Meet my Grandparents
Christopherson Branch
This page refers to Kjartan (Kay) Christopherson's time at Tranquille, Kamloops, B.C., Canada
These photos were handed down from Kay to Sigurdur 'Sig' Christopherson, his son, then Hank Christopherson, his brother and scanned by Roy Christopherson
Photographs are history, please do not discard them, this is proof that saving them reveals the past that was lost!
There are people far more qualified than Roy to talk about the History of the Tranquille Sanatorium, also known as King Edwards Sanatorium, purchased by the Anti-Tuberculosis Society.
1. Best article found so far from the 80's PDF
2. Tranquille Development: Past Influences,Current Realities by ASHLYNN HARRIS , Thompson Rivers University HTML
If someone has photos of the Mystery Building, please let Roy know. Scouring the Net, see none, not even good ones of the 'whole' Main building.
Update: July 27, 2011, From Elisabeth Duckworth, Museum Supervisor, KAMLOOPS MUSEUM & ARCHIVES, Photo 1 of the group gathered on the front steps [photo 7] with the Welcome sign does indeed show Dr. Irving in the white coat. He arrived in November 1907 and that could be his welcoming party. He was only at Tranquille until March 2010. The white rolled banners in photo 3 were used to provide "tent cottages" for patients are sat outside on the wide verandas year round to get a good dose of healing fresh air. The banners were unfurled to cut the wind or the glaring sun.
As for Richard Fortune, the Fortunes did not have children of their own, however I believe they had a nephew who stayed with them for a while who later drowned in Kamloops Lake.
Revised: December 5, 2011
PHOTO 1
Looking down Kamloops Lake, ?, Battle Bluff to right.
The writing on all the cards is NOT from Roy! Possibly the photographer.
DIAGRAM 1
A Dr. A.R.C. Selwyn's survey party passed this bluff in 1871, the photographer recorded;
"Here at the foot of this rock, a navel battle was fought about 100 years ago (1771) between two indian tribes - at least so the indians say. The victorious tribe stained or painted a large projecting rock, which is about 15 FT above water, with some kind of red material to commemorte the place. Many of the present Indians has superstitious notions in relation to this place. The Bluff had no name, although it is the most preominent point on the lake, so we named it battle Bluff." [1] .
Kjartan Christopherson
son of Sigurður Kristófersson
Grandfather of Roy Christopherson
PHOTO 2
Looking at Tranquille Sanatorium from the River
You will notice a charcoal colored building to the left, possible this is the future Main Building which has no windows or roofing or cobel work done yet. There are some smaller buildings and the Unidentified Building aka Roy's Mystery Building, to the far right is below with the Welcome banner.
Roy belives this building was torn down when the 1960 bldgs went up. Possible it was an 18 room mansion sold off to the TB Society.
DIAGRAM 2
Looking Tranquille Sanatorium from SAT
Note: Click on the Upper Green area (or here) to enlarge it from original TIFF.
PHOTO 3
Tranquille Sanatorium
In this photo of the Mystery Building, there are no signs of the Union Jack flag, no Welcome banner. Clearly there is snow on the ground and there is a sheet that is rolled up in Photo 4, Roy believes this is a Sun Shade, as Photo 4 has a rope running from it. Unrolled, there is NO pattern, in otherwords 'Welcome'.
PHOTO 4
Royal Tranquille Sanatorium
Notice the Welcome banner on the 2nd story, now compare to below. Great discovery, yes?
One in the same building on possibly the same day! There is a woman leaning on the 2nd story porch, she is also is Photo 7.
The original Tiff scans are much higher in resolution. Some photos have cracking. There are no Crosses only a vertical board. The ground cover in this photo seems dry, hence during a time there was no snow..
PHOTO 5
Front of photo
While the gent holding down the calf looks like Kjartan Christopherson, the next photo confirms it is not him?
PHOTO 5
Back of photo
"Tranquille-Kamloops
B.C. 1909
1. Arthur Tyrill -
2. Dick Fortune
3. Bill Morrison
Outside picture on Cowhorse - k-"
Kjartan was always refererred to as "K" when people wrote to him.
Withoutout a doubt, Roy's grandfather. Kay always wore a tie.
With Dick Fortune there, could Kay have been working on the Fortune Ranch
when this Dignitary made a visit?
Could Dick Fortune gone to work for
Charles Thomas Cooney?
Was Dick fortune the son of William Fortune? Well, the few family trees found show no Dick,
Williams father's name was Richard Fortune 1805 – 1881
PHOTO 6
Same players along with two on the fence. This may be the farm right next to Sanatorium. No way of knowing. Just some hills behind and Google has yet to do Street Views.
COMPILATION OF KJARTAN (KAY) CHRISTOPHERSON
Notice the resemblance in the third photo above and one to left. Still,
Photo 5 says it is not him.
PHOTO 8
Branding Calves
PHOTO 7
Mystery Building which is no longer on the maps.
PHOTO 7
Back of photo
' Mr K Christopherson'
Postcards were mailed sometimes with little or no info compared to now.
Comparing the layout of this card might show the date it was printed.
PHOTO 7
Roy believes this is the original Sanatorium or possibly the converted 18 room Troup Mansion the Fortunes repossesed in 1892 and TB Society purchased. There are MANY Union Jack (English) flags hung here along with a time consuming WELCOME banner for possibly some dignitary. Roy feels everyone here is present and are not even patients. At that time, very little was known and many towns people did not even want people with Consumption in their area. You will notice the Man in the White Jacket, who is almost the most relaxed and informal, may have been one of the earliest doctors, possibly, C.F. Fagan of Victoria or could it be Dr. Robert W. Irving, Superintendent?
The girl to his right does show in Photo 4 sitting on the rail where the two gents are now on the right side.
Who were they welcoming? and Why? Was this a grand opening or visit by Sir Ernest Cassel who gave to King Edward VII $1,000,000 for a charitable cause, the Sanatorium?
We may never know.
Then again, someone might and HAS informed Roy, it was DR. IRVING!
Share your family photos!
From the Vern & Neil Austman Collection. Photograph by ___
Tranquille Sanatorium ties in with the Oddstads
(Above photo and following two from Vern Austman) attach photographs of the cards and notes on them, one in Icelandic by Charlie which is only standard greetings, the others in English. They are all addressed to his brother Jon's family in Saskatchewan, my grandparents.
Jonina mentions the opening in November could be 1907 or 1908, not clear; one note was added by Neil. One card is of the building she was in and an "X" on her window (see above) , she mentions the people on the veranda as Matron and Mr. Shaw manager, "Doctor was in town".
The building is the converted Fortune ranch house, which was the original San [latin sanus, "healthy"; sanatorium is a rest cure place] ; you call it the mystery building. If you look closely at my card, you see the building is in two parts; in yours the neighboring one has been jacked up and joined.
This may help in dating. You can see on mine the profile of the mountain on the north, and the mountains profile on one of yours, so they are taken from the lakeside.
