Rossland Talking Tours
Stories of people, places, and events in Rossland, just talking, no walking
Places & Businesses
Old Glory Met Station <> stories by Booty Griffiths of rescues, and stories by some of the met-men who lived there.
Black Bear Drift Tour <> with Harry Lefevre and Jack McDonald
First Miners Union Hall <> with Alex Stewart
Stony Creek Bridge <> with Alfie Albo
Post Office <> with Edward Davies
Wading Pool <> with Edward Davies
Burns Block <> with Edward Davies
Hunter Bros Store <> with Edward Davies
Freedomite Dormitory (New Denver) <> Norman Brewster’s interesting talk on the dormitory, as well as the history in the West Kootenays of the Doukhobours and Freedomites (Sons Of Freedom). Use the Norman Brewster link and then scroll alphabetically through the audio tracks
WKP&L Co <> 1985 - Jack McDonald’s recollections of growing up in the West Kootenay Power and Light Company … his father was the General Superintendent from 1898 when it started operating right through to his retirement in 1942 … 2 parts totalling 2 hours and 4 minutes.
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People
Arranged alphabetically by last name
Clarence Darrow Casey <> (1968) Clarence was the long time Fire Chief on the Tadnac Fire Department. Clarence’s brother George was born in the Miners Hall In Rossland where the family lived on the lower floor at the time. His dad was George B Casey, the well known union activist. I remember when he lived along the river in Trail and when the Columbia was flooding, I would go with my dad and several other firemen to sandbag around his house.
Lou Crowe (1981) <> Lou’s recollections of the old days in Rossland
<> Warren came to Rossland as a 4 year old child in 1899. He worked in most of the mines as a youngster, he worked as a packer for the livery stable, he was an avid horse racer and was there for the final race on Columbia Ave. When he came back from the First World War he went to work for Customs, and the night of the 1929 fire he saved many documents in the Customs office, which was in the Post Office at the time. Mount Crowe is named after him.
<><> Mines (1967) … a very interesting account of Warren’s experience working in the mines. Along with Ike Glover’s recollections (scroll down to find Ike), this is probably the best first hand account of the underground workings.
<><> Miners Union Day (1967)
<><> Horse Racing (1967)
<><> Livery Stables (1967)
<><> Red Mt Railroad (1967)
<><> Fires (1967)
<><> Chinese (1967)
<><> Ethnic Groups (1967)
<><> 1964 RHMA AGM
Helen Dahlstrom - A Musical Life <> One of Rossland’s, and Canada’s musical treasures
Davies Family <> with Edward Davies
Peter Dewdney <> (1967) Peter Dewdney was great-nephew to Edgar Dewdney, who built the Dewdney Trail
Drake Family <> John (called Don by most folks) and his sister Pat grew up on the Drake Dairy farm at a time when there were 10 dairies in Rossland. Grampa Drake started at the Warfield dairy, owned by Cominco, looking after the herd. When Cominco shut the dairy down he acquired that herd and started his own dairy farm in Rossland.
Freedomites <> Norman Brewster’s interesting history of Doukhobors & Freedomites (Sons Of Freedom) in the West Kootenay, as well as the New Denver Freedomite Dormitory. Use the Norman Brewster link and then scroll alphabetically through the track list
Murray Gibson Collection <> Recordings from Murray Gibson’s collection
Ike Glover <> Ike talks about the early days of ham radio, and working in the mines. Ike’s gentle, easy-going style of story telling really brings his subject to life.
Robert Graham <> Robert Graham came to Trail on the 17th of August 1895 to work on building the first smelter. The “Gulch” was called “Tough Man’s Gulch” in those days. Robert then went on to building the track to Rossland, then was a fireman on the train to Rossland, and later a conductor on the passenger train from Rossland to Midway. A very interesting memoir, totalling 98 minutes in two parts.
Kirkup Family <> stories and family photos given to me by John Victor Kirkup, the grandson
Lefevre Family <> with Edward Davies
Richie Mann (2009) <> Richie’s recollections of growing up in Rossland
Jack McDonald <> 60 hours of Rossland voices going back to the 1890s from Jack’s collection
Alice Martin <> Alice came to Rossland on the 4th of July 1897 at the age of 18 months
Alex Stewart <> Alex was on the Rossland police force from 1902 to 1914
Roger Terhune : Memoirs Of A Miner <> Roger Terhune and Andy Cant in session with Wayne Krewski
Don Vockeroth : Hair-Raising Adventure In The High Alpine <> Don Vockeroth in session with Wayne Krewski
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Events
Clementines Restaurant Gospel Choir at the Rossland Mountain Music Festival 1984 <> In 1984 I joined Andy Talbot and the Clementines Restaurant staff at the Mountain Music Festival … Andy Talbot on banjo, guitar, and vocals … Doug Collins on washtub bass and vocals … Jill Austin on shaker, Dave Cochrane on cheese-grater, and Wayne Krewski on guitar. And of course Andy entered us in the Gospel section on Sunday morning, and couldn’t resist plugging the Clementines burritos which were available.
The Killing Of Mah Lin <> In 1900, Ernest Chenoweth, an eight year old Rossland boy, became, and remains to this day, the youngest person in Canada ever tried for a capital crime in the murder of Mah Lin.
Last Train To Rossland <> In 1966 Jack McDonald and his tape recorder rode the last train to Rossland
The Wreck Of The Mitchel Bomber <> Jim Douglas tells the story of the day the Mitchel Bomber crashed in Plewman Basin. Use the link above and scroll down to find the track. For the song go here to find the track : Ghost Cat Of Plewman Basin
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Songs Of Rossland
Maps
Rossland Key Plan Map 1897 <> This is the plan submitted to Ottawa in July 1897 for the city's incorporation
Roger Terhune Map 1908 <> A 1908 Department of Mines map of Rossland, given to me by Roger Terhune
Alfie Albo Map ca1900 <> A map of Rossland ca1900, drawn by John Albo in 1965. It was compiled from recollections by John McLeos, James Hunter, Mrs Alex Paige, Ed Paul, Harry Lefevre, Joe Albo, Alfred Albo Sr (Alfie), and John Albo himself
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