Dave Humphrey
Items compiled from the archived newspapers held at the Cranbrook Museum and Archives
1905
IOOF Ball … Key City Lodge No 42, I. O. O. F. will give their annual ball this year on Friday evening, February 24th. The Odd Fellows’ dances have always been among the leading functions in the social life of Cranbrook and that the one this year will be no exception to the rule is a foregone conclusion. The committee in charge is composed of Messrs. Hickenbotham, Cathcart, F. H. McKay and Billings, and these gentlemen will leave nothing undone that will contribute to the success of the event and the enjoyment of the guests.
It is Up to Cranbrook … What are the people of Cranbrook doing toward looking after their general interests? Are they taking the interest in the Board of Trade that they should? Are they planning to work together for the advancement of the town? These are important questions at this time. The next twelve months are to be important ones in the history of Cranbrook. Progress comes to those who are progressive. The business man who sits in his office and thinks of his own personal affairs is not doing all that he should for the advancement of his own personal interests. Cranbrook should be the divisional point of the new road to Spokane. Cranbrook should have connection with the new road that is to be built up the Kootenay Valley. Cranbrook should force her claims as a distributing point. But Cranbrook cannot do these things unless the people act together. Individual effort is weak indeed as compared with concerted action. A Board of Trade is the best medium for the accomplishment of good for any community. The time to wake up is now. The time for action is now. The time to get together is now. And, gentlemen, what are you going to do about it? Are you going to make your Board of Trade an organization of power and influence or are you going to permit it to drift into an excuse for a representative body? Become a member of the Board of Trade, and when you are a member become an active worker in the ranks. Don’t leave it for your neighbour.
Ready To Receive … Mrs. S. W. Ryckman, nee Crosby, will receive on February 24th from 3 to 6 and from 8 to 10 p.m., and afterwards on the first and third Friday of each month.
Fire Brigade Dance … On February 16th the Cranbrook fire brigade will give a dance at Wentworth hall for the purpose of raising a little more money to meet the extra expense of placing a hose and reel on Baker Hill with equipment to protect the homes in that section of town. This is a most laudable object and every person living on the Hill should purchase a ticket whether they can attend the dance or not. It is for their benefit that the fire boys are going to all of this trouble and they should show their appreciation by reciprocating in the way of buying a ticket. These tickets can be purchased at almost any of the business houses or at the Herald office. Now is the time for the people who are to receive the benefit of the Hill house to get in line and show that they will do their share.
Cranbrook Climate … One who has lived for any length of time in Cranbrook and also visited other localities in the western part of Canada, cannot but be most favorably impressed with the climate of this particular section. While it is cold and dreary, with biting winds and unfathomable snow in many places, here at Cranbrook the weather is ideal, with just snow enough to make fine sleighing, but no cold winds, no heavy, dark, chilling days, but bright sunshine and a temperature that makes a Californian feel at home. That is why people are happy here, that is why when they return they invariably say, “Cranbrook looks good to me.” P. S. This was written before the thermometer took a drop.
MLA … Dr. King leaves next Tuesday for Victoria to attend the annual session of the provincial legislature. The people of Cranbrook have reason to be proud of the doctor. Not only does he stand high as a surgeon and physician, but during the last session, by his natural courtesy, his recognized ability and his energy as a member, he became one of the most popular members of the house, and, strange as it may seem, his popularity extended to both sides. In Dr. King the Cranbrook district has a representative who is a credit to the whole district.
1906
Splendid Suggestion … Hold an agricultural exhibit at Cranbrook next summer. With all deference I presume to suggest that it would be a good idea if the people of Cranbrook and its vicinity were to take into their serious consideration the advisability of holding an agricultural exhibition here during the coming summer in connection with other exhibits and the usual annual sports. Our neighbors at Nelson annually hold such an exhibition, and although in a small way, so far successfully, with a smaller territory and less diversity of production than we have. Cranbrook district is the natural center of not only a large timber and mining industry, but by not any means less the center of a fruit growing and vegetable producing community, as well as having a large number of successful stock raisers within its precincts. This territory includes the Creston fruit district to the west, the fertile Tobacco Plains to the southeast and the wonderful Windermere district to the north-east. Cranbrook is much more accessible to Creston district than Nelson and one would almost be safe in saying that the people of that district would preferably send exhibits here.
Picking a Horse … for a particular purpose is easy for us because we have them for all kinds of use. Naturally our Livery Service is far superior to that of the horse which has to cart coal during the week and carry his owner to a funeral on Sunday. If Santa Claus saw our horses he would pension off his old reindeers, chop up his old sleigh and hire a rig from us. You should do the same when you require the services of a horse and carriage for any purpose, especially as our scale of charges makes it really cheap transit. Handley Livery Stables
!!Notice!! … James Kerrigan begs to notify the residents of East Kootenay that he has added a Mineral Water Factory to his establishment and would cordially solicit any resident or traveler to call or send for a sample order (particularly by the trade) and guarantees his goods superior to any in the district. The public are respectfully requested to visit us and sample the goods at the factory.
1907
Worst Storm in Years … Trains Are Held Up For Indefinite Period. Great Loss To The Stockmen. Nothing Like It Known In This Country For The Past Forty Years. R. L. T. Galbraith; one of the early pioneers of this country, who came to this district about forty years ago, was in town on Tuesday on his way from Fernie to Fort Steele. Talking to a representative of the Herald, Mr. Galbraith said that during the forty years that he had resided in this district he had never seen such a winter. There had been a few winters when it had been exceedingly cold, but only for a short time. He said that he was talking to David Griffith, who preceded him in this district by a few years, and that Mr. Griffith had agreed with him that it was positively the worst winter that the country had seen in forty-five years.
Delayed by Snow and Cattle … G. P. Tisdale and James Staples arrived on the belated passenger Wednesday morning, having been since Sunday getting from Medicine Hat to Cranbrook. Mr. Staples said that travelling this winter was a bitter experience for anyone who had indulged. “Why, it only took about five or six inches of snow to stop a train, as everywhere along the track the snow packed like ice. We were bothered a good deal by hungry cattle that had wandered into the cuts to get out of the deep snow. The poor creatures were skinned and bleeding up to the knees, and they would crowd onto the railroad track to get out of the deep snow and then refuse to leave their haven of refuge. At St. Mary’s Bridge there was a yearling stuck between the ties. The brakeman got the animal off and started back to the train when he was attacked by a large steer that ran him around the front of the engine. The brakeman sought safety between two cars, but not before the animal had struck him once with its horns. The brakeman tried to scare the animal with his lantern which was caught on the long horn of the steer and the last the passengers saw of either lantern or steer, was as they passed out of sight over the prairie, the lighted lantern swinging from one of the animals.”
Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow … Four lady tonsorial artists passed through Cranbrook Monday, on their way to Moyie, where they will prune the soup strainers of the St. Eugene miners and others, local or otherwise.
