Top Kootenaiana auctions of 2011
Noteworthy eBay auctions of 2011 not previously enumerated in this column:
Beginning in February, a seller in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania sold piecemeal a large collection of West Kootenay slides from the 1950s.
Among these were a considerable number showing the SS Moyie in action on Kootenay Lake.
Three drew especial attention, selling for $91, $93, and $95 US each. The first was the ship at Kootenay Bay, and latter two were at Argenta. Others went for between $5 and $56.50.
Popular views also included the old Kniksu lodge at Kootenay Bay ($91 and $84), Castlegar ($86), Brilliant ($45), the old Kaslo bridge ($20.50 and $26), Kaslo shipyard ($57), Balfour’s Tillicum Lodge ($29), the Nelson bridge before it was orange ($59), old Nelson sawmill ($7.50, $20.50 and $34), Trail smelter ($12.50 and $32), and a gas station at Longbeach ($57)
One local collector snagged most of them.
• A pin and ribbon from the Duke of Connaught’s October 1912 visit to Nelson sold for $37 US in July. The pin itself has a bird’s eye view of the city, and the ribbon, which measures 12 centimeters long and 4 centimeters wide, is blue with gold lettering. It reads: “Nelson BC/Visit of HRH The Duke of Connaught/Governor General of Canada/October 7th 1912.”
Lakeside Park was actually renamed Connaught Park in honour of the duke’s visit, but eventually reverted back to its previous name.
The seller was in Vancouver, the buyer in Nelson.
• A pair of beer bottles from the Lion Brewing Co. of Rossland fetched good prices.
In March, someone in Peoria, Arizona sold one that netted $120 US and in June, a seller in Fernie sold another for $77 US. This despite the fact the backs explicitly stated “This bottle not to be sold.”
• A photo of the 1913 Rossland junior hockey team went in May for $70. The buyer was in Nelson, the seller in Seattle.
• A program from the Robbie Burns banquet at the Arlington Hotel in Trail on January 25, 1911 sold in July for $30 US. The seller found it tucked away in a book. Both buyer and seller were from Trail.
• A wine list from the Reco Hotel in Sandon sold for $88 US in February, despite the fact it was held together with tape.
The list, dated 1901, shows Champagne Pommery was $2 per pint or $5 for a quart. Also available: Chablis and Sauternes white wines, plus numerous clarets, beers, and whiskeys.
The Reco hotel belonged to Johnny Harris, Sandon’s leading citizen, who made his fortune with a mine of the same name. After fire destroyed the original hotel and the rest of the city, he converted a stable into its replacement.
This story will appear in the December 29 edition of the West Kootenay Advertiser.
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