Cool Underground Tunnel and Nanaimo's Old Mine Shafts

[Zelley10]

thanx Mr. Flibble......I understand you and your discriptions on not opening a coal shaft........I read a book called "Ginger Goodwin" from up Island around Courtney area that was responsible for the Canary in use at the coal mines there........In order to get the mine operators attention about gasses killing the chinese,the workers from the mines staged a strike that was bad enough to call the lawdogs in to break it up. Soon after the Canaries appeared on the site............thanx again Mr. Flibble your absolutely right.

The name Ginger Goodwin is an important name in Union circles.
Re the canary, they have used the canary in other places.

[Bathtub in Bohemia]

Aaacck! I don't recognize any of the buildings on Commercial street!

I was thinking of coming back this Christmas for a visit, but I'm not sure I would know where I am anymore.

"I went back to Ohio...."

[riverrat]

I was just wondering if you could tell me the location of the new conference center being built in Nanaimo.

Hey Bunky, the conference centre site is kiddie corner to A&B Sound, or right across from Acme Restaurant, which is where Filthy McNasty's usedta be.
What used to be there?
-MO Magazine office
-A bank, over toward Harbour Park Mall (Now Port Place Mall)
-That bookstore....it was only there in recent years.
-The Brewer's Wort (u-brew place)
-Dizzy's Cabaret in recent years, and also the place out back: what were its names over the years? When I moved here, it was the....I forget! The Savoy? But lately it was Porky's.
-Electric Lettuce was there for a while
-Sound Heritage, which moved up to the spot beside the old bowling alley, and is now closed down, I THINK
-Friends of Haven, which is and was a wicked thrift store (it's up on Albert now, just up the street from the China Steps)
-a jeweller's? - there were clocks and porcelain sculptures....

Anything else?

[Bunky]

Hello Mr, Riverrat and others.
I was just wondering if any of you knew about the old mine entrance under the highrise in downtown Nanaimo? I hadn't thought of it for a while but yeah , I think it actually goes under the ocean and as far as Newcastle but I'm not too sure about that part. You used to be able too see a little ways into the opening but I doubt it now. Well anyways I just thought I'd ask.
Regards Dave,

[riverrat]

Um, MORE!! MORE INFO!!
Are you talking about Cameron Island?
You used to be able to see into it? Where was/is this?

[Bunky]

Hello Mr. Riverrat.
The mine entrance I was talking about is under Nanaimo's oldest and at one time only highrise. Um located I think on the corner where Comox Street becomes Front street. Just across and up from the old Civic Arena and some other old building. The mine entrance is actually located on private property that belongs to Alsco or what used to be Nelsons Linen Supply. When I was a kid you could sort of peer into the interior through some small holes. The entrance has been purposely covered with big boulders.
I seem to recall someone saying that the mine ran under the ocean and maybe under Newcastle Island. Hope this is clear. Maybe someone knows more about it. If you have any further questions just ask.
Regards Dave.

[fitz]

This may be of interest:

"The Nanaimo's principal coal mine, the Number 1 Shaft of the New Vancouver Coal Mining and Land Company [NVCMLC] , was also located here. The mine entrance was at the foot of Dickson Street, close to the edge of the harbour."

found at: http://www.mala.ca/history/nanaimo/sward.htm

Researched and written by
Ryan Evans, Shane Hyde and Bill Yoachim, History 358, November 2003

Thanks Mala students!

[Bathtub in Bohemia]

The shafts did indeed run under the harbour to both Newcastle and Protection Islands. There is a ventiliation shaft still extant on Newcastle.

[Dog Lover]

But we all know it's an old Nanaimo Chinatown opium tunnel. More fun that way.

How about smugglers tunnels like the ones under Moose Jaw during the prohibition? Way more exciting than old sewage pipe!

[riverrat]

mala.ca/history/nanaimo/sward.htm
...
Thanks Mala students!

And thanks fitz! That's a really interesting little read. God this place is cool! It's not at all recognizable now, though, and I really regret that.