Brooklyn History

    From a struggling prospector, in sore financial distress, with many assessments to work, others to record, waiting for and expecting money that never came, struggling against adversity, ever hopeful, as prospectors are, that the next blast would uncover the pay streak, was the man who read his mail a few mornings ago, brought in by a faithful friend.  Only 85 cents between him and financial embarrassment.  Food rapidly disappearing and no more in sight.  Long hours of toil in tunnel or shaft and almost by the world forgot – but lo, the mine is laid, the tiny spark sputters, then runs rapidly up toward the magazine and when the smoke clears the weary prospector reads the cheery intelligence, in the letter his friend has brought him, the great contracting firm of Mann, Foley & Larsen have selected his pre-emption as a site for their headquarters.  Pay dirt struck at last!  As he reads his letter, one callous hand finds its way beneath his old battered hat, his fingers grasp the hair as though to hasten his brain into realizing the unexpected good fortune which has suddenly overtaken him, while his misty eyes read again the tale we all love so well – better in times for us.  So it was with W. Parker, the prospector, the land owner, the hard working, God fearing miner and owner of Brooklyn townsite.  Stores, warehouses, hotels and offices are going in rapidly.  Supplies are arriving, the carpenter and axeman work side by side and all is bustle and activity where a few days ago the tall pines sighed softly in cool lake breezes and the rising waters pushed the old tree trunks farther up the pebbly beach.  What a change!  The axemen are clearing for the surveyor who drags his chain and measures the virgin ground staking it into town lots, to be followed a moment later with carpenters and builders.  Mr. Parker bears his good fortune easily, almost modestly, but is awake to the future possibilities of the camp and has begun the clearing of the townsite by slashing the undergrowth and K. Baldwin of Farr’s engineers, has located corner posts and measured the blocks into 25 foot lots.  Mr. Parker deserves his good fortune; is a man of excellent qualities and the town will find in him one who will at all times aid and encourage every laudable enterprise that is for the town’s good.  The land on which the town of Brooklyn is to be built is held by Mr. Parker under pre-emption filing, comprising a half-mile of shore, almost two miles away.  The site is splendid for building, a gentle slope running back from the water’s edge, covered with a small growth of scrub pines and bushes.  On the second flat, and from the business portion of the town, is an ideal spot for homes.  Through these lands a little mountain stream tumbles noisily down into the lake, fed throughout the summer by melting mountain snows and springs which burst from the hill sides.  Through arrangements previously entered into with Mr. Parker, the contractors will occupy the west side of the pre-emption, the trademen building on the other side of the stream.  The lots will face the lake having a 25 foot frontage by 100 deep.  Several foundations are laid and the first building enclosed will be the Petersen Hotel.  Brooklyn will be a good town as the supplies must come in via Brooklyn.  It is the headquarters for the contractors and their assistants.  Brooklyn is the coming town of the lower Arrow lake country and the near future will prove the writer no mean prophet.  James Dawson of the St. Elmo, prospected in the neighbourhood of the new town of Brooklyn a year or more ago, stopping with Mr. Parker in his cabin on the beach being an interest in the pre-emption by Mr. Parker, but did not invest.  A large deposit of excellent brick clay is found on this land, the “tote” passing within a few feet of the deposit.  It was for this, principally, that the land was taken up and should there be a demand for brick in the town or, perhaps in the construction of the tunnel, another value of importance is held by Mr. Parker.  Mr. Dawson speaks in the highest praise of Mr. Parker as a man, possessing many excellent qualities, rejoicing in his old time friend’s good fortune.