taken at the time of their wedding in 1876.

On perusing the photos on your website, I noticed you did not have much on the cairn erected in 1958 for the BC centennial. I have a photo of my grandfather Albert Edward Irwin standing beside the cairn which he had just unveiled. If you would like a copy please contact me.

Admin reply: Hi Marsha:

Thank you so much for this information and the photo you sent to my email. I will ask our webmaster to include it on our site.

Regards,
Diane


Added: July 19, 2019
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Comment:
Currently studying the ads in Trout's 1886 "Prospectors' Manual", fascinating material! I would love to visit at some point, but in the meantime I am greatly enjoying this site and will direct my students to it too.

Admin reply: I am so glad you are enjoying the website! Thank you for signing our Guestbook.
Regards,
Diane Sterne
Vice-Chair, GCPS


Added: February 17, 2019
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Comment:
Looking forward to visiting this year, haven't been thru in awhile. Want to do a trek up thru Coalmont and the old Blakeburn site. The family started doing some geneology work a couple years ago and found a connection (such as it is) to the area. One of our fathers uncles worked at the mine and was one of the 45 who perished in the explosion of 1930. Josiah Bradbury. The family was involved in the mining industry in Naniamo as well.

Admin reply: Hi Ed:
I hope you enjoy your visit to the area. Be sure to check out the interpretive signs at the Granite Creek Town Site and Cemetery while you are here.
Regards,
Diane Sterne
Vice-Chair GCPS


Added: February 9, 2019
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Comment:
This is a wonderful website and organization. A lot of interesting historical information. Congratulations to all!

Added: June 4, 2018
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Comment:
hello

my great grandfather's name was Louis Napoleon Marcotte. Sure would like to know more about him. Hw owned/operated the Granite Creek Hotel and opened the Calmont Hotel. Thank You

Admin reply: Hello Gary:

I apologize for not noticing your entry in our Guestbook earlier. I have sent you an email with the information I have regarding Louis Napoleon Marcotte.

Regards,
Diane Sterne
Vice-Chair
GCPS


Added: March 5, 2018
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Comment:
I, along with my family, owned the Coalmont hotel from 1979 to 1985 and while rooting around in the basement of the hotel, found a plate from the Granite Creek hotel on a ledge of the rock foundation on the hotel. Also found a number of photos from the Coalmont, Blakeburn and Granite creek areas. Loved the area then and still do.

Admin reply: Hello Gerry:

Thank you for signing our Guestbook. My apologies for my tardiness in responding. If you have any photographs of Granite Creek that you would like to share with our Society, we would be most grateful for copies of them. Thank you.

Regards,
Diane Sterne
Vice-Chair
GCPS


Added: February 21, 2018
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Comment:
Hi, Thank you for your efforts in locating and listing the
Granite Creek Cemetery burials.

Noted burial of Catherine Cronkhite nee Barton (1900-1993), William A Cronkhite(1931-1999), Mary Barton (15/11/1880-12/5 1971) and William Barton(1876-1969) in the Find-a-Grave Index. Mary nee Starrs and William emigrated to BC in 1922 from Willington Quay Northumberland, England, where he was a coal hewer. They were married in 1909 and celebrated their 60 year marriage anniversary in Princeton. The death certificate for Mary shows C Cronkhite, daughter, as the person registering the death. I suspect the John William Barton may have been a son who died very young. (31 years)

On Mary's death certificate it shows her burial place at Mt View Cemetery. Am a little puzzled by the different burial places.

Mary Starrs Barton was a sister to my grandmother Susan (Starrs) McCouaig who emigrated to Australia.

Regards,
Chris

Admin reply: Hello Chris:

Thank you for signing our guestbook. I am glad you were able to find the graves for your relatives who are buried at the Granite Creek Cemetery.

I searched the records for Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver (which are available online) and could not find any reference to Mary Barton being interred there. I also checked Mountain View Cemetery in Trail and Duncan (on Vancouver Island) and found no records for her being buried at those locations either.

Since there is a headstone for Mary at the Granite Creek Cemetery, it is probably safe to assume she is interred there.
It could be that family members originally planned on her being buried at Mountain View but changed their minds.

Thank you for the family information. I will include it in our Cemetery records in case other family members might find it helpful in the future.

Diane Sterne
Vice-Chair
Granite Creek Preservation Society


Added: February 26, 2017
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