The History of Lumby - Economic Structure and Justice

Hugh Charles Catt ( Pete ) was appointed Justice of the Peace on February 11, 1917 and magistrate on December 31, 1929. On May 18, he was appointed judge for the juvenile court for the North Okanagan and had extended jurisdiction allowing him to try criminal cases. If it was at all possible, he ordered probation rather than jail sentences for convicted youth.

During the early days, Pete held court at his farm. Once when the guilty party was in a hurry, the man was brought to him while he was mowing hay. Magistrate Catt held court without leaving the seat of his mower.

Charles David Bloom was secretary-treasurer of the school board for 17 years, before the school districts were consolidated in 1944.

Before consolidation, the taxpayers of Lumby were responsible for teachers' salaries, building and maintaining the schools and all things pertaining to education.

It was during this long term in office that he gave the land for the secondary school. Charlie was also responsible for the first Home Economic classes in Lumby. He rally pushed for this 'frill' as the taxpayers of those days called it. It was his dedication to local education that caused the people of Lumby to call the new high school "Charles Bloom".

Charles also started a garage in 1921 first known as Bloom and Andre. Mr. Sigalet bought out Andre in 1923 and the garage is still known today as Bloom and Sigalet.

William J. Shields came from Ontario to manage the store in Lumby owned by W. R. Megaw, pioneer businessman of Vernon. This store, still in use as the Family Cafe, was built by Louis Morand in 1898. It was situated several hundred feet west of where it is now on Vernon Street. They carried groceries, furniture, hardware and general merchandise.

In 1910 Will bought the business from Megaw and founded Shields and Company with J. T. Bardolph and Cleophas Quesnel. The deal included the entire block from Shuswap Avenue to Norris Avenue. Almost immediately Will donated the land to the village for purpose of building a new school (the old Primary).

In 1912 he built a new store next to the Megaw building, on the corner of Shuswap and Vernon, roughly the same design as the McLeod's Store, but a two story frame building. It was in this store that the great fire of 1932 started.

One of the longest serving Mayors in B. C. history is Nevill Ross Langham Patrick Duke "Pat" after the second World War started his active community involvement. And became Lumby's first Mayor in 1956. With the exception of the years 1961-1964 he held that position until 1985. While serving as Mayor he was instrumental in the development of the water and sewage systems, the swimming pool, lighting, improving the roads in and around town, the community park, community hall improvements, Saddle Mountain Sr, Citizens Complex, Community Health Centre, and the curling rink.