Brand: Crescent
 

Mined by: Crescent Collieries Limited

Dec 1933 Map
of the "Big 5" Coal Mines near Bienfait

"First", or "Old" Crescent Mine

1 mile East of Bienfait

E on this map above-
  49 deg, 09’ 09.01” N
 102 deg, 47’ 14.86” W

Started in 1918 just to the east of Bienfait,
moved to the new location shown above
 in 1926 after running out of coal

"New" Crescent Mine

SE 1/4
26-2-7 W. 2nd

A on this map above-
 49 deg, 08’, 07.41”N
102 deg, 51’, 59.12” W

Deep Seam Shaft type Mine, started around 1926.
Owned by J. R. Brodie,
William Lemond (Billy)(Will) Hamilton,
and A. C. Wilson. 
Alexander Craig McMiken
(aka Alec or Happy) Wilson was Manager
I know a Frank Newsome
was mine manager at one point.
He was born Aug 1878, died July 5, 1945,
buried in Estevan City Cemetery
He also managed a mine at Bienfait,
and Eastern Collieries.
1 mile east of Estevan in one book,
but this is wrong,
unless they meant 1 mile East of Bienfait,
 where the first Crescent Collieries
 would have been in that area in 1918-1926.
This is where the miners formed their parade,
 before the Sept 29, 1931 riot in Estevan. 
 It closed in 1937.
 Part of the Big Six in the area at that time.
 4th largest in 1931
Located on the CNR line
 between Estevan and Bienfait
approx 2 1/2 miles East of Bienfait,
north of Hwy 39 per 1927 map.
Sask Archives Web site & photo of the loading area

Photo sent to me by Mr. Ron Carpenter,
Grand Nephew of Will Hamilton. 
This is a group photo of the Hamilton families
 at a SE Saskatchewan mine.  Thanks Ron!
The life story of William Lemond Hamilton
 can be read here.
and his picture and full story here. 
Born in Russell, Russell, Ontario, May 11, 1868,
he died in a car accident, Oct 1933.
He married Ellen (Ella) McNeil,
who was a school teacher in Estevan. 
Her sister Jessie McNeil,
married Peter Cuthbert Duncan,
former Mayor, Land owner, and Business man
 in Estevan in the early years.
After William L. Hamilton died,
his daughter Jessie Hamilton
 became the mine manager at Crescent Mine.
 At that time, this was the Only Mine in Canada
 Managed by a Woman.
Jessie was born in the family home
 called "Eagle's Nest", near their family owned mine,
at Coalfields, Assiniboia, NWT, Mar 21, 1901.
Jessie married Hiram Ennis Symons,
who was also a mine manager at another mine. 
Jessie was given a Coronation medal by Queen Elizabeth,
shortly after the Queen's Coronation.
Hiram passed away in Calgary AB. June 27, 1974.
Hiram Symons descendants
are well known today in Estevan.
Hiram was the father of George Alan Symons.

Jan 19, 1919
Robert Griffin, Teamster, injured at this mine.