E. Thomas Johnson (Johnston alternate spelling) operated a hotel in a tent 1884–1886, before returning to farming and prospecting.

[2] During the westward advance of the Canadian Pacific Railway transcontinental line at this time, alcohol was considered a disruptive influence in the construction camps.

[5] In 1884, about 5 kilometres (3 mi) south, an outlaw robbed and murdered a salesman for an American liquor company, who was carrying around $5,000.

[8] The selection of the train station name in 1912,[9] and the post office in 1916, established the locality as Parson, but as late as 1921, the census still defined the place as Hog Ranch.

In 1884, the government called tenders for a ferry across the Columbia at Johnston's Landing,[11] which commenced operations at that time.

[21][25] Complementing his Brisco operation, Ralph A. Thrall, quarried baryte about 10 kilometres (6 mi) west during the 1940s,[26] 1950s,[27] and 1960s.

Advancing southeastward, the rail head was about 5 kilometres (3 mi) northwest of Parson in November 1912.

[46] The Parson Community Recreation Park facilitates tennis, baseball, beach volleyball, and basketball in summer and skating and sledding in winter.

[48][49] In 2022, Rogers sought public feedback on erecting a 63.2-metre (207 ft) self-support tower approximately 3 kilometres (2 mi) south of Parson, which would provide new 5G wireless coverage, from Golden to Spillimacheen.

[57] In the 1880s, 70 to 80 pack horses left the west bank at Carbonate Landing twice a month for the mine sites to the southwest.

[58] Although the cross river ferry is not mentioned until the early 1890s,[59] a basic service must have existed for years.

[63] That year, CP cleared and subdivided the adjacent new townsite of Mallett, and a new 13-metre (44 ft) bridge was installed across a back channel.

When high water flooded the valley bottom, rowing upstream for a mile was essential to reach vehicles parked by the highway.

Guinness World Records has certified the 19-metre (61 ft) curiosity resting on the hillside to the east of the highway.