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authority records
Rossland Light Opera Players
A2015.004 · Corporate body · 1951-present

The Rossland Light Opera Players (RLOP) was founded on November 1, 1951, by Rossland teachers Bill and Kathleen Baldry, Gordon Griffin, and Margery Littley. The organisation’s purpose was to encourage music, drama, and associated arts in the area. Initial funds for starting the group were supplied by a Victory Bond from the defunct Rossland Amateur Operatic Society.

For their inaugural performance - Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirates of Penzance - the RLOP chose Gordon Griffin as the music director and Bill Baldry as the stage director. The cast, reportedly chosen without seeing any of the actors perform on stage, consisted of Jean Ellison as Mabel, Larry Gasen as Frederick, Stan Fisher as the Pirate King, Eric Bourchier as the Sergeant of Police, Bill Baldry as Major-General Stanley, and Kathleen Baldry and Margery Littely as supporting characters. Stan Fischer, the industrial education teacher at the Rossland high school, recruited his students to help in designing the production, which included lighting, staging, flats, and music stands.

The production of Pirates of Penzance opened in the Rossland high school auditorium in March 1952, performing two shows to enthusiastic audiences. The group then travelled for a show in the Trail Junior High auditorium (now called the Charles Bailey Theatre) and the Capitol Theatre in Nelson. All four shows were a success, generating a great deal of excitement about the RLOP and creating a lineup of talented individuals eager to be involved in future productions.

For their first eight seasons, the RLOP performed Gilbert & Sullivan productions, but in 1959, they branched out to other playwrights and eventually started writing their own productions. Performances have been held in various local venues, such as Rossland’s Miners’ Union Hall and Trail’s Charles Bailey Theatre.

In 1966, the RLOP negotiated a $1/year lease with the United Steelworkers Local 480 to rent Rossland's Miners' Union Hall (1899 Columbia Avenue). In 1976, the RLOP was forced to leave the Miners' Union Hall and ended up renting the two rooms in the Bank of Montreal to house their costumes. Their sets were stored in a shed behind the Rossland Credit Union, while their piano and lighting system were stored in the Junior High School in Trail. They were also forced to rent temporary locations in order to build sets and rehearse for upcoming productions. In 1983, the RLOP purchased the historic Bodega Hotel (2054 Washington Street) from the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

The RLOP has performed almost every year since their inception. The 2021 season was cancelled due to the global pandemic.

Some notable members include: Babs and George Bourchier, Jack Fisher, and Charles Bailey.

A2015.004.001 · Corporate body · 1937-1941

The Rossland Amateur Operatic Society began in 1937 as the Orpheus Male Choir (Trail). In 1939, the Orpheus Male Choir relocated to Rossland, changing their name to the Rossland Amateur Operatic Society. The Society performed a variety of productions, notably Trial by Jury and Dominoes in Rossland’s Capitol Theatre in May 1940. The group disbanded after a final performance of H.M.S. Pinafore in April 1941 due to failing membership during WWII. The group’s remaining assets were used to buy a $50.00 Victory Bond (approximately $950.00 in 2022). The Victory Bond would later be acquired by the Rossland Light Opera Players.

Rossland Ski Club
A2024.000.006 · 1933-1984

The Rossland Ski Club was formed during the gold boom by Scandinavian-American miners, and they held the first recorded competitions in Canada. The first downhill race was held on Red Mountain on February 15, 1896. Olaus Jeldness, a Norwegian mining engineer, won the race. He became a major driving force behind the development of skiing in Rossland. Skiing tournaments were held annually in conjunction with the annual Rossland Winter Carnival, and the event attracted people from all over North America. The club, and organized skiing in Rossland, ceased to exist after 1918, due to World War I and an influenza epidemic in 1918.

A second Rossland Ski Club formed in 1933 by Harold Fox, Trig Nora, Ivor Moen, Fred Hackney, and Harry O'Reiley (these were members initially part of the Trail-Rossland Ski Club, but wished to form their own club). In 1934, the club made the base of Monte Christo their headquarters. Archie Coombes presided over the club's newly-built cabin, and the club purchased the land the cabin was on in 1937. The Rossland Ski Club hill held many competitions, including the Western Canadian Amateur finals, zone and club tournaments. By 1939, club membership peaked at 238. Also in 1939, the club built a new cabin in Squaw Basin, which remained in use by the club until the Granite chair lift was erected in 1965. The club held the Grey Mountain Grind from 1943 to 1946. In 1947, the Trail and Rossland ski clubs amalgamated and became the Red Mountain Ski Club.

