RECORDED: [location unknown], 1963-03-14 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Fred Bears describes how his father, John Henry Bears, came from California to BC for the gold rush in 1875 and settled in Hope. He also tells about platinum in Granite Creek, people who struck it rich, anecdotes about packers, prospectors, teaching people to mine, gold at Hills Bar, staking claims, the Hudson's Bay post run by 'Old Man Yates' who ran a small store, freighting cattle along the Fraser River, details about their route before the turn of the century, and Bill Bristol. TRACK 2: Fred Bears continues with his stories about Bill Bristol. Al Bears describes what Bill Bristol looked like, and that he came from England. Al goes on to discuss his life, where he went to school, the people who lived in Hope when he was young (there were only six families and they made their living off horses and packing); Luke Gibson; and the trails through Hope. Fred Bears then tells anecdotes about prospecting in the area and the clothes people wore.

CALL NUMBER: T0675:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Angela McDairmid was born in Princeton before it was known as Princeton; she discusses her earliest memories; where the house was; several anecdotes about her mother and her youth; her father; floods; her family history; her father's arrival in Victoria in 1858; the gold rush on the Fraser River; the pack trains; the area around Princeton as she remembers it; more stories. Susan Louise Moir was her mother, and she discusses her life; her parents' early married life; the first settlers in Princeton; gold mining in Granite Creek; John Chance and other prospectors; how Princeton got its name. TRACK 2: Mrs. McDairmid continues by describing the first mines in the area; the Hope Trail; some characters; Chinese workers who worked for her father; stories; some characters whom she remembers.

CALL NUMBER: T0675:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. McDairmid continues with stories about the land around Princeton, some bodies that were found, building a bridge, a shooting among Indians, the Allison town site, Judge Haynes, Indian boat races at the river, potlatches, a shooting, the killing of a Nicola Indian, Merritt as a coal mining town, Dr. Tuttle's hanging, superstition among the Indians. Finally, she discusses her father giving the copyright to his stories to her sister. [TRACK 2: blank.]

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-02-07 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Thomas describes coming to Canada from Gloucester, England, when he was 16, in 1891. He headed for Edmonton, then Spences Bridge when his money ran out, and got a lift to the Nicola in a buggy. He describes the railway trip to Edmonton but was detoured to Nicola Lake. He describes old timers at the Douglas Lake Ranch, a man named Graves, his experiences at Douglas Lake and its life style, and several anecdotes. He describes the town of Nicola Lake and his life there. Next he describes Princeton, prospectors coming from Rossland to the area including Jack Budd, Bill Miner, and a miner at Granite Creek named Robert Stevenson. More on Princeton. [TRACK 2: blank.]

This series consists of a record book of cases heard before the Gold Commissioner's, County, Supreme, Magistrate's and Licencing courts at Granite Creek, ca. 1886-1899 and from the County, Magistrate's and Licencing courts at Princeton, ca. 1891-1914. There is a pencilled chronological summary of each case inside the front cover.

The file consists of a photocopy of reminiscences of life in Granite Creek, and Nicola written by George Gilbert Batstone,a miner, freighter, and ranch hand.

Notes, essays and clippings on various aspects of British Columbia history including Fort Steele, Jim Buckman, Kootenay and Creston, Wild Horse Creek, the Police, Similkameen and Granite Creek, Cariboo packers and the East Kootenay.