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Spillimacheen is an unincorporated community near the mouth of the
Spillimacheen River The Spillimacheen River is a tributary of the Columbia River in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Course The Spillimacheen River originates just east of Glacier National Park. Flowing southeast, it collects the waters of several tribut ...
on the east shore of the Columbia River, in the
East Kootenay The Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) is a regional district in the Canadian province of British Columbia, Canada. In the 2016 census, the population was 60,439. Its area is . The regional district offices are in Cranbrook, the larges ...
region of southeastern
British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include ...
. The locality, on BC Highway 95, is by road about north of Cranbrook and southeast of Golden.


Name origin

The
First Nations First Nations or first peoples may refer to: * Indigenous peoples, for ethnic groups who are the earliest known inhabitants of an area. Indigenous groups *First Nations is commonly used to describe some Indigenous groups including: ** First Nat ...
word origins suggest a meaning of "flat mouth," "'flat meadow," or "meeting of the waters." The earliest mention of the name was 1864, when applied to the river mouth and then to the river. The two most common spellings were Spillimacheen and Spillimachene. The riverboat landing was an access point to the mining country westward across the Columbia. Peter McIntyre was the inaugural postmaster 1889–1889, followed by George McMillan 1889–1909. McMillan, who had arrived the prior year, named his farm after the
galena Galena, also called lead glance, is the natural mineral form of lead(II) sulfide (PbS). It is the most important ore of lead and an important source of silver. Galena is one of the most abundant and widely distributed sulfide minerals. It cry ...
ore found in the area. Consequently, the post office and the general area adopted the Galena name. The 1898 voters' list combined all residents as Galena. The 1907 list comprised separate sections for Spillimacheen, Brisco, and Galena (the undefined area spanning the gap).


Mining

Reputedly, the first BC smelter was erected by prospector John McRae at the river mouth on the western shore of the Columbia in 1883. Having processed silver lead ore, the smelter was dismantled in 1906. The Giant Mascot Mine comprised the Giant, Giant Mineral, Silver Giant, and Giant Mascot claims on the southwest side of Spillimacheen Mountain. In 1883, Albert Isaaco, W. Isaaco and Thomas (Tom) Jones made the initial stake, but developments during the 1890s were not promising. In 1907, Golden Giant Mine Ltd was more successful, extracting 500 tons of silver lead ore in 1908. Apart from 77 tons shipped in 1917 and some diamond exploration during 1926–1928, the mine was inactive until after
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...
. Silver Giant Mines shipped 1,383 tons in 1947, and in partnership with Hedley Mascot Gold Mines was producing 500 tons per day by 1952. The mining camp expanded from six families in 1951 to include 40 houses, a school, and a community hall by 1954. When the mine closed in 1957, the population dispersed. Baroid of Canada continued
baryte Baryte, barite or barytes ( or ) is a mineral consisting of barium sulfate ( Ba S O4). Baryte is generally white or colorless, and is the main source of the element barium. The ''baryte group'' consists of baryte, celestine (strontium sulfate), ...
operations 1959–1966. Other claims listed on the mountain in 1898 included Rothchilds and Hidden Treasure. At that time on Bugaboo Creek were Last Chance, Surprise, France, Magda, Hortense, June Bug, Riverside, No. 21, and Western Cross.


