To the editor;
This letter is in response to an article written by Lorna Bergey under the heading of her column “What’s New in McLure & Louis Creek” printed by the Star/Journal in the Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016 edition. The article is based on the “Louis Creek Cemetery”.
I would like to help out Lorna, and others, by giving a brief account on the old cemetery and to clarify some factual information.
For the past four years I have been researching the history of Louis Creek. Part of the in-depth research is being directed towards the cemetery.
I would like to point out that the “Memorial Site” that has been designated as a tribute to the cemetery (sawmill?) is not the actual location of where it was.
The actual cemetery site is not within the confines of the Eco-Depot but rather outside of its perimeter. The attached photo of where the cemetery was located is slightly off to the right of the three distant hydro poles in the photograph. The dumping “bays” at the Eco-Depot are situated to the very right in the photograph but obviously not shown.
The designated Memorial site location was where a water reservoir once stood which was used by Fadear Creek Lumber Company Ltd for its sawmill/log yard.
It is my understanding that the Memorial site was chosen by certain individuals, when asked and granted by government officials, as to the best place to install a tribute. It will be noted that while this was/is a notable gesture by all concerned at that present time, the facts speak for themselves.
I have first-hand knowledge of the old cemetery as indicated by individuals who were present at the time of the cemetery plot which had been removed back in the early 1970’s.
Further eye-witnesses by employees and residents of the community can also verify the location. Fadear Creek Lumber Company Ltd had the cemetery and its occupants removed to make way for additional log storage.
I will not be releasing any names in association with this event. I can tell you from eye-witness accounts, that there were at least four occupants removed from the cemetery and transported to yet another cemetery to be finally laid in peace.
As I have mentioned, I am indulging in further research in hopes of obtaining who the individuals were that were interned at the Louis Creek Cemetery. At this point of time the names remain a mystery but I do have a couple of promising leads to follow.
It is very unfortunate that the cemetery was destroyed, and quite frankly a very sad affair, but since having a conversation with three individuals in a meeting at the actual cemetery site in 2015, I am hopeful that a further tribute can be established to honor the deceased and to hopefully give closure to their respective families in the near future.
I am in the process of writing a book about the history of Louis Creek and I will be adding further information about the cemetery within the contents of the book.
I am in hopes that the information I have shared will help clarify the subject involved. Best of luck to you, Lorna, in your continuing articles about McLure, Vinsulla, and Louis Creek. If I can be of any help, my email is: stone4info@gmail.com or by regular mail: 729 Fortune Road, Louis Creek BC, V0E 2E0.
Carson Stone
Louis Creek, B.C.