A CONCEPT FOR F.H. BARBER PROVINCIAL PARK.

Transcription

1 A CONCEPT FOR F.H. BARBER PROVINCIAL PARK.

2 APPROVAL This Concept for F.H. Barber Provincial Park has been reviewed and is approved.

3 Lower Mainland Region Parks and Outdoor Recreation Division Ministry of Lands, Parks and Housing North Vancouver, British Columbia A CONCEPT FOR F. H. BARBER PROVINCIAL PARK Ellen Kavanagh M. H. Turner September, 1979 C. J. Velay Director

4 C. J. Velay J. C. Leman Director Regional Manager Operations Branch Lower Mainland Region Victoria, B. C. North Vancouver, B. C. This Concept for F. H. Barber Provincial Park is submitted for your approval.

5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Introduction...1 Historical Development and Recreation Features...3 Concept...6 Zoning...7 Development Proposal...7 Management...9 Summary...9

6 1 INTRODUCTION F. H. Barber Provincial Park, 1 kilometre west of Laidlaw, comprises 5 hectares of Fraser River floodplain bordering Jones Creek, the CNR tracks, and the Fraser River (Figure 1). This "Class A" provincial park was established in 1978 and is one of two major public accesses to the Fraser River between Chilliwack and Hope. The park is situated in the Coastal Western Hemlock biogeoclimatic zone with vegetation representative of the undisturbed Fraser floodplain. Black cottonwood, broadleaf maple and red alder are interspersed with red cedar and western hemlock. Salmonberry shrubs form much of the dense understory. Blue jays, chickadees, finches, ravens and eagles are among the many birds that frequent these treed areas along the Fraser River. The river is rich in a variety of fish, including salmon and sturgeon. Semi-precious stones, including agate, jadeite and jasper may be found among the cobbles and boulders deposited along the shoreline. LOOKING EAST FROM GRAVEL BAR TO F. H. BARBER PROVINCIAL PARK

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8 HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT AND RECREATION FEATURES 3 F. H. Barber "Class A" Provincial Park was established by an Order-In-Council in October, The park is named after Francis Barber, an early settler of the Laidlaw area, whose beneficiaries donated the land to the province. Originally comprising 4 hectares, one hectare of adjacent crown land ham been proposed for addition to the park. Historically, the Laidlaw area ham long been inhabited by the Upper Stalo Indians of the Fraser Valley. Grown-over circular pits, remnants of their semi-subterranean winter homes or "kekulis", can be found around Hunter Creek. Ancestors of kekuli dwellers live in the O'Hamil reserve along the Fraser River, near Laidlaw. The history of the area is linked with the Fraser River. The Fraser was a food source for Indians and a pathway to the goldfields of the Cariboo for the hoardes of gold seekers. Many of the men that went to the goldfields returned to the Lower Mainland to try to find a more secure way of life. Henry Hunter was one of the first homesteaders in the Laidlaw area. He returned from Barkerville in 1867 and homesteaded on 32 hectares of land bordering the Fraser River. He ran a small store on the riverbank that catered to the steamboat traffic that plied the river between New Westminster and Yale. The steamboats needed fuel and often stopped along the way to pick up wood cut by the nearby settlers, or to send out their own crews to do the cutting. F. H. Barber Park shows evidence of early logging, perhaps from the steamboat era. Logging and farming became the principal activities in the area, although the search for gold extended here too. In 1868, 30 Chinese were employed in an attempt to divert the water from Hunter Creek to wash the topsoil away from the surrounding area. The project was abandonned when it was realized that little gold would be found beneath the topsoil. Chinese workers later were employed in sawmills in the area, but none settled there permanently. By 1912, two railroads were established along this part of the Fraser River. The Canadian Pacific Railway was built in 1886 on the north side of the river, following the river into the interior. The Great Northern Railway (the section to Hope is now called CNR) led to Hope, then into the Okanagan Valley and down into the U.S.A. Originally called St. Elmo, the settlement became known as Laidlaw when a store owner named Laidlaw gave the G.N.R. land for a station house and siding if the railroad would name the stop after him. The trains meant an end to the steamboat era but opened up more opportunities in the logging industries and in farming. In 1919, 75 men were employed in a shingle mill that sent shingles all the way to Boston.