Waterway and roads

From the mid-1880s, steamboats provided a vital link on the Upper Columbia. In 1887, the ''Cline'' sank near Spillimacheen, while carrying equipment for the NWMP. An alternative name was Jubilee Landing, which by river was from Golden. Galena Landing was about farther southeast. During the early 1890s, Galena was an important stop on the steamer timetable. However, river ice shut down river traffic from December to April. A Golden– Fort Steele stage ran twice a month but the journey was rugged. Prior to the stages,
pack Pack or packs may refer to: Places * Pack, Austria, a municipality in Styria, Austria * Pack, Missouri * Chefornak Airport Chefornak Airport is a state-owned public-use airport in Chefornak, a city in the Bethel Census Area of the U.S ...
trains followed the trail along the foot of the Rockies. In 1899, the respective mileposts from Golden were
Carbonate A carbonate is a salt of carbonic acid (H2CO3), characterized by the presence of the carbonate ion, a polyatomic ion with the formula . The word ''carbonate'' may also refer to a carbonate ester, an organic compound containing the carbonat ...
(16), Hog Ranch (23), Spillimachene (41), Shorty's (49), McKay's (66), Sinclair (68), and
Windermere Windermere (sometimes tautologically called Windermere Lake to distinguish it from the nearby town of Windermere) is the largest natural lake in England. More than 11 miles (18 km) in length, and almost 1 mile (1.5 km) at its wides ...
(82). In 1911, the listed stopping places from Golden were Hadden's (13), Johnson's (18), McKeeman's (29), Spillimacheen (41), Dolan's (54), and Windermere (82). By 1892, Malcolm and Rosella Cameron were part owners of a Spillimacheen hotel. By 1894, Peter Lambrich was the proprietor of Riverside House at Mile 41. By 1897, J. Francis (Frank) and Jessie Deacon ran the renamed Spillimacheen Hotel. Following his mining and farming activities, Tom Jones was the proprietor by 1899. William and Diana Barry purchased the place around 1900, described in 1909 as a little tavern along the rough narrow trail. In 1912, the liquor licence was revoked. The next year, the hotel was demolished for the railway right-of-way. In 1884, the government called tenders for a ferry across the Columbia at Spillimacheen, which commenced operations at that time. In 1896, P. Lambridge (Lambrich alternative spelling) built a large
scow A scow is a smaller type of barge. Some scows are rigged as sailing scows. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, scows carried cargo in coastal waters and inland waterways, having an advantage for navigating shallow water or small harbours. S ...
ferry. The ferry was subsidized 1908–1912. Being unstaffed, passengers moved the vessel by pulling on the cable. The 1912 replacement was a manned swing bridge, which comprised a swing span, with an adjoining
king post A king post (or king-post or kingpost) is a central vertical post used in architectural or bridge designs, working in tension to support a beam below from a truss apex above (whereas a crown post, though visually similar, supports items above f ...
truss. The bridge was upgraded in the early 1930s, and a running deck installed two decades later. The bridge was reconstructed in the late 1950s and replaced by a concrete structure in the late 1990s. In 1950, Highway 4 was renumbered as Highway 95, which was rebuilt in the late 1950s and paving was completed in 1962.


Earlier community

In 1886, only a couple of cabins existed at Spillimacheen Landing. By 1893, opposite Galena Landing, Harry Barr owned on Bugaboo Creek, which he sold to James Montgomery in 1897. Erected on land donated by George McMillan from his Galena farm, the school adopted the Galena name. In 1904, Miss B.O. Frazer was the inaugural teacher. Insufficient student numbers prompted closures during 1924–1926, 1943–1946, 1947–1949, and permanently in 1971. In 1912, Thomas Alton built a dance hall on his property. However, the large train station at Spillimacheen, built in 1913, soon became the venue for community dances. When Hugh McDonald opened the first general store in 1913, the post office moved to a permanent location. In 1921, the name changed to Spillimachene General Store. By 1940, when called the Trading Post, a
Texaco Texaco, Inc. ("The Texas Company") is an American oil brand owned and operated by Chevron Corporation. Its flagship product is its fuel "Texaco with Techron". It also owned the Havoline motor oil brand. Texaco was an independent company until i ...
and an
Imperial Imperial is that which relates to an empire, emperor, or imperialism. Imperial or The Imperial may also refer to: Places United States * Imperial, California * Imperial, Missouri * Imperial, Nebraska * Imperial, Pennsylvania * Imperial, Texas ...
gas pump stood at the front. In the 1950s, a coffee shop and tourist cabins were added, but the store permanently closed in the 1980s. During the late 1930s, Clyde and Dorothy Ambrose operated a small store for a short period near the Westside Road junction. In 1948, Joe and Olga Roesch bought in this location, installing two Shell gas pumps in the early 1950s and adding a general store in 1954, which traded as Bug-a-boo Service. Spare rooms in their large house were let to lodgers. In 1977, Doug and Lorraine Bolton bought the business and property, which operated for a few years before closing. The vacant buildings still stand. About 1900, the Federal government installed a telephone line from Golden, which would link to Windermere. Although still party lines, capacity increased substantially when
BC Tel British Columbia Telephone Company and later BC Tel was the legal operating name for the telephone company operating throughout the province of British Columbia, Canada. For most of its history, BC Tel served as one of several regional monopolies ...
expanded into the area in 1968/69. An automatic exchange brought privacy to calls in 1997. During the 1940s, the Alpine Club of Canada operated a base at Spillimacheen. In 1946, when the post office name was changed from Galena, the local intention was for Spillimachene, but the Ottawa authorities inadvertently chose Spillimacheen, the spelling which endured. In 1954, Jim and Kay Paul started Jim's Service using a couple of small buildings and a small gravity gas pump. The next year, a new building was erected with a shop, hoist, office, and electric pump. In 1955, the opening of the
Spillimacheen Dam Spillimacheen is an unincorporated community near the mouth of the Spillimacheen River on the east shore of the Columbia River, in the East Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia. The locality, on BC Highway 95, is by road about north ...
brought electricity. Founded the prior year, the Spillimacheen-Columbia Valley Country Club organized card parties and dances. In 1958, a steel building was erected to house the community hall. By the 1980s, the community had shrunk and the building had deteriorated, being removed in 1990.


