Usk, British Columbia

Hamlet in British Columbia, Canada

Usk

Hamlet

Carving of a lumberjack, Usk, 2017

Usk

Location of Usk in British Columbia

Coordinates: 54°37′59″N 128°25′05″W﻿ / ﻿54.63306°N 128.41806°W﻿ / 54.63306; -128.41806
Country| Canada
Province| British Columbia
Region| Skeena
Regional district| Kitimat–Stikine
Time zone| UTC-8 (PST)
• Summer (DST)| UTC-7 (PDT)
Area codes| 250, 778, 236, & 672
Highways|  Highway 16 (TCH)
Waterways| Skeena River

Usk is an unincorporated community in the Skeena region of west central British Columbia, Canada.[1] The Usk Ferry connects the two parts of the hamlet that straddle the Skeena River. Just off BC Highway 16, the locality is by road about 182 kilometres (113 mi) west of Smithers and 23 kilometres (14 mi) northeast of Terrace.

## Name origin

[edit]

Dominic Daniel Joseph Dempsey Loftus, who was the superintendent for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (GTP) tracklaying in the area, assigned the name. He is believed to have been originally from the River Usk area of Wales.[2] The earliest newspaper mention of the name is July 1912.[3]

Interestingly, the Kettle Valley Railway chose the same name for a new station a few years later, before a change to Jellicoe after a couple of years.[4]

## Railway

[edit]

Where Usk is defined as about mile 119.2 westward, the railway tunnels of the Kitselas Canyon are at miles 121.9 (377 metres (1,238 ft)), 122.1 (61 metres (201 ft)), 122.3 (169 metres (555 ft)), and 122.8 (284 metres (931 ft)).[5]

In mid-January 1912, the temporary tunnel terminal ceased to exist when the GTP rail head from Prince Rupert advanced through the tunnels,[6] then past mile 107 (Usk), reaching mile 115 eastward by month end.[7]

In 1912, the standard-design Plan 100‐152 (Bohi's Type E) station building was erected. A converted bunkhouse was the later replacement.[8][9]

During the 1936 flood, about 2 metres (7 ft) of water covered the Canadian National Railway (CN) track and only the upper part of the station was visible.[9] Nearly 91 metres (300 ft) of railway track was washed out.[10]

In 1948, five cars of a westbound passenger train derailed.[11]

In 1951, a fire totally destroyed the rail bridge about 2.4 kilometres (1.5 mi) west.[12]

In 1974, the rail bridge washed out.[13] Months later, a worker was fatally crushed by logs while unloading a boxcar.[14]

In 1976, a freight train wreck occurred one mile west.[15]

Hegstad, about 3.1 kilometres (1.9 mi) east of Usk,[16] is a siding built in 1983.[17]

In 1995, the little white passenger waiting room closed, and the building was advertised for sale the following year.[18]

A trackside signpost marks the Usk flag stop for Via Rail's Jasper–Prince Rupert train.[19]

Train Timetables (Regular stop or Flag stop)

| Mile | 1914 | 1920 | 1932 | 1943 | 1950 | 1960 | 1971 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 | 2020
| [20] | [21] | [22] | [23] | [20] | [24] | [25] | [26] | [27] | [28] | [29] | [30] | [31]
Terrace | 1663.3 | Reg. | Reg. | Reg. | Reg. | Reg. | Reg. | Reg. | Reg. | Reg. | Reg. | Reg. | Reg.
Dobies | 1659.0 |  | Flag | Flag | Flag | Flag |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Vanarsdol | 1657.7 | Flag | Flag | Flag |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Kitselas | 1657.7 |  |  |  | Flag | Flag | Flag | Flag |  |  |  |  |
Mileage 125.7 | 1657.2 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | Flag |  |  |  |
Usk | 1650.7 | Flag | Flag | Reg. | Both | Reg. | Reg. | Flag | Flag | Flag | Flag | Flag | Flag
Royal Lumber | 1646.4 |  | Flag |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Pitman | 1644.0 | Flag | Flag | Flag | Flag | Flag | Flag | Flag | Flag |  |  |  |
Pacific | 1638.5 | Reg. | Reg. | Reg. | Reg. | Reg. | Flag | Flag | Flag | Flag | Flag | Flag | Flag
Dorreen | 1632.4 | Flag | Flag | Flag | Flag | Flag | Flag | Flag | Flag | Flag | Flag | Flag | Flag

## Earlier community

[edit]

