Mar 10, 2018 — GREENWOOD, BC (BG)

The Spokane Fruit Fair was not only famous throughout the Pacific Northwest for its exhibitions of fruit, grains, vegetables and mining, but also for its music and entertainment. In 1898, fairgoers were entertained by a dancing girl named Mademoiselle Lira, who lit herself up as a pyrotechnic display, dancing in color produced by lime and calcium lights and other mechanical effects. Mademoiselle Lira was dubbed "one of the greatest vaudeville attractions of the day."

Among the other performing acts was Master Ozark, the hand balancer and equilibrist, and the National Guard drill team.

A report in the August 13th edition of the Boundary Creek Times announced some of the highlights to be seen at the 1898 Fruit Fair:_[1]

SPOKANE FRUIT FAIR. H. Balster, the enterprising manager of the Spokane Fruit Fair, is sending out circulars telling the people that this year's fair, which opens October 4th and closes October 15th, will be on a larger and grander scale than any of its predecessors, and the musical and other attractions will be an agreeable surprise to its patrons.

From an attraction standpoint the leading feature of this year's fair will no doubt be the moving pictures on a mammoth scale of all the latest war scenes by sea and land, which have been secured in the east at great cost. Many of the now famous battle scenes at the Philippines, Cuba and Porto Rico, will be reproduced with thrilling effect at each evening performance of the fair.

A nominal admission fee of fifteen cents will again admit the visitor to all the features of the fair. The various transportation companies centering at Spokane have put into effect a 2-cent per mile passenger rate effective at all times throughout the fair.

With less than a month to go before the start of the 1898 Fruit Fair, the Boundary Creek Times editors were still imploring local mining men to get busy putting together a fitting mineral exhibit from the Greenwood area:_[2]

MINERAL EXHIBIT. An effort should be made to send an exhibit of Boundary Creek minerals to the Spokane Fruit Fair. Last year the exhibit sent from Boundary Creek attracted a great deal of attention and did much towards advertising the district. A similar or better display should be made this year. All that is required is a united effort. Already several have volunteered their services towards securing such an exhibit. Mr. Thos. McDonnell has volunteered to gather the samples from the different mines which can be reached by team. If the matter was taken up at once there is no reason why a creditable display of Boundary Creek ores should not be made at the Spokane Fair.

In this connection it may be stated The Times is in receipt of a communication from S. E. Smith, the C.P.R. agent at Penticton, in which he states that the C.P.R. would like some good specimens of Boundary Creek ores to exhibit at the Mechanics' Fair, Boston, in order to demonstrate before Eastern capitalists the mineral value of this country. Samples of 50 pounds or more put up in good bags or boxes and sent to Mr. Smith with full description of ore, claim, width of vein and assay values, also distance from railway, will be forwarded by the C.P.R. colonization agent at Montreal free of charge. The latter will arrange the exhibit at Boston.

The offer of the C.P.R. if complied with will do much in advertising the district. When specimens are being collected for the Spokane Fair duplicates might be secured for the C.P.R.

The following week, another 'tickler' hit the pages of the Times:_[3]

THAT MINERAL EXHIBIT. The general public are not taking as much interest in the matter of securing a creditable mineral exhibit for the Spokane fruit fair as its importance demands. An exhibit that will do justice to the wonderful variety of ores to be found here, is one of the best advertisements for the district.

The management of the mineral department of the fair, in a letter, state that "It is proposed to make the mineral department of this year's fair one that shall properly represent the various camps of the Northwest. The exhibit will be arranged with a view to giving the best educational results, and no pains will be spared to make it one of the most attractive features of the fair.

All who are familiar with the good results derived from the mineral exhibit at last year's fruit fair will readily appreciate the importance of this movement which brings together the prospector, the miner, the investor, and all who may be seeking information concerning the mineral wealth of the great Northwest.