Forestry

In 1902, Robert (Bob) H. and Minnie Milligan arrived. Bob logged on the Spillimacheen and Bugaboo rivers, rafting the logs downstream to Golden. The couple left in 1910. In 1907, Thomas and Jennie Alton settled. He moved his steam-powered sawmill to available stands of trees. In 1922, his operations relocated to Harrogate. During the 1930s and 1940s, small mills were operated by Pat Magrath, Charlie Ross & Hoffman, and Joe Roesch. In 1950, E. Peter Nelson (son of Einar and Beatrice Nelson of Brisco) established a sawmill in partnership with Doug Stewart, whom he bought out in 1961. This major mill still operates. In 1952, the Spillimacheen Ranger District was formed. Over the next two years, an office/warehouse and staff houses were erected. A 1974 amalgamation reduced the presence to a skeletal staff. The station closed in 1986.


Railway

The Kootenay Central Railway (KCR) was a
Canadian Pacific Railway The Canadian Pacific Railway (french: Chemin de fer Canadien Pacifique) , also known simply as CPR or Canadian Pacific and formerly as CP Rail (1968–1996), is a Canadian Class I railway incorporated in 1881. The railway is owned by Canad ...
(CP) subsidiary. In 1912, CP bought the Spillimacheen ranches of George McMillan and William Barry. The latter was to create the main townsite between Golden and Lake Windermere. Oswald J. Curtis sold of his farm for the Brisco townsite. The southward advance of the rail head from Golden reached Spillimacheen in early January 1913 and the large Spillimacheen station was built that year. The location became the temporary terminus for a couple of years and the track condition from Golden restricted the
mixed train A mixed train or mixed consist is a train that contains both passenger and freight cars or wagons. Although common in the early days of railways, by the 20th century they were largely confined to branch lines with little traffic. Typically, service ...
to . During 1914, Capt.
Frank P. Armstrong Francis Patrick Armstrong (circa 1859–1923) was a steamboat captain in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia. He also operated steamboats on the Kootenay River in Montana and on the Stikine River in western British Columbia. Steam navi ...
used scows to move railway construction workers, supplies, and steam shovels, between Spillimacheen and
Columbia Lake Columbia Lake is the primary lake at the headwaters of the Columbia River, in British Columbia, Canada. It is fed by several small tributaries. The village of Canal Flats is located at the south end of the lake. Columbia Lake is a fresh water l ...
. Ponds Construction was the subcontractor for Burns and Jorden on the Brisco portion. Horse- or mule-drawn equipment moved earth to build up the road bed through the large marshlands on the way to
Luxor Luxor ( ar, الأقصر, al-ʾuqṣur, lit=the palaces) is a modern city in Upper (southern) Egypt which includes the site of the Ancient Egyptian city of ''Thebes''. Luxor has frequently been characterized as the "world's greatest open-ai ...
. On completion, the old machinery was abandoned near the Brisco school. The station and
section Section, Sectioning or Sectioned may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Section (music), a complete, but not independent, musical idea * Section (typography), a subdivision, especially of a chapter, in books and documents ** Section sign ...
house at Brisco were both small. In 1920, a proper house was built, as was the case at Luxor a year or two later. In September 1914, a tri-weekly Golden to Edgewater service commenced, and the southeastward rail head was about northwest of Windermere. That November, the last spike was driven near the north end of Columbia Lake. The commencement of through train service in January 1915 ended stage and riverboat traffic. In 1931, the twice weekly service was reduced to once weekly.


Later community

In the mid-1980s, Joseph Lehman, Glenys Snow, and a small group arrived to establish the Columbia Society of Interdependent Living (Columbia S.O.I.L.). The society, which incorporates both environmental and disability issues, has liaised with federal and provincial parks to improve access for people with disabilities and the elderly. Also, the organization has secured of the former township centre of Spillimacheen to create a model community. In 1986, George and Laquita Rollins arrived and opened Turtle Island Gift Shop. In 1992, they helped in-laws Dennis and Nola Alt establish Spilli-Station Café. The café changed hands through the years, but Nola was actively involved during the late 2010s, before new owners Bernie and Patty Derbyshire took over in 2020. In 2006, the historic Spillimacheen Trading Post reopened as a retail honey outlet called Beeland. In 2022, the federal government made a grant to install high-speed internet.


Notable people

*George Overton (1880–1957), painter, was a resident 1938–1954.


Maps

* *


Footnotes


References

* * {{authority control Columbia Valley British Columbia populated places on the Columbia River Populated places in the Regional District of East Kootenay Unincorporated settlements in British Columbia