Greg Nesteroff

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Most of the lots in the Oro townsite up Lemon Creek were probably never cleared much less built upon.

Oro townsite proved less than golden

One hundred forty-third in an alphabetical series on West Kootenay/Boundary place names.

Most of the lots in the Oro townsite up Lemon Creek were probably never cleared much less built upon.

Getting a new name Crockettville became Oasis

One hundred forty-first in an alphabetical series on West Kootenay/Boundary place names.

This ca. 1940s postcard is labelled “Custom House, Nelway” but actually shows the American crossing, known as Metaline Falls. The building in the foreground, which dates to 1931, is still in use.

Nelson-Spokane highway gave customs port its name

One hundred thirty-seventh in a semi-alphabetical series on West Kootenay/Boundary place names.

This ca. 1940s postcard is labelled “Custom House, Nelway” but actually shows the American crossing, known as Metaline Falls. The building in the foreground, which dates to 1931, is still in use.
This ad for the Old Log Store in Nelson, Wash. appeared in the Grand Forks Miner of Nov. 13, 1897. Nelson was named for merchants Peter and Ole Nelson and became Danville in 1899.

Nelson, BC forced Nelson, Wash. to pick new name

One hundred thirty-sixth in an alphabetical series on West Kootenay/Boundary place names.

This ad for the Old Log Store in Nelson, Wash. appeared in the Grand Forks Miner of Nov. 13, 1897. Nelson was named for merchants Peter and Ole Nelson and became Danville in 1899.
The Nelson City Land & Improvement Co. promoted what they called Nelson City but what locals referred to as Bogustown. Today it’s known as Fairview. This 1899 stock certificate is made out to BC business titan Joseph A. Sayward, a partner of Joshua Davies, for whom Davies St. in Fairview was named. The company’s president was James F. Fell, for whom Fell St. was named. The secretary was Edgar Crow Baker, a Victoria politician, although he’s not Baker St.’s namesake.

Promoters named it Nelson City, public called it Bogustown

One-hundred thirty-fifth in an alphabetical series on West Kootenay/Boundary place names

The Nelson City Land & Improvement Co. promoted what they called Nelson City but what locals referred to as Bogustown. Today it’s known as Fairview. This 1899 stock certificate is made out to BC business titan Joseph A. Sayward, a partner of Joshua Davies, for whom Davies St. in Fairview was named. The company’s president was James F. Fell, for whom Fell St. was named. The secretary was Edgar Crow Baker, a Victoria politician, although he’s not Baker St.’s namesake.

Stanley, Salisbury eventually gave way to Nelson

One hundred thirty-third in an alphabetical series on West Kootenay/Boundary place names.

ABOVE: A plaque unveiled in Ralph West’s honour gave the wrong date — it should have said May 30, not June 1, 1954. The plaque is still in the Castlegar airport, but no longer on the wall. A second plaque was created posthumously. BELOW: The Castle News of June 3, 1954 trumpeted the opening of the Castlegar airport, but didn’t run any pictures of the event, which thousands of people turned out for. BOTTOM: The program from the grand opening of the Castlegar airport on May 30, 1954.

15,000 attended Castlegar airport’s opening

Castlegar’s airport appears to have been designated the regional facility for West Kootenay around 1951.

ABOVE: A plaque unveiled in Ralph West’s honour gave the wrong date — it should have said May 30, not June 1, 1954. The plaque is still in the Castlegar airport, but no longer on the wall. A second plaque was created posthumously. BELOW: The Castle News of June 3, 1954 trumpeted the opening of the Castlegar airport, but didn’t run any pictures of the event, which thousands of people turned out for. BOTTOM: The program from the grand opening of the Castlegar airport on May 30, 1954.
This promotional image for To Steal the Sky shows the antique rifle that resulted in director Antonio Bastone and another man being arrested Sunday.

Antique prop led to Nelson takedown, filmmaker says

One of two local men arrested in a gun scare Sunday afternoon says the weapon involved was actually an antique film prop.

This promotional image for To Steal the Sky shows the antique rifle that resulted in director Antonio Bastone and another man being arrested Sunday.
Winlaw elementary is one of six schools the Kootenay Lake district is thinking about closing. At least 17 other local schools have closed since 1998, Greg Nesteroff writes.

