Mar 03, 2018 — GREENWOOD, BC (BG)

1896 is the first year we find mention of Greenwood's participation in the Spokane Fruit Fair, which had been operating under that name since 1894. In 1896, local mining men were slow to warm up to the idea of gathering boxes of rock and shipping them off to Washington state to be looked at. By 1897 their enthusiasm had grown, but just a little. In August of that year, this Times announcement was still pushing the call to action: _[1]

"The management, of the Spokane Fruit Fair which opens Tuesday, October 5th, and closes Saturday, October 16th, has decided to include a mineral exhibit. Good results were derived from the mineral exhibit of last year and an effort should be made to have a still better exhibit this year. Last year Mr. J. C. Haas had charge of the exhibit from Boundary Creek and his intimate knowledge of the resources of the district well fitted him for the work. Mr. Haas is at present out of town but we believe he could be induced to undertake the work of preparing an exhibit that would do credit to the district. If not, then all exhibits should be sent direct to L. K. Armstrong, superintendent of the Mineral Department, Spokane Fruit Fair, not later than September 15."

A few weeks later, the Times editors were again putting their weight behind the project, which they clearly believed was of great importance to Greenwood and the Boundary: _[2]

"All the mine owners and others interested in the development of Boundary Creek district should make an effort to have an exhibit at the Spokane Fruit Fair. Judging from the lack of interest at present evinced in the matter, no exhibit will be sent, or it will be of such a commonplace order that it will not do justice to the district.

Last year the same lack of interest was displayed and were it not for the energy and perseverance of Mr. J. C. Haas, Boundary Creek could have made but a poor showing at Spokane. Thanks to his efforts, the exhibit was second only to that of the Fort Steele country; it received the encomiums of the press and mining men and did much towards attracting attention to the district. Mr. Haas also remained near the exhibit and furnished inquirers with valuable information regarding the district

If the residents of this district will present an interesting object lesson to the thousands who will attend the Fruit Fair, the benefits to be derived will well repay the trouble and expense. Boundary Creek produces a wonderful variety of ore and nothing so soon attracts attention as a nicely arranged mineral exhibit. The people of Grand Forks are collecting ores for the Spokane Fair and unless the people of Greenwood are alive to their interests, those who go to Spokane need not be surprised if they find that the Grand Forks exhibit includes ore from camps in this vicinity. "

The following week City Council also took the matter up, and allocated a small purse for expenses:_[3]

"The question of having a mineral exhibit at the Spokane Fruit Fair was then taken up. Mayor Wood and the aldermen were sure that a first-class exhibit at the Spokane Fair would be of the greatest benefit to Greenwood and Boundary Creek. Mr. Leamy asked the council to also aid in securing an exhibit for the New Westminister Fair.

The council resolved itself into a committee to collect exhibits. The major and each of the aldermen will look after one camp. Alderman Galloway was chosen to represent the council at the Fruit Fair and $50 was voted to defray the cost of freight."

In September and October, the Times ran several social page announcements about the travels of Greenwood personalities heading off to Spokane for the Fruit Fair. Fair managers distributed pamphlets offering information to travelers on lodging and city sights, and October 8th was officially made 'Miner's day'.

While in Spokane, local residents got together for a celebration of the event:_[4]

"The Boundary Creek visitors to the Spokane Fruit Fair gave a banquet to themselves and friends at the Spokane hotel, Spokane, last Tuesday evening. This enjoyable function was arranged by a committee consisting of Henry White, White's camp, chairman; J. C. Haas, Greenwood, secretary; and A. S. Black, Greenwood; Jas. McNicol, Midway, and L. A. Manly, Grand Forks.

The Spokesman Review says: The spread was excellent, the company congenial and the evening passed most pleasantly. The following toasts were drunk: "The Fruit Fair," "Mining Industry," " Our Invited Guests," '" Kettle River Mining District," and "The Ladies.'"

A summary of the Boundary's success in exhibiting was given by the Times on October 9th:_[5]

"Respecting this district's ore exhibited at the Spokane Fruit Fair, the Spokesman Review says: Boundary Creek makes a great showing of ores carefully arranged and accurately labeled. Visitors are presented with a printed description of the district and the ores exhibited. The exhibit is most comprehensive, including every mine of importance in the district."

Mineral Display, Spokane Fruit Fair, 1898
Photo by Loryea, Spokane

Thanks to the participation of mining centers like the Boundary, the Spokane Fruit Fair developed into an increasingly important venue for exhibition of regional mineral samples. In 1899, the fair began to promote itself as the Spokane Industrial Exposition. That year, the Fruit Fair moved from Riverside Avenue to a new spot at Lincoln and Post, which is today the site of the Spokane Public Library. As described in the Journal of the Northwest Mining Association:_[6]

"The exposition management has received enthusiastic and able assistance in preparing a mining department, from the mining men of Spokane. Several weeks ago these men held a meeting which was largely attended, and they resolved to give all the aid possible to the exposition in putting on a splendid mineral department. …

At the present time there is more interest shown by the mining men in all parts of the northwest, in the mineral exhibit, than has been displayed heretofore at the fruit fairs on the very day of opening. Already more camps and districts have promised to exhibit than ever exhibited at a former Spokane fair, and yet it is two months before an exposition will open. Already about 50 camps have written to the management, saying they have taken up the matter and will make exhibits at the exposition. Many of them already are preparing and collecting their exhibits. The camps which thus far have agreed to exhibit are the following:

In British Columbia: Ft. Steele, Moyie, Silverton, Kaslo, Nelson, Ainsworth, Ymir, Salmo, Erie, Cascade and Christina Lake, Grand Forks, Greenwood, Camp McKinney and Rock Creek." [Many more followed, from Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana.]

Manager Bolster has promised to give all the space necessary to properly exhibit the ores from every one of the camps. It is therefore to be seen that Spokane will have a finer exhibit this fall than has ever been made in Spokane or in the Pacific Northwest.

There will be a great variety of ores, and they will be so arranged as to be attractive not only to the mining men, but to those who are not conversant with that business. For the mineral exhibit a good list of gold medals, silver and bronze medallions, and diplomas will be awarded."

In our final segment of the series, we'll look at Greenwood's progress in getting more enthusiastic support of local miners for the fairs held during the last two years of the century.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] The Boundary Creek Times — Aug 21, 1897, p. 7
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170310

[2] The Boundary Creek Times — Sep 04, 1897, p. 12
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170730

[3] The Boundary Creek Times — Sep 11, 1897, p. 4
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170684

[4] The Boundary Creek Times — Oct 15, 1897, p. 5
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170621

[5] The Boundary Creek Times — Oct 09, 1897, p. 5
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170685

[6] "The Spokane Industrial Exposition" — Mining: Journal of the Northwest Mining Association, Volumes 4-7, pp. 23-28
https://tinyurl.com/y73g24nx