Although the Landing was in an ideal location, a First Nations Reserve, after 1867, surrounded it, preventing further growth and the adjacent land was subject to flooding. It was inevitable that a new commercial core would be found. The excuse came in the form of a church and a road. By 1873, work had started on Yale Road, connecting the coast to the interior. Where the Landing Road intersected Yale Road proved to be an ideal site for the church. Based on a promise from Bishop Hills, the Anglican Primate of British Columbia, a simple frame structure, from the town of Port Douglas on Harrison Lake, was relocated to the valley. This became St. Thomas' Church. Soon after, a blacksmith shop, public school, several houses, a flourmill, a general store and McKeever's Hotel clustered around the church. This section of Chilliwack remains the commercial heart of the community.
In 1887, a decision was made to move the post office from the Landing to the growing center at Five Corners. Before 1887, this nascent town site was known as Centreville. However, the name Chilliwack was adopted by the post office in that year.
In June1894, the community was inundated with water. The flood affected the entire area, flooding downtown streets, and agricultural land, causing severe economic hardship for the community. The flood was the catalyst that led to the formation of the Chilliwack Dyking Commission and the construction of a series of dykes stretching from Rosedale to Sumas Mountain. By 1903, the main dyking system along the Fraser River was completed although work on the dykes continues to the present day.
The first decade of the twentieth century saw tremendous growth in the community. This was a period of large scale, community driven construction projects. The new Post Office (1911), first hospital (1912), City Hall (1912), Chilliwack High School (1912), and Princess Avenue Drill Hall (1913) were constructed during this time. These buildings were built at a time when the City of Chilliwack population hovered between 1500 and 2000 people.
In 1910, the BC Electric Railway was completed linking Chilliwack with Vancouver. The steam boat era ended when the first train rolled into Chilliwack. The railway further spurred the development boom. Housing developments adjacent to the downtown core were initiated during this period.
The middle part of the century was characterized by slow steady growth with the downtown area continuing to be the center for the community.
1948 saw the second major flood of the century. The original dykes had not been maintained and when flood conditions again prevailed the community was galvanized into action. Civilian crews along with troops from the Army Base at Vedder Crossing worked feverishly reinforcing the aging dykes. They met with success in all areas except Greendale. The dyke broke causing wide-spread flooding and great economic hardship to the community. The aftermath of the flood was further extensive work on the dykes, a task that continues.
Today, numerous heritage sites and buildings remain as witnesses to this history. Five Corners is a heritage district, representing the birth of Chilliwack from Landing to settlement.
View of muddy street in front of the A.C. Henderson general store at Five Corners, with businesses on Yale Road E. in background. P525.
View of Yale Road E. looking towards St. Thomas Anglican Church at Five Corners, 1903. P524.
View of Chilliwack business district along Wellington Ave. 1912. P576.
Chilliwack business district - modern, 2000
