Chatterbox Falls

By Maryanna Gabriel

     James MacDonald must have been a man of privilege for what we were told is that he travelled to many countries and decided in 1919 that this was the most beautiful place in the world. He bought land at the head waters of Princess Louisa Inlet for $420 from the provincial government.      

Princess Louisa Inlet

     The story goes that the log house he had built was magnificent with beautiful

Chatterbox Falls

furniture, books and Navaho rugs. He wrote articles in yachting magazines and papers inviting the world and came to be known as "The Laird". In the book "The Curve Of Time" by M. Wylie Blanchett she talks about meeting him and seeing his home. She describes a magnificent stone fire place with a grand stairway and writes of his hospitality. Eventually she decided she was unhappy with how crowded Princess Louisa was becoming and shied away. James MacDonald was quite busy entertaining and had created a large outdoor fire pit so that people could enjoy themselves.

     He was offered $400,000 for the land in the 1950's and turned this down. Feeling the area needed protection he felt he was holding it in trust to be enjoyed by all and eventually it was donated and acquired by BC Parks.

     When we landed, Sarah and I happily wandered around exploring. We ate our picnic to the roaring sound of Chatterbox Falls. There were posh boats anchored and so we took it all in as we enjoyed the sunshine. Oysters and mussels were strewn on the beach. Upstream from Chatterbox is James Bruce Falls which is the tallest waterfall in North America.