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Historic Cumberland
- A Step Back in Time
The historic, quiet village of Cumberland is nestled
in the foothills of the Beaufort mountains, surrounded
by forest, bordered by the incredible wilderness of
the beautiful Comox Valley, the eternally snow-capped
mountains and the inspiring Comox Glacier within view.
Cumberland’s population is approaching 3,000.
If driving from Victoria the time
is about one and one-half hours to Nanaimo. From Nanaimo
there are two routes to Cumberland: If you take the
scenic coast shore route on Highway 19 the driving
time will be about one hour and twenty-five minutes.
Or you can further shorten the driving time to Cumberland
by taking the new Inland Island Highway from Nanaimo
to Courtenay, which is an hour’s drive. Cumberland
is ten minutes west from Courtenay.
After a day of skiing or golfing nearby,
or recreation activity of your choice, Cumberland
is the perfect retreat and has something for everyone..
Spend a day exploring the countless
unchartered walking trails - to an old mine or hike
to the lake for a picnic and swim. See the final resting
place of the Asians who worked in the coal mines,
at Chinese and Japanese Cemeteries located on Union
Road off Cumberland Road.
Take a walking tour of fascinating
heritage buildings in Cumberland that date back to
the 1800s; browse through some of the unique shops
downtown, and then enjoy lunch at one of the many
great village cafes. Don’t miss the antique shops
for a real step back in time - travel almost any street
to see heritage buildings and trees over a century
old.
The Cumberland Recreation Institute
offers a universal gym, sauna, whirlpool, squash courts,
indoor climbing wall and a wide variety of scheduled
programs for all ages.
Events in Cumberland:
Oct 31: Children’s Halloween Party
at the CRI, with prizes, hot dogs, juices [free].
Nov 30: Christmas Artisans and Crafts
Faire at the CRI.
December: Cumberland’s Christmas Lighting
Contest, Sponsored by the Cumberland Chamber of Commerce.
Contest for Business & Residential.
December: Cumberland Santa Claus Parade:
Santa Claus Parade starts at Village Park and ends
at the Cumberland Recreation Hall. Then you can have
lunch and visit with Santa. This event happens within
the first two weeks of December.
1st Saturday in December: Cumberland
Chamber of Commerce Arts & Crafts Faire
9 am - 4 pm CRI Hall, Cumberland.
Door prizes, Concession, Free admission.
Dec 14: Children’s Christmas Party
at the CRI.
Feb/Mar: Early Empire Days Cinch at
the CRI.
April 17: Children’s Easter Party
at the CRI.
May 1: Baked Bean Dinner, at the Cultural
Centre.
May 10: Empire Days Cinch, at the
CRI.
May 17-19: Annual Empire Days; May
Queen crowning, Soap Box Derby, dinner, dancing.
May 25: Cumberland-Port Alberni Cavalcade
at the CRI parking lot.
June 4: CUMBERLAND’S ANNUAL CAVALCADE
- The Valley Link Highway Project. This event is sponsored
by a committee made up of citizens from the Comox
Valley, Port Alberni and the Cowichan Valley.
The Cavalcade is to promote the concept
that was recognised by political leaders from all
over Vancouver Island to Link the Cowichan Valley,
Port Alberni and the Comox Valley with a Highway.
This event usually takes place at the end of May.
June 20-21: Miner’s Day Memorial Celebration.
July 26: Classic Cruisers Car Parade
- Cumberland/Courtenay.
July 27: Classic Cruisers Car Show
at Village Park.
August: Waverly Hotel’s Golf Tournament
at Sunnydale Golf Course Courtenay 336-8322
Aug 1-4: NADS Fastball Tourney at
Village Park.
Mid Aug: Community Benefit Slo-Pitch
Tournament at Village Park.
Aug/Sept: Heritage Lemon Tea, Cumberland.
Cumberland offers a variety of accommodations:
1. BED & BREAKFAST: 2593 Derwent
Ave., Cumberland, BC [year round].
2. THE CATS PYJAMAS - 336-8884 2695
Windermere Ave., Cumberland, BC. This is a large heritage
home with a cozy fireplace and a welcoming view of
the Beaufort Range. Your Hosts: Lucy & Andreas
Conradi.
3. THE WAVERLEY HOTEL - 336-8322 2692
Dunsmuir Ave., Cumberland, BC. Bright airy rooms or
one bedroom suites with phones and television. Located
on the B.C. Transit route for added convenience. Your
Hosts: Harvey & Shannon Brown.
4. CUMBERLAND LAKE PARK CAMPGROUND
is a 57-acre recreational park, located on the beautiful
glacier-fed Comox Lake only 3 km west of the Village
of Cumberland. Come and enjoy this family-oriented
campground in the heart of the Comox Valley. This
offers excellent summer beach, campsite and boat launch
facilities.
In 1853 J.W. Mackay found coal in
the Comox Valley and years later this was confirmed
by Commander Robert Brown, who described a ‘rich coal
field in the Comox Valley’, in 1864. He, along with
other prospectors, organised the ‘Union Company’,
from which the early settlement derived its’ name,
Union.
Many unsuccessful attempts were made
to mine the area, until finally, in 1883, Robert Dunsmuir
& Sons acquired all shares in the local coal operations.
Dunsmuir invested half a million dollars in developing
the mines and improving the wharf in Union Bay. Under
the direction of Dunsmuir's son, James, in 1892, a
new town site was developed east of Union.
The village was named after Cumberland
County in England and its streets, after places within
that county. Cumberland incorporated in 1898 with
coal mining succeeding for years, until the production
of oil in Leduc, Alberta in 1947, which marked the
beginning of the end for the Cumberland coal industry.
By 1966 the last mine, Tsable River Mine, closed and
Cumberland transformed into a quiet peaceful village.
For a tour of a model coalmine, stop
by the Cumberland Museum and Archives. Downstairs
is a replica of the old coal mine, which was constructed
a few years ago by retired miners...this gives visitors
a very good idea of the feel of a coal mine. As you
start down the stairs you will see a model dressed
as a Draegerman, a miner who went down to rescue during
cave-ins, explosions, or other disasters. Working
in groups of six, each carried 30 pounds of gear and
had to be prepared to stay below for up to three days,
searching for and assisting trapped or injured colleagues.
The word ‘Draegerman’ came from the
Draeger Company in Germany that made the safety equipment
carried by the ‘Draegermen’.
With your first view of the mine you
will see the coal cart, which can hold one ton of
coal. Five of these were pulled up to the lift by
one mule. From there, the coal was hoisted to the
surface for processing and shipment.
The museum displays many of the original
maps of the underground working of the coal mines.
Learn the story of labour leader organiser
Ginger Goodwin, watch the video presentation about
Cumberland’s Chinatown and take a look at the last
surviving building, Jumbo’s Cabin, situated on Lake
Road. It has been home to a county jail, the office
of the paymaster for the Union Colliery Co [1869-1883],
and was the home of Hor Sue Mah, Chinatown’s last
resident.
Don’t forget your camera as Cumberland’s
scenic beauty offers unparalleled photo opportunities
for the camera buff. About the author: The historic,
quiet village of Cumberland is nestled in the foothills
of the Beaufort mountains, surrounded by forest, bordered
by the incredible wilderness of the beautiful Comox
Valley
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