Geddes Creek
There is a long standing confusion between the name ‘Gaddes’ and ‘Geddes’ in association with the Gaddes family and their involvement in Edgewater companies and real estate.
Gaddes
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Toby
Toby Creek, Toby Glacier, Mount Toby
Other Names: Qatmuk53, Nelson’s Rivulet54
Shortly after his election to public office in 1863, Dr Isaac Tobey joined a group of prospectors hoping to confirm rumours of gold in the upper Kootenay and headwaters of the Columbia River. Dr Tobey, at least, was among a group that panned what became known as Toby’s Creek.
Findlay
Findlay Creek, Glacier, Mount Findlay
Other names: ?Akakus1
“I have just traded $100s worth of the gold round here by the Finley’s, who took out $500 since we came up (August or September early). There are not any whites up here yet, but parties have already commenced preparing ferries on the rivers to the Kootenais in expectation of a rush next season. The gold is coarse and looks well.”7
Neave
Neave Creek (flowing from Lake Lillian into Toby Creek), Neave Road (Invermere)
Neave’s proposed town on the shores of what would become Lake Lillian was never more than an idea. Nonetheless he maintained ownership of that land, and had it surveyed a couple of years later to start a ranch.6 Neave Creek likely ran through the property.
Isaac
Isaac Creek (flowing North into Frances Creek)
More shipments were made from the Isaac claim than many other better known mines in the Valley, totalling at least 250 tons over a period of about eight years … This record is surprising given that few people today have heard about the Isaac mine.
Ethelbert (Original)
Mount Ethelbert
There is an unsolved mystery in the naming of Mount Ethelbert. According to the story, “Mt Ethelbert [was] named by Captain Armstrong for the first nun to ascend the river. She died on board the Captain’s boat, Ptarmigan, and was buried as Sister Ethelbert.”1 …I have found absolutely no evidence to support this story.
Ethelbert
Mount Ethelbert
Sister Ethelbert, “having undertaken the rough trip to Kootenay … fell sick on the way… and our dear Sister was called home to God.”24
Brewer
Mount Brewer (between Toby and Dutch Creeks)
Brewer Creek (flowing into Dutch Creek)
The local newspaper noted that, “if there is a more graceful, happy or cheerful couple [than Sam and Helen Brewer] on the crust of this old earth they have not been heard from,” and that, “there is sunshine when they are around.”16
Slade
Mount Slade (at the headwaters between Bruce and Law Creeks)
Slade Creek (historical, now Bruce Creek)
Now some seventy-three years old, Slade continued to work … “tossing boulders out of icy, knee-deep water” and preferring to “wrestle with fifty pound boulders” compared to some of the easier tasks of working a [mining] claim.16
Invermere
Invermere (Community)
Other names: Kya knuqti?it (pronounced kya-k-nook-thi it), Copper City (1898-1899), Canterbury (1899-1910)
“Invermere… is going to be, when she grows up, …‘the last word in towns.’ … And then the unfortunate souls who are doomed to exist in Calgary and such like places will come in their thousands to Invermere and, for a brief season, live.” (The Columbia Valley Times, 1912)49
In The Windermere 