This land has been occupied by the Syilx people for thousands of years. However, Fairview began to develop as a significant community in 1887 when the first mineral claims were staked.
The Fairview Townsite is located near the mouth of Reed Creek, on Fairview Rd., approximately 4 kilometers west of Oliver. This community had two boom and bust cycles. Unfortunately, the quartz ore in many of the mines was not as rich as anticipated and the stamp mills constructed to facilitate separating the gold from the quartz, were expensive to operate. The slowdown in mining activity and the development of Town of Oliver, led to the demise of Fairview as a community, although some mining in the area did continue into the 1960’s.
The most significant mine was the Stemwinder. It was staked in 1897 and ceased operations in 1908. The impressive Hotel Fairview constructed in 1897-1898 was destroyed by fire with the loss of three lives in 1902. The Oct. 15, 1908 Hedley Gazette reported that the Canada’s Governor General, Earl Grey travelled from Penticton to Oroville on Friday Oct. 9. He visited Fairview where he had a nice lunch at the Golden Gate Hotel, with owner Charlie Jones as the host. He visited the Government office and the school before leaving for Oroville where he was catching a special train. He said that the beautiful valley from above Fairview to the Boundary only awaited the necessary irrigation development and it would then be a vast fruit orchard.
The Fairview Kiosk is located on the site of the Fairview Presbyterian Church built in 1899. It was situated near the Church of England that was built in 1898. The Presbyterian Church structure was relocated to Okanagan Falls in 1929, where it continues to serve as the United Church in that community. This church received the nick-name, the “Blasted Church” because the volunteers who moved the structure, took out the windows and detonated some dynamite which they had hung some from the ceiling, in order to loosen the nails and spikes before dismantling the structure. Many structures from Fairview suffered a similar fate in that they were recycled for other purposes in the 1920’s.
The Fairview Kiosk site was acquired by the Okanagan Historical Society from the United Church of Canada in 1970. The current Kiosk was constructed in 1997, to inform local residents and visitors about the significant activity associated with the old mining community of Fairview. Murals created by Penticton artist Glenn Clarke, are displayed in this Kiosk. They document this part of our local history in a colourful manner. This site is a popular destination for local residents and visitors to our area. The attractive site has very nice views, in addition to its historical significance. However, the kiosk and the murals did require some maintenance. The murals were taken down and restored by the artist in 2021. New polycarbonate protective covers were installed when the murals were put back in place. The Okanagan Archives Trust Society made a donation to the Okanagan Historical Society to help cover the cost of that project.
Maintenance to the actual Kiosk in 2023 involved replacing the old pine shake roof with a metal roof, new soffits and sanding and re-sealing the exposed wood components of the structure. Mark Weinrich of 4Gen Construction did a great job for us. With support from Rick Knodel representing the R.D.O.S., the Oliver Kiwanis Club, the Oliver Rotary Club and private donations, the Okanagan Historical Society has been able to complete this very worthwhile project. We expect the Kiosk to continue to be a local attraction for many more years.
Submitted by Larry Shannon
Oliver Osoyoos Branch Okanagan Historical Society
Note from Oliver and District Heritage Society
Darren Halsted
Tenure to the 80 acre parcel is held by the RDOS via a License of Occupation from the Province of British Columbia, and it is the Oliver and District Heritage Society rather than the Fairview Heritage Townsite Society, which via an agreement with the regional district has recently assumed responsibility for the site and the trail upon it. The Okanagan Historical Society continues to ably support the kiosk and informative interpretive panels on the land adjacent to the 80 acre parcel.
Jessica Murphy says
Thank you, Larry, for your continued interest in and work for this area’s history. But, as always, I wonder why there is never any mention of Judge Brown’s house, the only complete structure remaining, in situ, in Fairview. I know the house is hidden amongst its trees, mostly unseen by people using Fairview Road, and it is not open to the public. But it does exist. Has done since 1897. Does it deserve some recognition? Maybe some signage?
Gail Erickson says
Thank you Larry for a more detailed account of Fairview history and the maintenance of the kiosk.