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Approaching 1914 folks along the Arrow Lakes reacted little to world events, mostly consumed by their own pursuits in a time when the standard of living was mediocre at best. Carving a life out of a wilderness took all of one's waking hours for both men and women. All aspects of their daily routines required labor with little assistance from mechanical devices. But in spite of this urgency related to survival there was an underlying sense of dismay surrounding the possibility of a world conflict. It was something far removed from the Arrow Lakes but allied to the mother country, a country to which many settlers still owed a strong allegiance.

For Nakusp, the year 1914 started out well. Tom Abriel built a large general store at the corner of Broadway and Slocan, reinforcing the up-town proposition he so strongly promoted. Countering this was Jim Sneddon's choice of Bay St. on which to erect a similar store. Although Jim's store came first it was a development that didn't follow the town's future growth. Division of people's disposable income was further impacted by the construction of a Co-op store on Broadway. Offering much of the same merchandise, the question now was who was going to survive. An ongoing feud between the respective owners of Nakusp & Slocan Railway and Kaslo & Slocan Railway ended when the K & S was wiped out by a forest fire in 1910. Subsequently the CPR took over the K & S route, rebuilt the railway and now they were ready to celebrate its re-opening by running a special train from Kaslo to Nakusp. The excursion, attended by hundreds, took place on July 1st 1914. All celebrations ended just over a month later when war was declared, August 4, 1914.

Further demoralizing news was received in Nakusp that fall. The big mill at Comaplix, thought to be the pillar of business enterprise, had suffered a serious fire, its origin being under investigation. This double dose of adversity could turn the fortunes of all residents in another direction. Where would it take them?

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Nakusp Trading
1914
Nakusp, British Columbia, Canada

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First Train from Kaslo
1914
Nakusp, British Columbia, Canada

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WW1 Sendoff
1914
Nakusp, British Columbia, Canada

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Upon the outbreak of war, this cataclysmic event spelled the end of all commerce in the little town of Comaplix. Seemingly destined to prosper for many years, word around hinted that the company, backed by English money, could no longer function for two reasons. Management had spent inexcusably on a luxurious office in Revelstoke and all the items associated with high living. Now adding the fact that no money would be available from England, the company was heading for bankruptcy.

Already closed and holding a large inventory, the Comaplix mill seemed ripe for a quest by its owners to pull a fast one. On October 29, 1914, fire was seen at the mill. Almost simultaneously another fire appeared at the Lardeau Hotel. A move to get water to the conflagration proved to be nothing more than frustrating. The mill was gone.

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Comaplix Mill Fire
1914
Comaplix, BC

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SS Rossland with Recruits
1914
Arrowhead, BC