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Westbridge
Locality
Location of Westbridge in British Columbia
Coordinates: 49°09′59″N 118°58′04″W / 49.16639°N 118.96778°W / 49.16639; -118.96778
Country	Canada
Province	British Columbia
Region	Boundary Country
Regional district	Kootenay Boundary
Time zone	UTC-8 (PST)
Area codes	250, 778, 236, & 672
Highways	Highway 33

Westbridge is in the Boundary Country region of south central British Columbia. The place straddles the West Kettle River immediately north of the confluence with the Kettle River. On BC Highway 33, the locality is by road about 87 kilometres (54 mi) northwest of Grand Forks, 64 kilometres (40 mi) northeast of Osoyoos, and 121 kilometres (75 mi) south of Kelowna.

Topography

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.

Ferry, bridges, and name origin

In mid-1897, a free ferry was installed at the west fork and operated until winter. In 1898, the plans for a ferry were replaced by an aerial basket completed in the spring. After a change of mind, the flimsy conventional ferry installed was dangerous in the strong current.

In 1899, upgrades were made after sidelining the unsafe ferry, being damaged by high water, or being carried over a mile downriver and piling up. At low water, the river could be forded in the vicinity.

Formerly known as West Fork, the new name (first appearing in a December 1899 newspaper) likely alluded to the plodding bridge construction. In spring 1900, the nearly completed bridge floated away. Replaced in the fall, the final product was considered unsatisfactory.

In 1921–22, one span of the bridge was renewed.

In 1953–54, the bridge was redecked. In 1955–56, the remaining 8 kilometres (5 mi) of highway from Rock Creek were widened, gravelled, and paved.

In 1977–78, Kenyon Construction was awarded the bridge replacement contract, which realigned the highway southeastward. In 1980–81, Hitec Steel Construction and Engineering was awarded the addition of a sidewalk to the structure.

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. 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. The next year, the mining office closed.

In 1907, the place was described as half town, half mining camp, and central to the lumber industry. The following year, the hotel was enlarged.

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.

Although the hotel did not operate beyond the mid-1940s, the building was still standing decades later.

In 1957, fire destroyed one of the sawmills. The next year, the new Westbridge park opened. In 1959, the community received telephone service.

In 1961, BC Hydro transmission lines introduced electricity to the locality, and a new school building was erected. In 1967, the new community hall replaced the former hall, which had been originally built in 1927 as a residence.

In 1985, the general store was for sale.

In the mid-1990s, the school closed.

Near the north end of the bridge, the hotel was long demolished, but the abandoned store remained until destroyed by fire in 2005.

Railway

The westward advance of the Kettle Valley Railway (KV) rail head passed by Westbridge in spring 1911 and Rhone in fall.

By early 1913, the station was erected and construction trains were running beyond Carmi.

The Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) motive is unclear for the establishment of the Zamora station in close proximity.

In 1926, CP sold 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres) of timber land in the vicinity.

The final passenger train passed through the station in 1964 and freight train in 1979, when the Penticton–Rock Creek leg was abandoned.

The former station site lies on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail. Immediately southeast of the highway are the footings of the former section house. The highway relocation removed evidence of the former water tower.

Roads

In 1899, a wagon road northward from Rock Creek was built at great expense. The road continued 5 kilometres (3 mi) up the West Kettle.

In 1902, the wagon road appears to have advanced, because the stage route from Midway was extended to Beaverdell. 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. The next year, the whole road was upgraded to Carmi, providing an all-weather route.

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.

In the late 1910s, this rudimentary road was extended about 14 kilometres (9 mi) upriver to Christian Valley. That name derived from the school, opened in 1916, which honoured Joseph and Alice Christian.

Later community

Scenes from Mindless Love (TV movie 2005) were shot in Westbridge.

In 2011, the post office closed.

A thrift store operates from the community centre. A Seventh-day Adventist Church holds services. A seasonal coffee shop caters to the rail trail.

