Fred Clayton THORNE   Birth: 22 Mar 1862  Hillier, Prince Edward Co., Ontario Death: 12 Jun 1948  Squamish, British Columbia 1      Burial: Brackendale Cemetary Father: Samuel [Sam] Thorn/THORNE (1834-1906) Mother: Chloe [Cleo] Ann CHAMBERLAIN   (1841-1935)     Spouse:  Cora 'Emma' TERRY Birth: 10 Jan 1861  Hillier, Prince Edward Co., Ontario Death: 5 Aug 1946  Squamish, British Columbia 2    Burial: Brackendale Cemetary Father: Harvey TERRY (1830-1895) Mother: Agnes SCHECAL (1832-1913)    Marriage:  23 Nov 1881  Picton, Prince Edward, Ontario      Children: Ella Winnifred (1883-1945) Edna Eugenie (1885-1975) Charles Bell (July 14,1887-Aug 29,1887) Fred Clifton [Cliff] (1890-1983) Harold Arthur (1894-1984) Doris Maud Terry (1897-1982) Charlie Ernest (1900-1909)  Died of Scarlet Fever                                                                     Family photo right:                                                          Back row: Fred, Doris, Cliff, Emma                                                         Front row: Edna, Charlie, Ella, Harold

ca 1888 Fred, Edna, Emma & Ella

Emma and Fred sitting on a vine maple love seat made by Fred.  He also made tables, chairs and rockers.  A number of them have been passed down to his great-grandchildren. Above is a scene from their home at SQUAMISH VALLEY HOP RANCH

Lower left: (Marked on back of photo)  "This was taken of boys in hop picking time.   Aug & Sept 1902"     A closer look (above) shows L-R  Cliff, workers, Harold and Fred

L-R back: Clifton and Harold; Middle: Emma and Fred; front: Edna, Doris and Ella

Photos (left) were described by Bircham Van Horne as  Emma & Fred's retirement home in Mamquam (between Squamish & Brackendale, BC).  "4 acres, 1 cow, 1 horse, a bunch of chickens and some bees ... for a short while.  Fred was allergic to bees."  Bircham laughed as he remembered, "The horse was curious about the bee hive and came close to look.  A bee flew up his nose and stung him.  The horse reared up and in a fury with head shaking galloped off into the barn."  Across the road (in the trees), Bircham explained, "was an Indian Reserve.  Emma and Fred's daughter Doris lived down the road."

EXCERPTS FROM LETTERS written by Fred (7 weeks before his death) 1948 April 23. Written (in pencil) from Brackendale to his daughter, Edna, and son-in-law, Ralph Van Horne, at 626 West 13th, Vancouver. " Dear Edna and Ralph.  I received you nice letter and glad to hear from you.  Margaret got home all right and not too tired. She has been fine so far, sleeps good and eats good. Do not send back the Indian Head paper as I do not want them.  I am glad you are getting your cleaning done.  Our weather is rain and cloudy most of the time but grass and trees are coming along fine.  Teddy is fine, goes to scool all the time.  Ella has not written to me for a long time. Guess she is like me, does not like to write. Would be pleasure to get your letter that she wrote to you.  You and Ralph should come up here some Saturday. You would both be pleased with work Harold has done on the Dude ranch.  He hopes to get it finished by the 24th of May.  Love to all  Dad"

