Looking for photos of Extension Village.

[Bunky]

I meant when I was in grade 10. LOL

[dpill]

We moved to Cinnabar Valley in 72, my Dad bought a few lots from Joe Garner, there wasn't even pavement on the roads then. The cattle ran freely all over the valley. We could ride our horses over the ridge into South Wellington, there was a natural spring on the top that the horses drank from. There was a gate at the far end of Torko's farm that lead through a small gulley, to the left there was a cave that went in about 20 ft or so, there were some old dishes and milk bottles and crates, there was a wagon down below. Wayno told us that a chinese man lived down there when he was a boy, he worked in Extension Mines. Might still be there. It backs onto White Rapids, been yrs since I've been there, kinda had an eery feeling to it.

Sounds like this cave!

GR74 and i explored this. Its closer to extension village then nanaimo lakes road. I know this picture does nothing but theres quite a few on the coal mining thread approx page 17 give or take as new pictures are coming daily!

[Flugel Horn]

I still remember the day when Joe Garner built the road from South Wellington (top of Plecas Rd) up to his ridge. That would have been late 1970's. that was one steep road, but it was paved and must have been tricky in the winter. The road went right though what used to be one of the Plecas' family's garage.

Up at the top of the ridge, Joe had the funny sign that said "wild bull at large: extreme danger to all strangers". Big lie, and maybe he just didn't like visitors.

I did the "walk from South Wellington to Cinnabar" a couple of times. I like the bluff overlooking Cinnabar.

[Bunky]

Wrong area Dpill. I know the "cave", you are refering to but it's not the same one. But man I am enjoying that coal mining thread and the pics you guys are posting!! Too kewl!

Sounds like this cave!

GR74 and i explored this. Its closer to extension village then nanaimo lakes road. I know this picture does nothing but theres quite a few on the coal mining thread approx page 17 give or take as new pictures are coming daily!

[poni]

I remember the Bull at Large sign..and No he did not like visitors up there. He used to show up at our house often and have dinner there, he had some good stories.

I still remember the day when Joe Garner built the road from South Wellington (top of Plecas Rd) up to his ridge. That would have been late 1970's. that was one steep road, but it was paved and must have been tricky in the winter. The road went right though what used to be one of the Plecas' family's garage.

Up at the top of the ridge, Joe had the funny sign that said "wild bull at large: extreme danger to all strangers". Big lie, and maybe he just didn't like visitors.

I did the "walk from South Wellington to Cinnabar" a couple of times. I like the bluff overlooking Cinnabar.

[poni]

Well hopefully this works, the picture was to small so I blew it up a bit. This was taken on Torkko's property problay around 74, he had all kinds of old cars around. We boarded our horses down there. Arrggg it came up as an attachment, I can't figure this thing out...lol

I still remember the day when Joe Garner built the road from South Wellington (top of Plecas Rd) up to his ridge. That would have been late 1970's. that was one steep road, but it was paved and must have been tricky in the winter. The road went right though what used to be one of the Plecas' family's garage.

Up at the top of the ridge, Joe had the funny sign that said "wild bull at large: extreme danger to all strangers". Big lie, and maybe he just didn't like visitors.

I did the "walk from South Wellington to Cinnabar" a couple of times. I like the bluff overlooking Cinnabar.

[Bunky]

Great old pic, That brings back a few memories. Is that you in the picture? Keep on posting more photos if you can. Best regards, David.

Well hopefully this works, the picture was to small so I blew it up a bit. This was taken on Torkko's property problay around 74, he had all kinds of old cars around. We boarded our horses down there. Arrggg it came up as an attachment, I can't figure this thing out...lol

[poni]

Yes, it's me. My sister took the picture. We used to explore that farm alot. Loved it there.

Great old pic, That brings back a few memories. Is that you in the picture? Keep on posting more photos if you can. Best regards, David.

[Bramleybrown]

Hello,

I am very interesting in corresponding with any former residents of Extension. My great great grandparents, Jonathan and Elizabeth Bramley had a large homestead there at one time, and owned much of the land there. I am also related to the Bowaters....Jean Bowater was my great aunt.
I am also related to the Browns from Nanaimo, through Thomas Brown who married Sarah Ellen Bramley.

I have been to Extension recently, visiting a couple of the old residents and would very much like to hear from anyone that can give me any information at all about the place, which has always held a bit of magic for me....

Visits to Bowaters, eating yellow cherries, playing on the slag piles....it really was a magical place in the 60's and 70's....

I hope to hear from anyone that may have information, documents, photos of any of my ancestors. It's become quite a passion for me.

For instance, someone on this forum in 2006 mentioned a grandparent then 81, still living there. Curious if that is still true?

Thanks in advance for your posts.

~ Kate

Going to South Wellington wasn't that bad, but what was unsettling was the fact that the school district couldn't decide what to do with my class...grade four was South Wellington, then five and six was Chase River, and grade seven was split between the two schools...I was never sure where that bus was going to drop me off! : )

The lake you refer to as 2nd Lake (as do all the locals, myself included) is actually named, suprisingly Harewood Lake...the small one nearby where the sawmill was located (big sawdust piles) is called 1st by the locals, but it's official name is Overton Lake.....Starks Lake is located towards White Rapids Road, across the fields near Brough's old place if that helps.

As for the Chinatown location, you're right on....most of the original areas were covered when they expanded the softball field and built a tennis court about 20 years ago....

The garage across from the store was built by the folks who operated the store...do you remember when that was the location for the Bookmobile stop? it's gone now...the pithead I referred to earlier is just to the north of the garage, you may remember the creek that used to run into the pithead due to it's "fragrence" the water from the creek is very high in sulphur content, apparently the result of a draining flooded coalshaft.

Our home was located at the junction of Virostko Rd and Midora Rd....although I think Midora rd is a recent change, so you may not remember it as such....a bit-o-trivia, Midora comes from the road's oldest residents at that time, MI-ke Wargo and DORA Hamilton....The farm at the end of Virostko Rd in the big clearing by the coal pile was owned by not so suprisingly the Virostko brothers...today I think the owner's name is something like Barraclough....although logging in the area has really changed the landscape.

I've got a digital camera (well quite a few of em' actually..I have a verrry understanding wife : )) So I'll make a plan to get up that way again soon and grab some pics for you...stuff like the school, the community hall, ol' store, and the pithead , etc.

Cheers,
Al[/QUOTE]

[Bramleybrown]

Hello Al,

Are you a Bowater? My great Auntie Jean Bowater lived at Extension when I was a girl. I visited her and Uncle Kitch, often, and then her when he had passed away. I am related to Bowaters, Browns and Bramleys. Very interested in hearing some of the old stories.
~ Kate