From the archives of the Nelson Daily News a century ago, compiled by Greg Scott
Dateline Jan. 1, 1920
The old year, 1919, was given a splendid farewell and the New Year, 1920, was given an equally splendid reception at the midnight hour in Nelson last night. From a minute prior to the midnight hour until several minutes after pandemonium reigned as the New Year was given its reception.
Whistles on the boats and at the various industrial plants in the vicinity blew long blasts and all the bells of the churches of the city peeled out their welcome. At nearly all the churches watch night services were held and well attended, but the most largely attended affair of the evening was the dance and social evening given in the Eagles Hall by the members of Clan Johnstone.
The festivities commenced early and their opening was heralded by the appearance on the city’s main thoroughfares of Piper William McCleary’s pipe band of 10 pieces resplendent in their kilts of Royal Stewart tartan. At the Eagle Hall there was a crowd which taxed the room to the capacity and dancing continued until shortly before the midnight hour, when the gathering partook of lunch.
When the midnight hour struck the entire party rose, and led by Gunner Graham, sang A Guid New Year to One and ‘A. Those in attendance then mingled to extend the New Year’s greetings and dancing followed until the wee sma’ hours of the morning.
Dateline Jan. 15, 1920
That the library bylaw to be voted on today will be carried by a comfortable margin, was the belief last night of the committee that has been conducting the campaign and canvas for the bylaw.
The bylaw comes under the classification of money bylaws, and will accordingly be voted on only by voters who are assessed property-owners and the two-thirds majority will be required. The actual bylaw proposes only to take over the present city library and make it a municipal institution, under municipal control, and under the governing statute, it will necessarily be a free library.
Incidental to this change, it is assumed that the library would be extended and greatly improved.
Dateline Jan. 16, 1920
In the civic elections yesterday, Mayor J. A. (Jim) McDonald was reelected for a second term by a plurality of 34 votes over his nearest rival, J. Fred Hume. It was in the mayoralty race that greatest interest centered and it was not until the last vote had been counted that there was any certainty in the air as to who would be elected.
For the first time in the history of the City of Nelson will have a woman on the city council. This is assured by the election of Mrs. W. Garland Foster, candidate of the Great War Veterans Association for alderman in the west ward.
The proposal to take over the public library as a municipal institution proved popular with the ratepayers and the bylaw passed handsomely obtaining considerably more than the required three fifths of the total vote polled to ratify it, 381 for to 117 against.
Dateline Jan. 29, 1920
Up to last night the destiny of two of the coveted pieces of silver for which the various rinks have been striving for the past week in the annual British Columbia Curling Association had been settled for the coming year. The Nelson Cup goes to the rink skipped by Fire Chief D. Guthrie of Nelson who defeated the Thompson rink of Nelson in the finals.
To the rink skipped by Dr. Smyth of Nelson goes the honor of carrying off the Rossland Cup and it was only after a hard fought game that the fate of the event was decided. Finch of Penticton skipped the rink which was opposed to Dr. Smyth in the final and to that rink goes the second honors.
Dateline Jan. 30, 1920
On Saturday, Jan. 29 at midnight the Dominion Police Force, as it is at present constituted, ceases to exist and the personnel thereof is absorbed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the title of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police being changed with the coming into effect of the act at midnight Saturday.
It was emphasized that so far as the mounted police organization is concerned the only change is that the title is altered by the substitution of “Canadian” for “Northwest” and the headquarters are moved from Regina to Ottawa. With the Dominion Police the difference is that the force ceases to exist on Jan. 31.