9 4 After World War I, veteran settlement land became available in the area for returning soldiers but few could make a go of it and sold their land. In 1921, Francis Barber bought a large tract of land, stretching from Hunter Creek to Jones Creek. Originally from Ontario, Francis Barber owned the Restmore Mattress Company, one of the first mattress and bed factories in Vancouver. He came to the Laidlaw area in search of hardwoods to build his beds. He established two small mills to cut the abundant maple and alder, shipping the lumber to Vancouver by train. From 1921 until his death in 1954, Barber was involved in a variety of enterprises in the area. These enterprises were almost a hobby to him. He hired people to run them, and came up on weekends to participate in them. Restmore Lodge, consisting of 30 odd cabins, a store, and a restaurant, was built in 1923 on Hunter Creek and along the old road from Chilliwack to Hope. The small Barber farm grew such exotic crops as peanuts, but also grew produce to supply other Barber enterprises like Restmore Lodge and later the Fishing Camp at Jones Lake, built in the early 1930's. The Barber store at Jones Creek catered to the men working at a logging camp at Jones Lake. The Jones Creek store had horses and three donkeys to transport guests to the fishing camp. During the 1940's, Barber was involved in a gold dredging operation on the Fraser River. Evidence of the dredging outfit may still be seen, located about a kilometre downriver from the park. Rights-of-way have resulted in halting further expansion of activities in the narrow swath of land that comprises the Laidlaw area. In 1960, the Restmore Lodge property was ruined by the pipeline right-of-way. In 1972, the highway relocated for a second time through the area (the first being in 1938 from the Old Yale Road). At that time, approximately 200 people lived in the community; there were two gas stations, two stores, and a restaurant. Twelve families had to move away completely, while other parcels of land were bisected by the highway. Today, Laidlaw has one store, a gas station and a population of about 150 people. Logging, cattle-raising, and dairy farming are still the principal activities in the area. The possible addition of yet another highway through the area will mean more people relocating, and more land being taken up. Figure 2 reflects the existing recreation features in the park.

10 EXISTING FEATURES

11 6 CONCEPT F. H. Barber Provincial Park and Ferry Island Provincial Park provide the only major access to the Fraser River between Chilliwack and Hope. Two Provincial Highway roadside rest-stops (Cheam View and Hunter Creek) are within 15 km of the park, but neither provides access to the Fraser River. Private sector campsites are situated in the Hope and Chilliwack areas. Opportunities based on the features in F. H. Barber Park exist for fishing, picnicking, rockhunting and nature interpretation. It is the concept for F. H. Barber Provincial Park to provide travellers on the Trans-Canada Highway with a rest stop and picnic site. Selfguided trails would point out the natural, geological and historical significance of the Fraser River to the surrounding area. Most of the park will remain in its natural state, giving visitors a chance to see how the Fraser River floodplain looked before industrialization and cultivation.

12 ZONING 7 Figure 3 illustrates the location of the zones. The Development Zone includes the area where construction of facilities is necessary to enhance or enable public recreation for day use picnicking and river access. The remaining area of the park falls into the Natural Zone, denoting that no specific developments or preservation features are identified and that the area will remain in its natural state. DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL The development proposal (Figure 4) for F. H. Barber Park will focus on the existing meadow near the south boundary. Here, a picnic site will provide excellent views of the river and access to a broad gravel bar when the river is low. The access road from the Trans-Canada Highway will loop into the parking area, providing room for large recreational vehicles to manoeuvre easily. Parking and associated sanitary facilities will be provided for approximately 30 cars. The Type 2 trail system will include the forested area as well as access to the river in different locations of the park. Information and interpretive signs can be placed along the trails to allow visitors to further enjoy and be aware of the natural, historical and geological features of the area. A buffer of trees between the railway tracks and park developments will provide noise, safety and visual barriers for park visitors.

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14 SCALE 1:4800 PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT FIGURE 4

15 9 MANAGEMENT Management of F. H. Barber Provincial Park will be from the Cultus District Office. SUMMARY The completion of the proposed development of F. H. Barber Provincial Park would result in the park being used mainly by westbound summer visitors. Besides being a pleasant spot to picnic, fish and rest, visitors would be able to see how the Fraser River floodplain looked before cultivation and industrialization made major changes.