_ BIG Terrace Review — Wednesday, May 22, 1991 AS THINGS ONCE WERE Reports from Terrace’s Heritage Park Skeena River Missionary — Robert Tomlinson - In very early days a missionary and his family came to the Ske- " ena by a difficult and roundabout sway, going up the Nass River and crossing to the Skeena Valley by the Grease Trail — the old trail used by the Indians to backpack their supply of oolichan grease to their homes on the Skeena, to avoid coming in contact with coast Indians. He spent the first winter at | Kispiox, camping with his family. The following spring he explored the Skeena Valley and found a place to his liking where he could locate and build a village. It was a beautiful setting, under the shadow of the towering Seven Sisters mountains. The land was good, the water supply was adequate and the location on the. banks ‘of the Skeena was ideal, All he needed was population. He set to work, built a church and mission, and invited all the natives who would care to join his community. He named the village Meanskinisht, meaning "below the pitch line”. The mission was a free community under the domination of no estab- lished church or doctrine. Robert Tomlinson, our mission- ary, was the minister in charge. All he asked of the natives who joined his community was that they respect him as their teacher and minister and live up to the teachings of Christianity. He had no salary from any source, made his living by farming, and also taught them how to farm and build homes for themselves and their families. In spite of his strict discipline and rigid rules, natives gradually joined his mission, and it became quite a prosperous community. He was their minister, taught them school and what trades he was familiar with, and was very much respected by all his people and the white people who went up and down the river. He would sometimes come in for some criticism on account of his extreme religious code and for this reason the village was gen- etally known as "The Holy City". During the steamboat era he had strict rules which had to be obeyed, one being that no boat could land there on Sunday, no matter how important it was. It was the rule, and that was that, no argument. The boat captains would try to arrange their trips so as not to arrive on Sundays. If by some delay they had to arrive on _ Sunday, they would pass by and deliver any freight or mait to the Holy City on the return trip. On one trip of the sternwheeler Caledonia, Captain Bonser called at the village. It was the last trip for the year and it was getting lalé in ihe season. Reverend Tomlinson asked the captain to be sure {o call on the way down on Monday, as he had a shipment of potatoes to go to the coast. He said he would have them all sacked on the riverbank. When the boat arrived at Haz- elton on Saturday and unloaded, the river started to fall fast and Captain Boser felt he dare not wait until Monday for fear of getting caught upriver for the winter, so he left Hazelton in a great hurry on Sunday morning. When Bonsor arrived at the Holy City to pick up the potatoes, Mr. Tomlinson arrived at the riverbank, put up his hand and -said, "You know captain, you - can’t land here on Sunday." The captain tried to tell him that he could not wait as he was afraid of the water situation. "Well," said the missionary, "you know the rules, so go on your way." "How about your spuds,: said the captain. "Never mind the spuds captain, 171] put them back in the roothouse," said Mr. Tom- linson. He had a code, and that was that. The Reverend Tomlinson raised a fine family there. The village, now known as Cedarvale, has a beautiful setting under the shadow of the Seven Sisters mountains. A great collection of tools, which once belonged to the son of Rev. Tomlinson, T. Richard Tomlinson, have recently been donated to Heritage Park. They were donated by the granddaugh- ter and the great grandchildren of Mr, Tomlinson. The granddaugh- ter and great grandchildren live in Terrace, another great grand- — daughter lives in Campbell River, and a great grandson resides in the USA. It is gifts like this that make Heritage Park the interest- ing place it is. I'd like to introduce you to two new staff members who came aboard last week. Patti Sharples and Theresa Newhouse are the tour guides for the summer. They are both university students. Patti was born in Terrace, grad- uated from Caledonia and has just finished her second year at UBC. She’s very active. She swims, plays soccer (she played soccer at UBC), likes gardening and teach- ing kids. Theresa has lived in Terrace for four years. She also graduated from Caledonia and has finished her first year at UVic. They are totally familiar with the history of Terrace and the park, so when you come and visit, you'll be in very good hands on the tour. The tour guides didn’t come one moment too soon, as we have had some very busy days. A job like this brings a person in con- lact with all the different peopte. Last week I did some interesting tours. ] found out from one person that he had worked here in 1940. His name is Art Rushmer, he’s from Regina. He came to Terrace lo visil friends who had moved here a year and a half ago from Regina. During the short lime he was working hete, he was with a crew thal rebuilt the telegraph line by Alie Toop from Prince George to Prince Rupert. This was his first time back in all those years. When Margaret Casey, who was also. touring the park with her relations, and Art Rushmer Started talking, they recalled many names and places, although they never knew each other. When Art Rushmer worked in - ‘Terrace, he was 29 years old and he is now a very young 80. Tour- ing the park that day also were Amold and Phyllis Best, who now make their home in White- rock, With them was Betty Mc- Leod from England. She’s an aunt to Margaret and Phyllis. Not only was this the first time Betty McLeod came to Terrace, it was also the first time for Margaret to — meet her aunt. Our visitors last week came from all over the world; England, Japan, the USA, and from many places in B.C, It is interesting to know why and how people come to Heritage Park, and you might be surprised to know that some come here through word of mouth. The Terrace Regional Museum Society last year again received the Award of Merit from the Minister of State for Youth. This in is grateful recognition of the contribution to Student Summer — Employment in Canada. It is through the Challenge Program that we employ the students. All the students who have worked here over the years have been the most delightful people to work with, and this year is no excep- tion. The park opened its doors in 1984 and since 1985 we have participated in the Challenge Program to employ students during the summer. Patti Sharples and Theresa Newhouse are this year’s student tour guides at Heritage Park. Both have lived in Terrace for years and know the history of both the city and the park well. . IMPROVING Maggie Park | YOUR ODDS #209-4526 Park Ave., AGAINST ~=—- Terrace, B.C. AND STROKE CANADA'S V8G 1V1 rounpaTioncr | #1 KILLER, 638-1167 A thoughtful way to remember is with an In Memoriam gift to the Heart and Stroke Founda- tion of B.C. and Yukon. Please‘mail your donation to the above address and include the name of the deceased, your name and address, as well as the name and address of the next-of-kin for an acknowledgement card. Art Rushmer and Margaret Casey found a lot to.taik about during a recent encounter at Heritage Park. Rushmer lived here in 1940 and his recent trip was the first time he'd been in town since then. He and Casey hadn't met one another while he lived in Terrace, but had many common acquaintences and memories of many of the same places in that era.