Trail-Rossland Ski Club
A2024.000.007 · 1929-1942

Near the end of 1929 Trygve (Trig) Nora, Geoff Colls, Bert Both, Robert Lapse and Ole Nyhus formed the Trail-Rossland Ski Club, which attracted a number of skiers from Trail and Rossland. The cabin at the Rossland Golf Course acted as their headquarters for the next is to seven years. By 1933, the club had built two hills for ski jumping, the Nels Nelson Hills, and one north of the Rossland reservoir. The club hosted the 1934 Western Canada Ski Association tournament, where the jumping took place on the hill north of the reservoir. The club dropped "Rossland" from its name at the request of the Rossland Ski Club (Harold Fox, Trig Nora, Ivor Men, Fred Hackney, and Harry O'Reiley in 1934, and became the Trail Ski Club.

Esling, William K.
MS 20 · Person · 1869 - 1946

William K. Esling was born in Philadelphia in 1869. In 1896 he moved to the Trail Creek Area and Rossland due to the mining boom. In 1899, Esling purchased the Rossland Record, which was an evening paper, and in 1905 he acquired the Rossland Miner, which he published as a morning daily. In 1920, he became the conservative nominee for British Columbia and was subsequently elected. He redeemed the West Kootenay seat in 1925, 1926, 1930, 1935, and 1940. In 1936 he started a fund for children with vision impairments. He died in 1946.

Red Mountain Ski Club
Corporate body · 1947-1995

In 1947, talks started between the Trail Ski Club and the Rossland Ski club which resulted in the amalgamation of the two clubs. This formed the Red Mountain Ski Club (RMSC) in 1947. The immediate Objectives of the clubs were to build a chairlift up Red Mountain, a lodge at the base, and to extend the base area. Chuck Sankey was the first president of the club. The first chair lift on Red was built in this same year, and ran until 1973 when it was replaced by a Mueller lift. The Red Mountain Ski Lodge was built in the fall of 1947 using the timbers from the Black Bear Compressor House.
More area for skiing was cleared in the 1950s, and during this decade some of the prominent organisations to come out of the ski club were organised too. This includes the ski patrol, the ski school, and the start of the Red Mountain Racers. In 1960 a poma lift was installed from the lodge to the Back Trail. The Granite Mountain chair was installed in 1965 which opened up a wider area for skiing. This same year the Main Run was cleared, with Jumbo and South Side Road following the next year.
The ski area has also been the host for large events. These include the first World Cup to be held in Canada (the du Maurier International) in 1968, the Export “A” Cup, and the Shell Cup. The world cup was held at the RMSC again in 1988 (The Husky World Downhill). Additionally, the Red Mountain Racers held many different events at the Ski Hill over the years.
Many different professional athletes have trained and competed at and with the RMSC. Nancy Greene is a two-time winner of the World Cup (1967 and 1968 – winning the Giant Slalom) and an Olympic Champion (1968). She grew up in Rossland and was a member of the club. Kerrin Lee-Gartner, who won gold at the 1992 Olympics, grew up in the area and was a Red Mountain Racer.
In the 1980s, it was decided to sell the Ski Club as it was becoming much too large of an operation for volunteers to run. The RMSC and its facilities were bought by Eric Skat-Peters in 1989, though the Ski Club still ran until 1995.

Trail Ski Club
Corporate body · 1934-1947

The Trail-Rossland Ski Club dropped “Rossland” from its name at the request of the Rossland Ski Club in 1934 and became the Trail Ski Club. They built a cabin in Squaw Basin (on the North side of Granite Mountain), which became a hub for downhill skiing in the surrounding hills. Their main club cabin was at the North end of the Rossland Reservoir, and they skied largely on the East side of Red Mountain. In 1947, the Trail Ski Club and the Rossland Ski Club amalgamated and became the Red Mountain Ski Club.

