May 12, 2018 • VOL. II – NO. 1 • The Kaslo Claim The VOL.Kaslo II – NO. I • KASLO, BRITISH COLUMBIA • MAYClaim 12, 2018 The Village of Kaslo Celebrates 125 Years as an Incorporated Municipality by Jan McMurray are finding ways to celebrate Kaslo’s Kaslo Pennywise beginning on June decorated in Kaslo colours and flags The Langham has commissioned The municipality of Kaslo will quasquicentennial, as well. Can you 5. The person who finds the treasure from around the world, and guided Lucas Myers to write a one-man, reach the grand old age of 125 on guess the theme of Kaslo May Days will keep the handcrafted box and the walking tours of Kaslo River Trail. multimedia play, Kaslovia: A August 14, and a number of events this year? Watch for the Village’s float, $100 bill inside. A Treasure Fund is The North Kootenay Lake Arts Beginner’s Guide, which he will are being planned to celebrate this the mini Moyie, and the refurbished right now growing with donations, and Heritage Council will host perform on Friday, September 28 momentous occasion. Maypole float in the parade. There and is expected to exceed $1,500 by a special arts and crafts table on and Saturday, September 29 at the The Kaslo 125 Committee is will be new costumes handmade by the time the box is found. The bulk of August 11 at the Saturday Market. Langham. Myers’ one-man plays are planning a gala event at the Legion Elaine Richinger for the Maypole the fund will go to the finder’s charity People will be invited to do an on- simply too good to miss – mark your on Saturday, August 11 and a Street Dancers and new ribbons from of choice, with five per cent awarded the-spot art project with a Kaslo calendars now! Party on Fourth Street and City Hall England for the Maypole. Following to the finder. theme in any genre they’d like – Another event of significance Reopening Celebration on Sunday, the Maypole Dance, the Citizen of The Kaslo Seniors Association drawing, painting, writing, poetry, is happening this year on June 15, August 12. The Saturday gala event the Year for Kaslo’s 125th will be will host a seniors’ brunch on Friday, photography. There will be someone when the Honourable Claire Trevena, will feature entertainment and food announced. June 22 at the Kemball Centre there to help people compose haiku, BC Minister of Transportation and and drink from the region. At the On May Days Monday afternoon, gardens from 10 am to noon, with live and artists will be available to take Infrastructure, will unveil a Highway Sunday event, the Kaslo & District you won’t want to miss the sponsored music and storytelling. The brunch people to inspirational places for Legacy Sign at the Langham to Public Library will host some local Maypole Dance featuring dancers will feature pancakes, scrambled drawing and painting. The artwork commemorate the 75th anniversary history storytelling. Watch for more from the past. Some of them are eggs, sausages, fruit, toast, coffee, will be hung on a clothesline strung of Japanese Canadian internment. information coming soon on the dancing with their original partners! tea, and juice – and cake, of course, up at the booth. This is one of eight signs being Saturday, August 11 and Sunday, Logger Sports will have events to celebrate Kaslo 125. All members On August 19 at 10 am, there installed at internment and road camp August 12 events. for locals this year, to encourage and their friends are welcome. will be a Saddle-Bag service at sites in the province. On Tuesday, August 14, Village participation from former competitors On July 8 at St. Andrew’s St. Andrew’s with Catherine Rose The Kootenay Lake Historical Council will hold its first meeting in and anyone who has ever wanted to United Church, there will be an from Riondel. At 2 pm, the church Society (KLHS) has published a the brand new Council Chambers try their hand at Axe Throw, Stock anniversary service with Reverend will present the pantomime, Tell revised edition of the book, Pioneer in the newly renovated City Hall Saw, Double Buck, or the Relay Shelley Stickel-Miles, the minister Me a Story. First presented at St. Families of Kaslo, with fascinating building. Council and staff will Race. of the church in the 1980s. She will Andrew’s United’s 100th anniversary stories and photos, for this special briefly re-enact a historic council The Community Fund of North preside over a dedication of a brass in 1993, the play involves over 25 anniversary year. The book is meeting in costume before moving Kootenay Lake Society will hold its plaque honouring past members who actors from the village and covers available at Figments on Kaslo’s