The managers undertake to receive all shipments at the Spokane depots and see that the same are properly placed on exhibition in the mineral department of the fair, and due credit given to the camp and the consignor sending the same. Intelligent and united effort on the part of all interested in the success of this movement will make the exhibit one that every prospector and miner may be proud of. All specimens should be carefully labeled and wrapped in paper and forwarded to reach Spokane not later than October 1st, and should be addressed 'W. A. Stuart, Supt. Fruit Fair, Spokane, Wash.' [ ]

Active measures were taken this week to collect an exhibit for the Spokane Fruit Fair. W. T. Smith, Thos. McDonnell, J. C. Haas and others visited the different camps and secured specimens. These will be collected next week and shipped to Spokane. The expense of the exhibit is to be defrayed by a public subscription.

Just a few days before the 1898 Fruit Fair, this report proclaimed the Oro Dinero mine as having the finest of all mineral exhibits submitted for the fair:_[4]

THE ORO DINERO. Among the specimens sent to the Spokane Fruit Fair, but few were of a richer or more striking appearance than from the Oro Dinero. Other specimens give better values but the Oro Dinero ore, magnetic iron carrying copper pyrites and gold and silver, is bright and looks rich.

There is much in appearances. In this case the appearance is not deceitful as the following assays from six samples shows. The chief values are in copper; gold running about $2 and silver not higher than $5. The values follow: $68.84; $46.80; $60.; $55.50; $77.60; $63.64.

The Oro Dinero is in Summit camp ''about-eight miles" from Greenwood. It was owned by W. A. Corbett, who bonded the property to Ross Thompson of Rossland. He turned the property over to the King Mining Company who are making preparations to develop it on a large scale.

The Oro Dinero lies immediately to the east of the Emma. It is situated on the summit of a rather steep mountain. There are several veins on the property any of which can be easily worked by tunnels from the mountain side. Two of these veins have been opened up. One vein is over 100 feet and another is 75 feet wide. On the latter vein a shaft is now down 35 feet. The shaft is in solid ore.

The King Mining Company were fortunate in securing the Oro Dinero. While the Kootenay properties acquired by the company may be very good, the Oro Dinero is an exceptionally promising property. It is easily developed and should be a shipper in a very short time. The C. P. R. will pass adjacent to the property and a spur has been surveyed from the main line to the Emma, Oro Dinero and other big properties in the immediate vicinity.

120 years later, in 2018 the Oro Denoro once again has potential to become a notable producer, being one of the Greenwood Area Properties acquired by Golden Dawn Minerals.

For several weeks in October 1898, the Times included numerous social announcements about leading Greenwood citizens who were off to enjoy the Fruit Fair, or were just returning from it._[5]

There has been quite an exodus of Greenwoodites to the Spokane Fruit Fair. Scarcely a day passes without someone starting from the city to Spokane. Last week W. T. Smith and Thos. McDonnell shipped the mineral exhibit and drove to Marcus to see that it reaches Spokane in good time. They will also place it in position in the Fair building. The exhibit is a good one and ought to attract considerable attention.

Riding on the success of the 1898 fair, in the years immediately following it seems that far less pressure had to be applied by the Times editors to encourage submissions for the mining exhibit. In March 1899 it was reported_[6] that "Mr. Herbert Bolster, manager of the Fruit Fair, [was] out examining properties in the district, keeping an eye out for a big mining exhibit this year."

In the Fall of 1899, a Times Council meeting report_[7] indicates how much more financial support the City gave that year to cover mineral exhibit expenses:

Thos. Miller, Wm. Law and Jas. Kerr interviewed the council relative to securing money to defray the expenses of an exhibit to the Spokane fair. Mr. Miller made a strong talk in favor of a big vote and the council decided to place $150 at the disposal of the committee. [ ]

The board decided to send a good exhibit to the Spokane fruit fair. W. T. Smith was appointed to take charge of the exhibit and Messrs. Wm. Law, Thos. Miller and James Kerr were appointed a committee to collect $350 to defray the expenses. Suitable advertising literature will be sent with the exhibit. The secretary was authorized to collect initiation fee and pay outstanding bills.

