May 3, 1887: #1 Esplanade Mine disaster

[Harewoodian]

I believe the grassy area in your photo Flugal was the front yard of the sea captain whose name escapes me at the moment (Robarts ?)

There are trees planted there from all over the world,including a couple nice California Redwoods.

One side note:
I haven't verified this but had been told that some of the Squamish Five hid out in one of the miners shacks across from the memorial after they did the bombing of the power plant.

Does anyone know what they are going to do with the fenced off property there?

[GR74]

Here's No.1 Coal Mine, the site of the explosion.

[GR74]

No.1 Coal Mine, Nanaimo.

[BigMac]

"No.1 coal mine operated at the foot of Needham and Esplanade Street from 1883 to 1938."

Shouldn't that say Milton & Esplanade?

[GR74]

The articles were quoted word-for-word from the sources which I took them from, No.1 Coal Mine was so large, the operation was actually found at the bottom of both Needham and Milton, its only a couple of blocks difference. It depends on who you speak to, you'd find the mine at the bottom of either.

[GR74]

The mine's rescue station is at the foot of Farquhar. It's where Loaves and Fishes is now. It's cool, the sign is still mounted on the building and you can still read it.

[Flugel Horn]

"No.1 coal mine operated at the foot of Needham and Esplanade Street from 1883 to 1938."

Shouldn't that say Milton & Esplanade?

The mine was pretty large; larger than just 1 street corner.

I'd say that foot of Needham & Esplanade is pretty accurate, although those 2 streets would now intersect only on private property.

The Milton & Esplanade is really just the side of the VanKam property, where they were able to provide public-access to the memorial sign.

.....that's my guess.

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late edit: GR74 beat me to it..... So we have corroboration.

[Flugel Horn]

A reminder that the 123rd anniversary of this event is just over 1 week away. I'm curious to see what might be done to commemorate this in any public way. I've heard that the flag is usually flown half-mast at the Bastion or Port Authority office for that day.

- I'll take my camera with me on May 3rd and hopefully capture some half-mast flags, maybe even at City Hall (if they have a sense of history there ).

I think I'll also stop by the memorial kiosk at Milton & Esplanade, on that day.

So I plan to commemorate the date in my own private way, and then post it for all to see....

[Nostradama]

for being willing to do that. I'd really like to see someone (it might have to be us) start pushing for a major commemoration of the 125th anniversary. And a far, far better sign to replace the current one. It's disgraceful.

[Smokey©]

I agree with Nostradama, there should be a ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY FIVE YEAR anniversary and it should be a big event, not a read item at a council meeting.