Northward on the Christian Valley Rd, the valley alternates between an 800-metre (0.5 mi) width and narrow canyons. Southward, the valley is 1.2 to 1.6 kilometres (0.7 to 1.0 mi) wide and the benches become more frequent and larger.[2]
Ferry, bridges, and name origin
In mid-1897, a free ferry was installed at the west fork and operated until winter.[3] In 1898, the plans for a ferry[4] were replaced by an aerial basket[5] completed in the spring.[6] After a change of mind, the flimsy conventional ferry installed was dangerous in the strong current.[7]
In 1899, upgrades were made after sidelining the unsafe ferry,[8] being damaged by high water,[9] or being carried over a mile downriver and piling up.[10] At low water, the river could be forded in the vicinity.[11]
Formerly known as West Fork,[12] the new name (first appearing in a December 1899 newspaper)[13] likely alluded to the plodding bridge construction.[14] In spring 1900, the nearly completed bridge floated away. Replaced in the fall,[12] the final product was considered unsatisfactory.[15]
In 1921–22, one span of the bridge was renewed.[16]
In 1953–54, the bridge was redecked.[17] In 1955–56, the remaining 8 kilometres (5 mi) of highway from Rock Creek were widened, gravelled, and paved.[18]
In 1977–78, Kenyon Construction was awarded the bridge replacement contract,[19] which realigned the highway southeastward. In 1980–81, Hitec Steel Construction and Engineering was awarded the addition of a sidewalk to the structure.[20]
Earlier community
The two small villages of Bridgeport and Westbridge existed at the river mouth in late 1899. The former was never mentioned again. The latter comprised a few log cabins, a general store, and a log hotel. The post office opened in 1900.[21] About 800 metres (0.5 mi) above the bridge, the hamlet had enlarged by 1901 into a dozen houses, a hotel, store/post office, blacksmith, and Deputy Mining Recorder office.[22] The next year, the mining office closed.[23]
In 1907, the place was described as half town, half mining camp, and central to the lumber industry.[24] The following year, the hotel was enlarged.[25]
In 1921, the first school opened about 1.6 kilometres (1 mi) up the west fork. Later, the second one opened about 400 metres (437 yd) up the main river but was then moved to about 6 kilometres (4 mi) up, before closing in 1932–33. A few years after reopening, the second school merged with the first in a new facility built in Westbridge in the mid-1940s. However, two schools existed briefly in the early 1950s.[26]
Although the hotel did not operate beyond the mid-1940s,[27] the building was still standing decades later.[28]
In 1957, fire destroyed one of the sawmills.[29] The next year, the new Westbridge park opened.[30] In 1959, the community received telephone service.[31]
In 1961, BC Hydro transmission lines introduced electricity to the locality,[32] and a new school building was erected.[33] In 1967, the new community hall[34] replaced the former hall, which had been originally built in 1927 as a residence.[35]
The former station site lies on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail.[38]
Immediately southeast of the highway are the footings[58] of the former section house. The highway relocation removed evidence of the former water tower.[59]
Roads
In 1899, a wagon road northward from Rock Creek was built at great expense.[60] The road continued 5 kilometres (3 mi) up the West Kettle.[61]
In 1902, the wagon road appears to have advanced, because the stage route from
Midway was extended to Beaverdell.[62] These roads appear to have deteriorated over the following years, because by 1904, a good wagon road existed only a few miles northward from Rock Creek.[63] The next year, the whole road was upgraded to Carmi,[64] providing an all-weather route.[65]
In 1900, the promoters of the former Canyon City (which never took root) built a 34-kilometre (21 mi) wagon road north up the Kettle River from Westbridge. Despite the absence of a producing mine or settlements, the government provided a $4,500 subsidy.[66]
In the late 1910s, this rudimentary road was extended about 14 kilometres (9 mi) upriver to Christian Valley.[67][68] That name derived from the school, opened in 1916, which honoured Joseph and Alice Christian.[69]
Later community
Scenes from Mindless Love (TV movie 2005) were shot in Westbridge.[70]
The Saunier family, who settled around 1909, chose the place name of this former railway siding, which was first mentioned in June 1915.[73][74]
In 1964, an 18-year-old former Rhone student received a university degree.[75]
At this rest stop on the rail trail, long-time resident Paul Lautard has built a shelter, picnic tables, war memorial, and outhouse.[76]
Taurus
Originally called Bull Creek, a seasonal hotel operated from 1901.[77] While he was proprietor, Gorman West upgraded the hunting and fishing resort in 1905.[78]
During this era, the locality was also known as Gorman West.[79] He remained proprietor until 1912. To avoid confusion with the station at Bull River, CP renamed the stop as Taurus (Latin for bull), which was first mentioned in June 1915.[77] In 1930, the creek was officially renamed as Taurus Creek.[80]
^"Gazette". www.newspapers.com. June 5, 1968. p. 8. Westbridge – Old Westbridge Hotel
^"Gazette". www.newspapers.com. July 11, 1957. p. 7. Fire roared through a sawmill here Friday night and caused damage estimated at "several hundred thousand dollars".
^"Gazette". www.newspapers.com. August 14, 1968. p. 4.
^"Gazette". www.newspapers.com. February 6, 1964. p. 7.
^"Vancouver Sun". www.newspapers.com. August 4, 1961. p. 1. Residents of Westbridge and district are enjoying electric power for the first time with opening of the newly completed line from Rock Creek to Westbridge.
^"Gazette". www.newspapers.com. December 28, 1961. p. 1. The $43,500.00 school at Westbridge opened to accommodate 40 students from that area.
^"Gazette". www.newspapers.com. September 13, 1967. p. 16.
^"Gazette". www.newspapers.com. May 18, 1966. p. 1. ….the Hall which had been built as a dwelling in 1927, and later for some years the school also.
^"Calgary Herald". www.newspapers.com. August 16, 1985. p. 61. Westbridge General Store–Westbridge ½ million sales–$249,000
^"Vancouver Sun". www.newspapers.com. March 5, 1993. p. 48. School District #13 presently services schools in Beaverdell, Westbridge, Bridesville, Rock Creek, Midway and Greenwood. Plans are underway to consolidate three small elementary schools into a new central school at Rock Creek.
^"Gazette". www.newspapers.com. June 17, 1964. p. 2. Kanji Nakatsu…received his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Alberta. He is 18 years of age. He was born in Greenwood in June, 1945. He attended Rhone School….
