Coal Creek Historic Park Advisory Committee Funding Application Information -Part 1

History of No. 1 Japanese town (1891-1942)

As early as December 1891 Japanese miners settled one and a half miles west of the town of Union to work in the Union Colliery Company (Dunsmuir) Number One mine. They were able to bring their families with them, unlike the Chinese who were subject to the prohibitive federal head tax. Up to 36 homes plus two stores made up the small community, bounded by Coal Creek (Ura No Kawa), the coal slagheap (Taka Yama) and the Wellington Colliery Railway grade. A rough baseball diamond dominated the open space with baseball a popular pastime. Taka Yama provided a backstop in the summer months and a sledding hill in the winter. Ura No Kawa was a popular swimming hole and had a wooden bridge connecting the community to vegetable gardens on the other side.

Despite the distance from Union (later to become Cumberland), children attended school there and also attended Japanese language school 6 days a week. A number of merchants established businesses in Cumberland over the years and Japanese women had a traditional tea garden at Comox Lake from 1914-1939.

Japanese miners were paid half the wages of Caucasians and suffered job losses in economic hard times. 1922 provincial legislation prevented their being employed in pulp or paper mills and the 1923 Oriental Exclusion Act prevented them from working underground. In 1940 provincial legislation closed all foreign language schools, and in 1942, No.1 Town (and No.5 Japanese Town on the north edge of Cumberland) was evacuated, mostly to ghost towns in the Kootenays.

Japanese people were barred from returning closer than 300 miles from the West Coast for five years after WWII ended. Many moved onto Ontario or Alberta, or stayed in the interior of British Columbia.

Despite promises by the government of the day, possessions and property were confiscated soon after the internment of their owners. Buildings were later torn down or moved, and bottle diggers and treasure hunters dug up the former town site.

Weldwood Canada eco-gifted a 40-acre parcel of land including the No.1 Japanese Town site to the Village of Cumberland in 2002. It was designated as park land and formed part of Perseverance Creek Historic Park, dedicated to the memory of the early Chinese and Japanese settlers who lived and worked there. In recent years the site has been used for pasturing horses and has become overgrown with broom and blackberry vines.

History of Chinatown (1888-1968)

Cumberland’s Chinatown was built on wetlands just west of the settlement of Union on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Chinese workers were brought in the Dunsmuir family (Union Colliery Company) to work in the mines and to build the Wellington Colliery Railway to transport the coal to the seaport of Union bay. They drained the swampland; built houses, businesses and market gardens; and became one of Canada’s largest Chinese communities by the end of WWI. Over the course of the town’s existence, 100 Chinese miners were lost in coal mining disasters, and many suffered losses from flood and fires, including one in 1943 that destroyed 43 buildings (one-third of the town). The Chinese were disenfranchised in 1898, barred from working in pulp and paper mills in 1922, and prohibited from working underground by the federal Oriental Exclusion Act in 1923. The head tax initiated in 1884 was increased ten-fold to $500 by 1904. Paid half of the wages of their Caucasian co-workers, Oriental miners were hard pressed to repay the company loan of the head tax, send money home overseas and eke out a living. They worked in the worst conditions and were the first to be laid off in hard economic times. The Great Depression of the 1930s saw the end of mining jobs for Chinese workers and the population continued to decline into the 1960s, many moving to Vancouver. Cumberland Chinatown former residents and descendants have met there yearly since 1975, sharing memories and photographs. Over 100 were in attendance at the 2008 reunion.

In 1963 an unsuccessful attempt was made by the Village of Cumberland to get funding to restore the town as an historical tourist attraction. Through the 1960s bottle diggers and collectors ransacked what was left of the site. In 1968 the dilapidated buildings remaining were razed, with the exception of the home of one elderly Chinese man Hor Sue Mah (Jumbo). Jumbo’s cabin was moved up the hill to Comox Lake Road where it remains today. The site was leased to Cumberland Rod and Gun Club until 2001. It was eco-gifted to the Village of Cumberland by Weldwood Canada with a restrictive covenant to protect it as a heritage site. The property is designated as a Perseverance Creek Historic Park in the Official Community Plan and most of the property is within an Environmentally Sensitive Development Permit Area.

