Arrow Lakes Historical Society, Nakusp, British Columbia, Canada

In 1892, a remarkable young man arrived in the fledgling town of Nakusp - a man who was destined to become the most influential and energetic leader the town has ever known. Tom Abriel fell in love with Nakusp at first sight.

Born in Nova Scotia, he started working in the pulp business there before moving to Portland, Oregon to continue in this field. He became foreman in a plant there. Unfortunately, the fumes from the processing plant caused him health problems and he was advised to move to a climate where clean, fresh air was offered.

Hearing of the Kootenay development, he decided to venture into this new territory. His first job was cutting firewood for steamboats. While he was helping to unload a scow with the first lumber into Nakusp, he learned it was to be used to build a hotel. He approached Hugh Madden - the owner - about obtaining work there and thus learned how to hang wallpaper in the rooms. This would become the Grand Hotel, which was across from the Leland Hotel. It was destroyed by fire in 1925.

In a short period of five years, Abriel went from paperhanging to becoming a leading businessman in the community. In time, he became involved in real estate and insurance, as well as in mines and customs work. He had a general store and insurance/real estate office on Bay Street in the lower part of town - now covered by high water.

He then decided to build a first-class building to accommodate a rental office and an office of his own, uptown on Broadway Street. With this structure, Abriel furnished the townspeople with facilities for commerce and a place for social activities.

Broadway was an undeveloped street at that time, and the move was a bold one. Abriel always forged ahead, intent upon his goal.

Abriel's building was shared by the Dominion government Custom's office. The hall upstairs was first used by the Independent Order of Foresters. The hall was named the Woodsman's Hall because of this association.

In Glenbank, an exceptional pre-emption belonging to Lyle McDougald became available, and Abriel took possession in 1903. In 1905, he employed a man to clear a section and planted an orchard. His goal was to ship fruit by the carload. The name he gave this property was the Home Ranch - now owned by the Schneebergers.

Abriel was an innovative man. He patented a garden cultivating tool and was always experimenting to find better varieties of fruits and vegetables. Using horticultural methods, he produced a new species of rhubarb called Strawberry Rhubarb. He sold tons of it over the years - in one year alone he sold 20 tons of rhubarb off his ranch.

Early in the 1900s, he purchased some lots where a superb spring produced the coolest, clearest water in Nakusp. The property is where the Seventh Day Adventist Church is now, beside the Wanstall house. He had the spring cribbed in to make a pool about 10 feet square and three feet deep. A barbed wire fence enclosed the perimeter of the lots. A gate was fashioned on one side, while a bucket and hook were placed near the well for use by anyone who wished to carry their own water. He also ran a pipeline from there to his office on Broadway, to the Grand Hotel and to the Leland Hotel. He then hired a man to deliver the water around town in a large wagon with several barrels on it. Most houses put out flags if they required water. For 25 cents you could have your 40-gallon barrel filled.

In 1904, a collection was started to build a Catholic Church. Abriel, who was an ardent follower of this faith, provided a twelfth of the cost to build the Our Lady of Lourdes church, which was completed in 1905. This building still stands today, and is the only one left that was build at this time and is still being used as a church.

A drama club was started in 1905 called the Nakusp Dramatic Club. Again Abriel was involved in the productions that were held in his Woodsman's Hall. He also supplied many items and props for the group and became their honorary president.

Abriel was appointed agent for the Frontier Fruit Lands Co. in the spring of 1907. Many people - especially from the United Kingdom - were now coming into the area because of the enticing advertising.

Also that year, the Arrow Lakes Farmer's Institute was formed and Abriel was made chairman while Bob Baird was secretary.

A Sidewalk Committee was formed in Abriel's office in 1907 and again, Abriel was appointed chairman. This committee became the forerunner of the town council that was needed to obtain improvements for the town, to procure a doctor and hospital and to address problems as they arose.

In 1908, meetings of the council were established and they tackled the building of roads which were required as more settlers arrived. Another matter that needed attention was the building of a proper government building to provide official services. The Court House was completed in 1910 and is still one of the finest heritage buildings in Nakusp.

By this time, Abriel was a notary public, a justice of the peace and had been a magistrate for many years. He and the other prominent men who had the job of solving disputes and keeping order and peace in town were happy to see the first policeman arrive.

It was not until 1909 that they discussed the forming of the Nakusp Board of Trade. Again, Abriel was instrumental in the development of all facets of the work done in the following years, either on the executive or on the committees to do any work that needed to be done.

In 1910, Abriel had the opera house built - where the Selkirk College is now - beside his office - where Wylie's Pub is - on Broadway. His motto was "If people are happy and having fun, they will spend money." The first fall fair was held in the opera house and was a huge success. Once again, Abriel was the first president of the Annual Fall Fair Organization.

In March 1910, Dr. Mossman cabled to the Nakusp Board of Trade accepting the resident physician position in Nakusp. Later that year, a cottage hospital was established. Sandy and Dave Markholm now live on the location on 1st Street across from Kal Tire, although the building is now gone.

It was a great day when this small town had its own doctor and hospital. Not many towns of this size could afford such a luxury at this time.

Abriel continued in his role as chairman of the Farmer's Institute and it was decided that a much bigger and more accommodation center was needed for the fall fairs, to reflect the status of farming in Nakusp and surrounding areas.

The government responded to their request for financial assistance and a wooden frame building with a metal roof was build on land owned by Abriel. It was part of the Home Ranch property and was situated about where Gordon and Tracey Roberts live now. The site included a compound where livestock could be exhibited and were sometimes sold.

The title was not given to the village and it is presumed that Abriel also paid the taxes for the building along with his ranch taxes.

This building must have had great benefit to the community because it offered a place where people from other areas could come to socialize, gossip and exchange ideas. Children were encouraged to enter into the many categories and it offered incentives to the local farmers to try new ways and learn from others.

In the fall, the shavings were removed from the floor and it was flooded to produce ice for skating and hockey. Other small towns came to compete with the local team in future years. The building was used year round and provided enjoyment for the whole community.

Abriel built a barbershop and pool hall - where the Chickadee Café is now - for the local barber Eugene Leveque. He continued to help others whenever he could and always for the betterment of the town.

Read Part II here.