1921 Vernon Directories
Situated in the sunny Okanagan, as the Valley is so often called from its beautiful climate, is year by year becoming more famous for its manufacturing possibilities, its mixed farming advantages and its splendid opportunities for truck gardening and apple growing.
The city occupies the site of the inevitable distributing centre of the Okanagan Valley, being virtually the terminus of the Okanagan rail line of the CPR, 46 miles south of Sicamous, on the main line, and connecting through Okanagan Landing 4 miles south, with the Okanagan Lake points in Southern Okanagan and it is 382 miles east of Vancouver. The city occupies a site at the foot of a long low hill whose slopes are terraced with avenues and dotted with residences surrounded with shade trees, gardens and orchards and enjoying a view of the north end of Okanagan Lake and the hills poled in majestic ranges.
The CNR have finished all grading work ready for rails this year. This will give railway connection with the main line at Kamloops, and Lumby, which lies fifteen miles east, also Kelowna, thirty-five miles south.
The population of the immediate locality is over 6,000 in number, it has been recruited largely from the great eastern centres and from the Old Country. The population of the city is about 4,500.
Vernon has the offices of Provincial Government Agent, Assistant Horticulturist, Provincial Agricultural Department Land Commissioner, Osoyoos Land Recording District, Provincial Police, Gold Commissioner, Agent Dominion Department of Indian Affairs, Customs out of Port of Revelstoke and District Registrar of the Supreme and County Courts. The city enjoys all modern conveniences, has anglican, Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist and Roman Catholic Churches. The city owns the most modern Electric Light Power Station in the province. It enjoys the benefit of a gravity water system piped from a mountain stream.
Close to Vernon lies the Coldstream Municipality, populated with successful fruit growers and containing within its bounds the celebrated Coldstream Estate, consisting of 13,000 acres with its large orchard of 800 acres.
Bordering on the town in another direction is the orchard and farm property of the Land & Agricultural Co of Canada, containing 14,000 acres, much of which has been divided into fruit and mixed farms.
The Vernon Fruit Union have the largest fruit warehouse in BC situated here, the main building is 400 ft long by 80 ft wide with a frost-proof basement and first storey capable of storing 250 cars of apples. Last year they added an addition of 100 ft by 10 ft with a basement. There are four other packing warehouses also.
In the year 1920 there were 1,305 cars shipped out loaded with apples, plums and all kinds of farm produce; this production was all grown around Vernon.
There are two other plants and one by-products plant. These take care of all the small and cull apples. A new pickle industry has started up here, manufacturing the celebrated Red Cross brand of pickles.
The Vernon District offers great attractions to the hunter and fisherman. There is an abundance of feathered game within easy access to Vernon. The more mountainous districts offer various species of large game, among which are deer, caribou, moose, mountain goat, bear and mountain lion. In both Kalamalka and Okanagan Lakes trout and other fish abound.
The head office of the Soldiers' Settlement Board for the interior has been established here, where the interest of the returned soldiers is looked after.
F.B.Cossitt, President, Board of Trade
Population 4,500
For a inhabitants list please see: Inhabitants List