It turns 100 years old in 2016 and is an important historical building in relation to Canmore’s mining past, but the Lamphouse sits derelict, fenced off for safety and on the brink of being beyond repair.
That was until earlier this year when David Evans decided to take some time on Miner’s Day to visit the Lamphouse, located just off Prospect Heights on Three Sisters Mountain Village lands.
Popular multi-use paths stretch alongside the site of the building, built in 1916 as part of the infrastructure for the No. 2 Mine, and the Bow River is not far away.
There have been a few efforts in the past to restore the stone structure, or even just clean it up as it had become a popular location for young people to gather, with empty and broken bottles strewn about, garbage and graffiti diminishing the true historical importance of the place.
Evans’ grandfather worked the No. 2 Mine and his great uncle was stationed in the Lamphouse. He provided each miner with a lamp to go underground with and through a chit, or token, system tracked who was in the mine at any given time – a safety measure in case of an explosion in the tunnels, as the Canmore mines had a high methane content.
Seeing it derelict, Evans was motivated to try and find the means to preserve the Lamphouse in a temporary manner. But those efforts have since taken on a life of their own and a full-blown restoration project for the historical building has taken off.
“I came here for Miner’s Day last year and I visited the Lamphouse and saw what a state it was in,” he said, adding he went to Facebook to see what kind of support he could find to stop the building from continuing to deteriorate. “I got tremendous support. It was amazing … I had tears in my eyes.”
Evans approached TSMV and QuantumPlace principal Chris Ollenberger, who is in charge of the future development lands and planning processes for them. He said TSMV was supportive from the very beginning as the project has grown from protecting the Lamphouse from the elements to full restoration.
“I think it is a matter of timing,” Evans said. “I think everyone recognizes the time is right, not that I in particular did anything right.”
Ollenberger said Three Sisters supported preserving what was left of the building to prevent further degradation of the structure and having Evans lead the initiative.
“In the time since, David’s passion for the Lamphouse became clear to us in that not only did he undertake some physical work on the site to protect it, he took it to the next level and sought TSMV’s permission to look into provincial heritage designation for the site and fundraising for restoration,” Ollenberger said. “We believe it to be an excellent partnership with David, and were thrilled when Canmore Museum also came on board due to David’s efforts to build momentum.”
Provincial heritage designation is on the table because the property owners have agreed to that process being undertaken. As well, the Canmore Museum board has stepped up to fully support the project and Evans has taken on a position on the board and will head the subcommittee in charge of the work.
“It was natural the museum become involved and from there I contacted the provincial government and they said it should appear as a historical resource as it meets the criteria and I have started working towards an application,” Evans said.
Museum board chair Andrew Holder said at its most recent meeting the museum voted to move forward with restoration and designation, which is important as it also comes with matching funding.
But restoration of the Lamphouse from a historical perspective is important for the museum, Holder said, as it can include interpretive aspects highlighting the history of the mines and the lives of miners in the community up until the industry ceased to operate on July 17, 1979 – known locally as Black Friday.
“The Lamphouse needed a champion to pull us all together,” Holder said. “I think it is helpful to have the museum behind this particular project.
“This one is a no-brainer. It was so obvious and everyone on the board voted in support.”
He said the museum is able to give tax receipts for fundraising efforts and that is particularly important as the project gains momentum in the community. Evans said $150,000 in funding is needed for an engineering study and to rebuild the Lamphouse to historical standards.
“In the future, I see it as a miner’s park, with interpretive aspects and pathways so people can experience the mine and history,” he said. “This whole town was all coal. Everything lived and died with coal. If the mine was busy, everybody had money. If the mine was quiet, everyone was broke.”
Others involved in preserving the history of the mines have joined the effort, including Gerry Stephensen and Lawrence Christmas, who has written about the Canmore mines and documented miners and their families in the photography book Canmore Miners.
Local historian Rob Alexander said the Lamphouse was an integral part of the mine, a hub of activity especially during shift changes and while efforts in the past to preserve it have been challenging, restoration and designation is significant for telling the story of the people who made Canmore what it is today.
“The Lamphouse is the last remaining original piece of Canmore’s mining history that is directly connected to the mines on one of the mine sites,” Alexander said.
“We still have the Engine Bridge, but that has to do more with the transport of coal than the mining of it. Other than the Lamphouse, there’s nothing beyond empty land and the concrete foundations at the No. 1 Mine. With the Lamphouse, especially with interpretive elements, we can stand at it, or preferably in it, and talk about miners, about the people who worked the mines.
“The Lamphouse was really there to support the miners. It provided the lamps and ID tags. The other buildings were about their work, but the Lamphouse was about the miners. When we talk about Canmore’s history as a coal-mining town, or even as a resort town, we often overlook the people that made this history. Without them what would we have?
“So in my mind, restoring the Lamphouse is as important as saving and restoring the Canmore Hotel or the Union Hall: these are all places that tell us something of the people of Canmore, and that’s a really great story.”
Evans will present the plans to restore the Lamphouse to Canmore council on Jan. 5 and look to municipal support for designating is a municipal historical resource as well. Efforts to begin fundraising will also take shape in early 2016, with a gala event in the works.
