It’s Spring! The Kaslo River is roaring and tearing at its banks. How many years has it been? Eons. The waters have carried tons of sand gravel and rocks and dumped them into the lake. The peninsula, that is now Kaslo, juts out into Kootenay Lake, where it can bask in the late afternoon sun. The peninsula also created a calm cove harbour. Yes water was the first miner, cutting through the mountains and exposing many layers of ancient minerals.
A Silver Strike in the Selkirk Mountains! In the summer of 1891 three prospectors shouldered their packs on the beach where Kaslo River joins Kootenay Lake, and set off for the snow capped mountains. They staked claims and the ore was rich. Suddenly, Kaslo was on the map. People came from everywhere. They hiked into the area, canoed and rowed boats. The trees on the peninsula were cut till the town looked like a plucked chicken and tents blossomed everywhere overnight. The trees were milled into lumber on the spot and building took off at a terrific pace. The green lumber shank and holes appeared in the walls of the new hotels but what did it matter there was silver to be found.
So many people spawned new services. Steamboats were built on every shore. Ainsworth, Mirror Lake and Kaslo all had shipyards. New rails lines were built. And more people came. All along the shores of Kootenay Lake small cities were built. In 1893, only 2 years after the first silver strike, the city of Kaslo was incorporated.
Fire flood and gale force winds came in succession in 1894. Fire destroyed half the commercial district. Flooding destroyed 60-70 houses, 2 hotels, the jail and several other 2 story buildings. But, the town bounced back and rebuilt. Many claims were producing and the ore came down out of the mountains on tortuous trails. The horses and mules hauling ore wrapped in rawhide sometimes sat down on the job and rode the rawhide down the mountain braking with their front feet. The ore was loaded onto the narrow gauge K&S Railway which had just been completed from Sandon to Kaslo. It was brought to Kaslo Bay and loaded onto barges that were pushed by sternwheelers or tugs to other railheads at the south end of the lake. Saloons and Brothels were part of the picture.
The price of silver dropped. The thousands of people left. A few remained to farm and garden and enjoy the beauty of the mountains that once had beckoned silver seekers. Kaslo became world famous for its cherries. The city became a village and the village basks peacefully in the sun. Many of the buildings on the main street are turn of the century heritage buildings. Spring boasts cherry and apple blooms. The mountains peaks burst into bloom with wildflowers in mid summer.
There are many ways to venture into the mountains from foot travel to helicopter and oh so many adventures awaiting. Come to Kaslo and see.