Community Connections

Diverse languages and customs

Residents forged a strong sense of

Fernie & District Historical Society, FMP03140do

HERE WAS a	sometimes sparked ethnic tensions, yet religion served as a powerful	community, despite noise and coal dust from the tipple coal sorting and
	unifier. This area of Coal Creek was	cleaning, the loud shunting of railway
	nicknamed“ Holy Town”, where	cars, and the constant risks like
Modern Town,			three churches offered a worship space for all Christians. After a hard	fires, avalanches, and floods. They countered the harshness of their

	day in the mines, the bar was another	surroundings with gardens, flowers,	Main Town and the
ALTHOUGH	place for connection, where miners		washed down coal dust with drinks	and musical porch gatherings. While the Company controlled much,	mine management homes were in close
	and shared stories.	the people held on to their spirit	proximity to the

YOU’ D NEVER

Birdseye view of cross-valley Tipple

Fernie & District Historical Society,

FMP04577do

and solidarity, finding dignity in faith, camaraderie, and the simple pleasures of life.

tipple and above

ground operations.

KNOW IT!

Machine Shops

Coyote Street

Playing hockey below the Catholic Church

Trites Woods Store

Slav Town

Granary & Stables

Tipple

N

In the early 1900s, Coal Creek was a town where progress

and control coexisted. With about 1,000 residents by 1903,

Fernie & District Historical Society, FMP04632

Methodist Church

Catholic Church

School

the town boasted modern amenities like electricity, running

water, and a phone system that connected the mines. But

these conveniences came at a steep cost: residents were

Bosses Row

No 2 Mine

CNPCC Mine Office & Warehouse

Presbyterian Church

Skating Rink

Morrissey Cottages

heavily indebted to the Company who controlled housing,

utilities, and supplies from the General Store. Wages were often garnished to pay for goods and services, leaving miners with little financial freedom. Many moved to Fernie where they could buy their own land to build a home, garden, and pasture for cows and chickens.

Top left image: Fernie & District Historical Society, FMP4556do

AQUATIC CENTRE

FERNIE

MONTANE TRAILHEAD

approx. 1 km

COAL CREEK RD

RIVER RD- Closed to motorized vehicles

Coal Creek Heritage Trail Coal Creek Heritage Trail- Phase 2 Other Trail Road

Road- Closed Sign Locations Points of Interest

Coal Creek Heritage Trail June 2026 | Página 11

Community Connections

Diverse languages and customs

Residents forged a strong sense of

Fernie & District Historical Society, FMP03140do

HERE WAS a

sometimes sparked ethnic tensions,

community, despite noise and coal dust from the tipple coal sorting and

unifier. This area of Coal Creek was

nicknamed“ Holy Town”, where

Modern Town,

three churches offered a worship

fires, avalanches, and floods. They countered the harshness of their

day in the mines, the bar was another

Main Town and the

ALTHOUGH

place for connection, where miners

washed down coal dust with drinks

and musical porch gatherings. While the Company controlled much,

mine management

and shared stories.

proximity to the