March 23 - 29: Compiled by Dave Humphrey from the archived newspapers held at the Cranbrook History Centre and Archives
1918
Joseph Ryan passes … Cranbrook lost one of its best known residents, through the death on Monday evening of Joseph Ryan, and there was a feeling of sincere regret throughout the entire community when it became known that he had passed away.
Judge Ryan, as he was familiarly called, appeared in the best of health and spirits on Sunday but early in the afternoon suffered an attack of heart failure and was taken home in a serious condition. He rallied, however, within a few hours and on Monday it was generally understood that he was making rapid progress toward recovery and would be out and about again within a few days. He suffered a relapse that afternoon and breathed his last shortly before seven o’clock.
It is about eighteen years since Mr. Ryan came to Canada from Ireland. He settled first in West Kootenay, where he spent some six years being chiefly occupied as a broker and doing also considerable accounting and conveyancing, his legal training in the land of his birth, proving of great value in the latter.
He moved to this district about twelve years ago undertaking Secretarial work in connection with mining undertakings. He was Police Magistrate for several years and for some time past conducted a Brokerage and Conveyancing office.
While not having practical mining experience, Mr. Ryan was a student of geology and was thoroughly well acquainted with conditions in both East and West Kootenay.
He was always optimistic with regard to the future of this district and was one of the most energetic members of the Board of Trade, being fittingly described by one of his close associates as the best advertising medium in the district. The funeral took place on Wednesday morning at nine o’clock.
Thomas T. McVittie passes … News came to hand to-day that Thomas Thane McVittie, a resident of this district for nearly forty years, died at Edmonton on Monday morning last.
Mr. McVittie was born at Barrie, Ont., about 63 years ago. He was one of the young men who was attracted by the great possibilities of the west and after spending some time surveying townships on the prairie for the Dominion Government, came to British Columbia in 1879 and has practised as a Provincial Law Surveyor since 1881.
He was made a Justice of the Peace on the withdrawal of the North West Mounted Police and was held in high esteem for the manner in which he performed his judicial duties.
Mr. McVittie was a member of the Anglican Church and acted as Lay Reader at Fort Steele for several years. He married a Miss Galbraith, niece of Mr. R.L.T. Galbraith, and has been in failing health since the death of Mrs. McVittie in 1916.
The deceased leaves one brother, Archibald, now living at Victoria, also a sister, Mrs. Scott, who, with her husband, Mr. Justice Scott, were at his bedside when he passed away.
The funeral took place on Wednesday.
Thomas D. Chaney returns … Corpl, Thos. D. Chaney, who was employed by the Staples Lumber Co. prior to enlistment and who will return to work for that firm as soon as he secures his discharge, recently returned from overseas and is visiting in Cranbrook this week.
Although well over the military age limit, Corpl. Chaney’s services were accepted in 1915, and he went to England with a draft of the 51st Battalion, and was transferred to the 2nd and proceeding to France in the spring of 1916.
He was blinded at Sanctuary Wood, the result of a lachrymatory or as they are commonly called “tear gas” shell and was incapacitated for two months.
Chaney was again knocked out at the battle of Mouquette Farm and was fortunate to escape with his life. He was one of a party of seven, sent back for a supply of bombs and to bring up reinforcements. Having secured their supplies and arranged for the necessary reinforcements they were proceeding towards the front line trenches when a shell burst above them killing five of the seven and seriously wounding Chaney and the other man.
Sub committee appointed … There has been some delay in organizing the Food Conservation and Production campaign in this district, owing to non-receipt of advice on various matters from the authorities.
Mr. J.W. Gibson, who was in the city some few weeks ago, gave the local committee to understand that details of a plan of campaign would be forthcoming at an early date, but considerable time passed without anything of this character being received.
The committee met last week with eighteen of the twenty-one members in attendance and discussed at length several matters connected with the question of Conservation and Production. Sub-committees have been appointed and a further meeting will be held at the City Hall on Friday evening to complete organization arrangements.
Should confiscated liquor be returned on payment of fine? … An interesting point in connection with a prosecution under the Prohibition Act was raised in the Police Court on Wednesday morning Chief of Police Hersey had arrested a local man, who appeared in answer to the charge of having liquor in his possession in a place other than a private dwelling house.
