Lac Le Jeune Reminiscences by Hugh Burton: Part 1

photo by Nurmsook
A number of people from around the lake have asked me to provide some anecdotal Lac Le Jeune history. My own memories of names and events related to this area go back reasonably faithfully to around 1945, but the earlier events I will present are sourced either from oral history or articles I have read.

I have taken the liberty of obtaining information of these events from newspaper items and several articles written by Mary Balf who was an employee of Kamloops Museum.

First of all, our lake has not always been called Lac Le Jeune. It had previously been called Trout Lake and Fish Lake. The original map of the Township, on the North Shore of the lake was filed under the name Trout Lake, from the survey produced by D.C. Taggert D.L.B. in 1911. Prior to that it had been popularly known as Fish Lake, presumably in reference to the amazing number of fish it produced for the summer native population and the few enthusiastic anglers who were hardy enough to make the day long trek by horse. This was the name I as a child was familiar with and all the early residents used for many years. However, it seems there were just too many “Fish and Trout Lakes”, so in 1928 the National Geographic Board officially changed the name to Lac Le Jeune in honour of Father Le Jeune, who worked among the Indians of the Kamloops region between 1879 and 1929.

In these early days there appears to have been only two structures close to the shore that could accommodate anglers. Dave Lusk had built a log house in 1885 not far from where the present lodge stands, though it would have been much closer to the water. The other was a trappers cabin that, according to legend, was built in 1901 and was the precursor to what became the N.S. Dalgleish “Jubilee cabin” in 1908. This cabin is still standing immediately east of the Killik’s cabin.

In 1905 Dave Lusk, in partnership with Robert Cowan, built the Fish Lake Hotel - a pretty heady title for such a humble dwelling. Nevertheless, it was sturdy enough to stand up till the current lodge was built, though for a good part of its life it was relegated to boat repair shop, fish storage, and smoke house duty. In the late 1950‘s and early 60‘s I spent many hours in its cramped, dark, confines while preparing fish during the time I was employed as a guide by John and Muriel Whittaker’ who were the owners of Lac Le Jeune Lodge.

Dave Lusk gave up the business in 1906 leaving it to Robert Cowan who very shortly began construction of Rainbow Lodge approximately half way between the current Lodge and the waterfront.

It turned out to be very successful, drawing many avid anglers from the Kamloops area and beyond, some of whom over the next ten years would build their own cabins. Among these were: F.J. Fulton, A.C. Claxton, S.C. Burton, and Dr. Irving. To date four and five generations of these families have enjoyed the peace and beauty of this place.

There is one portion of history which appears to have been missed out, and one that quite probably had a bearing on family settlement. In the first few years of the 1900’s infants in Kamloops were at risk of contracting a serious cholera-like ailment that struck in the heat of the summer. The disease proved life threatening, so many of the sick were brought to a tent camp that was set up about half way along the north side of Rainbow drive, which was then called Pine Street. The idea was that the cooler, purer air, clean water and absence of contaminated flies would restore them. The camp was attended by a nursing staff and overseen by Dr. Irving, the founder of the Irving clinic.

My father was among those who were brought here for the cure, and grandfather credited the move with saving Dad’s life. Grandfather, S. C. Burton and Dr. Irving were already enthusiastic fishermen and it is likely that this event clinched the desire to build. I have often wondered if the development of the children’s camp wasn’t, in part at least, an attempt to lend legitimacy to an extended fishing expedition. At any event, Dr. Irving built his cabin in 1906 where our present house now stands and Granddad built in 1915 on the lot immediately east of Dr. Irving‘s. These were the second and third cabins constructed in the original town site. Granddad’s cabin still stands and is the summer residence of Sidney and Neil Burton and family. Unfortunately, we had to tear down the Irving cabin in order to build our full time residence. However, the kitchen portion is intact, has a history of its own, and now stands behind the current house.

Hugh Burton Aug. 02, 09

More to follow...