Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood 1917-1939
Incorporated on April 25th, 1917 with $1,000,000 capital, and brought to its knees in 1938 through foreclosure action, viable resources of this one time exceptionally successful communal enterprise were absorbed by the British Columbia government and continued in use by new owners. This included schools, bridges, roads, lumber yards, saw mills and preserving works.
In 1908 Peter V. Verigin, on behalf of the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood, purchased the first parcels of land in Waterloo, which he renamed Brilliant, directly across the Columbia River from the present site of Castlegar near the confluence of the Columbia and Kootenay Rivers.
With the original land purchase of 2800 acres at Ootishenie, followed by 2700 acres on the outskirts of Grand Forks in 1908, settlement moved quickly. This was followed by 2200 acres in Pass Creek and 1100 acres at Slocan Junction. By 1910 the CCUB owned 10,000 acres, by 1912 14,403 acres and by 1924, 21,648 acres in BC and nearly 50,000 in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
All of this was in a previously uninhabited area now populated by the thrifty ‘toil and peaceful life’ settlers - after the land seizure in Saskatchewan, over 5000 communal members had moved to British Columbia in the hope that life on their own purchased property would lessen government interference in their traditional peaceful lifestyle.
By 1911, more than 50,000 fruit trees had been planted. Developments included basic agriculture, orchards, lumber mills, irrigation projects, brick yards, roads, bridges, apiaries and the construction of over 90 communal villages in the West Kootenay and Boundary Regions, some with irrigation systems, their own telephone lines and power generation in the immediate Brilliant area. At foreclosure in 1938, it was the largest communal enterprise in North America with a total acreage of 71,600 acres.
Here the famous Kootenay Columbia Preserving Works was built in 1915 for large scale production of jams and other vegetable products. A major centre called Brilliant, emerged, boasting a packing shed, grain elevator, community store, gas pumps, head office, library, dormitory and dining hall as well as a hospital and Peter Verigin’s residence. Across the road was the CPR railway station with living quarters and the Brilliant Post Office. Brilliant became the operational centre of the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood although an office continued in Verigin, Saskatchewan as well.
Incorporated on April 25th, 1917 with $1,000,000 capital, and brought to its knees in 1938 through foreclosure action, viable resources of this one time exceptionally successful communal enterprise were absorbed by the British Columbia government and continued in use by new owners. This included schools, bridges, roads, lumber yards, saw mills and preserving works.
In 1908 Peter V. Verigin, on behalf of the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood, purchased the first parcels of land in Waterloo, which he renamed Brilliant, directly across the Columbia River from the present site of Castlegar near the confluence of the Columbia and Kootenay Rivers.
With the original land purchase of 2800 acres at Ootishenie, followed by 2700 acres on the outskirts of Grand Forks in 1908, settlement moved quickly. This was followed by 2200 acres in Pass Creek and 1100 acres at Slocan Junction. By 1910 the CCUB owned 10,000 acres, by 1912 14,403 acres and by 1924, 21,648 acres in BC and nearly 50,000 in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
All of this was in a previously uninhabited area now populated by the thrifty ‘toil and peaceful life’ settlers - after the land seizure in Saskatchewan, over 5000 communal members had moved to British Columbia in the hope that life on their own purchased property would lessen government interference in their traditional peaceful lifestyle.
By 1911, more than 50,000 fruit trees had been planted. Developments included basic agriculture, orchards, lumber mills, irrigation projects, brick yards, roads, bridges, apiaries and the construction of over 90 communal villages in the West Kootenay and Boundary Regions, some with irrigation systems, their own telephone lines and power generation in the immediate Brilliant area. At foreclosure in 1938, it was the largest communal enterprise in North America with a total acreage of 71,600 acres.
Here the famous Kootenay Columbia Preserving Works was built in 1915 for large scale production of jams and other vegetable products. A major centre called Brilliant, emerged, boasting a packing shed, grain elevator, community store, gas pumps, head office, library, dormitory and dining hall as well as a hospital and Peter Verigin’s residence. Across the road was the CPR railway station with living quarters and the Brilliant Post Office. Brilliant became the operational centre of the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood although an office continued in Verigin, Saskatchewan as well.
