A deep dive into the history of one of the most powerful families in America will take place this weekend in Princeton.
Princeton & District Museum and Archives continues its monthly in-house presentations on May 4 at 3 p.m. with The Rockefellers and Their Legacy: The Hidden Influence of One Wealthy Family with Dawn Johnson. Presentations take place on the first Sunday of each month, with the exception of summer months, July and August, and admission is by donation.
The presentation will explore the immeasurable power and wealth of the industrial, political and banking giants, and how their fortune was made in the petroleum industry with Standard Oil during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their long association with and control of Chase Manhattan Bank will also be discussed as Johnson provides a comprehensive view into the lives and history of the families who own one of the world's largest fortunes.
On June 1, Building the Kettle Valley Railway: The Moilers and the Toilers with Maurice Williams will look into how the Kettle Valley Railway (KVR) played a crucial role in developing the Southern Interior of B.C.
Williams will discuss one of Canada's greatest railway engineers, Andrew McCulloch, and will explore who actually performed the hard work of levelling grades, diffing foundations and pounding spikes to build the KVR that connected people and resources from the Kootenays to the Pacific Coast.
Williams is a retired history professor from UBC Okanagan and has conducted two historical archaeological digs in Myra Canyon, both of which were associated with the railway. His current research focuses on individuals still associated with the KVR, and copies of his book Myra's Men: Building the Kettle Valley Railway will be available for purchase at the presentation.
On Sept. 6, the research project The Most Difficult of Our Camps: Vernon Internment Camp 1914-1020 with Don McNair will uncover a vast amount of information about the interment of 'enemy aliens' in the province's interior after the outbreak of hostilities in 1914. While Croatians, Poles, Ukrainians and other subjects of the Austro-Hungarian Empire made up the majority of the camps, the Vernon camp focused on the detention of Germans, mostly young men and several families, who formed an isolated and despised enclave.
An extensive photo collection will help enhance the story, providing a deeper look into the human details and emotions of the prisoners and the troops that guarded them.
On Aug. 5, The Battle of Vimy Ridge with award-winning author Yasmin John-Thorpe will discuss Canada's role in winning Vimy Ridge from the Germans and how it was instrumental in placing Canada on the world map. John-Thorpe's book for middle-grade readers, Grandpa's Gift, tells a story through a grandpa's eyes to his grandson on the 100th anniversary of the historical battle won by the Canadians during WWI. The presentation will explore the many Canadians who lost their lives while fighting to give the allies a win after many losses.
