We have been asked many times how do we know there is more than one cemetery or burial ground in the Fernie area. With the following information as well as maps, aerial photos and other documents, we can count 5. We have also been told of the possibility of another located in Coal Creek but have yet to examine the area. (1) The Fernie Free Press March 11, 1899 (_________), who had been in the hospital here for some time, died Tuesday morning about 8 o’clock, the cause of his death being cerebral meningitis. He came here from Leavitt, Que., where he has a brother living, named Eugene. The funeral was held Wednesday morning from the Roman Catholic Church, Rev. Father Welsh performing the ceremony. His body was laid to rest in the burying ground on the mountain to the east of Fernie. (Located on a ravine near Ridgemont Place, theory – specifically used for burials of deceased from the “pest house” - Confirmed) (2) June 3, 1899 The Fernie Free Press The committee appointed to look into the question of a suitable site for a cemetery have come to the conclusion that the piece of ground now used as such is not suitable for the purpose, and will endeavor to secure some other. The one now used east of the town is too much in line with smoke from the coke ovens, and headstones or monuments erected there would soon be black, and we have been told that the smoke and gas is even killing the trees around. (This location has yet to be confirmed. We do know the area in which to look, but have not had the resources to do a proper examination. We have maps indicating the location.) (3) The Fernie Free Press September 22, 1899 During a stroll one day last week in the vicinity of the old town of Coal Creek, about two miles from Fernie, a hunter accidentally ran across a desolate little graveyard on the hillside back of the old log shacks. Six graves in all were closely grouped together. Doubtless some of them contain the remains of loved ones who are daily being looked for by relatives in the east. A small piece of rough board marked the resting place of each one. In a few years, in all probability, there will be no trace of the last resting place of these poor fellows, unless something be done to clear away the dead trees and brush surrounding them. They doubtless lost their lives during the construction of the Crow’s Nest Pass Line, but of course a railway company could not be expected to do anything in the way of looking up the relatives of the dead men. (Location confirmed down Cokato Road, this cemetery sits on private property) (4) The Fernie Free Press March 16, 1900 The funeral of the late (___________), the boy who was killed at the mines on Tuesday evening, was held on Thursday at 5 o’clock in the afternoon. The cortege left the residence of his uncle, and proceeded to the Presbyterian church where Rev. D. L. Gordon conducted a very touching and impressive funeral service. The Miner’s Union turned out as a body as a last token of respect, and so large was the attendance not more than half of them could get into the church. The pall bearers were Messer. John Baird, D. S. McLean, D. McKenzie and D. McMullen. From the church the funeral proceeded to the new cemetery, where all that was mortal of one of the brightest and best boys in the town was laid to rest. (This area is fenced in chain link and sits to the rear of the old Ridgemont School was located. Theory – this is the area that was selected by the committee in the June 3, 1899 article above selected as the new cemetery.) The following are extracts from the Council Meeting Notes reported at the time. (5) The Fernie Free Press February 3, 1905 Ald. Tuttle reported an interview be had with Mr. Lindsey in which the latter stated that the C. N. P. Coal Company would present the five and one quarter acres, held apart for a cemetery, to the city on condition that the latter move the graves on the lower bench to within the surveyed ground. The Fernie Ledger March 5, 1905 The Cemetery Fernie needs more than five or six acres of ground for a cemetery. Fifty acres is none too little if we pay attention to the needs of the future. In addition to this what right has the city council to deal with ground that is not within city limits - Excerpt from City Council Meeting Notes The Fernie Ledger April 5, 1905 The cemetery question was discussed and the committee urged to do something. – Excerpt from Council Meeting Notes The Fernie Ledger April 12, 1905 The committee was instructed to again confer with the Coal Company in regards to exact conditions re: cemetery grant – Excerpt from Council Meeting Notes The Fernie Ledger May 31, 1905 At a meeting of the City Council held last night a letter from G. G. S. Lindsay was read, offering to extend the time for the removal of bodies from cemetery until July but refusing to accede to the request of the 1st Council to extent the time till the 1st November. – Excerpt from City Council Meeting Notes The Fernie Free Press June 2, 1905 ANOTHER MOTION RESCINDED COUNCIL DOSEN’T LIKE CEMETERY AGREEMENT Minutes of council meeting held on Tuesday evening. Members present, the Mayor, and Aldermen Tuttle, Cree, Wallace and Herchmer. Mr. Lindsey wrote to the cemetery matter in reply to the request of the counsel that the date for moving the bodies be extended to Nov.1, 1905. The general manager of the Coal Company agreed to extend the time to July 1st but he regretted that he could not meet their wishes in extending it to November. This brought up considerable discussion. Ald. Tuttle said that on the face of this letter he did not nor favor taking over the cemetery. Ald. Wallace did not think the city had the right to move the bodies without the consent of the relatives even though the provincial secretary gave his approval. Ald. Herchmer thought it would be useless to go ahead with the matter without legal opinion. Finally Ald. Wallace and Cree moved that the city solicitor be advised to give his written opinion on the matter of moving these bodies – Carried. The Fernie Ledger June 7, 1905 At the meeting of the City Council last night, a letter from the City Solicitor was read stating that the council had no authority to expand the funds of the City in removing bodies from the cemetery. – Excerpt from Council Meeting Notes Fernie Free Press November 17, 1905 ST. MARGARET’S CEMETERY Private Company will take over the Fernie Cemetery – Capitalized at $2,000. A proposition is on foot to form a private company to take over the Fernie Cemetery. It is proposed to capitalize it at $2,000, 100 share of $20 each. According to the present plans it is believed that only about 40 or 50 percent of this amount will be required to put the cemetery on a paying basis. The Coal Cr. Has agreed in give a deed for the property. The cemetery plan as projected divides the cemetery into two portions, one of the Roman Catholics and the other for all others. Roadways, wide enough for carriages are laid out on this plan with a view to the best grades and greatest convenience for access to all parts of the grounds. Foot paths are between the difference rows of family plots, which number 1,400, each 10X12 feet. The immediate expenditures of the company will be fencing, stumping and subdividing. The moving of the bodies buried outside the cemetery into the proper confines will doubtless be done next year. This work it is estimated, will not be expensive. There are altogether 83 of these bodies. Of the 83 there are probably 23 who have relatives living here who will in all probability buy family plots and have the removal done themselves, thus reducing the expense and increasing the company’s funds. The cemetery will be called St. Margaret’s cemetery, in honor of the wife of Geo. Cox, who died this year. *** No further articles have yet been found that will prove that the 83 bodies were ever moved into the confines of St. Margaret’s Cemetery *** December 31, 1947 The Crow’s Nest Pass Electric, Light and Power Company conveys St. Margaret’s Cemetery and all of it’s extensions to the City of Fernie.
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 17:59:34 +0000