TERRACE (PIONEER) CEMETERY
Dad Weeks
On Dec.31, 1927 Terrace was incorporated as a village municipality and
now Terrace is having a year-long celebration marking its 75th year. And
because we who live in Terrace are very proud of our history, I thought it
would be right to share a piece of history.
The recording of a cemetery is a fascinating and educational way to look into
our past.
It reveals a great deal of information about our people who once lived here and
contributed to the province of British Columbia. In 1993 a group of Floyd Frank,
Sally Smaha, Thelma Lindstrom and myself started on a project, recording of all
the headstones or markings at the old Terrace Pioneer Graveyard. Now I would
like to give you a little history.
In 1905 the government opened up the Kitsumgallum and Lakelse valleys to
homesteaders. Samuel Charles ‘Dad’ Weeks was one of the early
pre-emptors.
His land was the parcel directly above Eby’s Landing on the north
bench land, District Lot 1745, Range 5, Coast District. The nickname
‘Dad’ was given to him because he was middle-aged and like a father
to most of the settlers who were much younger.
At one point ‘Dad’ Weeks decided that the new settlement of
Eby’s Landing should have a permanent graveyard, so in 1909 he donated an
acre of his land for this purpose. It is situated on the edge of the bench land
overlooking the Skeena River and the former site of Eby’s Landing. And now at this beautiful little cemetery,
which sits at the top of Kalum Hill, it is so very peaceful. As you look down below you can see the mightly
Skeena River flow. And if you look up to
the west, way up there on the mountain top, our beautiful Sleeping Beauty
mountain is there overlooking the beautiful Skeena Valley.
Every year in July, as
you look off to the north, you can see the big OK on the OK mountain side. And at this beautiful little cemetery our
dear pioneers are laid to rest.
The founder of Terrace, George Little, and all his family who followed
him, are nestled safely there under the big, old maple trees. And many other
pioneers who struggled so very hard are also laid to rest in this beautiful
cemetery, which sits at the top of Kalum Lake Drive hill.
These pioneers all contributed so much in their own way to the history
and the success of the Terrace we all enjoy today.
Sadly, ‘Dad’ Weeks, in his later years, who had decided to
travel by train back to Nova Scotia to visit his relatives became ill on the
return trip and died in Calgary on November 13, 1925. He was buried at the Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary Alberta in an unmarked grave. We are sure he would have
preferred to be buried in his own graveyard, registered as the Kitsumgallum
Cemetery.
By: Yvonne Moen
| Researchers
and Recorders |
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Floyd and Sally
Aileen and Thelma
Yvonne and Bill
Floyd and Bill
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