Christina Lake: An Illustrated History

Patricia Myers is a historian with the Historic Sites and Archives
Service, Alberta Community Development.

This book takes a rather meandering stroll through the early history of
the communities surrounding Christina Lake, B.C. The author, however,
has fallen into some of the traps just waiting to ensnare the recorder
of local history: he strays far too easily into lists of early settlers
or building owners; assumes the reader has knowledge of places and
events only a longtime local could possibly have; and focuses too much
on his own family. In addition, there is a wealth of drama that is not
fully developed (e.g., the prospecting and boom towns, the rush to turn
garages and sheds into “cabins” for vacationing city folk, American
holidayers looking for a drink while prohibition was parching their
country, communities destroyed by fire)—as they are, these stories
don’t do much more than remind those who already know of their past.

That said, there are aspects of the book to praise. The sketch of the
king of Cascade, the story of the Orient car, and the chapter on kokanee
fishing are all excellent. And the photographs are the book’s
strongest point—hotels, dance halls, early cars, boating on the lake,
sawmills, the lime quarry—all lovely photographs that have survived.
The history of the communities emerges vividly from these images.