Corporate body · 1960-1962

The Rossland-Trail Olympic Promotion Committee was founded in 1961 with the goal of hosting the 1968 Winter Olympics. Whistler, Fernie, and Rossland-Trail all bid to be Canada’s entry for the games, but Calgary was selected. The committee wrote letters back and forth with Canada’s Olympics Committee, as well as compiled maps and research about the area and snow fall history. In the end, the 1968 Olympics were held in Grenoble, France.

Red Mountain Mines
Corporate body · 1966-1982

Red Mountain Mines Ltd operated Red Mountain Mine from 1965 - 1970, producing 1,748,871 kilograms of molybdenum. The mine was located 2.5km northwest of Rossland, B.C. on the side of Red Mountain on historic mining claims. The historic claims included the Coxey, Nevada, Mountain View, Ontario, Good Friday, Peak, High Ore, Phir, Jumbo, and Sam Hayes. Most of these claims were granted by the crown during the period of 1894-1897 and were well known in the early days of the Rossland Camp. Development work on the Coxey began in 1897 by Messrs. Cook and Johnson. In 1899 Montreal Goldfields Ltd. prospected the property for gold and copper. Development work consisted of two tunnels, a shaft, and several open cuts. The Coxey claim was reportedly worked by lessors Williams and Ruffner during the first World War but it is not known what development work was done at the time.

Red Mountain Mines Limited was formed in April 1965 to operate the property. The new company was owned by Torwest Resources (60%), Metal Mines (20%, and Canadian Nickel (20%). It was an open pit mine. The open pit mine officially opened 24 April 1966. The property was financed to production by Canadian Nickel Company and Consolidated Canadian Faraday Limited.

Between 1966 to 1972, 1,035,509 tonnes of area was mined from the open pits and produced 1,748,871 kilograms of molybdenum.

The mine closed in December of 1970 due to a lack of ore, but the discovery of a fifth zone in late 1970 permitted the resumption of milling in February 1971. The mine closed once more in January 1972, after which the International Nickel Company engaged Min Finders Inc. of Lakewood Colorado to carry out an extensive exploration program based on the porphyry model of mineralization. Geochemistry, geophysics and deep drilling were carried out in the mine area between 1971 and 1974.

From 1971-1982 the BC Mining School operated their 6 week training course at the Red Mountain Mines site.

(information from the Ministry of Energy, Mines, and Petroleum Resources)

Coombes Family
Family · ca. 1901-ca. 1995

Erna E. Coombes was born in Rossland on 7 September 1901. Erna was educated in Rossland and after two years at Normal School taught at Bellvue on the Arrow Lakes, she taught at MacLean School in Rossland. Archie Coombes was born in Burtell, England on 7 January 1897. Archie and Erna were married in 1928, and their son, Allen, was born in 1934. Erna taught Sunday School for twenty-six years at St. Andrews United Church. She also taught Kindergarten out of the large annex at St. Andrews United Church. Archie and Erna were married for sixty-four years. Archie died on 4 February 1992, and Erna died on 17 February 1995.

Cox Family
Family · ca.1905-ca.1967

Alexander Cox left Liverpool in 1896 and came to Rossland in 1898, where he worked as a miner. He went on to become the Canadian customs officer at Paterson during the late 1920s and into the 1930s. He later became a rancher in Paterson and married Mary Lewis. They had three children: Mary Christine (born 1915), Edmond Thomas (born 1918), and Jane Ethel (born 1920). Edmond became a pilot officer during World War II but went missing in 1943. Helen died in 1961.

The Ladies Discussion Club
Corporate body · ca.1933-ca.1972

The ladies’ Discussion Club was formed in January of 1933, by the teachers and ex-teachers of the Maclean School staff. The club was originally given the name “Semper Discupulae” but soon became known by its present title of the “Ladies’ Discussion Club”. It was clearly stated at the very beginning that each person was expected to take an active part at every meeting. Although teachers and ex-teachers were charter members, other interested ladies were soon invited to join the club. The members helped start the library, with a “musical” being held in the Anglican church to help raise money to purchase books for a club library. Most of these books were donated to the Rossland Public Library when it was established. The club even had a public debate against the Mens’ Discussion Club in 1936 at the courthouse and won. The women were required to pay a fine if late to a meeting, and the money raised would be donated to organizations such as the Red Cross and the local Community Chest. Two charter members remained in the club from its inception, Dorothy Bisson Fraser and Erna Coombes. Starting in 1948, the club also had a school award for excellence.

