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Sandon (B.C.)
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Alexander Harris, Eugene Petersen and Hal Wright : [Sandon interviews]

CALL NUMBER: T1147:0002 [and T2744:0001]
RECORDED: Sandon (B.C.), 1972
SUMMARY: TRACK 1: (1) ALEXANDER (SANDY) HARRIS of New Denver discusses the town of Sandon. His father came to Sandon in 1897 to mine silver/lead. Harris discusses the area's geology; Eli Carpenter, who pioneered mining in the area; and a dispute between Carpenter and his partner, Jack Seaton. He discusses the geography around Sandon; life there after the First World War; a murder; the town's organization; and why Sandon was abandoned in 1955, after a flood. There was no gold at Sandon, but there was a boom in mining silver and lead there. He discusses Gene Peterson, the only resident of Sandon as of 1972. Harris claims that organized ice hockey originated there in 1904.
TRACK 2: Mr. Harris discusses the Japanese people who lived in Sandon. During World War II, there was a heavy demand for the mine's resources. The government's role in moving the Japanese to the Slocan, and the character of the Japanese. After the war, the Japanese were moved east by the government. He discusses the effects of the 1955 flood. He discusses his life in the area; he eventually became the owner of the New Denver water works and power plant. The Sandon hydro plant was built in 1898 by Johnny Harris, a major contributor to the town's development. He describes the layout of Sandon, including its opera house and entertainments. (2) EUGENE (GENE) PETERSEN is interviewed. Peterson is one of the few people still living in Sandon. He discusses the other people who live there; the population of 5000 who lived there in the late 1800s; a fire which caused the town to be rebuilt; Sandon's founding in 1892, and the staking rush shortly thereafter. He discusses his father (who came from Norway to Sandon in 1923) and describes life in Sandon in the 1920s. He recalls the town being well organized, but with no highway connection; its dependence on the railway; the orderly conduct of its residents; and the local prostitutes, known for helping out miners who were broke. [Interview continued on next tape.]

CALL NUMBER: T1147:0001 [and T2744:0002]
RECORDED: Sandon (B.C.), 1972
SUMMARY: TRACK 1: EUGENE PETERSEN recalls the history of Sandon through various mining booms, up until its present condition as a ghost town. He discusses the 1929 murder of miner Sigvald Myklebost [Petersen says "1927"]; the killer was never convicted. An anecdote about how little law-breaking there was in Sandon. The “exodus” started during the depression in the 1930s. In the 1940s there were only 40 people. There was a slight increase in population in the 1950s, when 700 people lived in the town. The town emptied out again in the fall of 1953, when the population went down to 100. The flood of June 1955, in which half of the town was destroyed. The local power plant, built in 1896. He discusses what would be involved in the preservation of Sandon. He describes the silver-lead ore found at Sandon. Petersen still finds ore in the area, but it is not a big money maker. He plans on staying in Sandon until he works out his mining claim. (4) HAL WRIGHT, formerly of Saltspring Island, discusses his efforts to establish a museum at Sandon in the summer of 1972, working under an OFY grant. The museum displays local relics, along with photographs he acquired from the BC Archives. Wright is staying in Sandon through the winter. He plans on working for a carpenter and finishing school by correspondence. (5) EUGENE PETERSEN then discusses ghosts in the town. One of the remaining houses caught on fire, and he heard knocking on his door; no one was there, but there was a fire down the street.
[TRACK 2 is described separately; see AAAB1272.]

Arthur Stanhope Farwell papers

Arthur Stanhope Farwell was a surveyor who worked out of Nelson and Victoria, B.C.

Records include: letterbook, outward correspondence, 1901-1907; correspondence regarding West Kootenay mineral claims, 1893-1906; diaries, 1864-1867, 1888, 1892, 1894-1898, 1900-1905, 1907; financial records, 1893-1895, 1904-1906; surveyor's field notes and field books of miscellaneous West Kootenay mineral claims, Lots, and pre-emptions, 1891-1902. Also includes correspondence with Department of Lands and Works re Slocan Mining Division; correspondence with Gilbert M. Sproat re Sandon, British Columbia mineral claims, 1896, 1898; and a journal of a mineral claim survey trip in the West Kootenay, 1902.

