The Weddells have owned 6 parcels of property in Joe Rich Valley. These are:

1. The original property on which Joe Rich squatted and built his cabin, and which was later obtained as a Crown Grant by the Prestons. The 160 acres were purchased in about 1919 by Cyril Weddell and Duncan Stewart. Duncan took the 65 flattest acres with most of the farm buildings at the southeast end of the parcel, and Cyril took the 95 hillier acres without most of the buildings. The Weddell’s present home was built by Cyril on that property.

2. The Mack property. After Billy Mack’s accidental death, the family wanted to sell and leave Joe Rich. Cyril wanted to buy their property, but at that time did not have the cash. A woman friend of the Macks lent him the money. He bought the property and paid her back later. The property was the 160 acres of Joe Rich bottom land next to the last property at the upper end of Joe Rich Creek at the southeast end of the valley.

3. The Huckle property. This property of about 100 acres was obtained by Billy Huckle as a Crown Grant. In his old age he sold it, and Cyril Weddell purchased it from that buyer. It lay on both sides of the present highway and extended up both sides of Cardinal Creek from its mouth into Mission Creek. Billy Huckles old original cabin still stands roofless on this property above the highway on the north side. Cyril and then Jim used the property as pasture for their cattle. Jim also took the larger logs off of it. Eventually, when Cyril had died, Jim sold the property, because it required a lot of fencing if he was to continue using it for cattle, and the government was no longer willing to help with that even if the property bordered the highway. Jim moved his cattle to a range off Three Forks Road that Duncan Stewart had previously used.

4. Weddells obtained the 160 acres at the extreme southeast end of the valley as a Crown Grant. It contained 40 flat acres and some of the hill behind. They subdivided off the flat area which was suitable for pasture, and sold the hilly 120 acres at the base of which Doug Hecko built. The cost of subdividing the property was more than the original cost of the Crown Grant.

5. Henderson Cabin and Vanderwerfs

6. The Brewer property. In 1960, the Brewers bought 320 acres southeast of Demitor’s present property. It had been homesteaded by Chris Schram, had been owned by Mrs. Mabel Bright and her son, Garvin, and had been sold to Mel Bailey. He sold it to Ted and Veronica McKenzie, who sold it to the Hockey family from whom the Brewers bought it. They had not had it long when Mr. Brewer was crushed by his tractor when it rolled over backwards. He died. Mrs. Brewer decided to return to her home in the US. Jim offered her what her husband had paid for the property a short time before. She gladly accepted and left the valley. Jim also wanted to buy the Armstrong family property (Duncan Stewart's property) next to Brewers, but when he purchased the Brewers place, Armstrong sold the property elsewhere “because he thought Weddells wouldn’t be interested”.