THE KÜTNE READER

Silverton had its own moviehouse? Yes, indeed! Here is what I have been able to scrape together about it and the man who ran it.

In 2019, I wrote here about some long-lost footage showing survivors of the Empress of Ireland disaster of May 29, 1914 that claimed more than 1,000 lives, including several people from West Kootenay. I didn’t hold out much hope the film would be found more than a century later, but I’m thrilled to report that is exactly what has happened and the images depict two of the ship’s most extraordinary passengers. Silverton’s Robert Crellin saved his neighbour’s young daughter , F

Of the 100 or so cemeteries in West Kootenay/Boundary, two dozen can no longer be visited because they were either flooded out, exhumed, ploughed over, covered by slides, or simply lost. In addition, five cemeteries never actually existed. Three were proposed but didn’t happen and two others entered the historical record in error. These phantom graveyards are detailed below. PASSMORE The Passmore notes of the Slocan Enterprise of July 13, 1927 read: “The Farmers Institute he

A terrific cover from Silverton, postmarked July 28, 1894, sold for $192.50 Cdn yesterday on eBay. It was sent from Hunter & McKinnon,...

In January 1910, a man posted a notice in Silverton that read: Mr. A.L. Pinchbeck, D.M.S. dental surgeon, has visited Silverton for two weeks only. All who want teeth seen to either crowning bridging or stopping. Set and false teeth a specialty. Honorary certificate for above work guaranteed and done $1 less than in Nelson or any other town in British Columbia. His typewritten diploma, however, was made out in a different name: This is to certify that Arthur L. Stanger is now

In Silverton’s early days, Amy Carey was among the community’s leading entrepreneurs. She owned hotels, a grocery store, livery stable, and dairy. A postcard view of early Silverton, ca. 1900s. (Greg Nesteroff collection) But how she honed her business acumen is a mystery. Amy Ellis was born somewhere in Ontario, either in January 1863 or on June 15, 1865, according to conflicting census returns. We know nothing about her upbringing. She married Alfred William Carey, date and