Between ourselves : Ghost towns

SUMMARY: "Between Ourselves" was a weekly series of hour-long radio programs that presented Canada to Canadians. It featured aspects of Canadian life in docudramas, plays, music, and interviews, originating fr;om different regions of Canada. The series ran from 1966 to 1979. In this episode, "Ghost Towns", Jurgen Hesse explores three British Columbia ghost towns: Sandon, Quesnel Forks and Bralorne. Recolle;ctions and reminiscences are recounted by former residents of these mining towns.;

Between ourselves : Ghost towns

SUMMARY: "Between Ourselves" was a weekly series of hour-long radio programs that presented Canada to Canadians. It featured aspects of Canadian life in docudramas, plays, music, and interviews, originating fr;om different regions of Canada. The series ran from 1966 to 1979. In this episode, "Ghost Towns", Jurgen Hesse explores three British Columbia ghost towns: Sandon, Quesnel Forks and Bralorne. Recolle;ctions and reminiscences are recounted by former residents of these mining towns.;

Between ourselves : Ghost towns, no. 3 : Sandon

SUMMARY: "Between Ourselves" was a weekly series of hour-long radio programs that presented Canada to Canadians. It featured aspects of Canadian life in docudramas, plays, music, and interviews, originating fr;om different regions of Canada. The series ran from 1966 to 1979. This episode is a documentary consisting of interviews and sounds about Sandon, B.C. -- once an active mining town in the Slocan, toda;y a ghost town.;

British Columbia : of their doings their by one of them

The item is a large, illustrated volume titled "British Columbia: of their doings there by one of them" by Frederick D. Williams. The volume contains a manuscript account of a journey from London, England to Vancouver B.C. and back between August 28 and October 6, 1897. Williams landed in New York and travelled by train through Chicago and Spokane to Nelson where he and his party took the Kootenay Lake steamer to Kaslo and the train to Sandon and then on up to Nakusp and Revelstoke, Kamloops and Vancouver.

The volume has been illustrated by glued in photographs, magazine prints, maps, menus, passenger lists and programs.

Catherine O'Neail interview

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-10-01 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Catherine J. O'Neail moved from Calgary to Slocan, B.C., in 1897 with her family. She recalls some first impressions of Slocan City, the lake transportation, the hotels, Main Street, and the mining activity of the area. Mention is made of early residents Anthony Madden, Billy Clements, and Tom Mulvey. She discusses the town's incorporation, the first mayor and the possibility that it may have been called the "Fletcher Town Site". Her first husband was the secretary-treasurer for the Miner's Union, and this position took him to many mining stakes. She recalls the early churches, Dr. Foran, Mr. Shooke, Eli Carpenter, social activities and Myrtlebee Landing.

TRACK 2: Mrs. O'Neail continues with a description of Slocan, which was undergoing economic decline. Her description of Slocan includes its schools, the emerging lumber industry, the Doukhobor settlers, the lake boats, Sandon, Slocan Lake, Captain Jeffrey, the position of mines on the east side of the lake, G. Aylard, Judge Harris and Bill Harris.

Correspondence inward to Police Superintendent Hussey

  • GR-0353
  • Series
  • 1899-1900

Letters to Superintendent Hussey from the Chief Constable, Nelson, the constable at New Denver, and the constable sent to Sandon, regarding the miners' strike in the Slocan Valley, Nov. 1899 - Jan. 1900. Includes copies of letters from the secretary of the Sandon Miners' Union, the Silver-Lead Mines Association of B.C., and the manager of the Payne mine.

