The Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site is working with The National Trust for Canada on a crowdfunding campaign raising much needed funds to save Canada’s last standing wooden tipple.
This fascinating industrial building, which has sorted 5 millions tonnes of coal and been visited by over 200,000 people, is in serious need of attention to ensure it’s preservation for generations to come. $20,000 is the target for the crowdfunding scheme which closes mid February.
The aim is to have last wooden tipple in Canada fully preserved by 2017: the 150 anniversary of Confederation and the 100 anniversary of the first Atlas Coal Mine.
“The Atlas Coal Mine tells the stories of the thousands of Albertan families with roots in the mining industry,” said Julia Fielding, Executive Director. “Individuals and businesses have been very generous helping us complete the first two phases”, she continues “but we need help with the final push to get the structure fully restored.”
tipple is a huge machine which sorted, stored and loaded coal, very much like a grain elevator. After being sorted the different sizes of coal were stored in 4 giant bins ready to be delivered or loaded onto the waiting trains. The huge building is seen by thousands of travellers every year as they drive along the Red Deer River.
“The Atlas tells one of the great stories of the industrialisation of Western Canada,” states Lisa Making chair of the Atlas Coal Mine Historic Society. “The tipple is a vivid symbol of a time of mass migration to western Canada and is a vital building in the history of Alberta.”
In 2012 a plan was devised to preserve the tipple. Without timely attention stabilizing this unique structure the tipple would have been closed to visitors and shortly after lost forever. It was said it was the miners reaching down from heaven holding her up. The Atlas has worked hard to raise funds and has completed two phases of work so the tipple is stable but there is still work to be done making sure it is preserved for generations to come.
It was built by Century Coals who ran the Atlas coal mine, in 1937.
The Atlas Coal Mine Historic Society has received $50,000 from the Western Development Canada 150 Fund to help with Phase 3 and is waiting to hear about other government funding. The complete redevelopment will take place over 4 phases. Phase 3 will completely stabilise the tipple and Phase 4 will repair the roof and improve the interpretation.
The total cost for the whole project will be around $750,000.
