 |
| Later to become a superb restaurant which has since closed. |
Am passing the night in Grand Forks in Southern British Columbia. The pleasant tree lined streets reveal a history evidenced by turn of the century architecture. Here two rivers conjoin, the Kettle and the Granby, hence the town name. With the surrounding grassy pleateaus, the area is perfect for running cattle.
Like other towns in lower British Columbia, ranching gave way to a new influx of settlers when rich ore and mineral deposits were discovered. A story caught my eye.
A dentist came to Grand Forks, Dr. C.W. Averill, to set up practice. He serviced the plethora of miners in the surrounding areas. They say he used to melt gold coins and use them in his dentistry. However, he had a problem. His wife did not want to live in Grand Forks. To compensate, he had a fine mansion built, high on a hill with sweeping views of the rivers as enticement. The Averill mansion had a turrett, stained glass windows, and a fine verandah.
His wife may have been prescient. Hardship visited them. A son was lost and Dr. Averill became seriously ill. In the years that followed, a woman may be heard weeping from a bedroom on the top floor. They say the house is haunted. More than one person has verified this account. In conversation with a local today, many have also seen her.
 |
| Averill Mansion built in 1895. |
*Source: Bill Barlee (historian) "Gold Trails and Ghost Tales - Grand Forks".