Granite Creek (British Columbia)

Granite Creek is a creek in British Columbia. It is located in a region of British Columbia called the Similkameen. Granite Creek flows north into the Tulameen River and joins that river approximately one and a half miles to the east of Coalmont, British Columbia.[1] It is assumed Granite Creek yielded more than $500,000 in placer gold since its discovery. Gold Nuggets worth $50 value were not unusual in the early years. The creek was mined by Europeans and Chinese. Granite Creek was hydraulicked near it's mouth in the 1890s. [2]

Most historical accounts claim the creek was discovered in 1885 by a rustler by the name of Johnny Chance. Johnny Chance stumbled upon placer gold in Granite Creek. Another historical account indicates Granite Creek was discovered in the fall of 1884 by Briggs, Bromley and a third partner.[3] A stampede of miners headed towards Granite Creek, they created a mining camp called Granite. Granite was named after the creek. The camp grew and soon it was known as Granite City, British Columbia. The mining boom lasted only about a decade as yield from the creeks dwindled. By 1915 Granite City ceased to exist.[4]

References

  1. ^ "Granite Creek". BC Geographical Names. http://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/11659.html. 
  2. ^ N.L. Barlee
 (1973), Gold Creeks and Ghost Towns. Canada West Publications. 
  3. ^ N.L. Barlee
 (1973), Gold Creeks and Ghost Towns. Canada West Publications. 
  4. ^ N.L. Barlee
 (1976), Historic treasures and Lost Mines of British Columbia. Canada West Publications.