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Thursday, May 9, 2013 Clearwater Times
Fitting together pieces from the history of Avola Eleanor Deckert It just so happens that I like to ask people questions and listen to their stories. I also like to read and write. And one more thing: I like to fit little scraps and pieces together: quilts, collages, puzzles, clues. I live in Mary Gibson’s house and I have heard her tell about old times in Avola. My husband, Kevin, asked Gerald Gibson, Ivor Lundeberg and old time railroaders and trappers lots of questions. Bob Jensen is our neighbour and has generously allowed us to scan his photos into our computer. In Bob’s collection of treasure I was happy to find eight issues of “The Tiny Timber News” a paper written entirely by the students on the Avola Elementary School in 1981, ‘82, ‘83. Written and oral stories, interview questions, faded photos, topographic maps ... pieces are starting to fit together. Here are a few names, places, and buildings, properties that have been part of Avola’s history. Photo: Arvid Lunderberg
Photo: Eva Gibson and Harry Hardy in front of the Avola General Store The first store built in Avola was on the site where the Log Inn Pub is now. It was owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. George Hanington of Vancouver. They were assisted by Pete Lind who, with his wife and family, resided here at that time. Before her marriage Mrs. Hanington taught school in Avola as did her husband, George Hanington. The store was later sold to Mr. and Mrs. Syd Knowles, also from Vancouver. They owned and operated it for many years. It was later sold to Mr. and Mrs. Whittle, who sold it to Mr. and Mrs. Martin Buis. The original store, known as the Avola General Store, burned down in the early 1960s. Across from the store, where Larry and Verna Tychkowsky and family live now, was a building called “The Avola House.” It was a rooming house and eating place owned and operated by two brothers: Ed and Charlie Fowler and later by Gunnar and Gladys Lund. This was always a very busy place and served the community well. It burned down in 1950. Interview with Mrs. Mary Gibson, April 1, 1982 Photo courtesy of Bob Jensen
Photo: Jack Maciejho on snowshoes on the ice of the North Thompson River near Avola Across the river from Avola the property belonging to Gerald Gibson was owned by Jack Maciejho. Around 1920, the year of the big forest fire that swept through the area and burned out the valley. It burned out Warthern Construction, a logging operation at Wire Cache where Mr. Maciejho lived. He was driven out by the fire, so he purchased the property across the river. He lived there with his family until 1928, when it was purchased by Gerald Gibson’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. H.W. Gibson, who came here from Edmonton and lived there until they early 1950s. The two-story house burned down later in the 1950s. The wood shed is one of the oldest buildings here. Interview with Mrs. Mary Gibson, March 8, 1982 Photo courtesy of Bob Jensen
At one time the property across the highway from the Scarffs was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Arvid Lunderberg, parents of Ivor, Elmer, Birtle, who lived there for a number of years. A sister, Inez, was married and also lived in B.C. and visited here after. Incidentally, Mr. and Mrs. J Maciejho were Ivor’s aunt and uncle. Interview with Mary Gibson, March 8, 1982 Photo courtesy of Bob Jensen
Photo: Gibson Sawmill The first mill in Avola was a shingle mill in the 1920s and they hired Orientals. They operated for a number of years. The mill burned down later. In the 1940s another mill began operation here and the Mengie Bridge spanning the river from the Avola side to the island was built. As Mr. Mengie was part owner of the mill, the bridge was given his name. It was torn down years later when the mill was taken over by new owners. The Diamond Company of Oregon operated here for a number of years. Then it became Merritt Diamond Mills under new management. They finally sold out to Kamloops Pulp and Paper Co. Ltd. and they operated here until they relocated to Vavenby in the 1970s. Local History by Mary Gibson, Feb 3, 1983 Photos courtesy of Bob Jensen
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North Thompson Star/Journal Monday, June 18, 2012
www.starjournal.net A11
Nature plays a large part in Art by Ecki Thompson Headwaters Services Committee
By Elli Kohnert North Thompson Star/Journal
224 Candle Creek Road, Clearwater, BC V0E 1N1 Phone: 250.674.3530 • Fax: 250.674.3540 Canada, and eventu- carve on it!” ist on selling his work www.blueriverbc.ca • smadden@tnrd.ca ally came to live in He notes that near- through craft fairs.
Cloverdale, B.C. It is there that he began his The small settle- artistic career. Seashells were his ment of Vavenby is
ly all the materials he The couple say they uses in his creations have a few tentative are natural; giving the ideas in mind for marartwork its special keting; such as going