Prior to the railway, the Usk area was not permanently settled. Many residents to the southwest, who no longer had a riverboat service, gravitated to Usk, the nearest station. Dick Lowrie obtained a 65-hectare (160-acre) pre-emption, part of which later became the townsite.[9]

In 1915, a government telegraph office opened.[32] Around that time, a store and small hotel existed on the northwest shore.[9] James L. Bethurem was the inaugural postmaster 1916–1947.[33] He also was the mining recorder and ran the general store.[9] In 1918, the school opened.[34][35]

In 1921, the townsite was surveyed.[36] The existence of a jail indicates a police post.[37] In 1923, a two-room schoolhouse was erected[38][39] on the bench north of the townsite.[9] About this time, the Shackleton Hotel was established.[40] An upgrading of transmission lines led to the closure of the government telegraph office in 1924.[41]

An enlargement to the general store created a public hall on the upper level[9] in 1925.[42] The school lost half of the pupils in 1927, when Hanson Lumber and Timber transferred its Usk and Terrace operations to Smithers.[43] In the late 1920s, a church was built for use by any Christian denomination.[44]

A fire in 1931 destroyed the power plant, woodshed and tool house of the Shackleton Hotel.[45] Neither hotel appears to have operated much beyond this time.[46] The 1936 flood breached the railway embankment, which separated the town from river, sending a 4-to-5-metre (13 to 16 ft) flow through the main streets.[47] Water damage destroyed the Marsh Memorial Church.[48] Although not as severe as 1936, the 1948 flood prompted a mass evacuation to higher ground.[9][49]

Usk Pioneer Chapel, Usk, 2011.

In 1950, the population was about 70.[50] The next year, a fire totally destroyed the general store.[51] During the 1950s, the place was often referred to in humorous contexts owing to its small size,[52] not unlike Spuzzum.

In 1961, the school closed.[9] The general store operated into the early 1960s.[53] In 1967, the post office closed,[33] a fire destroyed the gas station,[54] and Terrace Christian Reformed Church built the Usk Pioneer Chapel as a one-third replica of the Marsh Memorial Church, which had stood across the river.[55]

In the late 1980s, the population was 128.[56]

The community hall remained in use until the early 1990s.[57]

## Forestry

[edit]

In the mid-1910s, a sawmill existed on the northwest shore. In the late 1910s, two more sawmills were established.[9]

In 1920 two mills closed.[58] An aerial tramway spanning the river carried lumber from the main sawmill on the southeast side.[59] In 1923, this mill moved about one mile eastward[60] but closed in the late 1920s.[9]

In 1941 W.R. Adams and J. Lee Bethurem erected a sawmill which burned down the following year. The rebuilt mill ultimately became the Adams Lumber Co but closed in 1959, when a highway realignment required the property.[9]

In 2014, a memorial to loggers, who lost their lives while working in the forests, was dedicated. The carving of a logger stands in the foreground.[61]

## Mining

[edit]

The discovery of gold in the Cordillera claims on Kitselas Mountain attracted a great influx of prospectors.[9] From 1914, the Cordillera was shipping out ore.[62] After a decade of development work, the venture was abandoned. The adjoining Lucky Strike proved equally unsuccessful. However, numerous claims continued to be staked.[9] In 1921, the Kleanza Co prospected on Kleanza Mountain.[63] Columario Gold Mines Ltd later began production on these claims, which proved unprofitable. Exploratory work on the Nicholson Creek mine continued until the 1940s.[9]

## Main roads

[edit]

In 1929, the Terrace–Usk highway opened.[64] During 1931–1941, a series of 2-to-6-kilometre (1 to 4 mi) stretches were built on the Usk–Cedarvale road.[65] which included replacing sections washed out by the 1936 flood.[66] Completion of this section opened the Prince Rupert–Prince George highway in 1944, primarily to military traffic.[67]

In 1958, Western Coach Lines inaugurated a Prince Rupert–Prince George bus service,[68] which included a scheduled stop at Usk.[69] The next year, the company withdrew the service.[70]

In 1960, Prince Coach Lines assumed the Prince Rupert–Prince George route. In 1966, Canadian Coachways bought the company.[71] Usk was a scheduled stop at least during the 1960s.[72]

In 1968–69, the Usk–Kitwanga reconstruction was completed with the exception of three bridges and some gravelling and paving.[73]

In 1970, Greyhound Canada purchased Canadian Coachways.[74]

