The Story of Italians in Fernie, 1881 - 1921 The Story of Italians in Fernie, 1881 - 1921 Fernie Museum
He was one of the most successful bootleggers in the Crowsnest Pass, which made him a target of both rivals and police, as did his Italian ancestry.
Many hotels generated more revenue through the sale of liquor than by room rentals and meals. In BC, the Merchants’ Protective Association, comprising hoteliers and liquor industry people, […]
The Brewery was the largest in the region and one of its founders, Fritz Sick moved to Lethbridge and established the Lethbridge Brewing and Malting Company.
The “Black Hand Society” cases were held at the Fernie Courthouse with Judge Wilson presiding. Sherwood Herchmer, a prominent Fernie lawyer, acted as defence counsel. The case received […]
Working men generally opposed Temperance, and the Union Local in Michel, BC in August 1917 passed a motion that their members needed liquor to continue working.
The District Ledger reported on September 26, 1908 that the Black Hand accused had been found guilty. Judge Wilson presided and prominent Fernie lawyer Sherwood Herchmer acted as […]
The District Ledger described an attack by “two Italians” on a Mr. Cameron (February 8, 1908). This was likely the beginning of the series of events attributed to […]
The District Ledger (June 27, 1908) in “The Black Hand in Fernie” reported the arrest of armed members of an Italian secret society that had sent extortion letters […]
Picariello gave free ice creams in trade for bottles which resulted in the nickname “the Bottle King.” Breweries and distilleries bought these back from him for re-use.
A hand-written note on a photo states: “Lacking Enough Hearses or Wagons, Most Bodies Were Borne for Burial.” The 1902 Coal Creek mine explosion killed 128 miners. There […]
The railway station became the hub of the community and represented prosperity. Communities that were ignored by the railways became ghost towns. In 1990, the station was relocated […]
