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New heritage signage in town

by Contributor on 16 Oct 2012
in
New heritage signage in town
Two new interpretative spots have recently been created in Rossland to mark sites significant to Rossland’s early years when it was Canada’s largest gold mining center.
 
The first one is located beside the Wagon Road on a viewpoint above the Redstone subdivision.  The title of the signage  reads, “The Historic Trail Creek Valley”, and panels describe the various modes of transportation that used the valley as the corridor from the Columbia River and the river boat docking at Trail Creek Landing (Trail today) to the mining camp of Rossland.  Information and pictures tell of the Dewdney Trail, the Wagon Road and the Columbia and Western Railway.  This site is accessed from the old Wagon Road which begins at the bottom of Esling Drive in Rossland and continues down to Warfield.
 
The Louie Joe interpretative site is beside the new walking trail in lower Rossland that is named in honour of the last Chinese pedlar to sell vegetables door to door in Rossland that were grown in the Chinese Gardens, - Louie Joe.  The bench and signage provide a spot of rest, relaxation and interest overlooking what was once 70 acres of market gardens.  Access to the site and the wonderful walking trail is just off the intersection of Thompson Avenue and Queen Street.
 
The Rossland Heritage Commission is pleased to have  spearheaded the development of these interpretative sites that are visual reminders of Rossland’s golden era and thank both Tourism Rossland and the Columbia Basin Trust for their sponsorship and financial support. 

Comments

Historical accuracy

by Laurie Charlton on 16 Oct 2012 at about 21:59.

The new interpretive signs posted beside the trails in south Rossland are a great way for residents to learn more about the history of Rossland.  The Rossland Heritage Commission is to be commended for their efforts in having the signs installed.

Unfortunately, the sign “The Historic Trail Creek Valley” is not historically accurate. 

The map on the sign illustrates the Dewdney Trail as following the path of the Columbia and Western Railway from the Southbelt down to Warfield.  That is not correct.  The Dewdney Trail did not follow the railway because the railway didn’t exist when the Dewdney Trail was built.  Nor did the railway follow the Trail as it had more stringent grade requirements to meet.

The location of the Dewdney Trail is clearly illustrated on maps of the Rossland area that date from the early 1900's.  From the Southbelt area, the Dewdney Trail more or less paralleled Gopher Creek down to where it flows into Trail Creek near the golf course club house.  The Dewdney Trail crossed Trail Creek just downstream from what is now the 18th hole on the golf course.  Remnants of the Trail were still visible in that area until they were obliterated by the construction of the new golf course.  The Dewdney Trail followed Trail Creek on the north side of Trail Creek until it re-crossed the creek in what is now Warfield.

The former road to Trail is identified on the sign as “The Wagon Road”.  The correct name of the road, as it was identified in the British Columbia Gazette notice of January 3, 1901 which officially established the road as a public highway, is the Rossland-Trail Waggon Road.   “Waggon” is the original British and Commonwealth English spelling of the word.  “Wagon” is the Americanized version of the word.

The Northport Waggon Road and the Red Mountain Waggon Road were also officially established as public highways through Gazette notices on January 3, 1901.

It’s regrettable that the Heritage Commission didn’t take the time to adequately research the information on the signs before they were installed.  If we’re going to celebrate our history, lets make sure it’s the correct history.