Difficulty for law enforcement in Sumas, WA - April 3, 1925

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Sumas News, April 3, 1925

Before we complain about the budget restraints of the Sumas Police Department, let review the issues that were at hand in 1925.  Sumas Deputy Gaston didn't even have a car in which to assist him in enforcing the laws.  It must have been a sad sight to see the poor Deputy at the side of the road watching the speeding traffic and unable to do anything about it.  It would be interesting to know what kind of a car finally was provided for Sumas law enforcement.

Sumas Lake

Photograph credited to the Reach Gallery Museum, Abbotsford, British Columbia

http://www.thereach.ca/photo/p6298

  B.C.  Electric Railway track along Sumas Lake.

Photograph credited to the Reach Gallery Museum, Abbotsford, B.C. 

http://www.thereach.ca/photo/p5427

 Sumas Lake with snow on distance mountain Ca. 1920

 Photograph credited to the Reach Gallery Museum, Abbotsford, .B.C.
http://www.thereach.ca/photo/p12433
Sunday School Picnic at Sumas Lake near Belrose Station.  Group includes nine people, children and adults swimming at Sumas Lake.  August 1919.

Photograph credited to the Reach Gallery Museum, Abbotsford, B.C.

http://www.thereach.ca/photo/p7702

Boating on Sumas Lake

Photograph credited to the Reach Gallery Museum, Abbotsford, B.C.

http://www.thereach.ca/photo/p5665

A woman seated next to the BCER,  B.C. Electric Railway tracks near Belrose Station painting the distance Chilliwack Mountain looking northeast.

Just to the north of Sumas across the border there was a large shallow lake that extended north to Abbotsford and east to Vedder Mountain and towards Chilliwack.  Sumas Lake was known for its abundant wildlife, including migrating birds.  According to Wikipedia the lake supported sturgeon, trout and salmon.  The migrating birds included Hutchins Goose, White Fronted Goose and Whistling Swans.  There was even allegedly grizzly bear inhabiting the area around the lake.  The lake was a major source of hunting and fishing for the local Sto:lo tribe.

During the wet flood season the lake grew and extended into the Whatcom County south of the border.  The flooding was severe and caused lots of damage to local homesteads, farms and communities.  

To control the flooding and to provide more farmland, the local Canadian officials decided to drain the lake.  They succeeded by building canals and dykes to direct the water with the help of large pump houses, to the Fraser River.   Unfortunately this destroyed the native food sources as well as displaced the wildlife.  This is the 90th anniversary of the draining of Sumas Lake.  

I recommend that people visit the Reach Gallery Museum in Abbotsford, British Columbia to visit their special exhibit regarding the draining of Sumas Lake.  There is a great art exhibit interpreting the impact of the draining.