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Saturday, May 30, 1992 @

17 hours

So you think you have road problems?

When I was in hospital in

Nelson last September, I met a wonderfully interesting pio- _neer Harry Stevenson, who showed me this manuscript entitled Grom Granum, Alber- ta to Nelson, by Model T Ford

in 1917.

It was so pertinent histori- cally and threw such a fasci- nating light on local road trav- el 75 years ago, that asked and received permission to present it for the sake of my own read- ers. Harry writes as follows:

My father Hazen Stevenson began his blacksmith business in Nelson in 1911 with partner Herdy Butchart.

In 1917 business began to slow down so the two men de- cided to close their shop. Butchart went to work in San- don while Stevenson accepted ajob at Granum.

Dad, Mother, my sister Margaret and I moved to the Prairie town.

A few months after our ar- rival at Granum I was taken critically ill, the alkalis in the water th re was burning the lining of my stomach. The on- ly food I was able to digest was white of egg beat up in milk.

Three days later the Stevenson family was on the way back to Nelson with their 1913 Model T Ford touring car.

Following the only roads that connected Granum to Nelson took us south to Fort McLeod, then west from there through Crowsnest to Cran- brook. We crossed the Canada- US. border at Kingsgate, then Bonners Ferry, Idaho.

There were no paved roads to travel on, only rough grav- eland dirt. Flat tires and mud- dy surfaces slowed our progress and by the time we reached Rathdrum, Idaho we had spent three days enroute.

From there we were able to reach Spokane in fairly good time as the roads on the Amer- ican side were well main- tained and there were fewer hills to climb.

The only pavement we had encountered on the entire trip was on some of the streets in Spokane, the tires had taken a terrific beating especially dur- ing the drive from Blairmore in Alberta to Sandpoint, ida- ho.

My father was offered a job at Consolidated Mines smelter. The work paid $4 a day, $2 would be paid by cheque, the other be munerated

\ 2

~~

a7 Reflections

and Recollections

John CHARTERS

tunity because he felt that $2.00 would not feed, clothe and house his family.

Dad learned that the only road toward Nelson ended at Waterloo Ferry, a small town about 10 miles north on the bank of the Columbia River. We were too far along our route to change plans, so we drove on.

The Waterloo ferry was a primitive raft type of vessel. It operated on an overhead cable that was anchored at each side of the river on high trestles.

It was built to carry passen-

in a Model T Ford

(Lordly) Veregin who was head of the Christian Commu- nity of Universal Brotherhood, owners of the bridge.

Veregin was the first Russ- ian that we had encountered who could speak English. He adamantly denied passage over the bridge arguing that the car was too heavy as a team of horses and wagon. Fortunately, a wagon loaded with logs drawn by a large team of horses crossed over.

Veregin was now convinced we could cross and he gave his permission to drive on, but in- sisted that a lady carry Mar- garet and Veregin carried me to the other side of the bridge.

We drove along to Brilliant where we learned that there was no road between the set- tlement and South Slocan, nor was there any road to Robson or Castlegar.

Dad drove the car on the road that paralleled the rail- way track to the CPR bridge.

He cut the wire fence, drove the car into the closure to climb up the railway embank-

‘He cut the wire fence, drove the car into the closure to climb up the railway embankment but was halted by a section foreman.’

gers and sometimes horses, but I am reasonably sure that we had the first car to use it.

My father must have been in shock when the ferry land- ed on the east shore. No road existed on the 35 degree slope on the river bank, only a rough foot path led the top beachland that was at least 40 feet above the river. There was no way that the little 20 horsepower Ford could climb up the flat land.

He drove the car off the fer- ry, then walked to the top of the bank where he found a pile of fence posts. Alarge crowd of Doukhobors had gathered to watch, none could speak or un- derstand English (they had ar-

~rived as immigrants from Rus-

sia a short time before.)

With hand signals Dad was able to instruct some of the men to assist him in carrying armfulls of posts down to the stranded. automobile. He jacked up the rear wheels of the car, placed the fenceposts crosswide under the wheels, then let it down again, j it up again, placed more posts under, etc.

While all this work was go- ing on, the Doukhobor ladies were caring for my sister and me.

The Ooteschenia flats of- fered good travelling on the roads from one of the Doukho- bor farms to another until we reached the Doukhobor bridge at the Columbia River.

Here we were met by Peter

ment but was halted by a sec- tion foreman. A

He ordered us off the rail- way property accusing us of trespassing. But as soon as the foreman was out of sight, Dad began climbing the bank with the car.

