Prior to the club’s formation

In order to understand the why and the wherefore of the Hole in the Wall’s formation one must look at what was formerly on this area now known as Sumas Prairie.

Through a series of pictures and facts we will explore the history of the Hole in the Wall.

Sumas Lake was a large shallow lake with an area that comprised 10,000 acres and 23,000 acres of flood prone marginal land. The flood of 1896 exacerbated the yearly flooding of Sumas Lake (at that time there was no Vedder Canal nor Sumas Drainage canal). There became a very vocal and active campaign to drain Sumas Lake. There were several failed schemes prior to the successful 1923 project.

E.D Barrow, a successful Chilliwack dairy farmer was the elected MLA under the 1919 John Oliver (Ladner dairy farmer) led provincial Liberal government. E.D. Barrow first farmed on property adjacent to Camp River Road, he then moved to a large farm where Frank Paul’s broiler chicken farm is now situated. The farm is adjacent to the Royalwood Golf Course. Barrowtown was subsequently named after him. The vote to proceed with the Sumas Lake drainage project was held in the Huntingdon Hotel – the vote 165 yes – 21 no.

Fred Sinclair was the engineer in charge of the project, plans were completed and the Sinclair project was “ready to go”. Environmental concerns were also an issue in the 20’s. Sumas band chief, Mr. Ned was an outspoken critic of the project (some of you are acquainted with his grandson – Lester Ned)

This was a two phase project:

Dyke the Vedder River with the present Vedder canal – (the Vedder original flowed down the Luk a Kuk corridor and posed a yearly flooding dilemma)
Sumas River Drainage canal c/w the Barrowtown pumping station – just east of Quadling’s Longacres Jersey Farm The only visible remnant of the former Sumas lake is the dyked Goose Lake which is the Lakemount Lodge hunting club property.

In May of 1922 the drainage pumps were started ( the pumps could drain an Olympic sized pool in 20 seconds ) Costs for the project : Original budget 1.5 million – vote time 1.8 million – final cost 3.7 million Naturally lawsuits followed but that is another story.

Bruce Dixon was the dyking commissioner following the successful draining of Sumas Lake. Both Fred Sinclair and Bruce became an integral part of the inaugural membership of what is now the Hole in the Wall