V. Hyde Baker Dies

V. HYDE BAKER PASSES AWAY IN ENGLAND - Was First Townsite Agent In Cranbrook

Came Here With His Father Over Fifty Years Ago – Made Home in England Since 1915

            Death claimed V. Hyde Baker at his home at Parkstone, Dorset, England, last Sunday. Mayor Tim Roberts received a cable gram Monday morning conveying the news, and the message was signed by Mr. Bakers son Hugh. His death was not altogether unexpected, as for several years Mr. Baker was more or less an invalid. He was over seventy years of age. Besides his widow, he is survived by a son Lieut. Hugh Baker, of the Royal Marine barracks, Chatham, and two daughters.

            In the year 1915 Mr. Baker returned to England to make his home. Up to that time he was identified with practically every movement in connection with the city. He came here with his father, the late Colonel James Baker, over fifty years ago. For some twenty years they operated the place as a farm and conducted a store. Many of the goods on the shelves came all the way from England and some from Walla Walla, which was then the distributing center for this whole North West. When the late Colonel Baker was first elected to the provincial legislature, his constituency included both East and West Kootenay. While the father was attending to his legislative duties, young Hyde looked after the business here. Then with the construction of the Crows Nest Pass railway in 1898, the townsite of Cranbrook was surveyed and lots put on the market. V.Hyde Baker became townsite agent, and had the office now occupied by Mayor Roberts, only it stood where the Imperial Bank building now stands. The C.P.R. had an equity in the townsite as a reward for making this a divisional point, and Mr. Baker also handled the railways interests.

            The townsite company financed the building of the Cranbrook hotel and at the present time the Baker estate has a two-third interest in the property as well as in the property adjoining up to Van Horne Street.

            While a resident here the late Hyde Baker invested heavily in the Baker Lumber Company, in the old Kootenay Telephone and Electric Light Company and in numerous other enterprises He served on the city council for a few terms. He brought one of the first automobiles to Cranbrook, a white steamer. He was also a member of the different private clubs that flourished here at one time when there were a great number more Indians than whites. He carried on quite an extensive fur trade with the Indians in the early days and learned to speak their language. He even adopted some of their customs, and was often seen on the streets wearing moccasins. Baker Street, Cranbrook’s main street, carries the family name.