Looking for DANIEL J. DEMPSEY
The Man Who Named Usk...
In September, former Mayor of Usk, Cllr Alec Leathwood and Town Clerk Jenny Mee travelled to Canada for a holiday; their journey took them to British Columbia to visit a place called USK. Alec and Jenny met with members of Terrace City Council and the Chairman and Councillors of the region. Terrace City Council is the administrative Head Quarters for the Kittimat Region, which includes the now small hamlet of Usk.
In Terrace some years ago letters were found in an attic, and were later published in a book entitled, The Railroaders Wife, Letters from the Grand Truck Pacific Railway dated 1912. Several letters included in the book referred to a young man named Dan Dempsey.
Daniel J. Dempsey emigrated from Newport South Wales to Canada in order to prospect for gold. He travelled with seven packhorses over seven months from Ashcroft via the telegraph trail to Dawson. Unfortunately he was unsuccessful in finding gold. Instead, Dan Dempsey became the supervisor of track- laying for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad. Completed in 1914, this transcontinental railroad is now named The Canadian National Railroad. There is a plaque in honour of Mr Dempsey in a Museum in Alberta, in regards to his being the supervisor of track- laying.
The Railroad was constructed through a place called KITSELAS CANYON and the railroad crews had the immense task of building four tunnels, through the dense rocks.
At that time it was not unusual for the stations to be named by the engineers or surveyors and Daniel J Dempsey was given this task. In this area there is a high outcrop of rocks, which looks like a Castle and it overlooks the River Skeener, this vista reminded Dan of a place in his homeland and thus he called the area ‘USK’.
Over the years Usk developed into a small but vibrant community with log cabins for homes, a school, shops and a small Church. Unfortunately in 1936 a major flood destroyed Usk and many of the people from Usk moved to Terrace where they could live without fear of further flooding.
Over the years many people in British Columbia have tried to find more information concerning Mr Daniel J. Dempsey. Is there anyone in the Newport area that recognises the name and could perhaps unlock the mystery of the man who named USK, Usk in British Columbia, Canada.
Any information will be gratefully received by
Jenny Mee - 01291673430 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
