Tales old envelopes tell
Several envelopes that sold at auction have intriguing connections to West Kootenay Japanese-Canadian, Chinese Canadian, and mining history.
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Greg Nesteroff
- May 31, 2019
- 5 min
Kinji Nagatani: Life of a toseinin
When Kinji Nagatani died at Willowhaven Hospital on Kootenay Lake’s North Shore in 1970, with him went the amazing story of a roving...
780 views2 comments
Greg Nesteroff
- Feb 3, 2019
- 14 min
Chinese-Canadian pioneers of West Kootenay: Charlie Bing
After writing about Chinese-indigenous births at Rock Creek, I received a message from Nelson’s Mona Smith, who noted that her mother,...
2,422 views7 comments
Greg Nesteroff
- Nov 8, 2018
- 2 min
Larry Kwong (1923-2018)
You heard it here last: Larry Kwong, the NHL’s first player of Asian descent and the oldest Trail Smoke Eaters alumnus, died on March 15...
566 views0 comments
Greg Nesteroff
- Aug 31, 2018
- 4 min
Little-known Nelson heritage buildings: 606 Front
Touchstones Nelson recently posted a photo of the wedge-shaped building at 606 Front Street their Flickr account. It doesn’t look like...
1,340 views1 comment
Greg Nesteroff
- Aug 4, 2018
- 3 min
Chinese chefs on Slocan Lake
I recently wrote about Holy Grail historical items — things I once saw somewhere and couldn’t find again. I’m pleased to report that I’ve...
574 views0 comments
Greg Nesteroff
- Jun 11, 2018
- 15 min
Chinese-Canadian and Indigenous births at Rock Creek
Between 1872 and 1923, at least 12 Chinese Canadian births occurred at Rock Creek. This was noteworthy for a few reasons. First, there...
3,514 views1 comment
Greg Nesteroff
- Mar 3, 2018
- 4 min
Chinese Canadian pioneers of West Kootenay: Mar Sam
The photo below, taken in 1950, shows the evocative Mar Sam laundry at the corner of Front, Lake, and Ward streets in Nelson. You’ll...
482 views2 comments
Greg Nesteroff
- Jan 30, 2018
- 6 min
Chinese Canadian pioneers of West Kootenay: Jim and Annie Kee
The Kootenay Lake Historical Society has just reprinted the 1980 book Pioneer Families of Kaslo in a revised and expanded form. My...
892 views5 comments
Greg Nesteroff
- Jan 14, 2018
- 9 min
Nelson’s last brothel
Only one building from Nelson’s red light district survives: 601 Lake Street (pictured below in the fall of 2017), now home to Full...
4,410 views0 comments
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