Hardy Mountain Doukhobor Village
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hardy Mountain Doukhobor Village is in the Boundary region of south central British Columbia. The former Doukhobor community is about 4.3 kilometres (2.7 mi) northwest of Grand Forks on Hardy Mountain Rd.
In 1894, Thomas Hardy was proprietor of the Boundary Falls hotel. By 1897, the term Hardy Mountain defined the respective mining claims.[1] In 1910, a road was built up the mountain.[2]
A 1915 civic directory included Edward Blake Hardy, a younger brother, among the five residents of the Hardy Mountain community, but no mention was made of the neighbouring Doukhobor settlers.[1] Constructed in 1912, the main Doukhobor communal house is a two-storey wood and brick building with front and back porches. Kitchen and dining facilities occupied the main floor, with multiple small bedrooms on the second floor. Known as the Makortoff Doukhobor village, the community lived off the land and was largely self-sufficient. However, by the 1960s, changing circumstances forced the closure and sale of such properties.[3]
In 1930, a new wagon road was built up the mountain.[4] The Hardy brothers' name also appears in Hardy Mountain Road, Hardy View Lodge, and Hardy Creek.[1][5]
Operating museum
Peter Gritchen purchased the 6.8 hectares (16.9 acres) property in 1971 and opened the Mountain View Doukhobor Museum the following year. A collection of Doukhobor artefacts, household items, implements, and tools were housed in the various farm buildings. After Gritchen's death in 2000, The Land Conservancy of BC (TLC) purchased the site in 2004, and the Boundary Museum Society (BM) purchased much of the collection, which was largely left on display while the museum remained open. Over the decades, many original buildings had been significantly altered or neglected prompting demolition. Only five original buildings remain standing.[3]