Barkerville, Williams Creek, Cariboo

WHO'S WHO IN BARKERVILLE STREET 1994?


The Barkerville summer of 1870 bursts upon the streets again in the late twentieth century. Throughout the summer, visitors will get to know many of the colourful citizens of Barkerville from the summer of 1870.

Gracing the streets with her proper English upbringing will be Miss Florence Wilson, founder of the first library on William's Creek area, co-founder of the Cariboo Amateur Dramatic Association and in the summer of 1870, owner of the new Phoenix saloon and share holder in several mining companies. Miss Wilson is still very concerned about the large amount of debt incurred by the Dramatic Association as a result of their new Theatre Royal, and is working diligently to help the society pay off the $1,000 debt.

Nellie Jenkins is recent arrival on the Creek and has just discovered that her husband had died in a mining accident prior to her arrival. Mr. Jenkins left Nellie a small sum of money which enabled her to open a laundry in town. Nellie is a very hard working laundress with a great pas sion for "gossip" that she feels is essential for the enlightenment of Barkerville's citizens.

Alexander Campbell was an Overlander of '62 and arrived on the Creek in 1863. He has recently acquired the position of clerk and man ager of the Jack of Clubs Mine, owned by Albert Boak. Mr. Campbell has a great deal of responsibility in running the mine and has difficulty in completing his duties as required. A staunch Royalist, Campbell gets very "pedoodled" when anyone makes a disparaging remark about Her Majesty, Queen Victoria.

Kate Hartley takes great joy in parading along the board walk dis playing her lovely, hoop skirt. Miss Hartley is a Hurdy Gurdy dancer, employed by Fanny Bendixon, owner of the St. George Saloon. Kate is a rather tall, statuesque woman, who is not having much luck at displaying her ability at the 'Ringing the Bell' dance, currently very popu lar in Barkerville. Her lack of 'ceiling dancing' causes her a great deal of consternation and is she anxious for the day when a miner in town will be able to swing her high enough to dance on the ceiling.

Jack Beeman is somewhat of a dolt, who claims to know much about many things and actually knows very little about very little. Jack spends some of his time trying to scrape out a living as a miner, however when the gleam doesn't appear at the bottom of his gold pan, he will work where and when he is able. Jack has a yearning for any lady on the creek; any eligible lady, that is.

James D. Loring will be strutting the streets of Barkerville for a short time at the early part of the season, but Mr. Loring is most pleased that his daughter, Emma, whom was married last September to Charlie Doyle, is about to become a mother. Charlie and Emma reside in San Francisco and Mr. Loring will be heading south to visit the next generation of Lorings.

Mr. Albert C. Boak, who has been away from Barkerville for the past two years, will be returning. Mr. Boak was one of the town butchers and did fairly well at that occupation. he no longer serves behind the counter, but does have interests in cattle ranches in Oregon. Mr. Boak has spent most of the past two years in London, England, and will be returning to oversee the operations of his Jack of Clubs Mine Company.

The Barkerville Summer of 1870 was never busier and the historic citizens of this town look forward to greeting you throughout the season. Welcome to the largest settlement north of San Francisco and west of Chicago. The town where dreams sometimes turn to gold...

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