A Rich and Fruitful Land: The History of the Valleys of the Okanagan, Similkameen and Shuswap / Okanagan Historical Society ( BC / B.C. / British Columbia / Washington State history ) by Webber, Jean / Okanagan Historical Society - 1999

British Columbia: Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing, 1999, 1st Edition, First Printing , 1999. ------------large (quarto) hardcover, a Near Fine copy in a Near Fine dustjacket, ink name on half title page, ink name on front blank endpaper has been blacked out, 239 pages, b&w photos, ---"The Okanagan Valley in the interior of British Columbia is known mostly as an ideal tourist destination - a vacationer's paradise rich with sunshine, fruit trees and luxurious beaches. But the area also has a long and fascinating history, which reaches back well before the first apple tree was planted, before the first truckload of beach sand was dumped. The heart of the book is a selection of articles, essays, letters, diaries, memoirs and observations that first appeared in Okanagan History, a journal published by the Okanagan Historical Society for more than seventy years. Among them are Marie Houghton Brent, granddaughter of the great Chief N'Kwala, who sought to keep the history of the Okanagan Nation alive through her storytelling; Father Pat, the rugged missionary who sometimes had to rely on his own two fists for survival when dealing with rowdy locals in mining camps; and Benjamin Franklin Young, a US Civil War veteran who became one of the first Okanagan settlers to drive stagecoaches. Their unforgettable stories have been compiled and edited by Jean Webber, whose insightful commentary combines broad historical perspective and intimate detail. Interesting, accurate and accessible, with lots of archival photographs, A Rich and Fruitful Land is a must-read for Okanagan locals, first-time visitors and BC history buffs alike. Founded in September 1925, the Okanagan Historical Society has participated in numerous projects which commemorate the colourful history of the area, including the recording of significant events and the experiences of pioneers in its Okanagan History: The Annual Reports of the Okanagan Historical Society. "---, ---contents include: Preface; The Land ( White Silt Cliffs; Ancient Rocks; Glaciation; Recent Modifications to the Landscape; Climate, Flora and Fauna ); The First People ( An Okanagan Communication; Where did the first people come from?; Culture; Contact; Efforts on Behalf of the First nations; Native Renaissance ); The Fur Trade ( The Brigade Trail; Other Trails; New Hudson's Bay Company Posts established ); Colonial Era ( International Boundary; Gold, Commissioners and Customs; The Overlanders; The Great Cattle ranches; Transportation and Communication); Missionaries and Churches ( Roman Catholics / Presbyterian and Methodist / Anglican / Baptists / Religious Institutions Today ); From Colony to Province ( Confederation; MPs and MLAs; The Bennett years; Civil Service ); Stage Drivers and Mail carriers ( Stagecoaches; Mail Carriers and Post Offices ); Community Life; Schools; Medical Serrvices; A Developing Economy; Hard Rock Mining ( Fairview; Great Gold Robbery; Feeding the Miners; Hedley and the Nickel Plate Mine; Other ventures ); Boats and Trains; A Growing Population ( Influx of Settlers; Telegrams, Telephones and Newspapers ); Tree Fruits, Ground Crops, Vines and Agro-Industries ( First orchards; Irrigation and Land Development; Gruit Growers; Ground Crops; Grapes; Free Trade and Estate Wineries ); Military Matters; Communictaion - Highways, Planes, Radio, TV, any image directly beside this listing is the actual book and not a generic photo. First Edition. Hard Cover. Near Fine (see description)/Near Fine (see description). Illus. by Photo Cover.