into the regular council meeting. second annual Treasure Hunt for all contributed to St. Andrew’s and to the many interesting events from 1893 main street, and online at klhs.bc.ca. An historic City Hall display by the residents of Kaslo and Area D. The community of Kaslo. to the present. Lynn van Deursen is A KLHS exhibit entitled ‘Kaslo, the Kootenay Lake Historical Society first clues will be revealed at the On Sunday, July 29, the Kaslo bringing the pantomime up to date for beginning,’ was on display at the will be set up in the Jury Room on society’s Annual General Meeting Outdoor Trails and Recreation this special Kaslo 125 performance. Langham from March 10 to May 14. the top floor of the City Hall building. on June 4 at the Langham, with Society is planning a barbecue on A social time will follow in Heritage See page 23 for schedule of Many other local organizations additional clues appearing in the the Unity Bridge, which will be Hall. events advertisement. Crowds gathered for Queen Victoria’s birthday at Front Street and Third Street near the sternwheeler dock, 1894. Note the Turk’s Head Saloon in the brick building and Green Bros. Building (Masonic Lodge) in background. 2 The Kaslo Claim • VOL. II – NO. 1 • May 12, 2018 City Hall Restoration Completed Just in Time for Kaslo’s 125th Birthday Celebration by Jan McMurray with the roof replacement job in 2006 The new City Hall roof cost some time, and the offer to purchase Phase 3 – Exterior The 1898 Kaslo City Hall by Kootenay Shakes at the Langham $54,000, and was paid for with wasn’t signed until March 27, 2008. The next phase, upgrades to the building, a National Historic Site Cultural Centre, another of Kaslo’s funding from a BC Heritage Legacy The long-term borrowing for the building exterior, didn’t happen until and a major heritage landmark in the outstanding heritage buildings, the Trust grant and the Village’s City Hall purchase of the Kemball will be paid fall 2014, after the retirement of long- community, stands tall and proud after Village’s City Hall Conservation reserve fund. off this year (2018), and discussions serving CAO, Rae Sawyer. This phase a 10-year, $1 million conservation Committee knew they wanted the About a year later, on April 28, are underway about its future. had to wait – not only for the next effort from 2008 to 2018. The final same company to replace the roof 2009, the roof was strengthened to With the municipal hall moved round of successful grant applications, renovations were completed just at City Hall. The opportunity arose meet snowload requirements, with down the street to the Kemball but also for the construction of a new in time for Kaslo’s 125th birthday when St. Andrew’s United Church, four 44’-long beams and four 20’- Memorial Centre, the Village started fire hall. celebrations. an 1893 heritage building right long beams. The eight beams had to the building permit application The Kaslo Fire Hall had been The conservation started at a time across the street from City Hall, hired be manoeuvered into place through process. In 2010, Nelson architects built onto the City Hall building in when the Village had just purchased Kootenay Shakes to replace its roof the bell tower. The crane operator said David Dobie and Thomas Loh were 1971, and had to be demolished to the provincial government building in spring 2008. it was like “threading a needle.” Andy hired to complete design drawings restore the heritage building to its (Kemball Memorial Centre) and there “When we knew the Kootenay Pritchard and his two sons, along with and all documentation required for original footprint. The fire department were moves to demolish the fire hall, Shakes roofers were going to be in volunteers Don Page, Rick Hamilton, the building permit, and long-time needed a new home, anyways – it which had been built onto the City town to replace the church roof, we Daryl Laybourne and R. D. Johnson, Kaslo resident Chris Temple was had outgrown the fire hall, which Hall in the early 1970s, and build a quickly got our ducks in a row so that successfully lodged the beams in hired as project manager. The work was in need of some serious work. new fire hall elsewhere. they could move across the street to place. Some flaggers from Nakusp got underway in January 2011 and A 2011 study recommended a new Phase 1 - Take it from the the City Hall straight away,” said who happened to be in Kaslo working was completed by the fall. Emergency Services building to house top Donna Cormie, chair of the City Hall for Telus volunteered to help with It became clear that the library the fire hall and Search and Rescue.