Identity area
Type of entity
Person
Authorized form of name
Brightbill, Harry
Parallel form(s) of name
Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules
Other form(s) of name
Identifiers for corporate bodies
Description area
Dates of existence
1891 - September 24, 1976
History
In 1911, Harry Brightbill came to Squamish to work for Norton and McKinnon, a logging company operating at Cheekeye. In 1913 he worked as a brakeman on the Howe Sound and Pemberton Valley Northern Railway.
In the 1920's, Harry married Kamloops-born Jean Greatrix. They had 3 daughters, Alma (Mrs A.H. Cunningham), Katherine (Mrs W.A. Johnson), and Harriet.
His wife died at age 66 on June 9, 1965. Harry died on September 24, 1976 shortly after receiving an award for the best garden in Squamish Valley.
Places
Legal status
Functions, occupations and activities
Harry Brightbill was the conductor of the "fisherman's special", a train with a passenger car on the end that took men up to Lillooet to fish.
In 1945, Harry worked as a switchman for the PGE. While working for PGE, he was known as "Brownie Brightbill" because of the demerits (brownies) he would receive for doing silly things like standing on his head on a box car. He retired in 1953 as the senior employee on the railway line and became a municipal gardener. He retired as a gardener in May of 1972.
In June 1972, he received a medal from Mayor Pat Brennan to commemorate his years of service to the municipality. He was honoured at the annual senior citizen's dinner.
In September 1976, he won an award for the best garden in Squamish Valley. Mayor D. Stewart presented the award. His daughter Harried accepted it for him on his behalf as he had been ill and was in the hospital.
Mandates/sources of authority
Squamish Public Library, Local History reference section. Squamish Files: Prominent Names.