The Adams Family
as told by Smokey Adams

Sydney (Smokey) Adams was born in Fletcher, Ontario. His father, John G. Adams, was placed in charge of two car loads of cattle being delivered to a ranch near Calgary, Alber- ta, in 1903. He stayed west to manage a ranch for a time, then took up a homestead and brought his family out. In 1918 he moved to another farm just north of Calgary near Crossfield.

In November of 1922, Smokey came to Kimberley quite by chance. Hearing of construc- tion work being done on a new Concentrator in Chapman Camp, he applied for work and got a job. When the Concentrator was finished, he ob- tained work as an operator and he recalls all the problems the Company had in those early years. In 1929, two of Smokey's brothers, Leslie and Stanley, spent a little over a year working here.

Smokey played softball on one of the Camp teams and recalls the rivalry between the Top Mine, Tunnel and Town teams. He was the catcher and Bill Leaman was the pitcher for their team. He used to enjoy curling, but has given it up. He still bowls with the pensioners' league.

In 1924, when the Elks Lodge came to Kimberley, Smokey became a member. He is the only Charter member left and is now a life member. He is also a member of the Legion and in recent years has acted as bartender on busy weekends.

Smokey met Marie Pighin when she was a waitress at the Chapman Camp cookhouse and they were married in 1925. They still reside in their home on Chapman Street in Lower Blarchmont where they have lived for fifty-four years. They have five children; Norman, Raymond, Joyce, Gordon and Larry. Norman is Treasurer for the City of Kimberley, Raymond is a lawyer in Vernon, Joyce is at 100 Mile House. She married an R.C.M.P. officer who is now a Sheriff. Gordon is a Warrant Officer with the Air Force at Cold Lake, and Larry is a City Fireman in Kimberley.

Smokey remained at the Concentrator operations for forty-three years, retiring in October of 1965. He and Marie celebrated their Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary in 1975 and are looking forward to 1980 when they celebrate their fifty-fifth. They keep busy with their volunteer work in the many community organizations in which they are interested. Marie is a past Presiden t of the Legion Ladies; she has been a President of the Eagles Lodge. She is a Life Member of both the Legion and the Royal Purple. They enjoy their family of five children, twenty grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

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