Popular in summer is tubing the river the 7 kilometres (4 mi) from the bridge to the Kettle River Recreation Area.

Rhone

The Saunier family, who settled around 1909, chose the place name of this former railway siding, which was first mentioned in June 1915.

In 1964, an 18-year-old former Rhone student received a university degree.

At this rest stop on the rail trail, long-time resident Paul Lautard has built a shelter, picnic tables, war memorial, and outhouse.

Taurus

Originally called Bull Creek, a seasonal hotel operated from 1901. While he was proprietor, Gorman West upgraded the hunting and fishing resort in 1905.

During this era, the locality was also known as Gorman West. 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. In 1930, the creek was officially renamed as Taurus Creek.

Maps

• "Rand McNally BC map". www.davidrumsey.com. 1925.
• "Standard Oil BC map". www.davidrumsey.com. 1937.
• "Shell BC map". www.davidrumsey.com. 1956. Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2023.

References

1. "Westbridge (locality)". BC Geographical Names.
2. "Minister of Lands annual report, 1920". library.ubc.ca. p. G81.
3. "Grand Forks Miner". library.ubc.ca. May 15, 1897. p. 2.
   "Advance". library.ubc.ca. January 2, 1898. p. 4.
4. "Advance". library.ubc.ca. April 18, 1898. p. 2.
5. "Boundary Creek Times". library.ubc.ca. April 23, 1898. p. 11.
6. "Advance". library.ubc.ca. May 2, 1898. p. 5.
7. "Boundary Creek Times". library.ubc.ca. June 4, 1898. pp. 4, 14.
   "Boundary Creek Times". library.ubc.ca. July 9, 1898. p. 8.
8. "Advance". library.ubc.ca. April 17, 1899. p. 2.
9. "Boundary Creek Times". library.ubc.ca. May 31, 1899. p. 4.
10. "Boundary Creek Times". library.ubc.ca. June 10, 1899. p. 8.
11. "Mining Record, 1899". library.ubc.ca. p. 269 (29).
12. ^ Lindsay, Mae (1959). "History of Westbridge". Boundary Historical Society Second Annual Report: 13–14.
13. "Boundary Creek Times". library.ubc.ca. December 2, 1899. p. 2.
14. "Greenwood Miner". library.ubc.ca. January 26, 1900. p. 7.
15. "Greenwood Miner". library.ubc.ca. June 8, 1901. p. 8.
16. "Minister of Public Works annual report, 1921–22". library.ubc.ca. p. 24 (G14).
17. "Minister of Public Works annual report, 1953–54". library.ubc.ca. p. M50.
18. "Minister of Highways annual report, 1955–56". library.ubc.ca. p. 48 (N88).
19. "Minister of Highways and Public Works annual report, 1977–78". library.ubc.ca. p. 117.
20. "Ministry of Transportation and Highways annual report, 1980–81". library.ubc.ca. p. 48.
21. ^ "Trail Times". www.trailtimes.ca. July 15, 2018.
22. "Minister of Mines annual report, 1901". library.ubc.ca. p. 250 (1138).
23. "Daily News". library.ubc.ca. May 3, 1902. p. 1.
24. "Hedley Gazette". library.ubc.ca. October 17, 1907. p. 4.
25. "The Phoenix Pioneer and Boundary Mining Journal". library.ubc.ca. October 31, 1908. p. 1.
26. Glanville, Alice (1991). Schools of the Boundary: 1891 to 1991. Sonotek Publishing. pp. 125–126. ISBN 0-929069-03-X.
27. "1945 BC Directory". www.bccd.vpl.ca.
28. "Gazette". www.newspapers.com. June 5, 1968. p. 8. Westbridge – Old Westbridge Hotel
29. "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".
30. "Gazette". www.newspapers.com. August 14, 1968. p. 4.
31. "Gazette". www.newspapers.com. February 6, 1964. p. 7.
32. "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.
