Cool Underground Tunnel and Nanaimo's Old Mine Shafts

[GR74]

And that's not one of them "Jenga", anyone?

[GR74]

Smell ya later girls! I'm outta here!

Now is it 2 'lefts' a 'right' to get out of here?......nope! Let's go back the other way, and make it quick because I'm feelin' kinda dizzy :P

[GR74]

I was passing by Long Lake this afternoon and stopped to take this picture. Enjoy!

[GR74]

Two coal mining methods were used in the Nanaimo area. Most of the older mines were worked using the pillar and stall method and most of the more recent mines were worked using the long wall method. Because of the great variation in the orientation, quality and thickness of the coal, many mines were worked using both methods.

[GR74]

The Nanaimo Group of sedimentary rocks are approximately 70 million years in age: relatively young in terms of the geographical time scale.

They consist of an interlayered series of conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone and shale that include, in the Nanaimo area, 3 major coal seams.

[GR74]

Now, remember this because I'm going to quiz you tomorrow!

[GR74]

In 1851, the existence of coal in the area now known as Nanaimo, was brought to the attention of Joesph McKay, a Hudson's Bay Company clerk in Fort Victoria, by local natives. The following year, McKay was instructed by Governor Douglas to "proceed with all possible diligence to Winthuysen Inlet, commonly known as Nanymo, and formally take possession of the coal beds lately discovered".

Later that same year, the Hudson's Bay Company began mining operations and in August of 1852 the first coal shipment of 50 tons left Nanaimo, thus starting a coal mining industry in Central Vancouver Island that lasted for more than a century.

[GR74]

It was the hanging of two murderers on Gallows Point in 1853 that gave the south end of Protection Island its name. And when the S.S. Oscar loaded with gun powder, ran aground in flames and exploded on the beach in 1913, another colorful story was added to the island lore.

The saddest story happened in the Protection Island coal mine whose workings lie beneath the Nanaimo Harbour. In 1918, sixteen miners plummeted 700 feet down the shaft to their deaths when the cable on the cage parted mysteriously.

[GR74]

Once again, the only remaining coal tipple on Vancouver Island. Photos were taken by GR74 December 20, 1999.

[GR74]

The town of Extension and three large mines were begun in 1895 by James Dunsmuir. Although he sold the mines in 1911, they were worked until 1932 by Canadian Collieries (Dunsmuir) Ltd.