At the arrival of the Doukhobors, railways were already serving the area. By the turn of the century, a series of lines connected the mines and the smelters between Nelson, the Slocan Valley, Castlegar, Trail, and Rossland. An American line, the Great Northern, ran from the south as far as Nelson. The Canadian Pacific Railway had been extended from the east to the foot of Kootenay Lake.
While rail lines formed the main means of transportation within the West Kootenay region and between it and the outside world, it was essential that roads also be developed for local traffic. By 1912, there was a road from Trail in the south up the west bank of the Columbia to [now] Castlegar near Brilliant. A route also ran from near Nelson in the north down the west bank of the Kootenay to Crescent Valley near the junction of the Slocan River. Much remained to be done to cut through the difficult terrain between the Slocan River and Pass Creek near Brilliant. It was at this time that Peter V. Verigin realized the necessity of the ambitious project of the Doukhobor Suspension bridge, which was completed in 1913, a crowning achievement!*
The formation of transportation corridors was crucial to the development of the Doukhobors’ rapidly growing settlements in the West Kootenay region. Connections were needed between the various communities and they developed a rudimentary road network at their own expense throughout the over 14,000 acres.
By the time of Peter V. Verigin's tragic, untimely, and still unsolved death in 1924, the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood had become the largest communal enterprise in North America, comprised of 71,600 acres in BC, SK, and AB, containing orchards, villages, and countless industries supporting a sizable population of close to 10,000 souls.
After his death, a general decline began due to falling membership, bad management, arson, and the depression. During the interim between Peter V. Verigin’s death and the arrival of his son from Russia in 1927, the executive board of the CCUB, in order to consolidate the Company's accounts, borrowed $350,000 from the Bank of Commerce, secured by bonds held by the National Trust Company. Although repayments were made after Peter Petrovich Verigin assumed office as President of the CCUB, it went further into debt, and finally into complete bankruptcy in 1937, facing foreclosure proceedings in 1938.
While rail lines formed the main means of transportation within the West Kootenay region and between it and the outside world, it was essential that roads also be developed for local traffic. By 1912, there was a road from Trail in the south up the west bank of the Columbia to [now] Castlegar near Brilliant. A route also ran from near Nelson in the north down the west bank of the Kootenay to Crescent Valley near the junction of the Slocan River. Much remained to be done to cut through the difficult terrain between the Slocan River and Pass Creek near Brilliant. It was at this time that Peter V. Verigin realized the necessity of the ambitious project of the Doukhobor Suspension bridge, which was completed in 1913, a crowning achievement!*
The formation of transportation corridors was crucial to the development of the Doukhobors’ rapidly growing settlements in the West Kootenay region. Connections were needed between the various communities and they developed a rudimentary road network at their own expense throughout the over 14,000 acres.
By the time of Peter V. Verigin's tragic, untimely, and still unsolved death in 1924, the Christian Community of Universal Brotherhood had become the largest communal enterprise in North America, comprised of 71,600 acres in BC, SK, and AB, containing orchards, villages, and countless industries supporting a sizable population of close to 10,000 souls.
After his death, a general decline began due to falling membership, bad management, arson, and the depression. During the interim between Peter V. Verigin’s death and the arrival of his son from Russia in 1927, the executive board of the CCUB, in order to consolidate the Company's accounts, borrowed $350,000 from the Bank of Commerce, secured by bonds held by the National Trust Company. Although repayments were made after Peter Petrovich Verigin assumed office as President of the CCUB, it went further into debt, and finally into complete bankruptcy in 1937, facing foreclosure proceedings in 1938.
In some ways, the CCUB was a victim of its own success. Despite the sociological and economic strains of the thirties as the depression approached, the C.C.U.B. continued its various enterprises and was bent on expansion. They were able to do this because their community and economic system was largely insularly self contained, and depended little on outside commercial inter-action providing that their produce remained in demand.
However, the accumulated debt with interest was a mistake and in 1938, the outside brutal commercial world intervened when the Sun Life Assurance Company, Great West Mortgage, Canadian Imperial Bank and National Trust moved to foreclose on the enterprise over their inability to pay $300,000. interest on the expansion loan on time. Unfortunately, the arrangement of this loan put the entire holdings at risk, the entire holdings were guarantors for the loan.
Because of the impact of the Great Depression and consequent fewer orders, the organization was unable to repay the total interest amount, although the majority of the debt was retired and general holdings had actually increased throughout this period.
