Kelowna posted Apr 27, 2022 @ 08:00pm by Iain Burns

PHOTOS: More than 800 images showing Kelowna's industrial past donated to UBCO

More than 800 photographs of Kelowna throughout the 20th century have been put online as part of a collaboration between UBC Okanagan and the Simpson family.

The historical snaps – taken between about 1913 to 1965 – focus on the city’s logging heritage.

<who> Photo credit: Okanagan Special Collections OSC ARC 02 001 010c 011 </who> Aerial view of Kelowna and Okanagan Lake, 1958.

They were donated to UBCO by Sharron Simpson, the granddaughter of Stanley M. Simpson.

Stanley M. Simpson built a sawmill on Manhattan Drive in 1930 that lasted right up until 2020, when its final owners, Tolko Industries Ltd., announced its permanent closure.

<who> Photo credit: Okanagan Special Collections OSC ARC 02 001 003b 059 </who> Man in helmet, third from left, is David Jeffrey, forester. Man third from right is Charlie Stuart, S.M. Simpson logging superintendent.

Sharron Simpson, an author, helped UBCO’s archivist, Paige Hohmann, to correctly date and describe the photographs in the collection.

“We honour those who previously lived and worked in this area by ensuring their stories are preserved and made accessible to others,” she explained.

<who> Photo credit: Okanagan Special Collections OSC ARC 02 001 003a 043a </who> A large crowd gathers to watch firefighting efforts at the stores or machine shop, 1937.

“It’s been my privilege to participate in the university’s initiative to preserve our valley’s heritage.”

UBCO said the project was an “incredible undertaking” that will preserve the region’s history for posterity.

<who> Photo credit: Okanagan Special Collections OSC ARC 02 001 012b 001 </who> Note on back of photo reads: "Blue Grouse Mtn Fire end of Bernard Ave 1952 Courtesy Howie Carter."

“Sharron has given us all a gift, not just of her time, which has been tremendous, but of our history,” Hohmann said.

“She’s taken the time to make sure we have an accurate portrayal of an important part of our community’s history, including the stories of those who lived and worked here.”

<who> Photo credit: Okanagan Special Collections OSC ARC 02 001 010c 007 </who> Aerial view, facing north, of Kelowna and Okanagan Lake including Knox Mountain, circa 1958.

Hohmann added: “The Simpson family archives are the cornerstone of the Okanagan Special Collections and the first archival collection acquired by UBC Okanagan Library.

“The richness of the photography placed in context with documents, ledgers, business records and memorabilia provide a valuable window into an important era of Okanagan history.”

<who> Photo credit: Okanagan Special Collections OSC ARC 02 001 006 033 </who> Left to right: Charlie Stuart, Janet Power, Bill Greenwood, Len Smith, Norma Morrison, Fred Kitsch, Ian Dunlop, David Jeffrey, and Harry Chaplin sitting and drinking coffee. Date: Before 1965.