The Kimberley Fire Department still volunteers to maintain and operate an ambulance service if the vehicle is so kindly donated to the citizens of Kimberley, as offered by the Lions Cluh.
Temporary housing has been provided for an ambulance by the City until more suitable, permanent quarters can be provided.
The Fire Department wishes it to be known that if the ambulance is forthcoming they will assume fulll responsibility for the operation and maintenance of same.
Coverage will he 24 hours per day and every day, on a volunteer basis, as long as a Fire Department exists in the City of Kimberley.
Proper bookkeeping will be set up and a financial statement issued and presented to the public annually. There will be a small charge made for the use of the ambulance, for operation and a sinking fun, and also to protect the service from abuse.
The Kimberley Fire Department, being a volunteer organization will not be responsible for any liabilities which may occur and for this reason may be forced to ask for public grants periodically.
Temperatures continue frigid despite the prediction of Chief Red Feather (Vic Dick) of the Pilots of Progress. We feel that the public who place their faith in these predictions deserve either an apology or warmer weather!
There's still a great deal of snow back in the hills - according to reports there is the heaviest snow water content recorded for this time of year.
Those who live in the area know that the snow is just going along the lower reaches and hasn't begun to thaw higher up. This is mid-April. Maybe we would like the snow to go quickly - but let us remember what a quick thaw means. Stream and river beds can hold only so much water. When more comes tumbling down, what happens? We found out in 1948. Now we are better prepared than six years ago, but it will still pay us to be watchful.
Let's do our part to keep our streams clear. Spring means clean-up. Let experienced people dispose of our refuse - don't use stream banks as dumps. In the last flood whole houses went down. We don't want this again. Give the streams a chance and no matter how heavy the runoff they will handle their capacity.
Prior to 1911 Marysville was a dead end, with the exception of the dirt trail to St. Mary's Lake. It was in that year that the now existing road to Kimberley was declared open.
At that time, 1 was the Marysville correspondent for the "Cranbrook Herald." In my write-up on the opening of the road, I jokingly remarked about the through traffic to Kimberley, saying if the traffic keeps up at this lick the first thing you know we will be seeing a traffic cop on the street here, for that day there was no less than 6 buggies passed through the old historic burg to Kimberley. Well dear readers I saw my dream come true on Marysville Day June 12, 1954, 43 years later. I have never seen such an endless stream of traffic in this district before, for after the grand parade, cars that were parked in the side streets just could not get out as there was a bumper to bumper stream of cars a mile long going north. It was then that the police got in and made my joke of 1911 a reality, "A traffic cop in Marysville."
The Village of Marysville is to be congratulated for the fine showing they put on. The parade under a clear sky, with warm sunshine was just grand, being led by that colorful Pipe Band from Kimberley (Pipe Major Scott), followed by the Mission Indians fife and drum band (Mr. McDonald). This band improves every time we hear them. The Kimberley Brass Band (James Pearson) brought up the rear of the near mile long parade, a parade that would do justice to any town. Boosters were in great demand there being so many spectators the booster sellers couldn't serve them all before the parade started, but the crowd was so pleased with it all, that they hunted up, as I did a booster salesman, toward evening everyone seemed to be wearing one.
A near tragedy was averted by the quick action of Warren Keer, the old time box wagon and a pair of shire horses which were in the parade became restless and broke a trace and the driver trying to control them broke one of the lines which in turn pulled the horses to the "Gee" with the one line thus losing all control, but for the quick action of Warren Keer in grabbing hold of both horses and quieting them, stopped what might have been a real tragedy, as the people were about 6 deep the whole length of Main Street on either side. The Marysville old-timers of 50 or so years gazed with awe at the rapid changes that have taken place in their old historic burg in the last decade. One could see them pointing out old landmarks and asking where about was the Royal, the Police Station, the Falls View Hotel? etc. etc. they were really having a field day those oldtimers, amongst those I met were Ben Keer, Norman McClure, Henry Pearson, Jimmy Miller, Charlie Bird, Bill Bidder, H.H. McClure, Ed Frieake, Con Kervin, Mrs. Horman and Mrs. Robishaud. Ben Keer being the oldest resident as he came in the 1890's, Ed Frieake being the latest arrival May 1914 which was 40 years ago practically a new arrival. Such things as Marysville Day gives the oldtimers a chance to meet together and like all old folks, live in the past.
The Fire Alarm Diaphone Horn is now located on the roof of the fire hall, having been moved to that location on Tuesday, June 8th. As of this date the City of Kimberley are on their own tire alarm circuit, having purchased the horn and its equipment from the C.M.&S. Company.
It is felt that the new location of the horn will improve its efficiency about 75% as the distance the sound must travel has in most cases been reduced by better than half.
