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Houston's Name
by Debi Smith
Houston locals were always under the impression their town was named after an early surveyor or perhaps after a railway engineer from the Grand Trunk Pacific. It wasn't until the summer of 1986 that a Mrs. J. Wilson of Surrey B.C. appeared at the Houston Tourist Info booth to finally set the story straight.
John Houston- 1850-1910
(photo courtesy of Nelson Museum)

In her hand she carried a newspaper clipping dated October 16, 1910 that reported a contest to rename the townsite that lay thirty miles east of Aldermere (now Telkwa). The place had been calling itself Pleasant Valley and the Law Butler Company together with a Wm. Benson were offering a cash prize of $20 for a better name.

The contest was run through Prince George and received more than 100 entries of names like Benlaw, Eldorado, Newton and Hopetown. Then a Charles G. Thorne - a relative of the same Mrs. Wilson who set the story straight - submitted the name Houston and won the contest and the money.
Edith May (Keeley) Houston and daughter
(photo courtesy of Nelson Museum)
Where did Charles get this name? Possibly from newspapers that in the same year reported the passing of the literary legend and well-known fiery pioneer of B.C., Mr. John Houston.
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