McTavish, Issac
Isaac McTavish was born in Palmyra, Ontario on February 23, 1873. He arrived in Coalmont in 1911 to build his landmark Coalmont General Store which he ran for many years. Isaac sold his goods from a tent while his store was constructed. Mac was a teetotaller who never married. He owned the first car in Coalmont – a Ford touring car which he used to pick up mail from Princeton to be delivered at the Post Office located in his store. His store had a telephone switchboard. He was Postmaster at Coalmont from 1-12-13 to 13-12-18. Joined by Thos. Whiteman in Jan. of the same year. He was involved in financing development of coal prospects around Collins Gulch and Granite Creek and he was described as “canny Scot of ample proportions” by John Goodfellow. When Isaac retired, he moved to New Westminster, BC. He sold his store to Ed Rioux who then sold it to Walt Smart. McTavish died on October 15, 1950 at the age of 77 years and is buried at the Ocean View Burial Park in Burnaby, BC.
Diane Sterne; Story of Similkameen, John Goodfellow, Chapter 6