CAMERONTON

NAME: Cameronton
COUNTY: Na
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 6
CLIMATE: Snow in winter-sometimes in summer. Temperate to cool in summer.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Easy in the summer also accessible in the winter
COMMENTS: Beautiful scenery. Established in 1862 a mile downstream from Barkerville, Cameronton was vied with its neighbor as the main town on Williams Creek. But within a few short years it was found that Cameronton was built on top of rich paydirt. The buildings were torn down and all traces of the town disappeared. The former site of Cameronton is buried under the north end of the parking lot for Barkerville Historic Town. All that remains is the "Barkerville" cemetery, which was actually established in Cameronton. This is a must see graveyard, and since it is outside the Barkerville gates, there's no admission fee.
REMAINS: Unknown.

The story of Cameronton is the story of its founder and his wife. John and Sophia Cameron were married in Cornwall, Ontario. The couple set out for Victoria and arrived there in March, 1862. They took the Cariboo Trail to the gold fields, reaching the site that was to become the boomtown of Cameronton in August of that year. Along the way, the Camerons meet a Robert Stevenson and they became partners. They stake a claim that was to produce over a million dollars in time. But Sophia Cameron was never to learn of her husband's good fortune. After only a few months "in this God-forsaken wilderness," Sophia died and was buried inside a small cabin. Her husband vowed she would not have to rest in this "womanless land" any longer than necessary. He would return Sophia to Cornwall. In the dead of winter, he decided the time had come. Her body was removed and prepared for the arduous trip by sled to Fort Douglas and then by steamer to Victoria which required 36 days in all. There her body was placed in a temporary tomb. In November, Cameron had his wife's remains exhumed and placed aboard a ship destined for Panama. Once again, Sophia's remains were exhumed and from Panama taken to Cornwall for final burial attended by her relatives. John Cameron eventually returned to the diggings only to find the old days of scooping up gravel laden with nuggets were long gone. The day of mechanized mining had arrived. He died exactly fifteen years to the day he left Victoria with Sophia's body for Cornwall. He was buried in the cemetery overlooking the scene of his sudden rise to wealth and of his heartbreak.

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