Nelson and West Arm Kootenay Lake British Columbia
July 5, 2007.
We are staying in Pair-A-Dice
RV-Park, in Creston,
British Columbia. $26.71 gravel interior roads, FHU including
cable. This is an OK RV Park.
Hotel Ymir in Ymir, British Columbia
This travelogue is a continuation of travelogue number 104 where
we are taking a scenic drive around Kootenay Lake, British Columbia.
We left Creston this morning on PH 3 heading west. Once over Kootenay
Pass we turned north on PH 6 driving north through Salmo and on to
Ymir where we stopped to check out this old hotel. Hotel
Ymir has the distinction of being the oldest, continuously
operating establishment in the region. This grand, old lady, has undergone
many restorations since it began operation in 1896.
As the gold rush was slowing on the Pend
d'Oreille and miners were moving north, gold was being discovered
in the area. Jerome and Joseph Pitre and Oliver Blair were striking
it rich in the mountains around 1895. They staked the first claims
of what was to become the Ymir Mine. With the staking of the Ymir
--- mines such as the Dundee, Porto Rico, Tamarack, Hunter V, Yankee
Girl, Blackcock, Wilcox, and others followed.
American Railroad magnate, D.C. Corbin, decided to build a railroad
from Northport, Washington to Nelson, B.C. This track was laid just
north of Quartz Creek. They named the train station Ymir, after the
mountains to the north. With the completion of the railroad and the
staking of the mines, Ymir blossomed as a major mining community.
The Ymir mine alone started out as a forty stamp mill and added another
forty stamps making it the largest stamp mill in the British Empire.
Many more miners came to the area after the railroad was put in and
by 1897, the booming town of Ymir had eleven hotels, a bank, post
office, church, public school with grades 1-10, newspaper (The Ymir
Miner), police station with jail, blacksmith shop, mine recording
office, mining engineer and assayer, mining broker, notary republic
barber, plumber, physician and surgeon, two hardware stores and a
butcher shop. A waterworks was established in 1897. Ymir boasted a
population of 800 in 1897 with another 400 living and working in the
surrounding mines.
As well as mining, may men were employed in logging and the sawmills.
By 1904, Ymir had 1,100 residents. In late October of 1904 a massive
fire destroyed many buildings and homes.
After the depletion of the ore Ymir fell on hard times, except for
the war years of 1914 to 1918, when demand for precious minerals increased.
When WWII began many young miners left to fight in the war and Ymir's
population fell to just 25 people.
Mining is not necessarily finished in this area and there are no
doubt still minerals to be found in the mountains surrounding Ymir
including gold, silver, lead, zinc and tungsten. However, Ymir will
probably never be the prosperous mining community that it once was.
Today, it appears to us that possibly 50 to 100 people might live
in the old mining town and the surrounding countryside.
Sign across the street from Hotel Ymir in Ymir, British Columbia
This sign was posted across the street from the historic Hotel Ymir
in downtown Ymir. The
area where it was located looked to be the trailhead for a trail following
that old RR right of way. One thing is obvious, the railroad was here
to support the mining business and when it died so did the railroad.
Continuing our journey through Ymir we nest came to Nelson
a beautiful artsy community. Nelson is home to a college and as such
has attracted a college town atmosphere coupled with an art colony.
It appears Government money has been infused into the community as
Nelson is much more cosmopolitan than other towns in the area.
Nelson, British Columbia
Most British Columbia towns whether large or small like to display
lush flower pots overflowing with brilliant color. Nelson was certainly
putting on a good show with their flowers.
Like Ymir Nelson, British Columbia originated as a mining town when
in 1886 prospectors, looking for gold, found high-grade ore nearby.
The city was incorporated a year later in 1897. Because of its location
close to both water and rail transportation routes, the city prospered
and grew as as government and commercial center complete with a streetcar
system. Imposing structures of brick and stone and houses of late
Victorian design became the architectural standard.
That rich past has been beautifully maintained, and is evident in
the well preserved buildings that date back to the town's early years.
Historic old homes in Nelson, British Columbia
Nelson is called by many the number one small arts town in Canada,
and in the top 5 in North America. In many ways it reminded us of
Telluride, Colorado with the many outdoor restaurants and young people.
Historic building in downtown Nelson, British Columbia
Historic building in Nelson, British Columbia
Beautiful flowers are showcased all around Nelson, British Columbia
Beautiful flowers line the streets of historic Nelson, British Columbia.
Colorful flowers on display in Nelson, British Columbia
Everyone in Nelson displays beautiful flowers.
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Historic old building in Nelson, British Columbia
Famous Big Orange Bridge over the West Arm of Kootenay
Lake in Nelson, British Columbia
This is the famous "big
orange bridge" that is found at the edge of the West
Arm of Kootenay
Lake. You take this bridge out of Nelson when you are heading
to Belfour to catch the Ferry.
Famous Big Orange Bridge over the West Arm of Kootenay
Lake in Nelson, British Columbia
BOB or Big Orange Bridge over the West Arm of Kootenay
Lake.
Once out of Nelson we are making our way along the northern side
of the west arm of Kootenay
Lake to Belfour where we plan to take the free ferry back
to the eastern side of Kootenay
Lake.
West Arm of Kootenay
Lake Nelson, British Columbia
We are surprised to find people living along the entire northern
side of the West Arm of Kootenay
Lake.
The West Arm of Kootenay
Lake outside Nelson, British Columbia
This photograph is looking back toward Nelson on the west arm of
Kootenay
Lake somewhere between Nelson and Belfour.
