Pot-Hole Kellie

Here's a bit of Revelstoke history trivia to start off the New Year.

Revelstoke's first Member of Provincial Parliament was James M. Kellie, first elected in 1890. He came out to B.C. from Ontario and tried his hand at mining near Golden, B.C. He had the idea that if he could divert a creek bed, he would find gold in the rock pot-holes of the bed. He spent one spring working on this plan, and twice lost his wooden flumes to wash-outs. Finally, he succeeded in diverting the creek and cleared the pot-holes, only to find the bone of a mountain goat and nothing else. However, he did end up with the nickname Pot-Hole Kellie as a result of his endeavours.

In 1890, the Provincial Government passed some legislation that made it very expensive and difficult for miners operating along the Canadian Pacific Railway right of way. The local miners wanted to discuss this with Premier John Robson, so when he was passing through Revelstoke on a campaign trip, they asked him to meet with them to discuss the legislation. The miners made sure that he missed his train, then took him to a meeting on Front Street in Revelstoke, where they spoke against the legislation. Nobody but the men who had "kidnapped" Robson knew that he was there. Robson was finally invited to speak, and claimed that he had seen the error of his ways, and would rescind the legislation. He suggested that they elect a miner to sit in the legislature and represent their interests. J.M. Kellie, the ringleader of the "kidnapping" plot, was persuaded to run and won by one vote over W.M. Brown.

Kellie held his position as M.P.P. for 10 years, and became well-known for his outspoken views and his unwavering support for the riding of West Kootenay. Revelstoke Museum and Archives holds a typed manuscript by J.M. Kellie detailing his life and political career. It is one of the many historically significant and fascinating items in Revelstoke Museum and Archives.

Brown Bag History will resume for the new year on Wednesday, January 21st at 12:15. The topic will be "Revelstoke in 1909."