Name origin
E. Thomas Johnson (Johnston alternate spelling) operated a hotel in a tent 1884–1886, before returning to farming and prospecting. During the westward advance of the Canadian Pacific Railway transcontinental line at this time, alcohol was considered a disruptive influence in the construction camps. Consequently, a alcohol-free zone was instituted on both sides of the right-of-way. At Johnson's Ranch, about by river southeast of Golden, liquor was freely available. Men sleeping off the effects of intoxication at the horse ranch were characterized as pigs (hogs). Consequently, the former name of Johnson's Landing changed to Johnson's Hog Ranch and then to Hog Ranch. The prohibition lifted when the CP line opened to traffic in 1886. The ranch had also been a rendezvous point for liquor smugglers. In 1884, about south, an outlaw robbed and murdered a salesman for an American liquor company, who was carrying around $5,000. Attempts to extradite the murderer who had fled to the US were unsuccessful, but the perpetrator died in a train accident in 1890. In 1897, Henry George Parson purchased the ranch. The selection of the train station name in 1912, and the post office in 1916, established the locality as Parson, but as late as 1921, the census still defined the place as Hog Ranch.Waterway and roads
Early and later transportation was similar to Spillimacheen. In 1884, the government called tenders for a ferry across the Columbia at Johnston's Landing, which commenced operations at that time. North–south riverboats and pack trains stopped at the place. By late fall, ice shut down river traffic until early spring. During 1890, wagon road construction reached Hog Ranch from the south. However, from the north, the wagon road southward was short of Carbonate, which itself was from Hog Ranch. During the following spring, work began on closing the gap. In 1893, the wagon road between the two locations was completed, and a deficient section south to Spillimacheen upgraded. Both Carbonate and Hog Ranch were regular riverboat stops. In 1897, the Skullys managed the hotel at the stopping place for H.G. Parson. In 1899, the respective mileposts from Golden were Carbonate (16), Hog Ranch (23), and Spillimachene (41). The Parson ferry was subsidized 1920–1929, when a bridge replaced it.Early community
In 1897, Thomas Alton built a sawmill at the locality, which he sold to Cranbrook Sawmills in 1943. In 1916, Miss E.R. Sparling was the inaugural teacher at the school. Elizabeth Hawkins was the inaugural postmaster 1916–1916, followed by James Hawkins 1917–1921. By 1918, dairy farmer R.H. Soles ran a general store, but by 1919, the Hawkins ran the Parson Trading Co general store. In 1921, Andrew Allan Gilmour took over the store/post office, followed by Leslie G. Alton in 1924, who remained until 1950. Complementing his Brisco operation, Ralph A. Thrall, quarried baryte about west during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Sawmills operating in 1959 were Cranbrook Sawmills, A.D. Hough, O'Bray Bros, and John L. Soles.Railway
The Kootenay Central Railway (KCR) was a Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) subsidiary. Advancing southeastward, the rail head was about northwest of Parson in November 1912. Subsequent railway development mirrored Spillimacheen. When forestry was dominant, a loading yard was established at Parson, where logs for theLater community
The Columbia Valley Elementary School permanently closed in 2002. The community hall (1939), which had fallen into disrepair and disuse, was rehabilitated in the late 2010s for community events. The Parson Community Recreation Park facilitates tennis, baseball, beach volleyball, and basketball in summer and skating and sledding in winter. Twig and Berry Trading Co operates the general store/post office/liquor outlet/gas bar. In 2022,Gallery
Wapta
The former settlement was around Mile 21, which is about northwest. The post office operated 1904–1910. The school existed by 1906 but closed about 1921.McMurdo (Carbonate)
The settlement was around Mile 17, which is about northwest of Parson. McMurdo delineated the east shore of the river and Carbonate both shores.Maps
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References
* {{Steamboats Columbia River headwaters Unincorporated settlements in British Columbia