Dreaming of Spring (Rewrite)

Whitepine History Lesson: Whitepine 1810-1858

Whitepine started as a settlement of Ruthenian and British settlers and expeditionists, occupying the area since 1810. The connection and collaboration of these two different groups of people happened on accident, with Ruthenian explorers coming down from Russian America (Present-day Alaska) on the sea along the coast, while British settlers from the West Point Grey settlement (Present-day Vancouver, British Columbia) led by James Henry White, traveled North and it is said, that within minutes of both parties landing at the site and despite the tension in the air, the two groups worked together and rose the flags of both countries, side by side. At the site of what is today known as "The Flags of Eternal Friendship and Cooperation Museum"

This is a rare example of two different peoples, whose governments were at war at the time, coming together. While the language barrier slowed progress, a gentleman's agreement was made, any signage was to have the language of both, Ruthenian and English. An agreement that exists still to this day. Whitepine was never seen as a permanent settlement by either party, it was treated more as a neutral port between the peoples. A place where either one was welcome to dock their ships and have a drink with the other.

As the years went by, the Anglo-Russian War ended, and the Fraser gold rush began in 1858, the docks of Whitepine became the busiest they had ever been. Men from the Russian Empire, Chinese Empire, Prussia, and the United States began arriving, either by the ports to stock up on supplies and continue their travel inland towards Fraser Canyon or on horse-drawn carriages from Vancouver or their long journey from across the praires.

One thing was certain, change was needed within the city.

Over the 40 year period between Whitepine's founding and the start of mass immigration and exploration to the area, small developments were made. The ports were no longer just an area along the coast to pull skiffs ashore but modern (for the time) ports that stretched out for sailing ships to dock; this project started in 1810, soon after discovery, and finished the following year in 1811. The next advancements didn't come until 1820 when inhabitants built the first permanent business, a trading post opened by James Henry White, selling whatever he could get his hands on to assist those in their travels, firearms, pelts, and alcohol being the most common. The building remained in the same location until 1941, when the British Columbia Historical Federation brought a proposal forward, to move the building into a new addition to the "The Flags of Eternal Friendship and Cooperation Museum" to preserve an iconic and unique part of Whitepine and British Columbian history, where it has been ever since, but since 1977, visitors are no longer allowed inside the shop due to the age and wear of the structure.