SHEAVES
OF GRAIN displayed here are from Doukhobor Community
fields of 1924. The oats is from the field, shown in
this 1924 photograph, near Peter Lordly Verigin's residence
in Grand Forks, B.C. Mr. Verigin (right front) posed
with his friends in the luxuriant field during a meeting
at the Community Hall, shown on the right. |
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The
Brilliant Bridge was built and opened in 1913, an astonishing
achievement, and after foreclosure in 1938, was used into
the sixties. A sign an the entrance said: `Strictly Prohibited
Smoking and Trespassing with Fire Arms over the Bridge'.
Flax,
oats, wheat, millet and other grains were grown throughout
the properties and flour mills were established in Fructova,
Ooteshenie, Champion Creek and the Slocan Valley. Flour was
produced from grain brought in as well as some grown in Ooteshenie
and other areas.
A
flourishing symbiotic trade developed between the BC powerhouse
and its satellite communes in Saskatchewan, and soon Alberta,
and required goods and produce were exchanged between the
communes. The community owned 450 cattle and 540 horses, many
of which were raised in Alberta.
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The
Doukhobors purchased the failing Kootenay Jam Company, located
an Front Street in Nelson in 1914. This proved to be a successful
venture, and in 1915 they built their own jam factory in Brilliant,
the famous KC Preserving Works. Brilliant became
a major or center, and also had a packing shed, grain elevator,
community store, gas pumps, head office, library, dormitory
and dining hall, Peter Verigin's residence, the CPR railway
station and living quarters as well as the Brilliant Post
Office.
The
Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood was
incorporated in 1917 which $1,000,000 capital and property
assessed at $1,985,748. Peter V. Verigin was Chairman, and
14 shareholders held all remaining shares in trust (a signed
document) for the members of the community. When a new purchase
was made, Verigin signed as buyer and then transferred title
to the CCUB.
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Still
expanding during the depression, the community took loans
out totaling $350,000. They were unable to pay the resultant
interest charges, and Sun Life and National Trust seized the
opportunity to foreclose on the entire commune. At that time
the community owned 21,648 acres in BC and nearly 50,000 acres
in Alberta and Saskatchewan, with roughly 90 villages in BC.
The
community appealed to the Farmers' Creditors Arrangement Act
for assistance, but was refused. The BC government negotiated
the debt and paid $296,000 thus taking over the entire operation
(totaling over 70,000 acres, valued at about $10,000,000 in
land and stock)*.
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Industries
were immediately liquidated to repay the $296,000. Schools,
roads and bridges reverted to the province without compensation.
Doukhobors wanting to remain in the villages, now had to
rent their homes.
In
1961 the loans were surveyed into lots and offered for sale,
first to Doukhobors, then to the general public.
What
had been the largest communal enterprise in North America
came to an end.
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The
Brilliant Suspension Bridge, shown here in 1915, two
years after completion. The bridge was built by 40 men
from the community over seven months at a cost of $60,000. |
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A
postcard depicted here of the Brilliant Jam Factory
(KC Preserving Works), circa early 1920s.
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*
By some, the $10,000,000 value of assets seized is considered
to be a low estimate in view of the fact that it was valued
at this rate during the depression. Some have estimated the
value to be closer to $14 million at the actual time of foreclosure,
as the post-depression era re-established more viable values. |
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