Bill Dungate was four years old when he first saw the town of Houston from a seat on a Grand Trunk Pacific railcar, in 1914. His mother led him and his sister Maisie onto the newly-built platform where his father, George, waited to greet them. Young Bill had missed his father, who left them behind in Vernon months earlier. But they were together now in this strange, remote place.

Later after the family had settled in Houston, young Bill might have thought it scary when at five years of age, he had to run for help as his mother went into labour with twins at home. But his mother recovered quickly. Bill's father was away, there was little time for rest and Bill's mother was up on their roof the very next day repairing shingles.

When he was eight years old, it was discovered that Bill had the gift of "water witching" or "divining." He would take a forked wooden branch and walk across property. When he was standing over a vein of water, the rod would plunge down toward the ground on its own, pinpointing the spot where to dig. Bill is responsible for helping find most of the well water still being used in Houston today.

He is also responsible for remembering and photographing many pioneer moments in the valley. Thanks to Bill's photography, including the photos in this article, we have a better appreciation of the hardships that settlers endured across our northern communities.