Betty & Bob Sahlstrom
June 16, 2007
On the occasion of the Grandview Heights opening!
We are Bob and Betty Sahlstrom of the Sahlstrom Family – original owners of this flat country that so many people now have discovered. They have discovered the secret of its quiet excellence as a place to live, especially the folks of Emerald Green.
Dad – “Charlie Sahlstrom” – came into this area in 1917-1918, after cutting Railroad ties for the building of the CN Trans Canada Railway, then called the Grand Trunk Pacific. He discovered the great market for Phone, Telegraph, and Hydro poles. Blueberry Creek was full of excellent cedar, so he started building access roads into Blueberry Creek and taking Homesteads in this area. At one time he owned all this flat area after Joe Deschane finished logging it around 1912-1915.
37th St was originally called Sahlstrom Road and went up the valley into Blueberry Creek.
Dad found a spring of good water on the property, and also found a beautiful wife, Gwen, from the large Killough Family in Castlegar. They built up here in 1920 and Betty and I built over where the new road will come right across our front lawn. Dad named the mountains around us:
- Blueberry Hill – above you for Blueberry Creek and Huckleberry
- Mount Horeb – from the Bible where Moses struck the rock and water gushed forth above our houses.
- Gunsight – because it had a V-notch on top, like the rear site of a rifle (which was so needed to help feed our family)
- Castle Rock – like a big castle above Emerald Green
So now we wish this new Senior’s development well, and the enjoyment of this Sahlstrom Mountain area, with our prayers that the peace and blessings of God will be upon us and we live as good neighbours in health and tranquility. Drop by for a cup of coffee when you can.
Betty and Bob Sahlstrom.