Surrey Bend's Legendary Hermit
If Surrey Bend is haunted, it would be the benign spirit of the hermit who found peace and contentment in its wildness for more than 40 years. His name was Don Peterson, according to the few "outsiders" who met him, and he was nearing age 100 when he vanished in 1990 into the mix of trees and waterways that surrounded his roughly built home.
The remarkable structure was built largely of old railroads ties borrowed from nearby CNR Switchyards, still stands, along with the hulls of a couple of old wooden boats and a pile of rusted bicycle parts.
Several smaller shacks, used to store firewood, bits of lumber and other odds and ends, can also be seen in the area. He planted an orchard, vegetable gardens, new grapes and other trellises made from telephone cable.
The industrious hermit even built an elaborate system of raised wooden walkways so he could move about freely when spring runoff sent the Fraser's waters surging over the trails.
According to a 1993 report in the Vancouver Sun, Surrey physician Phillip McCormack happened across Peterson in 1984 while walking in Surrey Bend, and later brought the old man medical supplies. In 1990 the hermit was taken out by Surrey RCMP for a medical examination, and returned a short time later.
He was never seen again.
"He didn't have a lot of use for civilization" Dr. McCormack is quoted as saying. "He used to say there are no taxes down here.... He never wanted to move out."
