franktrail

The Frank Trails Story from Heritage Park Museum Written by Sarah Aslin In 1975 a parcel of historic land two acres in size was donated by the Frank family to the City of Terrace for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations of nature lovers. This parkland has been planted with 32 special evergreen trees – all are native to British Columbia – and have been well marked and identified by the original owner – Floyd Frank.
Floyd & Aileen Frank & Family

Floyd Frank was born in Port Essington, at the mouth of the Skeena River, in 1904. He came into the Terrace area with his family in the spring of 1908. Coming up river by sternwheeler, they landed at Eby’s landing and, as a family, they packed their belongings up a trail to their father’s pre-emption cabin located where the Northwest Community College now stands. The trail leading to the bench land was first cut in 1907 to be the original means of access from the valley to the bench. This trail as been preserved over the years by the Frank brothers.

The hillside west of the Frank trail now belongs to the Skeena Mill. The original owners, Floyd and Aileen Frank sold the property and their home that was built in 1938 to the Skeena Mill in 1991.

Directly to the right of the Frank’s trail entrance is the start of a trail that is like no other. The first thing that strikes someone as they walk the trail for the first time is the feeling of peace and comfort it holds. One can tell that the trail has been built with care and thought of nature. The path takes you along the side of the hill by the Pioneer Graveyard (the land for this cemetery was donated by “Dad” Weeks) overlooking the sawmills and river. Benches adorn the path giving walkers a place to sit and relax. Wildlife and nature take away thoughts of stress as the trail can overwhelm you with its inhabitants. All this is within a twenty minute walk of downtown Terrace. How
can such a magnificent place exist right in our backyard?

Over the past several years Jim Quigley, who works at Skeena Sawmills during the day, has built over a mile’s length of trails. Quigley started building the trail as a pastime. “I wanted a nice place to walk,” says Quigley. “One thing led to another and I began to build benches for rest while I was working.” A few years after he started, people began to appear on the trail and he couldn’t figure out where they were coming from. That’s when Quigley learned about Frank’s Trail. Up until that time, he had no knowledge of it. “Just about 100 feet away from where I was working was Frank’s trail. I couldn’t believe it. When I learned that the land had been donated for Frank’s trail, I decided to extend the trail I was working onto it.”

The potential for a lovely park is there – starting down at Frank’s Trail, then walking up to the “Jim Quigley Trail” and up on top, a beautiful Heritage cemetery, a place where all our pioneers are laid to rest. And all of this overlooks the Skeena River and Kitsumkalum River. What a view!

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