Thank you to Sandra Holmes for sourcing out the historical information from the book:
Simpcw were the First Nations people of the area and at that time called Blue River ‘Muddy Water’.
| 1861 |
Overlanders went through the Blue River area. (page 59) |
| 1862 |
Prospectors searched for gold in Blue River. (page 46) |
| 1862 – 1863 |
Dr. Cheadle and Lord Milton were the first ‘tourists’ to pass through. They were self professed ‘pleasure seekers’. (page 59) |
| 1871 |
Alfred Selwyn conducted an early geological survey of the area
Photographers Ballzly & Hammond took the first photos through the North Thompson. (page 73) |
| 1872 |
CN Rail Engineer Chief Sandford Fleming decided Blue River was named for the deep soft blue of the far hills as one looked upstream. (page 81) |
| 1876 |
William Showers supervised a crew cutting trails for Truche’s Survey Party. Thomas Trapp passed through Blue River with a pack train loaded with supplies and cattle for Tete Jaune Cache. (page 92) |
| 1874 |
Joseph Hunter a Scottish Engineer and Charles Fortier a Metis Woodsman passed along Blue River to where it met with the Thompson River. (page 97) |
| 1894 |
J.F. Smith prospected through Blue River. (page 118) |
| 1902 |
Geological Survey conducted and Surveyors thought there may be gold in Blue River. (page 130) |
| 1909 |
Austin Cook was the first homesteader in Blue River. He hauled supplies by riverboat and Mt. Cook was named after him. (page 221) |
| 1910 |
The Blue River Trading Post was a viable business. (page 198) |
| 1912 |
Angus Horne was a Surveyor and homesteaded in Blue River
Eleanor Lake was named for Dr. Harrison’s daughter. (page 263) |
| 1912 |
BC Forest Service was created. |
| 1913 |
North Thompson was divided into 3 Forest Districts with Blue River being one. Bill Noble was the first Forest Ranger. (page 292) |
| 1913 |
G.S. Stewart built a small store in Blue River. Mrs. Stewart was first white woman. (page 203) |
| 1915 |
First CN Rail train to pass through Blue River. (page 219)
CNPR construction only 7 families lived in Blue River. Blue River became divisional point, at first railway families had to move into bunk cars. (page 222) |
| 1917 |
First Post Office in Blue River. CN Rail trains carried the mail (page 159)
First school was built for the Blue River students. (page 178) |
| 1923 |
McPherson, a local store keeper battled to have the road connected. At that time it ended 25 kilometers south of Blue River. |
| 1926 |
A fire at Wells Grey opened the country to road building. (page 183) |
| 1927 |
Angus Horne was a gold prospector and miner he blazed trails to Angus Horne Lake and Azure Lake. He died in 1948. (page 206) |
| 1930 |
First caravan of cars travel to Blue River to celebrate the Avola to Blue River road completion.
Japanese evacuees involved with the road construction during WW II. (page 188) |
| 1932 – 1940 |
Four young doctors began their careers and lived in Blue River. Today there is one nurse. (page 230) |
| 1939 |
Ski Club was organized. Mr. J. Conrad of the CNR Brides Engineer Department stated “It is a most ideal skiing paradise”. (page 297) |
| 1970 |
The highway was finally paved. (page 188) |
