A long-time producer of domestic coal, the Drumheller Valley
was once a significant destination for entrepreneurial spirits,
especially those involved in mining. Like so many other
communities in Alberta and British Columbia, the expansion of
Drumheller was directly related to the development of the
coal industry. Settlers, who were first drawn to the area by
the pursuit of ranching the vast and rich land, were quick to
capitalize on the discovery of coal deposits. By 1912, mining
operations were beginning to emerge courtesy of area
businessmen.
Upon his arrival in the Drumheller region, entrepreneur
Samuel
Drumheller was interested primarily in ranching. Always a
businessman, Mr. Drumheller's focus was immediately changed when
he entered the home of a stranger and saw coal sitting on their
stove. In the instant that Mr. Drumheller recognized the
everyday need for coal, his fortune was forever changed,
culminating in the creation of Drumhellers mine in 1912.
Other businessmen who were instrumental in developing the
area were
Garnet Coyle and
Jesse Gouge, who worked together to
create the first commercial mine in the Drumheller Valley. Gouge
had learned of the whereabouts of a sizeable coalfield from a
chance meeting with a local resident. So impressed with the
discovery, Gouge sold his store, and went into partnership with
Coyle, opening the
Newcastle Mine in 1912. The success of this
mine led to additional ventures, and Coyle in particular, showed
his financial savvy by doubling and tripling his investments in
the Valley.
The Midland Mine operation was born out of a partnership
between Seneca McMullen and Coyle. The duo had the sense and
ability to successfully market their product throughout
Canada. When Coyle sold his shares, McMullen became the sole
owner, his intense approach ensuring that Midland was one of the
largest coal producers in the area.
Frank Moodie was another personality to have a profound
effect on the development of the Drumheller Valley. When other
mines in the valley shut down due to labour strikes, his
remained working. When the men at his camp were suffering at the
height of the flu epidemic, he took on the role of doctor and
ultimately saved lives.
Regardless of their specific roles, each of the men and women profiled
in this section developed and profited from the early 20th
century mining industry in Alberta, their ingenuity contributing
to the success of coal production in the Drumheller Valley.
Victor Avramenko and Eric Houghton
Victor Avramenko and Eric Houghton talk about life underground, including learning the
sounds of danger versus the sounds of comfort, and the challenges miners faced, in this video
produced by CFCN Television.
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