COLUMN: Government makes trustees’ jobs even harder

As the Kootenay Lake district nears a decision on closing six schools, I thought about how many I’ve seen shuttered since 1998.

Winlaw elementary is one of six schools the Kootenay Lake district is thinking about closing. At least 17 other local schools have closed since 1998, Greg Nesteroff writes.
Nelson was known to First Nations as kaia’mElEp or k’iyá’mlu and to early prospectors as Toad Mountain camp.

Early prospectors knew Nelson as Toad Mountain

One hundred thirty-second in an alphabetical series on West Kootenay/Boundary place names.

Nelson was known to First Nations as kaia’mElEp or k’iyá’mlu and to early prospectors as Toad Mountain camp.
Queens Bay residents say their namesake body of water should be preserved as a park instead of being converted into a ferry terminal.

Turn Queens Bay beach into regional park, residents say

Queens Bay residents would rather see their beach turned into a park than a parking lot.

Queens Bay residents say their namesake body of water should be preserved as a park instead of being converted into a ferry terminal.
George Craft is seen in front of the Needles Hotel, which was also the post office. He was postmaster from 1920 until his death in 1942, whereupon his wife Edith took over the job. Today all that’s left of the old Needles townsite is the cemetery.

Needles took name from Arrow Lake sandspits

One hundred thirty-first in a semi-alphabetical series on West Kootenay/Boundary place names.

George Craft is seen in front of the Needles Hotel, which was also the post office. He was postmaster from 1920 until his death in 1942, whereupon his wife Edith took over the job. Today all that’s left of the old Needles townsite is the cemetery.
The Castlegar airport terminal is seen in the 1950s. Canadian Pacific Airlines was the commercial carrier at the time.

The early Castlegar airport story

West Kootenay’s chief landing strip was born out of both collaboration and controversy.

The Castlegar airport terminal is seen in the 1950s. Canadian Pacific Airlines was the commercial carrier at the time.
Hundreds of people packed the Redfish school gym to view sign boards, fill out questionnaires, speak with Ministry of Transportation staff — and express their frustration.

Residents pack Kootenay Lake ferry meeting

The Ministry of Transportation insists that moving the Balfour ferry terminal to Queens Bay isn’t a done deal.

Hundreds of people packed the Redfish school gym to view sign boards, fill out questionnaires, speak with Ministry of Transportation staff — and express their frustration.
This map from the SNC-Lavalin study on moving the Balfour ferry landing shows the existing route and the proposed route to a new site on the north end of Queens Bay.

Queens Bay ferry move would cost $25 million, study says

A study concludes that constructing a new ferry terminal on the north side of Queens Bay would cost $25 million.

This map from the SNC-Lavalin study on moving the Balfour ferry landing shows the existing route and the proposed route to a new site on the north end of Queens Bay.
This ad for the auction of Nashville City lots appeared in the Nelson Miner of Oct. 15, 1892.

Nashville named for pioneering Kaslo woman

One hundred thirtieth in an alphabetical series on West Kootenay/Boundary place names

This ad for the auction of Nashville City lots appeared in the Nelson Miner of Oct. 15, 1892.
Henning von Krogh will launch his new book late this month, which looks at New Denver’s founding years.

New book recounts early New Denver

The book came about after a couple made some discoveries about the house they bought.

Henning von Krogh will launch his new book late this month, which looks at New Denver’s founding years.
John Virtue, who died this month at 81, was born in Nelson and went on to a long career as a foreign correspondent. Last year he published his autobiography, My Life in Journalism.

The virtues of a Nelson boyhood

A Nelson native who covered Latin America for United Press International has died at 81.

John Virtue, who died this month at 81, was born in Nelson and went on to a long career as a foreign correspondent. Last year he published his autobiography, My Life in Journalism.
The Balfour ferry landing could be on the move, but Queens Bay residents say they don't want it.

Battle brewing over Balfour ferry terminal

Queens Bay residents are preparing to oppose any plans to relocate the Kootenay Lake ferry’s western terminal to their neighbourhood.

The Balfour ferry landing could be on the move, but Queens Bay residents say they don't want it.
Henning von Krogh will launch his new book late this month, which looks at New Denver’s founding years.

New book recounts early New Denver

When Henning and Judy von Krogh bought their heritage house on 5th Ave. in New Denver in 1978, they made a few discoveries.

Henning von Krogh will launch his new book late this month, which looks at New Denver’s founding years.