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CALL NUMBER: T0345:0001 RECORDED: New Denver (B.C.), 1965-05-19 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Alexander Harris describes prospecting and mining in the Arrow and Kootenay Lakes area in the 1890s. His father, Joseph Harris, came to Slocan in 1896, established a ranch or farm that supplied vegetables and fruit to the mining camps. Alexander Harris' account includes stories about mining camp life, Orientals, travel on Arrow Lakes, and individual miners: Carpenter, Seighton, Monty; Davis, Martin Fry and Johnny Harris.

TRACK 2: He tells about the naming of mining towns in the area: New Denver, Three Forks, etc. The high school for the area was located on his father's ranch. He describes local culture, social activities, sports, as well as mining techniques, locating ore and equipment.

CALL NUMBER: T0345:0002 RECORDED: New Denver (B.C.), 1965-05-19 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Rock drilling techniques and competitions are discussed. Mr. Harris continues his description of mining methods, ore extraction, transportation to the mills, such as aerial trams, use of horses, processing of ore at the mills, shipping and tailings. A Welsh choir on tour in Canada went bankrupt in the Slocan area and the men worked in the mines at Silverton and New Denver area to earn some money.

TRACK 2: This tape continues with discussions of the New Denver town site, buildings, water transportation, early roads, the Japanese evacuation, Slocan Lake, also known as Lucerne, the Valhalla Range, and New Denver's growth. Wildlife was depleted during the early years of these communities. Mr. Harris speaks about an early trip to the Kokanee Glacier, 1919; Theo Rankin, a local teacher; and his father and mother.

SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Steamboating on BC interior lakes PERIOD COVERED: 1917-1963 RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1979 SUMMARY: Captain Walter H. Spiller recalls his service with the CPR's BC Lake and River Service on the interior lakes from 1917 to 1963. Beginning as a youthful general duty hand he rose to command paddlewheelers and tugs. These tapes provide "a comprehensive and chronological coverage of the development and decline of steamboating on the interior lakes, with details of vessels and the names of personnel involved. [NOTE: Captain Spiller's reminiscences were first prepared for a talk given to members of the Thermopylae Club of Victoria in 1979. The original talk was retaped, with further details added, later in 1979. The revised tapes and the original taped talk were loaned to the Maritime Museum of B.C. for copying.]

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.