By Margaret Carruthers
Established in 1908, Tyndall Road is located in Okanagan Centre. It takes its name from early pioneer Samuel Henry Tyndall.
Samuel Tyndall was born on March 9, 1891, in County Wicklow, Ireland. Samuel (Sam) Tyndall left Ireland in 1912 arriving in Canada on his 21 birthday.
He travelled with his uncle, Samuel Young, a well known Oyama pioneer, and Gus MacDonell. Sam’s first job in the Okanagan was working for his uncle in the hayfield on the flats.
At the time he boarded with a Mr A Horsnall, postmaster in Winfield. In 1915 Sam went to work for the Okanagan Valley Land Co, and a year later he joined the Canadian Army where he served his time in France for the duration of the First World War.
On his return to the Okanagan Sam Tyndall settled on Wood Lake, where he worked on a survey gang on the CNR Line which was being built between Vernon and Kelowna. Upon completion of the railroad in 1923, Sam went to work for the Vernon Fruit Union in Oyama.
Three years later he bought his first piece of land located in the area of today’s Seaton Park. Sam then went into farming. He had five good milking cows and set up his own milk route delivering milk with horse and rig throughout Winfield.
As the years passed Sam’s herd of cattle grew as did his business. He bought a delivery truck as his milk route had expanded to Oyama and close to Okanagan Centre.
On October 15, 1933, at the time when the country was still in the grip of the depression, Sam married his sweetheart Miss Doris Seeley.
Doris was born in Halifax on February 28, 1906, and moved to Kelowna with her parents Mr & Mrs Reginald Seeley in 1913. Sam and Doris were the first couple to be married in Winfield United Church, which incidentally Sam had helped build.
After their marriage ceremony Sam and Doris along with their guests returned to Sam’s home where Doris served everyone the dinner she had prepared. After the last of the guests left Sam went pheasant hunting and on his return sat down to lunch with Doris, then took her outside to show her how to milk the cows.
In 1934, the Tyndall’s daughter Kathleen was born.
The Tyndall’s were very active in the community, especially with the United Church and the Missionary Church on Glenmore Road.
Sam was also known for the great poems he wrote. He was said to be able to write verses on any subject at a moment’s notice.
One of the great highlights in the Tyndall’s life was their year-long trip back to Ireland in 1947. They called it a delayed honeymoon. They stayed with Sam’s mother who still lived in County Wicklow.
While in Ireland the Tyndalls had rented out their farm in Winfield. When they returned they found it in shambles, and to make matters worse the milk route had been sold. After getting the farm back into shape the Tyndall’s decided to ship their milk direct to the Kelowna creamery rather than start another milk route.
Records show that Tyndall Road was once the area of some not too successful gold claims. The old mine on Tyndall Road is now filled in for safety reasons, but the mouth of the digging is still visible.