Despite these factors, the note was called, and bankruptcy procedures were enacted in l937 followed by foreclosure proceedings in 1938.
Community accountant William A. Soukoroff gave additional reasons for the CCUB collapse: heavy mortgage rates coupled with declining revenues, declining membership, and enormous losses due to the activities of radical Sons of Freedom as well as unknown predators who committed arson on CCUB operations and further undermined communal property.
Facing foreclosure, the community appealed to the Farm Credit Corporation of Canada for assistance. This entity was created to assist farmers to stay on the land in the depression hard times so they would have a place to live and be able to feed themselves and others, food was a priority. Although the Farm Credit Corporation had been formed to keep agriculture thriving because of food shortages, in this case, the corporation inexplicably denied any assistance to the jeopardized C.C.U.B. In the case of the soon to be dispossessed 'toil and peaceful life' workers, the wand of compassion was not extended by the grim, heartless, bureaucrats and the government of Canada had the last cynical victory over the bothersome 'Douks' by refusing any assistance and allowing the foreclosure to proceed, dispossessing the roughly 10,000 tireless toilers of all ownership in 1938.
However, the accumulated debt with interest was a mistake and in 1938, the outside brutal commercial world intervened when the Sun Life Assurance Company, Great West Mortgage, Canadian Imperial Bank and National Trust moved to foreclose on the enterprise over their inability to pay $300,000. interest on the expansion loan on time. Unfortunately, the arrangement of this loan put the entire holdings at risk, the entire holdings were guarantors for the loan.
Because of the impact of the Great Depression and consequent fewer orders, the organization was unable to repay the total interest amount, although the majority of the debt was retired and general holdings had actually increased throughout this period.
Despite these factors, the note was called, and bankruptcy procedures were enacted in l937 followed by foreclosure proceedings in 1938.
Community accountant William A. Soukoroff gave additional reasons for the CCUB collapse: heavy mortgage rates coupled with declining revenues, declining membership, and enormous losses due to the activities of radical Sons of Freedom as well as unknown predators who committed arson on CCUB operations and further undermined communal property.
Facing foreclosure, the community appealed to the Farm Credit Corporation of Canada for assistance. This entity was created to assist farmers to stay on the land in the depression hard times so they would have a place to live and be able to feed themselves and others, food was a priority. Although the Farm Credit Corporation had been formed to keep agriculture thriving because of food shortages, in this case, the corporation inexplicably denied any assistance to the jeopardized C.C.U.B. In the case of the soon to be dispossessed 'toil and peaceful life' workers, the wand of compassion was not extended by the grim, heartless, bureaucrats and the government of Canada had the last cynical victory over the bothersome 'Douks' by refusing any assistance and allowing the foreclosure to proceed, dispossessing the roughly 10,000 tireless toilers of all ownership in 1938.
The provincial government was willing and perhaps even eager to see the collapse of an institution which they considered foreign and bothersome and they also saw a financial advantage to this foreclosure. As a result, the government did nothing to prevent the foreclosure of the CCUB, but did act to prevent the social problem which would have resulted from thousands of Doukhobors being thrown off their land once again, joining itinerant unemployed in work camps and literally wandering the streets in the midst of the depression.
To avoid this, in 1939, the province moved to purchase the communal property for a fraction of the original cost with the scheme of renting it back to the people living on it. The provincial government paid a negotiated sum of $280,000. on the outstanding interest, and thus became the new 'owner’ of the largest communal enterprise in North America, comprised of 71,600 acres throughout the three western provinces and industries evaluated at $11,000,000.
The majority of the C.C.U.B. holdings were in BC. There were smaller operations and land in Alberta, a flour mill and farming operations around Verigin and Kylemore in Saskatchewan. These properties were all part of the foreclosure of the C.C.U.B.
Previous to the BC Government takeover, the trust company receivers announced to the CCUB that they intended to liquidate available resources as compensation for their financial losses, beyond the $280,000 payment received from the BC government.
This liquidation continued until most of the Doukhobor resources such as lumber and any other items in stock were sold off at fire-sale prices, and the basic industries such as the jam factory were totally depleted so there was no chance of the Doukhobors reviving their CCUB company in any meaningful fashion.
After the receivers had completed their work, the Government of BC took over and gave permission for the Doukhobors to remain in the villages as tenants on the properties they had previously owned, provided they could pay rent. Those who were not able to pay, mostly now unemployed and seniors, faced eviction.