## Later community

[edit]

In 2007, a municipal councillor from Usk, Wales made a three-day tour of the area.[75]

In 2022, a fire started by vandals extensively damaged the Usk Pioneer Chapel.[76]

Flood alerts and evacuation orders continue to regularly occur.[77]

The remote community has about 20 residents.[78] The Usk RV Park has 19 sites for visitors.[79]

## Maps

[edit]

* Minister of Mines annual report, 1924: Mineral Claims in the Vicinity of Usk. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 101 (B89).
* "Standard Oil BC map". www.davidrumsey.com. 1937.
* "Shell BC map". www.davidrumsey.com. 1956. Archived from the original on 2022-10-17. Retrieved 2023-11-05.

## Footnotes

[edit]

1. ^ "Usk (community)". BC Geographical Names.
2. ^ "Usk". www.gent.name.
3. ^ "Daily Colonist". archive.org. 24 Jul 1912. p. 7.
4. ^ Cycling the Kettle Valley Railway, 2002 , p. PT106, at Google Books
5. ^ "CN Bulkley Subdivision" (PDF). www.multimodalways.org. p. 144.
6. ^ "Omineca Herald". library.ubc.ca. 19 Jan 1912. p. 1.
7. ^ "Omineca Herald". library.ubc.ca. 2 Feb 1912. p. 1.
8. ^ Bohi, Charles W.; Kozma, Leslie S. (2002). Canadian National's Western Stations. Fitzhenry & Whiteside. pp. 121, 136, 141. ISBN 1550416324.
9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "Usk, B.C". www.terracelibrary.ca.
10. ^ "Nelson Daily News". library.ubc.ca. 2 Jun 1936. p. 10.
11. ^ "Interior News". www.newspapers.com. 22 Jul 1948. p. 1\. "Five cars of the westbound passenger train were derailed at Usk…"
12. ^ "Interior News". www.newspapers.com. 31 May 1951. p. 1.
13. ^ "Interior News". www.newspapers.com. 30 Jan 1974. p. 1.
14. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 19 Apr 1974. p. 3.
15. ^ "Interior News". www.newspapers.com. 10 Nov 1976. p. 1.
16. ^ "CN Bulkley Subdivision" (PDF). www.cwrailway.ca.
17. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 5 May 1983. p. 23.
18. ^ "Terrace Standard". www.newspapers.com. 31 Jan 1996. p. 6\. "Usk…Via is selling the little one-room building which has been at that stop since the early 1900s. It was shut down last April..."
19. ^ "Usk train station". www.viarail.ca.
20. ^ a b "Timetable" (PDF). streamlinermemories.info. 28 Apr 1943. p. 62 (TT226).
21. ^ Timetable. 1 Mar 1914. p. 15 (TT14).
22. ^ Timetable. 3 Oct 1920. pp. 11–12.
23. ^ Timetable. Jan 1932. p. 58 (TT226).
24. ^ "Timetable". www.scribd.com. 30 Apr 1950. p. 59 (TT226).
25. ^ "Timetable" (PDF). streamlinermemories.info. 30 Oct 1960. p. 54 (TT139).
26. ^ "Timetable" (PDF). streamlinermemories.info. 1 Feb 1971. p. 27 (TT59).
27. ^ "Timetable". pre.timetableworld.com. 3 Feb 1980. p. 41 (TT57).
28. ^ "Timetable". pre.timetableworld.com. 15 Jan 1990. p. 42.
29. ^ "Timetable". pre.timetableworld.com. 16 Jan 2000. p. 104.
30. ^ "Timetable". pre.timetableworld.com. 1 Jun 2010. p. 42.
31. ^ "Timetable" (PDF). www.viarail.ca. 5 Jul 2020. p. 17 (28).
32. ^ "Prince Rupert Journal". library.ubc.ca. 8 Apr 1915. p. 1.
33. ^ a b "Postmasters". www.bac-lac.gc.ca. 25 November 2016.
34. ^ Stortz 1988, p. 83 (71).
35. ^ Public Schools annual report, 1917–18. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. D38.
36. ^ Mining and Engineering Record, 1921. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 191 (157).
37. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 1 Apr 1921. p. 1.
38. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 16 Feb 1923. p. 1.
39. ^ Public Schools annual report, 1922–23. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. F39.
40. ^ "1924 BC Directory". www.bccd.vpl.ca.
41. ^ "Interior News". www.newspapers.com. 15 May 1924. p. 2.
42. ^ "Interior News". www.newspapers.com. 13 May 1925. p. 1\. "…a large addition is being added to the Bethurem store."
43. ^ Stortz 1988, p. 96 (84).