Coal Creek Historic Park Advisory Committee

A. History

In 2003 a study was commissioned by the Village to develop a plan that respected the covenant on the Perseverance Creek Historic Park site. George Penfold of Qu-West Consulting Services presented his report Cumberland Chinatown, Japanese Settlement Historic Park Plan (Penfold Report) in August of 2004. The plan included goals and objectives, an economic study of benefits to the community and a work plan. He expressed disappointment at the lack of sufficient input from the Chinese and Japanese communities. A small group of Chinese and Japanese descendants of Cumberland’s Chinatown and Number 1 Mine Japanese Town responded to a request from the Village of Cumberland to assist in visioning a plan for the former town site. A meeting was held This group evolved into the Chinatown/No.1 Japanese Town Ad-Hoc Group. On April 3, 2006 this group presented a report expanding on the Penfold Report. Titled Park Projection Study Perseverance Creek Historic Park, Village of Cumberland, this “Red Book” report contained a number of recommendations. The report was accepted in principle September 24, 2007.
The 15 members of the Perseverance (Coal) Creek Historic Park Advisory Committee were appointed by the Council of the Village of Cumberland and started meeting regularly January 23, 2008, guided by terms of reference from the Village.

On April 8, 2008 Cumberland Council granted a request by the Committee that the name of the park and the committee be changed to Coal Creek, the name commonly used when the communities were active.

B. Mandate/ Objectives

The Terms of Reference adopted by the Village of Cumberland state:

I. PURPOSE

“The Perseverance (Coal) Creek Park Committee is established as an advisory committee to assist in the creation of that portion of a Master Parks Plan for the Village of Cumberland dealing with Perseverance Creek historic park.”

II. MEMBERSHIP

1. The members shall be appointed from time to time by Council.
2. The Committee shall appoint a Chair and a Secretary to record all minutes of meetings

III. SCOPE OF WORK

1. The Committee shall:
· Provide input to planning staff in the preparation of that portion of a Master Parks Plan dealing with Perseverance Creek Historic park, including Chinatown and No. 1 Japanese Town, using as a basis the “Park projection Study (2006)* which has been adopted in principle by the Council of the Village. Make recommendations to planning staff on implementation of that portion of the Master Parks Plan dealing with Perseverance Creek Historic Park.
· Assist in the general maintenance and upkeep of the Park.

2. The objectives of the Plan for the Park (as set out in the Park Projection Study)* include:
· To preserve, protect and enhance the historical importance of Chinatown and No. 1 Japanese town as a community amenity
· To protect and enhance the natural space, including existing wetlands and watercourses, as a community amenity.

3. All meetings of the Committee shall be open to the public.

IV. REPORTING
1. The Committee shall report directly to the CAO.

2. The Secretary of the Committee shall provide to the CAO:
· a schedule of meetings at least one week prior to any meeting; and
· a copy of all minutes of meetings as soon as they are approved by the Committee duly signed by the Secretary.

· See three sections below for recommendations from the report; a draft Historic Park Plan (2007) drafted by Village Planner Judith Walker; and a partial list of recommendations from the body of the report (2008), drafted by Grace Doherty for use as an Advisory Committee working document.

PARK PROJECTION STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. KEY ITEMS (from the Closing Summation):

· That visible boundaries be established which define the Park in its entirety.

· That enforceable regulations/bylaws be established for the Park. These regulations/bylaws should allow for only safe, constructive and responsible use of the Park lands. This is key to further development and enjoyment of the Park.

· That the process of determining a working budget for the Park begin, so that concrete steps can be taken towards establishing key aspects of this study. This is a necessary step towards establishing a timeline for development, improvement and maintenance of the space. This will also allow for more in depth planning to begin for some of the more costly development areas of the Park such as the Chinese recreation grounds, signage and lookouts, and the acquisition of the Saito House.

· That the name of the Park be changed from Perseverance Creek Historic Park to one that more accurately reflects the historic truths of the area included within the Park boundaries. Our suggestion for such a name is “Coal Creek Historic Park”. This is a name recognized, used and accepted by the Chinese, Japanese and the vast majority of Cumberland residents.

