PERIOD COVERED: 1899-[no date] RECORDED: Port Moody (B.C.), 1964-08-04 SUMMARY: Arthur Gennelle recalls his childhood on the Arrow Lakes, the Indian people of the region, and his experiences working on sternwheelers and tugboats on the Arrow Lakes and Columbia River, including the "Minto", the "Bonnington" and the "Kootenay".

RECORDED: [location unknown], [196-?] SUMMARY: In an interview with a CBC interviewer [possibly Bert Nelson], Herbert Wilfred (Bert) Herridge recalls life in the Arrow Lakes region in the early 20th century. His family came out from England and settled in the Nakusp area in 1906. Mr. Herridge served in World War One and was wounded at the Battle of the Somme. From 1948 to 1971, he was the CCF (and later NDP) Member of Parliament for Kootenay West. [No detailed content summary available for this interview.]

CALL NUMBER: T0435:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-05-16 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Blanche Jordan-Williams came to Sicamous, B.C., from Michigan in 1891 to stay with her uncle, Soames Appleby. She married Mr. Frederick W. Jordan, a storeowner, and they moved to Nakusp in 1892. She recalls early Nakusp as a railway construction camp that was busy, rough and noisy. She mentions some townspeople: Jake Sirsun, Mr. Fauquier, Dr. Williamson and Mr. Mara, M.P., a business associate of her husband.

TRACK 2: Continues with early Nakusp, new buildings, development following the departure of the construction camp, the wharf, railway station, hotels, Frank Bourne, the women of the town; Mrs. Thomas, Mrs. Madden, Mrs. Muirhead and Mrs. MacDougall. She mentions her husband's business and his knowledge of Chinook. Nakusp's shipping industry, including ship captains, shipyards, sawmills, and mining industries are discussed. She and her husband journey back to Sicamous for the birth of her first child, and the family remained in Nakusp until 1911, when Blanche took charge of the family ranch in Fire Valley near Edgewood. She mentions the Government Survey party and her brother-in-law, George Jordan's first sight of Fire Valley.

CALL NUMBER: T0435:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-05-16 SUMMARY: This tape continues with recollections of Fire Valley (Inonoaklin Valley) and the pre-emption of 160 acres -- later 320 acres. Two Jordan brothers worked the family ranch and later they employed Dutch settlers, until Blanche took charge in 1911. She discusses Edgewood, the town site, stores, industry, the hotel she owned and operated, W.J. Banting, and Mrs. Williams.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-09-08 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Boyd Campbell Affleck came to the Kootenay/Arrow Lakes region in 1907 from Ontario. He took up a surveying job near Nakusp. He discusses settlers and speculators. He describes Fruitva;le in 1907; the development; the early settlers. Then he discusses irrigation and then more on Fruitvale; the impact of WWI on the region; fruit grown; a picnic in the 1930s; settlers; clearing land; and the Fruitvale town site. Mr. Affleck settled near Fruitvale in 1918; lost his hand and was forced back into survey work. He surveyed the town of Salmo. He offers an anecdote about the red light ladies of Erie and then offers more about Fruitvale; the impact of the Trail smelter; and recalls the forest fire of 1939. TRACK 2: Mr. Affleck continues with more on the forest fire. Then he dis;cusses the Trail smelter; effects on fruit farms; Columbia Gardens and survey work at Nelson. He offers more on Fruitvale and Nelson in 1907; transportation; the rivalry between the CPR and GN boats.; He tells a story of how Kaslo tried to steal the Nelson Board of Trade in the 1890s. He discusses the Fruitvale power system in the 1920s; Nelson City Light. He describes the rivalry between West Kootenay Power and Light, and Nelson City Light.

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.]

The item consists of five reels of original reversal film footage and outs. The footage shows aspects of the Columbia River project other than dam or powerhouse construction. It includes: people and scenery along the Columbia, abandoned homes and communities on the Arrow Lakes, burning/demolition of old buildings, flooding on the Columbia and in the Arrow Lake villages, flood at Trail (June 1967), Dept. of Highways ferries serving the area, the Gates of St. Leon Hotel, the burning of the derelict stern wheeler S.S. "Minto" and winter recreation/festivities and other scenes at the town of Mica.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1964-09-09 SUMMARY: Mrs. Edgar recalls early Nakusp, Slocan and Nelson. Her father, Denis St. Denis, who died in 1962, came from Ontario to Nakusp and worked as a bookkeeper for the mills. The family later moved to Slocan, where her father was city clerk, and agent for a lumber company. In 1910 they moved to Nelson, and lived in Fairview (Bogustown). Her father was the Trustee of Bankruptcy, a member of the BC Rifle Association, had a "wonderful memory", and wrote local history articles.

CALL NUMBER: T0344:0001 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-05-21 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Eugene Leveque's family came from Winnipeg to Alberta and, in 1904, to Revelstoke. He recalls early Revelstoke including its red light district, local miners, hotels, the lumber industry, the railroad, and picnicking with his family. By 1908 they had moved to Comaplix, a sawmill town established in 1892; he describes growing up in this "company town". He describes nearby settlements with different nationalities: Japanese, Italians, Swedes, Norwegians, American, Doukhobors and Welshmen; hotels; Russ Evans; and railroads. He recalls women in the town, "Old Fan", Molly Brown, sports teams, the school building and the teachers, church services, Billy Gerard, the Blaney family, Dog Salmon, winter stories and wildlife.

