1

Early development at the Silver King Mine
1890
Toad Mountain, near Nelson B.C

2

Early buildings at the mine
1890
Silver King Mine, Toad Mountain, near Nelson B.C

3

During the 1890's the rough shelters on Toad Mountain gradually gave way to more permanent structures as families moved up to join the men working in the mines; a settlement called Fredericton grew up. Pricilla Bissett lived in Fredericton during the late 1890's and recalled some of her childhood memories. They lived in a house converted into an apartment of four rooms and facilities were basic; no cupboards or closets, no plumbing, although there were electric lights. Fresh milk and vegetables wee not available, meat was brought from the cook's house and a reliable can-opener was a must. Provisions came up by pack train and, during heavy snow conditions, in the buckets of the tramway.

4

Silver King Mine site in Winter
1896
Toad Mountain, near Nelson B.C

5

Front view of the Boarding House at the Silver King Mine.
1899
Toad Mountain, near Nelson B.C

6

In 1896 the Hall Mines Co. built a splendid boarding house for 300 men; the event was celebrated by a dance. The price of a bunk bed was $26 a month and an extra dollar a day bought a double bedded room.

7

Vance Hall, the Boarding House at the Silver King Mine.
1899
Toad Mountain, near Nelson B.C

8

Closeup of Employees on the Bunkhouse Porch and Steps, Silver King Mine.
1896
Toad Mountain, near Nelson B.C

9

Nelson being a long wagon road journey away, visits tended to be restricted to special occasions such as July 1st. Working hours were long and entertainment was sparse. A visit by a traveling troupe was greeted with great excitement and the tables in the dining room of the boarding house would be pushed together to provide a stage for the dancing girls. At first, liquor was forbidden in the camp although the roadhouse, a few miles down the road, undoubtedly attracted many miners especially on payday. Although strictly forbidden, some of the men would catch a ride on the tramway after a visit to the bars in Nelson.

10

Pupils and Teacher Inside the Schoolhouse at the Silver King Mine
1900
Toad Mountain, near Nelson B.C

11

Sometimes an energetic clergyman would climb the steep trail to celebrate a church service. There was no doctor on the mountain and accident victims were driven to Nelson. Dr. Borden, an early practitioner, recalls being summoned to the Silver King one Christmas Eve to treat a serious accident involving a dynamite explosion. Children did not attend school until 1900 when a log cabin was converted into a schoolroom for twenty pupils.

12

View of Various Structures among the stumps at the Silver King Mine.
1896
Toad Mountain, near Nelson B.C

13

Upper Terminal of Tramway at the Silver King Mine.
1896
Toad Mountain, near Nelson B.C

14

Remains of old machinery at mine site.
July, 2005
Silver King Mine, Toad Mountain, near Nelson B.C