Corrie-Douglas, Hamish “James” “Jim” “Jimmy”

Hamish Corrie-Douglas (known locally as James Corrie) was born in Dumfrieshire, Scotland, on March 1, 1885. He married Helen Peterson in 1934. He died on December 5, 1960 in Princeton, BC.

James Corrie came to Canada in 1906. He enlisted on December 1, 1915 as “Hamish Corrie-Douglas” in New Westminster, BC and declared fit for duty on December 29. He served  as a sergeant with the 54th Battalion. He was awarded the Military Medal, General Service Medal and Victory Medals. At the time of his enlistment in 1915, his occupation was “miner.” 

James Corrie came to Princeton (from Keremeos) in 1924, in order to fill the position of clerk at the Hotel Princeton (“Billy” (William Franklin) Hazzard (1876-1949) left the position due to health issues).

Copper Mountain Pool Hall 

In September 1927, bought the pool hall at Copper Mountain from William “Peg” White. He was rooming in Bunkhouse 2 when the fire in Bunkhouse 3 killed nine men and injured nearly a dozen more in March 1928. While at Copper Mountain he was a member of one of ten curling rinks (1928). 

Probably due to the Copper Mountain mine closure in 1930, Corrie moved back to Princeton. And, at the time of the census in 1931, he was living in a boarding house in Princeton owned by Roy B. Curran. That same year, he invested in a new local oil company, Princeton Holdings, N.P.L., to develop oil holdings in the Red Coulee oil fields. He acted as secretary-treasurer for the new company.

Corrie moved to Vancouver in December 1931. He returned to Princeton on vacation in July 1932 and once again returned, temporarily, to the clerk position at the Princeton Hotel.

J. Corrie, Tobacconist 

In October of 1932, he purchased the business of “the late John Nathan” and intended to run a wholesale/retail tobacconist/news agent/confectionary. A month later, he moved his new store into the Hotel Princeton block. In 1935, he had expanded his business to include cameras, chocolates and Waterman pens and pencils. His shop was the smoker’s supply headquarters for the Similkameen by 1946. In 1952, he moved his tobacco shop to the building on the corner of Bridge Street and Angela Avenue. The store was known by a number of names: J. Corrie’s,   J. Corrie’s Tobacco Shop, Corrie’s Cigar Shop, J. Corrie, and – just Corrie’s. 

Jack Coulthard was the clerk at J. Corrie’s Tobacco Store in 1942.

Community Involvement

He soon became involved in the Princeton community, making donations to a variety of causes: Ladies’ Hospital Auxiliary (to purchase an x-ray machine) (1925); a relief fund for Charles Cottrell of Keremeos (1926); the Hope Road Footballers (1933); the Princeton Canadian Legion of the British Empire Services League, No. 56 (1936); the Board of Trade campaign to raise funds for much needed fire suppression equipment (1940); Princeton Red Cross (1940); Princeton Game Club (1946); Fish and Game Club First Annual Barrel Derby (1946). 

Support for Community Youth

James Corrie was a strong supporter of children’s activities and sports endeavours, donating to: a children’s Christmas party at Copper Mountain (1931); Similkameen Hockey League (1939); Tuxis (Protestant Church boy’s program) (1939); Allenby Ice Carnival (1940); Copper Mountain Junior Red Cross (1944); Princeton Hockey Club (1946); boy’s boxing (1947); Memorial Park Fund (1948) (a sizable donation of $150.00); Amber Ski Club (1951).

He also donated the “J. Corrie Cup” to the Princeton Ski Club in 1937 for “Boy’s 8 and under” jumping competitions. 

War Effort

James Corrie supported the war effort by operating a War Savings Stamp sweep (1940); running a semi-monthly war stamp raffle (1943); collecting for the Elk’s Smoke Fund (1941); displaying letters of thanks from those enrolled in the Smoke Fund in his store window (1941), erecting a 6-foot cork-tipped cigarette structure to collect coins for the Elk’s Smoke Fund (1941). He donated 2.00 to the Canadian Aid to Russia Fund (1943); subscribed to the Victory Loan Drive (1943); supported the “Stamp out the U-Boat Campaign (1943); donated to, and collected for the Star’s Overseas Fund (1943); wrote letters of support for the Victory Loan program (1944, 1945); handled the local Prisoners of War Fund (1945).

He bought lake-front summer property on Otter Lake, Tulameen in 1941 and his wife and daughter spent their summers there (1945). It was known as the Corrie Cabin.