The memorial for the nine men killed in the 1928 fire at Copper Mountain Mine has been restored.
The cairn, placed near the centre of the Princeton Cemetery by the mine, had accumulated sediment, rust and moss over the decades.
Then last year, apprentice heavy duty mechanic Mark Butler got a call from the human resources manager at the mine.
In addition to working at the mine, Butler is a Red Seal-certified bricklayer and stonemason who runs a Similkameen and Otter Valley Masonry business on the side.
The manager asked Butler if he would restore the cairn and he set to work on the stone when winter subsided, for about five days in May.
After acid washing, Butler said he cut out the old joints in the stone and regrouted.
He also restored the plaque affixed to the front of the cairn that lists the names of the men who were killed in the blaze.
Since the plaque was tarnished, Butler said he polished it and painted the inlay “to give it more life as well.”
The restored plaque affixed to the cairn for the men killed in the 1928 fire at Copper Mountain Mine. Photo Karissa Gall
Finally, he added a stone at the base of the cairn because the foundation was starting to wear out.
“Hopefully it will hold together for another 90 years,” Butler said.
READ MORE: Big changes underway at Copper Mountain Mine
Like us on Twitter
