Salute to Kimberley - Page 2

From 1900 to 1910 Kimberley became a small mining town and for the most part the activity was high on the top of Sullivan Hill and across Mark Creek at the North Star. An aerial tramway was built to carry the ore on the North Star, earlier on the ore was raw-hided down the mountain by horses. There were no fancy buildings at this time as that was a huge expense in those days.

Some said that Moyle and St. Eugene were very rich and the gold found in the Wildhorse and Perry Creek had great tales to tell. The greatest talk at this time was the find at the North Star. This was the jewel that brought the many prospectors and miners to a small valley that was to be known as "Mark Creek Crossing".

A branch of the CPR rail line was brought to Kimberley from Cranbrook over the St. Mary's River near the mouth of Perry Creek. With the railway moving in, The McGinty trail that ran down the North Star and through the middle of town was terminated. At the time The Sullivan Mine employed only 35 men.

By 1901, Kimberley housed 41 people and hotels, the post office and buildings were being constructed. Down in Marysville the excitement of the start of a mining smelter was in the works. The Sullivan Mine workings were just below the surface and they were so irregular as to defy any written descriptions. While at The North Star it was getting thin and clean up had begun.

In 1905 the North Star was almost abandoned and the Stemwinder came into the picture. With the ore at the Sullivan, low grade iron and some zinc the total tonnage was thought to be around 25,000 tons of reserves. There didn't seem to be a future! The ore was weak and hard to handle at the Smelter in Marysville and the chances of it being a big producer was very small.

In 1907 the smelter shut down and was closed by 1908.

In 1909 the consolidated (CM&S Company) took option on the Sullivan mine property, no ore was shipped and the North Star and Sullivan Mine were shut down. Prices for lead and silver were low. Time had stopped!

In 1910 there was no ore shipped and the CM&S Company purchased The Sullivan Mine for $200,000 dollars.

As we watch The City of Kimberley grow in the year 2000 certain areas around the mining town have historical values. Around the turn of the century (1900-1925) the town started to unfold.

In 1909 the Taylor Lumber Company logged the upper Blarchmont area.

In 1911 the Mark Creek dam was built and the 1st of July celebrations were started on Spokane Street.

The Handley's old home was at the rear of The Canadian Hotel and was thought to be Kimberley's oldest building. The Handleys lived there at the turn of the century and had two teams hauling ore from The North Star.

July 1913 the festivities started in Kimberley with various events being held for the community with prizes of $3.00 for 1st, $2.00 for 2nd and $1.00 for 3rd. Events such as standing long jump, running long jump and married ladies race, singles, egg and spoon races, sack races, shoveling, chopping, sawing, ball games, dances, and the fat man's race.

By 1912 Tommy Evans doused the coal-oil lamps and brought Kimberley its first spark of electricity.