Accustomed to living in a basic cash-less society, many of the 'tenants' had trouble making their rent payments, many younger people found work outside the commune, and some able bodied men joined others ‘riding the rods’ or simply 'hitting the road', in an attempt to find work elsewhere.
A Land Settlement Board was set up in l96l to re-survey and administer properties which community members rented. This board then proceeded to sell off the properties, first to the Doukhobors, then to the general population. Disintegration of the communes and integration into the neighbouring society had become a reality.
To avoid this, in 1939, the province moved to purchase the communal property for a fraction of the original cost with the scheme of renting it back to the people living on it. The provincial government paid a negotiated sum of $280,000. on the outstanding interest, and thus became the new 'owner’ of the largest communal enterprise in North America, comprised of 71,600 acres throughout the three western provinces and industries evaluated at $11,000,000.
The majority of the C.C.U.B. holdings were in BC. There were smaller operations and land in Alberta, a flour mill and farming operations around Verigin and Kylemore in Saskatchewan. These properties were all part of the foreclosure of the C.C.U.B.
Previous to the BC Government takeover, the trust company receivers announced to the CCUB that they intended to liquidate available resources as compensation for their financial losses, beyond the $280,000 payment received from the BC government.
This liquidation continued until most of the Doukhobor resources such as lumber and any other items in stock were sold off at fire-sale prices, and the basic industries such as the jam factory were totally depleted so there was no chance of the Doukhobors reviving their CCUB company in any meaningful fashion.
After the receivers had completed their work, the Government of BC took over and gave permission for the Doukhobors to remain in the villages as tenants on the properties they had previously owned, provided they could pay rent. Those who were not able to pay, mostly now unemployed and seniors, faced eviction.
Accustomed to living in a basic cash-less society, many of the 'tenants' had trouble making their rent payments, many younger people found work outside the commune, and some able bodied men joined others ‘riding the rods’ or simply 'hitting the road', in an attempt to find work elsewhere.
A Land Settlement Board was set up in l96l to re-survey and administer properties which community members rented. This board then proceeded to sell off the properties, first to the Doukhobors, then to the general population. Disintegration of the communes and integration into the neighbouring society had become a reality.
[A complete report on funds and companies are provided in the Hawthorn report.]
The famous Doukhobor Suspension Bridge became part of the BC Highways network co-opted by the Department of Highways. Poised between the communities of Brilliant and Ooteshenie, the bridge had played an important role as part of the Doukhobor economic network and the local transportation system for more than 25 years. Now its Doukhobor ownership was over. In 1957 it facilitated the development of the Castlegar airport, an irony since the development of the airport also included the expropriation of 12 Doukhobor villages which were bulldozed.
The famous Doukhobor Suspension Bridge became part of the BC Highways network co-opted by the Department of Highways. Poised between the communities of Brilliant and Ooteshenie, the bridge had played an important role as part of the Doukhobor economic network and the local transportation system for more than 25 years. Now its Doukhobor ownership was over. In 1957 it facilitated the development of the Castlegar airport, an irony since the development of the airport also included the expropriation of 12 Doukhobor villages which were bulldozed.
In 1961, the Utopian experiment came to a forlorn conclusion when all properties went to public sale with all proceeds being absorbed by the government coffers. Items for public use such as schools, roads and bridges, remained under government ownership and were used until no longer needed and then disposed of. As an example, this writer and some other concerned citizens were able to save the historic Raspberry School in Castlegar from planned demolition, one of the few remaining traces of the once flourishing CCUB.
After all debts were retired, including some individual claims, a small surplus of $142,111.07 was left for the remaining creditors or "legal heirs" of the CCUB, a meager remnant after the millions of dollars and untold time, effort and hardship which its Doukhobor members had invested in the enterprise. This was the seed of the CCUB Fund** which would later be doled out to Doukhobor societies.
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SOURCES:
* www.larrysdesk.com/the-making-of-the-doukhobor-suspension-bridge.html
** www.larrysdesk.com/the-ccub-trust-fund.html
THE ECONOMIC HISTORY OF THE DOUKHOBORS: Stuart Jamieson
REPORT OF THE DOUKHOBOR RESEARCH COMMITTEE: Harry B. Hawthorn