Anthracite Mine Bankhead Mine Georgetown Mine

In 1912, the Georgetown Coal Company built a mine five kilometres west of Canmore. The English investment firm had high expectation for Georgetown and built a town and mine to attract only the best miners.

Unfortunately, unexpected financing problems plagued the Georgetown Coal company almost from the beginning. In 1916, a storm threatened the CPR spur track, which conveyed the coal from the mine to the main line. In an attempt to save the tracks, Georgetown Coal Company employees worked around-the-clock to divert the oncoming torrent. Although success, the three-week manpower operation was costly. Coupled with another downturn in coal markets and rising costs of shipping, the Georgetown Coal Company was losing money fast and sold out. Like other failed operations in the area, operations were moved to Canmore.