Now we were back on dirt roads again. The little single sided ferry at Castlegar took us across to Robson.

From here everything seemed to be in our favor. We drove through South Slocan, past Bonington Falls to Taghum. By now it was dark so the acetylene headlights were put into service.

We had left Trail at 6 a.m. and there were more frustra- tions ahead of us. It was now 10 p.m. Our fuel was getting low.

To explain our next prob- lem, one must know that Mod- el T Fords had a gas tank un- der the front seat in such a po- sition the gasoline would not flow to the engine while climb- ing a steep hill except when the tank was full. So, to alle- viate this engine, the vehicle could be turned around and driven uphill in reverse gear. On arrival at the top of Taghum hill he turned the car around to make a convention- al final lap into Nelson.

At 11 p.m. we arrived home. It had taken us 17 hours from Trail. That same trip today can be accomplished from Granum to Nelson easily in about six hours.

Thanks, Harry.

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SELKIRK COLLEGE

WHERE YOUR FUTURE BEGINS .. -

NEW PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENT

The Human Services Department is now offering a Post-Basic Certificate program

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

for Infants and Toddlers This certification training meets the requirements of the Child Care Facilities Licensing Board for working with children under three years of age. The five-month program begins at the Castlegar Campus July 6, 4992. Classes meet untit September 25. A two month practicum begins September 28 in community agencies providing education and care for infants.and toddlers. Admission requirement: Early Childhood Education Certificate

If interested, contact: Admissions Office, Castlegar Campus, 365-1297 and/or your nearest Canada Employment counsellor.

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Box 1200, Castlegar, B.C. VIN 331 365-7292

FORMULATED WITH LONG- LASTING SULPHUR COATED UREA FOR CONTROLLED RELEASE OF NITROGEN.

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@ Saturday, May 30, 1992

138

MAMBO QUEENS

News photo by Glen Freeman

Maxwell School of Dance students Julie Costa (left) and Jean Merritt - 4 ‘ took a breath their Latin Ladies number at Stanley Humphries Secondary School Saturday. ioe

» Don't be caught short ¥. this summer. Ask about » our overdraft protection! Castlegar Savings Credit Union

"Your Community Financial Centre”

601-18th St. (C5) 3026 Hwy. 3

Castlegar Slocan Park ShGeasas

Rossland market reopens

The Rossland Public Mar- ket will be taking place again this summer in Esling Park, bigger and more diverse than

_ever.

The market organizers have established a non-profit co-operative with the ultimate aim of providing a permanent location. and structure for the market to ensure its contin- ued success.

This year the markets are to be on the last Sunday of each month — May 31, June 28, July 26, August 30 and on Sunday September 20. Trad- ing time is 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Many Rosslanders will be setting up tables as well as traders from Trail, Nelson, Castlegar, Fruitvale, Slocan and Kelowna. Besides the dis- plays of crafts, gifts and cloth- ing there will be live enter-

tainment, music, food and plenty of diversions for the kids — balloons, clowns, com- petitions and much more.

With the co-operation of the weather it should be.a great family day out.

ESF Fireside Restaurant SUMMER HOURS Monday-Saturday 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays & Holidays 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m.

OF | 17es ide Restaurant

1810-18th Avenue, Castlegar Reservations 365-2128

FULLY SERVICED R.V. PADS Close to Safeway Phone

365-8077

WEST KOOTENAY CAMERA CLUB 2nd Annual Photo Salon Sunfest Weekend “A competition open to all photographers” For entry forms and information CASTLEGAR: Vogue Studio, Driftwoods, The Picture Place, Kootenay Aviation NELSON: Vogue, Horizon 1 HR., Profile TRAIL: Kootenay Cameras For additional information: Castlegar: Chris/Ross 365-2696 Ken/Teni 365-5473

Trail: Maureen 367-9351

Bluetop Burger

Ay oe

|) : I eS, i children under the age of 3. The free First Dental Visit program* Al includes:

VISIT

he ideal time for a child’s first dental visit is between the ages of 2 and 3. To encourage this, the dentists of B.C. are par-

ticipating in a new program for

orientation to the dental office

a visual check of the child’s

an oral health consultation. with parents Ask your participating dentist or the staff at your health unit for details of the First Dental Visit program.

* Does not cover a detailed exam or preventive/treatment services

College of Dental Surgeons of B.C.

OO TOGETHER WE CARE

BC MINSTRY OF HEALTH AND ¢Y RESPONSIBLE FOR SENIORS