S.S. Aberdeen The S.S. Aberdeen was the first C.P.R. stern wheel steamer on the Okanagan Lake. It was built at Okanagan Landing and launched there in May, 1893. The 'Aberdeen' burned wood until 1902 and then was converted to a coal burner. Northcote Caeser recalls cutting nearly 50,000 feet of logs for lumber, and 525 cords of four feet wood for the Aberdeen.
The 'Aberdeen' was named in honour of Lord and Lady Aberdeen who had a ranch in the Guisachan District. It was 146 feet long; the beam was 30 feet; and the gross tonnage was 554.
Lakeview Hotel built 1892, stood on present site of
Caravel Motel. The last thing in comfort in its day. A handsome building, shining whitely in the sun as the passengers
of the Aberdeen and Okanagan steamed into Kelowna dock. Ranch hands and
workers raced down the main street of Kelowna on Saturday night, anxious
to wash away the week's dust from their throat. Tradition had it, "last
man to the bar pays." Lakeview Hotel and Palace Hotel had the same rates
which ran, Boarders $1.00 per day, Tourists $1.50, Single meals .50 cents.
They were outraged when the Royal Hotel announced that its rates would
be, Boarders $20.00 to $25.00 per month, .25 cents per single meal, saying
it was a cutrate operation and bad for the town's image.
Two essential needs in any budding community was a livery stable
and a blacksmith. The livery barn was the equivalent of today's service
station. Here one could leave or hire a horse buggy or wagon.
A good blacksmith was welcome in any town. He not only serviced wagons
and shod horses, but manufactured everything from hinges to weathervanes.
Kelowna's first blacksmith shop was started in 1892.
Cuban seed was used, this was renewed every three to four years, so as to maintain smaller leaves. Smaller leaves produce finer tobacco. Tobacco industry here at its peak produced 800,000 cigars annually. The filler being of local tobacco, wrapped in Sumatra leaf, also grown in Kelowna.
Kelowna soil proved very suitable for tobacco growing. Two factories were established and it looked as if tobacco might become a successful enterprise. It had great difficulty, however, breaking into the market and coping with fees and duties.