July 13th to Ocean Falls

July 13^th to Ocean Falls                       Once a booming metropolis Ocean Falls is now considered a ghost town.  It does still however welcome cruising boats and we enjoy poking around.  Pam buys, from Rene’s “C” Shore Gift Shop, and promptly looses a nicely knitted neck muff; lost on our hike to the top of the dam that provides electricity for a few of the small communities up and down the waterways.  The Post Mistress shows us the newest postage stamps, wild birds in flight.  Beautiful.  She also says to go ahead and explore the building, once the judge’s chambers, courtroom and library.  “Please take any books you would like.”  It seems the building was damaged, insurance money collected yet spent elsewhere for higher priority needs, and the library books just sit.  We find a mix of four, thank her and continue on our way. 

Nearly Normal Norman's museum

What Was and What Is now (in yellow)

Hoary Marmots

Decades old tradition

High Rise Martin Hotel abandoned

Lodge turned hospital turned lodge

The town is in decay and has been for nearly 20 years.  A few folks bravely hang on and love living here.  The owner of the lodge hopes to one day again serve meals instead of just providing rooms.  “Nearly Normal Norm” still has the ‘museum’ of artifacts found in all the abandoned homes and businesses, a window into the soul of the 5,000 people who once lived in the Crown Zellerbach paper mill company town.  Well attended flowers show up in many places as do artistic touches.  Vacant ghost town buildings include entire apartment complexes, houses and stores.  A book, “Rain People, The Story of Ocean Falls” by Bruce Ramsey adeptly captures the heart and soul of the community, from their turn of the century beginnings to their turn, nearly of another century sobering decline.  Pam reads it appropriately, in the cockpit during a “rain” day layover at the head of Roscoe Inlet.