Book Review Membership Report Newsletter Report

Peterat explains: “my interpretations risk a bias of interpreting past events and conditions through my own twenty-first-century perspective.” This self-awareness from an historian and author is an affirmation of their dedication to the ethical responsibility of accuracy and observation in their work.

Much has been written about Barkerville’s economic activities and society in the 1860s, but the journey of the Lindhard sisters focuses on life in the nearby communities of Van Winkle, Stanley, and Cottonwood House in the 1870s through 1890s (the Friends maintain the Stanley Cemetery, a point of interest for visitors on their way to Wells-Barkerville today, and we have recently reopened -as a wilderness mountain biking trail- the 15.5 mile/25km Stanley to Richfield portion of the Cariboo Waggon Road). A comprehensive description of their travels, including stops of interest in the 1870s, historic observations, societal influences on gender roles with opportunities for progressive change, and objective descriptions of community infrastructure and economy, breathe life into the past. Peterat also delves into the regional history of the prior two decades in order to give context to the relationships and socio-economic activity she expands upon. An entertaining and informative read, divided into each of the three sister’s journeys including their families and associates, this compilation of research and narrative story-telling is an excellent addition to any history, Canadiana, feminist, human interest, and non-fiction library alike. It is also a superb reference and compendium for researchers and interpreters of the era.

I hope you enjoy it as I have. The next time you visit Cottonwood House, Stanley, and Barkerville, your perspective for what once was, what lives were lived there, and of what the wilderness has reclaimed, will be vastly widened thanks to Peterat’s enlightening, entertaining, and resonant work. In fact, a visitor to the Stanley Cemetery today will find Caroline’s first husband, J.W. Lindhard, laid to rest in 1873. I recommend that you add From Denmark to Cariboo to your holiday gift list.

–Brendan Bailey Membership Report

Memberships are an important component of our society. As noted in The Impact of Friends, the revenue produced through annual memberships gives the society leave to be extremely active in the areas of Promotion, Protection, and Preservation of Barkerville Historic Town & Park and the surrounding Cariboo Goldfields.

Our Year-to-Date membership is currently 87 persons, including Society Directors and former Directors. This is the sum of 50 memberships (37 couples, 13 singles). 16 memberships were purchased via Paypal on our website, 16 memberships were purchased from Society Directors, 14 memberships were purchased through the Barkerville Visitor Reception Centre, 2 were lifetime memberships awarded to past directors for decades of service, and 2 were one-year memberships awarded to past directors for years of service. The low membership this year can be attributed to the pandemic, lack of comprehension for both the legacy work and present work of the society, an increasing lack of promotion in sites such as Barkerville Historic Town & Park, and reduction and/or alteration of previous membership ‘perks.’ Current perks include: 20% discount on Barkerville Historic Town & Park admission, 10% discount on a day pass at Troll Ski Resort, 10% discount at Barkerville Brewing, a free ice cream at the Frog on the Bog Gifts, and a free flight of beer at the Bricklayer Brewing company in Chilliwack. Through the distribution of our newsletter, fundraising events such as our Bloody Good Bash!, education of new Barkerville site staff, sponsorship in return for visibility, and through society activity, we will continue to rebuild our base of members and support for the Friends so that we can, in turn, continue to support Barkerville Historic Town & Park with maintenance, development, and curation, maintain and restore trails, promote the site and region, and inspire our upcoming generations to seek lessons for the future in the past. Are you interested in a membership? Over the winter you can purchase a membership to the society either through the directors or via our website: friendsofbakerville.ca Let’s be Friends (of Barkerville)!

–Emily and Brendan Bailey Newsletter Report

Our second-last newsletter was issued this time a year ago with thanks to editor and designer, Lana Fox. We remodelled the newsletter last June to test whether or not it could again serve as an adequate fundraising opportunity for the society as well as an entertaining and informative update for members. The newsletter is e-mailed digitally to all former and present Friends of Barkerville membership holders (mailed to select members by request), it is posted digitally on our website, and is posted digitally on our facebook page which has a reach of over 5,000 persons. The digital copies of our last newsletter were issued in colour. We then printed 500 black and white paper copies of the newsletter, 400 of which were available via suggested donation to the society through a number of locations: The Quesnel Visitor Centre, The Barkerville Visitor Reception Centre, The Frog on the Bog Gifts, The Wells Hotel, The Sunrise Cafe, Barkerville Brewing, The House Hotel, Rocky Peak, Sarras Stage and Recording Retreat, and the Goldfields Bakery. The collected donations ($442), as well as the inclusion of local advertisements, covered the expense of printing and even brought $100 to the society after expenses. This, while promoting the Friends, providing interest articles, providing updates on society activity, educating, and also promoting other local sites and businesses in the goal of the preservation, protection, and promotion of Barkerville and the surrounding Cariboo Goldfields. We intend to resume quarterly publications in 2023, and hope that you enjoy! Our previous editions are available at friendsofbarkerville.ca.

Thank you to Connor Kenney and Dirk Van Stralen for the design layout of this newsletter.

–Brendan Bailey With Thanks

This past AGM, our Founding Chair, Richard Wright, and former Secretary, Cameron Graham, resigned from the board of directors. Our deepest thanks for your hard work, dedication, and passion, both of you. Richard has been a Director since 1985 (as Founding Chair). The author of over 22 books and hundreds of articles, his Barkerville and the Cariboo Goldfields, Heritage House, 2013 (as well as previous editions dating back to 1984), is considered the definitive guide to Barkerville Historic Town & Park. He is also a former director for Heritage BC and the Barkerville Heritage Trust. Alongside partner, Amy Newman, as Newman & Wright Productions, Richard was the contracted proprietor of the Theatre Royal for nearly two decades; 2004 through 2019, N&W are the present Project Managers for the Cariboo Waggon Road Restoration Project, and the award-winning documentary filmmakers behind Bonepicker: Gold Rush Backstories. Richard’s continuing contributions to Barkerville date back to the 1970s and it is without question that Richard is among Barkerville’s most significant and pivotal players in the site’s museological history as well as being one of the most significant contributors to the site’s museological and archival database. In recognition of this (ongoing) work, in 2012, Richard was presented the President’s Award by the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association. Thank you for all you have done, and continue to do, Richard, and we look forward to your correspondence and guidance as a society member. Cameron has been a Director since 2017 and took on the executive role as Secretary in 2022. A Planning Coordinator for West Fraser in Quesnel, he was raised in Merritt, BC, where he enjoyed sports (namely rugby and hockey) and the outdoors, frequently camping and fishing around the area. His passion for the outdoors pushed him to pursue a career in forestry and after 5 years at UBC he graduated and was offered a position with West Fraser. Thank you for the last five years of dedicated volunteerism with the Friends, Cam, and we also look forward to your continued correspondence and insight as a society member. Of special note, we would also like to recognize former director, Lana Fox, who stepped down as a director during our previous AGM in mid-November of 2021. Lana has been a director with the Friends since shortly after its inception, is a superb researcher and historical knowledge resource, was the editor of the newsletter in recent years, and continues to remain involved as a society member. Thank you, Lana. We welcome Hayley Archer to the board for a one-year term. Hayley brings with her a great deal of experience serving on the boards of other organizations, is a community relations professional, educator, spent many years working in Barkerville, and resides in Wells. Welcome, Hayley! We welcome Rocky Nenka to the board for a one-year term. Rocky brings to the board experience in business operation and management, society governance, and a passion for seeing Barkerville reach its full potential. Rocky is the Commerce Manager for Barkerville Historic Town & Park. Welcome, Rocky!

–Brendan Bailey and the Friends