British Columbia. Superintendent of Police

Diaries and other material

The series consists of diaries of George Lovatt, kept from October 1903 to September 1905, while he lived in Sandon and worked as a sawmill operator and timber and liquor dealer. There are also diaries from his retirement in Victoria, from January 1920 to May 1924.
The series also includes account books, from 1900 to 1906, of Lovatt's son-in-law Harry Nash, who was a plumber and tinsmith and operated a hardware store in Sandon.

Ed Vipond interview

CALL NUMBER: T4195:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Life in Sandon, 1917-1920 RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1985-03-09 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Ed Vipond recalls his first impressions of Sandon, B.C. Personal background. Working for CPR in Sandon. Prominent citzens, including Johnny Harris, Clarence Cunningham. Sandon fire of 1900. A;.W. McCune; Mark McCune. TRACK 2: Johnny Harris -- poker game. Social life in Sandon. Bootleggers -- Scotty Donaldson. Madames. The Noble Five and other mines.

CALL NUMBER: T4195:0002 RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1985-03-09 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Fanny Pickett. Booteleggers -- "moonshine" on the train. The red light district. "One Big Union" strike. Working conditions in the mines. Automobiles in Sandon. [TRACK 2: blank.]

Edith Greer interview

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-05-18 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Edith, Mrs. J.A. Greer, had lived in New Denver for her entire life except for a period of ten years when she lived in Sandon. She came from Manitoba as an infant. Her father, Samuel Burgess, was a labourer at the local lumber mills who came to New Denver because of the booming economy. She discusses some early settlers of New Denver: William Crop, Charlie Cook, J.C. Harris, fruit farmers; Dr. Jacob E. Brouse who built the hospital, 1898; and Tom Hoban, J.D. Smith, Tricket and C.F. Nelson, storekeepers. Recollections of Sandon in its boom days are included, with stories of Johnny Harris, one of the earliest residents, who staked the town and ran the Reco Hotel, owned mines, the light plant, and the waterworks, and had gardens. Trueman's photos of Sandon prior to the fire and after the fire of 1900 are discussed. [TRACK 2: blank.]

Fred Lade fonds

  • PR-2394
  • Fonds
  • [189-?]-1963

The fonds consists of the photographs created or collected by Fred Lade, documenting the Kootenay region in the early 20th century. It also contains a photocopy of Lade's reminiscences.

Lade, Fred, 1891-1976

Ghost tales and spelunking

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1972 SUMMARY: Ghosts: Gene Petersen tells of the ghosts of Sandon, B.C. Spelunking: Robert Keziere talks about a caving expedition near Horne Lake on Vancouver Island.;

Ghost towns : Bralorne, Quesnel Forks, Sandon

CALL NUMBER: T2566:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1972 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: BC Ghost Towns: Ghosts in Sandon BC, various residents of Bralorne talk about the mining town from 1932 to 1971 and 1975; mines, miners, town life and local characters. TRACK 2: New prospects for Bralorne; Bralorne in the boom days, at present and in the future. [edited program] CALL NUMBER: T2566:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1972 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Ghost Towns; various residents comment on the history of Quesnel Forks as a mining community and ghost town; Quesnel Forks in the 1940s, the 1850s, and the 1920s; buildings; anecdote about Chinese residents; good times past and present; story about Cedar Creek and John Likely; mining methods; derivation of name Quesnel Forks; prospects for the restoration of Quesnel Forks; gold panning today. TRACK 2: Story of original staker at Sandon; appearance of Sandon; present residents recall the history of the town; the silver rush of the 1890s; Sandon in the 1920s; dances; booming town; a rare crime; ownership of Sandon today; Sandon museum OFY project; Sandon in the 1920s; Japanese internment camp at Sandon; the 1955 flood; why the town died; prospects for preserving Sandon's old buildings. [edited program] CALL NUMBER: T2566:0003 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1972 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Original interview material for ghost town programs; Bralorne residents talk about the town in the mining era from 1932 to 1971, and in 1972; mines, miners, town life and local characters, boom days and present prospects. TRACK 2: Original interview material for ghost town programs; Quesnel Forks residents recall mining days in the region in the 1850s and 1920s; future prospects for Quesnel Forks; bits of material on Sandon's original settlers and a museum project. CALL NUMBER: T2566:0004 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1972 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Repeat of Bralorne ghost town program; social life; mining and mining conditions; present activities; anecdotes about nicknames and local characters and of Bralorne as a mining town. TRACK; 2: Sandon material; appearance of the town in 1972; origins of Sandon; social life and crime; flood of 1955; preservation of the town; OFY person on museum project; bits of Quesnel Forks Material; more Bralorne material; town activities; the end of the mine; social life; prospects for renovation of the town. CALL NUMBER: T2566:0005 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1972 SUMMARY: Repeats of Sandon material with a few additional stories: the Sandon fire; a Norwegian immigrant; floods; the town and social life at the turn of the century; A.L. Harris talks about his childhood; Gene Petersen talks about the 1920s boom and a murder; Harris describes an early power plant and the local opera house. CALL NUMBER: T2566:0006 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1972 SUMMARY: Repeats of Sandon material, with some new items: Sandon flood of 1955; preserving buildings and dealing with tourists; discovery of silver lead at Sandon; internment of Japanese at Sandon; ghosts in Sandon today.

