R. J. Haney Heritage Park ~ Archive

Little is known of the Haneys before they came to the area around 1902. We do know that R.J. placed his young family with relatives in Winnipeg and went off to the Yukon to seek his fortune. He got work as a conductor on the White Pass and Yukon Railway and won and lost several small fortunes on the side. We know that he was fairly well off when he arrived in Salmon Arm. He plunked cash down to pay for this farm (80 acres) and he was well known in the area for his generosity. After purchasing the farm and putting up a log home. He sent for his family. He had a mixed farm with cattle, wheat, and fruit trees. Some of the trees around the parking lot are from his original orchard and still bear sweet apples every year. His family soon outgrew the log house and a second home was built about where the present Haney House stands. This second dwelling soon fell victim to fire and the present home was constructed around 1910. The Haney House is a strange hybrid of a practical farmhouse with touches of gentility added to it. The leaded glass windows, the fancy woodwork, the carved front door, all lead us to believe that the Haney’s aspired to something better. Salmon Arm's gentry lived, for the most part, in an area called "Little England", which was situated just a little southeast of the park.

We're not sure whether the Haney's were accepted into this society but the house is a good indication that they tried. Sometime in the 1920's R.J. and his wife, Margaret, agreed to disagree. R.J. moved back into the first home leaving Margaret and young Marjorie in the big house. The other offspring, Veron, by this time had become a young man and was living on his own property. Eventually Margaret and Marjorie moved down to the coast and settled in Maple Ridge. Veron and his wife, Olive, moved into the house and R.J. built a house closer to town. R.J. lived into his nineties and was a well regarded character in Salmon Arm. He was known as the town's third bank. If the banks wouldn't loan you the money you could always call on R.J. Haney. He wasn't any softer on the interest rates, however. Veron continued to farm the property until it was rented out the 1950's. The property then went to his sister, Marjorie, who was still living at the coast. It was leased out to various individuals for close to thirty years. Marjorie died in 1984 and, in her will, the property was left to the District of Salmon Arm with the promise that it becomes a park dedicated to the memory of her father. The District then offered the park to the Museum Association to manage and you can see today the results of our stewardship. We are very proud of our accomplishments.