1

Cones of the hop plant
20th Century, Circa 2000

2

Late summer hops vines ready for harvest. Mt. Cheam in background
20th Century, Circa 1940's
Agassiz Hop Yards, Agassiz, BC, Canada


Credits:
Agassiz Harrison Historical Society

3

Agassiz was once the site of large hop-growing farms, known as hop yards. These hop yard were located in various places throughout the District of Kent. Hop growing started in Agassiz in 1892 when three yards were planted. One was planted by St. George Hammersly, an early pioneer and the first reeve of the District of Kent. The Hammersly yard as it became known, was located on the west side of Cameron Road between Hunt Road and the Fraser River. This yard stayed in production until 1948, when the Fraser River flood killed many of the hop plants. Another of the 1892 yards was planted by Capt. W.E. Green. The Green yard was located at the corner of Else and Hot Springs Roads. The third yard was planted by Messrs. Sitch and Lane. This yard was the beginnings of the largest hop yard in the Agassiz areas, theses at the base of Hop yard Mountain. The main yard was known as the Greyell or McDonald yard, and it was in production until the yards were sold in 1952. This property is located along Tuyttens Road from the ditch just east of the road to the base of the mountain, and from Cutler Road to MT. View Road, (formerly known as Devil's Lane)

4

Vines of hops and bales of hops on display
20th Century, Circa 1940's
Agassiz Hop Yards, Agassiz, BC, Canada


Credits:
Agassiz Harrison Historical Society

5

Another part of the BC Hop Company main yards was located just east of the McDonald yard. This yard ran along the north side of Whelpton Road, and went as far east as the present-day Highway 9. The third extension of the main yards was on the other side of the present Highway 9 between Whelpton and Hayward roads. It was known as Maitland Yard.
These three inter-related yards were run by the BC Hop Company and were the last yards actively growing hops in the District of Kent. The McDonald yard was sold in 1952. It is uncertain when the other were sold.
In 1893, Capt W.S. Moore planted hops in a yard which was located across from the present Pacific Agri Food Research Centre. These yards were not in production for many years.
Another early hop yard was planted on what is now the on Tranmer Road. This yard was planted in 1985 by Arthur Stepney. These yards were at the south east corner of Tranmer and McDonald's road and extended to the Fraser River. By 1904 all of the existing hop yards were consolidated and the BC Hop Company took them over.
Drying kilns and processing facilities were built at the base of Hop yard Mountain, now land used for dairy farming. During the First World War years, the company had a contract to supply dehydrated potatoes to the U.S. Army, and the elaborate drying system set up for hops was adapted to serve in drying potatoes.