When fire ripped through one of Kelowna香蕉视频直播檚 oldest buildings Monday night, the men and women who dedicate their time to protecting the region香蕉视频直播檚 history were heart-broken.
香蕉视频直播淚t had always been a worry of ours that something like this could happen,香蕉视频直播� said Don Knox, president of the Central Okanagan Heritage Society.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 devastating. (The Fleming House) is almost 150 years old香蕉视频直播� Once something like this is gone, there香蕉视频直播檚 nothing that can save it.香蕉视频直播�
Knox said he香蕉视频直播檇 long hoped that the building could one day get refinished and become the Central Okanagan香蕉视频直播檚 version of O香蕉视频直播橩eefe Ranch 香蕉视频直播� a place where school children could go and learn about the history of the region.
Unlike other Okanagan communities, Kelowna doesn香蕉视频直播檛 have a robust supply of heritage sites.
That香蕉视频直播檚 because when Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton were starting to develop, it was the least economically relevant 香蕉视频直播� it didn香蕉视频直播檛 become the economic centre point of the valley until the airport came along, said Knox.
Vernon was the head of the lake and ranchers would take their cattle up there to partake in the gold rush and the mining industry made Penticton a place to be.
But it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 until the Aberdeens started fruit farming in the 1890s that Kelowna started to build a population base. And then came Brent香蕉视频直播檚 Grist Mill and, in turn, the Fleming House, said Knox.
香蕉视频直播淭he mill, when it was built, was the only one from the border to Kamloops,香蕉视频直播� said Knox, adding that it香蕉视频直播檚 currently the oldest mill in B.C.
香蕉视频直播淧eople would come from all over the valley with their grain, and visit and such, it was a social gathering place.香蕉视频直播�
Knox said it香蕉视频直播檚 also important simply because it香蕉视频直播檚 a living monument to people and enterprise, having been built during a provincewide recession.
The large two-storey house was built in 1871 of large squared logs up to 35 centimetres high by 17 cm thick. The site was acquired by John Dilworth in 1900, and prior to 1908 he installed milled siding on the house and added plaster walls on the inside, indicating the pattern of improvements made to pioneer houses as the settlers prospered and more refined materials and techniques became locally available.
There香蕉视频直播檚 an off chance that the logs that made up the Fleming house can be saved and, if that香蕉视频直播檚 the case, Knox said that there香蕉视频直播檚 a greater chance that a case will be made to ensure this particular piece of history lives on.
香蕉视频直播淭he mill has already been stabilized and it香蕉视频直播檚 in good shape and secured,香蕉视频直播� said Knox. 香蕉视频直播淚f it generates understanding or awareness in the value of what we have left, that香蕉视频直播檚 one good thing that could have come out of it.香蕉视频直播�
The Kelowna Fire Department was called to the fire at around 6 p.m. July 2 and found the heritage building engulfed in heavy flames, with smoke showing from the rear of the structure.
香蕉视频直播淒ue to structural issues, crews could not initially enter but later completed primary and secondary searches confirming no casualties,香蕉视频直播� said Scott Clarke, platoon captain, in a press release.
香蕉视频直播淔ire cause is being investigated by RCMP and the Kelowna Fire Department.香蕉视频直播�
No cause has been released.
In recent years the heritage site has needed a great deal of repair and has been known to be a preferred site for transient populations pitching tents.