TRACK 2: He continues with his childhood memories of Comaplix. His family moved to Nakusp in 1911. Mr. Leveque played a cornet in the local band and participated in many community events including the opening of the railroad from Kaslo to Nakusp on July 1, 1915; Sam Henry's large funeral ceremony; and Christmas events. He has many recollections of the local dramatic society, its many varied productions, the Bolger family, and Tom Abriel and his opera hall. Other early townspeople included: F.W. Jordan, Lyle McDougall and Mrs. Moffat.

CALL NUMBER: T0344:0002 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-05-21 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: This tape continues with recollections of: Mrs. Moffat, the "Hot Springs", Doctor Laval, remittance men, Mr. Hudson, Harry Hughes, Captain Forsland, S.S. "Bonnington", World War One, Mr. Grady, Halcyon Hot Springs, Burton, Mineral City, Nels de Mars and "Daddy Redfern". Mr. Leveque relates the history of newspaper publishing in the area, including: Bobby Barrett who started the "Arrow; Lakes Advocate", later owned by Tom Abriel; Jim Greer ran the "Leasor"; Colonel Lowery, "who was quite a writer" ran the "Kaslo Claim", later the "New Denver Ledge", "Kaslo Reclaimed", the "Kootenaian Float" and the "Greenwood Ledge". He also talks about the MacDougall trial and the newspaper coverage by Colonel Lowery. [TRACK 2: blank.]

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.]

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-05-17 SUMMARY: J. Stanley Crowell recalls his early years at Nakusp, BC. He was born in Nova Scotia, traveled to Winnipeg, and settled in Nakusp in 1907. The tape begins with readings of his poetry. Recollections of early settlers, his work as a carpenter, blacksmith, and undertaker, stores in the town, Chinese settlers, land purchases, preachers and remittance men are all discussed.

CALL NUMBER: T0464:0001 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Kate Johnson recalls her journey from England with her husband in 1910 and settlement at Rock Island Ranch working for the Middlemass brothers. She discusses the hardships of life on the Arrow Lakes, the land agents, advertisement of the fruit farming districts, the expense of lake transportation, and the failure of these settlers. She also recalls the community of Fosthall, and her early years at Nakusp, when she and her husband ran a hotel, from 1912 to 1913. They later moved to Moberly, and later back to Nakusp.

TRACK 2: Mrs. Johnson continues her recollections of Moberly, Sunnyside, Burton and Arrow Park. She relates the story of the naming of Nakusp, some early town history, industries, Mrs. Moffat, and Rothwell Point.

CALL NUMBER: T0464:0002 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: The interview continues with Mrs. Johnson's recollections of: Sam Henry, the red light district of Nakusp, Mr. Frederick William Jordan, Dr. Mossman, Mr. Thomas Abriel, the Dramatic Society, the Opera House, Walter Scott, "Hot Springs", Halcyon Hot Springs with General Dr. Burham, St. Leon and Michael Grady. [TRACK 2: blank.]

Footage. Shows various communities and activities in southeastern B.C. Several shots of a hydro-electric dam (possibly Bonnington Falls on the Kootenay River). Nakusp lakefront, with the retired sternwheeler "Bonnington" at dock; local residents, streets and buildings (Arrow Lake Hotel, Arrow Lakes Hospital); a sawmill. Brief shot of sternwheeler "Minto" approaching dock. Edgewood General Store. Lake fishing; resort. Parade and sports day in Salmo (joint Dominion Day and Independence Day celebration?), with long sequence showing a performance by a uniformed girls' drill team. Main street of Greenwood, where a baseball team warms up and poses with locals. A nearby mining community (probably Phoenix), with mining operation and many dilapidated buildings; residents and a bearded old timer pose for the camera. Scenery with river and waterfall (possibly Cascade Falls on the Kettle River?). New Denver Fire Hall.

RECORDED: [location unknown], 1965-05-17 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Leslie Miller recalls early years around 1907 at Robson and later Nakusp. He worked on his fruit farm in Robson for about six years, and owned the first motor boat on the lake. He discusses playing cricket and football in Nakusp and worked in the mill. He later worked in real estate, and was a notary public in Nakusp. Mrs. Hermina H. Miller (nee Funcke) came from Holland to Nakusp in 1908 at the age of fourteen with her family. Mrs. Miller recalls early farm stories, early recollections of Nakusp in 1910 including: sawmills, shipyards and hotels, local people: the Jordan family, Mrs. Moffat and Sam Henry. She discusses changes that occurred in the community following the Kettle Valley Railway. Mrs. Ida Hopp came from Holland to Nakusp, with her family after they suffered financial difficulties. They farmed at Box Lake and Ida took a job looking after the Jordan children. She relates impressions of Nakusp, the lumber mill, mining, transportation, Sam Henry, and Mrs. Moffat. [TRACK 2: blank.]

Minute book.

Correspondence and minutes.

The item is a reel of amateur film taken by Ichiiro Shino of Nakusp around 1952. It shows atugboat on Arrow Lake, various shots of sawmill (Big Bend Lumber Co.) and the sternwheeler "Minto" passing in background. There are several shots of the "Minto", a lake tug towing log boom, mill pond and jack ladder. Also trucking away sawmill waste, the interior of sawmill (dark): band saw, green chain, sorting lumber in mill yard and lumber carriers at work.

Collected for the 1958 Centennial, this material consists of typescripts, newspaper clippings, photographs and signatures. The collection addresses most aspects of early life at Nakusp and district including railway construction and maintenance, recreation, sawmills, steamboats and church history. The focus is on the people of the district with lists of residents and thumbnail sketches of individuals and families.