O'Keefe Ranch facts for kids

The O'Keefe Ranch is a special historic place in the Okanagan area of British Columbia, Canada. It's located near Vernon. This ranch was started in 1867 by a man named Cornelius O'Keefe. It's a great spot to learn about the past!

The Story of Cornelius O'Keefe

Cornelius O'Keefe was born on July 26, 1838, in Ontario, Canada. His father, Michael, came from Ireland, and his mother, Esther, was French Canadian. Cornelius was one of many children in his family. They lived on a farm in Ontario.

In 1862, Cornelius heard about gold being found in British Columbia. He traveled west, hoping to find his fortune. He tried gold-mining but didn't have much luck. Then, he worked on building the Cariboo Road. This was an important road for travel in the area.

Starting the Ranch

In 1866, Cornelius met Thomas Wood. They decided to work together with cattle. They bought about 180 cows in Oregon. Then, they met another partner, Thomas Greenhow. In June 1867, the three men arrived at the top of Okanagan Lake. They each claimed land to start their ranches. Cornelius liked to tell his children that he built his first chair on the ranch during a rainy day.

By 1871, Thomas Wood had moved his ranch. Cornelius and Thomas Greenhow stayed partners. They opened a small general store. This store helped local people and settlers. In 1872, the store became the first post office in the valley. Cornelius was the postmaster until 1912. The post office was also the end point for the British Columbia Stage Line.

Cornelius also had a relationship with an Okanagan woman named Alapetsa Stalekaya. They had two children together. This helped Cornelius connect with the local Okanagan people. Later, there was a disagreement about land. Cornelius had claimed land that the Okanagan people also used. After talks, the land was given to the native people.

Growing the Ranch

The 1870s were a bit slow for cattle ranchers. Cornelius and Greenhow focused on growing their herds. They used money from their store, post office, and a new mill to buy more land. By 1876, Cornelius owned 960 acres of good land.

In 1877, Cornelius went back to Ontario and married Mary Ann McKenna. They had nine children over the next 16 years. During this time, the ranch became much more successful. The building of the Canadian Pacific Railway in the 1880s created a big demand for beef. Ranchers like Cornelius, who were near the railway, had many customers. After the railway was finished, they could sell their cattle to new markets.

By the mid-1890s, the O'Keefe Ranch was about 12,000 acres. They raised cattle and sheep and grew a lot of wheat. But growing fruit became popular in the Okanagan Valley. This meant ranchers were pressured to sell their land for fruit farms. Also, the beef market slowed down. Cornelius was one of the last big ranchers to sell. He sold most of his land in 1907.

Mary Ann O'Keefe passed away in 1899. Cornelius, at 63, had eight children still living. He married Elizabeth Theresa Tierney in 1900. They had six more children. Cornelius was 76 when his last child was born! After 1907, he invested in land in Vernon and built theaters. He was also a justice of the peace and involved in many community groups. He lived in his ranch house until he passed away. The ranch stayed in his family until 1977. Today, it is a preserved historic site.

O'Keefe Ranch Historic Site

The O'Keefe Ranch is now a historic site. It is located about 12 kilometers north of Vernon. Cornelius and Elizabeth O'Keefe's youngest son, Tierney, first opened the ranch to the public. Tierney and his wife Betty ran it for 10 years. Then, they sold it to a charity group. This group later sold it to the City of Vernon for just $1. The city agreed to keep it as a historic site forever.

Today, the O'Keefe Ranch is run by a non-profit group. It is open to the public from about May to October each year. They offer many programs and events. Every year, thousands of elementary school children visit the ranch. They learn about history by touring the O'Keefe Mansion, the Balmoral Schoolhouse, and the general store.

The O'Keefe Ranch has about 10,000 old items. About 2,500 of these items belonged to the O'Keefe family. The family's original papers, books, and photos are kept in a museum and archives on site. People can view them there. Some of these old materials have also been put online.

Historic Buildings to Explore

The O'Keefe Ranch has several original buildings from the 1800s. Many of them are open for visitors to explore from May to October. They are decorated to look just like they did in the 19th century.

St. Anne's Church

St. Anne's Church was built in 1889. It was one of the first churches in the North Okanagan. It was a Roman Catholic church. Today, visitors can see inside the church. It has its original pews, a pump organ, and old priest's clothes. The church can also be used for weddings.

Blacksmith Shop

The ranch has a blacksmith shop. This building is not the original one. Cornelius O'Keefe's first blacksmith shop was across the highway. The current building was rebuilt in the 1960s using old materials. It holds the family's original anvil and other old tools.

General Store

The first general store opened in 1870. It was used until 1919. Today, visitors can walk through a copy of the original store. It was built in the 1960s. It has many items from the 1800s. These include Cornelius O'Keefe's original safe and postal scales.

Log House

This was Cornelius and Mary Ann O'Keefe's first log house, built around 1876. Visitors can tour the house. They can see the living room, kitchen, and an upstairs bedroom. In 1882, the Governor General of Canada, the Marquis of Lorne, visited the Okanagan. He stayed in this log home during a hunting trip.

Chinese Cooks House

This small house was built around 1890. It was where the family's Chinese cooks lived. They worked on the ranch.

O'Keefe Mansion

The mansion was built in stages, starting in 1886 and finished by 1896. It is the only building on the ranch where visitors can take a guided tour. It has many original furniture pieces from the 1800s. These were bought by the O'Keefe family. It also has an old music box and a grand piano.

Greenhow Museum

The Greenhow Museum is in a house built in 1941. It sits on the old foundation of the Greenhow Mansion. The Greenhow Mansion was built in 1892 but was destroyed by fire in 1939. The current building was then rebuilt. Today, the Greenhow Museum has different exhibits each year. It is open from May to October. The museum also keeps the ranch's old documents, books, and photos.

Cowboy Bunkhouse

The cowboy bunkhouse was built in the 1940s. It is decorated with old cowboy gear and beds.

Balmoral Schoolhouse

The Balmoral Schoolhouse was not originally on the ranch. It was built in 1912 in another part of British Columbia. It was moved to the ranch in the 1990s. Now, it looks like a Victorian schoolroom. In the entrance, there are displays with school items from the early 1900s.

Schubert House

The Schubert House is also not original to the ranch. It was built in 1892 by Augustus Schubert II. His parents were part of the "Overlanders of 1862" group. The Schubert House was moved to O'Keefe Ranch in 1989. Visitors can see it from May to October. It contains many original items from the Schubert family.