3. HISTORIC PARK PLAN – J Walker, June 2007

Vision (future identity, inspirational)

To preserve and protect in perpetuity the historical landscape in concert with the environment

Mission (defines the purpose of the park)

To preserve, protect and enhance the historical importance of Chinatown and No. 1 Japanese Town as a community amenity.

Goals (overall context of what to try to achieve)

Short term (0-1 year)
· Name decided
· Boundaries marked
· Parks rules and regulations bylaw
· Regulations posted
· Vehicles blocked
· Saito house resolved
· Community input: meeting
· Draft map: environmental/historical
· Horse/fence/buildings removed from orchard

Medium term (1-5 years)
· Entrance to Chinatown
· Entrance to No. 1 Japanese Town
· Shelter with bulletin board
· trail plan including restoration plan

Long term (5 years plus)

Objectives (concrete statement of what project is trying to achieve)
· Mark boundaries
· Stop motorized vehicles
· Protect wetlands
· Protect railbed trail
· Protect species
· Provide parking
· Post regulations
· Provide signage
· Provide historical storyboards
· Provide trails
· Provide viewing areas (lookouts)
· Provide bulletin boards
· Provide shelters, picnic tables, garbage cans, benches
· Provide public washrooms
· Set up donation program
· Develop gardens: community, Japanese, Chinese
· Restore orchard
· Protection/conservation of Saito house resolved

3. PARTIAL LIST OF 2006 PARK PROJECTION STUDY DETAILS (from the body of the report)- G. Doherty, February 2008

1. Eastern portion of park (Chinatown)

a. Entrance:
- landscape, beds, plantings and site cleanup
- signage and storyboards near parking with historical information about Cumberland and surrounding area, including the mines
- small shelter at the Hai Gai/ rail bed intersection where miners waited for the train (small commemorative area-Ken Lowe)

b. Central Chinatown
- disturb as little as possible
- reflect culture of Chinese people
- route traffic along Hai Gai and Shan Gai with road signage of Asian design
- restful space at Kuan Lung Mew temple site with lookout, viewing area platform see Page 17 “Lookout 2” for details
- signage including historic location of buildings; plaques with family names, perhaps one for each street
- storyboard including Asian style Community Bulletin board (historically existed here)
- secondary trails with signage

c. Northern End
- encourage community use ( e.g. community garden)
- pumpkin carving? Jack o’ lantern festival
- picnic tables, garbage cans restrooms, informative storyboards between this area ands southern end

d. Southern End (former Rod and Gun)
- mostly open with a ring of shade trees
- gatherings, outdoor recreation, cultural events
- small yet comfortable roofed area for gatherings in poor weather
- signs designating area use plus cultural and historical uses(similar)

2.Western Portion of Park. ( No. 1 Japanese Town)

a. Entrance
- main entrance atmosphere welcoming, attractive, reflecting culture of people who once lived here
- signage
- map of entire park

b. Taka Yama (Coal slag heap)
- as natural as possible
- landscape features and structures in Japanese style
- footpath from rail grade around back of slagheap to western viewing platform. Information board, staircase on western side
See page 17 “Lookout 3” for details

c. Orchard Area (100 Fruit Trees - landmarks of houses)
- orchard care and rejuvenation
- permanent signage about original buildings
- plaque of family names
- feature area for traditional Japanese garden. See page 22 “Traditional Japanese garden” for details
- trails from lane along historic street routes (as can be determined) to Saito House and to western corner of property where school was located
- signage indicating that some trails might be seasonal

d. Saito House
-acquire and retain for park use
- See page 21 “Special Use Areas” for details
- correspondence on file between Village of Cumberland and current occupants of the property

3. Wetlands and Woodlands (about 75% of park area)

- leave as natural and undisturbed as possible, to protect all species
- bullfrog spread control
- carefully routed trails and lookouts for foot use only
- viewing platform along rail bed See page 17 “Lookout 1” for details
- pedestrian bridge across low spot
- additional trails from rail bed to other areas of park
- 4 feet each side of rail bed selectively pruned and groomed to Souther driveway for feel of Asian stroll garden

4. Signage and Storyboard Detail
-See pages 15-25 and Map A in the appendix

5.Other Items (see page 25 of report):
- handling of donations
- areas of significance outside park boundaries
such as Lowe garden, pig-roasting ovens