History of the Village of Cowichan Station
A short History of the village
The community of Cowichan Station began in 1862 when James Mearns, Senior, a native of Montrose, Scotland took over an area of land comprising of what is now Fairbridge through pre-emption—a mechanism through which the government of British Columbia allowed settlers to lay claim to Quw’utsun land without Quw’utsun consent. That same year, James Itemingo took the land adjoining Mearns’ homestead and Arthur Todd took land for a homestead of 150 acres that year, situated between what is now Koksilah, Howie and Mountain Roads.
In 1868, John Sinclair took land for a homestead comprising 100 acres of Section 2, Range 1, Cowichan Land District, which was purchased by Donald McPherson, one of the three brothers that came to the district in 1881.
McPherson’s Village
Settlement had been steady but scattered throughout this southern area, but with the completion of the E&N Railroad a shift of population took place, with a settlement starting around Austin Ordano’s store. Donald McPherson became the railroad section foreman, so then a station was built across for the Ordano store in 1887, and given the name “McPhersons”.
That year, 1887, saw the erection of two hotels across from the station: the Central Hotel building, with its bar belonging to Ordano, and the Cowichan Hotel, belonging to George Jones. In this latter, the post office of McPherson Station opened on March 1, 1887. That same year, a blacksmith shop was opened on what is now Cowichan Station Road and the settlers built a community meeting place, the South Cowichan Community Hall, at the corner of Koksilah and Bench Roads.
Cowichan Station is community connected.
Today it is a quiet agricultural centre, and home to exceptional places as Blue Grouse Winery, Fairburn Farms, and Gem of the Isle Sculpture Garden. Cowichan Station is a community connected. It is the gateway to the historic Kinsol Trestle and the lovely Bright Angel Park.
As representatives of the village, the CSAA takes seriously it’s responsibility to recognize the rightful Quw’utsun stewards of this land on which Cowichan Station is built, share the true history of this place and build relationships between settlers and Quw’utsun people. Learn more here.
Interested in delving into the vibrant history of the Cowichan Valley?
The Cowichan Valley Historical Registry is an informative website with interesting historical information about several historical landmarks in the Cowichan Station area including the Cowichan Station flag stop, Esquimalt & Nanaimo (E&N) Railroad Stone Trestle, and the Koksilah River Truss Bridge.