Compiled by the Rossland Historical Museum from the pages of the Rossland Miner.
100 Years Ago
December 1912
St. Andrew’s Hall is Now Paid For
The St. Andrew’s Presbyterian hall, completed a few months since and now paid for, is a credit to the minister and congregation. It is thronged daily with young folks who use the gymnastic paraphernalia, and it is a great benefit to them, as it develops their strength, improves their health and gives them the best of recreation amid wholesome surroundings and with proper restraints. In addition to this, it keeps the boys off the streets.
Reflects the Christmas Time
Betts & Oddy, the progressive dry goods merchants, are certainly to be congratulated on the appearance of the interior of their store. It reflects the gladsome Christmas time. Festoons of green foliage are hung around, intermingled with over fifty electric lights and large red bells. The decorations are very effective at night.
The J.W. Fox Cigar Factory Is Turning Out Brands that Are Growing in Public Favor
One of the (Rossland) industries that is growing is the manufacturing of cigars. In the year that (J.W. Fox) has conducted the factory the business has tripled. From 18,000 to 20,000 cigars are manufactured each month. It is the intention (to make a) cigar that will retail for 25 cents that is certain to become a great favorite with a certain class of smokers.
Women’s Suffrage Meeting in City
Several ladies spoke in the interest of the ballot for women and among other things dilated on the necessity for it. The women with happy homes, perhaps, do not care for suffrage, but unhappy wives, women who have to work for their living at low wages, many millions of whom are underpaid because they are women… and widows with families to support, it was claimed, do want the ballot.
John Kirkup is to Leave Rossland – He has Been Appointed Government Agent at Alberni
In 1895 (Mr. Kirkup) came to Rossland as mining recorder and constable and has been here ever since. When the city of Rossland was incorporated and a chief of police and police constables appointed, Mr. Kirkup ceased to concern himself over police matters, although, previous to that time, he, without help, maintained order among a population that had some turbulent elements in its makeup. He is famous as a police officer because of his coolness, courage and strength.
75 Years Ago
December 1937
Condition of Roads Around Rossland
Cascade road remains closed with three feet of snow on Second Summit and 20 inches on First Summit. Trucks are getting through as far as Sheep Creek. The Patterson road is once again passable after a slide on the American side early last week.
Pre-Christmas Explosion of 1905 Is Recalled by Many Rossland Oldtimers
‘Twas a few weeks before Christmas of 1905 that a powder house at the Centre Star mine which contained nearly a carload of explosives blew up, causing a quake of the earth around Rossland that might equal any California or Japanese earthquake.
“Merchants and business men will realize the problem with which the business section was faced, when in a few seconds every plate glass window in town was completely demolished,” reads a report of the explosion. Merchants were faced with the problem of dressing windows for Christmas without windows.
So great was the tremor that houses in all parts of town received major damages. Stoves and other articles of furniture were upset and plaster cracked.