33. "Gazette". www.newspapers.com. December 28, 1961. p. 1. The $43,500.00 school at Westbridge opened to accommodate 40 students from that area.
34. "Gazette". www.newspapers.com. September 13, 1967. p. 16.
35. "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.
36. "Calgary Herald". www.newspapers.com. August 16, 1985. p. 61. Westbridge General Store–Westbridge ½ million sales–$249,000
37. "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.
38. ^ "Westbridge". www.ourbc.com.
39. "The Kettle Valley Railway, Part I". www.crowsnest-highway.ca. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
40. "Daily News". library.ubc.ca. July 13, 1911. p. 1.
41. "Week". library.ubc.ca. November 25, 1911. p. 8.
42. "New Westminster News". library.ubc.ca. March 25, 1913. p. 3.
43. "The Grand Forks Sun and Kettle Valley Orchardist". library.ubc.ca. July 23, 1926. p. 2.
44. "Rock Creek". www.crowsnest-highway.ca. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
45. ^ "Timetable". library.ubc.ca. April 28, 1935. p. 12 (TT 70).
46. "Timetable". library.ubc.ca. June 27, 1915. p. 137 (TT124.5).
47. "Timetable". library.ubc.ca. September 5, 1916. p. 160 (TT132).
48. "Timetable". library.ubc.ca. November 30, 1919. p. 184 (TT125).
49. "Timetable". library.ubc.ca. January 1924. p. 11.
50. "Timetable". library.ubc.ca. 1929. p. 31 (TT122).
51. "Timetable". library.ubc.ca. September 25, 1932. p. 469 (TT151).
52. "Timetable". library.ubc.ca. February 5, 1939. p. 126 (TT151).
53. "Timetable" (PDF). www.streamlinermemories.info. June 27, 1943. p. 46 (TT151).
54. "Timetable". library.ubc.ca. December 5, 1948. p. 45 (TT151).
55. "Timetable". library.ubc.ca. April 25, 1954. p. 44 (TT121).
56. "Timetable". library.ubc.ca. October 30, 1960. p. 25 (TT40).
57. "Timetable". library.ubc.ca. October 27, 1963. p. 18 (TT99).
58. "Rail trail, Westbridge". www.google.ca. July 2016.
59. Cycling the Kettle Valley Railway, p. PT46, at Google Books
60. "Advance". library.ubc.ca. August 6, 1900. p. 2.
61. "Greenwood Miner". library.ubc.ca. January 26, 1900. p. 7.
62. "Midway Dispatch". library.ubc.ca. July 21, 1902. p. 3.
63. "Mining Record, 1904". library.ubc.ca. p. 264 (154).
64. "Week". library.ubc.ca. April 8, 1905. p. 8.
65. "The Phoenix Pioneer and Boundary Mining Journal". library.ubc.ca. October 20, 1906. p. 3.
66. "Today in BC". www.todayinbc.com. March 15, 2018.
67. Christian, Alice (1959). "The early days in Christian Valley". Boundary Historical Society Second Annual Report: 6.
68. "Minister of Lands annual report, 1920". library.ubc.ca. p. G82.
69. "Nelson Star". www.nelsonstar.com. October 14, 2013.
70. "Morning Star". www.newspapers.com. February 12, 2006. p. 54.
71. "Westbridge Thrift Shop". westboundaryconnect.com.
72. "Kettle Valley SDA". eadventist.net.
73. "Grand Forks Gazette". www.grandforksgazette.ca. September 18, 2016.
74. "Rhone (locality)". BC Geographical Names.
75. "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….
76. "Rhone Rest Area". www.waymarking.com.
77. ^ "Trail Times". www.trailtimes.ca. September 7, 2018.
78. "Boundary Creek Times". library.ubc.ca. March 31, 1905. p. 6.
79. "Boundary Creek Times". library.ubc.ca. September 10, 1909. p. 2.
80. "Taurus Creek (creek)". BC Geographical Names.

• Unincorporated settlements in British Columbia
• Populated places in the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary
• Canadian Pacific Railway stations in British Columbia