Two Towns Working Together

Turning Back the Pages – The Golden Star

January 13, 2010

Colleen Palumbo

In Ancient Greece, wars were suspended so that all athletes could take part in the Olympics. Hands are extended around the world to all participating nations. The following article has nothing to do with the Olympics but it shows co-operation between two towns regarding a sporting event and I think it’s in the spirit of the Olympics. Thanks to Jeff Dolinsky for the story idea. This

article appeared in the Golden Star, Friday, January 13, 1939.

Don McRae, Bill McRae and Jim McDonald, three members of the Revelstoke Ski Club, arrived in Golden at 4:30 on Monday afternoon after skiing from Revelstoke, a distance of 183 miles, via the Big Bend highway. They report the trip real tough, and made no objection to the offer of a good bed in which to spend a few hours.

One day the party made only eleven miles and after that distance were ready to rest for the night.

Leaving Revelstoke on Thursday morning, Jan. 5th, the three boys were accompanied by Alex McRae, but unfortunately, he suffered from stomach trouble after travelling some seventy miles. The party remained with the trapper friend for two days in the hopes that Alex would be able to resume the journey, but the trouble persisted so he was left there to rest for a few more days and then return to the camp of his father, about twelve miles back on the trail. The boys expressed disappointment that the party did not complete the arduous journey intact.

Ken Jones, winner of the Skoki Club cross country race at Lake Louise last year, Walter Haesler and Ernest Feuz, young Swiss skiers, met the visiting party at Donald and accompanied them to the end of their journey.

On arrival at Golden the party was met by Thos. King, MLA., F.P. Thomas, president of the Golden Board of Trade, and several members of that organization.

The boys brought messages of greetings to Mr. King, Mr. Thomas and W. Fish of the Golden Star, from T.J. O’Neill, MP., Harry Johnston, MLA., Mayor Walter Hardman and Frank Allwood, president of the Revelstoke Board of Trade. This is the first mail to be delivered over the Big Bend Highway between these two points, and it is fitting that it should be carried by the first party to make the trip by skis.

Arrangements were made for the tired travelers to spend a quiet evening resting up and the following day at 12:30 a luncheon was tendered them by the Board of Trade at the Fridhem hotel. Some twenty were able to be present, including His Honor Judge Thompson of Cranbrook and E.A. Boyle, vice president of the Revelstoke Board of Trade. President Thomas occupied the chair and gave a few remarks in which he congratulated the skiers on their strenuous feat and stated that this was the first direct connection between Golden and Revelstoke over the highway for which both towns had been fighting to have completed. He regretted the fact that illness had caused the necessity of leaving one member of the original party at Bigmouth, and expressed the hope that he would speedily be himself again.

The chairman then called on Mr. King, who congratulated the boys on their achievement and recounted a canoe trip he made with a companion, many years ago from what is now Athalmer to Golden in one day. Mr. Boyle of Revelstoke referred to the sturdy young men making the arduous trip and said Revelstoke was proud of its youth in attempting such a journey.

Constable Green, on behalf of the Golden Ski Club, welcomed the visitors and congratulated them on the fine example they had set for members of the Golden Club.

Just prior to dispersing, Jim McDonald, on behalf of himself and fellow skiers, feelingly thanked Golden Board of Trade for the cordial reception given them at Golden and expressed the hope that some from Golden would attend the Western Canada Ski meet in Revelstoke on February 9-12, when they would be warmly welcomed by members of the Revelstoke Club.

The three young men spent Tuesday afternoon with local skiers and left for their home in Revelstoke early Wednesday morning – this time travelling the distance between the two places a much quicker and easier way – by train.