McInroy, Howard

Howard McInroy was born in Highland Grove, Ontario, on February 14, 1896. He married Augusta Larson in 1917 in Irma, Alberta. He died on April 20, 1983, at the Princeton General Hospital.

The McInroy family came to Princeton in 1927. At first, they lived in East Princeton. In July 1928, The Princeton Star reported that he had “opened a studio in the post office block.” His studio was known as Princeton Studio and McInroy was in business until sometime in the early 1930s. He ran regular advertisements The Princeton Star until May 1, 1930. 

In 1931, the family moved at Hayes Creek (Five Mile Creek).

McInroy also farmed and ran McInroy Sawmills with his sons, Clarence and Gavon McInroy. The sawmill was “located seven mills east of Princeton on the north side of the Similkameen River.” 

In December 1933, Howard McInroy and his wife, Augusta, were witnesses to an altercation which claimed the life of Robert Campbell. They both testified at the hearing. Their neighbour at Five Mile Creek, Charles Hunter, was charged with murder. 

He drew the original plans for, and helped build, the Five Mile Creek school which was situated near where Hayes Creek flows in the Similkameen River. The school was built on  Wendell Sellers’ property (where the Seller’s barn is [was?] located). The school was in use from 1932-1935.

In January 1948, the McInroy’s place was burned. 

He was a charter member of the Loyal Orange Lodge in Kelowna.

See also: Princeton Studi0; McInroy, Augusta Marie (Larson)