Ghost towns in B.C.

SUMMARY: This is presumably another copy or another version of Jurgen Hesse's radio documentary looking at the past and present of three B.C. "ghost towns" -- Bralorne, Quesnel Forks and Sandon.;

Gordon Sutherland interview

CALL NUMBER: T4135:0002 PERIOD COVERED: 1890-1975 RECORDED: Robson (B.C.), 1983-10-13 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Biographical information; came to the Kootenays in 1906; money scare in Nova Scotia; harvest excursion from Pictou County and price; landed in Nelson; Parker Williams hiring hall; Paulsen logging camp; paid $1.00 for job; left Paulsen camp with filer; wages; Winlaw's camp; hand logging; gyppo logging explained; tie and pole camps; camp hours; hours on boats; room and board; food in Paulsen camp; mining and hazards; New Denver mine and conditions; anecdote about quitting New Denver mine; Silicosis; railroad work; Leary's pole yard; Sandon in 1915 and unemployment; labourer's work conditions; prospecting for molibdonite; working boats at Pingston Creek; forced enlistment into the army; lobster fishing off Nova Scotia; Molson Bank, Revelstoke, owned Pingston Creek; working for Leary's on boats; Waldie Lumber Co. in 1931; anecdote about writing exam for skippers ticket; anecdote about colour blindness test. TRACK 2: Colour blindness test; relief in Nakusp; anecdote about being hired by Waldie's; Waldie's mill shut down in winter; part time fork in winter; relief in Nakusp, conditions and pay; [tugboat] "Elco I" in 1916; marriage. [During last 20 minutes of this tape, Mr. Sutherland is referring to photo album.] Building the M.V. "G.O. Sutherland"; Arrow Lakes poles; Beaton; "Elco II"; fuel and drive train; 1914 trip back to Nova Scotia; in charge the "Irene" in 1914; skating on lakes; demise of the "Elco II"; One Big Union membership at Pingston Creek. CALL NUMBER: T4135:0003 RECORDED: Robson (B.C.), 1983-10-13 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Bunks in logging camps; furnished own blankets; One Big Union dues turned in to Trout Lake secretary; anecdote about Trout Lake OBU dues scandal; Seaman's Guild; white sheets in lumber camps; WWII effects on unions; joined union at Waldie's in 1931; Sammy Stewart returning officer; anecdote about Depression years; Waldie's "reasonably honest"; free lumber for community halls; Waldie's camp operations; gyppo logging; Imperial Bank buys Molson's Bank; houseboat on S.S. "Kootenay"; anecdote about selling home during Depression; more discussion of pictures in photo album; stable employment on the CPR; lumber and logging operations that went broke; pay in lumber and shingles one year. [TRACK 2: blank.]

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