I like to walk. Those people who travel the north end of Tucelnuit Drive on a regular basis, or live along it, have likely seen me sauntering down the road – a great way, I think, to finish off the day.
I’ve watched one neighbour work on his front yard fence over the past two weeks. “Should have it done after the long weekend,” I casually mentioned while walking by, and offering a hello, the other night.
Further down the road, Fran called out, “Do you walk every night?” during one recent excursion.
“Yes, I sit in an office for a good chunk of the day,” I replied. “Need the exercise. And, having lived in the Edmonton area for four years, the mountains give me the feeling I’m on vacation every day.”
So, when I noticed the Oliver and District Heritage Society had begun Historical Walking Tours through Oliver for the summer months, I was there. For the walk, and the opportunity to see what my new home was all about. Of course, our tour guide Christy Grabreck didn’t mention the walk would go vertical within minutes of leaving river elevation.
The Thursday and Friday tours begin at 10:30 from the Visitor Information Centre, the perfect venue considering the heritage surrounding the building, and its various functions as the CPR Station when a railroad ran through Oliver from 1923 through until 1977. I’m sure there are residents of Oliver who will remember the building for ‘other’ things through the years.
Grabreck, who hails from Penticton, was giving her first tour consisting of me and my camera, long-time Oliver resident Carolyn and her funky golf ball sandals, and Deborah, who moved here in December from Calgary, but has history in the area as well. To say young Christy may have been a tad nervous from the get go would be an understatement, considering her inaugural tour lay just ahead, and the three of us were likely to add our two-bits worth during the walk!
So, after Christy’s intro and background on the CPR Station, we got the tour underway. A quick walk up the hill brought us to Oliver Theatre. The building dates back to 1946, and I’m sure, holds many more stories which will go untold!
It was at that point Christy was hit with her first obstacle. Okay, detour!
“Hey everyone,” I offered up. “The Chronicle is right next door. You can see how our paper, dating back to 1937, is put together, and how it was done in the old days.”
So, thanks to a quick side tour through Oliver Printing from Rob Somerville, we all learned about the way a newspaper was put out without computers.
Carolyn would later let me know that during supper that night, both hers and Deborah’s husband recalled having (somewhere?) souvenir lead ingots spelling their name from a childhood field trip to the Chronicle. Guess they did ‘the tour’ as far back as 55 years ago.
Fascinating stuff, but I will stick with my Mac.
We proceeded up Veterans Ave., past uniquely designed heritage homes, the St. John’s Lutheran Church, and then up the hill to Gala St., where we learned more about the South Okanagan Lands Project, and the ‘ditch.’ I now know what those large pipes running across the river south of the Fairview bridge are all about!
We sauntered past the new Southern Okanagan Secondary School while Christy, Carolyn and Deborah provided me with details on what happened to the old school. We stopped at St. Edward’s Anglican Church, admired the eclectic Italian design of the home on the corner of Fairview and Kootenay St., and stopped to look at the streamline modern architecture of the office building at Fairview and School Ave.
We stopped in at the Heritage Society office, with its beautiful murals adorning the outside wall, where Community Heritage Manager Pamela Woolner educated us on the Society, and the Oliver and District Museum, which is located a block over on School Ave.
After a close inspection of the statue of John Oliver, the town’s namesake and former BC Premier, where we got some great photos, and a stop at the Museum, where Carolyn attempted to break into the jail house, we had come to the end of our one-hour tour, which had morphed into about 90 minutes.
“It was nice to meet you today and thanks for coming on the tour,” said Christy.
She later expanded on the joys of her summer job with the Heritage Society.
“This job has allowed me to explore the exciting history of Oliver in a unique way through hands-on experience. I have enjoyed meeting new people in the community and listening to their personal knowledge of Oliver’s history.”
It was obvious Carolyn and Deborah enjoyed themselves. I asked both to contribute to this story with their personal thoughts.
“I have moved around quite a lot and have always made it a practice to be a tourist in ‘my own’ town. Besides getting to know the areas more intimately, I like getting others’ perceptions and perspectives, pooling our knowledge and adding to my stock of local lore. Mostly, though, I enjoy the people I meet.
Museum summer student Christy held her own as group leader, though she had three strong, vocal and energetic middle-aged enthusiasts to keep in tow. She delivered an entertaining, informative and flexible tour (including side trips – thank you, Chronicle) on time and at a pace suitable to most.
I particularly appreciate learning how significant 1947 was architecturally in Oliver’s town core. We saw over a dozen “streamline” structures – not all commercial – within a three block radius!
This past year I have been introducing a dear friend to some of the many activities around her new home, Oliver. It is through even small events such as this walking tour that I see her delight in the marvels of her new surroundings. Thank you Dale and Christy for contributing to this.”
-Carolyn Bowering
“The best part of the tour for me was a brief encounter with a local resident at the archives building. She was doing research into a child who had long since passed. A few words with her about what she was doing and I suddenly realized what a rich and valuable resource we have right here at our fingertips.”
-Deborah Hinsperger
Again, the Oliver and District Heritage Society’s Historical Walking Tours take place every Thursday and Friday at 10:30 am from the Visitor Information Centre. I highly recommend this one-hour walk through our beautiful town. You are bound to learn something new, no matter how long you have lived here.
Also, check out – www.oliverheritage.ca
Story and photos by Dale Cory
