A living link to the Atlas Coal Mine’s history toured the National Historic Site recently.
The Atlas Coal Mine #4 shipped its last load of coal in 1979, signaling the end of the coal mining era in Drumheller. Almost from the beginning, the Patrick family was a part of that era.
Dr. Omer H. Patrick bought an interest in the Atlas Coal Company in the 1920’s. The mine stayed a part of the family until its very end.
A remaining grandson of Omer H. Patrick, Charles, along with his children and grandchildren enjoyed a couple days in the valley. The Mail caught up with Charles after finishing a tour at the Atlas, a part of his childhood stomping ground.
While he only spent a few years as a youngster living in the valley, he does recall some fond childhood memories.
“The memories I have of being down here are going on pony rides. I was born in 1933 and we lived here until 1940 and then moved in with my grandfather in Calgary,” said Charles. “In the time I grew up here, I remember all the nails coming through my feet playing on the boards and having to soak my feet in potassium permanganate. Another memory I remember vividly is going in to a blacksmith shop and also going up in the tipple and hearing the incredible noise as the shakers moved and I thought how on earth can people work there?”
While today much of the history of mining is remembered with fondness, he recalled a turbulent time.
“It was a different time … My father had an Airedale and it was trained to jump at a man’s throat on command because he had been shot at a couple times going in and out of his house,” explained Charles. “We had bars on our windows as children for fear of being kidnapped. There was tension between management and the miners.”
Charles moved away as a youngster following his father Lorraine’s military and professional career across the country, and eventually settling in Calgary. Lorraine became the operator of the mine.
He says the mine became a top producer because of the foresight of his father. The mine was unique because it had a 13-foot seam of exploitable coal. At great risk and expense, his father brought in a Joy Loader that could effectively get at the coal efficiently.
Another key to the success of the business, according to Charles, was the marketing of Wildfire Coal. Thanks to a few smatterings of red paint, they were able to differentiate their product from the rest of the mines.
Charles brother Omer II continued as lead of the family business while Charles pursued a career as an architect in Vancouver.
Omer II was part of the Drumheller community, serving on the school board and the chamber of commerce.
The decline of the days of mining were inevitable as oil and gas became more prevalent. The Patrick family was the last of the titans in the valley standing.
“When the mines closed, we were forced to put the land back into the shape you had found it. Along came the historical society and said ‘would you think of giving this to us?’ That was a large financial boost to us to put it mildly. We had to fill in this 400-foot shaft, but after that, we didn’t have to tear down all of these buildings.
“Now there is this wonderful historical site for people to see how miners lived.”
The Patrick family was the long time owners of the Atlas Coal mine before it closed. A number of family members toured the site recently. They are (back; l-r) Shelley, Leona, Eric and Charles Patrick, with (front; l-r) Lecia, Grace, Micah and Keir Patrick.
