Kimberley Chronicle FREE

Volume 15 September 24, 2012 kimberleychronicle@gmail.com

Your Biweekly Source for Kimberley’s Past, Present & Future

Russians Bomb Important Kootenay Infrastructure

Welcome to the fifteenth issue of Kimberley Chronicle. We hope that everyone is enjoying the ex-tended summer weather which is making up for its late arrival. In this edition of the paper we have the story of the 1962 bombing of a tower for a power line that crossed Kootenay Lake and fed Kim-berley with electricity. We hope nobody gets too alarmed by our headline, it’s just fun to get peoples attention. We asked in the paper about an apple press a few issues ago and where happily informed that Wildsight has some equipment that is free to use for community members to help with apple processing. Kudos to them; that’s way more useful than climate change and caribou posters. As per ususal we’d love to hear any questions or comments. We have some copies of past editions (as long as you don’t mind the odd coffee stain) and can also send people digital copies of the paper. Enjoy.

Relations were tense back in 1962 between the Sons of Free-dom (aka Freedomites) and just about everybody around them. The breakaway sect of the Doukhobor movement was an-gry at the government for seiz-ing land and trying to assimilate them into Canadian culture. They were upset at the rest of the Doukhobors’ for not putting up as much as a fight as they were. For being part of a Russian pacifist movement, these West Kootenay Freedomites were becoming quite familiar with bombings and arsons. Then on the evening of March 6th 1962 the power went out in Kimber-ley. Someone had blown up a 90 metre (300 feet) tower that helped a power line span the 3,248 metres (2 miles) across Kootenay Lake that supplied both our city and the Mighty Sullivan with electricity. cont’d

Downed tower at Kootenay Lake. Courtesy of the Trail Historical Society, West Kootenay Power Photograph Collection.

Kimberley Heritage Museum

105 Spokane Street - above the libraryMonday-Friday 1-4pmPhone: 250-427-7510

Email: kdhs@shawbiz.caEntry Fee - By Donation

Happy Hands Tattoo

418 - 304th St - 778-481-5000

Firewood For SalePine, Split & Delivered

$100/Pickup Load250-427-5430

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Free Yoga Classes!(donations for a refugee family will be accepted)

Hot Yoga is coming to Kimberley! Until the studio is up and running come enjoy some FREE YOGA. Classes taught by Moksha certified teacher, Kristi McRae. Classes starting AUG.15, 2012 and running until SEPT.26, 2012 at Blarchmont Field. Mondays @ 9:30am (75minutes) & Wednesdays @ 6:30pm (60 minutes). Bring a mat, water and a smile.

Witnesses heard three explosions that were believed to have toppled the tower that had been built ten years prior in 1952. Thankfully there were no injuries caused by the blast, a power line guard had patrolled the area ten minutes prior to the ex-plosion and was luckily out of the area. The ensuing power interuption forced the shutdown of the iron, chemical and fer-tilizer plants in Kimberley, as well as the Sullivan Mine, and the Bluebell Mine in Riondel. With well over 1200 men out of work, some men were talking of setting up vigilante watches of important infrastructure in the area. Eventually the Sullivan managed to get some electricity from the East Kootenay Power and was able to run at 60% capacity. The towers and three lines were part of the West Kootenay Power and Light Company’s infrastructure. Each of the cables was an inch and a half in di-ameter and weighed over seventeen and a quarter tons. On March 24, 1962, 150 RCMP officers rounded up 59 leaders of the Sons of Freedom sect for the bombing. They were taken to the Mountain Institution, a prison built especially for them in Agassiz that was built out of metal so that it could not be burnt down. The Sons of Freedom were becom-ing quite well known for their arson abilities as well as their public nude demonstrations. This incident was just one in a long line of demon-strations. The Doukho-bor story in its entirety is too long and complex for this newspaper. In short things seem to be OK now. Check out your museum or library for more infomation. The Span. Courtesy of the Trail Historical Society,

West Kootenay Power Photograph Collection.

Kootenay Cleaning Services‘A Breath of Fresh Air’

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Colin Parfey CarpentryYour Renovation Expert

call 250-432-9507 for a quote

Tryna’s EventzMemories made to last a lifetime!

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The Kimberley Branch of the Order of the Eastern Star is collecting postage stamps, Campbell Soup Labels and Pop Can Tabs for various charities. These items can be dropped off at Curves or at 960 Rotary.

Trivia & Puzzles1) What famous author helped fund the Doukhobors’ mi-gration from Russia to Canada?

2) What brought the Doukhobors’ to British Columbia from their original settlements in Saskatchewan?

3) How did the Sons of Freedom protest policies set out by the Canadian Government? (besides bombing the power line)

4) How long is the longest power line span in the world?

5) 6)

7) 8)

-Residential/recreational properties-Professional, mature staff-Locally owned and operated

-Environmentally friendly-Cleaning supplies provided-Contact: Heather or Sue at 250-427-8644

Kimberley Community Fall FairBe sure to come check out the Fair at the Marysville Arena.

Booths & Exhibits, Kiddies Korner, Food Booths, Refresh-ments, Something for Every-one!

Saturday September 29 10:00 am to 6:00 pmSunday September 30 11:00 am to 5:00 pm

computers - networks - communications250-432-5269

101 370 Wallinger

Weather Looks like we can keep on enjoying this First Nations Summer. Mostly sunny with the odd shower. Highs ~16oC ~Lows 5oC.

Meadowbrook Motors (Reds Country Store) is now open!

propane, gas, marked premium, and diesel Certified Journeyman Automotive Mechanic Motorbike, ATV’s and other small engine repair Kimberley’s STIHL Dealer Call 427-7690 for an appointment or stop in Monday to Saturday 7am-7pm

Kimberley Forest Consulting

Your forest expert.

Wildfire Assessments,Forest Development Plans,Ecosystem Management,

Surveys.Wade Jarvis, RPF

kimberleyforest@gmail.com

Truck For Sale

1979 GMC Sierra Pickup‘Camper Special’

$1000 with or without camper250-427-3058

Trivia & Puzzle Answers1) Leo Tolstoy 2) The warmer winters and the ability to grow fruit.3) Mass nudity and arson. 7) See Eye to Eye.4) 5,376 m, the span is in Greenland 8) Right Under the Nose.5) Over my dead body.6) Home is where the heart is.

Your Gas Gas DealershipCome Check Out Our Selection of

Trials & Enduro Motorcycles

Upcoming EventsWednesday September 26: Last Free Yoga Class at Blarch-mont Park. 9:30-10:45 am.Friday September 28: “Buck” Movie presentation by the Kim-berley Happiness Project at Centre 64, 7:30-9:30pm.Saturday September 29 & Sunday September 30: Kimberley Community Fall Fair at the Marysville Arena. 10am-6pm on Saturday, 11am-5pm on Sunday.Sunday September 30: Lichens in the Nature Park. Meet at the Nordic Trails parking lot at 1pm for a 3 hour hike.Wednesday October 3: Free Public Swim from 5-6pm. Spon-sored by Marysville Petro-Canada.Wednesday October 3: Author Reading at Kimberley Library: Fernie’s Angie Abdou, author of The Bone Cage & The Canter-bury Trail. 7-8pm in the Reading Room.Friday September 5: Wildsight Movie Night: Riding Bikes with the Dutch and With My Own Two Wheels at Centre 64, 7:30-9:30pm.Sunday October 7: Thanksgiving Celebration and Threshing Days. A traditional Thanksgiving Dinner with all the fixings.12.00pm, 1.30pm, 3.30pm and 5.30pm. Adults $22.95, Chil-dren (6-12) $11.95, 5 years and Under pay their Age.