Last Page Activity:  November 27, 2011           
Charles "Harold" Arthur THORNE

 

Birth:   10 Jul 1894     Place: Vancouver, British Columbia

Death:   9 Mar 1984    Place: Vancouver, British Columbia1

Father: Fred Clayton THORNE (1862-1948)

Mother: Cora "Emma" TERRY (1861-1946)

 

 

Spouse:   Margret Elizabeth JONES

Birth:    22 Apr 1893    Place: Carleton County, Ontario2

Death:    8 Jul 1978    Place: Squamish, British Columbia2

Father: Daniel JONES (1854-)

Mother: Sarah A. LARKIN (1870-)

 

Marriage: 10 Feb 1915    Place: Vancouver, British Columbia?3

Status:  Separated later in life.  (Divorce?)

 

Children:

Harold Arthur "Art" (1915-1987)

Dorothy Olive (~1920-)

Clayton (1926-)
 
RIGHT: 
Thorne Family in  1895 - L-R: Ella 11,  Harold 1,  Fred 32,  Edna 9,  Cliff 4,  Emma 33


 
 
 
 
 
LEFT: 
Charles Arthur Harold Thorne 1900 - six years old

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
RIGHT: 
Harold and Margret ca 1915

 
 
 
 
 
 		  
 
 
 

NOTES & QUOTES for CHARLES "HAROLD" ARTHUR THORNE 

 

  • Thorne Family (near right) 1900:  Edna, Ella, Charlie, Harold (sitting front), Doris, Emma, Cliff (sitting front) Fred

 

  • Thorne Family (far right) 1905:  Edna, Fred, Charlie (on Edna's lap), Doris (in back by Fred),  Ella, Cliff, Harold (sitting front), Emma.

 

  • To Be a Pioneer  -  brother Cliff Thorne Profiled in THE GAZETTE, Grand Forks, BC   Wednesday, February 2, 1983

 

 

 

  • Harold worked with his father, Fred, on the hop ranch. 

 

  • Another job he had was delivering groceries by horse and buggy for JR Blake & Company.
  • September 10, 1911, Harold writes his mother a post card (pictured right)  "Edwards Lake, B.C.  Dear Mother.  Just a line to let you know that everything is going all right.  What is that matter anyway.  I have not heard from you for a long time." 

 

 Front of Post Card " Ashcroft & Thomson River, BC
  • Around 1911 Harold and his bother Cliff were working with pack horses.  

 

  • Harold took supplies through Cheakamus Canyon for the building of the PGE Railroad.   Picture below centre is at 15 Mile going towards Garabaldi Station. After completion the postcard (below far right) was issued and unwritten.   
1913 Brackendale - Cliff and Harold with a sting of pack horses.
  • Harold met Margaret in Squamish.  

 

  • "Not long after getting married, Harold worked in maintenance  for the PGE (Pacific Great Eastern) Railway.  He then moved to the position of Sleeping Car Conductor for many years after which he transferred to the Stores Department of the PGE.  At this time they were living in Brackendale.  They had two ranches,.  One was 99 acres and the other 18 acres.  They lived on the 18 acres, then moved to the 99 acres; after selling the 99 acres for $2,800 (as relayed by their son, Clayton) they moved to the 18 acres which became the Circle T ranch.  Wanted to give ranch to son Clayton, but he said, "No", because he "didn't want to stare into the rumps of horses any longer."  - from interview with Clayton Thorne 2005
  • October 25, 1925 he writes his sister Edna (Mrs. R. T. VanHorne) a postcard:  " Brackendale, B.C.   October 25/25   Dear sister & all.   Just a line to thank you for the flowers you sent me a long time ago.  Have them all yet and are doing fine.  Well everything is going along fine have seen one snow storm so far and lots of frost.  Some of the lakes are frozen over.  Love Harold"
Above is front picture of postcard (left) to his sister, Edna, October 25, 1925.
 
Harold Arthur Thorne with son Harold Arthur "Art" Thorne
Harold Arthur Thorne with son, Clayton
 EXCERPTS FROM LETTERS written by Harold to his sister Edna and brother-in-law Ralph Van Horne:

1948 Apr 13 from Brackendale, BC (type-written except for signature): "I know you will be thinking I am a dandy for not writing before this, but you know how it is with me, just the same old line  But I have been real busy trying to get things done.  You know it wont be long before the 24th of May and we must be in shape by then.  The material I ordered when I was down did not come until yesterday, but I changed my plans again and have the Fireplace built and stained and varnished also the br.  I am almost through with the main hall, then for the kitch although I have the most of it done.  Have not touched the grounds or garden yet but will get at it before long I hope.  Everything is looking green here now, so we may  be going to have some real weather afteral.  Margaret is talking of trying to come home this coming sunday if the Dr. will let here.  If so I will try and come down saturday to come back with her, I also want to thank you all for what you have done for us both and for calling on margaret while she has been down.  Everybody is O.K. here and hope you all are the same.  As ever. Harold."

1973 Apr 16 from Box 21, Hedley, BC:   " Yes you sent me the book on the chickens so you don't have to look for it.  We had a lot of company the  last month Dody & two others were here and went back today.  They are coming back for Easter.  Never a dull moment.  Have some garden in & and a lot of flowers to plant .... I am trying to make this a show place, get lots of nice remarks from the people that pass. Have not had time to do much with the Railroad ... I have build tall the tunnels, bridges & mountains it is a real layout no kids plaything.  I don't let anybody run it I have it behind a wire fence so no one is allowed in.  it is about 15 feet long by 6 feet wide on the front veranda.  Hope all of you down there are O.K.  Bobby has the flue has been in bed for a week now. Love Harold. "

Date unknown simply marked "Box 21, Hedley, BC Monday" :  ... There is always people here we had five here for several days then two went but two came just as they left.  Dody was here with four others they all bring sleeping bags & bunk on the floor.  We had 16 in one week.  I don't know if I told you that I have built a green house.  I want to grow tomatoes & cucumbers all winter & have nice flowers for Xmas.  The people here think it a great idea.  We have flowers all around the house & lawn.  We are using all vegetables in the garden & have some in the deep freeze.  Soon will have ripe tomatoes so you see I don't have much time to write.   Have a lot of Tourists in here & they stop and chat there is more time lost but it is nice to have people notice the place.  We are having a warm spell here it goes up to as high as 97 in the shade.  We don't mind it though we have nice shade trees and the nites cool off some so that helps.  I had a real nice german shep. given me and she is a real watch dog & she sure Looks after me she is right at my side Nearly all the time & sleeps on the mat by My bed.  She stops people right at the gate until I Come.  She is O.K. for here as the young people here get real rough at times, the police patrol here but they seem to know when the police are around.  Hope you all are well as we are O.K.  Late, Best Wishes from both of us.  Love Harold  Hi Bircham & Mary."		  
    
 Charles "Harold" Arthur THORNE Photo Gallery
 
 Part of Circle T Ranch.    Front of unwritten postcard. Unknown if any family member in photo  Harold with son Clayton at Circle T.
 
 Bircham VanHorne, Clayton, Harold and Helen at Circle T Ranch. Harold in Richmond, BC with one of his miniature horses.    Harold Arthur with son, Art, and Sherrie (Bryan) Thorne
Sources

1. Birth Registration Archives, B13811, GSU 2134881.

2. Death Registration Archives, B13586, GSU 2051145.

3. Marriage Registration Archives, B11379, 1983707.

4. 2005 Interview with Clayton Thorne 
 
 Harold at Circle T Ranch.