Camp McKinney, British Columbia
Encyclopedia
Camp McKinney is a ghost town
in the Boundary Country
region of British Columbia
, Canada
. Founded in 1896, it was situated on the south-eastern slopes of towering Baldy Mountain. Several mines in the area led to the creation of Camp McKinney. The premier mine was called Cariboo-Amelia, usually referred to as the Cariboo. By 1901 the population of McKinney was 250. Hotels such as St. Louis, Sailor, Camp McKinney, McBoyle & West's, Cariboo and Miner's exchange competed for the miners' trade. The stagecoach of Hall line from Fairview
and from the east came Meyerhoff's stage from Midway
. The business section of town consisted of 3 general stores, a drug store, a real estate office, butcher shop, a school and a church. By 1904 the gold mining declined in the area and Camp McKinney became a ghost town. Several attempts were made to revive the camp from 1907 which never succeeded. Today all that is left is a cemetery and a few abandoned workings.
, one of the major shareholders in the Cariboo mine, left Camp McKinney for Midway. McAulay had three gold bricks valued at more than $10,000. He was robbed half an hour later on his way to Midway. Cariboo Mining Company posted a $3,000 reward for information leading to recovery of the gold bars. The bars were never recovered. It is believed the bars were hidden or buried somewhere in the area, close by Camp McKinney still waiting to be discovered.
Ghost town
A ghost town is an abandoned town or city. A town often becomes a ghost town because the economic activity that supported it has failed, or due to natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, government actions, uncontrolled lawlessness, war, or nuclear disasters...
in the Boundary Country
Boundary Country
The Boundary Country is a historical designation for a district in southern British Columbia lying, as its name suggests, along the boundary between Canada and the United States. It lies to the east of the southern Okanagan Valley and to the west of the West Kootenay. It is often included in...
region of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Founded in 1896, it was situated on the south-eastern slopes of towering Baldy Mountain. Several mines in the area led to the creation of Camp McKinney. The premier mine was called Cariboo-Amelia, usually referred to as the Cariboo. By 1901 the population of McKinney was 250. Hotels such as St. Louis, Sailor, Camp McKinney, McBoyle & West's, Cariboo and Miner's exchange competed for the miners' trade. The stagecoach of Hall line from Fairview
Fairview, British Columbia
Fairview is a ghost town in British Columbia near the Town of Oliver. It is famous for the Fairview Hotel that burnt down in the 1900s.There are many things that can still be visited at Fairview such as the Fairview Cemetery on Fairview Road, the stampmill on Tinhorn Creek Road, and the many mines...
and from the east came Meyerhoff's stage from Midway
Midway, British Columbia
Midway is a village located in southern British Columbia in the West Kootenay region.It is located 13 km west of Greenwood and 51 km east of Osoyoos along Highway 3.-History:...
. The business section of town consisted of 3 general stores, a drug store, a real estate office, butcher shop, a school and a church. By 1904 the gold mining declined in the area and Camp McKinney became a ghost town. Several attempts were made to revive the camp from 1907 which never succeeded. Today all that is left is a cemetery and a few abandoned workings.
Lost gold bars
On August 18, 1896, George B. McAulay of Spokane, WashingtonSpokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
, one of the major shareholders in the Cariboo mine, left Camp McKinney for Midway. McAulay had three gold bricks valued at more than $10,000. He was robbed half an hour later on his way to Midway. Cariboo Mining Company posted a $3,000 reward for information leading to recovery of the gold bars. The bars were never recovered. It is believed the bars were hidden or buried somewhere in the area, close by Camp McKinney still waiting to be discovered.