Utility Coals Ltd Boundary Mine History Page 1 As early as 1937 Fred Mannix & Co. Ltd. out of Calgary AB, had contracts for stripping work in the Estevan area. Saskatchewan Power Corporation (SPC), started exploring coal reserves in the late summer of 1952, in the area of what is now, Boundary Dam. So named, due to the close proximity to the American border. In the fall of 1956, SPC called for tenders to supply coal to the new Boundary Dam Power Station. Alberta Coal Ltd,  formed and owned by the Mannix family, bid on the job, and were successful. Sheldon (Si) A. Fraser was appointed President. Utility Coals Ltd, a wholly owned Subsidiary, was formed in early 1957,  with C.F. (Chuck) Doerr (General Manager) With Si Fraser, Chuck Doerr, W.J. (Bill) Blackstock, (the Chief Engineer) and Homer Bish (Mine Manager), they started from the beginning. They started production in 1958 In 1959: Head Office was 340-7th Ave., Calgary AB with an Estevan, Saskatchewan Office, ph# MErcury 4-3433 In 1967: PO Box 760 Estevan Saskatchewan Louie H. Carriere, Mine Manager In 1973: Shown as Manalta Coal Ltd, Utility Mine Office- Estevan Sask Head Office 300-9th Ave. SW Calgary AB Klimax mine is now listed with Utility Mine under Manalta Coal Ltd. under the Loram Group of Companies At Boundary Mine, Utility Coals Ltd, in 1970 they were using the 70 ton coal Haulers, which can carry an entire rail car load at a time. These were loaded with a  170B shovel, with a 10 cubic yd bucket, a 100B 5 cubic yd shovel, and a 120B 6 cubic yd shovel maintaining a stockpile of coal  of approx 125,000 tons at the Boundary Dam plant In 1970 they had 6 of the 70 ton Euclid Coal haulers Mannix had a long term contract to work this mine, which was owned by SPC. The Klimax Mine they owned outright. View of the Utility Coals Ltd. Maintenance shop  in March 1957, shortly after the shop was built. In the background is the Boundary Dam Power Plant operated by SPC. Proof my dad actually worked at the mine this picture was taken Aug 1959. L-R- Bob Lamy, (Groundhog) Reg Matthias (Driver) Cliff Tisdale (Carpenter) Merv Enmark (Driver) Bob Leslie (Welder) Phil Gent (Flagman) (and my Dad) Morrell Ewaski (Machine Shop Foreman) After many years as flagman, my Dad became the Watchman Janitor in the shop pictured above, until he retired, Feb 29,1977 I was only in that shop a few times, many years ago as a small boy, but I remember that door and that clock like it was yesterday.  funny how a picture will trigger a long lost memory. My Dad, Phil Gent, leaving the Utility Coals Ltd office in 1963 That Utility Coal sign would have been painted by him. He hand painted many signs for the mine. Dave James, Homer Bish, Dick Wilsey inside the 20 Cu Yd Bucket of the 750B shovel Homer Bish in the center of this picture was the Mine Manager, who hired my dad. Him and his wife Lenore, were renting my Mom and Dad's new house at 837 Isabelle St in Hillside from 1957 to July 1958, when we moved into the same house. He was a very good boss, and a kind man. Our family stayed friends with the Bish family up until their passing. on the left edge you can see his station wagon which appears in many of these photos Wished I had that today! Homer was one of the 4 Bish Brothers who operated a coal mine in the Forestburg, Galahad area of Flagstaff County,  Alberta. Bish Brothers and LeGear mine at one point. Tipple of the Bish mine was on NW 6- 41- 15 It was sold to Luscar Company in 1949 There is still members of the Bish family living in this area. Homer Bish b- Feb 15, 1917 d- ? First child of Fred Bish and Emma Bish, nee Smith who were married Mar 18, 1916 siblings: Mildred (Mrs. J. M. Whyte), Twins: Grant Bish and Barbara Bish, Denver Bish, Walter Bish Twins: Bill Bish and Mabel Bish (Mrs. Don Black),  Austia Bish (Mrs. Bruce Palmer) Homer worked in Trail BC in 1937 He met and married Lenore there. Lenore Bish, nee ? b- ? , possibly in Trail BC d- 1995 in Alberta Homer and Lenore had 3 daughters: 1. Marilyn Bish b- ? , Trail BC 2. Carol Ann Bish b- ca 1942 in Galahad AB, d- June 2005, age 63 living in in Peace River AB, when she passed away  Carol attended ECI, married Larry Rohatyn 3. Susan Bish b- ?, Galahad AB 1939 Homer moved back to Alberta  to work on his father's coal mine 1952 became Manager at Forestburg Colleries. 1957 moved to Estevan, Manager of Utility Coals. 1962 moved to Alberta as Manager of Manalta Coal's Wabamum mine. 1974 left Manalta Coal  joined Saskatchewan Power Corporation (SPC) as manager of mining, where he retired Feb 28, 1982. Homer and Lenore lived in Stony Plain AB Homer's Grandfather- Austin Bish Grandmother- Amelia Louise Bish Grandparents came to Alberta  in 1905 from Ashland Oregon, USA Utility Mine Manager, 1979, Mr. W. F. Kelly My Dad was there in 1958 For the first load of Coal to Boundary Dam, and in 1971  when they last used this style of time card. $1.55/ hr in 1958  and $3.45/hr in 1971 Wide Brim Aluminum hat my Dad wore at Utility Coals as a Watchman Janitor in the 1960's These are still used today by  Oil workers etc. see photo above   My Dad's Final Hard Hat Manalta Coal Ltd and his name P.Gent in red dymo tape. worn when he retired and noted on front with his retirement date of Feb 28, 1977   Utility Coals (1978) Ltd. My Dad's Hat