Latest Posts
Wong Bing and Jessie Goldie: An Unlikely Friendship
By: Scott Forfar Last week, I introduced the story of Wong Bing’s life as a cook at Rainbow Ranche in Okanagan Centre. The Rainbow Ranche was a prosperous 525-acre farm with the first large acreage of fruit planted in Lake... [Continue Reading]
Wong Bing: A Cook’s Life at Rainbow Ranche
Chop wood, pump water, wash clothes, pick vegetables, cook and serve family andranch hand meals – that was the daily routine for Wong Bing working at theRainbow Ranche from 1916 to 1920. Wong Bing’s life on the ranch was recorded... [Continue Reading]
Owners of the V Bar V Ranch, Norman Davies
John Norman Davies owned the V Bar V ranch from 1932 to 1943. Norman, from a Welsh landed-gentry family, was the son of Joseph Davies, a solicitor in Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire, Wales and Mary Jane Jones. Norman was born in Aberystwyth... [Continue Reading]
Which Bird might I see today? – SUMMER – A ‘summer’ sparrow
In our last post we looked at two North-American sparrows which turn up every spring to breed here, Savannah and Vesper Sparrows. This time let’s look at a sparrow you will only see here in summer, the Lark Sparrow. Lark... [Continue Reading]
Owners of the V Bar V Ranch in Oyama: William Furniss
William Furniss, a middle-aged farmer from Vernon, became the second owner of the V Bar V, after the Bovee brothers. He was born in England on December 5, 1843 (his gravestone says 1844) and according to the 1901 Canada Census... [Continue Reading]
Owners of the V Bar V Ranch, Joseph Hayton
Joseph Hayton was a Boer War veteran and world adventurer. He was born near Ventnor, Isle of Wight, to George Hayton, Rector of Niton, and his wife Ellen Louisa (Chadwick) Hayton. Hayton immigrated to Canada at age 19 aboard the... [Continue Reading]
Bovee Families on the Commonage
This blog continues a story of the Bovee families that settled in Oyama in 1894 and then moved to the Commonage in 1898. Manfred pre-empted a half section of land in the northern Commonage, a dry grassland environment about 10... [Continue Reading]
History of the V Bar V ranch in Oyama, the Bovee families
At least five families contributed to the development of the V Bar V ranch in Oyama.[1] The first were the Bovee brothers and their families. The original pre-emptors of the V Bar V were the Bovee brothers, Manfred Leroy Sanford... [Continue Reading]
Which Bird might I see today? – SPRING –Two migrating sparrows
When non-birders think of sparrows they think of the common House Sparrow, the bird that says, “Cheep, cheep” in our hedges and is abundant in built-up areas. But House Sparrows are not true sparrows, were introduced here from Europe and... [Continue Reading]
Which Bird might I see today? – WINTER –
Steller’s Jay
Our valley is home to two jays, members of the corvid family, (which includes crows,ravens, magpies and so on). These are the Canada Jay, formerly called the Gray Jay, and theSteller’s Jay. I wrote an article about Canada Jays in... [Continue Reading]
How Learning Local History Strengthens Communities
Written by Asha Chloe CraigExclusive for lakecountrymuseum.com In Central Okanagan Public Schools, there is a program where young students can learn from the land of the Okanagan Valley. Here, indigenous students have the opportunity to celebrate and learn about their cultural... [Continue Reading]
People who had influence on me as a child
By: Fred Larsen As I grew up in the Okanagan, in Woodsdale, during the 1950s, I was shaped largely by the examples of my 0.mother and father. My mother’s musical ability and sociability—as well as her love and respect for... [Continue Reading]
Derek Eyles: A Remembrance Day Tribute
Eyles was born in Bristol, England, in 1925 and joined the Home Guard, the 8th Battalion Somerset Light Infantry at age 17. In 1943 he joined the Royal Navy where he trained as a radar operator. He served on the... [Continue Reading]
Okanagan Centre Glacier
Three kilometres south of Okanagan Centre a sequence of glacial and nonglacial sediments ninety-eight metres thick is exposed in a gully on the east side of the road. Fulton and Smith (1978) of the Geological Survey of Canada determined that... [Continue Reading]
The Life Cycle of Kokanee: Part 2
The life cycle of kokanee is a part of the Okanagan that is visible each year in the fall. When walking down a creek or stream from mid September to mid October, it is hard to miss the bright red... [Continue Reading]
Sharing stories and making connections at Lake Country Museum & Archives
~Marie Molloy Lake Country Museum & Archives in Okanagan Centre is a place for sharing stories and making connections with people past and present. The museum’s collections committee is comprised of a fun group of individuals and it’s hard not... [Continue Reading]
Which Bird might I see today? – FALL –
Don’t call them Seagulls! When we live in a valley with a number of lakes, large and small, as well as ponds, riversand creeks, (not to mention large landfill sites), we are bound to see gulls. Non-birdersoften refer to them... [Continue Reading]
A Dedication of the Kobayashi House
September 17, 2022 On a lovely September Day Virginia and Peter Palma kindly hosted a gathering of Kobayashi Descendents to dedicate their beautifully renovated home to the Kobayashi family. This kind gesture was appreciated by four generations of the... [Continue Reading]
Eaton’s Catalogue
Every so often we receive gifts that are extraordinarily special, and many of the most appreciated don’t come with a hefty price tag. They usually come from very special people. Some of my gifts this year were the much treasured ... [Continue Reading]
How Flooding and Waterways Are Controlled in the Okanagan
Flooding is common in the Okanagan. Our post ‘Flooding in Lake Country’ touches on this, as we noted how flooding occurred nearly every year in the early 1900s. In 1908, the Oyama canal was built, connecting Wood Lake and Kalamalka Lake. This... [Continue Reading]
History of Kokanee in the Okanagan: Part 1
Kokanee, a form of landlocked salmon, are Indigenous to the Okanagan and at one time were abundant within Okanagan and Wood Lake. Kokanee adapted from sockeye salmon, who migrated from the Columbia River approximately 10,000 years ago after the last... [Continue Reading]
The Man of Many Names: The Story of John Brixton
John Brixton, commonly known as the Colonel, was born in 1870 in England. He led a life full of adventure, leaving behind an incredible story. At approximately 16 years old he jumped on a merchant ship, the S.S. Sarmatian, headed... [Continue Reading]
Arrowleaf Balsamroot: What is it and Why is it Significant to The Okanagan
Written by Deana Asham. Named after the shape of its leaves, arrowleaf balsamroot is an Indigenous species to the Okanagan Valley. Being part of the same family as the sunflower, Asteraceae, they share a similar appearance; however, they flower slightly... [Continue Reading]
Which Bird might I see today? – SUMMER – Two More Grebes
In our spring posting we took a close look at the three species of Grebe that spend their entire year here, changing plumage into breeding ‘duds’ each spring. Today we’ll focus on the two species that migrate here to breed... [Continue Reading]
A Victory For Lake Country, The Vernon to Kelowna Bike Race of 1930
By: Tiana Langedyk The Vernon to Kelowna Bike Race in the 1930’s was instigated by a local bike shop to promote their store. Biking at the time was growing as an important sport in the Okanagan Valley with the development... [Continue Reading]
The Kobyashi House, est. 1889
Here are some pictures of one of the oldest and original houses in Okanagan Centre still in existence. This home at the bottom of Camp Road was built by a German immigrant builder in 1889, so we were told, who... [Continue Reading]