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Tom Paterson's Spring "Black Track" Tour, May 4, 2008, a report by Judy Burgess.
An excited group assembled at the Morden mine site at 10.00 a.m. on Sunday May 4th. As individuals arrived, they were informed of an addition to the day's Black Track tour program. MLA Ron Cantelon would be presenting the Friends of the Morden Mine Society (or "FOMM") with a most welcome cheque!
All gathered in the sunshine beside Morden's long neglected structures, and heard Mr. Cantelon suggest that next time John Hofman, the Society's Vice President, came looking for a cheque, he would no doubt be expecting to see more zeroes on it! The assembled audience applauded this idea very enthusiastically! (The $4000 presented on this occasion will help fund a vital site plan for the whole ten-acre Provincial Park Historic Site on which the mine-site remains are to be found.)
Much cheered by this encouraging news, Judy Burgess, President of FOMM, outlined the history of the Company (the Pacific Coast Coal Mine Company Ltd. or "P.C.C.M.") that was responsible for the unique construction of Morden, using the fledgling technology, at that time, of reinforcing concrete with steel rebar.
Passing through the arch, and by the boilers' concrete bases, the group came to the moss encrusted steps, presently being up-thrust by a tree, which once led to the electricity-generating power house.
She explained that although this use of reinforced concrete for Morden’s historic style of head frame is probably unique in North America, the structures made from the concrete were typical of the design for shaft mines of the time. The concrete has, therefore, preserved for us the style of historic structures usually made of less durable wood or steel. The function of these various still very complete structures was then explained, before the group walked behind the headframe and tipple, and into the trees, to find the impressive arch, inscribed "P.C.C.M", that had once supported two 60 foot high, 66 inch across, chimney stacks. Smoke from three coal-fired boilers had once poured from them.
Viewing the remains and hearing more details, from Tom, about the main hoist house and vent shaft on the way, the group returned to the car park, where they received directions to cross back over the main highway and drive through the community of South Wellington, to meet at the site of Canadian Collieries (Dunsmuir)’s No. 5 mine.
This mine was opened up in 1917, just as the P.C.C.M.’s first South Wellington mine was closing down, so, for a brief time, there was plenty of work for South Wellington men, as more miners were also needed for Morden’s expansion. Tom Paterson, after explaining where the mine would have been located, and showing historic photographs of the mine, described the working conditions that miners had to endure, interlaced with his characteristic and fascinating anecdotes about historic incidents in the lives of South Wellington residents. Many tour participants were familiar with Tom’s columns in local newspapers and his many books on local history, so were just enchanted to hear Tom draw from his amazing fund of local knowledge to tell his stories directly to them.
On the way to the first P.C.C.M. mine, Judy explained that mainly miner-settlers, or their descendants, had owned both the coal bearing lands for the P.C.C.M.’s first mine and for Morden (which was the company's third mine). Several more such settlers had owned all the land over which the Company's railway to Boat Harbour had run. The Company had made individual agreements with the male "heads" of all these settler families, except in the very important first case, that of Elizabeth Fiddick, where she owned the property by inheritance from her brother and also in the case of Mary Ann Rowe, who had inherited her property from her first husband.
On reaching the ruins, Tom described the terrible flooding tragedy that had taken place at this mine, and which took the lives of nineteen South Wellington men, many of whom had been members of the town’s band. This band had played an important role during the strike of 1913-14, by playing for community dances, so helping to keep spirits up and the community more united.
After a drive back through the Village and through the “Morden Town Site”, where, in 1912, tiny lots had been created for sale to miners, the group came to Fiddick’s Junction. Here the P.C.C.M. had excavated their rail tunnel, underneath the E.&N. Although legal action confirmed the right of the CPR to deny access to a surface crossing of their E.&N. line, they had no right to prevent the P.C.C.M. excavating underneath it! Although the tunnel itself was long ago filled in, the route of the below grade PCCM rail line, leading from where the tunnel used to emerge, can still be seen, now a site for ferns and other native plants, as well, unfortunately, for some dumped rubbish.
From here, after a short walk, the site of Canadian Collieries’ No. 10 mine was reached. A steep climb up to the top of the slack heap and a wonderful view over the surrounding countryside could be enjoyed, while listening to more of Tom’s marvelous stories. Time, as usual, was rapidly running out, so the group hurried back to drive to the Cranberry Firehall, where the biennial South Wellington Day was in full swing. Cars lined all roadways, but the group still received a warm welcome from the generous townspeople. Here past and long time residents of the town could be talked to, and history learned at first hand, supplemented by a great collection of historical photos, including the Friends of the Morden Mine’s own display, the photos of which were tracked down mainly by Judy, who started researching P.C.C.M. history back in 1999.
Tour participants enthusiastically gave thanks to Tom, and arrangements were made for possible future meetings. So ended another very successful Black Track tour, all profits of which go to FOMM, to support the Society's on-going efforts to save Morden's structures, whose deterioration is now accelerating. If these structures are to be saved from collapse, vital repairs and restoration must be undertaken in the near future.
Tom Paterson Leads Fourth “Black Track” Tour of South Wellington Mines, September 2007
In September 2007, Tom Paterson, well-known local author and historian, delighted another fortunate group of participants who toured sites of historic “Black Track” mines of South Wellington with him.
The tour began at the Morden Colliery site. After marveling at the 1913 reinforced concrete “head frame” of Morden Colliery, still towering at its original 75 feet, with its “tipple” bulking beside it, the group heard Tom’s “co-pilot” for the tour, Friends of Morden Mine’s President, Judy Burgess, explain how the mine would have operated at the time, why its structures are now in such a precarious state, and why it is essential that more members of the community join in helping to save its unique remains.
Tom led the remainder of the tour, that included most of the so-called "Black Track" mines formerly linked by railways. "Black Track" refers to some of these coal-dust blackened lines, used as walking trails by locals in the absence of regular roads to connect the communities. There is some dispute regarding the exact route of the "Black Track" but it seems certain that it included part of the PCCM railway line as it wound its way past South Wellington from the mine to the north, then under the E&N railway at Fiddick's Junction on its way via Morden to Boat Harbour.
Tom has a remarkable fund of stories to tell about the men and mines of South Wellington that help to bring their past alive for his listeners. His knowledge and presentation skills were again much appreciated by participants.
The tour concluded for its thirsty walkers at the historic Cassidy Hotel, with the presentation of a framed print of a watercolour of Morden to well-known blues singer, David Gogo, in thanks for the benefit concert he performed for Friends of Morden Mine in 2006. David sang his 2007 Juno nominated song, “She’s Breakin” Through”, a moving evocation of the flood that swept through the PCCM (Pacific Coast Coal Mines) first South Wellington mine in 1915 and took the life of twenty-one miners, including David’s great grandfather.
The Society thanks everyone involved who helped make this day such success.