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~ Brickyard
~ Coal Mine
~ Creamery
~ ~ Palace
Creamery
~ ~ Mr.Bill
Cameron
~ ~ Fire at the
Creamery
~ Columbia
Flouring Mill
~ Poleyards
~ Sawmills
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TIn 1925 R. Karnagel
established the Palace Creamery in the Moffet house, a
house built by the manager of the Columbia Flouring Mills. By 1928 the creamery became a
branch of the farmers' co-operative, NOCA. With an award-winning buttermaking team Ernest
Skellyand Bill Cameron, Enderby took the highest possible awards
at the Vancouver Exhibition and the National Exhibition in 1937.
In 1930, the Enderby Creamery was producing 190,000 pounds of butter, which increased to
290,000 in 1936. Enderby was second to none, comparing favorably with any other district
in Canada. In 1936-37 the Enderby Creamery was prospering with manager and buttermaker
Ernest Skelly and assistant buttermaker Bill Cameron, President Mr. R.J. Coltart,
Vice-President Mr. Patten, Secretary-Treasurer Mr. Everard Clarke, and a Board of
Directors. Good crops also helped to produce a good year of cream because the animals in
the district had lots of alfalfa to eat all through the year.
When the Enderby Creamery entered the Vancouver Exhibition in 1937, there where 308
entries from all parts of Canada. Enderby took first prize and the highest possible award;
the three Enderby entries were "classed as the finest in the whole Exhibition."
And at the Central Canada Exhibition in Ottawa, Enderby butter was again awarded a first.
Enderby butter was first entered in the Vancouver Exhibition's class known as the B.C.
High Aggregate in 1933. This class was open only to B.C. creameries and was regularly
entered by all of the leading creameries of the province. Enderby was awarded highest
Aggregate or the champion of B.C. in that year and for five years afterwards.
The winnings of the Enderby Creamery in 1937 were as follows: Grand Championship and the
B.C. Aggregate in Vancouver; a first in Ottawa; a second in Toronto; two second places in
Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, and Saskatoon; and a second in Brandon.
As The Vernon Daily News reported, "Think not only of the comparison of
size, age, and experience, but also the distance. The eight-hundred creameries of Ontario
were within a few hours distance of Ottawa, but little Enderby was three thousand miles
away. Little Enderby's entry of butter traveled four days and three nights in an express
car at the hottest time of year."
Naomi LaBelle
ALF School 1989