Kimberley has one of the finest types of fire alarm systems any department could ask for and only a few cities in B.C. have as good or better types. The Diaphone sounds a code and without leaving his home, our volunteers can know immediately where the fire is located.
During the changeover, large air tanks and other heavy equipment had to be moved and we must thank the boys of the City Electrical Department, for the efficient way in which they handled the equipment and placed everything on the roof of the fire hall without a single mishap and then proceeded to hook up.
All-in-all, we are well pleased to see this operation over and believe it to be another step in the right direction to a more efficient lire department.
Two test blasts of the new horn will be sounded each day at 12:00 noon, with the exception of Sunday. The first blast sounded at noon today.
Funeral services were held in the McPherson Funeral Parlor, Kimberley, on Sunday, March 13th, 1955, at 2:00 p.m. for Emile Louis, aged 80 years, who passed away on Wednesday, March 9th in the St. Eugene Hospital, Cranbrook. Rev. F.A. McPhee officiated and B.P.O.E. #90 were in attendance and conducted the graveside service.
Mr. Louis was a Charter Member, joining B.P.O.E. #90 when they received their charter in January, 1924.
Pallbearers were all member Elks and honorary pallbearers were friends of many years standing.
Honorary pallbearers: Alan Graham, Q.C., Dr. W. Green, Cranbrook; W.W. Parnell, D. Leith, Albin Johnson, Kimberley; Jas. Robinson and C. Bird, Marysville.
Active pallbearers: J. Sommen, S. Ordway, J. Musser, J. Masco, J. Pearson and C. Jones.
Born in Belgium on July 2nd, 1875, Mr. Louis came to Canada at the turn of the century. On arriving in the Kootenays he worked at Wycliffe, Marysville, and was well known in Cranbrook also. Employed for a short time by Cominco he worked as a blacksmith from October 1912 to April 1913. Upon moving to Kimberley he made his home for many years on the property where the Elks building now stands, moving later to his present home at 541 Walliiwer Avenue. In 1898 he was married in Belgium and was predeceased by an infant son prior to coming to Kimberley, and by his wife in 1941.
In May 1912, he became a naturalized Canadian and was always very proud of his country. a staunch friend he will be missed by his fellow lodge members and many friends in Kimberley and district.
Next.Salute to Kimberley - Index Page
Front Cover - Inside Front Cover
Page One 1896 - 1910, - Page Two 1900 - 1911, - Page Three 1912 - 1920, - Page Four 1921 - 1924, - Page Five 1925
Page Six 1926, - Page Seven 1927, - Page Eight 1928, - Page Nine 1929, - Page Ten 1930, -
Page Eleven 1930, - Page Twelve 1931/32, - Page Thirteen 1933 - 1936, - Page Fourteen 1937 - 1939, - Page Fifteen 1940, -
Page Sixteen 1941/42, - Page Seventeen 1943, - Page Eighteen 1944/45, - Page Nineteen 1945/46, - Page Twenty 1946/47, -
Page Twentyone 1948, - Page Twentytwo 1948, - Page Twentythree 1949, - Page Twentyfour 1950/51, - Page Twentyfive 1951, -
Page Twentysix 1952, - Page Twentyseven 1953, - Page Twentyeight 1954/55, - Page Twentynine 1955, - Page Thirty 1956/57, -
Page Thirtyone 1957/58, - Page Thirtytwo 1958/59, - Page Thirtythree 1959 - 1961, - Page Thirtyfour 1961/62, - Page Thirtyfive 1962/63, -
Page Thirtysix 1963/64, - Page Thirtyseven 1964 - 1966, - Page Thirtyeight 1967, - Page Thirtynine 1968 - 1970, - Page Forty 1970, -
Page Fortyone 1971, - Page Fortytwo 1972, - Page Fortythree 1973, - Page Fortyfour 1974/75, - Page Fortyfive 1975, -
Page Fortysix 1976, - Page Fortyseven 1976, - Page Fortyeight 1977/78, - Page Fortynine 1978, - Page Fifty 1979/80, -
Page Fiftyone 1981/82, - Page Fiftytwo 1982/83, - Page Fiftythree 1983/84, - Page Fiftyfour 1985, - Page Fiftyfive 1986/87, -
Page Fiftysix 1987/88, - Page Fiftyseven 1988/89, - Page Fiftyeight 1989 - 1991, - Page Fiftynine 1991/92, - Page Sixty 1993/94, -
Page Sixtyone 1995, - Page Sixtytwo 1996/97, - Page Sixtythree 1997/98, - Page Sixtyfour 1998/99, - Back CoverReturn to Keepers Index
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