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Danger, Death and Disaster in the Crowsnest Pass Mines, 1902-1928
The Crowsnest Pass is famous for the tragic rock slide at Frank in 1903, but almost as famous are the many coal-mining tragedies that afflicted the region in the early twentieth century. With the discovery of a rich coal deposit in the region, the area underwent an economic boom and a spike in population that is still evidenced today. Unfortunately, with this type of mining, in rugged and often dangerous conditions comes the threat of disaster and occasionally death. This book examines carefully the various calamities that have afflicted the area and considers the impact on the inhabitants and victims of these numerous tragedies. Using original source material such as grave markers, folk songs, and oral histories, the author portrays vividly the psychological and sociological features of both the individual and collective responses to death and danger, giving the reader a unique picture of mining communities that is as true today as it was a century ago.
Alberta Newspapers 1880-1982: An Historical Directory
Studies of Alberta's newspapers have generally concentrated on better-known newspapers published in major centres and the organs of significant political parties. Gloria H. Strathern's exhaustive historical directory makes it possible to review the role of the press on a more comprehensive basis.
Triumph and Tragedy in the Crowsnest Pass
Rich in stories, the Crowsnest Pass region in the southern Rocky Mountains still bears evidence of its tragedies, and one monumental triumph—a railroad rammed through the pass in 18 months. Hailed as the greatest project in the Dominion, the Crow's Nest Pass Railway was built by men who toiled with horses and primitive tools to carve the way for industry. Towns and coal mines blossomed as the nourishing stem of the railroad brought abundance to British Columbia and Alberta, but with progress came disaster. The town of Frank, Alberta, was devastated when part of the legendary "Mountain That Walks" crashed down on the homes and businesses nestled at its foot. A mine explosion at nearby Hillcrest took nearly 200 men in one huge blast, and the entire town of Fernie, BC, was razed by fire. Was the relentless hand of fate responsible, or was it the Elk Valley curse? A must-read for anyone who enjoys thrilling tales of true life and real people, this book captures all the drama and spirit of a mythic land.
Structured Worlds
Hunter-gatherer societies are constrained by their environment and the technologies available to them. However, until now the role of culture in foraging communities has not been widely considered. 'Structured Worlds' examines the role of cosmology, values, and perceptions in the archaeological histories of hunter-fisher-gatherers. The essays examine a range of cultures - Mesolithic Europe, Siberia, Jomon Japan, the Northwest Coast, the northern Plains, and High Arctic of North America - to show the role of conceptual frameworks in subsistence and settlement, technology, mobility, migration, demography, and social organization. Spanning from the early Holocene period to the present day, 'Structured Worlds' draws on archaeology and ethnography to explore the role of beliefs, ritual, and social values in the interaction between foragers and their physical and social landscape. Material culture, animal bones and settlement patterns show that the behaviours of hunter-gatherers were shaped as much by cultural concepts as by material need.
The Cowboy Cavalry
When Native and Métis unrest escalated into the Northwest Rebellion of 1885, white settlers in southern Alberta`s cattle country were terrified. Three major First Nations bordered their range, and war seemed certain. In anticipation, 114 men mustered to form the Rocky Mountain Rangers, a volunteer militia charged with ensuring the safety of the open range between the Rocky Mountains and the Cypress Hills. The Rangers were a motley crew, from ex-Mounties and ex-cons to retired, high-ranking military officials and working ranch hands. Membership qualifications were scant: ability to ride a horse, knowledge of the prairies, and preparedness to die. The Rangers were resolutely prepared to fight, as mounted cavalry, should the rebellion spread. This is their story, inextricably linked to the dissensions of the day, rife with skirmishes, corruption, jealousies, rumour, innuendo and gross media sensationalizing . . . all bound together with what author Gordon Tolton terms "a generous helping of gunpowder."
The Lights on the Tipple Are Going Out
The Canadian postwar economic boom did not include one western coal-mining region. When the Canadian Pacific Railway switched to diesel power, over 2,000 coal-production jobs were lost in the Crowsnest Pass and Elk Valley. The Lights on the Tipple Are Going Out tells the story of its fight for survival. Underground mine closures began in 1950, prompting attempts by unions, leftist parties, municipal governments, and business groups to save the local economy. Efforts to reindustrialize in the mid-1960s brought unregulated growth, unsafe working conditions, and pollution. Starting in 1968, new strip mines were built to produce metallurgical coal for Asia-Pacific steelmakers. Not only is this an interesting regional history, but the consideration of the role of labour unions, local communists, and grassroots environmentalists makes it especially compelling. Today, with technological change in steel manufacturing on the horizon, propelled by the climate crisis, Langford argues that the Crowsnest Pass and Elk Valley must look toward ecosystem restoration, sustainable economic activities, and the inclusion of First Nations in decision making in order to embrace a future beyond coal.
The Vrooms of the Foothills
These stories tell about life on an isolated ranch in the foothills of southwestern Alberta during the 1930s. Illustrated with over 110 photos and maps, Bessie's stories capture the reader's imagination with a living history of Alberta ranch life.
The Lost Lemon Mine
The legend of the Lost Lemon Mine is one of the most enduring unsolved mysteries of the Canadian West. In 1870, so the story goes, two prospectors named Lemon and Blackjack found gold in the rugged mountains of southwestern Alberta or southeastern British Columbia. Shortly after, Blackjack died at Lemon`s hand. The distraught Lemon left the scene of the murder and never recovered his senses--or his gold. Despite exhaustive searches by treasure seekers and historians, the mine has never been located. In The Lost Lemon Mine, Ron Stewart revisits this intriguing story and attempts to answer the tantalizing questions posed by the often conflicting evidence. Where was the mine . . . or did Lemon and Blackjack steal the gold and invent a fictitious mine to cover their tracks? Stewart has meticulously researched the many versions of the story in order to separate folklore from fact, challenging readers to reach their own conclusions.
Prohibition Lawman
The true story of war hero and prohibition lawman Steve Lawson. September 21, 1922 is a fateful one for Constable Lawson of the Alberta Provincial Police. The force is charged with stopping the illegal importation of liquor into the province. After an ill-fated run-in with police the rum runners confront Lawson at his office and home in Coleman in the Crowsnest Pass. There is a brief scuffle, shots are fired and the unarmed officer falls to the ground dead. After the arrest and subsequent sensational trial the rum runners are hanged the following year. The focus in this story is on the victim and his family, not on the criminals and the crime. Too often victims are forgotton in the media frenzy after crimes are committed. Readers will be surprised to learn Steve Lawson is more than a historical footnote, but a major player in the history of the West.
Challenging Frontiers
Challenging Frontiers: The Canadian West is a multidisciplinary study using critical essays as well as creative writing to explore the conceptions of the "West," both past and present. Considering topics such as ranching, immigration, art and architecture, as well as globalization and the spread of technology, these articles inform the reader of the historical frontier and its mythology, while also challenging and reassessing conventional analysis.
