The Rosswood Community Association was formed in the early eighties and it’s members immediately set to work to acquire land for a community center. Since then the Community Association has built a log community hall (started in 1987, completed in a few years), playgrounds, sports field, picnic shelter and campground.

            In January of 1997 the Community Association started campaigning for hydro power for Rosswood.   Almost three years later, during the last week of November, 1999, Rosswood was connected to the BC Hydro grid.  

            The Community Association then turned it’s attention to B.C. Telephone with it’s promised service. In late November of 2001 phone service was finally connected throughout Rosswood.

L. Parmenter   Nov. 2007

Pictures on the side show the building of our community hall.  

 Photo credit L. Parmenter

Local knowledge has it that Rosswood was named after Annie Ross, a pioneer woman that came to this area in 1909.   She located and applied for a pre-emption where Wesach Creek runs into Kalum Lake.   She received her pre-emption in 1911 and in 1912   became Postmistress of the sub-post office that was named Rosswood.   She was one of many people, mostly single men, who applied for land in the valley in the years before WW I.   By the end of WW I the population of the new community had dwindled, the post office was closed, and since then there has been no postal service here.

             The 1920’s and early 30’s were the era of prospecting and placer mining in Rosswood, with the most successful locations being on Maroon Mt. and along Douglas Cr.   In those years, Rosswood town site was located at the north end of Kalum Lake.

            With WW II came a demand for cedar poles and lumber, giving employment to local residents as well as to the trickle of newcomers into the area.  

            After the War logging increased, bringing young families into Rosswood. In 1957 a one room school was built and classes started that September with 13 students in six grades.   After six years the school closed down and Rosswood’s children have since been bussed into Terrace schools.

            In the early days, transportation to Rosswood was by a trail, later by a wagon road to Kalum Lake, then by trail around the Lake, or by boat in the summer and over the ice in the winter.   In 1954, an access road from the West Kalum logging road was built   into Rosswood    In 1971, a logging road was completed up the east side of Kalum Lake.   Since both roads were built by logging companies, private vehicles traveled on them at their own risk.   Several years later, the Highways Department took over the road on the East side, finally paving it in 1984.

            Electricity came to Rosswood in 1999, and in 2001 we were connected to the province’s phone service. Today, a growing number of people from all walks of life   choose to relocate to Rosswood to enjoy peace, tranquility and the natural beauty of the valley.

Louise Parmenter, November 2007