A wonderful letter from Edna  (nee Thorne) to her husband Ralph Van Horne, regarding her father Fred Thorne August 14, 1946 nine days after her mother’s (Cora Emma – nee Terry) passing.      Brackendale, BC    August 14, 1946 Dear Ralph, I’ll try to get a letter written today of a sort.  Yesterday seemed to be calling day.  The Dr called in to see how Dad was.  Just a friendly call as he was passing & Dad told him he could have some blackberries so he came back later on with his daughter.  They are nice & friendly & Dad enjoyed them. Minnie came up with laundry too. I got the cards from Pauline & will settle for them when I see her.  Harold brought his paper down this morning so I saw the ad.   The August 6th last – made it sound a year ago as it is still only middle of Aug.  I wonder why they put it in that way.  I see some of the letters (I mean alphabet) in paper are upside down at times so I suppose the type setters are new at it.  The first letter I sent to Aunt Ella was just to say I was coming up as Mama was sick.  I told Pauline that but I guess she has a worse memory than mine.  I see Picton papers were to copy & newspapers send along fast so I hope Aunt Ella did not see it in paper before my second letter which she could not get before yesterday or today.  I don’t know when I am coming down - not till I finish the sorting Dad wants me to do. Going to Squamish Friday morning on some business he wants to get done.  I thought one day last week I was going to have trouble. He got rather unnerved & said he would have to go to the old men’s home.  I told him he could come with us - he said he could not live in City all the time.  Cliff had told him he could go to his cabin at Irwin’s if he took his bed. He said Cliff would not be there & they had no accommodation & it was too near town??  He had not heard from Doris (hasn’t yet) & had not seen Harold but Harold came in that day & proved he had been thinking it over as he told Dad he could go up there.  Dad said he wanted to be independent.  Harold said he would build him a little cabin of his own & H + Marg asked us up last Sunday to let Dad pick out his own spot for the house & so now Dad is so happy. He can be alone but not alone and best of all as Teddy said "When a big freight – of I think 26 cars -  went by …. Grandpa is laughing and so joyed because he can see the train & gets where he can see them cross the road by Minnies".  I really don’t know how Harold can spare the time, they have more company coming Sunday & they are letting the girl go -  she is not satisfactory, but he sure tries to do what he can & Dad thinks it’s wonderful.  Apparently it’s where he wanted to go as he says he can walk over to Brackendale store to get tobacco or the mail & close to where he gets his hair cut & he said (if all things) I like the bears and animals around.  I guess it’s the old hunter in him.  A big bear was on the track Sunday when we were up there. Well they have good water there any way & it’s only slime here now. It’s awful.   If a letter comes from Aunt Ella open it & phone me please & I wish as soon as you can you would get me a big photo album at the 15₵ store & post it to me.  I got one for Bircham with 2 dutch figures in gold & they had Pirates, etc.  Get a suitable one that would take an 8x10 and some slip-in corners for it as Dad wants to keep his photos even if some have to be taken from the frames. When you buy meat don’t use tokens as they will be good after the end of the month. Get your coupons cashed each time as they are due. You could mark one Sunday Paper & send it to Uncle Charlie Thorne Box 397, Indian Head Sask. Dad asked me to thank you for all you’ve done. While I think of it he said you could have the 2 graves.  I am going to pay out of Mama's as she wished perpetual care for Ella & Chas & stones, so I’ll let you know about that when I see you.  If Fred Jones says anything about Grandpa’s let them hold it till I see them. Will Bircham be back by 1st Sept or soon after.  I hope Bon, Pau and B did not forget to pay you for the sprays. I did not let Pauline’s trip cost her anything. But she would have to buy her dinner on boat. The night she went down Cliff & Harold paid for taxi to their places. She said she had a lovely time so I don’t feel badly about asking her to come.  You mention you might help up here.  I don’t know yet til the building starts.  The leaving part is done here now til Dad moves.  Cliff took the piano -  it was the heaviest job.  I was afraid the veranda would go down with them.  There is a hornet nest on front veranda & the other day a snake was up on the veranda so I keep my eyes open & step high. I had a letter from Dora Bastire & Lil Jones.  Hope to get cards out tonight - suppose I’ll have to compose the 6 for U.  Oh well! Glad to get others any way.  I expect I’m forgetting a lot - will get another letter off it I don’t go down soon.  I’m not hurrying so I don’t get too tired & have slept pretty well except first few nights I sat up till after 5 AM with Mama.  The night I came I wanted to - it was all night. Pauline offered to sit up too but I knew she was tired.  This is the last I’ll have to do as Doris has daughters.  Margaret Thorne has been wonderful.  Love Edna       please excuse awful scratch.

CLICK page above to view full hand written (in pencil) letter from Edna.