Mater Misercordiae Hospital
Corporate body · 1896-[ca. 2000]

The Mater Misericordiae Hospital was founded in 1896 by the Order of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Newark and is one of the oldest hospitals in the B.C. Interior. The Hospital Auxiliary was organized in 1938. In 1939, the present structure was added and the old wing subsequently removed. On 2 July 1969, the Hospital changed ownership from the Sisters to the Rossland Hospital Society. The Hospital has been an accredited facility since 1972. Founded on a tradition of caring and sharing, efforts are directed towards maintaining that tradition.

Rossland City Band
Corporate body · 1898-[ca. 1960s]

Rossland's first city band formed in 1898 under the direction of B.M. Graham. Over the next 17 years, the band was reformed several times before being disbanded during WWI. While the Rossland City Band gave regular performances in the early years, it was not until 1930's that consistent practices, and executive meetings took place. The Rossland City Band gave regular performances throughout the year and won the Blaylock Cup at the Kootenay Music Festival in 1937 and 1938. Performances included parades, weekly concerts at the bandshell (Washington St and Columbia Ave) or the Father Pat Memorial (Queen St and Columbia Ave) as well as an annual concert. The Rossland City Band also notably travelled to Spokane, WA in February 1958 to play at the Warriors-Flyers hockey game. Some of the most notable conductors were B.M. Graham (1898-1900), Edward Gibney (1940-1942), Llyod Austin (1942, 1944), and Seath Martin (1943).

Rossland Post Office
Corporate body · 1895-

The first Post Office in Rossland was house in David Stussi’s small store at the western end of Columbia Avenue in 1894. The following spring Stussi built the Stussi Block across the street where a small area of 40’ by 10’ was set aside for the post offices. In the fall of 1895, W. Wadds was appointed the Postmaster and he relocated the Post Office to a more commodious space in another commercial building/store – 3rd designated Post Office for Rossland. The third floor of the post office burnt down in the Great Fire in 1929 and was no rebuilt. In 1937, after the death of Postmaster William Wadds, assistant clerk Miss Lowes was appointed acting postmaster. Well-liked by the staff and community, there were no objections to her taking this post. In June of that years, a postal inspector came to Rossland and installed Mrs. K Lloyd as the Postmaster. After much uproar from the community, Mr. L.H. Delmas was appointed Postmaster. In 1962, the Post Office receive an internal “modernization” which included new floors, woodwork, counters, and aluminum lock boxes.

Corporate body · 1896-2002

West Kootenay Power & Light (WKPL) was founded by Sir Charles Ross, who was a Scottish noble. Ross arrived in Rossland between 1895 and 1896 and was involved in the Centre Star Mine. He formed West Kootenay Power & light to supply power to the Centre Star Mine, and in doing so he received a charter to supply electricity to the entire West Kootenay region. WKPL was incorporated in 1897. The first plant built was the Lower Bonnington Plant (plant No.1), which was built between 1897 and 1898 on the Kootenay River.

West Kootenay Power & Light first supplied light in Rossland in 1898 on the south side of Columbia Avenue. To do this, 51.5 kilometres of powerline was built between Rossland and Bonnington. The No.2 plant was built to keep up with energy demands between 1905-1906, above the Kootenay River on the Upper Bonnington Falls. This dam was expanded in 1914 and in 1916. Later, WKPL bought the charter of the South Kootenay Power Company and then expanded into the Boundary County and supplied their mines with power. In 1907, the Cascade Power Company sold its assets to WKPL and gave them ownership of the Cascade Dam on the Kettle River. In 1916 the Consolidated Mining & Smelting Company was anticipating the growing energy demands from the First World War bringing large zinc contracts, so they acquired WKPL as a wholly-owned subsidiary. To keep up with the greater electrolytic zinc operations at CM&S, a third dam, the South Slocan Dam, was built in 1928. A fourth dam, the Corra Linn was built 14.5 kilometres downstream from Nelson on the Kootenay River. In 1944 to meet CM&S’s power needs, a fifth power plant was built at the mouth of the Kootenay River, named the Brilliant Dam.

