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Memories of the barracks in Blue River

To the Editor;
22366291_web1_200813-NTS-LetterSmith-Barriere_2

To the Editor;

The photo and article in the [Aug. 6, 2020] newspaper about the RCMP barracks in Blue River caught my attention as I was actually born in that building.

In the 1930’s, six other babies were born in the “jail”. The wife of the RCMP officer at the time was a nurse and when a birth was imminent she moved the expectant moms into the “jail”. The doctor came from Edmonton by CN train and delivered the babies if all went well with timing!

Both Kathleen Ann Strong, and myself, Carman Smith, were born July 3rd 1936. The sister of our former MLA Claude Richmond, was also born there about the same time.

The house still stands in Blue River, having been occupied by Gerry and Donna Babichuk in later years. My parents lived in Blue River at that time and it was a busy community as it was a divisional point for the CN railway. My dad Gilbert Smith, bought and sold cedar poles up and down the railway line…..good memories..

Carman Smith

Barriere, B.C.