44. ^ "Vancouver Sun". www.newspapers.com. 8 Aug 1925. p. 10\. "Usk…contributing generously to the building of a Union Church, which will be open for use by any religious denomination…"
"Province". www.newspapers.com. 12 Mar 1927. p. 5\. "Usk…John William offered to donate a building lot on which the church could be erected."
45. ^ "Interior News". www.newspapers.com. 5 Aug 1931. p. 1\. "Fire…destroyed the power plant, woodshed and tool house of the hotel at Usk…owned by T.W. Shackleton."
46. ^ "1932 BC Directory". www.bccd.vpl.ca.
47. ^ Urquhart, James Michael (1981). Managing fall floods in the Lower Skenna region, British Columbia. library.ubc.ca (MA). p. 34 (26).
48. ^ "Usk, Pioneer Church". www.gent.name.
49. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 3 Jun 1948. p. 14.
50. ^ "Vancouver Sun". www.newspapers.com. 15 Jun 1950. p. 2.
51. ^ "Interior News". www.newspapers.com. 8 Mar 1951. p. 1.
52. ^ "Vancouver Sun". www.newspapers.com. 18 Nov 1953. p. 19\. "…touched all known communities except Uilima Thute, Greenland, and Usk, B.C."
"Vancouver Sun". www.newspapers.com. 9 Nov 1957. p. 10.
53. ^ "Interior News". www.newspapers.com. 29 Nov 1961. p. 3.
54. ^ "Vancouver Sun". www.newspapers.com. 22 Jun 1967. p. 7.
55. ^ "Terrace Christian Reformed Church: Usk chapel built as a gift to the community". library.ubc.ca.
56. ^ "Province". www.newspapers.com. 14 Jul 1989. p. 9\. "Usk, B.C., with a population of 128…"
57. ^ "Terrace Standard". www.newspapers.com. 30 May 1990. p. 22.
"Terrace Standard". www.newspapers.com. 16 Mar 1994. p. 33.
58. ^ "The British Columbia Federationist". library.ubc.ca. 24 Dec 1920. p. 3.
59. ^ Penner, Randy (May 2013). "British Columbia Road Runner: Skeena District's Usk Reaction Ferry Turns the Big 100" (PDF). www2.gov.bc.ca. p. 23.
60. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 6 Dec 1923. p. 2.
61. ^ "NW Logging Memorial, Usk BC". www.gent.name.
62. ^ "Revelstoke Mail Herald". library.ubc.ca. 30 Dec 1914. p. 2.
63. ^ Mining and engineering record, 1921. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 64 (50).
64. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 26 Sep 1929. p. 1.
65. ^ Minister of Public Works annual report, 1931–32. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. M11.
Minister of Public Works annual report, 1936–37. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 33 (X23).
Minister of Public Works annual report, 1938–39. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 39 (Z29).
Minister of Public Works annual report, 1940–41. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 47 (O37).
66. ^ Minister of Public Works annual report, 1937–38. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. 30 (X26).
67. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 10 Aug 1944. p. 1.
68. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 12 Jun 1958. p. 1.
69. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 13 Jun 1958. p. 12.
70. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 18 Mar 1959. p. 1.
71. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 24 May 1966. p. 42.
72. ^ "Prince George Citizen". pgnewspapers.pgpl.ca. 2 Oct 1962. p. 3.
73. ^ Minister of Highways annual report, 1968–69. library.ubc.ca (Report). p. C24.
74. ^ Reschenthaler, G.B. Performance Under Regulation: The Canadian Interbus Industry (PDF). publications.gc.ca (Report). p. 57 (43).
75. ^ "Terrace Standard". www.newspapers.com. 3 Oct 2007. p. 3.
76. ^ "CBC News". www.cbc.ca. 24 Apr 2022.
77. ^ "CTV News". bc.ctvnews.ca. 7 Jun 2022. Archived from the original on June 7, 2022.
78. ^ "Taylor Bachrach". taylorbachrach.ndp.ca. 12 May 2020.
79. ^ "Terrace-Usk Skeena RV Park". terracerv.com.

## References

[edit]

* Stortz, Paul James (1988). The Rural School Problem in British Columbia in the 1920s. library.ubc.ca (MA).