The History of Cherryville and Cherry Creek

Not many people know that Cherryville existed up four miles on Cherry Creek, located in a narrow draw in the valley. In 1863 Mr. W.C. Young then stationed in Osoyoos, was instructed by Governor Douglas to visit Okanagan Gold strikes. Two miles from the mouth of Cherry Creek, he found a building and as yet unnamed settlement, consisting of two houses and another being built. A mile further along the creek was a cabin and the discovery claim of partners, Pion and Louis. They reportedly earned $93.00 in four days with a rocker.

Between 1863 and 1895 the original town, of what we know as Cherryville, was merely a small mining camp, located deel within the canyon walls of Cherry Creek. It boasted a population of nearly 100 people, half of which were Chinese miners. Every possible method of extraction was tried to get the gold and silver from the area.

From 1863 to 1930 mining in this area had its ups and downs. Numerous companies operated in the area. It had been calculated that over $125,000.00 worth of gold was extracted from Cherry Creek. Those figures were calculated when gold was selling at $7.50 an ounce. By today's prices, the same amount of gold would bring in over $7,250,000.00. Most of the gold was less than 720 fine but nuggets of 1/2 or 1 ounce were quite common.

With more and more miners heading into Cherry Creek area, a road was built from Lumby in 1877. According to the BC Department of Public Works and under supervision of C.A. Vernon, the route came through Blue Springs Valley. It was about eight feet wide. With a road to the area, families began to arrive. Like all communities in the 1800's, they were known by the Post Office name. The first known post office in the area, was listed as the Cherry Creek Post Office. It ran from Nov. 1, 1895 to Nov. 1, 1899. It was followed by the Jackman Post Office, 1900-05. The Jackman Post Office changed to the Hilton Post Office on May 12, 1905. Hilton remained the name of the Cherryville for many years and is still used to this day, to identify an area of Cherryville. The community of Cherryville was christened when Olava Hanson became post master. She submitted three names into Ottawa, one being Cherry Creek, another Cherryville, and the third one, no one can recall. Ottawa chose Cherryville. It was always felt that Cherry Creek and Cherryville were named after the wild Choke Cherries that grew abundantly, along the banks of the creek; as there were no cherry trees in the area.

In the 1900's, the town site of Hilton, at Richlands Estates, was located on what is now the corner of Creighton Valley Rd. and Holmes Rd. It was originally sold to wealthy Englishmen, as an area with a mild climate suitable for orchards. The settlement quickly grew with moneys coming from England. It had a post office, hotel, livery stable barber shop, grocery store, hardware store, butcher shop and a blacksmith shop. While the area was beautiful it was not the same as the South Okanagan and quick fortunes failed to materialize. The community dwindled, when the first world war began and the money stopped coming from England. Some of the people remained in the area, finding other ways of making a living. The original Richlands Schoolhouse, now used by the Seventh Day Adventist Church is the only building left at the Hilton site. There are still two of the old homes remaining; one at the Burnyeat Ranch, and the other at Neil place. Neither are habitable.

The Hilton School, was built in 1907 and kept its name until 1948, when the new school was built beside it and renamed Cherryville School.

The area grew. Ranches sprang up. A mill was built in 1948, on Sugar Lake Road (Ferguson Mill). Logging remains a major industry in the community. As of 1998, Cherryville remains unincorporated and has a population of 1,000 people. It has two general stores, both carrying gas and propane. It also has a Golf Course (River Ridge), three restaurants, a library, a quilt shop, a campground, and two churches. It also boasts of some of the most beautiful scenery in BC.