14

The Richter girls and friend all on a horse
Circa 1906
Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada

15

Like his older sons, who were educated at the Pandosy Mission in Kelowna, the girls were sent away to school at St. Ann's in Victoria, and Holy Name in Washington. While at the latter school, Frances contracted diphtheria and died at the age of 8. Frank Jr. was went to school in Keremeos; he served as the local M.L.A. for many years.

16

Frank & Ina Richter with two of their horses
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Crédits:
From the Clark Estate

17

Frank and Elizabeth Richter did a fair amount of travelling, as noted in numerous references from the newspaper. They certainly remained part of the community, though, as seen from this sample:
Keremeos Trumpet, November 27, 1908
"Through the public spiritedness of Mr. F. Richter, the residents of the upper town are to have a public hall of their own; a handsome frame structure 45 by 75 feet. The site has been selected on the street opposite the Central Hotel, between C.L. Cumming's blacksmith shop and T.W. Coleman's drug store. The necessary material has been ordered and no time will be lost in making the building an accomplished fact. Contractor McLean has charge of the work, a sufficient guarantee that it will be done in workmanlike style."
And this:
Keremeos Chronicle Local Notes August 6, 1909
"Mrs. Frank Richter will give a lawn party on Saturday afternoon and evening next in aid of St. John's Church Guild. Tennis, croquet, games of all kinds, and refreshments. Every one welcome. Come and have a good time."
The next week:
Keremeos Chronicle Local Notes August 13, 1909
"The lawn party given by Mrs. Frank Richter on Saturday, in aid of St. John's Church Guild, was well attended, and a very pleasant afternoon and evening spent in games and social amusements, refreshments being served on the veranda. Financially it was the most successful affair of the kind yet held by the Ladies' Guild."

18

Young orchard
1890-1910
Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Crédits:
Keremeos Museum

19

Accounts of the progress of fruit farming and experimentation are also found in the papers. Considering the fact that Richter was told that the area was unsuited to fruit growing, his success in this field certainly proved his ability to make the desert blossom. The first trees were brought in over the Hope Trail by pack train, and were well established by the time Mrs. R.L. Cawston arrived.

Keremeos Chronicle April 2, 1909
"One need not go far to see the magnificent effects produced by the introduction of water on these bench lands. Close at hand are the immense alfalfa fields of Mr. Frank Richter, where three and four crops are cut annually, and adjoining are Mr. Richter's orchards, comprising thirty-five acres of vigorous, healthy young trees - apple, pear, peach, plum, apricot and cherry - the fruit from which has gained several first prizes in more than one exhibition during the past year or two. Mr. Richter's land was at one time - not very long ago - exactly the same kind of bench land as that is now to be vivified and brought into vigorous exuberance by the magic touch of the Water Fairy. Although the water that transformed the Richter ranch into "a thing of beauty and a joy forever" came from Keremeos creek, it has never yet been whispered that the water from Ashnola would not turn the trick 'just as good.'"

20

Richter's orchard in bloom
1890-1910
Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Crédits:
Keremeos Museum

21

Keremeos Trumpet January 1, 1909
"As the result of an experiment made years ago while living at the lower ranch Mr. Frank Richter has originated a new variety of apple, and one which, on account of its beautiful colour, delicious flavour and symmetrical shape is destined to take a place among the leaders on the market.
"The parent tree is one of seven which grew from seeds of the Red Astrachan. Five of the trees proved unproductive and the fruit of the other producing tree is entirely unlike the apple here referred to. Mr. Richter has been calling the new variety the Winter Banana but it does not in the least resemble the fruit ordinarily known by that name."
This was the predecessor of the Golden Delicious apple.

Keremeos Trumpet June 26, 1908
"We acknowledge with thanks a beautiful bouquet of roses from the garden of Mr. and Mrs. F. Richter. Mrs. Richter is an authority on these, the most beautiful of all flowering shrubs, and we doubt if any rosary (sic) in the province surpasses her garden in respect to variety and magnificence of bloom."

22

Helen Richter in the Richter vineyard
1907
Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, Canada

Crédits:
Taken by Rev. A.H. Cameron
Keremeos Museum

23

Frank Richter died of heart failure in 1910, at the age of 73. Two years later, Elizabeth married Harry Tweddle, another prominent pioneer citizen. As well as raising a family of three girls and a boy, Tweddle was a kind stepfather to his wife's family. They continued to live at Inglewood, where Elizabeth Richter Tweddle died in 1957.