73-year-old photo album belonging to 'Miss Joyce Mallett of Dawson Creek, B.C.' found in Kamloops gravel pit - Action News
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British Columbia

73-year-old photo album belonging to 'Miss Joyce Mallett of Dawson Creek, B.C.' found in Kamloops gravel pit

Stolen memories were put together by a 23-year-old woman before she died

Stolen memories were carefully compiled by a 23-year-old woman before she died

Kaylee Stoddart holds the photo album she found belonging to Patricia Urchit's late sister, Joyce Mallett, at right. (Kaylee Stoddart)

Kaylee Stoddartwas walking her dogs in a gravel pit near the Thompson River in the southern Interior city ofKamloops, B.C., when they came across a pile of what looked like garbage.

One item stood out, though: Aleather bound album wrapped in lace with the word "Photographs" printed on the front.

Inside, Stoddart found a series of black-and-white family pictures taken from1947 to 1952.

"Someone took the time to write the names, the years and everything in there," she said. "You can see the kids grow up, there's school pictures, there's bible camps, there's houses that were built, family pets I feel like I know this family."

Her best clue was a name indicating the person responsible for curating the photos: "Miss Joyce Mallettof Dawson Creek, B.C.," who had also included a note asking "Please don't take any of my pictures."

But Facebook messages to every Mallett she could find in the Dawson Creek area of northeastern B.C. went unanswered, so she turned to the radio for help, appearing on CBCmorning programs in B.C.'s interior and north.

"I just want a happy ending," she said. "Somebody has to be missing this."

Album stolen from a suitcase

That somebody turned out to be Patricia Urchit, whose late sister had put together the album before dying at the age of 23 in 1958 just eleven years after she started the album.

Urchit wasn't listening to the radio when the interview aired, but several family friends were and they contacted her right away.

"The pictures are very precious," she said. "I am so thankful."

Urchit explained she had the album stored in a suitcase that had been stolen from her home in Kamloops recently, after she and her husband moved into a senior's community.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Urchithadn't been able to return to the houseto find out what was missing, and so she was unaware the album had been stolen until she heard it was recovered.

Stoddart said her family once had an entire trailer full of memories stolen which is why it was so important to her to be sure the photos found their home.

"I'm almost in tears, actually," she said. "I know how it feels to lose something as precious as that."

Corrections

  • An earlier version of this story misidentified Patricia Urchit as Patricia Ruth. In fact, Ruth is her middle name.
    Aug 06, 2020 7:38 PM PT

With files from Courtney Dickson, Dominika Lirette and Chris Walker