Mr. A.B. Macdonald, who appeared for the accused, pleaded guilty, and a fine of $50.00 was inflicted. Mr. Macdonald made application for an order that the confiscated liquor be returned, but Chief Hersey, who prosecuted, objected to this course being adopted, unless accused would swear that the liquor belonged to him.
Cases were cited by Mr. Macdonald showing precedent for the order being issued after payment of the fine, but Magistrate Arnold refused the application.
No late deliveries … On and after Saturday, April 6th, the Merchants of the City will not accept any orders on Saturdays later than 6 o’clock p.m. for delivery the same evening. A resolution to this effect was passed at the last meeting of the Retail Merchants Association and the purchasing public is advised to govern itself accordingly as this regulation will be strictly observed.
Volcanizing plant … Automobile owners will be interested to know that in the course of the next month, there will be in operation in Cranbrook the most up-to-date vulcanizing plant between Calgary and the Coast. Local business men are interested; the plant will be in charge of an expert tire man.
The machinery is now on the road from Ahron, Ohio, and is the same as used by all the leading tire manufacturers in the States.
Cranbrook has long felt the want of an up-to-date tire repair shop, as it is an expensive proposition shipping tires to Calgary or Vancouver, the transportation usually amounting to more than the repairs, to say nothing of the delay.
The new company intend fixing their charges to correspond with those current in the large cities, and will thus save the motor car owners the transportation charges.
It has not yet been decided just where the new plant will be situated, but announcements will appear later.
Deacon/McKee … A very pretty wedding took place at the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. D. James, Wednesday evening at nine o’clock when her sister, Ruby I. Deacon, was united in marriage, by the Rev. Hillis Wright, to Ernest L. McKee.
The bride, who entered the parlour on the arm of her brother to the strains of the Wedding March, played by Miss Baker, looked charming in a pretty gown of white voile and carried a shower bouquet of Easter lilies and white roses. She was attended by Mrs. James as matron of honor and little Christinia Charboneau as flower girl.
The groom was supported by Mr. Kenneth Machum.
After the ceremony the guests partook of a sumptuous repast.
Invermere news … Miss Bertha Dawney, who has been in charge of the hospital for some months, left at the first of this month to accept a position as nurse in the hospital at Silverton, B. C., and has been succeeded by Miss Kilpatrick, a graduate from the Kootenay Lake and General Hospital, Nelson.
New bridge on Matthew Creek … Isaac Burch, Government Bridge foreman, of Cranbrook, passed through town on Monday en route for Matthew Creek. It is rumoured that the Government intends opening up the old road to the Lake and will build a bridge at the old site, thus cutting out the terrible road that now exists via Lund’s Mill.
Elko news … The St. Patrick’s Dance held at the Roosville School House on March 16th brought out every Irishman in the Valley. The Local String Band supplied the music assisted by Mr. George Dingsdale, Banjo and Concertina soloist, for several years with the Moore and Burgess Minstrels, London, England. Dick A. Roo, the well-known broncho twister, acted as floor manager, and kept the dance in full swing and made it as pleasant as marrying a poor girl for love only and before the honeymoon is over her uncle dies and leaves her two million dollars.
Miss Jennie Nichols of Creston took first prize for waltzing. The free supper provided by the ladies of the Valley, would discount your grandmother’s thanksgiving dinner, and was a marvel of the confectioner’s art, cakes that would really taste good to an angel, the lemon meringues would melt in your mouth, coffee like a dream of joy with real cream.
It was a brilliant success and everybody had a good time, and promised to come again. The receipts of the dance, after expenses are paid, will go to the Patriotic Fund.
Farewell banquet … Alex McMillan, one of Elko’s popular young men, was tendered a farewell banquet at the Kootenay Ice Cream Parlours, last week which was attended by about thirty of Elko’s Queen Bees and Beaux-esprits.
The Parlours presented a very pretty appearance with the pink candles and decorations of smilax and pink carnations.
The piano recital by Mrs. Waters of Winnipeg was greatly enjoyed, while several musical selections were well received, the evening was spent with dancing and cards, and at midnight delicious refreshments were served after which songs and stories and good cheer mingled with smoke and bon-bons until the cold daylight began to splash through the windows.
The Home Sweet Home waltz was something to write home to your auntie about as the whole party broke into song “For he’s a jolly good fellow,” which woke up the city police and brought out the fire brigade. That made everybody smile like a girl with a new doll on Christmas morning.
Mr. McMillan left on Sunday for Vancouver where he will join a party of big game hunters.