The mineral samples for that year's exhibit were delivered to the fair by Thomas McDonnel and W. T. Smith, were departed Greenwood on September 30th with the big exhibit._[8] As in the previous year, there were many Times reports in the social pages about the large number of locals who traveled off to the Spokane fair.

By 1900, the mineral and mining industry exhibits had grown so large and impressive that the fair was more aptly named the Spokane Industrial Exposition. The Mining Journal that year reported:_[9]

Probably greater crowds will attend the fair at Spokane this year than ever before. It is expected that the same generous rates from the railroads will be secured and in addition to the many local excursions from all sections of the northwest, at least one excursion is promised from entirely across the continent. This latter will be an excursion from Boston and other eastern cities, of capitalists who will come to this exposition to spend a week or ten days examining the mining exhibit, and inquiring into the mining camps and the chances for investment.

This announcement of a train excursion coming to the fair from Boston is interesting, given the news report of September 1898, when the C. P. R. was soliciting good specimens of Boundary Creek ores to exhibit at the Mechanics' Fair, Boston. It appears their effort was a success, and the Eastern capitalists were indeed convinced to come explore prospective mining investments in the Pacific Northwest.

The Journal continued:

"As another portion of the mineral department, it has been decided to prepare a machinery hall, in which will be exhibited all kinds of mining machinery, devices and processes. The latest inventions and the most modern machinery will be exhibited here for the inspection of mining men and mine owners.

Already assurances have been received as a guarantee that this will be one of the most complete and important features of the exposition. Power will be furnished by the exposition management to the exhibitors, so that the mining machinery can be kept constantly in motion. Machinery in motion is always attractive and it will be doubly so when it is machinery that is of so much importance to the mining department.

It has been decided to give a rock drilling contest in connection with the mining department. Exceedingly liberal sweepstake prizes are offered. There will be two contests, one for single drillers, and the other a double handed event. In each event there must be at least six entries."

While the Times again published social notices about Greenwood travelers going to and from the fair in the Fall of 1902, the next significant mention — and the last we find in the 1st decade of the 20th Century — is this item from November 13, 1908:_[10]

"British Columbia will be represented at the Spokane Fruit fair by exhibits from Grand Forks, Kamloops, Creston, Nelson, Myncaster, the Okanagan and the coast districts."

Given that the name of the Fruit Fair was changed in 1900 to the Spokane Industrial Exposition, it's interesting that it was still being referred to by the Times in 1908 as the Fruit fair. Presumably, the name was simply commonplace by that time. However, the list of towns exhibiting might also indicate that by 1908, fruit and agriculture were again sharing the spotlight with the mining industry. Creston, Nelson and the Okanagan were as well known at that time for growing fruit as they were for mining.

By 1910, the mining boom had passed for Greenwood, and the city's population had declined from 3,000 down to 1,500. In another decade, Greenwood would be feeling the full effects of the mining bust and by 1918, residents in the Boundary were likely more interested in hearing about fruits and vegetables than unprofitable ores destined for a Spokane exhibit.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] The Boundary Creek Times — Aug 13, 1898, p. 6
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170308

[2] The Boundary Creek Times — Sep 17, 1898, p. 12
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170681

[3] The Boundary Creek Times — Sep 24, 1898, p. 7-8
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170728

[4] The Boundary Creek Times — Oct 01, 1898, p. 10
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170622

[5] The Boundary Creek Times — Oct 08, 1898, p. 14
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170682

[6] The Boundary Creek Times — Mar 22, 1899, p. 6
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170449

[7] The Boundary Creek Times — Sep 16, 1899, p. 6 & 8
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170678

[8] The Boundary Creek Times — Sep 30, 1899, p. 4
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0170723

[9] "The Spokane Industrial Exposition" - Mining: Journal of the Northwest Mining Association, 1900, Volumes 4-7, pp. 23-28
https://tinyurl.com/y73g24nx

[10] The Boundary Creek Times — Nov 13, 1908, p. 2
https://open.library.ubc.ca/collections/bcnewspapers/xboundarycr/items/1.0172244