The Village of Slocan is a small, peaceful community at the south end of Slocan Lake where the Slocan River begins. It was not always so peaceful. During the 1890's, it was a bustling, boisterous, boomtown filled with hotels, saloons, pack teams, rail cars filled with ore, and miners in pursuit of the ever elusive "mother-lode".
The name "Slocan" is an Indian name that the white man tried put to use, it means to strike or pierce on head and this was derived from the Indian practice of harpooning salmon. At one time, this area had an abundance of salmon.
The town site was staked at the lower at the lower end of Slocan Lake in 1892 following massive silver strikes nearby. The site was conveniently close to three principal ore producing areas. By the 1900, there were 12 hotels in Slocan; by 1920 there were only 3 hotels left. Slocan became a city in June 1901. |
1890's - Mining Rush
1892 - Land Grant to Frank Dick
1892 - Mike Grady, Miner
1892 - 1898 - S.S. Hunter
1892 - Lake View Hotel
1897 - C.P.R. Slipway
1901 - First Major - Archibald York
1901 - Slocan becomes a city.
1903 - Ontario Slocan Shingle Mill
1904 - Waterworks system put in
1906 - Crown seizes City for non-payment of debts
1910 - Merry's Mill at Springer
1919 - Sawmill at Goat Creek
1927 - 1928 - Tunnel and Road to Silverton
1928 - Slocan Lake froze over.
1947 - 1949 - First Woman Mayor elected in BC - Mrs. E.D. Popoff
1953 - 1954 - Slocan has own hydro plant and water system
1958 - Slocan becomes a village
1964 - Triangle Pacific Sawmill built in present location
1980 - Iris G. Last boat on Lake
1985 - Valhalla Park dedicated
1989 - New #6 Highway completed
1990 - Tipi Camp established on Sandy Beach
1998 - Rail line removed
2000 - Springer Creek RV Park opens
2005 - Rails to Trails Gazebo
2006 - New Boat Ramp & Dock
2006 - Slocan Wellness Center
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| Notable People from Slocan: |
John Foley, City Clerk and Policeman,was made chief of the Capilano Tribe by Chief Joe Mathias, when he was 102 years old. He was then called "Chief Grandfather" by his Indian friends. He died at the age of 103. Vic Foley, his son, became a World Champion Lightweight Boxer.
Eli Carpenter, slightly inebriated, decided to celebrate the occasion of the first train into Slocan City. Wanting to make it a memorable occasion, he strung a rope from the Arlington Hotel to the Lakeview Hotel. Announced he would walk across the rope with only a broom handle to balance himself. With another drink as fortification, he proceeded to walk after getting to the other side, he returned backwards. He called for a volunteer to man the wheelbarrow he would push across the rope. No-one volunteered; therefore all escapades came to an end. He had been a circus performer walking the tight-ropes. |
The historical facts were taken from several sources: The Mayors of Slocan by Greg Nestoroff and The B.C. Provincial Archives.
The historical photos on this page are courtesy of Clara Cartmell, who donated them to the Village of Slocan.
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