After WWII, CM&S wanted to connect their new Sullivan Mine operations in Kimberly to the electricity produced at the South Slocan Dam. The connecting powerline needed to cross Kootenay Lake, so WKPL completed the longest powerline span in the world at that time, measuring 3.4 km. CM&S hired a private contractor to build a dam on the Pend Oreille River, named the Waneta Dam. Construction was supposed to begin in the 1930s, but the Great Depression led to the project being abandoned until the 1950s.

Ownership of WKPL changed to the private, U.S.-based company Utilicorp in 1987. Ownership changed again in 2004, with FortisBC buying the business. Fortis has remained as the operation of the former WKPL dams ever since.

Notable personnel who worked at WKPL are Sir Charles Ross (1872-1942), the founder, Lorne Argyle Campbell (1871-1947), the General Manager, and J.D. McDonald (1874-1944), the General Superintendent.

Corporate body · 1896-2004

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) is a fraternal social organization based around charity. Different societal branches stem from IOOF, such as the Deborah Rebekah’s for women. The origins of Odd Fellowship are unclear, but there have been IOOF Lodges in England, Sweden, Germany, the USA, and Canada. The IOOF has an emblem of three links with the letters, “F, L, and T” on them, which stand for friendship, love, and truth. The chain bonds members together and reminds them that the society is only as strong as its weakest member. In the late 1800s, Rossland residents not only wanted to make a living but sought out community and social events. A Rossland resident, Horace James Raymer, was a builder from Winnipeg and a former Grand Master at the Manitoba Lodge #1 between 1888 and 1889. Raymer, John Kirkup, and five others organized a meeting regarding the formation of a Masonic Lodge in Rossland. By May 11th, 1896, the seven organizing men received applications from ten men who wanted to become Odd Fellows. The Rossland Lodge #36 was instituted by the Grand Lodge of BC on that same day, May 11th, 1896. Elected officers served a six-month term, and the Lodge would meet in the Masonic Hall once a week. the Lodge parented the Rebekah Lodge #13, which began in 1899 in Rossland. By 1899 the IOOF hall was built. Thomas Embleton became Grand Patriarch of B.C. in 1904 and Grand Master of B.C. in 1907 (the only GM to come from the Rossland Lodge). By the end of the year 1900, there were 135 members for the Rossland Lodge #36.

From about 1940 until 1965, the IOOF Lodge saw a dramatic downturn in membership, fueled by the mines closing in Rossland, the Depression, and WWII. The membership began to grow again in 1965, with the Lodge having reached 54 members. By 1988, the Rossland Lodge #36 was the only remaining Odd Fellows Lodge throughout the West Kootenays. The Lodge celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1996 and is still open today in 2023. The hall was used for many purposes and the Odd Fellows have supported and sponsored numerous causes over the years.

1940-1942

The association was formed by members of both the Trail Ski Club and the Rossland Ski Club. They organized the building of a gas-driven rope-tow at the base of the north face of Red Mountain around 1940, which increased the amount of downhill skiing that could be done and eventually led to the idea of building a chair lift. Both the Trail Ski Club and the Rossland Ski Club used the tow. The tow was the only existing up-hill facility at the time. In the 1950s, the rope tow was moved to the west side of the hill and electrified, then later replaced by a T-bar.

Rossland School Board
Corporate body · 1895-[196?]

The Rossland School Board was the main administrator of Rossland’s schools since the first classes were held in 1895, in the Methodist Church. The School Board kept in contact with the Provincial Education Department, but were ultimately responsible for the schools administration, finances, and hiring decisions. Under their administration, the School Board built and operated Kootenay Avenue School/Rossland Public School (1896-1915), Central School (1898-1917), Cook Avenue School (1901-2002), MacLean School (1918-1981), and the Rossland High School/Rossland Secondary School (1951-2013). Rossland High School operated out of Cook Avenue School after the Rossland Public School closed and until the new high school was built in 1951. The name of the high school changed to the Rossland Secondary School sometime in the early/mid-1960s.

In 1960, the School Board merged with the Trail School District. Rossland’s schools are now under School District 20 (Kootenay-Columbia).

