Cumberland BC: The Cumberlander Articles Section
Coal Creek Historic Park general · 8th February 2007
Editor & Donna Lemay
Cumberland Chinatown and No. 1 Japanese Town Ad Hoc Coalition is hosting an Open House
MISSION STATEMENT
To preserve and enhance the existing history, heritage and the eco-system of Cumberland Chinatown and Japanese Town No.1 in a Park like setting.
Cumberland Chinatown is gone but it has never been forgotten. Hundreds of articles have been written about the loss of this unique community. Although the buildings of Chinatown are gone, Cumberland Chinatown is very much alive in the memories of those who were born there, people who descended on the community in droves seeking bottles, and the memories of those who visited the nearly deserted town site in the late 1960’s.
Since 1963 before the last buildings in Chinatown were destroyed people have pondered over what to do with this historic piece of land. How best to be reminded of this once thriving community. Many ideas have come forward over the years, such as rebuilding a miniature Chinatown, or rebuilding it much like Bakerville. Many people were sad that such a unique community and its culture were lost.
No. 1 Japanese Town was evacuated in 1942 by order of the Federal Government. The Japanese people were restricted in what they could bring with them and so many belongings were left behind. Their houses were dismantled and/or moved to other locations, their belongings sold. Every one remembers this terrible time in our history but few are aware that Japanese people lived in this community for 75 years prior to WWII. It is this earlier history that we are endeavoring to remember.
Hope has arisen in the hearts of former Chinese and Japanese residents as well as residents of Cumberland that the Park will have signs to point out where they once resided, planted their gardens and where they once played. They also hope that walkers and cyclists will continue to enjoy these peaceful sites, the surrounding wetlands and network of trails.
Please join us on February 10, 2007 at the Riding Fool Hostel in the lounge upstairs of the old Tarbell building, from 1-4 p.m. A number of former residents and other special guests will be invited and honoured and encouraged to share their memories.
Enjoy a cup of coffee with us and learn about what we have proposed for this Historical Site.
Contact: Ray Iwaasa 336 2448 or John Leung 336 2115
MISSION STATEMENT
To preserve and enhance the existing history, heritage and the eco-system of Cumberland Chinatown and Japanese Town No.1 in a Park like setting.
Cumberland Chinatown is gone but it has never been forgotten. Hundreds of articles have been written about the loss of this unique community. Although the buildings of Chinatown are gone, Cumberland Chinatown is very much alive in the memories of those who were born there, people who descended on the community in droves seeking bottles, and the memories of those who visited the nearly deserted town site in the late 1960’s.
Since 1963 before the last buildings in Chinatown were destroyed people have pondered over what to do with this historic piece of land. How best to be reminded of this once thriving community. Many ideas have come forward over the years, such as rebuilding a miniature Chinatown, or rebuilding it much like Bakerville. Many people were sad that such a unique community and its culture were lost.
No. 1 Japanese Town was evacuated in 1942 by order of the Federal Government. The Japanese people were restricted in what they could bring with them and so many belongings were left behind. Their houses were dismantled and/or moved to other locations, their belongings sold. Every one remembers this terrible time in our history but few are aware that Japanese people lived in this community for 75 years prior to WWII. It is this earlier history that we are endeavoring to remember.
Hope has arisen in the hearts of former Chinese and Japanese residents as well as residents of Cumberland that the Park will have signs to point out where they once resided, planted their gardens and where they once played. They also hope that walkers and cyclists will continue to enjoy these peaceful sites, the surrounding wetlands and network of trails.
Please join us on February 10, 2007 at the Riding Fool Hostel in the lounge upstairs of the old Tarbell building, from 1-4 p.m. A number of former residents and other special guests will be invited and honoured and encouraged to share their memories.
Enjoy a cup of coffee with us and learn about what we have proposed for this Historical Site.
Contact: Ray Iwaasa 336 2448 or John Leung 336 2115