COMMERCIAL HERITAGE
THE TRITES-WOOD BUILDING
The fifth and final store featured a simple frontage and has stood on this spot since 1909
At 441 2nd Avenue is one of Fernie ’ s most notable commercial buildings . Not for its unassuming appearance , but for the history of the businesses at that site and the significance to Fernie ’ s commercial heritage . For over 120 years , the property has housed some form of general store .
In 1899 , Mr Amos Bliss Trites purchased a large portion of land along the west side of Victoria Avenue in order to establish his business in Fernie ’ s smart new downtown . The ‘ London & Liverpool ’ was established in 1898 as the first general mercantile in Fernie ’ s Old Town ( situated around Coal Creek , in what is now the Montane subdivision ) but Mr Trites was a modern man and clearly saw a bright future for his business at the new location . The new 3-storey wooden store was finished in 1902 . In 1903 , Trites addressed his concerns over the community ’ s company stores to the Crow ’ s Nest Pass Coal Company in Toronto . Along with his partner , Mr Roland William Wood , he purchased the merchant division of the company – including stores in Michel , Coal Creek and Morrissey – for approx . $ 125,000 and renamed the business the Trites- Wood Company Limited . The Fernie Free Press of 1902 reported that the new establishment had 10 departments of ‘ Eatonian ’ splendour and magnificence spread over two buildings , and the growth
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The Trites-Wood Company built a 3-story mercantile on Victoria Avenue when they moved their business from Old Fernie .
of the great department store from its humble pioneer roots baffled description .
The stores thrived and were regarded as ‘ the pride and boast of Fernie ’ s citizens ’ but on April 29 , 1904 , the building succumbed to fire with the loss of $ 120,000 in property and contents . A new store , this time with an ‘ impressive sandstone façade ’ was opened on November 5th , 1905 . Sadly , that building , too , was lost in the fire of August 1 , 1908 , this time at a cost of $ 200,000 . The owners quickly set about installing ‘ fireproof cellars ’ to store new stock , and a temporary wooden structure was built on the corner of Victoria Avenue , ( where the Fernie Museum is now located ) to allow for a new store in the former site . The new , simple storefront held Fernie ’ s largest
THE KTUNAXA
Ȼ aqahak
– THICK FOREST
FEATURE BUSINESS
Mt Fisher at Sunset by Blaine Burgoyne
The Ktunaxa people have been in this
area since Naⱡmuqȼin fulfilled his
prophecy and placed the Ktunaxa people
here to be the keepers of the land. At
that time there was some disturbance
caused by a huge water monster known
as Yawuʔnik̓ , who killed many of the
animals. It was decided that Yawuʔnik
had to be destroyed. A war party was
formed. Yawuʔnik̓ plied the Kootenay
(wu·u ʔaqsⱡmaknik ʔakinmituk) and
Columbia (Miȼ̓ qaqas) River System.
When Yawuʔnik̓ was killed, and
butchered and distributed among the
animals, Yawuʔnik̓ ’s ribs were scattered
throughout the region that now form the
Hoodoos seen throughout the region.
When the prophecy was fulfilled the
spirit animals ascended above and are
now the guiding spirits of the Ktunaxa. In
all the excitement Naⱡmuqȼin rose to his
feet and stood upright hitting his head
on the ceiling of the sky. He knocked
himself dead. His feet went northward
and is today known as Ya·kⱡiki, in the
Yellowhead Pass vicinity. Naⱡmuqȼin’s
head is near Yellowstone Park in the
State of Montana. His body forms the
Rocky Mountains.
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The Ktunaxa occupied the area now
recognized as Ȼaqahak (Fernie) for
thousands of years before the arrival of
the settlers. The area was known to be a
winter hunting area where the Ktunaxa
would hunt mountain sheep, mountain
goat, moose, elk deer and other animals.
They would trap and fish, and harvest
natural vegetation. The Elk Valley is
within Qukin ʔamakʔis (Land of the
Raven) and was known for its mineral
coal. The Ktunaxa would carry the coal
with them to start their fires as they
travelled to the different encampments
as they followed the seasons in their
homelands.
The Ktunaxa used a flint quarry near
Ȼaqahak (Fernie) to make their weapons
and tools. The Ktunaxa would also trade
with other tribes from over the east
mountain range now known as Alberta,
the tribes being the Blackfoot and later
the Stoney. The route used to join the
tribes was the route the Ktunaxa used to
hunt buffalo.
ktunaxa.org/who-we-are/creation-story/
BLACK LODGE MUSHROOMS
This magazine is all about culture in
Fernie, and this new Fernie business
is quite literally about cultures –
mushroom cultures to be exact.
Ric Behan started growing vegetables a
couple of years ago in his backyard and
was inspired to research what he could
grow year-round. What could be simpler
than mushrooms? Throw some dirt on
the ground, add a few spores, shut the
basement door for a few months and as
folk would say in Behan’s native England,
Bob’s your uncle, yes? Well, no. As with
many things, he discovered there’s a
whole science to growing mushrooms.
The process begins with syringes of
liquid culture from Vancouver Island
which are transferred onto a sterilised
substrate of whole oats, wood chips and
soy hulls. Once established, the fungi
are placed in the sensor-controlled
growing chamber. The crop must be
kept in the dark for the first few weeks
simulating the process of being under
ground before they are brought out and
exposed to oxygen, humidity and light.
Shiitake blocks must be ‘slapped’ before
introducing them to the fruiting room,
thought to imitate the tree falling down.
Once introduced to the grow room
conditions, harvestable mushrooms are
ready in a week to ten days.
Along with wife Rachel, Behan is now
offering blue oysters, lion’s mane, reishi,
shitake and chicken of the woods to
the local community and restaurants.
Contact him through Facebook to check
when the next harvest is due and place
an order. And while you wait, watch out
for the couple performing around town.
They are part of the creative forces
behind The Hip Flexers, a local party
band, and Hark Raving Sirens, an all-
female singing trio. The pair also recently
starred in the music video for Shred
Kelly’s ‘Looking For.’
blacklodgemushrooms
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