Gilpin Cabin - Grand Forks, BC
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T0SHEA
N 49° 01.939 W 118° 26.497
11U E 394626 N 5432049
Along Central Avenue (aka the Crowsnest Highway) at 5th Street is the old Grand Forks Court House, across 5th Street from Gyro Park. Behind the courthouse is this little cabin, 129 years ago a Canadian Customs House.
Waymark Code: WMJ1V4
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 09/09/2013
Views: 1
The Gilpin Cabin project was made possible by the Grand Forks Rotary Club. It was a long process that began in 1975. A new roof was installed at this time. In was not until 2008 that the Gilpin Cabin was relocated and work to restore the heritage building spanned 2008 to 2009. It was opened in July 2009.
Inscription on sign outside of the Gilpin Cabin:
In 1882, Ranulph Robert Gilpin and W.S. Jones established a ranch, 10 km east of present day Grand Forks, on the creek that now bears the Gilpin name. The east-west Dewdney Trail passed right through their ranch. During the 1800's, most passengers and freight destined for the Boundary country arrived from the south, crossing the Kettle River below the ranch. In 1884 Gilpin became the first Customs Officer in the Boundary area, and his home ranch saw double duty as the Customs House from 1884 to 1897.
Gilpin sold his ranch in 1904 and the property was in private hands until 1972, when the Provincial Land Commission using provincial "Greenbelt" as well as Federal Second Century funds purchased it. After the purchase by government the derelict buildings were considered a hazard and ordered destroyed. The Grand Forks Rotary club undertook to save and move one of the buildings to Gyro Park in Grand Forks in 1975. A new roof similar to the original roof was installed. Due to lack of funds the building did not receive any further restoration.
In 2008 the building needed to be moved to accommodate the renovation of Gyro Park. The Grand Forks Rotary club chose the reclamation of the cabin, as its major community service project for the 2008 - 2009 year.
Rotary's vision is that the Gilpin Cabin will be a display that represents the history of the Customs Service in the Boundary area.
This was a Rotary Club Community Project.
Group that erected the marker: Rotary Club of Grand Forks
Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary:
Central Avenue & 5th Street
Grand Forks, BC Canada
URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: Not listed
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