The Beginnings
In 1863, Charles Frederick Houghton claimed a military land grant in the Okanagan that became the nucleus of the Coldstream Ranch. When he arrived in Esquimalt in 1863, he learned that Gov. James Douglas had reduced the size of military grants in British Columbia to a mere 300 acres. Nevertheless when told that there was good land at the northern end of Okanagan Lake, he traveled there and wintered with the first Nations at the head of the lake. In the spring of 1864, Houghton claimed land along the banks of a stream he called Coldstream Creek because of the numerous cold water springs that flowed into it. Fortunately for Houghton, Douglas had been replaced by Frederick Seymour as governor of British Columbia. Seymour ordered restoration of military grants to their original size for anyone who had applied before Douglas changed the rules. Houghton’s claim to lot 25 Osoyoos Division of Yale District qualified so an additional 1150 acres of land was restored to his claim which became the beginnings of the Coldstream Ranch.
Houghton, however, was more interested in exploring than farming so a few years later he traded his land to the Vernon brothers for land in Okanagan Landing. He made small improvements to that parcel then sold the land 14 years later to Cornelius O’keefe.
As soon as the Vernon Brothers took over the Coldstream property they began improvements. First they received a water lease on Coldstream Creek for irrigation, then they built a grist mill, corrals, and farm buildings. They expanded the size of the original ranch by preempting another 640 acres (lots 79 and 80) and purchasing 300 acres in White Valley, a piece of the land East of Lavington (the Dure Meadows), and more land east of the town of Lumby (the upper Meadows). in 1883, when Charles Vernon sold his share of the ranch to his brother, Forbes Vernon became the sole owner of 13,261 acres.
Enter the Aberdeens
Lord and Lady Aberdeen first came to Canada in the summer of 1890 for a three month holiday. They became very interested in purchasing some land in British Columbia for the purpose of a summer getaway and to set up her brother with a Canadian estate. While attending the first Okanagan and Spallumcheen Agricultural society’s exhibition in Vernon, Lord Aberdeen became intrigued by talk of fruit farms being developed to supply a growing market for fruit in the north west. In October of 1891, the Aberdeen’s purchased the Forbes Vernon Ranch of 13,261 acres, 2000 cattle, 19 work horses, 43 range horses, 70 hogs, 70 sheep, 50 head of poultry and everything movable for 10,000 pounds down and another 40,000 pounds to be paid over two years at 6% interest.
The Aberdeens renamed their estate Coldstream Ranch and left Coutts Marjoribanks to manage the ranch for them. The local newspaper hailed the sale to the Aberdeen’s as “the best advertisement the Okanagan country has ever had.”
Fruit and Vegetable Farming
Although the Aberdeens returned to Ireland they left instructions with George McKay, Coutts Marjoribanks, and his co-manager, Eustace Smith, to plant apple, pear and cherry trees, as well as hops, which could provide a cash crop until the fruit trees started producing. The 25,000 fruit trees planted on 100 acres of the Ranch in 1892 marked the beginning of commercial fruit growing in the Vernon area.
The Aberdeens also saw their purchase of the ranch as a fine opportunity to subdivide some sections into small plots selling them as fruit farms to immigrants coming into Vernon. The Aberdeen’s capitalized on the selling of these lots by constructing a jam factory. They also constructed a butcher shop and these provided retail outlets for the Coldstream Ranch.
In 1896, the Coldstream Ranch harvested its first crop of apples. According to Lady Aberdeen’s journals there were 50 tons of fruit that year which brought in a total of $2500. The Aberdeens continued with their plans to start large-scale vegetable growing the following year.
Irrigation
In order to achieve their goals, they invested heavily in irrigation, by damming two lakes, King Edward and Aberdeen which marked the beginnings of the construction of the Grey Canal and the Vernon Irrigation District.