Corporate body · 1925-2018

St. Andrew's United Church was founded in 1895 with the purpose of bringing the Presbyterian faith to the small mining town of Rossland, British Columbia. The first religious services were held on the last Sunday in May 1895, in a partially constructed butcher's shop. The first church was erected in Nickel Plate Flat and opening services were conducted on August 28, 1895. Although originally a Presbyterian church, St. Andrew's would, in 1917, vote to unite with the Rossland Methodist Church (founded 1897). The name and church of St. Andrew's were retained for the new church, however, Methodist ministers continued to lead "union" services from 1918-1925. After this time the church was referred to exclusively as St. Andrew's United Church and United Church services and ministers were used. By the late 1960s, there was a spirit of growing cooperation with the local Anglican congregation, St. George's. Negotiations with St. George's Anglican Church regarding the sharing of services and buildings through a lease ended with a five year lease being approved by both congregations in 1969. Shared services were held between St. George's and St. Andrew's until 1982, when St. George's terminated the arrangement. Major renovations to the church building were completed by 1985. The church continued to grow into the 1980s, recording a membership growth and budget surplus by 1987. In 2003, St. Andrew's joined with the congregations at Trail, Salmo, and Fruitvale to form the four-point Communities in Faith Pastoral Charge. Salmo United Church disbanded 2016 and the new Beaver Valley Pastoral Charge (based at Fruitvale) left Trail and Rossland congregations in a two-point pastoral charge. In 2018, the congregations amalgamated to form a single congregation, Communities in Faith, overseeing two properties.

Corporate body · 1928-[196?]

The Rossland Swimming Pool Society was formed in 1932 to offset the lack of natural aquatic facilities in a mountain city. Donations of volunteer labour and supplies resulted in the opening of the pool by August of that year. The swimming pool is presently operated by the City of Rossland.

Corporate body · 1895-ca.1920

The first Methodist Church carried out work as early as 1895. The first church building was built and opened in 1897. Mr. D.D. Birks from Vancouver was the Methodist student minister for two years, and Rev. Ladner followed in the premises on Washington Avenue. This building eventually was enlarged to include a reading room, Sunday School, and recreation hall. In 1917, the Methodist Church united with the Presbyterian Church. One of the past Pastors is Reverend A.M. Sanford.

Corporate body · 1895-ca. 1917

The first Presbyterian Church was begun in May 1895 with the arrival of Minister Hugh J. Robertson. He held the first religious service in Rossland in a store at the corner of Sourdough Alley and Spokane Street. Sunday School was organized on Mr. Robertson’s second Sunday in the city. Opening services in the new church was held on 28 August 1895. Friends of Mr. Robertson’s in Ontario presented the church with its first organ. Mr. Robertson was succeeded by Reverend James Wallance, D. McGradier, J.M. Robinson, Reverend R. Grant, T.J. Robinson, Reverend James Dow, Reverend S.R. Sarkassian, and Reverend W. Robertson. The Presbyterian Church united with the Methodist Church in 1917.

I.X.L. Lessor Ltd.
Corporate body · ca. 1931-ca. 1940

I.X.L. Lessors Ltd. Was a mining company operating with a. lease on a Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company mine claim. The mine was working from 1931-1939, and the company was liquidated in 1940.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Corporate body · 1892-

As early as 1892, a traveling priest named Reverend Father Bedard visited the Rossland mining camp on his missionary circuit and conducted mass. Bedard was followed by Father Peylavin two years later in 1894. Father Lemay became the resident priest in 1895, and at this time mass was held wherever possible. The first Catholic Church in Rossland was built by a contractor named McCarthy in October 1895. A bell was installed in the tower in late 1900, after being shipped from England. In 1902, Father Welsh purchased land on the corner of Butte and Columbia to build a new church and turn the current church into a school. This plan was put on hold until 1915 when it was completed under the supervision and leadership of Father MacIntyre who replaced Father Welsh in 1912. Sacred Heart Catholic Church opened in 1915. The parish rectory was purchased in 1922. The Parish Hall was built across the street from the church in 1930. In the 1960s, the Father MacIntyre Centre (also called the Catechism Centre) was built beside the Parish Hall. In 1997, the priest position was reduced to part-time. Plans to renovate Sacred Heart Church and create a community multipurpose space were approved in 2012. The Parish Hall and Father MacIntyre Centre were sold in 2013 to pay for the renovations.